Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 53

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 53
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 53
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 53

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).

In the winter of 1824-'25, a company was organized of which Mr. Blair became man- ager. In pursuance of their plans, he built a furnace on Grand river at what was called Pepoon's Crossing, near Painesville, where the Lake Shore Railroad crosses the river. He superintended the entire construction of the plant, erecting the sawmill and all build- ings necessary, and in the fall of 1825 began the manufacture of iron from ore found at Madison, Lake county. Charcoal was used in the furnace, which at once afforded a large market for that commodity, thereby greatly benefiting those in the vicinity who made that fuel. To be near his work, he removed to Painesville, which continued his home until death. He remained the manager of the Geauga Iron Company until a short time before his demise, when the increasing in- firmities of age compelled him to retire, much to the regret of all concerned, his man- agement having been satisfactory in every

particular. While in charge of the Geauga iron furnace, he built another at Vermillion, Ohio, which was also in use for several years. When a resident of Kirtland, Mr. Blair was elected to the responsible position of County Commissioner, which office he filled with his usual ability and integrity. His wife, nee Barbara Anderson, a native of Hampshire county, Massachusetts, and representative of an old and prominent family, died in Ohio, April 21, 1852, greatly mourned by all who knew her. Mr. Blair survived his faithful wife many years, his death occurring in Painesville, August 27, 1875, at which time he was in his ninety-fourth year. Of the eight children of this worthy couple, five sur- vive. One died in 1822, after which no death occurred among the remaining six un- til 1887, when one died, at the age of seventy- eight years. Of those living, William A., Robert L. and Susan, reside in Painesville, in comfortable homes on Erie street, over- looking the Grand river, where the Geauga Iron Company's furnace is situated.

S IMEON C. HICKOK, an old settler and prominent business man of Paines- ville, Ohio, was born on a farm in Rutland county, Vermont, August 9, 1817. His father Sheldon P. Hickok, was of sturdy New England ancestry, having been born in Connecticut in 1792, whence he went to Ver- mont, where he was mostly reared, his father having died when he was eighteen years of age. Simeon Hickok, the great grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a resident of Litchfield county, Connecticut, and was the Captain of a Connecticut company which took an active part in the war of the Revo- lutionary. His wife was Anna Parmley.

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The maternal grandmother of our subject was Annie Ferry, who subsequently married a man by the name of Nichols and died when her daughter (mother of our subject) was only four years of age. Sheldon Hickok followed farming in the Green Mountain State until 1828, when the tide of western emigration was joined by himself and family and they removed to Ohio, coming via the lake to Fairport, at which place they ar- rived July 5, of that year, there being but four steamers plying Lake Erie at that time. The family resided in Perry for several years, whence they came in 1841 to Painesville township, where they lived until 1846. In the latter year, the parents removed to Brook- lyn, Green county, Wisconsin, where the father died, at the age of eighty-five, greatly lamented by all who knew him. He was a devoted member of the Methodist Church, according to the teachings of which his life was directed.

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and attended a district school in a log house. He used to visit the town of Poultney, Vermont, near his home, where he often re- ceived at the office of the Gazette a copy of that paper, said copy being given him by Horace Greeley, at that time a printer " devil" in that office. On coming to Lake county, Ohio, in 1828, he worked on a farm, and when twenty-one started out for himself, go- ing the first year way up on the shores of Lake Huron, where he cut wood for steam- boats for a year. In April, 1839, he came to Painesville, where he was employed as a house painter a few years, after which he took up carpentry, which he has successfully followed ever since. He has built a good many dwell- ings and superintended the erection of the Episcopal church, besides a number of busi- ness blocks. IIe superintended the building

of the County Infirmary and built under contract the City Engine House. Paines- ville has been his home ever since and he has resided on the same lot for fifty-one years, steadily prospering by industry and always in the full enjoyment of universal esteem.

February 10, 1841, Mr. Hickok was mar- ried to Miss Eunice French, who was born in Perry, Ohio, June 1, 1822, and there reared. They celebrated the fifty-second anniver- sary of their wedding on February 10, 1893. Her father, Nathaniel French, was a native of Massachussetts but reared in Vermont. He participated in the war of 1812, after which, in 1816, he emigrated to Ohio, set- tling that year in Perry. His wife, nee Abi- gail Vessey, was a native of Vermont. He died about 1851 and she about 1864, leaving many friends to mourn their loss. Mr. and Mrs. Hickok have had five children, two now living: Sarah A., wife of J. B. Stubbs, of Chicago; and Eliza J., wife of J. M. Hart, of Collinwood, Ohio.

In politics, Mr. Hickok was originally an old William H. Harrison Whig, and for that president he first voted. He is now a Re- publican and has voted in Painesville at fifty- three State elections, previous to which he voted twice at Painesville, the same county. He has in his possession the poll-book con- taining all the names of the men who voted at the first election in Painesville, in 1804, which city was then in Trumbull county, three townships being included in that pre- cinct at the time. He has never missed an election. His constituents have shown their appreciation of his worth by electing him to various offices of trust. He has been six times elected a member of the City Council of Painesville, and has been three times eleet- ed County Commissioner, in 1866, 1869 and 1874, serving altogether in the latter capac-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

ity for nine years. He has also been a del- egate to various conventions and served in many other minor official positions, his con- duct being always distinguished by intel- ligence and honesty.

Although not a member of any church, Mr. Hickok is a liberal contributor to relig- ious and charitable objects. Mrs. Hickok belongs to the Methodist denomination. A progressive and public-spirited citizen, Mr. Hickok has been foremost in advancing the interests of his city, county, State and coun- try, and reaps his reward in his own prosper- ity and the highest regard of his fellow-citi- zens. His first vote for president was cast for William H. Harrison, in 1840, and he has voted for every candidate placed in nomina- tion by his party since that time, his four- teenth presidential ballot being deposited for Benjamin Harrison in 1892.

C HARLES G. BETTS, a farmer and stock raiser of Jefferson township, Ash - tabula county, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, November 5, 1856, a son of Thomas and Mariah (Sharp) Betts. The father was born in Pennsylvania, in 1839, and there married in 1859, and has ever since resided on a farm in that county. He is a Republican in his political views. The mother of our subject was born in Williams- field township, Ashtabula county, Ohio, in 1841, and was married at the age of eighteen years. She also still survives. Mr. and Mrs. Betts were the parents of thirteen children, eight of whom grew to years of maturity, and five of whom are still living. The par- ents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Charles G. Betts, the eldest in the above family of children, was early inured to the toil of farm life. He left home at the age of twenty-three years, and came to Ohio. He was first employed by Luther Lee near Jeffer. son for two years, receiving $250 per year. He then rented 226 acres of land near Mr. Lee's home, where he was engaged in farming and dairying, selling his milk to the Eagle- ville Factory. Nine years later Mr. Betts purchased his present farm of eighty-eight acres, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, and which is adorned with a good ten-room house, of modern architecture. He has ample barns and sheds to accommo- date his animals and fowls; has all necessary farm implements, and an orchard of 130 trees. In company with Mr. Pritchard, he owns a threshing machine and hay baler.

Mr. Betts was married in 1880, to Miss Gertrude Belknap, a daughter of Charles A. and Elizabeth (North) Belknap. The father was born in Pennsylvania, in 1821, and in early life was engaged as a sailor. In 1841 he purchased a farm in Ashtabula county, Ohio, but in 1846 sold that place and moved to Iowa Valley, Lynn county, near Cedar Rapids, Iowa. On account of ill health, he returned to Williamsfield township, Ash- tabula county, in the winter of 1846. In : 1861 Mr. Belknap enlisted for service in the late war, entering the Tenth Kan- sas Infantry, Company C, served three years, and was honorably discharged October 10, 1864. He died in 1878, and at the age of fifty-seven years. He was a Republican in political matters, and a member of the United Brethren Church, as was also his wife. The mother of Mrs. Betts, nee Elizabeth North, was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, in a log cabin, and was rocked in a cradle made of a sap trough. She well remembers the pioneer

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days when the county was inhabited by In- dians, and the forests abounded in wild game. She has seen the forests gradually disappear, and beautiful residences take the place of log cabins. She was married in 1841, at the age of eighteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Belknap had seven children, five of whom grew to years of maturity, and four still survive.

Mr. Betts was thrown upon his own re- sources at an early age, but by careful man- agement and well directed efforts has built for himself a beautiful home, and laid by an ample competency for the future. His wife has been his assistant and co-worker in all his undertakings, and to her is due much credit for their present surroundings.

D AN. O. CARTER for more than fifteen years has been Superintendent of the Lake County Infirmary near Paines- ville, Ohio. He is one of the very old settlers of the Western Reserve, having lived here since he was ten years old. His father settled in Medina county, in 1816, locating in the wilderness. His Christian name was Newcomb, and Warren, Litchfield county, Connecticut, was the place of his birth. He built a log cabin in the woods and developed a farm of 160 acres. The Indians were friendly, and he often tried his skill with them in shooting at a mark. He was a great sportsman and killed numbers of deer and bear, thas furnishing his family with meat. In 1825, he removed to Cuyahoga county, and from there came to Lake county ten years later. He married Alohe E. Eldred, also a native of the Nutmeg State, and to them were born four sons. They were both consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Carter, who was a strong

Abolitionist, was in turn a Whig, Free Soiler and Republicau. He died at the age of seventy years, and the death of his wife oc .. curred in her sixty-ninth year.

The subject of this brief notice is the youngest of his father's family. His birth occurred in Medina county, Ohio, in 1820, and his boyhood was passed partly there and partly in Cuyahoga and this county. He attended the old-fashioned pioneer school, maintained under the subscription system, and for a while he was a student in the old academy in Kirtland township. When twenty- five years of age, he started out to carve his own fortune, and as he had been brought up to farm life, he most naturally turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. The first farm that he owned was one of 100 acres in Leroy township. This he developed and im- proved, and after selling it purchased another farm of seventy-five acres in Painesville township.

In the year 1845, Mr. Carter and Lydia Cox was united in wedlock. The lady was born in Merrimac county, New Hampshire, in 1828, and in 1838 came to Lake county with her parents, who were David and Lydia (Been) Cox, likewise natives of New Hamp- shire. They settled in Mantua township, Portage county. Mr. and Mrs. Carter bave had two children: Ella E. and Frank H. Ella became the wife of Richard H. Foss. She was born February 2, 1849, and died March 13, 1877, leaving two children: Car- ter H. and Harry C. Frank H., who was born January 16, 1855, is married and has one child: Ella B. He is engaged in the lumber business at Castleton, North Dakota.

In the fall of 1877, Mr. Carter was placed in charge of the County Infirmary, and has since been its efficient Superintendent. Many improvements have been made during

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his administration of affairs, and the State Inspector has made reports, saying that the management of this institution is second to none in the State. The farm comprises 236 acres, and as it is well cultivated each year, it almost pays the expenses of the Infirm- ary. At the present time there are twenty- six inmates, but the average number for the past fifteen years has been about forty per- sons.

Mr. Carter has witnessed nearly all stages in the development of this section of the State. He has seen the country transformed from a wilderness, inhabited only by Indians and wild beasts, to the condition of this day, when one may see well cultivated fields, the curling smoke from farm-houses which are thickly dotted over the landscape, and may descry thriving villages on every hand. The length of his life spans the distance be- tween the sickle and the self-binder, and the wonderful changes that have been made in mechanical lines are undoubtedly account- able, to a great extent, for the advanced civilization and prosperity of the present time. Our subject is a man of strong consti- tution, and in the past he has been a very . hard worker. Where the court house now stands in the city of Cleveland, he has often garnered wheat for his father's cousin, Lor- enzo Carter, the first white man who settled on the original site of that city.

P HILETUS W. TUTTLE, one of the most enterprising business men of Gene- va, is worthy of representation in this rec- ord of Ashtabula county's leading citi- zens. He was born at Geneva, June 22, 1835, and here he passed his youth, receiving his education in the village school.

His parents, William and Lettie M. (Mont- gomery) Tuttle, natives of New Hampshire and Connecticut respectively, emigrated to the frontier in their youthful days, and were among the hardy pioneers, who through hard toil and many struggles, paved the way for the outward march of civilization.

The maternal grandfather, Robert Mont- gomery, was a clergyman, and organized the first Methodist Episcopal Church in the township, being the pastor of the same for some years. William Tuttle was a liberal supporter of the church, an ardent advocate of temperance reform and politically sup- ported the Whig party. He was elected, June 28, 1828, under Governor Allen Trimble, Second Lieutenant of the First Cavalry Company, First Brigade, Ninth Division, and was made First Lieutenant of the same company September 3, 1829, and in 1830 Captain. October 10, 1831, he was promoted as Colonel of the Third Brigade, under Governor Duncan McArthur.

William Tuttle departed this life Novem- ber 11, 1858, in the sixty-fifth year of his age. His wife died at the age of sixty-nine, January 10, 1873. Mrs. Tuttle was a de- voted and enthusiastic member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and in the early days she at one time entertained more than forty people for two days at her own home, doing this in the interest of church work. When Battery C, of the First Ohio Light Artillery, left for the field, she presented to each member a Bible to carry with him to the war.

One period of the life of our subject which he considers to have been fraught with the most valuable experiences, was passed in the lumbering district in the Northwest. He was in the heart of the pine forest, seventy- five miles from a white settlement, on the

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head waters of Black river in Wisconsin; there he "roughed it," and learned many practical lessons, when he was twenty years of age.

He remained in the lumbering business ` two seasons and had charge of a lumbering camp, employing forty men.

He also spent one season on the Mississip- pi river, rafting and boating.

He returned to Geneva in the fall of 1856 and took charge of his father's farm for two years, after which he engaged in the hard- ware business, which he continued two years, successfully.

He then took up the produce and commis- sion business, which he carried on extensively for several years.

Another enterprise with which Mr. Tuttle was connected was the manufacture of brick. He supplied the brick for the Methodist Episcopal and Congregational churches and many other buildings in the place. Iņ 1872, with other parties, he purchased the vessel " William Young, " ata cost of $18,000, and in 1874 they built the " Daniel E. Bai- ley," which cost $65,000 and was at that time one of the finest vessels on the lakes.

Mr. Tuttle was one of the original stock- holders of the First National Bank of Geneva, and for many years a director and its presi- dent. He was one of the first stockholders of the Geneva Tool Company, of which he has been president for the past seven years. This company is one of the most successful in northeastern Ohio. He is also president of the Platt E. Spencer Memorial Hall and Library Association, of Geneva. He has builded thirty-five dwelling-houses in Gene- va, costing from $500 to $10,000 each.

The marriage of our subject occurred August 20, 1856, when he was united to Miss Polly Frisbie, a daughter of Peter Fris.

bie, who was among the early settlers of Geneva township. Mr. and Mrs. Tuttle have three children: Fred W., a wholesale grocer, of Grand Forks; N. D., Mary E. and Mattie W. Mr. Tuttle is an enthusiastic Repub- lican, and is a member of the Masonic order, of the Eagle Commandry, No. 29, K. T., and of the I. O. O. F. He was a charter member of the Encampment No. 292, I. O. O. F., of Geneva. While not a member of any church, he has contributed largely to church build- ing and their maintenance.

E LI DILLON, a well-known resident of Orwell, Ohio, was born in Austintown, Mahoning county, Ohio, February 20, 1817. He is a son of David and Polly (Os- born) Dillon. The former died in 1850, at the age of eighty-two years, and the latter in 1830, aged fifty five. They had a family of nine children, two of whom died in child- hood. Jonathan Dillon, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Philadelphia, his parents, natives of England, but descendants of Irish ancestors, having emigrated to that place. Eli Dillon's maternal grandfather, Nicholas Osborn, traced his ancestry back to the early settlers of New England, the Os- borns being of German descent.

Eli Dillon was reared to farm life, and for some years was more or less engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. By trade he is a carpen- ter.

November 27, 1836, he married Miss Nancy E. Erwin, daughter of William and Joanna (Lanterman) Erwin. She was born Novem- ber 27, 1816. IIer paternal grandparents were Christopher and Mary (Folk) Erwin, natives of Virginia. Her maternal grand- father was William Lanterman. Eli Dillon

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

and his wife became the parents of ten chil- dren, four of whom died in infancy. A brief record of the others is as follows: Ann Eliza, born August 30, 1839, is now the wife of William H. Treat, of Madison, Ohio; Kirt- land, born November 7, 1841, married Flor- ence Bailey, who died October 10, 1881, leaving him with an infant daughter and one son ; Granville W., born June 4, 1843; Erwin, born September 5, 1846, died August 29, 1883, leaving a widow and three children, Herbert A., Ethel A., and Erwin, his widow, whose maiden name was Anna Rice, subse- quently being married to Ashley M. Harring- ton, who is now deceased; Edith the next of one of the Dillon children, was born May 11, 1857; Warren, born December 3, 1850, married Miss Eunice Armstrong, and has three children.

C URTIS MCNUTT, a lumber manufac- turer and farmer of Plymouth town- ship, Ashtabula county, Ohio, an estimable man and enterprising citizen, was born in the same county, January 22, 1842. He was reared in his native county, attended the common schools, and received his prac- tical business training in a sawmill, in which line of occupation he has continued, with scarcely an intermission, for more than a quar- ter of a century. At the age of twenty, he became a partner with his brother L. B., in a mill, which they operated five years, after which the subject of this sketch became one of the firm of MeNutt Brothers, who conducted a machine shop in Ashtabula. In 1876, he went to Lake county and engaged in farming, but soon drifted back into the milling busi- ness, which he followed continuously until his return to Ashtabula county, in 1882.

Since then he has lived within a radius of five or six miles of his present farm. May 15, 1890, he purchased of Joseph Hubbard 100 acres of timber, which he is now sawing up, furnishing hardwood lumber on contract and meeting with deserved success in his un- dertaking.

October 6, 1865, Mr. McNutt was married, in Painesville, Ohio, to Geraldine S. Williams, a lady possessing many worthy qualities. Her father, John B. Williams, was an early set- tler in Concord township, Ashtabula county, where he followed farming, and kept a tavern in Ashtabula in 1850. He served his country faithfully in the war of 1812, and was a worthy patriot and man. He married Jane Fleming and they reared two children, of whom Mrs. McNutt alone survives. Mr. and Mrs. McNutt have four children: Jen- nie, wife of Fred Jones, has two children, Florence and Henry; Lizzie married Clark Callow; and Mabel and Rolla, at home.

Energetic, enterprising and progressive, Mr. McNutt has pushed his way to success, at the same time observing the highest busi- ness integrity, and gaining just title to the esteem which he so universally enjoys.

W G. HOPPER. President of the Bank of Andover, Ohio, and proprietor of La Petite stock farm, in Richmond township, well and favorably known in this part of the country, was born in Devonshire, England, October 29, 1833. His parents, John and Lydia (Griffin) Hopper, were like- wise natives of the "tight little isle," and good, worthy people, the former a shoemaker by trade, a hard-working, honest man. In 1841, the parents emigrated with their chil- dren to America, settling in Cleveland, Ohio.

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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

The venerable father is living at Madison, Ohio, and retains his vigor and faculties to a remarkable extent. He is eighty-five years of age.

The subject of this sketch was eight years of age when his parents came to Cleveland, where he was reared and educated. He learned the cooper and tinsmith's trade and gas-fitting, which occupation he followed continuously for a number of years. He came to Ashtabula county, Ohio, in 1862, and was in business in Andover and Padan- aram several years. He then bought his present farm, and engaged in agriculture and stock-raising, in which line of operations he has been signally successful. In 1882, he started to raise Jersey cattle, and now owns one of the finest herds in the country. He also has a small stable of well-bred horses, at the head of which is Educator, foaled in 1887, and sired by Judge Saulsburg, a son of Nutwood. His horse barn is a model of its kind, with modern box stalls and an ante- room. He has a comfortable residence, with the most complete appointments, and is numbered among the most substantial men of his county. All of his prosperity is due to his own unaided and persistent efforts, and he is justly entitled to credit for the energy displayed in a commendable cause.

In 1855, in Jefferson, Ohio, Mr. Hopper was married to Catharine Newcomb Beers, a highly estimable lady, a native of Devon- shire, England, and daughter of A. and Catharine Beers, of the latter country. Mrs. Hopper died in 1883, leaving her family and many friends to mourn her loss. Her two children are: John A., a prosperous farmer of Richmond township, who married Flora Thomas, who died, leaving two children, Willie G. and Cora. John subsequently mar- ried again, espousing Julia Phelps, who is

the mother of one child, Harry. Mr. and Mrs. Hopper's second child, Katie, is the wife of F. O. Butler, a prosperous farmer, and they have one son, Willie G.

Mr. Hopper's life might serve as an incen- tive to many poor young men, starting in life with only their own exertions to depend upon. He is essentially a self-made man, owing his -prosperity to unremitting hard work, careful management, strict economy and the utmost integrity in business affairs, thus gaining not only financial success but the well merited esteem of his fellow men.

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 53

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