Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 34

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 34
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 34
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 34

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).

R EV. JOHN JAMISON PEARCE, a member of the Central Pennsylvania Methodist Episcopal Conference, and a resident of Conneaut, Ohio, was born in Luzerne, Pennsylvania, February 28, 1826, son of Rev. Marmaduke and Hannah (Stnart) Pearce, the latter being a descendant of Prince John Alden, who came over in the Mayflower. His paternal ancestor, Edward Pearce, served in the battle of the Boyne.

Rev. Marmaduke Pearce was born in Ches- ter county, Pennsylvania, August 18, 1776, and was a self-educated man. He was inti- mately associated with Dr. George Peck (brother of Bishop Jesse T. Peck,) who, in his history of Methodism in the Wyoming valley, says: " Rev. Marmaduke Pearce was the strongest man in the Genesee Conference, although he seldom ever spoke." He was for years a Presiding Elder, and for many years was stationed in Baltimore and other prominent places. He was again and again elected a delegate to the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. After a

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long and useful life he passed to his re- ward, his death occurring in Berwick, Co- lumbia county, Pennsylvania, September 11, 1852. His wife was born in 1781, and died at Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, October 21, 1859. She was a member of the church from her early girlhood, and her whole life was characterized by the sweetest of Christian graces. They had three children. Stewart, the oldest, was born November 26,"1820, and died October 13, 1882. He was a_man of prominence in his day, was a historian of some note, served two terms in the Legislature of Pennsylvania; was Postmaster of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, eight years, and served as Collector of Tolls on the Pennsylvania Canal and Railroad at Columbia, Pennsylvania, for some time. While occupying the last named position he lost his eyesight, and thereafter used an amanuensis. He accumulated a large fortune, and in his will left $27,000 to various benevolences. He was a believer in the Christian religion and died in that faith. During his life he placed ten or twelve memorial slabs over various points in the Wyoming valley, where, during the Indian history, noted events occurred. It should be here stated that John Jameson, grandfather of our subject, was the last man massacred by the Indians in the Wyoming valley. Stewart Pearce was never married. Cromwell, the second of the family, was born July 1, 1823, and died June 16, 1872. He was a graduate of law; was married November 27, 1861, to Miss Sarah H. Taylor, of Owego, New York, and was a genial, jolly man, kind-hearted and generous, and a favorite with all.

Rev. John J. Pearce is the youngest of the family and the only one left to bear his father's name. He became an itinerant min- ister when a boy less than eighteen years of age, and in 1844 joined the Baltimore Con-

ference, of which he was a member ten years. His first work was on Lycoming circuit. At that time nearly all ministers of the confer- ence were circuit riders. In 1854 he was elected to the Thirty-fourth Congress, and while a member of that body voted for General N. P. Banks for Speaker; was closely asso- ciated with Hon. Joshua R. Giddings, and a great admirer of Benjamin Wade, who was in the Senate at that time.

In 1857, Mr. Pearce was transferred to the Wyoming Conference, and was stationed at Kingston, Pennsylvania; in 1858 he was at Owego, New York; in 1859 to 1861, was Presiding Elder of the Owego District; and from 1862]to 1864, was Presiding Elder of the Honesdale District. In 1865-'66, he was in the State of Delaware. He was transferred to the Philadelphia Conference in 1867, and was stationed at Philadelphia, from which place he was sent to Pottsville, where he re- mained from 1868 to 1870. In 1874 he was transferred to the Central Pennsylvania Con- ference and stationed at Mulberry Street Church, Williamsport, where he rendered efficient service three years. Then from 1877 until 1880, he was Presiding Elder of the Williamsport District, after which he was stationed at Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, three years, and three years at Lewistown, same State. Since then he has sustained a super- numerary relation to the conference. In all these years he has been an earnest and faith- ful worker for the Master, and has been the means of accomplishing a vast amount of good. He spent some time in lecturing throughout the State of Pennsylvania upon the vital subjects: " Is there a future retri- bution ?" " The truthfulness of Christianity," and kindred topics.

Mr. Pearce moved to Conneant in 1892 and here invested in considerable property, which

Respectful Skal haylor

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has rapidly increased in value. He is a great admirer of fine horses, and after his hours of study-for he is a student yet-it is his de- light to take a drive behind his prancing steeds. His home surroundings are every- thing that would indicate culture and refine- ment.

Mr. Pearce was married February 22, 1848, to Miss Elizabeth Dunn, daughter of Wash- ington Dunn, the owner of the Great Island in Clinton county, Pennsylvania, and a sister of Judge William Dunn, a celebrated politi- cian of Pennsylvania, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Pearce have four children, namely: Stewart, a railroad employee in Conneaut, married Miss Lide McGinley, and has three children: Stewart, John J. and Donald; Anna M., wife of H. S. Schalk, of Conneant, general dispatcher on the Nickel Plate Railroad, has two children: John Pearce and Marmaduke; Bessie D., wife of F. A. Howard, a whole- sale grocer of Chester, Pennsylvania, has four children: Pearce, Mary, Frederick and Ned; and Grace, a graduate of the Boston School of Oratory, is a noted elocutionist.

Mrs. Pearce and all the children, with one exception, are members of the Methodist Church. Fraternally Mr. Pearce is identified with the Masonic order, and is also a member of the K. of P. In polities he is a Repub- lican.

L UCIEN K. SHAYLOR .- Few, if any, of Ashtabula's citizens are better known or more thoroughly esteemed than the subject of this sketch, whose long residence in this vicinity has afforded all an oppor- tunity to judge of his merits and appreciate his numerous excellent qualities.

The American ancestors of the Shaylor family came from England, where the name

is found on tombstones, and spelled in the same manner as that of the present genera- tion. It is supposed, however, that the founder of the family came from Germany. The Shaylor family settled in New England, eight miles below Hartford, which fact is mentioned in the early history of that com- monwealth. The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was born in Connecti- cut, and was a ship-carpenter by occupation, He died from an accident received on the Connecticut river. The paternal grand- mother was Lydia Goodrich, and their chil- dren were: Edwin; Asy; Israel G., father of the subject of this sketch; Samuel; Al- son; Mary, who married Jerry Goodrich; Jerusha, who married Mr. Morton; Parmelia, married to Mr. Richardson; and Sarah, twice married, first to Mr. Gray and afterward to Mr. Turner. Two of the sons went to Wis- consin and have never since been heard from.

Israel G. Shaylor, father of L. K. Shaylor, of this sketch, was born in Connecticut, Jan- uary 1, 1810, and was reared and educated in that State. He afterward served an ap- prenticeship with a Mr. Samuel Stow as car- penter and joiner, and while thus engaged his employer concluded to remove to the West and settle in Ashtabula county, Ohio, whereupon young Shaylor, then sixteen years of age, accompanied him. The young ap- prentice completed his trade in this county, where he afterward prosecuted his work until stagnation in business rendered it difli- cult to secure work, although Mr. Shaylor was master of his trade and did good work. Owing to this depression in building inter- ests Mr. Shaylor was forced to employ him- self at ship carpentry as a day laborer at $1 a day. The first boat on which he worked had a 100-foot keel, and was dubbed "Shep- ard's Folly," and was built at the harbor.

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He was the modeler and builder of the " Nightingale," which was built in Con- neaut, and the " Mary Collins," named after the wife of the chief engineer, Charles Collins, which was built in Ashtabula, the last two being at that time the fastest boats on the lake. In the meantime, in connection with his work, Mr. Shaylor studied assidu- ously the methods of ship-building, in which he finally became an adept. This fact alone amply demonstrates his ability in that he could thus master this complicated work with but a slight knowledge of mathematics. He was married in Ashtabula county, to Mary Woodbury, daughter of William and Mary (Hall) Woodbury, natives of Vermont and New Hampshire, respectively. Her father, also a carpenter and joiner by trade, settled in the Buckeye State in the early part of 1800, and passed his remaining days there. His devoted wife died in 1849, aged sixty-five years, while he survived until 1862, dying greatly lamented by all who knew him. They were the parents of seven children: Manley; Minerva, married to Will- iam E. Hilson; Mary, previously mentioned, born in 1814; Emily, who married Emery Luce; Sarah married L. D. Gates; Nathaniel W., living on Lake street in Ashtabula; and Amos J., a resident of Michigan.

Mr. and Mrs. Israel Shaylor had seven children, and of them we make consistent record in this connection: Lucien K. gives title to this sketch; Frances married G. A. Streeter; Egbert is a traveling salesman, and resides near Boston, Massachusetts; Horace lives in Portland, Maine, holds a professor- ship in a business college there, has a wide reputation as a penman, is author of the Harper Copy Book, published by the Harper Brothers, and possesses marked talent as an artist; Henry died at the age of thirteen

years; Cornelia lived to be only two years of age; and Cornelius is a member of the firm of Bradley, Courier & Co., New York city.

Israel Shaylor was the landlord, as early as 1840, of that somewhat noted hotel known as the Ohio Exchange, and situated upon the bluffs at Ashtabula Harbor. The building is a large and substantial brick structure, and is now occupied by the Young Men's Christian Association. While he was a popular land- lord, his forte was in the line of mechanics, in which he had few equals. His son Lucien possesses and highly prizes a model made by him as preliminary to the construction of one of his ships, of which latter the former is a perfect miniature.

The subject of this sketch was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, November 22, 1833, where he was reared, and received his edu- cation in the district schools. When twelve years of age he secured employment on a boat plying the lake as cook and later as steward, serving altogether for eight years. Incidentally it is worthy of mention that in the vessel on which he was first employed was shipped from Ashtabula the white oak plank used in laying the first street crossing in Chicago in 1845.

On quitting the lake, in 1854, he went to the head of Lake Superior, whose silver waters were plowed at that time by only two boats. In the winter of 1855 he rode in an open sleigh to Madison, Wisconsin, being seventeen days on the road, through a sec- tion marked by wild and interesting scenery. He also witnessed the treaty meeting held on Madeline Island, one of the Apostle group, when that part of the country was ceded to the United States by the Chippewa Indians. He later returned, in 1855, temporarily to Ashtabula county, Ohio, where he built a steam sawmill, which he afterward removed

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to Superior and there operated successfully for two years, when he sold it, receiving as part payment two shares in Portland, now the prosperous city of Duluth, where he also owned at one time 160 acres in the heart of that thriving metropolis. He was for two years in Superior, now known as West Su- perior, before returning to Ohio, which latter State he reached in June, 1858. Here he built a sawmill, which was located on his present farm, and which he operated fifteen years, afterward turning his attention to farming, in connection with which he has conducted a paying milk business. He also operated for three years an engine for the Ashtabula Tool Company, all of which en- deavors have added materially to his income. He is now the owner of 182 acres of as fine farming land as is to be found in the State, besides which he has valuable property in the harbor and at Ashtabula, ample provis- ion being thus made for his comfort in com- ing years, and all accumulations having been made by his own unaided efforts and ability.

Mr. Shaylor was first married March 29, 1855, to Diana T., a highly esteemed lady, daughter of William Brown, a favorably known pioneer of this county. Her parents had seven children besides herself: Polly Ann, Martha B., Titus, Horace, Charles, Lewis, Martin, and one who died at the age of twenty-two years. Mr. and Mrs. Shaylor had five children: Lu B .; Alice J., wife of Ralf C. Shepard; Mary, wife of W. S. Force; William, and Nellie. In 1881 Mr. Shaylor was called upon to mourn the loss of his devoted wife, who had been a faithful helpmeet for twenty-six years. She was a woman of many amiable qualities, which won for her the regard of all who knew her. Mr. Shaylor married November 26, 1886, his second wife, Adella Wright, an

educated and refined lady, daughter of Samuel and Betsey E. (McCaulley) Wright, highly respected residents of this vicinity. They have no children. Mr. Shaylor is a member of the Republican party, as was his father before him.

Thus briefly is recapitulated a life which has been filled with useful and honorable work, by which our subject has not only raised himself to prosperity and gained the esteem of the people, but has also materially contributed to the progress and welfare of his community.

C AREY W. KNAPP, senior partner of the Knapp & Pratt Manufacturing Company, is well known as one of the most enterprising and successful business men of Geneva. In September, 1890, the firm of which he is a member purchased the business of the Enterprise Manufacturing Company, of which Mr. Knapp had been Secretary and Treasurer for twelve years. The Knapp & Pratt Manufacturing Company manufacture house-keeping hardware and hardware specialties, theirs being the only house in the United States west of Connecti- cut sending out these goods. They transact a large business, shipping to all States in the Union, and to foreign ports.

Mr. Knapp is a native of the Buckeye State, born at Farmington, Trumbull county, February 14, 1839. From the age of six years he was reared at Jefferson, Ashtabula county, attending the common schools of that place; Judge Howland being one of his teach- ers. He finished his studies at Twinsburg. Ohio, and during the four years following he traveled for the American Bible Society in Ohio; one year he was employed by a Pitts-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

burg glassware mannfactory, and in 1865 en- gaged in the hardware business in Jefferson. It was in 1872 that he came to Geneva, taking a position as traveling salesman with the Geneva Tool Company. At the end of six years he became Secretary and Treasurer of the Enterprise Manufacturing Company.

September 1, 1887, Mr. Knapp was united in marriage to Miss Minnie L. Canon, daugh- ter of Porter and Mary (Olds) Canon. She died August 20, 1885. June 9, 1887, he married Mrs. Nettie Maltbie, of Jackson, Michigan, a daughter of Charles Teachout, of that city.

The parents of Carey W. Knapp, Rev. B. S. and Mary (Wolcott) Knapp, were natives of Vermont and Ohio respectively, the mother being a member of the same branch of the family as was Governor Wolcott, of Connecti- cut. The father was a clergyman of the Bap- tist Church, and was pastor at Geneva and subsequently at Jefferson, where he died February 22, 1850. The paternal grand- father of our subject was one of the pioneers of Trumbull county, Ohio, and was a black- smith by trade.

Mr. Knapp is a Republican, having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He served as Mayor of Garrettsville, and has been a member of the council of Geneva. He is a member of the Masonic order, being a. Knight Templar, and belongs to the I. O. O. F.

I JOHN P. DEVNEY, a prominent real estate, loan and insurance agent of Ashtabula, Ohio, a progressive business man and respected citizen, was born in Buf- falo, New York, July 22, 1855. His father, James P. Devney, was born in Ireland and accompanied his parents to America about

1835, when he was seven years of age. He here learned the trade of ship building, which he has successfully followed for more than fifty years, being now a resident ship builder of Ashtabula. He married Margaret Jordon, a native of Canada, of German and French descent, and they have five sons and five daughters.

The subject of this sketch was reared in the city of his birth, where he gained a high- school education, after which he took a com- mercial course in Bryant & Stratton's Busi- nesss College at Buffalo. He then learned the ship carpenter's trade, at which he worked during the winter for about ten years, sailing on the lakes during the summer. He be- came part owner of several vessels and was Captain at the age of nineteen. This occu- pation he finally discontinued, and in 1879 came to Ashtabula, where he became inter- ested with his father in ship building, in which he was engaged until 1886, when he was appointed Deputy Collector of Customs, at Ashtabula, which position he held until the spring of 1891. He has also, since 1886, been interested in the real estate and insur- ance business, being regarded as an active, pushing and successful man. He is con- nected with a number of local enterprises, being a stockholder in the Daily Standard, a newspaper of worth and wide circulation. He is also a stockholder in the East Side Railway Company and a stockholder and Di- rector in the Driving Park Association, do- ing much by his ability and energy to develop the resources and advance the interests of his community.

In 1882, Mr. Devney was married to Miss Mary Barrett, an estimable lady, and they have five children.

Mr. Devney is Democratic in politics, while fraternally he affiliates with the

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Knights of Pythias and the National Union of Foresters. In private and public life alike he has been distinguished by a high sense of honor and superior ability, and has the best wishes of all for his future pros- perity.

JOHN SMITH, conductor on the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, and a valued citizen of Conneaut, Ohio, was born in Brooklyn, New York, Septem- ber 3, 1850, son of John and Mary (Rein- bond) Smith, natives respectively of Alsace and Lorraine, France. His parents came to America at an early day and settled in New York. His mother died about 1856, at the age of thirty-eight years, leaving three chil- dren, John, Josie and Frances. By a pre- vious marriage his father had two daughters, Mary and Kate.

The subject of our sketch started out in life on his own responsibility at an early age. His first employment was in the trimming department of a cooper shop, where he re- ceived $9.00 per week. Afterward he learned the cooper trade. Next, we find him running a circular saw at Queenspoint, New York. June 27, 1871, he landed in Pitts- burg, and soon afterward came from there to Steubenville, Ohio. His best opening there was in a stone quarry, where he was em- ployed by a railroad company and received two dollars per day. He continued thus en- gaged until November, 1871. That winter he entered the service of the Pan Handle, in the employ of which company he remained until 1876, the last two years serving as con- ductor. He has continued in railroad em- ploy ever since. He was freight conductor until 1881 and since then a passenger con-

ductor. Since January, 1886, he has been in the employ of the Nickel Plate. In all his railroad career he never has been suspended a day. His natural ability and his careful attention to business have gained for him the high esteem of the officers of the road as well as of his fellow workmen. He is one among the large number of employes of the Nickel Plate who have rendered excellent service and are retained because of their thorough knowledge of the business, and their careful attention to the responsible du- ties devolving upon them.

Mr. Smith was married in Dennison, Ohio, in 1875, to Miss Mary Liggett, daughter of Robert and Rebecca (McGrew) Liggett, of Dennison. Her mother died in 1878, aged fifty-six years, and her father in 1890, aged seventy-six. Their seven children are as fol- lows: Sarah, wife of John McRichie; Albert, who married Mary Davis; James, who mar- ried Mary Darr; Susan, wife of Stephen Fet- terly; Mrs. John Smith; John and Harry- the last two unmarried.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith had four children, three of whom, Josie, Aggie and Belle, are living. James died soon after they came to Conneaut, aged four years. The devoted wife and loving mother departed this life November 24, 1890. She was born at Port Clinton Ohio, January 5, 1857. Her life was characterized by the sweetest of Chris- tian graces and the most loving devotion to her husband and family. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as also was her mother. A woman of culture and refinement, generous impulses, great energy and sunny disposition, she made her home happy and drew around her a circle of loving friends. She rendered her husband valued assistance in securing their comfortable home; but she was not destined long to adorn it

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with her presence, for disease soon marked her as its victim and she was called to her home above. Her untimely death cast a gloom not only over the members of her immediate family but also over a large cir- cle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Smith's daughters preside over his home and are deserving of great credit for the way in which they conduct their household affairs.

Mr. Smith and his family attend the Bap- tist Church, of which he is a supporter. He is a member of the Order of Railway Con- ductors, and his political associations are with the Republican party.

D B. McMULLIN, train dispatcher on the Nickel Plate Railroad, also Secre- tary of the Conneaut Building and Loan Company, Conneaut, Ohio, was born in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, January 23, 1855. His parents were D. B. and Sarah Ann (Mc- Clelland) McMullin, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively.

The senior Mr. McMullin was a cabinet- maker by trade, which buisness he followed in Newark, Ohio, for some years. He went to Iowa in 1854, and after remaining there about a year came back to Ohio and settled at Mid- dletown, where for some time he was engaged as cabinet-maker and undertaker, and subse- quently at farming. He went from Middle- town to Newark in 1866, and there spent the rest of his life, dying in 1874, at the age of fifty-six years. He was a man of good busi- ness qualifications and was honorable and upright in all his dealings with his fellow- men, and, while not a member, attended the Presbyterian Church and was a liberal sup- porter of the same. His widow is still living at Newark, now seventy-four years of age.

The subject of this sketch is the fifth born in their family of five sons and one daughter. James, the second, was a soldier in the late war. He died in January, 1890, at the age of forty-three years.

D. B. McMullin started out in life for him- self at the age of sixteen years, securing a position in the telegraph office at Newark, Ohio. He went from there to Birmingham, Alabama, where he was engaged in the same business one year, returning to Newark at the end of that time. For about twelve years he was in the service of the Pan Handle, being stationed as train dispatcher at Colum- bus from 1874 to 1880, and at Dennison from 1880 to 1886. In October, 1886, he came to Conneaut, where he has since been em- ployed as train dispatcher for the Nickel Plate. This position is one of great respon- sibility and requires the closest attention, and that he is eminently fitted for it is amply demonstrated by the high degree of satisfac- tion attending his efforts during the years he has been here.

The Conneaut Building and Loan Com- pany, with which Mr. McMullin is connected, has been in existence five years. It is an enterprise of considerable importance and is extensively patronized. It has a capital stock of $500,000. Following are the officers of the company: President, E. A. Miller, mas- ter mechanic of the Nickel Plate at Con- neaut; Vice-President, E. M. Comstock; Treasurer, Charles Hayward; and Secretary, D. B. McMullin. Its office is located on Main street.

Mr. McMullin was married in 1880, to Miss Elizabeth Donaldson, daughter of A. L. Donaldson, of Columbus, Ohio. They have one child, Roy A., born in Dennison, Ohio, January 19, 1883. Both he and his wife are members of the Congregational Church.

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 34

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