Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 31

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 31
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 31
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 31

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. Hart has been twice married -first, in 1863, to Eliza Morrison, a native of Ohio, her parents having come here from Vermont at an early day. She died in 1888, leaving four children, Charles, Fred, Richard and Ralph. In 1890 Mr. Hart married Sarah Simpson, his present companion, who is a native of Erie county, this State. Her par- ents were Eastern people.

E ZRA BROWN, an old settler and prominent farmer of Rock Creek town- ship, Ashtabula county, Ohio, was born in Norfolk township, Litchfield county, Con- necticut, December 26, 1809. His parents, Aaron and Cynthia (Murray) Brown, were both natives of the same county as himself,

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

where they were married. The mother of the subject of this sketch was a daughter of Jas- per Murray, a soldier of Revolutionary fame. Aaron Brown was a farmer and owned his place in Connecticut, but at the time of the general emigration westward he traded his property for 300 acres in Ashtabula county, Ohio, 100 of which proved to be in Morgan township. He and his family came overland with an ox team and one horse in the spring of 1814, when he discovered that his farm was a primeval forest, which had never been touched by man. Before he could live on it, he made a clearing and built a cabin, in which he and his family began a pioneer life. He lived here for many years, but later sold his farm near Rock Creek and bought 115 acres east of the farm owned by the subject of this sketch, making this his home for several years. He then engaged in the mercantile business in Eagleville, when he was induced by his son, Joel, to invest in 1,100 acres of farming land in Hardin county, Kentucky, where he lost his entire possessions. He then returned to Ohio and engaged in the shoemaking busi- ness, and died in Rock Creek in his eighty- sixth year, his death being greatly regretted by all who knew him. He was an honest, upright man, energetic and ambitious, well and favorably known in his locality. In poli- tics, he was originally a Whig and later a Republican, but always an advocate of jus- tice and reform. He was a useful member of the Presbyterian Church and prompt in aiding all worthy objects. The mother of the subject of this sketch was married at the age of sixteen and had twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, five of whom sur- vive: Cynthia, wife of Austin Lincoln, of Kal- amazoo, Michigan; Marinda, wife of Allen Bennum, of St. Peters, Minnesota; Mariett, wife of Bert Lockerby; Joel, residing in Mt.

Healthy, Ohio; and the subject of this sketch. The mother was a woman of great force of character, good education, and varied do- mestic accomplishments. She was skilled in the art of spinning and could weave carpets, blankets and linen fabrics. In addition to these various duties, which were a part of her daily routine, she taught her children the rudiments of their education, at the same time inculcating those upright principles of character, which have ever marked their ac- tions through life. She was an active mem- ber of the same church as was her husband, and, like him, lent her influence and aid to the promotion of all good works. She died in her fiftieth year, leaving her family and numerous friends to mourn her loss.

The subject of this sketch was one of four children who accompanied his parents to Ohio, and he grew to manhood in Morgan and Austinburgh townships. He was reared to farming pursuits, which he followed until twenty years of age, and with his brother helped his father to clear two farms. He then learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, at which he worked for many years in con- nection with farming, and many houses and barns throughout Ashtabula county stand as monuments of his handiwork and as models of architecture in the line. While working for his father and learning his trade, he had in the meantime bought a farm of seventy- five acres on the Jefferson road. He moved onto this farm about the year 1850, and grad- ually devoted his entire attention to agricul- ture. This place was his home for fifty-three years, when, in 1888, he bought his present farm of ninety-six acres, on which he has since resided. His industry, careful manage- ment and perseverance have been rewarded by success until he is now numbered among the substantial farmers of his county. He

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traveled considerably throughout the West and Northwest, but has never seen any place he liked better than his home. He has been in Kansas a number of times and traveled extensively in Minnesota, Ohio, and other States, and is well informed on the general advantages of these several places. He is now eighty-four years of age and has led a good and useful life, profitable to himself and helpful to others.

In 1831, Mr. Brown was married to Miss Mary A. Chappel, an estimable lady, born in Austinburgh township, Ashtabula county, Ohio, February 18, 1815, and daughter of Perry G. Chappel, an old settler and prosper- ous farmer. She was married at the age of sixteen years and bore to her husband two children, Edward J. and Mary M. Edward was born September 26, 1834, grew up on the farm, received a good common-school ed- ucation and assisted his father on the home place. At the age of eighteen years he mar- ried Laura Herren, and two children were born to them: Lila L. and Clara C. The former is now the wife of John Abbey, lives in Oregon and has three children; Clara mar- ried Dr. A. Tichenor, resides in Colorado and has two children; Edward J. Brown yielded up his young life in his country's cause, being one among the many brave men slain in the battle of Gettysburg. He died July 23, 1863, at the age of twenty-eight years. Mary M., the daughter of our sub- ject, was born January 14, 1840, and at the age of eighteen years was united in marriage to James M. VanGilder, a prominent farmer of Jefferson township, Ashtabula county. To. them three children were born, -Adella M., Mertie M. and Fred M. Adella was born July 31, 1859, and died October 28, 1892; Mertie was born November 25, 1869, and was married to James A. Porter, July 4,

1888, being now a resident of Morgan town- ship, Astabula county; Fred was born July 25, 1870, lives at the home, being a very promising young man. Mrs. VanGilder died October 4, 1890, at the age of fifty years.

April 23, 1885, the family was deprived by death of the care and companionship of the wife and mother, who expired in her sixty- ninth year. She had been for fifty-three years a faithful helpmate to the subject of this sketch, and as a mother she was charac- terized by the deepest devotion. As a neigh- bor she was kind and attentive, as a friend true and sympathetic, her words and deeds of helpfulness having reached many lives and influenced them for the better.

Politicially, Mr. Brown is a Republican. He is a member of the township grange, in which he takes a lively interest. He is a Mason and a member of Tucson Lodge, No. 342, A. F. & A. M. As a citizen, he is pub- lic-spirited and enterprising and a man of moral worth of character, and justly enjoys the esteem of all who know him.

D ANIEL S. ROBERTSON, cashier of the First National Bank, Geneva, was born at Montville, Geauga county, Ohio, May 29, 1845. His parents, Daniel M. and Louisa (Garrett) Robertson, were na- tives of New York and Ohio respectively. The father was identified with the Democratic party, and served as Postmaster several terms; he was also engaged in keeping hotel for about fifteen years at Montville and Middlefield. The maternal grandfather of Daniel S. Robert- son was a soldier in the war of the Revolu- tion, serving as Captain in Washington's army; the paternal grandfather was in the same war, being employed as artificer.

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Mr. Robertson is the older of two children, the younger being Mrs. F. C. Fassett, of Ash- tabula. He attended the common schools of his native town, and at the age of sixteen years enlisted in the service of his country as a member of Company K, Sixth Ohio Cavalry (Sheridan's Cavalry Corps.) The date of his entering the army was October 24, 1861, and he participated in the second engagement at Bull Run, at Cedar Mountain, Chancellors- ville, Gettysburg, Spottsylvania, and many others of less note. He was mustered out July 8, 1865, as Sergeant. He is an active member of the G. A. R., Post No. 28 of Geneva, and is deserving of those honors due the men who so bravely fought for the " stars and stripes."

When the war was ended Mr. Robertson entered the Commercial College at Pough- keepsie, New York, where he completed the full course; he was employed as book-keeper until 1887, when he became cashier of the First National Bank at Geneva. He has served this institution with great fidelity, his duties being performed with that promptitude which marks the true soldier.

He was married February 23, 1870, to Miss Elvira M. Hulbert, of Painesville, Ohio. They have one child, Guy A., now in the Central National Bank, of Cleveland, Ohio. Iu politics Mr. Robertson is an ardent Demo- crat; he is an efficient member of the school board, and belongs to the Royal Arcanum, the Knights of Pythias, the Foresters and the Knights of the Maccabees.

R OBERT O. ROTE, a well-known citi- zen of Geneva, Ohio, is a native of Rensselaer county, New York, born October 12, 1832. His parents, Mathias and Charlotte E. (Winn) Rote, were

of German and French-Irish extraction re- spectively; the paternal grandfather was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and the maternal great-grandfather was a member of the New York State Legislature for many years.

Robert O. received his early education with a view to becoming a student at the Military Academy, West Point, New York; he changed his mind, however, and took up the study of the law with the Hon. R. E. Anderson, at Hudson, Columbia county, New York. He was engaged in the practice of his profession for a number of years at Albany, New York, but in 1858 emigrated to Ohio; in 1868 he located at Geneva, and for several years was connected with the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company in various capac- ities. He has large investments in the Standard Publishing Company, Ashtabula, Ohio, which publishes the leading Democratic paper in Northeastern Ohio. Mr. Rote is one of the leading politicians of his party, and is often referred to on questions of local policy. He has served as elector from his district, has been a delegate to many conven- tions, in 1868 was sent to the National Con- - vention. He has been Mayor of Geneva, a member of the Council, and has filled many other local offices.

He was united in marriage to Orra A. Blakeslee, a daughter of Bela B. and Sarah (Burnett) Blakeslee. Mr. Blakeslee was an extensive farmer and a well-known capitalist of Ashtabula. Mrs. Rote entered into eternal rest March 31, 1886, being forty-six years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Rote had born to them seven children: James is head clerk in a hardware store in Greenville, Pennsylvania; Sarah C. died June 12, 1886; Robert is a Civil Engineer with the Lake Shore & Michi- gan Southern Railroad, and is also devoting

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some time to the study of law; Bela M. is preparing to enter the legal profession; Laura L. is the only daughter living. Genora A. and David M. died in infancy. Mr. Rote is a member of the Masonic order; he was the first Regent of the Royal Arcanum, and is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is a conspicuous figure in both business and social circles, and is highly respected by a wide cir- cle of acquaintances.

M ILES DORMAN, dealer in real est- ate, Conneaut, Ohio, was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, July 1, 1837, son of Edwin and Sarah (Brown) Dorman, natives respectively of Canada and Vermont.

Edwin Dorman came from Canada to the United States with his parents when quite young, and for some thirty years was engaged in farming in Pennsylvania. About 1874 he came to Conneaut. Here he dealt in agri- cultural machinery the rest of his life. He died in July, 1888, at about the age of seven- ty-nine years. He was a man of excellent business ability and was well known and highly respected. His wife Sarah died about 1853, aged forty-five. Her father, Steven Brown, was a wealthy farmer in Pennsyl- vania, and, moving to Ohio, settled on a farm about two miles from Conneaut -- the property now owned by Frank Blood. Mrs. Dorman was member of the Christian Church. The nine children composing the family of Edwin and Sarah Dorman are as follows: Austin, who went to California in 1850, was for many years a wealthy rancher; Salina, wife of George Moe, resides in Ash- tabula county ; Dorence, the third born, is a resident of California, where he was for some

years engaged in mining; Miles was the fourth born; Isaac, a member of the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Vol- unteer Infantry, was the tallest man in his company, and was flag-bearer; he was killed at the battle of Gettysburg; Lucy, wife of Myron Hall, resides in California; Sarah, wife of F. A. Majors, is also a resident of California; Thomas B. married Emma Put- ney and lives in this county; and Sidney died at the age of two years.

Mr. Dorman was married the second time about 1858, being then united to Mrs. Sarah McKee, who is now living at Conneaut in her eighty-seventh year. She has been one of the kindest of foster-mothers, devoted to her step-children, by whom she is held in most tender and loving regard.

Miles Dorman was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools. In 1861 he engaged in the livery business in Titusville, Pennsylvania, continuing the enterprise four years. Then for a short time he was in the mercantile business in the same place, turn- ing from that to hotel life. He was proprie- tor of a hotel at Petroleum Center, where he did a successful business. From the hotel he went onto a farm which he bought on the lake shore, and where he lived two years, selling ont at a good advantage at the end of that time. He came to Conneaut in the spring of 1871, and for two years kept the Central House. This hotel he traded for the Commercial, which he conducted nineteen years, and which he still owns. In the mean time he engaged in the livery business, running a bus line in con- nection with it. For twenty-four years, all told, he was engaged in the livery business. Since 1891, Mr. Dorman has devoted his at- tention to real-estate transactions, in which he has met with good success. Indeed, his whole business career has been characterized

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

by prosperity. He served as Councilman of Conneaut eight successive years, from 1878 to 1886.

Mr. Dorman was married in the spring of 1861 to Miss Elizabeth Armstrong, daughter of Thomas Armstrong, of Conneaut. Their children are Elmer A. and Edwin T. Elmer A. is successor to his father in the livery business. He married Nellie Brandle, and has one child, Edwin Miles. Edwin T. is en- gaged in the clothing business at Conneaut, being in partnership with S. J. Smith, and doing business under the firm name of E. T. Dorman & Co. His wife, Lois, is the only daughter of S. J. Smith.

Mr. Dorman affiiliates with the Republican party and takes a lively interest in political matters. He is a man of more than ordinary business ability, is enterprising and public- spirited, and is a favorite with his many ac- quaintances.

G H. CONNELL, assistant shipping clerk in the employ of the Nickel Plate Railroad, Coneaut, Ohio, is a native of Crawford county, Pennsylvania, born November 24, 1845, son of Jonah and Eliza (Zielie) Connell.

Jonah Connell was born in Schoharie county, New York, oldest in the family of seven children-five sons and two daughters -born to Isaac and Eva (Fink) Connell, both natives of Scholarie county. Isaac Con- nell moved West, and died in Illinois. Fol- lowing are the names of their children : Jonab, Cornelia, Peter, John, Christopher, Margaret, and Martha, the last two being the only ones now living. Margaret is the widow of Aaron Colly, and Martha is the wife of Omri Good- well. Jonah Connell was married April 3,

1845, to Miss Eliza Zielie, daughter of David and Sallie (Stokes) Zielie, her father a native of New York and her mother of Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Zielie had four children, viz .: Catherine, who married Charles Fink, both being deceased; Margaret, widow of Daniel MeLaughlin, has one child, Matilda; Mrs. Connell; and Peter who married Susan Brown, both being deceased, and leaving two child- ren-Caroline, wife of John McGee, and Sarah, wife of Martin Rawley. Mrs. Connell is nearing her seventy-eighth mile post, the date of her birth being October 14, 1815. Her worthy companion passed away October 11, 1887, aged seventy-four years, two months and six days. He was a consistent Christian from his boyhood days, and filled most ac- ceptably in his Church all the offices accorded to laymen. His many estimable traits of character and his pure Christian life endeared him to a large circle of friends. For more than sixty years Mrs. Connell has been a member of the church. In their family of five children, G. H., whose name heads this sketch, is the oldest; Jane, born August 9, 1848, died April 15, 1853; Sallie, born Feb- ruary 17, 1850, died April 18, 1853; James, born March 7, 1852, died April 20, 1853; and Mary, born July 15, 1854, died May 27, 1858.

G. H. Connell was educated in Erie, Penn- sylvania, finishing his studies with a commer- cial course. After leaving school he was en- gaged in farming until 1883. In the mean time, in 1865, his father's family had moved to Conneaut. In 1883 he began working for the Nickel Plate Railroad Company, first, in the shops, and subsequently as foreman in the yard, continuing in the latter capacity nine years. He was promoted to his present posi- tion October 20, 1892, and has since been rendering efficient service here.

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Mr. Connell was married April 23, 1869, to Miss Amelia Cathcart. Their only child, James, is engaged in agricultural pursuits, having charge of his father's farm.

Mr. Connell is a member of Maple Lodge, No. 217, K. of P .; the Uniform Rank, K. of P .; and the State Police, of which he is a Special Officer. For six years he was School Director in Conneaut township, and one term was Clerk of the Board. His wife is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Of Mrs. Connell's family we make record as follows:

Hugh Cathcart, her father, was born Sep- tember 10, 1803, was a pattern-maker by trade; died Feburary 14, 1869. Her mother, Caroline (Giddings) Cathcart, was born April 30, 1820, and died Feburary 1, 1855. Both were old-school Presbyterians for many years. They had six children, namely : Earl, who died at the age of six months; Emma, wife of Eugene Maxfield, born August 3, 1842, died December 29, 1878; Holmes, born January 3, 1845, died July 26, 1845; Amelia; born December 12, 1849; Hubert, born July 24, 1852, died October 10, 1852; and Addison, born January 8, 1855, died May 4, 1855. By a former marriage to Olive Youngs, Mr. Cathcart had three children -- Solomon H., of Elyria, Ohio; Elizabeth, born September 13, 1835, died in April, 1849; and Augusta, wife of M. Z. Andrews, Centralia, Kansas.

P HILO A. BEARDSLEY, a successful farmer of Ashtabula county, was born at Canfield, Mahoning county, Ohio, May 20, 1841, being the son of Philo and Lois (Gunn) Beardsley, who, in 1816, came from Litchfield county, Connecticut, to

Mahoning county. They resided in the latter county until their death, the mother dying in 1847, at the age of fifty years, and the father in 1870, at the age of seventy-five years. Philo Beardsley, Sr., was a farmer by occupation, a Republican in his political views, and religiously a member of the Con- gregational Church.

Philo A., the subject of this sketch, became early inured to the toilsome duties of pastoral life, and received his education in the schools at Canfield. In October, 1861, he enlisted for service in the late war, as a private in Company F, Forty-first Ohio Infantry, re- maining until the final cessation of hostili- ties. He was a participant in the battles of Shiloh, Perryville, Cross Roads, Stone River, Bald Knob, Missionary Ridge, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Pickett's Mill, the siege of Corinth, the engagements around Atlanta and the battle of Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Beardsley was wounded at Pickett's Mill, in which engagement his company went into action with sixteen men, of whom six were killed and five wounded. November 27, 1865, at Camp Chase, Ohio,. he was dis- charged from service with the regiment, being mustered out as Lieutenant of his company. He had gained the several promotions in re- cognition of meritorious conduct in the field. In 1872 he located on his present farm of 273 acres, in Andover township, Ashtabula county, where he devoted his attention to general farming and to the raising of fine- grade stock. His imported Shropshire sheep are very fine types of that famous breed.

Mr. Beardsley was married in Oneida county, New York, at the age of twenty-six years, to Carrie Siegler, a native of Lewis county, that State, and a daughter of John and Caroline Siegler. To this union has been born three children: Addie Gunn, Kate Lena

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and Harry Morton. Mr. Beardsley affiliates with the Republican party, and has held the office of Township Trustee. In his social re- lations he is a member of the G. A. R .; Hiram Kile Post, No. 80.

J HOMAS ADAMS, of Ashtabula, Ohio, the oldest conductor, in point of service, on the Lake Shore & Michigan South- ern railroad, Franklin division, and a most affable and popular gentleman, was born in Lamoille county, Vermont, forty miles from Burlington, June 28, 1833. His ances- tors came to America in its earliest history, before it had achieved independence of the mother country. His great-great-grandfather on his mother's side, Thomas Smith, was one of the first settlers in New Hampshire, hav- ing come from Londonderry in the north of Ireland. James Adams, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Hillsborough connty, New Hampshire, in 1792. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade and a most popniar and worthy man. He married Susanna Smith, one of thirteen children of Thomas and Esther (Poland) Smith, both na- tives of New Hampshire, where the former was born in 1776 and died in 1856, having passed his entire life on the farm where his birth occurred, and which had been the home of the family for many generations. The mother of the subject of this sketch died in 1843, after which the father returned to his native county in the Granite State, where he died in 1852, aged sixty years. They were the parents of six children: Lydia, who mar- ried I. B. Swan; Lucy, unmarried, residing in Providence, Rhode Island; James, who . married Lucy Morgan, and died at middle age, leaving two sons, both of whom are now

deceased ; Mary, wife of Allen Earl, of Paines- ville, Ohio; Ann, who died unmarried; and Thomas, the subject of this sketch.

The latter passed the first ten years of his life in his native county, when, upon the death of his mother, he accompanied his. father to the latter's native county of Hills- borough, New Hampshire. Here he remained until he was twenty years of age, receiving his education in the common schools and en- joying the higher instruction of a cultured home and the watchful care of an honored and honorable father. The year following the latter's death, young Thomas Adams turned his steps toward the setting sun, seek- ing, as so many had done before him, a home in the great State of Ohio. He first secured employment in a foundry at Painesville, where he worked one season. He then entered the service of the Cleveland & Erie Railroad Company (now the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, as brakeman, in which capacity he worked five years, running from Cleveland, Ohio, to Erie, Pennsylvania. At the end of this time, his faithful and efficient services were regarded by his promotion to the position of conductor, in which he has labored ever since. During the first ten years of his service, his headquarters were at Cleveland, Ohio, then Jamestown, Pennsylva- nia, two years, then Franklin, Pennsylvania, five years, and he then removed with his family to Ashtabula, where he has since resided, gaining by his uniform uprightness of character and courtesy the universal good will of his fellow-men.

In September, 1861, Mr. Adams was mar- ried, in Erie, Pennsylvania, to Miss Mary Walbridge, a lady of many estimable quali- ties. She was one of five children of W. and Rachel (Bugbee) Walbridge. The former, born in Massachusetts in 1800, was a moulder

Yours Sincerely

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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

by trade, but later became a hotel-keeper and farmer, his death occurring in Pennsylvania in 1878. By his first marriage, Mr. Adams . had two children: Millie S., born in 1863, now living; and Frank, born in 1867, who died the following year. In 1878 this little family were bereaved of the care of the de- voted wife and mother, whose death carried mourning to many hearts outside of the home circle, which knew and appreciated her worth of character. In Ashtabula, in November, 1881, Mr. Adams was married to Miss Emily Johnson, a lady of domestic tastes and social accomplishments. Her parents, Arthur and Margaret Johnson, had the following children : Robert; Hamilton; Phoebe, who married Savage; Carlos; Charles; Emily; Frances, wife of E. R. Phinney; Anson; Nellie, deceased ; and Mrs. Adams. Mr. Adams has no chil- dren by his second marriage.

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 31

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