Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 46

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 46
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 46
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 46

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county. He was reared on the home farm and attended school in the rudimentary log schoolhouse of early times. His youth was passed in grubbing and chopping, and he early learned those lessons of perseverance and endurance so essential to the pioneer and to success in all the departments of life. He lived at home until he attained his majority, when he began to work for himself. At the age of twenty-three, he married ' and settled on land northeast of Andover, where he re- mained six years. He then sold out advan- tageously and bought a larger tract of 200 acres in the woods, which he industriously cleared and cultivated, erecting a good house and barns and fencing it all in good shape, making it one of the most valuable farms in the township. He still owns the farm, which yields an independent income. In February, 1889, Mr. Stillman moved into town and retired from active labors, to enjoy, in well merited repose, the results of his many years of active exertion. He bought the Denslow property in Andover, situated on a pleasant site on Chestnut street, and provided with a substantial and comfortable residence, good barn and other modern improvements, altogether a most desirable place in which to pass a lifetime.

As previously mentioned, Mr. Stillman was married, at the age of twenty-three, in Williamsfield township, Ashtabula county, December 8, 1847, to Alma Mack, an intel- ligent lady, a native of New York State, and daughter of Ezra Mack, one of the earliest settlers of Ashtabula county. They had three children: Adelbert D., residing on the farm; Marianna L., wife of Frank Ayers, a success- ful farmer of Andover township; and Eddy, who died at the age of seven years. March 23, 1883, the family were deprived by death of the loving wife and mother, whose life had

been one of unselfish devotion to their inter- ests. January 10, 1884, Mr. Stillman was married again, his second wife being Mrs. Julia Nichols, widow of O. D. Nichols, an old settler of Ashtabula county. Her maiden name was Birge, and she was a daughter of Marvin and Sally (Hutchinson) Birge, also early settlers of this county. Mrs. Stillman was born in Bolton, Connecticut, and ac- companied her parents to the wilds of Ohio in 1832, when she was but six years of age. She was married at the age of twenty-four to O. D. Nichols, a native of Massachusetts, who came to Portage county, Ohio, in 1830, where he resided until his death in Decem- ber, 1881, leaving three sons: George D., Charles D. and Hartley B. Mrs. Stillman's father died in Cleveland in 1866, and her mother expired in Pemberton, New Jersey, at the extreme age of 100 years. They were the parents of four daughters: Antoinette, deceased; Julia, wife of the subject of this sketch; Mary, now Mrs. Woodin; and Hattie, unmarried.

Mr. Stillman supports the principles of the Republican party, and has served his con- stituents faithfully as Township Trustee, evincing in that capacity his usual good judg- ment and integrity of character. He affili- ates with the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 28. He is a man of influence in his community, which he never fails to exercise on the side of justice and morality, and to which may be attributed in no small measure the high standard which it at present enjoys.

E DWIN S. HENRY is the efficient and popular superintendent of the Minne- sota Dock Company and of the works of the firm of Pickands, Mather & Company,

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the former dealers in iron ore and pig iron and the latter miners and shippers of coal. He was born in Newark, Ohio, November 17, 1849, and is a son of William H. and Helen M. (Cowen) Henry, both natives of New York. They removed to Cleveland, Ohio, when the subject of this sketch was six years of age, where they passed the rest of their days, rearing five children to useful manhood and womanhood. Three of these are now living: George H., Edwin S. and Helen, now Mrs. Bragg.

The subject of this notice was reared in Cleveland, that picturesque and romantic city of Ohio, and received his education in its public schools. When eighteen years of age he commenced to work for Rhodes & Com- pany, of Cleveland, miners and shippers of coal, iron ore and pig iron, with whom he re- mained continuously for ten years. He was then with another firm in the same business, in the same city, and, as their representative he came to Ashtabula in 1878, to take charge of the Lake Shore docks. He has since re- mained in the latter city, with the exception of four years, when he was in charge of the docks in Cleveland. He has held his present position since 1888, discharging his import- ant duties with integrity and ability. He takes an active part in the business, educa- tional and governmental affairs of the city in which he has resided so long and to the ad- vancement of which he has so materially con- tributed. He is vice-president of the Marine National Bank at the Harbor.

Politically, he is a Republican, by which party he was elected a member of the School Board, of which he is Clerk. He also has been a member of the City Council, serving two years. Socially, he is Past Chancellor Commander of the Knights of Pythias and is a thirty-second-degree Mason.

In 1884, Mr. Henry was married to Miss Large, daughter of Crawford Large. She is a lady of education and refinement, and they have three interesting children: Harrison C., Susie B. and Katie M.

Such continuous endorsement by his su- periors and fellow citizens is sufficient proof of his ability and worth of character, and he enjoys the best wishes of all for his future prosperity and happiness.

C APTAIN JOHN P. MANNING, the efficient and popular agent of the Lake Shore Railroad Company, at Ashtabula Harbor, Ohio, was born in Ireland, July 24, 1837. His parents, Michael and Mary (Doyle) Manning, were also natives of Ireland, who came to the United States about 1850, and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where they passed the remainder of their lives.

The subject of this sketch was reared in the city of Brotherly Love, receiving his edu- cation in the public and high schools of that place. When sixteen years of age, he went West and spent two years, after which, in 1856, he came to Ashtabula, where he entered the service of the Lake Shore Railroad Com- pany as telegraph operator at their depot in this city. He held this position twenty-three years, interrupted only by his service in the Civil war.

April 28, 1861, Mr. Manning enlisted as a private in Company 1. of the Nineteenth Ohio Regiment. The day after his enlist- ment, he was appointed Lieutenant of his company and afterward became Captain, which rank he held when the company was mustered out. He participated in the cam- paign of Western Virginia under Mcclellan and Rosecrans, and was in all the engage_

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ments of that time. Five months after his entrance into the army, he became an oper- ator in the military telegraph service, but shortly afterward, in the latter part of 1861, he returned to Ashtabula, and resumed his position of telegraph operator at the Lake Shore Depot. July 1, 1879, he was appointed Depot Agent at the Harbor by the same com- pany, which position he has ever since re- tained.

In 1857, Mr. Manning was married to Miss Margaret Doran, a lady esteemed for her many excellent qualities. They have had eight children, seven of whom survive: Mary, Anastacia, Margueretta, Michael F., John P., Nellie, Frank and Lizzie. All are living but Mary, who died at the age of twenty-three years.

In politics, Mr. Manning is conservative. He takes a deep interest in public affairs of importance and everything pertaining to the welfare of his city and county. He is an able member of the City Council of Ashta- bula, in which he is serving his second term.

Socially, he affiliates with the G. A. R. As a business man and citizen he is universally esteemed and has the best prospects for his future prosperity.

OHNATHAN WARD, one of the suc- cessful farmers and self-made men of Willoughby township, Lake county, Ohio, was born in Rensselaer county, New York, March 15, 1827. Of his life and an- cestry the facts that have been gleaned are as follows:

Mr. Ward's grandfather, Elijah Ward, familiarly known as Elder Ward, was a na- tive of Massachusetts and a Methodist min- ister of considerable note in pioneer days.

He served on various circuits throughout this section of the country. Indeed, he preached in nearly every log schoolhouse in the West- ern Reserve, continuing in the ministry until he was eighty. He died at the age of ninety- four. Few men of his day were the means of accomplishing more good than he. It was his zeal for soul-winning that led him into the service of the Master, for he never re- ceived any salary or pay for his preaching. He supported himself and family by the sweat of his brow, working at his trade -- that of cooper-through the day and preach- ing the word of God at night and on Sun- day. He was also a forcible political speaker. He and his wife had twelve children, all of whom are now deceased.

Elliott Ward, the father of Johnathan, was a native of Massachusetts, and was among the oldest of his father's children. He learned the trade of tailor when young, and early in the '30s emigrated with his family to Ohio, locating in Willoughby, and for some time working at his trade here. Sub- sequently he bought a small farm and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He died at the home of one of his daughters, in Mansfield, Ohio, at the age of eighty-three. His wife, Sadie (Sherman) Ward, was des- cended from an old and distinguished family. She died at Mansfield the same year as did her husband. Johnathan was the third born in their family of eight children, three of whom are still living. The youngest, Hiram B., died in Richmond hospital during the war.

Johnathan Ward was twelve years old when he came with his parents to Ohio. When he was twenty-one he and his brother Elijah began farming in partnership. They bought land in Pleasant Valley, and during the war purchased another farm north of

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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

their first location and in Willoughby town- ship. After being associated in business for a number of years they dissolved partnership and divided their holdings. Mr. Johnathan Ward is now the owner of 200 acres, twenty- five acres of which are devoted to vineyard purposes. He has always taken a deep inter- est in breeding fine stock. For some years he bred Durham cattle, but recently has given more attention to Holsteins. He has developed dairy interests for the Cleveland market. Mr. Ward started out in life a poor boy, and his present prosperity is the result of his own honest toil and good man- agement.

His wife, whose maiden name was Ruth M. Carpenter, and who was a native of Men- tor, Ohio, and a daughter of Benjamin Car- penter, one of the pioneers of Mentor town- ship, died in 1886. She had three children, namely: Adelia, deceased; Mary E .; and Hiram E., a minister in the Disciple Church, now located in Springfield, Ohio.

Mr. Ward is a Republican.

N OAH SPITLER, a farmer and stock- raiser of Lenox township, Ashtabula county, was born in Bristol township, Trumbull county, Ohio, September 30, 1832, a son of Absalom and Sarah (Bower) Spitler. The father was born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, July 7, 1803, where he was reared on a farm, and also worked in the mines and foundries at different times. His grandfather was the founder of the Spitler family in America, and was a native of Switz- erland. He made his way to Virginia, where he died in the eighteenth century. Ilis son John, the grandfather of our subject, owned landed interests in the Shenandoah Valley,

and was of mechanical turn of mind, which stood him well in hand in the pioneer life he afterward led. He also teamed for many years to Harper's Ferry, Baltimore and else- where. He came by team to Ohio, settling in Bristol township, Trumbull county, which was then a veritable wilderness. Here he bought 200 acres of timber land. He made his own farm implements, did his own build- ing, and also made spinning wheels, weaver's looms, chairs, fanning mill, shoes, etc. He spent the remainder of his life on that farm, dying about 1856. His son, Absalom, the father of our subject, inherited 100 acres of the home place, and afterward purchased his sister's interest in the same. At the time of the late war he sold that place and bought a small farm near by, where he died in 1889. He was a member of the Baptist Church, and an old-time Democrat, having voted for General Andrew Jackson, but later having supported William Henry Harrison, and the Republican ticket. The mother of our sub- ject was a native of Virginia, where she was married at the age of twenty years. She was proficient in all the arts of the pioneer home, and was a member of the German Lutheran Church. Her death occurred in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Spitler had thirteen children, ten of whom grew to years of maturity, and seven of whom are now living.

Noah Spitler, the subject of this sketch, assisted his father in clearing the farm, and attended school during the winter months. In 1859 he came to Ashtabula county, Ohio, purchased sixty acres of timber land, only a small amount of which was cleared, and which was provided with a log house and small barn. He has since added to his original purchase, until he now owns eighty-five acres of choice agricultural and timber land. Mr. Spitler also has a fine residence, good barns

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and sheds, an orchard, and every farm con- venience. He is engaged in general farming, stock-raising and dairying. In political mat- ters, he lends support to the Republican party, having cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont. He has held the office of Township Trustee many terms, and has also served as School 'Director and Supervisor. He was one of the first to advocate the es- tablishment of the Rowenton post-office.

Mr. Spitler was married January 1, 1859, to Miss Esther Ann Sherman, a daughter of Albert and Sarah Sherman. The father was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, where he afterward learned the shoe-maker's trade. After coming to this State he followed that occupation for a number of years in Trum- bull county, and his death occurred in Green township, that county, in April, 1880. At that time he was living with his third wife. The mother of Mrs. Spitler was born and raised in Butler, Pennsylvania, was well edu- cated, and taught school seven years. At one time she owned seven barrels of whisky, taken in pay for tuition, as in those days whisky was considered legal tender for debt. Her death occurred in 1865. Mrs. Spitler also was born in Butler, Pennsylvania, where she learned the trade of tailoress, following that occupation many years. She passed one year at Akron, Ohio. Finding the business detrimental to her health she engaged in the manufacture of cheese, in which she became proficient. For eight years she was engaged as manager of a dairy, frequently milking as many as sixteen cows. She was married at the age of twenty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Spitler have had three children: Willard L., born February 13, 1861, married Ida Maha- ney, and is now an employe of the Standard Oil Company, at Youngstown, Ohio; Allie S., born August 14, 1869, is at home; and

George H., born June 27, 1874, is also at home. Mrs. Spitler is a member of the Con- gregational Church.

Mr. Spitler was a member of Company H, One Hundred and Ninety-sixth Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, and served with his regi- ment during the whole time of its stay in the field.

q® EORGE C. CURTISS, one of the old- est and most successful dry-goods mer- chants and most capable business men in Painesville, Ohio, was born on a- . farm in Madison, Lake county, State of Ohio, in 1827. He comes of hardy New England stock, both his parents, Charles and Fanny (Cowles) Curtiss, having been natives of Con- necticut. General Solomon Cowles, of Revolu- tionary fame, was his maternal grandfather and was one of the original owners of the Western Reserve. In 1812, the parents of the subject of this sketch came overland from Connecticut to Geauga county, since sub- divided, part of which is now Lake county, Ohio, being obliged to blaze the trees to pre- vent losing their way. They settled on a tract of 600 acres of uncultivated land in Madison township, which was then but a mere settlement, and lived in a small log house for many years. This was replaced in time by a more pretentious dwelling, and there the fa- ther resided until his, death in 1833, at the age of fifty-six years. He was a man of public spirit and enterprise and left many friends to mourn his loss. His wife, who had been his faithful companion for many years, survived him some time, expiring in 1859 at the age of seventy-six years. She reared to maturity eleven children, whom she trained to be no- ble men and women. She was an earnest

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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

menber of the Congregational Church and was most able and worthy in every walk of life.

The subject of this sketch was the young- est of the children and was reared on the home farm, attending the district schools of his vicinity. There being a large family, and his parents posessing limited means, he early learned the important lesson of self-reliance, to which much of his future success is attrib- utable. When ten years of age, he began to perform light duties in a store in Madison, where he was employed during the winter and assisted at home on the farm in summer. His business education may thus be said to date from childhood, and his long training is made apparent in his present prosperity and wide knowledge of business affairs. He after- ward came to Painesville and worked two winters in the store of Henry Williams, when, in 1852, he became a partner in that estab- lishment, where he continued for nine years. He then formed a partnership with Dr. Pan- cost, under the name of Curtiss & Pancost, which association also lasted eight years, at the expiration of which time the Doctor re- tired and Mr. Curtiss continued the business with E. C. Smart, under the firm name of Curtiss & Smart. This also lasted eight years, when, in 1878, Mr. Curtiss took his son into the business, buying Mr. Smart's interest, and, in 1888, took in his other son, the firm name being now Curtiss & Sons. He has enlarged the store, which now occupies four floors, and carries the largest stock of dry goods in the city. His prosperity is due en- tirely to his own unaided efforts, as he re- ceived but a few hundred dollars from his fa- ther's estate, and has accumulated what he has by continued industry and careful economy. Ile has been in business in this city longer than any other storekeeper and is considered

one of the shrewdest and best managers in the dry-goods line. He has witnessed about all the development of his county, to the ad- vancement of which he has materially con- tributed.

In 1850, Mr. Curtiss was married to Mary E. Pancost, a lady of domestic and social ac- complishments, daughter of Dr. Pancost, a dentist, who came to Painesville in 1860. They have five children: Samuel W., now of Chicago; Frank C., a partner in his father's store; Charles F., a student of medicine; George W., also a partner with his father; and John H., a clerk in the same store.

In politics, Mr. Curtiss advocates the principles of Republicanism. Mrs. Curtiss is a useful member of the Disciples Church, and both are highly esteemed in the vicinity, the society of which they are amply qualified to adorn.

J THOMAS S. HARBACH, a venerable citizen of Willoughby, Ohio, now liv- ing retired, is one of the best known men in this part of Lake county. Of his life we present the following resume:

Thomas S. Harbach was born in Sutton, Worcester county, Massachusetts, June 28, 1812. His father, grandfather and great- grandfather were each named Thomas Har- bach, the first two being natives of Sutton, Massachusetts, the date of the father's birth being March 1, 1782. Great-grandfather Harbach, a native of England, emigrated to America in 1720. He served an apprentice- ship in England at the trade of manufacturing and dressing cloth, and his son Thomas fol- lowed the same line of work in Massachu- setts. The father of our subject was a man- ufacturer of woolen goods in Sutton and

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Worcester, Massachusetts, and subsequently in Maine. He died in the latter State in 1850. A man of many estimable qualities and possessing more than ordinary business ability, he occupied a prominent position among his fellow citizens. During the war of 1812 he was a musician in the army and was there given the title of Major of Music. He held various minor offices in Massachu- sette and at one time was a member of the State Legislature. Religiously, he was a Congregationalist. Of his wife we record that her maiden name was Nancy Sherman, and that she was born in Grafton, Massachu- setts, March 16, 1789, a descendant of Cap- tain John Sherman, who settled on American soil in 1634. Her death occurred in 1833.

Thomas S. Harbach was the first born in a family of eight children, only two of whom are living. His educational advantages were limited to the district school, and when only eight or nine years old he commenced work in his father's shop. When he grew up he became a partner in the business with his father, continued with him until the latter's death, and ran the business by himself for a year afterward.

In 1851 his brother Frederick, who had come to Cleveland several years before, died, and Thomas S. came west to settle his estate. This brother Frederick was a civil engineer and a railroad contractor, and had been con- nected with the building of the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati & Lake Shore rail- roads and other lines.

In 1855 Mr. Harbach located in Will- oughby. Since that date he has been engaged in various occupations. For a few years he farmed and from that turned his attention to the milling business, operating a flouring mill at Painesville. He had an interest for a time in the copper mines in the Lake Su-

perior region, and was also interested in the Pennsylvania oil fields. For the past few years, however, he has been retired from ac- tive business cares. During his business career he acquired considerable property and is now in comfortable circumstances. He is a stockholder in the Willoughby Manufac- turing Company, and owns real estate in Will- oughby. He has been Town Clerk, a mem- ber of the Town Council and the Board of Water Works Trustees, etc. Politically, he is a Democrat, religiously, a Presbyterian, being an Elder in the Church. In political, business and religious circles he has long taken an active part, holding rank with the leading men of the town. Intelligent, ge- nial, generous and courteous, he has made many warm friends wherever he has been. Mr. Harbach has never married.

EWIS W. PENFIELD, general man- ager of the manufacturing establish- ment of J. W. Penfield & Son, Will- oughby, Ohio, was born at the old Penfield homestead near Willoughby Center, Lake county, Ohio, July 31, 1857. He is a young man of push and enterprise, holds prominent position among his fellow citizens, and is em- inently deserving of more than a passing notice on the pages of his county's history. Nathaniel E. Penfield, the father of Lewis W., was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, son of Wakeman Penfield, also a native of that State. Their ancestors came from Scotland to this country and were among the early settlers of New England. Wakeman Pen- field emigrated to Ohio at an early day and settled in Willoughby township, Lake county, where he cleared and improved a farm and where he died at a ripe old age. He was an

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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

earnest Christian, an exhorter in the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and during the days of slavery took an active part in agitating the slavery question, he being a stanch Aboli- tionist. Nathaniel E. Penfield was the oldest of three children. He was engaged in farming when the Civil war broke out, and at the first call for volunteers he left the farm and entered the army. He went to the front with his command in the spring of 1861, and remained on active duty until the fall of 1862, when he died at Little Rock, Arkansas. He left a widow and two children, Mary L. and Lewis W. Mrs. Penfield afterward be- came the wife of James J. Cogley, and is now a resident of Springfield, Ohio. She was born in Lake county, and her maiden name was Rachel M. Rush.

After the death of his father the subject of our sketch spent some time in Cleveland and Painesville, attending the public schools in those places. He came back to Willoughby, and after going to the district school here one year, entered Willoughby College, where he was a student three years, working in the mean time to get money with which to defray his expenses in college. He taught school five years in Willoughby and Kirtland dis- tricts. In 1880 he entered the employ of J. W. Penfield & Son, manufacturers of brick and tile machinery at Willoughby, one of the largest firms of the kind in the United States. For three years he was their bookkeeper and general purpose man, at the end of which time he was promoted to general manager, and has since performed the duties of that position most efficiently.

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 46

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