Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 48

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 48
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 48
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 48

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).

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paign. After the war he was employed by the Western Union Telegraph Company at New Orleans, Louisiana, and Montgomery, Alabama, and later in New York city, until 1868, when he entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad as telegraph operator at Crestline, Ohio, serving two years in that capacity and three years as ticket agent, after which he became train dispatcher at Ashta- bula, the same State, for the present Pitts- burg, Youngstown & Ashtabula Railroad, which position he retained nine years. In 1881 he went to Chicago, where he became chief train dispatcher for the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company, continuing there three years, at the end of which time, in 1884, he returned to Ashtabula, and has since been engaged in the real-estate and insurance business in that city, under the firm name of Jaques & Williams.

In 1871 Mr. Jaques was married to Miss Fannie E. Lane, an intelligent and capable lady, a native of Stamford, Connecticut, and they have one daughter.

Mr. Jaques is a stanch Republican in poli- tics, and takes an active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of his party and country. He is Secretary of the Board of Trade of Ashtabula and of the East Side Street Railway Company, and has been instrumen- tal in the advancement of his city to its present position of prosperity.

J CLARK PRITCHARD, a farmer and stock-raiser of Jefferson township, Ash- tabula county, was born in Nelson town- ship, Portage county, Ohio, June 5, 1858, a son of John and Eliza (Linzee) Pritchard. The father was born September 10, 1830, in Nelson township, where he grew to man-

hood, and where he was married, May 28, 1857. He subsequently turned his attention to the milling business, bought a tract of timber land, erected a steam sawmill, and was engaged in the manufacture of lumber twelve years. In 1865 he purchased the old Michael Webster farm of 160 acres, now oc- cupied by our subject. Mr. Pritchard was the founder of the Township Grange, No. 1,311, and was an active worker in the ad- vancement of all farm interests. He lost his first wife by death April 8, 1880, and No- vember 27, of the same year, he was united in marriage with Mary C. Norton, widow of Horace Norton. In 1885, Mr. Pritchard re- moved to his old home in Portage county, Ohio, and resumed agricultural pursnits. Mrs. Pritchard died in 1888, after which he lived with our subject one year, and was then married to Helen Maltby, widow of Nelson Maltby. He then located on a farm at Ge- neva, his present home. Mr. Pritchard has always been a man of decided opinions and of an unblemished reputation. He was elected Captain of the IIome Guards of Nel- son township in 1863, and held that position until the company disbanded. The mother of our subject was born in Portage county, Ohio, in 1840, and was married at the age of eighteen years. She united with the Meth- odist Church when young, lived a good, con- sistent Christian life, and died at about the age of forty-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Pritch- ard had three children: J. Clark, subject of this sketch; Elma E. (widow of Eugene Betts), who resides with J. Clark; and Henry, a graduate of the J. E. Institute, is now a stenographer in Cleveland.

J. Clark Pritchard attended the district schools of his native place, and at the age of nineteen years entered the Eastman National Business College, of Poughkeepsie, New

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

York, graduating in the class of 1878. He then returned to his home in Jefferson town- ship, Ashtabula county, where he became Secretary and an active worker in the Grange. He next was employed as Secretary and sales- man of the Grange co-operative store two years, and then began agricultural pursuits on his present farm. In 1890 he took up his residence in Kent township, and engaged in the dairy business, but since 1891 has re- mained at his home farm. Mr. Pritchard keeps a number of horses and a large number of good cows. He ships milk to Pittsburg. In 1882 he erected his large basement barn, 36 x 76 feet, has a stock shed, 26 x 80 feet, and all other necessary farm conveniences. He is also part owner in a steam threshing machine and hay baler.

Mr. Pritchard was united in marriage to Miss Emma J. Bennett, a daughter of Edgar Bennett. The latter has been a farmer of Austinburgh township for a number of years, also salesman for the Austinburgh cheese factory, and is President of the Board of the Grand River Institute. Mrs. Pritchard was born in Lockport, New York, in 1860, and was married at the age of twenty-one years. She grew to womanhood at Austinburgh, was a graduate of the Grand River Institute, in the class of 1880, was a lady of literary tastes, and an active worker in the Congregational Church. She died June 2, 1882, at the age of twenty-two years. March 18, 1885, Mr. Pritchard was united in marriage to Miss Lena Warner, a daughter of Jonathan War- ner, an early settler of Ashtabula county. He was born in Jefferson in 1812, lived a good, useful life, and died in February, 1888. He was a Republican in his political views, and was a man of decided opinions. His father, Judge Warner, of pioneer fame, was pro- prietor of the Warner Inn, of Jefferson town-

ship, Ashtabula county, and his old sign- board, bearing the date of 1812, is still in existence. He was an old-time Whig, was one of the early judges of Ashtabula county, and of well-known hospitality. The mother of Mrs. Pritchard was born in Herkimer county, New York, came with her parents to Ohio when young, and grew to womanhood in Cherry Valley township. She was mar- ried at the age of twenty-five years, and died in 1885. Mrs. Pritchard, wife of our sub- ject, was born in Jefferson township, this county, in 1858, and received a good educa- tion. She was married at the age of twenty- seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Pritchard have two children: Emma C., born July 13, 1889; and Herbert W., born July 17, 1892. Our subject affiliates with the Republican party, and has held the office of School Director and Township Supervisor. Socially, he is a mem- ber of Ensign Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 400, of Jefferson.

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W ILBUR F. SMITH, a wholesale drug- gist and grocer of Painesville, Ohio, also Secretary and Treasurer of the Dollar Savings Bank of the same city, was born in Boonville, Indiana, in 1846. . He comes of hardy, New England ancestry, who were early and prominent settlers of Ohio. His grandfather, Levi Smith, was born in Connecticut and in early life followed mer- cantile pursuits, but, in 1814, joined the westward movement of emigration, making his way overland, with his family, by wagon, and driving a flock of sheep. In this patri- archal way he arrived in Lake county, Ohio, and settled on land in the woods near Little Mountain, where he developed a farm which continued to be his home until death, at the

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age of forty-five, and which is now owned by Reuben Harmon. George Smith, his son, and father of the subject of this sketch, was also born in Connecticut, in 1805. When nine years of age, he came with his parents to Ohio, where his earlier years were passed, after which he spent some years in Connecti- cut. He was a well-read man and taught school some time near the old homestead, later engaging in farming in that vicinity. He was married in Kirtland, Ohio, to Mary Kendall, born in Deerfield, Massachusetts, in 1804. Her father, Luke Kendall, was a na- tive of Massachusetts, where he passed his earlier life in farming. In old age he came to Ohio and lived with his children, dying at an advanced age. In 1838, the father of the subject of this sketch went to Boonville, Indi- ana, and there bought new land, which he cultivated for ten years and then sold. He went thence to Marine, Illinois, where he bought more new land, which he industriously cultivated until his death at the age of forty- five. The worthy wife and mother still (1893) survives, at the age of eighty-nine years, re- residing with her son, whose name heads this sketch.

The subject of this biography was the fifth child and passed his earlier years in Boon- ville, Indiana, and at Marine, Illinois. After the death of his father, he came, when nine years of age, with his mother to Kirtland, Ohio, where he lived until thirteen years of age, attending the district school of that vicinity. He then entered a store at Union- ville, Ohio, where he remained three years, winning the confidence and esteem of his em- ployers by his careful industry and obliging disposition. At this early age, his unusual mental activity was evinced by his discover- ing and patenting a concentrated writing compound, which he sold throughout the

West, reaching Michigan with but one dollar in money, but in the course of two and a half years had accumulated sufficient to return to Ohio and engage in business. He started in the drug and grocery business in 1867, and in 1869 took possession of his present quarters, where he has been ever since, and has suc- cessfully conducted a wholesale and retail business. On the organization of the Dollar Savings Bank, he was elected Secretary and Treasurer of that institution. He is also one of the organizers of the Metallic Binding Company, of Painesville, there being but five similar manufacturing plants in the world.

In October, 1873, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Frances Miller, an estimable lady, a native of Austinburg, Ohio, and they have two children: Percy K., and May Chester.

In politics, Mr. Smith advocates the prin- ciples of the Republican party. He is fra- ternally a member of the Masonic Order, to which he has belonged for twenty years. In religion both he and wife are active members of the Congregational Church. Beginning life with nothing, Mr. Smith has, by industry and shrewd business management, accumulat- ed a comfortable income, and in his handsome home on Mentor avenue, surrounded by an interesting family and a large circle of friends, he may truly be said to have attained the acme of success in life.

q EORGE L. SWEET, a well-to-do farm- er and respected citizen of Cherry Valley township, Ashtabula county, Ohio, was born in Orleans county, New York, January 5, 1818. He comes of good old New England stock, both his father, Noah Sweet, and grandfather, Samuel Sweet, being natives of the New England States. The

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

mother of the subject of this sketch was Susan Hollister, a native of New York State and a representative of an old and respected family. This worthy couple removed to Ohio in an early day, settling near Windsor in Ashtabula county, where the father improved a large farm, becoming in time one of the prominent and influential men of the county. He was an industrious, honest and capable man, and enjoyed the respect of all who knew him. He died on his farm at about eighty years of age and the mother expired at the same place, aged seventy-six. They were the parents of twelve children, those surviving filling honorable positions in business and society.

The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm and attended the district schools in his vicinity. He was early inured to labor, his youth being passed in grubbing and chopping, as a result of which he suc- ceeded in laying by vigorous out-of-door ex- ercise the foundation of that robust health and determined spirit which have contributed to his present prosperity. He now has a good farm of 126 acres, well cultivated, with fields for stock, and in connection with his farming operations conducts a dairy, also en- gaging in raising horses. He has a good farm house, and three barns have been built for the accommodation of his stock and grain. His house is well situated and surrounded by ornamental trees, the whole place breathing an air of thrift and contentment, all of which may be attributed to the careful management and untiring efforts of the proprietor.

November 5, 1840, Mr. Sweet was married to Elvira Harrison, an educated lady, who was a successful teacher before marriage. She was a native of New York, but came with her parents to Ohio in an early day. Her father, William H. Harrison, was a

relative of the president of that name, and her mother before marriage was Electa Finch. Mr. Harrison died at the early age of forty- seven, leaving a widow and nine children: Henry, Frank, Lovina, Helen, Marian, Flor- ence, Rachel, Eliza and Elvira, the last named being the wife of the subject of this sketch. Two sons, Frank and Henry, served in an Illinois Regiment during the war, and both are now deceased. The mother died in Lyons, Iowa, aged eighty-four, greatly lamented by all who knew her. Mr. and Mrs. Sweet have had six children : William E., the eldest child; Alice, wife of Albert Green, of Norwalk, Huron county, Ohio; Homer; Zelma, wife of Seth Giddings, of Dorset, Ashtabula county; Marion, wife of E. Randolph, died at the age of thirty-seven; and May, who died at the age of seventeen years. William E. enlisted in Company B of the Twenty-third Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and later in the Thirty-eighth Regiment. He was twice pro- moted for gallant and meritorious conduct, at Berryville and Winchester, Virginia, being eventually raised to the rank of Brevet- Major. He served all through the war and later en- listed in the regular service, Regiment Thirty- eight, and afterward was assigned to the Twenty-fourth Regiment, serving as Lieu- tenant, with efficiency and honor. He was wounded and had a limb broken, from the effects of which injuries he never recovered. He was eventually offered a good position in the United States Treasury Department, at Washington, and was one of the four men who took $1,000,000 in Government bonds to Europe, receiving from the Rothschilds the same amount in British money. His death was a great loss to his family and country. He died at the comparatively early age of forty-five, leaving a widow and two sons, Dean and George, who are now attending

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Notre Dame College at South Bend, Indiana. Major William E. Sweet was an honorary member of the Commandery of Colorado.

In politics, Mr. Sweet is a Republican. He is a whole-souled honorable man, enter- prising and progressive, deeply interested in the public welfare and a representative citizen of his community, to the advancement of which he has materially contributed.

E DWIN T. STRONG, owner of the Clo- ver Leaf Dairy Farm, of Ashtabula county, was born in Owasco, Cayuga county, New York, September 2, 1827, a son of Walter and Sarah (Devoe) Strong, and a brother of Mrs. Hervey. Edwin T. came to Jefferson, Ashtabula county, Ohio, with his parents at the age of sixteen years. When a young man he returned to his native State, remaining there one year. In 1862, he en- listed for service in the late war, was assigned to the Commissary Department, served un- der Captain Chapman, took part in the Mis- souri campaign, witnessed the battles of Pea Ridge and Rolla, and participated in many other engagments. After the close of the struggle, Mr. Strong embarked in the livery business, but afterward began agricultural pursuits. In 1878, in company with his brother, he started a dairy farm, having at that time seven cows .. He is now sole owner of the Clover Leaf Dairy Farm, and has twenty-six cows. He has a fine residence, large barns, and a good orchard of small fruits. Mr. Strong is deaf, and also suffered the loss of his right hand in a threshing ma- chine in 1878.

Hle was married in 1870, to Miss Matilda Parks, a daughter of Edwin W. Parks, a na- tive of England. He came to America when

a boy, locating at Binghamton, New York, where he taught school, and was also a me- chanic by trade. He afterward became a farmer. In 1843, he located in Jefferson, Ashtabula county, Ohio, where he died in 1873, at the age of seventy years. Mrs. Strong was born in Binghamton, New York, in 1840, and came with her parents to Jef- ferson. Mr. and Mrs. Strong are members of the Episcopal Church. Politically our subject affiliates with the Republican party, and socially is a member of Lincoln Lodge, F. and A. M., No. 322.

H E. WILLIAMS, one of the representa- tive business men of Ashtabula coun- ty, was born on the farm he now owns, December 14, 1839, a son of Joseph Williams, a native of Saratoga county, New York. The latter's father, David Williams, was also born in New York. The mother of our subject, nee Elmira Leonard, was a na- tive of Massachusetts. She was first married to H. Huntley, and they had two children,- Louisa and Lydia. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Williams also had two children: H. E., our subject; and Laura Heath of Pierpont. The parents came to this township in an early day, where the mother died, at the age of seventy-four years, and the father at the age of seventy-five years. The latter was a farmer by occupation.

H. E. Williams received his education at Pierpont and at Meadville, Pennsylvania. He now owns 500 acres of fine farming land in Pierpont township, Ashtabula county, and the plare has a good residence and barns, or- chard, and a good fish pond stocked with carp. From this pond he obtains his pure spring-water ice for his dairy. Mr. Williams

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

is engaged in general farming and stock rais- ing. He makes an inventory each year, and also keeps a day book and ledger.

April 18, 1867, at Pierpont, Ohio, our subject was united in marriage to Helen Caine, who was born at Newburg, this State, being a daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Quiggin) Caine. The father and mother were born on the Isle of Man. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have five children: Fred H., who married Lotta Hardy, and resides near his father's home; Frank P .; Margaret E .; Eddy A. and M. Louise. They lost two children by death: Alice, the first born, died at the age of four years, and a son died in infancy. Mr. Will- jams holds to the tenets of the Republican party and has served as Township Trustee many years. He has been Master of the County Grange; held the same position in the subordinate grange for five years, and is now Deputy Master of the county of Ashtabula. The past six years he has been Treasurer of the Pierpont Cheese Factory.

A B. FRISBIE, now residing on a small farm in Madison township, Lake coun- ty, Ohio, was for many years engaged in teaching drawing, penmanship and music in various towns throughout Northern Ohio, and is well known all over this part of the State.

Mr. Frisbie was born in the township in which he now lives, June 7, 1824. His father, Benjamin Frisbie, was a native of Connecticut and a farmer by occupation. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and was Colonel in the State Militia here at an early day .. About 1815, he came ont to Ohio with an ox team, and in the dense forest of Madison township purchased 160 acres of land upon which he settled and which he developed

into a fine farmn. He was a hard worker all his life, his active career ending with his death in 1849. At the time he settled here the woods were full of wild game of all kinds. His wife was, before her marriage, Miss Polly A. Dickerson. She was a native of Connecticut; was an active member of the Congregational Church, and died in 1853. They reared five children, namely: Henry, Alvin, James L., A. B. and Amos D.

A. B. Frisbie received his early education in the log schoolhouse near his home. Later he attended the academy and a select school. At the age of twenty he began teaching, and taught four terms. When quite young he developed a talent for penmanship and music, in both of which he is self-educated. For many years he taught a singing school here, at different times having under his instruc- tion hundreds of scholars. He has also given lessons on the voilin, bass viol, organ and piano. Some of the specimens of his early work in drawing and penmanship show that he was an expert in these lines. In the following named places he taught writing, drawing and music: Warren, Mecca, Green, Rock Creek, Hartford, Southington, Park- man, Garrettsville, Nelson, Freedom, East Cleveland, Euclid, Mentor, Painesville and Willoughby. At one time he had 300 scholars in this township. Mr. Frisbie gave up regular teaching twenty years ago, and since then has been engaged in farming. He has forty-six acres of fine land, which he utilizes for general farming purposes.

He was married March 15, 1853, to Mary L. Baker, a native of Holly, Orleans county, New York. She has been a resident of Ohio since her eighth year. They have two chil- dreu: Mrs. Grace G. Merrick, a resident of Tacoma, Washington, and Mrs. Fannie F. Owen, of Ashtabula.

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Mr. Frisbie joined issue with the Whigs in his early life, but since the organization of the Republican party his political views have been in harmony with its policies.

W ILLIAM H. RUGGLES .- Conspic- uous among the legal fraternity of Jefferson, Ohio, may be mentioned the subject of this sketch, who has arisen by unaided ability and force of energy to his present position of prominence in his com- munity.

Mr. Ruggles was born in Marcellus, Onon- daga county, New York, March 14, 1836. His parents, Zebina H. and Clarissa A. (Chaffee) Ruggles, were both natives of Mass- achusetts, who removed from New York to Ashtabula county in 1843 and settled on a farm just north of Jefferson. Here the father died in September, 1852, aged forty-two years, while the devoted mother survived un- til 1889, dying at the age of seventy-one years, greatly lamented by all who knew her. They had four children,-two sons and two daughters. Roxana, the oldest, was twice married and resides with Mr. Davis, her present husband, in Michigan; Percy A., the next daughter, is the wife of Mr. Thompson, a prominent resident of Ashtabula county; William H., the subject of this sketch; and Joseph E., a retired attorney, now a pros- perous farmer of Ashtabula county.

The subject of this notice was reared on the home farm until he was nineteen years of age, and received his education in the Jefferson schools and at the Grand River Institute at Austinburgh. At the age of twenty le taught one winter as an assistant in the Jefferson schools and the next winter taught a district school, following which incumbency

he taught one winter in Plymouth, in the meanwhile energetically pursuing the study of law. He subsequently taught four terms in the Jefferson schools and during that time studied law in an office in that city. Such persistent effort was rewarded in 1859 by his admission to the bar, after which he at once entered upon the practice of his profession in Jefferson, and has since been thus success- fully employed.

In 1861, Mr. Ruggles was married to Miss Ruth A. Chaphin, an estimable lady and a native of the Buckeye State, and they have one daughter, Rutha G.

Politically, Mr. Ruggles was originally a Free Soiler, casting his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont, but has been an ardent supporter of the Republican party since its organization. His constituents have shown their appreciation of his worth by electing him Mayor of Jefferson for two terms and to other positions of trust, in all of which he has served with ability and honor.

Fraternally, he is a Royal Arch Mason, Tuscan Lodge, No. 342, and a member of the Knights of Pythias, Columbian Lodge.

Thus has Mr. Ruggles' efforts been re- warded by the best success, which does not consist alone in financial prosperity but in the various amenities which go to satisfy the many wants of the human soul.

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C E. GRISWOLD, a farmer residing near Orwell, Ashtabula county, Ohio, was born in Orwell, in 1858, son of H. E. and Frances (Rodgers) Griswold. His father, also a native of Windsor, was born in 1831, and was married in 1852. In early life H. E. Griswold worked at his trade, that of carpen-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

ter and joiner, but for a number of years he has been engaged in farming and stock-rais- ing, being the owner of a fine farm of 125 acres in Ashtabula county. He has filled various local offices, and is now serving as President of the Board of Education in this county. Of his family we record that his children are five in number, their names be- ing as follows: Frank, born in 1855; C. E .; Lewis, born in 1860; Ida, born in 1862, is the wife of George Vanpelt; and Rose, born in 1876, is the wife of Joseph Fottit. Mrs. Griswold died January 30, 1892.

C. E. Griswold received a high-school edu- cation, and after leaving school was for some time engaged as a professional baseball player, being a member of the Akron team two seasons, and of the Rabanna team two seasons, besides playing with several minor teams. He is a member of the Order of Good Templars, and musician of some note, being a member of Howard's celebrated orchestra. At present he is engaged in farming and stock- raising. He and his father are both Demo- crats, taking a lively interest in the political issues of the day.

0 RAN MORTON, another one of the prominent farmers of Parkman town- ship, Geauga county, Ohio, was born in Newbury, this county, December 4, 1823.

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 48

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