Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 49

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 49
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 49
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 49

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).

His father, Joseph Morton, and grand- father, Abram Morton, were both natives of New York, and were soldiers in the war of 1812. Grandfather Morton was an early set- tler of Geauga county. He died in Newbury township, at the age of seventy-five. Joseph Morton married in New York, and it was about 1816 or 1817 that he made the journey

with an ox team to this county. Selecting a location in Newbury township, he built his log cabin in a woods and began life here in true pioneer style. The snow was knee deep when he built his cabin, and it was under many difficulties that he got his family set- tled here. The woods all around him were full of deer, bears and wolves. He was a man of strong constitution, was a hard worker all his life, and the result of his labors here was a nicely developed farm of 400 acres. He died at the age of seventy-five. His wife, whose maiden name was Polly Abbey, was also a native of the Empire State. She was born near Rochester. They had five sons and one daugh- ter, all of whom reached adult years except one. The mother died at the age of seventy- four. Both parents were members of the Free-will Baptist Church, and in politics Mr. Morton was first a Whig and afterward a Republican.

Oran Morton was the third born in this family. The schoolhouse, in which he received his education, was built of logs, was warmed by an open fireplace, and was seated with rude slab benches. The school was conducted on the subscription plan and the teacher " boarded around." He assisted his father in clearing their farm, and at the age of twenty began life on his own responsibility. He worked out by the month one season. After his mar- riage he settled in Jennings county, Indiana, and two years later, in the spring of 1845, he returned to his present location in Ohio. Here he has 182 acres of land, all in one body, all the improvements upon which he has made himself, and here he is engaged in diversified farming and stock raising. For the past fif- teen years he has kept a large dairy. He has made it a point never to go in debt to any extent, and, being a hard worker and good manager, his success in life is due to no one

Henry Ho. Leon

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but himself. He casts his vote and influence with the Republican party, and has served as Trustee of his township.

Mr. Morton was married, in 1842, to Julia Beswick, a native of Massachusetts. They have four children: Henry, Flora, Fayette, and Clara.

H ON. HENRY H. COE is the popular and efficient Mayor of Painesville, Ohio, and senior member of the firm of Coe & Wilkes, manufacturers of the improved cut veneer inachines and im- proved automatic feed veneer clippers. a business which Mr. Coe has followed for more than forty years. This gentleman was born in Charlestown, Ohio, June 6, 1830. He comes of good New England stock, his father, Rev. David Leyman Coe, having been born in Fair Haven, Connecticut, in 1801. The latter graduated at Williams College in 1818, at the age of seventeen, and became a successful teacher, opening the first academy on the Western Reserve, the institution being located at Burton, Geauga county. He sub- sequently taught in the academy at Tallmadge, in Summit county, Ohio, where he remained until his death in 1836. He had also fitted himself for the Presbyterian ministry, to which he had been admitted, and he preached on Sundays. He was a proficient Greek and Hebrew scholar, to both of which languages he devoted much time and attention. Hle married Polly Hayes, who was born in 1800, daughter of Judge Hayes, who removed from Connecticut to the Western Reserve in 1804. Her father was a Colonel in the war of 1812 and for many years Associate Judge. He died in 1838, aged about sixty-five years. The parents of the subject of this sketch had

three children, one of whom died young; those surviving being Albert Leyman Coe, president of the Royal Trust Company and a member of the firm of Mead & Coe, Chicago; and the Hon. Henry H. Coe, of this notice. Mrs. Coe afterward remarried, her second husband being Dr. O. K. Hawley, a promi- ment physician and farmer of Asbtabula county, Ohio. He was a strong Abolitionist and was an executive of the " underground railroad," aiding many a poor colored man to freedom. The subject of this sketch was then only twelve or fifteen years of age, but was an engineer of this railroad, and would often go with a large wagon from his stepfather's house to the nearest station, some ten miles distant. He would frequently be gone all night, but saw many a colored man assisted through and placed on board a steamer bound for Canada. The mother of the subject of this notice died in 1877, leaving many friends to mourn her loss. She was a life-long mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church and lived a useful and blameless life.

Hon. Henry H. Coe was reared on a farm until twelve years of age, and received his pre- paratory education mostly in private schools and at home under the excellent instruction of his mother. At the age of twelve, he entered the Grand River Institute at Austin- burgh, where he was prepared for college. He entered Western Reserve College at the age of eighteen, where he remained two years, when he became ill. He then left school, and in 1852 became a member of the firm of Anderson & Coe, in Painesville, Ohio. Mr. Coe's partner was an expert machinist and the subject of this sketch commenced at the bottom under his partner's able tuition, work- ing his way gradually and industriously to the top. Mr. Coe has been in the same shop, at the corner of Jackson and St. Claire

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

streets, ever since, and has seen his industrious efforts generously rewarded. In 1866, Mr. Frederick Wilkes purchased the interest of Mr. Anderson, and the firm has since been known as Coe & Wilkes. They make a specialty of veneer machinery and rotary cut- ters, having one of the most extensive fac- tories in the country, their products having been shipped, in 1892, to twelve different States.

His army experience commenced in June, 1861, when he enlisted as leader in the Seventh Ohio, Infantry Band. About a year after- ward the regimental band was disbanded under general order and the musicians sub- sequently attached to another brigade, Mr. Coe still remaining the leader. He thus participated in the battle of Winchester and numerous minor engagements at Franklin and Nashville, Tenn.

In December, 1852, Mr. Coe married Miss Eliza L. Whiting, an estimable lady, a native of Ohio, and daughter of Myron Whiting, a well known pioneer of the Western Reserve, for many years a hotel-keeper, and afterward a merchant of Austinburgh. He retired from active life in 1860 and survived to the ad- vanced age of ninety-four years, dying in 1890, universally lamented. Mrs. Coe died in 1856, leaving one child, who also died at the age of six years. August 24, 1858, Mr. Coe mar ried Miss Lucy Proctor, a lady of superior attainments, a native of Hiram, Ohio. Her father was a prosperous farmer of Portage county, Ohio, who came originally from Mas- sachusetts, where the family is well and favorably known. Mrs. Coe was educated at Grand River Institute and was a successful teacher for several years. Mayor and Mrs. Coe have had three children, two of whom survive; Harry Proctor, educated in the pub- lic schools of Painesville, now with his father's

firm; and Charlotte Florence, who is a gradu- ate of the Lake Erie Female Seminary, and who is now at the Chicago University.

Politically, Mayor Coe is a Republican, to which party he has belonged since its organ- ization. He cast his first presidential vote for Franklin Pierce in 1852. Of untiring energy and commendable public spirit, he has been called upon by his fellow citizens to fill a number of offices of trust, bringing to his duties that business experience and integ- rity which has contributed to his success in life. He served twelve years on the Board of Education, was elected County Treasurer in 1879, and served one term, and has be- longed for fifteen years to the Board of Trustees of the Evergreen Cemetery. He was elected in September, 1892, to his pres- ent office of Mayor, which it is needless to say he fills with his customary ability and trustworthiness.

Fraternally, he has affiliated with the Masonic order since 1858, and has passed all the chairs in the blue lodge and chapter. He has been Recorder in the commandery since its inauguration in 1877.

Thus briefly is presented a cursory outline of the pre-eminently busy and useful career of one whose every action has been impelled by noble motives and contributed to the ad- vancement and welfare of his fellow men.

G EORGE D. PARKER, the efficient and popular Justice of the Peace in Ashta- bula county, Ohio, was born in Kel- loggsville, this State, February 15, 1846. His father, Samuel R. Parker, now in his eighty-third year, a prominent resi- dent of Ashtabula county, was born in Gene-

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see county, New York, in 1810. His father, Jared Parker, was a native of Hartford, Con- necticut, and, in turn, was a son of Samuel Parker, also a native of Connecticut and an efficient soldier in the Revolutionary war, his ancestors being of English origin. In 1823 great-grandfather Samuel Parker accompanied his only son, Jared, and family to Ashtabula county, Ohio, then a new and sparsely settled country. They came overland with ox teams, the journey consuming as many weeks as it now takes days to cover the same distance. Jared Parker was a cooper by trade, but also followed farming. He first settled in Kings- ville, but later removed to Kelloggsville, Monroe township, where he lived to a good old age, dying lamented by all who knew him. . He was the father of seven sons and two daughters. His son, Samuel R. Parker, was reared in Ashtabula county, where he has since lived, having always followed farm- ing, but being naturally a mechanical genius he has done much and varied mechanical work in the county, such as bridge and boat building. He married Mary A. Roundy, a native of New York State, born in 1820, who died at the age of seventy-two. She was a worthy Christian woman, and left a wide cir- cle of friends to mourn her loss. They were the parents of eight children, six sons and two daughters, of whom the subject of this sketch is the oldest.

Mr. Parker, of this notice, was reared in Sheffield township, Ashtabula county, attend- ing the common schools and passing a short time at the Grand River Institute. At the age of eighteen, May 2, 1864, he enlisted as a private in Company A, One Hundred and Sixty sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. IIe served about five months, when he became ill with typhoid fever, and was subsequently dis- charged on account of disability. He after-

ward went to the oil fields, where he earned money enough to further prosecute his studies. He later accepted a clerkship in a store at Kelloggsville, after which he taught school four winter terms, and also sold sewing ma- chines, being thus variously engaged until 1876, when, his health failing, he was forced to seek out-door work. He moved to Cleve- land, Ohio, and in 1877 began firing an en- gine on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, and later began engineering on the same road, which occupation he discontinued in 1884 to accept a position as foreman of a basket factory in Kingsville, Ohio. While there he met with a painful accident by fall- ing in boiling water, severely scalding his lower limbs and hips. This occurred in Janu- ary, 1885, and he was two years recovering from his injuries. In 1887 he moved to Ashtabula township, near Ashtabula, where he became a Notary Public, and has been such for six years. In the spring of 1889 he received the nomination of both Demno- cratic and Republican parties for the position of Justice of the Peace, to which he was elected, and in 1892 was re-elected by the Republican party. Mr. Parker has discharged his duties in this important capacity with ability and impartiality and with the strictest integrity, and merits from his constituents the support which he so generously receives.

In 1869 Mr. Parker was married to Miss Carrie Wiley, of Vermont ancestry. she being a native of Sheffield township, Ashtabula county, Ohio.

Politically, Mr. Parker has always been a stanch Republican, and he is a member and has been Commander of the G. A. R. post at Ashtabula three years.

Liberal-minded and progressive, Mr. Par- ker takes a deep interest in the welfare of his town, of which he is a representative citizen.

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Mr. Parker is also a recognized attorney for practice before the Department of the In- terior, and as such has many claims pending in the bureau of pensions.

EORGE B. RASER, an able financier and business man and esteemed citi- zen of Ashtabula, Ohio, was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, July 10, 1845. His parents, Thomas and Eliza- beth (Knight) Raser, were both reared in the Keystone State, of which the father was a native, while the mother was born in Alabama. They had four sons and four daughters, of whom two of the former died in early life, three of the latter still surviving. The father died when the subject of this sketch was but ten years of age, while the mother still sur- vives and resides in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Being the third of the children, George B. Raser assisted his widowed mother in the support of the family, and his educational advantages were consequently limited to a high-school course. Owing, however, to a quick observation and retentive memory, he supplemented by his own efforts this early instruction. Most of his youth was passed in Erie county, Pennsylvania, but he subse- quently went to Quincy, Illinois, and there learned the harness-maker's trade, but not liking this business he soon abandoned it. He then secured employment in the con- struction and engineering corps of the At lantic & Great Western Railway Company, and since that time has been engaged in the railroad business. He was subsequently em- ployed by the railroad at Erie, and was the assistant superintendent's clerk of the Anchor Line docks in that city. In 1873 he came to Ashtabula to assume the duties of agent of the

Pittsburg, Youngstown & Ashtabula Rail- way Company, which incumbency he has held ever since. He also represents the large cor- poration known as Messrs. M. A. Hanna & Company, of Cleveland, extensive dealers in iron ore, pig iron, coal and coke. He is di- rector in the Ashtabula Rapid Transit Com- pany, and is president of the Marine Bank, in which latter capacity he has acted since its organization in 1891, this bank having a capital of $50,000. He had established the post office at Harbor, and was for several years Postmaster. He was for some time a mem- ber of the Ashtabula City Council, in which latter position he was enthusiastic in support- ing all modern improvements, and was instru- mental in having horse cars replaced by elec- tric street cars,-a great convenience to the city. In many other ways and instances Mr. . Raser has promoted the interests of his city, and the extent and result of his efforts will, probably, be never fully known by those who enjoy the benefits of his enlightened and per- severing endeavors.

In 1869 Mr. Raser was married to Miss Harriet Mans, an accomplished lady of Erie, Pennsylvania, and they have two sons and two daughters.

Politically Mr. Raser advocates the prin- ciples of the Republican party, his constit- uents having shown their appreciation of his ability and worth by electing him to several important positions of trust.

He is a Master Mason, -- an order which he joined when twenty-two years of age, and in which he has taken the Knight Templar degree. In 1877 he was elected High Priest of the Western Reserve Chapter. Religiously he and his family are earnest members of the Reformed Episcopal Church. He was a prominent factor in the organization of Trin- ity Church at Ashtabula, in which he has been

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Junior Warden since its establishment in 1890. In short, the weight of his influence has ever been thrown in the scale of the material and moral advancement of his favor- ite city, in the progress and worth of which may be witnessed the result of his generous efforts in its behalf.

R EECE M. JOHNSON, of the firm of Johnson & Company, doing a brisk business in dry goods, furnishing goods and notions, at Ashtabula Har- bor, Ohio, was born in Burton, Geauga county, this State, September 22, 1861. His parents, John W. and Mary (Alden) Johnson, are still honored residents of that county, where they were born, reared and married, and have spent their entire lives, their respective parents having been early and prominent settlers of that county.

The subject of this sketch passed his youth, until sixteen years of age, on the home farm, attending the district schools in his vicin- ity, and afterward taking a course of two years and a half at Hiram College, Ohio. He subse- quently taught school a term, but his inclina- tions running in the direction of mercantile pursuits, he became a clerk in a dry-goods store at the early age of eighteen years, being first in Hiram, Ohio, and afterward in several other different places until 1886. He then invested capital of his own in business at Or- well, this State, after which he was engaged in mercantile pursuits on his own account in several different places, until, in 1891, he came to Ashtabula Harbor. Here he entered into partnership with others, under the name of Johnson & Company, and the firm has enjoyed one of the largest trades in dry goods, fur- nishing goods and notions in the city.

December 21, 1888, Mr. Johnson was mar- ried to Miss Lulu Williams, an estimable lady, of Garrettsville, Ohio, and they have one child, a daughter, Josephine, born November 13, 1890.

Fraternally Mr. Johnson is a Knight of Pythias and a Master Mason.

Mr. Johnson's financial success and ad- vancement may justly be termed phenomenal, and in looking for the cause it is only neces- sary to remember his untiring industry, per- severance, enterprise and integrity of pur- pose under all circumstances and in all places, which have secured for him universal confidence and esteem of his fellow-men.

()HN WARREN, a prominent and highly respected farmer of Mentor town- ship, Lake county, Ohio, was born in Ontario county, New York, September 1, 1820. His father, John Warren, was born in New Jersey, July 4, 1776, son of Samuel Warren, also a native of New Jersey. Grand- father Warren died in New York, having at- tained a ripe old age.

John Warren, Sr., was engaged in farmning in Ontario county, New York, for some years, and in 1836, having disposed of his property there, moved to Ohio and settled in Huron county. Subsequently he moved to Lake county and located at Kirtland. When well advanced in years he and his wife went back to Huron county, and passed the residue of their lives at the home of one of their daugh- ters. There the father died, at the age of eighty-two, and the mother at about eighty. Iler maiden name was Hannah Matson, and she, too, was a native of New Jersey. Both were Quakers all their lives. They had a family of fifteen children, thirteen of whom

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

lived to maturity and three are still living.

The subject of our sketch received his edu- cation in the district schools, attending school six months a year and having a long distance to walk. He was sixteen when his parents settled in Huron county, this State, and early in life he started out on his own responsi- bility, without means, and has worked his way up to his present position of prosperity. He is now the owner of 126 acres of good land.

January 30, 1840, Mr. Warren married Caroline M. Clough, a native of Ohio, who died March 30, 1850, leaving four children: Albert C., George E., Benjamin P. and Caro- line M. September 4, 1850, Mr. Warren married Anna Hopkins, whose death, De- cember 27, 1892, again left him bereaved of a loving companion. She had two children: John S. and Anna M. All the children are married and occupying useful and honorable positions in life. Mr. Warren's second wife was born in this county September 9, 1821, at a place on the lake shore familiarly known as Hopkins' Point. The constant action of the water washed away the land there, until now the site that marked her birth place is about a mile out in the lake. She was a daughter of Daniel and Anna (Churchell) Hopkins, who were of New England birth and were pioneers of Lake county. Her father died at an advanced age and her mother is still living, being now eighty-nine years old. They had ten children. Mrs. Warren was first married in 1837 to Abner Losey. He died about ten years after their marriage, leaving her with one child, a son, Charles A. Losey, who is still living. She joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at the age of twenty-seven, and was an earnest Christian woman all her life, kind and generous to the poor and affectionate in her family. To

know her was to love her. Her death was a great bereavement not only to her immediate family, but also to a large circle of warm friends.

Mr. Warren is a Disciple, and a member of the same church to which General Garfield belonged. Politically, he is a Republican, and, fraternally, has been a Mason for many years.

K. MASON, a carriage and wagon manufacturer and well-known citizen of Andover, Ohio, was born in Fort Ann, Washington county, New York, March 8, 1835. His parents, Ransom and Semantha (Kirby) Mason, were also natives of that town and early settlers of Ashtabula county, Ohio, where they were prominent and well- to-do residents. They had four children: Myron, residing in West Andover; J. K., whose name heads this notice; and Allen, who enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was with Sherman in his great march to the sea, re- ceiving his death wound in the battle at Rocky Face Ridge, Georgia; and S. B. Mason, Andover, Ohio.

The subject of this sketch was but five or six years of age when he came with his par- ents to Ashtabula county, Ohio, where he was reared and educated. At the age of fif- teen he began to work at cabinet-making, which he successfully followed at Kingdom, Cherry Valley, later engaging in carriage and wagon making, which he has followed for many years. That he is a natural me- chanic is shown by his having run a sawmill at one time after but four days' experience. In 1861 he engaged in the carriage business at Kingdom, buying one-half interest in an

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establishment, and later buying out his part- ners. He successfully prosecuted this busi- ness for some time, doing good work. He made an entire carriage himself, wood-work, iron and paint, which he sold for $255. Realizing the advantages offered by Andover to a man of energy and ability, Mr. Mason sold out his interests in Cherry Valley in 1889 and removed to his present place, where he is enjoying a profitable trade, being re- garded as one of the best workmen in the county.

At the age of twenty-five Mr. Mason was married, at Meadville, Pennsylvania, to Julia W. Woodworth, a lady of many excellent qualities, daughter of Charles and Phoebe (Allen) Woodworth, early settlers of Ashta- bula county, who died in Williamsfield. Mr. and Mrs. Mason have one son, Allen Monroe Mason, who is in the livery business in An- dover. He married Anstie Miller, and they have one son, Hubert Spencer.

Mr. Mason is a Republican in politics and interested in all that pertains to the public welfare. Enterprising and progressive, he has done much to advance the interests of his county, and is deservedly ranked among the representative citizens of his community.

M ARTIN LOFTUS, of Jefferson, Ohio, a manufacturer of stock and build- ing brick, one of the most progressive and highly respected business men of his community, was born in New York State, August 16, 1850. His parents died when he was a boy, after which he was sent to live with his uncle in Canada. When twelve years of age he accompanied his uncle, Martin Loftus, Sr., to Ashtabula county, Ohio. The first work of the subject of this

sketch on his own account was as water- boy on the railroad, after which he was variously employed at whatever he could find to do. He was employed for three years as a farm hand, working during the summer and at- tending district school in the winter. He then became a laborer in the brick-yard of Mr. Read, at Geneva, where he shortly after- ward received $30 a month, which was later raised to $40. After three years here he was offered and accepted a position in the brick- yard of C. M. Prentice, at Ashtabula, at a salary of $60 a month, which was subse- quently increased to $100. By close and steady application to business he learned it thoroughly. In 1878 he removed to Jeffer- son, his present home, and in 1889 bought a half interest in the brick-yard of that city. After thirteen years in this connection he, in 1891, purchased the entire stock and yard. He has since materially improved the quality of the brick and run the yard right up to the sample, which is a clear stock-building brick, equal to any made in the country. His trade has increased in proportion to the advance in the quality of his product, to meet which the output of his yard has reached 600,000 brick per annum. He supplies the home trade and makes frequent shipments to other vicinities. He furnished the brick for all the public buildings of the county, which in itself is an item of considerable profit and a high recommendation as well. He has a comfortable home, built in 1888, which is desirably situated and attractively surrounded by ornamental grounds, a typical abode of a prosperous and unpretentious man.

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 49

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