Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 44

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 44
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 44
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 44

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).

Mrs. Martin, the mother of our subject, was a bright, companionable woman, highly accomplished, and a great favorite with the old and young, and is held in affectionate re- membrance by all who knew her. She was

375

OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

born in Connecticut, June 11, 1810, and died in Windsor, Ohio, September 1, 1879.

Jervis Martin, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was well-known in central and western New York, as a civil engineer and large contractor, and was a soldier in the war of 1812; and his father, Ebenezer Mar- tin, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.

Alba B. Martin passed his youth on the farm of his father in Windsor, Ashtabula county, Ohio, receiving his education in the common schools and at Farmington Seminary. He was engaged in teaching when the call for men to defend the nation resounded from shore to shore. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; but after a few months was discharged on account of disabil- ities contracted while in the service of his country. He then became engaged in the insurance business, acting for some years as general agent and adjuster, after which he became secretary and salesman for the Geneva Tool Company. He bought largely of the stock of the concern, and is now one of the largest owners of the company. This firm does an extensive business in the manufacturing of garden and hand farming tools, and has established a wide patronage,-their goods 'not only going into all of the States, but into all parts of the civilized world.

Mr. Martin was united in marriage, Sep- tember 27, 1866, to Miss Azalia J. Waters, a daughter of Milton B. and Pluma (Moore) Waters, Middlefield, Geauga county, Ohio. She was born in Hart's Grove, Ohio, May 1, 1845. The families of both her father and mother were among the pioneers of this sec- tion of country. Her father died September 25, 1882, aged seventy-two years, and her mother, February 2, 1890, aged eighty-two years.

Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Martin have two sons and two daughters: the elder, Ward B., mar- ried Minnie Ford; Frank W. located in Cleveland, and both sons are engaged in mer- cantile pursuits; May Louise and Cora Pluma are the daughters. Mrs. Martin is a member of the Congregational Church. Mr. Martin is an active member of the Masonic frater- nity; a member and Past Master of Geneva Lodge, No. 334, F. & A. M .; High Priest of Geneva Chapter, No. 147, R. A. M., and member of Eagle Commandery, K. T., No. 29, Painesville, Ohio; he is also a member of Geneva Lodge and Geneva Encampment, I. O. O. F., and Commander of Bowers Post, No. 29, G. A. R. In politics, he is a stanch Republican.

Mr. Martin has always taken an active part in the local affairs of the community, and has aided largely in its advancement, having served many years as a member of the School- Board and City Council. He is a man of liberal views, and public-spirited, and is held in high esteem by the community in which he dwells, all recognizing in him an active, representative citizen of the commonwealth.

A LBERT MORLEY, deceased .-- Among the old families closely asso- ciated with the early growth of Paines- ville is the Morley family. Albert Morley, deceased, the head or founder of the family here, was born in the town of Brutus, Cayuga county, New York, October 21, 1797, and came to Painesville in July, 1837. He was a man of sterling worth and of great force of character. He died July 12, 1883, at the age of eighty-six. His wife, Esther Healy, was born in Charlestown, New Hamp- shire, February 14, 1798. A woman of a

376

BIOGRAPHIICAL HISTORY

broad, sanguine and sympathetic nature, her influence was not only deeply impressed up- on, but extended far beyond, the circle of her large family. She died April 22, 1889, at the advanced age of ninety-one. Eight sons and two daughters were born to them.

Of the four surviving children, J. H. Mor- ley, of the J. H. Morley Lead Company, now lives in Cleveland; G. W. and E. W. Morley, of the Hardware Company of Morley Broth- ers, in Saginaw, Michigan; while J. R. Mor- ley, connected with the banking and other in- terests, occupies, with his family, the old homestead in Painesville.

E. CROSBY, a lumber dealer residing in Rome township, Ashtabula county, Ohio, was born here July 29, 1834. He received good educational advantages in his youth, and has proved himself a man of more than ordinary business ability. As a member of the firm of Crosby & Beckly, wholesale lumber dealers, he has established a reputation that extends not only over this part of Ohio, but also throughout the East, West and South. They have a branch office in New Haven, Connecticut.

Mr. Crosby was married September 12, 1863, to Miss Emma Wood, who was born November 6, 1846, the daughter of a promi- nent merchant of Ashtabula. They have two children: Nora, born December 16, 1864, and Charles C., Jannary 10, 1877.

During the war Mr. Crosby was one of the brave soldiers in the Union ranks. He en- listed April 25, 1861, in Company D, Nine- teenth Ohio Infantry, and was discharged August 30, 1861. On the 5th of the follow- ing October he re-enlisted in the Sixth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and remained in the

service until he was honorably discharged, October 4, 1862. A portion of this time he served as hospital steward. Mr. Crosby is a Freemason, having attained the Royal Arch degree.

B ONDINOT SEELEY, a prominent and wealthy farmer of Painesville town- ship, Lake county, Ohio, was born on the farm on which he now lives, March 23, 1823, being the son of one of the earliest pioneers of this part of Ohio.

The Seeley family is of Welsh descent, three brothers of that name having come from Wales to America in Colonial times. One of these brothers was killed in the French and Indian war, another became Gov- ernor of New York, and from the third the subject of our sketch is descended. Many of the Seeleys were men of prominence and worth, occupying honorable and useful posi- tions in life. Ebenezer Seeley, a native of Connecticut, and a highly respected farmer of Weston, Fairfield county, that State, had. a son, Uriah, born at that place, May 25, 1791.

Uriah Seeley was the father of Bondinot, and was a man whose unique character and prominent connection with the early history of northeastern Ohio entitles him to more than a passing notice on the pages of this work. He was reared on his father's farm and remained in his native State until he was twenty-three years old. In 1815 he came West on horseback to what was then the frontier, and in Lake county settled on the farm which his son now owns and occupies. A few acres of this land had been partly cleared, and a log cabin built on the place. The Indians frequently called at his cabin.

377

OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

Deer and bears were plenty here, and for some time Mr. Seeley had to keep his hogs shut up in a log pen to protect them from the bears. On one occasion he captured a young bear, which he kept for a while. He had married before coming to Ohio, and in 1816 returned to Connecticut and brought his wife and child to this pioneer home, making the journey by wagon. In those days it was sometimes pretty hard getting along. There was no money in the country, and sup- plies were hard to procure. At one time he traded four bushels of wheat for a pound of sole-leather, with which to repair his boots. It was several years before he could get cash enough to pay his taxes. It took plucky men to come out here, live in cabin homes sur- rounded by Indians and wild animals, clear away the forest and develop farms. Mr. Seeley was one of these plucky men; indeed, all the elements of the true pioneer were found in his make-up. Few of the early set- tlers did more to advance the interests of this part of the country than did he. He was one of the commissioners appointed by the gov- ernor to settle the boundary between Ohio and Michigan. In 1824 he was Sheriff of Geanga county, all this part of Ohio then being included in Geauga county. He served in the State Senate in 1832-'33, being nomi- nated on the anti-Jackson ticket, and as the opponent of a local faction here which he fought and finally wiped out. A strong Abolitionist, he was subsequently nominated by that party to represent Ashtabula and Ge- auga counties in the State Legislature. He was connected with the underground railway, keeping one of its stations and assisting more than 1,000 colored people in making their escape to Canada, In politics he was independent and conservative. He took an active part in the campaign when Horace

Greeley ran for president, frequently pre- siding at the Greeley meetings held in Paines- ville. He was not only a man of undaunted conrage, but also of strong moral and re- ligious convictions, and he lived up to his convictions in the truest sense. He and all his family were members of the Congrega- tional Church. Mrs. Seeley's maiden name was Abbie Turney, and she too was a native of Weston, Connecticut. They had ten chil- dren, of whom Bondinot was the fifth born, and one of the six who reached adult years. The names of these six are as follows: An- na, Parthena, Abbie, Elizabeth, Lavinia and - Bondinot. Their mother died at the age of sixty-five years.

Bondinot Seeley was born and reared amid frontier surroundings, receiving his educa- tion in one of the typical log schoolhouses of the period, which, with its open fireplace, its slab benches, and its teacher "boarding around," is a picture that has frequently been presented. Hunting wild game was one of his boyish sports, and to kill a deer was no unusual thing for him. When he was nine- teen he went to Lawrence county, Ohio, and settled at Hanging Rock, now known as Iron- ton, and there for thirty years he was exten- sively engaged in the manufacture of pig iron. In 1873, on account of his father's advanced age, and in order to educate his children, he came back to the old home place, and here he has since been engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, his honored father having passed away some years ago. Mr. Seeley now has 300 acres of well-improved land, all of which is devoted to general farming.

He was married in 1847, to Charlotte A. Austin, a native of Ashtabula county, Ohio. They have six children and fifteen grand- children, the names of the former being as follows: Kate A., wife of Prof. Albert HI.

378

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Tuttle, Charlotteville, Virginia; Lamar B .; Mrs. Anna W. Benard, Portland, Oregon; Uriah, of Tacoma, Washington; Edward A .; Orvill W., Portland, Oregon.

Mr. and Mrs. Seeley are members of the Congregational Church. Politically, he is a Republican. He is well posted on the gen- eral topics of the day, takes a commendable interest in the general welfare of the com- munity in which he lives, and is regarded as a most worthy citizen.

R OBERT A. MOODEY, deceased, was a member of one of the early pioneer families of Painesville, Ohio, and for many years was prominently identified with the interests of Lake county. Follow- ing is a brief sketch of his life:

Robert A. Moodey was born in Lake county, Ohio, in the year 1832. His father, Robert Moodey, a native of Pennsylvania, was among the first settlers of Lake county, and for many years one of its honored citi- zens. Robert A. attended the high school at Painesville, and also the academy at Austin- burgh, Ashtabula county. He was energetic and ambitious and usually succeeded in whatever he undertook. For many years he was one of the successful merchants of Painesville, dealing in gentlemen's furnish- ing goods, and doing an extensive business. He was also connected for a time with a drug and hardware firm. In 1873 he was elected Treasurer of Lake county, the duties of which office he faithfully performed one term. He was elected Clerk of the county in 1882, and while an incumbent of that office his useful career was terminated by his death, which occurred November 16, 1884. Few men in Lake county had more friends than did Rob-

ert A. Moodey. Politically, he was a Re- publican ; fraternally, an Odd Fellow.

Mr. Moodey was married in 1855 to Fanny V. Morse, who was born in Concord town- ship, this county, and who is still living. Collins Morse, her father, was born in Ver- mont in 1803, and for some time was engaged in farming. He came to Ohio at an early day, about 1830, and established marble works at Painesville, where he did an exten- sive business for many years. He accumu- lated considerable property, owning at various times several farms, and by his sterling char- acter won the respect and esteem of all who knew him. He died in 1883, at the age of eighty years. His wife, whose maiden name was Fanny Curtiss, was born and reared in Vermont, and died at the age of thirty-one years. They had eight children, six of whom reached adult years.

Mr. and Mrs. Moodey had two children: Robert and Mary, the latter being now Mrs. Alvord. Mrs. Moodey resides on North St. Claire street, Painesville, in the residence bought by her father nearly fifty years ago. She is a member of the Congregational Church, and is held in high esteem by a large circle of friends here.

A M. TYLER, grocer, Geneva, Ohio, is a native of the State of New York, born in Otsego county, May 20, 1850. His parents, Horace M. and Mary M. (Graff) Tyler, were also natives of Otsego county, New York; both died when he was yet a child, but he was reared on the home- stead and was educated in the district schools. At the age of nineteen years he was employed as clerk in a country store with his elder brother, W. H. Tyler, at

379

OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

Westford, Otsego county. There he remained until the spring of 1875, when he took a similar position at Joliet, Illinois. In the summer of the following year he came to Geneva and purchased the business of M. C. Gilbert & Son, dealers in groceries and crock- ery. He has since conducted the trade with gratifying success. In 1885 a disastrous fire consumed his business house, but he im- mediately rebuilt, and is now the owner of . one of the most substantial blocks in the town.

Mr. Tyler was united in marriage October 17, 1880, to Miss Carrie R. Gill, a daughter of Elihu B. Gill, of Geneva. Mr. Gill is a railroad engineer by profession, and for more than thirty years drove his engine over the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad.

In politics Mr. Tyler holds to the tenets of the Republican party. He is a member of the 1. O. O. F., the A. F. & A, M. and the K. of P. fraternities. In both his business and social relations he bears a reputation for strict integrity of character.

His brother, John K. Tyler, was one of the many loyal citizens who responded to his country's call in her hour of peril. Enlist- ing at the age of nineteen he saw three years of hard service, and at the end of that period was one of the two members of his company who alone survived, the others having lost their lives on the field of battle.

A RCHIBALD P. LAUGHLIN, a bril- liant young lawyer and a representa- tive citizen of Ashtabula, Ohio, was born in Andover township, Ashtabula county, this State, June 12, 1863. His father, Andrew C. Laughlin, was born in Pennsyl- vania, and was a son of Hugh Laughlin, a

native of New Jersey, of Scotch-Irish ances- try. In 1840 the latter removed with his family from the Keystone State to Ashtabula county, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his days. Andrew was but a child when his parents settled in this county, where he was reared and educated. He married Miss Mary A. Caldwell, sister of Judge J. P. Cald- well, an -able jurist of this county. They have three children: the subject of this sketch and two sisters, Janet B. and Jennie C. The parents still reside on the homestead in And- over township, where the father is a success- ful farmer, both parents being held in uni- versal esteem.

The subject of this notice was reared on the home farm, and was engaged in farm work and teaching until nearly the age of twenty-one. He first attended the district schools, then the Jefferson high school, and in 1883 graduated at the high school of Bloomfield, Ohio. At the early age of seven- teen, he began school teaching, being thus occupied as many as seven winter terms, three of which were taught in Texas. On his return from the Lone Star State, he went to Jeffer- son and entered the law office of J. P. Cad- well, now Probate Judge of Ashtabula county, and uncle of the subject of this sketch. Mr. Laughlin thus began the study of law. In March, 1887, he was admitted to the bar, and a few months later became Deputy Clerk of the Probate Court, where he served until May, 1892, when he began the practice of law in partnership with Judge L. S. Sherman. The firm of Sherman & Laughlin is one of the strongest co-partnerships in the county, holding a very large and lucrative clientage. Both are men of superior training and legal ability, the highest honor and unwavering energy and perseverance, the senior member having had years of experience at the bar and

380

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

on the bench. They justly deserve the pros- perity which their efforts have secured. In April, 1893, Mr. Laughlin was elected, on the Republican ticket, City Solicitor for an unex- pired term.

May 26, 1893, he was united in marriage to Miss Katherine E., daughter of Edward E. and Marjorie (Turch) Ives, of Jefferson, Ohio.

Mr. Laughlin is an ardent Republican in polities, and, fraternally, is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Columbian Lodge, No. 491. Aside from his distinguished family connections, he possesses ability and worth of character which alone would have gained for him a prominent position in the world's affairs and esteem. Though yet young in the profession he shadows forth that quality which justifies the prediction that in the not distant future he will be one of the distin- guished members of the Ohio bar.

F E. PALMER, owner and proprietor of the sawmills at West Williamsfield, was born in Dorset township, Ashta- bula county, in 1854, a son of Elihu and Lydia Palmer, residents of Denmark. The father was born in this county, where the family were the among the early pioneers. Our sub- ject was engaged in agricultural pursuits for a time, and since 1890 has followed the mill- ing business in Ashtabula county. He has had mslls located at Denmark, Pierpont, Wayne and Williamsfield. During the last eighteen months 800,000 feet of lumber has been cut in Mr. Ralmer's mill, Our subject's time is divided between his mill and farm at Denmark, where his father resides. He was also engaged in buying, pressing and shipping hay for two years.

In 1886 Mr. Palmer was united in mar- riage with Miss Alice Knapp, also a native of Ashtabula county. They have three chil- dren: Alfred, aged thirteen years; Carrie, eight years; and Alice Betina, eighteen months. Mr. Palmer affiliates with the Re- publican party, and is a member of the I. O. O. F., Ensign Lodge, No. 400.

J S. SWEET, a well known citizen of Ashtabula county, was born September 21, 1841, a son of Samuel N. and Olive A. (Ellis) Sweet, natives of New York. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Captain Noah Sweet, was an early pioneer of Ashta- bula county, Ohio. Samuel Sweet departed this life in Trumbull county, Ohio, in No- vember, 1891, and his wife died previous to that time. They were the parents of seven children: Julia Fowler; Ellen; Albert, de- ceased at the age of thirty-one years; Sarah Wilcox; Jellett S .; Frank, a resident of Detroit, Michigan; and Emma Adams. The father was a farmer by occupation, a Repub- lican in his political views, and, religiously, a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. J. S. Sweet, our subject, remained in Windsor until twenty years of age, and was educated in the district schools of his native county and at Farmington. In 1862 he en- listed in the One Hundred and Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company K, and, on account of disability, was for a time on the Reserve Corps. He was honorably discharged at Detroit, Michigan, in July, 1865. In 1866 he returned to the old Captain Sweet farm at Windsor, this county, which is one of the finest places in the community. This fine farinstead is well equipped, and has excellent buildings, including a good barn

Charles F. House

381

OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

52 x 82 feet, another 30 x 54 feet, and a residence built by Captain Sweet. The place has also a good dairy, and many other im- provements.

Our subject was married at Windsor, at the age of twenty-four years, to Laura Adams, who was reared and educated in this county, a daughter of Horace and Asenath (Norris) Adams. The former is deceased, and the latter still resides at Windsor, aged ninety- one years. They had six children, three sons and three daughters. The sons took part in the late war,-Herbert in the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Ohio Infantry ; Austin in the One Hundred and Fifth: and Emery J. in the One Hundred and Seventy- seventh. The daughters are Ellen, Laura and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Sweet have two children,-Austa M., wife of H. C. Spencer, a physician of this county; and Mabel, aged twelve years. Mr. Sweet affiliates with the Republican party, has served as Justice of the Peace two terms, and as Township Trus- tee nine terms. He is a member of the G. A. R., Kile Post, No. 80, and of the Bap- tist Church.

C HARLES F. HOUSE, a leading practi- tioner of Painesville, Lake county. Ohio, has here made his home and field of operation for the past nineteen years. He keeps thoroughly abreast of the time in regard to all new discoveries and applications of the science of healing, and enjoys now not only a local reputation, but has patients from a large area of the surrounding country.

John House, the father of our subject, was born in Westfield, Massachusetts. Ile was a farmer and blacksmith and for many years was Postmaster at Leroy. For a long period

of time he was engaged in the dry-goods business in Painesville, the firm being known as J. House & Son. He was an active mem- ber of the First Congregational Church and in politics was first a Whig, afterward a Re- publican, and for the last four years of his life used his franchise in favor of the Prohi- bition party. His death occurred when he had reached the good old age of eighty-four years. He married Jane E. Mosely, who was born in Massachusetts and came to Ohio when quite young. Her father was a prominent early settler and large land-owner of Geauga county. He was over ninety years old at the time of his death. Mrs. House became the mother of eight children, six of the number living to mature years. She was called from this life in her seventy-seventh year.

Dr. House was born December 12, 1847: was brought up in Painesville and was given the best school advantages, both here and also at Oberlin College, where he spent six months. Afterward going to Hudson, he entered the Western Reserve College, where he took a classical course and graduated in 1871, with the degree of Master of Arts. In the spring of 1871, he began the study of medicine and after two and one-half years of study in the Cleveland Medical College he went East to complete the required years. In 1874, he graduated from the Long Island Hos- pital College and soon after returning here " hung out his shingle." His practice is now as large as that of any other physician in the city, and he is often called into consultation with other leading members of the profession.

The marriage of Dr. House and Miss Mary I. Radcliff was celebrated October 4, 1888. She is a member of the Episcopal Church, but the Doctor prefers the Congregational Church, but is quite liberal and tolerant in his views. In politics he is a Republican, and fraternally

382

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

is a member of the Masonic order. From 1879 to 1888, Dr. House was Secretary of the Board of Pension Examiners of Paines- ville. He is a member of the American Medical Association and of the American Academy of Medicine.

John House, grandfather of our subject, was born in North Adams, Massachusetts. He was of English extraction, the family hav- ing located in America during the Colonial days. He was a farmer in Geauga county, to which he came at a very early day and entered large tracts of land, owning at one time fully 1,000 acres. He developed a large share of this and greatly increased its value. John House was a blacksmith and wagonmaker by trade, and at one time engaged in merchan- dising. He departed this life at the age of eighty-two years.

C HESTER J. MCNUTT, manufacturer of steam engines and mill machinery, in Ashtabula, Ohio, a capable business man and public-spirited citizen, was born in Austinburg township, Ashtabula county, this State, September 29, 1845. He comes of hardy New England stock, his parents, John C. and Lucy Ann (Tinker) McNutt, having been born, reared and married in Russell, Massachusetts. The former, born in 1810, is now living, hale and hearty, at the age of eighty-two years. In 1832, he, with his wife and three children, joined the westward emi- gration, coming to Ashtabula county, Ohio, settling first in Lenox, but later removed to Austinburg. The father has always been a mechanic, and is a man of genius in his de- partment, having invented and mannfactured many valuable mechanical appliances. He has followed sawmilling many years, and built and

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 44

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