Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 21

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 21
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 21
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 21

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).

May 14, 1821, deceased; Lucy, born August 11, 1823, deceased; Lydia, born February 2, 1825, married W. A. Robertson; Lucy, born August 13, 1826, married Mr. Allcock; Julia, May 12, 1828, became the wife of Henry Ripley; Charles, March 14, 1835; Albert P .; Almira, December 11, 1838, deceased; Mary, September 29, 1840; Horace, May 13, 1844; Elizabeth, November 8, 1847; and John, May 23, 1849. William Jones, previously men- tioned, was born in Connecticut in 1783, and was a carpenter and joiner by trade, but in later life followed farming. He came to Ashtabula county, Ohio, in 1808, and his daughter, Almira, previously mentioned, is probably the oldest living pioneer of this county. Mr. Jones served faithfully and well in the war of 1812. He was married Octo- ber 31, 1802, to Lucy Hubbard, who was born November 24, 1784, and who also belonged to an old and respected family of the county. Their children were: Almira; James, born May 13, 1805; Susan, born December 12, 1806; Julia, November 5, 1808; Horace, February 9, 1813; Lucy, May 10, 1817; Elizabeth, October 11, 1822; and John, No- vember 9, 1824. After his wife's death, Mr. Jones married again in March, 1826, and the children by the second marriage were: Rosa- lind, born March 9, 1827; Mary E., May 8, 1828; William J., June 17. 1832; and Peter S., in Angust, 1835. Mr. Jones died March 8, 1869, universally lamented.

Albert P. Willey, the seventh child of Andrew and Almira (Jones) Willey, for many years a prosperous and influential farmer and citizen of his vicinity, was born in the house in which he now resides, in Plymouth town- ship, Ashtabula county, Ohio, March 29, 1837. He has worked on the same farm all his life, with the exception of one year, 1864, which he passed in California. He owns a

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tract of 250 acres, which is devoted to general farming, and which evinces by its thrifty condition the excellent care and management of the proprietor. Mr. Willey was a mem- ber of the regiment called the " Squirrel Hun- ters" at the time of the late war, and went with his command to Cincinnati when General Kirby Smith, of the Confederate army, was threatening that point.

August 22, 1873, Mr. Willey was married, by Rev. J. M. MeGiffert, to Mrs. Fannie Ford, daughter of Lewis Gilbert, who came to Ashtabula county in 1848, when he was fifty years of age. He was the father of five children: Emily, born February 22, 1829, married Dr. P. E. Hall; Amiral, December 19, 1832; E., February 21, 1837; David, March 13, 1840; and Fannie, now Mrs. Wil- ley, born in Seneca Falls, New York, January 24, 1843. Mrs. Willey had one child by her former marriage, now Mrs. Fannie Osborn, who was born December 28, 1864. The chil- dren of her present marriage are: Albert L., born December 10, 1874; Andrew, born January 15, 1876; Sophia A., born October 19, 1879, and Laura E., September 22, 1883; all of whom bid fair to reflect credit on the State and county of their birth.

OHN WINSHIP HASKELL, deceased. -One of the representative men and pioneers to whom Ashtabula owes much of her growth and present development, is the late John W. Haskell, the subject of this memoir. He was a descendant of old Puri- tan stock, and was born in Tunbridge, Ver- mont, August 16, 1810, being the son of Aretas IIaskell and Betsey Moody. Upon the death of his wife Betsey, the father mar- ried Annie Folsom, who was of that family

from whom Mrs. Frances Folsom Cleveland descended. The elder Haskell (Aretas) was born in Vermont, in 1783, of Welsh ancestry. He spent his entire life in that State, dying in 1858, at the age of seventy-five years. John Winship was reared at home, securing his education at the common schools. His youth was spent in various kinds of work until he arrived at the age of twenty-four years. At this period, 1834, he started out in life for himself, seeking the West as the most advantageous country in which to better his condition. He first located at Conneaut, where for a time he was engaged in school- teaching and in peddling goods, in the north- ern part of the State. Later on he settled at South Ridge, where he engaged in mercan- tile pursuits for several years. In 1846 he removed to Conneautville, Pennsylvania, where he continued his mercantile business and also engaged in the manufacture and sale of lumber. He and his partner, Edwin R. Williams, erected the first steam sawmill in that section of the country, the same being located at Steamburgh, Crawford county, Pennsylvania. The enterprise created quite a sensation and people came from Pittsburg, Philadelphia, Cincinnati and many other points to see it. It was predicted by the people in that vicinity that this mill would cut up all the timber in that part of the country in a few years. It is worthy of note that this mill is still in operation, and that there yet appears to be plenty of timber for it to work upon. This mill marked the in- troduction of steam power for running mills in this section of the country.

In 1857, Mr. Haskell again moved to Ohio, settling this time in Ashtabula, where he followed the same business, making lumber- ing and the shipping trade on the lakes special features, together with railroad building. The

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advantages of lake transportation were the principal cause of his removal. He, with his partners, Oran Baldwin and Edwin R. Will- iams, under the firm name of O. Baldwin & Co., secured the contract for the construction of the Ashtabula & New Lisbon Railroad from Ashtabula harbor, on lake Erie, to the Ohio river. The work on the road was sus- pended on account of hard times brought about by short crops. The firm took mort- gages on the road-bed and other property, which subsequently they disposed of. The road was finally completed and is now known as the Pittsburg, Youngstown & Ashtabula Railroad.

In 1836 Mr. Haskell was united in mar- riage, at South Ridge, to Mary Ann, daughter of Jacob and Lydia (Wright) Williams, a native of Ashtabula county, Ohio. Four children were born to them: David Williams, Marshall Harrison, William Cassius and Ida, now Mrs. Frank Sherman. They also adopted Fannie Harriet as their daughter.

Mr. Haskell departed this life at Ashta- bula, Ohio, November 12, 1885, having lived to the same age as did his father.

Mr. Haskell was originally a Free Soiler, but upon the formation of the Republican party he became an advocate of its principles, never, however, seeking public office. Dur- ing his earlier years he was a member of the Baptist Church, but later on in life he joined the Presbyterian Church, of which he was for many years an Elder.

Mr. Haskell was eminently a self-made man, the architect of his own fortune. By his energy, perseverance and good financial judgment, by his strict integrity and honor- able business methods, he accumulated a for- tune and established an enviable reputation. He was a man of noble character, public, spirited, liberal and charitable, giving gener-

ously to the poor and to the church. To his family he was much devoted, looking care- fully after their wants, and making the do- mestic hearth his place of rest. He died as he had lived, a Christian, holding the confi- dence and esteem of all who knew him.

David Williams Haskell, the oldest son of John Winship Haskell, was born at South Ridge, Ashtabula county, Ohio, April 14, 1838. He was educated at the common schools, and in 1857 accompanied his father to Ashtabula, which has since been his home. For a time he was associated with his father in business, but subsequently started in busi- ness for himself, conducting a dry-goods store for about ten years in a very successful manner. He is now conducting a lumber business and has also extensive interests in real estate, operating chiefly in his own realty.

Mr. Haskell was married at Ashtabula, De- cember 24, 1861, to Harriet E., the accom- plished daughter of Honorable Henry Fassett, whose portrait and biography will be found in another part of this volume. This esti- mable lady met an untimely death, departing this life in October, 1862, to the great sorrow of her devoted and loving husband and her numerous friends. She was a woman of fine culture and rare musical talent, of a sweet, winning disposition, and much beloved by her many admirers.

June 12, 1867, Mr. Haskell was married the second time, to Julia Ann, the amiable and talented daughter of Joseph D. and Lucinda C. (Hall) Hulbert, whose portraits and biographies appear in this work. This union has been blessed with eight children: Harriet Fassett, born May 16, 1868; Mary Lucinda, born August 22, 1870; Josephine Dewey, born April 10, 1872 ; Phyana Hul- bert, born April 29, 1874; Julia Dewey, born January 2, 1876; Alma Chadwick, born No-

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vember 16, 1878; Andrew Stone, born Sep- tember 4, 1880; and Ethel Williams, born November 22, 1882,-all living but Joseph- ine, who died October 10, 1872, and Julia, who died April 28, 1881.

Mr. and Mrs. Haskell are members of the Congregational Church, the former holding the positions of Trustee and Treasurer. He is a member of the Masonic Order, and has taken the Royal Arch degree.

Mr. Haskell is a gentleman of good presence, genial, social disposition and win- ning manners. He is liberal in his views, progressive and interested in the develop- ment of his native county; he is a worthy representative of his noble father and is held in high esteem by the community in which he was born and reared, and by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.

M ARQUIS D. TOWNSEND, Post- master of Conneaut, Ohio, was born in Windsor county, Vermont, Octo- ber 23, 1835, son of William and Hannah G. (Bigelow) Townsend, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of Vermont. Grandfather Thomas Townsend and his brother Daniel were Revolutionary soldiers, Daniel being killed in that war.

William Townsend went from Massachu- setts to Vermont at an early day and settled on a farm. He was twice married in that State, first in 1806, to Miss Susan Smith, a native of New Hampshire, all of his children by her having passed away, the last one, Aurelia, wife of Rev. Horace Herrick, dying in 1891, at the age of eighty years. Mr. Town- send and his second wife, Hannah G. Bigelow, whom he wedded in 1820, had eight children, the oldest dying in infancy and the others

being as follows: Eliza, a fine scholar and popular teacher, has been engaged in teach- ing for many years in Vermont; Frederick V. A., who married Aurelia Royse, lives in Vermont; Isabel, wife of Henry Waterman, is a resident of Kansas; F. Torrey, who mar- ried Charlotte Stebbins, is a merchant and Postmaster at Clay, Iowa; Van Buren mar- ried Anna Austin and lives in Florida; Ve- lette P. married Emily Stebbins, and after her death Eliza Ann Hallet, and at this writing he is Postmaster of Quinsigamond, Massachusetts; and Marquis D., whose name heads this article. The mother of this fam- ily died in 1884, at Redding, Vermont, aged ninety years. She was a member of the Congregational Church. The father passed away in 1865, at the same place, at the age of eighty-five.

Mr. Townsend was reared on his father's farm in Vermont and was educated there, In 1856, he went to Washington county, Iowa, where he settled on a farm and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until the war came on. August 15, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Fifteenth Corps, and served two years, participating in numerous engage. ments, the siege of Vicksburg and the bat- tles leading up to that siege, etc. Twice his clothes were pierced with bullets. About the time of the surrender of Vicksburg he was taken sick and as this unfitted him for further field service he was sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he served as Librarian and General Ward Master of the Hospital until July 15, 1864, the date of his discharge.

After his discharge from the service, Mr. Townsend came to Conneaut and engaged in the mercantile business, he and his partner, James Babbitt, conducting one of the two leading stores in the town until 1878, when

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they closed out. Mr. Townsend was then on the road as traveling salesman for about ten years, the most of the time representing the Record Manufacturing Company, of Con- neaut. He traveled until he received from President Harrison his commission as Post- master, in February, 1891, since which time he has been serving in that capacity most efficiently. He has been Councilman and Re- corder of Conneaut several terms and has served as Cemetery Director eight or ten years.

September 19, 1858, Mr. Townsend mar- ried Miss Cordelia Hicks, of Conneaut, daughter of Josiah and Julia Ann (Badger) Hicks. She died October 21, 1870, at the age of thirty-five years, leaving one daughter, Carrie C., now the wife of D. B. Phillips, of Conneant. Mrs. Townsend was a grand- daughter of Elder Badger, the noted Congre- gational missionary. September 29, 1874, Mr. Townsend wedded Miss Mary A. Palmer, his present companion. She was born in Girard, Erie county, Pennsylvania, October 25, 1846, the oldest of a family of four chil- dren, her parents being James and Nancy (Martin) Palmer, the former a native of Ver- mont and the latter of New York. Her father was one of the early pioneers of Erie county, where he developed a farm and reared his family, and where he lived for thirty-six years, his death occurring in 1870. He was seventy-six years of age, and his wife, who died in 1885, was aged seventy-seven years. Both were devoted members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church. Of the rest of the Palmer family we. record that William H., the second-born, a farmer and dealer in prod- uce and agricultural implements at Girard, Pennsylvania, died in 1874, aged forty-three years; Fanny is the wife of Hon. C. G. Grif- fey of Michigan, at one time member of the

State Legislature; and J. G. Palmer is a druggist in Conneaut. Mrs. Townsend was a popular and efficient teacher in Girard for several years previous to her marriage. They have had two children, namely: Fanny G., born January 7, 1878, a pupil in the public high school, is devoting much of her time to music, for which she has already developed a special talent; and Mildred, who died in 1886, aged seven years.

Mr. and Mrs. Townsend are members of the Congregational Church of Conneant, the former having served in various official ca- pacities. He was Sunday-school Superin- tendent several years, and at the present time a Deacon of the church. He also served on the Building Committee during the erection of the new church edifice. He is a member of the Masonic order, the Knights of Honor, the Royal Templars, and the Custer Post, No. 9, G. A. R., in all of which his influence is felt for good, he frequently being chosen to occupy important official positions in these orders. Mr. Townsend has been a very in- fluential G. A. R. man. He was chosen Commander of the Custer Post in 1876, and was re-elected four consecutive terms; was chosen Assistant Adjutant General in 1878, and Chaplain in 1880 and 1881. On account of disabilities incurred while in the service he is drawing a pension. He has been iden- tified with the Republican party ever since its organization. In the Lincoln campaign of 1860, he laid aside business affairs and gave his whole time in helping to organize the Republican party in his county (Washing- ton, Iowa).

Such is a brief sketch of one of the most highly respected citizens of Conneaut, and of one who has contributed largely toward its developments.

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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

G EORGE W. DICKINSON .- None more justly deserves mention in these pages than the subject of this sketch, who has been identified with the best interests of Ashtabula, Ohio, since 1859, contributing by his financial ability and moral worth to its general advancement.

He descends from sturdy New England ancestry, whose progenitors came to America from Wales in 1638 and settled in Hadley, Massachusetts. Ozias Dickinson, his grand- father, was a native of Wethersfield, Connect- icut, and a farmer by occupation. He was an efficient soldier in the war of 1812, serving principally on Long Island. He married Chloe Belden, also a native of Wethersfield, descended from an old and honorable family. They had five children: Moses, Julia, Ed- ward, Nathan and James, of whom Moses, father of the subject of this sketch, is the sole . survivor. In 1856, he removed to Ashtabula county, Ohio, and died in Sheffield, that county, in 1881, at the advanced age of nine- ty-seven years, universally lamented as a man of ability and worth of character. He and his devoted wife were spared to each other for nearly seventy-seven years. For seventy-five years he voted the Democratic ticket. In religion he was a Presbyterian by preference, although not a member of that church. Moses Dickinson, father of the subject of this sketch, was born November 12, 1805, in Middletown, Connecticut, where he was reared and educated, afterward learn- ing the profession of architecture, at which he worked through life. He was married in Guilford, Connecticut, to Miss Julia Hub- bard, born in Saybrook, that State, in 1809. In 1848, he removed with his family to Ashtabula, Ohio, where he soon afterward established a sash and blind factory, the first

one in northern Ohio to be operated by steam, and this he successfully conducted for ten years. He and his worthy wife were the parents of seven children, six of whom attained maturity, five now surviving. Their married life was sixty-three years in dura- tion, the faithful wife and mother dying in Ashtabula, November, 1890, aged eighty-one years. The father still survives and resides in Ashtabula, which has been his home for forty-five years, and where he is as highly respected as he is widely known. He was originally Democratic in politics, but became a Republican on the organization of that party. He is a member of the Presbyterian church.

George W. Dickinson, whose name heads this sketch, was born in Watertown, Connect- icut, August 11, 1831, and was reared in New Haven, that State, where he attended the public schools. He learned the jeweler's trade in the City of Elms, after which, in 1850, he came to Ashtabula county, Ohio, whither his father had preceded him. He spent two years here, when, in 1852, he re- moved to Memphis, Tennessee, remaining there seven years, at the end of which time, in 1859, he returned to Ashtabula, where he has since been successfully engaged in the jewelry business, gaining foremost rank as a man of financial ability and enterprise. During the civil war, he was Military Com. mitteeman for Ashtabula, and put every vol- unteer there in the field from the first to the last call, and has since served in various municipal positions of trust and importance.

In 1854, Mr. Dickinson married Miss Mary J. Loveland, a lady well known in Ashtabula society, and they have two sons and three daughters. Mr. Dickinson and family are members of the Presbyterian Church, to which they render much valuable aid.

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Politically, Mr. Dickinson advocates the principles of the Republican party. Socially, he belongs to the Masonic order, which he joined in 1852. He has arisen to the rank of a Knight Templar Mason and has had all the honors of the order conferred upon him through all the chairs in the blue lodge, the chapter and the commandry.

Thus is honorably transmitted a name which has been handed down by a long line of illustrious ancestors, distinguished in the civil and military history of the country.

P ETER H. WATSON, assistant in in the War Department during the late rebelllon and for many years an honored resident of Ashtabula, Ohio, now deceased, will long be remembered with affection by his many friends and acquaint- ances. To them no extensive notice is neces- sary to recall to their minds this once honored friend, and only a brief summary is given to prove that though departed he is not forgotten.

He was essentially a self-made man. Be- ginning his career in Washington city as a solicitor of patents, he gradually rose by indefatigable industry and perseverance to the highest point in his profession. When Mr. E. M. Stanton was called as Secretary of War to the cabinet of President Lincoln, Mr. Watson, at Mr. Stanton's urgent request, abandoned his law practice and became the Secretary's assistant in the war office, and during those stirring times rendered impor- tant and valuable service in his department. On the close of the war, like many other members of that remarkable administration, he returned to private life unheralded to re- sume the quiet pursuits once abandoned at the earnest call of his country. He engaged

in scientific research and kindred pursuits, to which he was inseparably wedded, and, al- though little before the public, was none the less personally known and esteemed by the great men of his day. Not a little singular is the coincidence that he died July 22, 1885, on the same day as did General Grant, for which patriot and soldier he had the highest admiration, having known this great com- mander intimately at a time when men's souls were truly tried. If he lived unnoticed in private life, not so did he die. His death, at the age of sixty-eight years, occurred in his apartments at the Albert Hotel, corner of Eleventh street and University place, Ashta- bula, Ohio. This event was a signal for wide-spread mourning and general expres- sions of sorrow. The scientific world has- tened to accord to him a full meed of praise for his efforts in its behalf, while his faithful and indefatigable services throughout the re- bellion enlisted for him the sincere admira- tion of the people, and his name is written in letters of gold in many sympathetic hearts.

E LTON H. STILES was born in War- rensville, Ohio, February 10, 1853. In 1858 he moved to Rome, Ashta- bula county, Ohio, where the greater part of his life was spent until 1887, when he moved to Newton Falls, Ohio, where he was engaged in the ship-timber business for a number of years. There he met with the sad accident which caused his death. His leg was caught in the machinery of a sawmill, and was wrenched from his body, his death resulting three-quarters of an hour later. This oc- curred May 17, 1889. Mr. Stiles was form- erly engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was a prominent and active member of

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the Presbyterian Church, as also is his wife, and with the Odd Fellow and Knights of Pythias lodges he was prominently identified. By nature he was generous and charitable, ever giving of his means to promote all en- terprises he deemed for the best interest of his community, never turning a deaf ear to the poor and needy. In politics, he was an ardent Republican. He filled several local offices. For several years he was Township Clerk, and he also filled the office of Assessor and Census Enumerator. Mr. Stiles was the youngest brother of Captain A. W. Stiles, a well-known resident of Ashtabula county.

At his death Mr. Stiles left a widow, also three children, namely: Lee, born November 29, 1879; Emir, September 25, 1882; and Elliot, August 27, 1884. Mrs. Stiles was before her marriage Miss Carrie J. Crosby. Her father, Elijah Crosby, was born in East Haddam, Connecticut, and in October, 1831, was married to Elizabeth L. Chester. In early life he followed the trade of carpen- ter and joiner, but for many years he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a Republican in politics, and has held various township offices, always performing with the strictest fidelity the duty entrusted to him. The year he was married he and his wife joined the Presbyterian Church, and since that time have remained active and consistent members of the same. Their family of children is as follows: Lydia A., born December 23, 1832, was married May 3, 1861, to J. W. Springer; Frank E., July 29, 1834, married Emma Wood, Septem- ber 12, 1863; Orietta M., born August 5, 1836, married Oliver Smith, August 31, 1856; Elliot M., born February 28, 1839, married Betsy Crowell August 20, 1865, and died January 5, 1876; Albert C., born Janu- ary 24, 1842, married Sylvia Fobes December

23, 1870; Sarah E., born May 2, 1844, mar- ried E. J. Crowell December 16, 1866; Phœbe C., born February 22, 1847, died Ootober 29, 1876; Alice L., born April 22, 1850; and Carrie J., born November 18, 1856.

UCIUS D. BADGER .- There is no more representative family of Ashta- bula county, Ohio, than that by the name of Badger, whose early ancestor in this State, Rev. Joseph Badger, was a pathfinder, not only blazing a way through the wilderness for others to follow, but by his upwright living and moral teaching, making it a good place in which to live.

He was the first missionary in the Ohio Western Reserve, and was born in New Eng- land in 1757, of hardy Puritan stock. In 1766, his father removed to Partridgeville, Connecticut, from which place young Joseph enlisted in the Colonial army in February, 1775, becoming a member of Captain Nelson Watkins' company and Colonel Patterson's regiment, stationed at Litchfield Point. His service was active and faithful and was term- inated by request of the society having charge of mission work on the frontier. On sever- ing his connection with the army, he was ap- pointed to an itineraney in the Black River settlement, in New York State, where his labors were protracted until it became ap- parent that he was the right man to success- fully undertake and execute a more difficult work. He was accordingly urged to accept work in the Connecticut Western Reserve, and he therefore, on November 15, 1800, be- gan his journey thither on horseback, reach- ing the field and preaching his first sermon in the State at Youngstown, on the last Sun- day in December of the same year. He

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 21

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