Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 30

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 30
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 30
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 30

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).

Mr. Beckwith was married in 1849 to Joanna Dodge, a native of New Lyme, Ash- tabula county, where she was reared. They have two daughters and one son: Altha, Flora and Alva R., Jr.

In politics Mr. Beckwith affiliates with the Democrat party, the principles of which he has supported for many years.

A younger generation may will envy Mr. Beckwith his extended and varied experience, which has kept pace with the development of Ohio from a position of obscurity to the fore- most rank in the proud galaxy of sister States, until she stands to-day as one of the leaders in the van of our national advance- ment, having attained prominence by which she may well challenge Virginia's right to the title of the " Mother of Presidents."

ACOB COON, a well-to-do farmer and stook-raiser, as well as a mover of houses and other heavy bodies, resides in Jefferson township, Ashtabula county, Ohio. He was born in Delaware county, New York, March 10, 1821. His parents, Jacob and Louisa (Northaway) Coon, were natives of New York State, where they grew up, were married and spent their lives. The father of Mr. Coon was a farmer, who died in 1826, when the subject of this sketch was but five years of age. The fatherless boy was then given by his mother to Hiram Dart, a farmer, who was to give our subject a home. The boy, however, did not remain long with that gentleman, but passed most of his time with his paternal grandfather. In 1833 his mother was married again, her second husband being Jesse Markham, and he then found a temporary home with her. At the age of sixteen he accompanied his grand- father to Orwell township, Ashtabula county, Ohio, where the latter settled on a farm. Here the subject of this sketch was vari- ously employed in cutting wood, shearing sheep, butchering and other kinds of work until he grew to manhood. He was married at the age of twenty-two, after which he en- gaged in farming and dairying on shares or for a percentage of the products, being thus employed for three years. At the end of this time he had by industry and economy accumulated sufficient means to commence business for himself. He accordingly settled on a farm in Morgan township, where he successfully conducted for two years a dairy with twenty-two cows, making a high grade of cheese and good butter. He then, in 1851, bought eighty acres of his present farm, situated three and a half miles northeast of Jefferson, for which he paid $120. This was at that time in the wilderness, covered with

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woods, with not a vestige of improvement of any kind, and, save for a sawmill on the mill creek near by, was completely isolated from other human habitations-no road leading to the premises nearer than that to the mill. On this land Mr. Coon made a clearing and built a log house, into which he and his fam- ily moved, and they there began the life of pioneers. He immediately secured employ- ment in the sawmill, and at the same time commenced clearing his land, and in this manner finally had his original tract free from incumbrance. To this he subsequently added 107 acres more, which he also cleared. He has industriously cultivated and improved this until he now owns a thriving farm, a good orchard, with a comfortable residence and a convenient barn, with other outbuild- ings and accessories necessary for the suc- cessful operation of his place. He also moves houses and other heavy bodies, besides work- ing sometimes at the stone-mason's trade, which he learned when young. His industry and perseverance have been rewarded by success, and he now has an ample competency for his old age. He has seen many changes take place in Ashtabula county, has seen the dense forest and primitive log cabin disap- pear and well tilled farms and attractive homes take their place. In all of this im- provement he has been an important factor and is justly recognized as an old land- mark of his county.

In May, 1843, Mr. Coon was married to Miss Juliet Gardner, a lady of domestic tastes and accomplishments, born in New York State, June 28, 1823. Her parents, John and Edith (Sissen) Gardner, were na- tives of Vermont and New York State, re- spectively, the former born in 1781, of Quaker descent, and the latter of English extraction. They were married in Otsego county, New

York, when the latter was twenty years of age. Induced by the enlarged opportunities afforded by the West, in 1832 they removed to Colebrook, Ashtabula county, Ohio, where the father, who was a farmer, settled on land which he cultivated and improved, and on which he passed the remainder of his days. They had ten children, six sons and four daughters, only two of whom survive: Mrs. Coon and Lorenzo Dow Gardner. Both par- ents were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The father was an old- line Whig in politics and a man of patriotic mold. He died in 1861, universally re- gretted. His worthy wife survived him until 1869, expiring at the age of eighty years, leaving many friends to . mourn her loss. When she was nine years of age Mrs. Coon accompanied her parents to Colebrook town- ship, where she was reared, enjoying the educational facilities afforded by the frontier schools. She was married at the age of twenty and had six children, five of whom survive: Abbie A., born August 14, 1854, deceased, was the wife of John Ford; Arthur L., born September 23, 1845, married Isabel Loomis and resides in Jefferson; Allen M., born January 25, 1848, married Miss Mary Aikins, and is now a prosperous farmer in Kansas; Alfred A., born March 6, 1850, married Miss Orphia March, and resides in Jefferson; Allison D., born March 19, 1860, married Miss Ella Sutton, is a farmer and lives on a farm adjoining the old homestead ; Alice E., born August 21, 1864, is the wife of Edward Wilson, a stone-mason and con- tractor and one of the young "hustlers" of the county, resides with the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Coon has been an efficient aid in the early struggles of her husband, and is now a sharer in his triumphs. No one is better versed in the duties of the household

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than she, and she has been an important factor in the economy of her home. She as- sisted in the dairy work, spun the thread, wove the household linen, made the garments of the family, and reared the children. This is an array of accomplishments which would strike a modern housewife with astonish- ment, and she deserves all the credit which can be bestowed upon her. She is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and prominent in all good works. Mr. Coon has been conspicuously identified in the shaping of the early policies of the county and in the development of its industries, and is worthy of the highest regard of all right- minded men.

B URT BRETT, one of the oldest and most capable members of the bar of Ashtabula county, was born in Geneva township, Ohio, May 10, 1823, a son of Joshua D. and Harriet M. (Fitch) Brett. His father was a native of Delaware county, New York, and was a blacksmith by occupa- tion; he came to Ohio about the year 1820, and settled near North Center, where he car- ried on his trade in connection with farming. Harriet M. Fitch's parents were among the earliest pioneers of Geneva township, her fa- ther owning 1,300 acres of land; he was a man of wide influence and was prominent in the history of early times. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Judge of one of the courts in the State of New York, and was also State Senator. Burt Brett enjoyed only those educational advantages which were afforded in the pioneer schools, but, making the most of his opportunities he fitted him- self for a teacher, and also gained a practical knowledge of surveying. He went to Wis-

consin in the spring of 1850 and landed in Waupaca county, where he made a land claim. In 1863 he was Clerk of the Board of Super- visors, and was the County Judge. Devoting his leisure time to the study of law he was admitted to the bar in 1864 and engaged in practice. He was, in 1866, elected District Attorney of Fortage county, Wisconsin, where he had been a citizen since early man- hood.

He returned to his native town in 1870, continuing the practice of law; he served one term as County Surveyor, and filled the office of Justice of the Peace several terms. Po- litically he is a stanch supporter of Republi- can principles.

Mr. Brett was married in May, 1848, to Martha Fitch, a daughter of Samuel B. and Dolly (Smith) Fitch, of Lorain county, Ohio, distant relatives of the Brett family. Three children have been born to this union, two of whom survive: Arthur W. is a graduate of the Normal School of Geneva and also of Oberlin College; he is now engaged in teach- ing at Princeton, Illinois; Charles H. is en- gaged in the milling business in Wabash, Indiana.

Mr. and Mrs. Brett are active and consist- ent members of the Congregational Church, and are highly respected members of the community.

C APTAIN ROBERT R. GRAVES, re- tired from active service on the Great Lakes, is a native of the State of Ohio, born at Madison, Lake county, January 29, 1838. His parents, Eli and Nancy A. (Crane) Graves, were natives of Massachusetts; the father emigrated to Fredonia, New York, and thence came to Ohio, where he was exten-

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sively engaged in agricultural pursuits; his grandfather was at the " Boston Tea Party," and assisted in unloading the cargo. Nancy A. Crane was the daughter of the Rev. Mr. Crane, a Presbyterian clergyman of note, who was a native of Connecticut. Captain Graves lived on the farm until sixteen years of age, when he went on the lakes as a common sailor. He was promoted from one position to an- other until he reached that of captain, which he filled for thirty years. He was on the lakes in all thirty-nine years and had a wide and varied experience; he has had an interest in many a worthy craft, and has accumulated a competence for his declining years.

Captain Graves was united in marriage, in 1860, to Marietta A. Wright, of Harpersfield, a daughter of Jonathan and Lucretia (Wool- sey) Wright, most worthy and respected pio- neers of Ashtabula county. The father of Jonathan Wright came to Ashtabula county in 1804, and located at Harpersfield. Cap- tain and Mrs. Graves have one daughter, Altha L., born in September, 1863. In poli- tics he affiliates with the Republican party; he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has reached the degree of Knight Templar.

AMES L. MORGAN has for many years been a conspicuous figure in business circles in Ashtabula county, and is en- titled to more than passing mention in this history. He is a native of the State of New York, born at Hartwick, Otsego county, Feb- ruary 24, 1824. His parents, James and Anna (Lyon) Morgan, are also natives of the Empire State, but emigrated to Ohio about the year 1828. They settled at Bloomfield, Ashtabula county, selecting a tract in the wilderness one mile from any other settler,

and courageously faced all the dangers and privations of life on the frontier. Their meat for many years was bear, venison, wild turkey and fish. The father met with a pain- ful accident by the fall of a tree, a broken limb being the result; from this he was a cripple all his life. His wife, a woman of extraordinary ability, with the aid of two older sons, continued the cultivation of the land, and also spun, wove, and made all the clothing for her family, besides supplying much cloth to her neighbors. Mr. Morgan cast the first Democratic vote in Bloomfield township after its organization. He and his wife were zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He had exchanged a fine improved farm in New York for 325 acres on the frontier, but before his death the entire tract was under cultivation and had many ex- cellent improvements.

James L. Morgan was reared amid the wild surroundings of a pioneer home, but at the age of sixteen years had acquired a good edu- cation for those times. He was apprenticed to a carriage builder, but afterward decided to continue his studies and gain a thorough education. He began a course under private instructors and later on entered an academy in Otsego county, New York. Returning home in 1846, he engaged in teaching school for several terms, but finally turned his atten- tion to mercantile interests. He also became the owner of a sawmill at Orwell, assuming possession of the same in order to secure himself on quite large pecuniary loans which he had made to the original proprietor. He operated the mill for a time and then dis- posed of it and came to Geneva, where he embarked in trade with his brother Ezra. He carried on a mercantile business with different partners until about 1868, when he directed his energies to the establishing of a

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banking business. As the result of his efforts the Savings Exchange Bank was established in 1869, and has ever since been recognized as a sound and successful financial institu- tion. By the various enterprises in which he has been engaged he has accumulated a hand- some estate. Politically he has been an ardent Democrat, and is a stanch supporter of the temperance reform movement; he has been a member of the Board of Education for twelve years, all of this time serving as its President.

Mr. Morgan was married May 16, 1850, to Olive Gould, of Geneva, Ohio. Five children have been born to them, three of whom sur- vive: Edwin, Fannie and Kate, the last named being the wife of Walter Stephens. They are connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Morgan is an official. He has always been deeply interested in the welfare and growth of the town, and no wor- thy enterprise has failed to receive his sup- port and encouragement.

Mr. Morgan is a member of the Masonic order and the I. O. O. F., also a member of the Geneva Encampment, No. 94, I. O. O. F. He was the prime agitator among those who finally effected the removal, to Geneva, of the post office formerly located at the old town one mile north, and who also brought about the holding of the elections in the new town. Mr. Morgan was also largely instrumental in securing the location of the Normal School at Geneva.

APTAIN JOSIAH H. KING, U. S. A. (retired), was born in Erie, Pennsyl- vania, March 21, 1850. He passed his early youth in his native place, attending the high school and academy; at the age of six- teen years he entered the Military Academy

at West Point, New York, where he was a student for two years. At the end of this time he engaged in business with his father at Erie, where he remained until 1876. Enter- ing the United States Army in 1876 as Second Lieutenant, he became a member of the Eighth Cavalry. In 1881 he entered the United States Military College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he was graduated in 1883. For twelve years he was stationed on the Rio Grande river in Texas; there his regiment was engaged in suppressing the revolutionary attempts of the Mexicans and the Indian raids on the border. In 1888 his regiment made the longest continuous march recorded in history, from the Rio Grande to the Yellow- stone, in Montana, a distance of 2,200 miles. He made the march with his regiment at this time, being four months on the way. During the fifteen years he was in the service he had only three months' leave of absence. In 1883 he was promoted to the position of First Lieu- tenant. Partial deafness, brought on by an attack of yellow fever, was the cause of his retirement, April 20, 1891. He was pro- moted to the rank of Captain, and granted the pay of that officer.

In 1876 Captain King was married to Ger- trude, only daughter of Captain A. E. Shep- pard, formerly of Geneva. To them were born three children: Mary, Albion S. and Alfred. Captain Sheppard has a record as a brave, conscientious and capable officer.

Alfred King, deceased, late Mayor of Erie, Pennsylvania, was the father of Captain King. He was one of the most energetic and enter- prising business men of Erie county, Penn- sylvania. He died March 19, 1891, and was buried under municipal honors. His grand- father, Robert King, was Captain in the Revolutionary war, and as deputy of the Gov- ernment succeeded in securing a treaty with

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the Indians in 1796; for this service he was granted a tract of 400 acres of land by the Legislature of Pennsylvania. He selected the land in the vicinity of the present village of Watford, Pennsylvania, and thus became the first actual settler in Erie county. His third son, Thomas, the grandfather of Cap- tain J. H. King, was a well known character in that county, and was a man of remarkable energy and perseverance; he was a soldier in the war of 1812, and served with distinction.

Captain King is a member of the Masonic order, Knights of Pythias and the Sons of the Revolution. In politics he is a Repub- lican.

A LEXANDER J. HARPER, who has for many years been prominently identified with the interests of Harp- ersfield township, is a native of Perry township, Lake county, Ohio, born Septem- ber 28, 1829. His parents were John A. and Cynthia (Harmon) Harper; the father was born March 30, 1774, at Harpersfield, New. York, a son of Alexander Harper, who was born at Middleton, Connecticut, in 1744; the latter served as a Colonel in the war of the Revolution. He was united in marriage January 30, 1771, to Elizabeth Bartholomew, who was born February 13, 1749, at Bethle- hem, Huntington county, New Jersey. John A. Harper was the eldest son of a family of eight children; he came with his parents to Ohio in 1798, making the journey from Buf- falo to Madison township in a sail boat; they settled on a section of land ceded Mr. Harper by the Government for losses sustained by him during the Revolutionary war. He chose the extreme northwest section of the township of Harpersfield. John A. was given as his portion what is now known as

the Stephen Warner farm. He was first married to Miss Minor, and they reared a family of nine children, named as follows: Rice, Juliann, Aaron, Lucia, Orrin, Adeline, Caroline, Alexander and Lorain. His second marriage was to Cynthia Harmon, April 5, 1824, and they had one child, Alexander J. John A. Harper was one of the builders of the Madison dock on Lake Erie and was a heavy loser by the contract. He died when Alexander J. was a lad of eleven years; the youth and his mother went, after this sad event, to Rochester, New York, where they resided for five years. Thence they went to Sandusky, Ohio, where he was in school for a period of two years.

His first business venture was in the gro- cery trade just before the cholera scourge which swept this country. He was after- ward in the County Clerk's office for a term of six years; then he was employed as clerk in the Recorder's office. At the death of this official, about one year after entering the office, he was appointed to serve the unex- pired term. In 1857 he came to Harpers- field and took up agricultural . pursuits; he settled on the farin of Colonel Robert Harper, which is now his home.

Mr. Harper was married April 6, 1853, to Miss Jane Harper, a daughter of Colonel Robert and Polly (Hendry) Harper. Colonel Harper was for several years a member of the State Legislature from Ashtabula county, making the journey to Columbus on horse- back. He was one of the first lawyers in this part of the State, and was a man of good ability and a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander J. Harper are the parents of four children: Robert John was born April 15, 1854, and married Miss Augusta Girard, Jan- uary 1, 1877; they have five children:

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Willie, born March 15, 1878, died in infancy ; Henry Alexander was born March 12, 1879; Mary Adda, January 7, 1882; Julia Ann, July 30, 1884, and Susannah, February 3, 1886; the second child of our subject, Stella Cynthia, was born August 5, 1856; Rice was born . May 12, 1860; he married Theresa Mary Fredericks, of Duluth, Minnesota, August 19, 1890, and has one child, William A., born October 21, 1891; Anna Harper, the youngest child, was born Sep- tember 12, 1863. Mr. Harper has carried on farming with great energy and has been a liberal supporter of those movements tending to advance the interests of the general public. A man of integrity and honor, he has the confidence and respect of the community.

D R. DURAN S. COSSITT, a popular young physician of Conneaut, Ohio, is just starting out in a career of use- fulness and is already winning his way to the front ranks of his chosen profession. As one of the representative young men of the town, it is fitting that some personal mention of him be made in this work.

Dr. Duran S. Cossitt was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, March 6, 1866, son of Dr. Henry De La Cossitt and Elizabeth (McClimans) Cossitt, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Pennsylvania. Dr. Henry De La Cossitt was a practicing physician of Greenville, Pennsylvania, for over fifty years, having settled there when he was twenty-six. He had two brothers, Epaphroditus and James, who were also emi- nent physicians, the latter having practiced at Newcastle, Pennsylvania. Our subject's father practiced medicine not only through- out Mercer county but also in the adjoining

counties, and wherever he was known he was highly respected, both as a skillful physician and as an upright Christian man. He was a member of the Greenville Methodist Epis- copal Church. He was a Democrat in poli- tics, and when the war came on he was in favor of its vigorous prosecution. During those dark days he assisted in the organizing and drilling of recruits. He died March 1, 1877, aged seventy-six years. His widow, born March 1, 1831, is still living, an hon- ored resident of Greenville. She is a mem- ber of the United Presbyterian Church. Following are the names of their six chil- dren: Dr. Henry De La Cossitt, a graduate of the Western Reserve Medical College, Cleveland, Ohio, class of 1893; Sarah Eliza- beth, wife of Dr. J. A. Doyle, who is located at Homestead, Pennsylvania, and who gradu- ated at the medical college in the same class with Drs. Henry De La and Fred S. Cossitt, his only child being Joseph; William E., who resides at the home place with his mother and has charge of the estate; Dr. Duran S., the fourth born; Dr. Fred S., a graduate of the Western Reserve; and Carrie J., attend- ing the public school.

Drs. Henry De La and Fred S. are practic- ing at Greenville, Pennsylvania.

The subject of this sketch received his lit- erary education at Thiel College, at which institution he graduated in 1887. Sarah Elizabeth, William E. and Dr. Fred S. Cos- sitt, are graduates of the same school, Dr. Henry De La having passed to the junior year. Our subject began the study of medi- cine in 1889, spent one year in the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania and two years in Cleve- land at the Western Reserve. In April, 1892, he established himself in the practice of his profession in Conneaut, where he has since remained, meeting with good success.

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He is Examiner for the Brotherhood of Lo- comotive Firemen. Recently he has been appointed, for the period of one year, as one of the Board of Examiners of the teachers of the public schools, which board is composed of three members.

He was married June 29, 1892, to Miss Maud G. Hamblin, daughter of Samuel Hamblin, a member of the firm of Hamblin & Sons, of Greenville, Pennsylvania. Both the doctor and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Cossitt is one of a family of four children, of whom we make the following record: John H. Hamblin, a machinist, and a resident of Conneaut, Ohio, married Miss Emma Reich- ard of New Hamburg, Pennsylvania, and has two children; Mary C., a member of the home circle; Mrs. Cossitt; and Ralph, who is attending the public school.

丁 G. HART, EsQ., whose fine residence is located in the picturesque little vil- lage of Mentor, is one of the prominent men of Lake county, Ohio, being ex- tensively interested in real estate. He was born here April 9, 1842, the son of an early pioneer.

Stephen H. Hart, his father, a native of Winsted, Connecticut, was born August 17, 1809, and emigrated to Ohio with his father when a boy. He became a large land owner and prominent farmer; held various local offices and enjoyed the confidence and respect of all with whom he came in contact; died here October 21, 1885. His wife, whose maiden name was Lucretia Ring, was a na- tive of Massachusetts, her people having come to Ohio at an early day and settled in Leroy township. She died May 25, 1879. |

In their family of six children the subject of our sketch was the third born.

T. G. Hart was reared on his father's farm and was educated in the district schools, and after he reached his majority he was engaged in farming for several years. In 1870 he began the study of law, was soon afterward admitted to the bar, and has been practicing law more or less ever since. He has had much to do in the settlement of estates, hav- ing been administrator a number of times. He served one term as Justice of the Peace about the time he began the study of law, and in 1872 was elected County Treasurer. in which office he also served one term. He was elected Trustee of Mentor township in 1879, has been repeatedly re-elected to that position, and is filling it at the present time. He affiliates with the Republican party and takes an active part in county and State con- ventions. He has been a Deputy Supervisor of Elections for Lake county ever since the Australian election law was passed.

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 30

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