Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 59

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 59
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 59
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 59

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).

Franklin H. Chapin, the subject of this sketch, was reared to manhood on his father's pioneer farm. In company with his three brothers he assisted in clearing the place, and at the age of twenty years purchased a farm of sixty acres near his father's farm. He was to pay for the same by working by the month. Mr. Chapin was next employed as a farm hand by Ludman Groves, with whom he re- mained two years, receiving $10 per month. By good management, well directed efforts and persistent industry, he succeeded in clear- ing the debt from the farm. He then turned his attention to the dairy business and to the manufacture of a superior kind of cheese. Leaving his farm in good hands, and accom- panied by his wife, Mr. Chapin worked in various factories for four years, after which he returned to his farm. He now owns 210 acres of valuable land, all under a good state of cultivation, and is living a comparatively retired life. He has contributed liberally of his means to the support of schools and churches.

In 1844 our subject was united in mar- riage with Miss Polly J. Isherwood, a daugh- ter of Pilgrim Francis and Rebecca Isher- wood. The father was born in Pennsylvania, November 6, 1781, and was a son of an En- glish sea captain. The former was reared on a farm in the Susquehanna valley; was married there in 1815, and shortly afterward located on 300 acres of Government land in Crawford county, Pennsylvania. That tract

was then a veritable wilderness. He felled a sufficient number of trees to build a cabin, and the mother made the first bedstead they ever owned, constructing the same of round poles cut from the woods. The father with his ax and the mother with her spinning- wheel and loom soon overcame every obstacle to home and fortune. A well improved farm was made and a commodious house erected, the latter afterward becoming a popular hotel, known as the Travelers' Home, a stopping place on the stage line between Pittsburg and Erie, Pennsylvania. In his political re- lations, Mr. Isherwood was an old-time Demo- crat. He died January 4, 1871, at the age of eighty-four years. The mother of Mrs. Chapin was born in Vermont, November 10, 1798; removed with her parents to Pennsyl- vania, and was married at the age of seven- teen years. She was a woman of great force of character and consequent usefulness; lived a consistent Christian life, and through her untiring efforts and good judgement much of her husband's success was attained. She united with the Free-will Baptist Church in early life, and her death at the age of ninety years, occurred July 30, 1868.

Mr. and Mrs. Isherwood had nine children, all of whom grew to years of maturity, and of whom six still survive.

Mrs. Chapin, wife of our subject, was born in Rockdale township, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, April 17, 1825. She grew to womanhood under careful home training, be- came proficient in all the useful household duties, and took her place at the wheel and loom when yet in her 'teens. In 1843 she came to Ohio with her unele, Melancthon Alfred. The latter was a minister and phy- sician by profession, and also taught vocal and instrumental music. He reorganized the church of this place, filled the pulpit and ad-

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ministered to the wants of the sick, taught a singing school, and built up the society in general in Lenox township. Mrs. Chapin taught the district school one year in this township, and was married in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Chapin have had two children. The eldest, Ladema Rosella, was born Jannary 13, 1849, and was married April 17, 1867, to Hezeron Harmon, a farmer by occupation. During the late war he was a soldier in the Seventh Kansas Cavalry, and at the expira- tion of his two years of service re-enlisted, and served until the surrender. He took part in all the campaigns with John Brown. After returning from the army Mr. Harmon resumed agricultural pursuits, which he was soon afterward obliged to abandon on account of ill health, and he then spent six months in the city of Denver. He died August 1, 1874, at the age of thirty-two years. Ladema was again married, November 15, 1882, to Ralph G. Owen, of West Andover. She died February 7, 1888. The youngest child of our subject, Francis P., was born January 23, 1854, was reared to manhood on a farm, where work was never scarce, and at the age of five years he milked two cows night and morning. At the age of nineteen years he attended a three months' course at the Jor- dan Business College, after which he was employed as clerk in the dry-goods house of Schule & Berkenhewer. He worked the first six months without compensation, and his first wages was $20 per month. Mr. Chapin afterward entered the tobacco manufactory of W. S. Sherwood & Co., having charge of their packing department, and in 1875 was employed as their traveling salesman through the New England States. In 1877 the firm was succeeded by Powers & Stewart, with whom he remained as traveling salesman un- til 1878, and in that year became a member

of the firm. The partnership was known as Stewart, Chapin & Co. December 8, 1878, Mr. Chapin married Miss Zetta St. John, a native of Rock Creek, Ohio. Their only child, Ralph, died in 1883. In 1881 Mr. Chapin sold his interest in the tobacco busi- ness, and became part owner of the Toledo Bee, of which he is now manager. He is also Secretary and Treasurer of the Presque Isle Company.

Mr. and Mrs. Chapin gave a parental care to the orphaned ward committed to their keep- ing. She was Hattie Durham, who was mar- ried December 1, 1886, to Ralph G. Owen. They have two children: Franklin C. and Harry. Mrs. Chapin is a woman of great force of character and energy, and to her substantial help, wise counsel and untiring energy her husband owes much of his suc- cess in life. After marriage she spun and wove all the cloth needed for the household linen. During one year she made seventy yards of cloth, and made cheese every day. Both Mr. and Mrs. Chapin attend the Con- gregational Church. The former affiliates with the Republican party, and has served as School Director for many years.

F RANK FORTUNE .- Jefferson, Ohio, has no more enterprising, public-spir- ited citizen than the subject of this sketch, who is bound to this city by all the ties of birth and a long residence.

Frank Fortune, one of the most prominent grocers and able business men of Jefferson, was born in this city September 19, 1856, son of Walter and Eleanor Fortune, well known and highly respected residents of this community. Mr. Fortune was reared in the city of his birth and received a fair education

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in the common and high schools. At the age of fourteen he became a clerk in a grocery in Jefferson, and afterward clerked in varions lines of trade in that city, also spending one year as a clerk in Ashtabula, in the same county. In 1880 he entered into a co-part- nership with Arthur F. Sikes in the grocery business, which they continued a year, when Mr. Fortune sold his interest and engaged in the same business alone. With the exception of two years, he has since continued by him- self. His energy, careful management and correct business methods, together with his thorough knowledge of every detail of his business, has brought him deserved success. He began with very limited means, but now controls the largest grocery in Jefferson, which fact stands as sufficient endorsement of his ability and worth.

In 1880 Mr. Fortune was married to Miss Lizzie A. Guy, an estimable lady of Jefferson. They have four interesting children: Lucy Bell, Grace Adell, Elizabeth Eleanor and Frank.

Fraternally Mr. Fortune is an active mem- ber of the Royal Arch Masons, I. O. O. F. and Knights of Pythias. In the various walks of life, Mr. Fortune has been character- ized by honor, capability and cordiality, and justly holds a high position in the regard of his community.

In politics Mr. Fortune is a Republican.

S AMUEL STRATTON, one of the venerable pioneers of Madison, Lake county, Ohio, has been identified with this place since he was a young man. For many years he was known as the " village blacksmith," and as a hunter he had a reputa- tion second to none in all the country round.

Mr. Stratton was born in Shelburne, Massa- chusetts, June 19, 1807, son of Caleb S. Strat- ton, a native of Leyden, that State, and a farmer by occupation. He was left an orphan at an early age, his father dying when Samuel was four years old, and his mother two years later. Thus a family of five children, of whom he was next to the youngest, was cast upon the care of friends. Samuel lived at various times in three or four different families. When he was fifteen he entered upon an apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade and served until he was twenty-one.

In 1829, at the age of twenty-two years, Mr. Stratton came out to Ohio, making the journey hither via the Erie canal from Troy to Buffalo, thence across the lake to Fairport, and then to Unionville by stage. The lake voyage was made on the steamer Peacock, and on that trip, while in mid water and at midnight, the boat had a collision with another steamer. At Unionville he worked in the blacksmith shop of his brother one year. Then he came to Madison, opened a shop, took in a number of apprentices and did a large amount of work. Six months in the year they worked all day and three hours each evening. For nearly forty years Mr. Stratton ran his shop here. In 1851 when the Lake Shore Railroad was built he took $500 worth of stock in the company, and made considerable money out of it.

In early life Mr. Stratton took great delight in hunting, that being his chief recreation. He was the best fox hunter in all this coun- try. He could kill a fox when it was on the run. Indeed, his rifle seldom failed of any mark at which he aimed. He has killed many a deer.

Mr. Stratton was married, in 1842, to Roxana Miller, a native of Madison. Her father, Nahum Miller, who was born in Ver-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

mont, was one of the first settlers in this part of Lake county. He located on the Middle Ridge before there was a road there, made a clearing in the woods and built his cabin, and there developed a farm and passed his life. He died at the age of sixty-seven. His wife, who before her marriage was Miss Ester Mc- Donald, lived to be eighty-one. They reared five children. Following are the names of Mr. and Mrs. Stratton's children: Mrs. Ella Morse, Mrs. Louie Stray, Mrs. Edna Cutler, Mrs. Theo. Olmsted and Mrs. Esther Bollard, the three oldest being deceased. Mrs. Strat- ton is a member of the Congregational Church.

In early life Mr. Stratton was a Whig, but since the organization of the Republican party he has affiliated with it. He started out in life dependent entirely upon his own exertions and as the result of his years of toil he is comfortably situated in his old age. His fine large residence is one of the attract- ive homes of Madison.

W ALTER C. TISDEL is the Auditor of Lake county, Ohio, his home be- ing in Painesville, the county seat. He is one of the most popular gentlemen in this locality, and comes from one of the early pioneer families. He was born in 1838, in Perry, Lake county, Ohio, and is the son of Silas A. and Elizabeth (Ely) Tisdel. The former was born in Madison, Lake county, June 1, 1817, his father being Curtis A., a native of Connecticut, who removed to the Western Reserve in 1811 by teams, coming part of the way on the ice along the lake shore. He located in Madison township, then a wilderness, where he built a log cabin, and had only blankets for doors and windows.

The country abounded in Indians and wolves, and the latter were very trouble- some. During the war of 1812, life for the settlers was full of hardship and excitement, of which their descendants of the present day have little realization. Mr. Tisdel spent his life on his farm, clearing and improving it, and died November 20, 1837, at the age of fifty-nine years. His wife became the mother of four sons and three daughters. She was called to her final rest in Perry, March 20, 1865, aged eighty-two years.

Silas A. Tisdel passed his boyhood in this county, and after leaving school found occu- pation in a general store in Perry. After his marriage he engaged in the mercantile busi- ness for himself. For some time he resided in Painesville, and from there removed to Madison, remaining in the same business and in addition to that raising silk-worms. In 1846 he settled in Painesville permanently. In 1849 he was elected County Treasurer, and served for two terms in that position. For many years thereafter he was engaged in the grocery and provision business. He served for six years as County Recorder, being elected in 1873 on the Republican ticket. He was formerly a Whig, and voted first for William Henry Harrison in 1840. He was a regular attendant of the Congregational Church, and was thoroughly interested in the religious and moral welfare of the community. He died August 1, 1881.

The marriage of Silas A. Tisdel and Eliz- abeth Ely was celebrated August 23, 1837, in Madison. Mrs. Tisdel is still living in Painesville. She was the mother of nine chil- dren, six of whom are living; their names are as follows: Walter Curtis; Evelyn Elizabeth, now Mrs. L. B. Ricker; Willard Parker; Marian Wyman, now Mrs. W. B. Straight; Lizzie B., now Mrs F. A. Searl; Carter Silas;

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Sarah D .; Henry Carter and Sarah Elizabeth. The four last named are not living. The parents of Mrs. Tisdel were Asaph and Deb- orah. (Nye) Ely, natives of Springfield and Boston respectively. They were married in Boston and came to Ohio in 1819 by way of the canal and lakes.

Our subject, Walter C. Tisdel, came to Painesville in his boyhood and attended the public schools, later entering Gundry's Com- mercial College. At fifteen years of age he commenced clerking for John S. Mathews, a dry-goods merchant. He was in the store in the summer and attended school in the winter. After this he was in the employ of John House & Son, dry-goods merchants. He then went into his father's grocery store, and in time became his partner, the firm name being W. C. Tisdel & Company. After his marriage he was for a few years in the gro- cery and provision business in Toledo, Ohio. Returning to Painesville, he entered into partnership with W. W. Curdy, and bought out the Aaron Wilcox dry-goods house. A year later Mr. Curdy withdrew and Mr. Tisdel continued the business for fifteen years. In 1878 Mr. Tisdel was with his brother, Colonel W. P. Tisdel, who was then Superintendent of the New York & Rio de Janeiro Steam- ship Company, and in the interest of the same our subject made a trip to Rio Janeiro and other South American cities. When he returned he was elected State Secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, and took up the work in January, 1879, holding the position for two years. While serving as State Secretary he was elected Auditor of Lake county, and has since discharged the duties pertaining to that office most faithfully. He is greatly interested in the work of the Congregational Church of this city, in which he is an official member. For fifteen years he

was Superintendent of its Sunday-school, resigning in 1891. He devoted much time to blackboard exercises and object lessons and used the latest methods of conducting them.

In 1862 Mr. Tisdel was married to Sarah M. Clayton, of Painesville, whose father, David B. Clayton, was one of the most honored early residents of this place. Mr. and Mrs. Tisdel are the parents of three children: Mary Elizabeth, Fred Walter, and Ely Clayton.

In his political faith Mr. Tisdel is a stanch Republican, and has considerable influence in local political circles. He is a man of up- right life, and one who commands the respect and esteem of all who know him.

AMES OSCAR HUMPHREY .- Among the few early pioneers of Lake county, Ohio, is this gentleman, who is a re- tired capitalist of Willoughby. In the carly days he experienced many hardships in the West and has traveled on foot for miles through dense forests in Ohio and Michigan where now are fine farms and enterprising towns and cities. He was active in Chicago when it was only a prairie village. He lived there from 1834 until 1871, and is remem- bered as one of the founders of the greatness of that wonderful city. For several years he has been privileged in attending the re-unions of the pioneers of the Calumet Club. In a business way, success crowned his efforts and it is now long since he became well-to-do.

Mr. Humphrey's birth occurred in Norfolk, Litchfield county. Connecticut, May 18, 1810. With his father, Roswell Humphrey, also a native of Connecticut, he emigrated to Willoughby, Ohio, in 1815. The father was

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

a carpenter by trade and participated in the war of 1812. He died about 1845, aged seventy-five years. His wife, whose death occurred in her seventy-first year, was before her marriage Elizabeth Norton, a native of Connecticut.

In a family of seven children, six sons and one daughter, our subject is the only one living. He was only five years old when his parents removed to Ohio and his early edu- cation was such as was afforded by the dis- trict schools. When about sixteen years old he began learning the carriage business, at first working with his brother, and later, for two and one-half years, being employed in Cleveland. In 1834, he purchased lumber and started for Chicago by way of the lakes. At that time there were not to exceed 500 people in the place. Mr. Humphrey made the first wagons ever manufactured in Chicago. He hired an old log house which he used for a shop. He had been told that Chicago would probably develop into a good town in the course of time. He continued in the manufacture of wagons and carriages until 1852, the vehicles manufactured by him up to that time having commanded extremely high prices, as there was little competition. For a number of years subsequently he en- gaged in renting several buildings and dealt in real estate. In 1871, five months before the big fire in Chicago, he came to Willoughby to live, and after the fire fiend had laid the fair city low he disposed of his remaining interests there.

In the year 1840, Mr. Humphrey wedded Miss Adelia Ann Barnum, who was born in Watertown, New York. Four children came to grace this union, but one by one they were stricken by the hand of death. The wife and mother was called from this life in 1888, and lies buried side by side with her children

in Rose Hill cemetery, near Chicago. She was an amiable and cultured lady, one who numbered many friends among those who had the good fortune to make her acquaint- . ance.

Our subject was in former years a sup- porter of the Whig party, was later a Free Soiler and on the organization of the Repub- lican party joined its ranks. Prior to the war he was a strong Abolitionist. In busi- ness and social circles alike he is greatly re- spected as a man of honorable principle, sterling worth and upright walk in life. The poor and needy find in him a friend, and he supports with his influence and money all charitable enterprises. It is now over twenty years since he came to this peaceful little village to make his home, and he has always been found active in everything pertaining to the advancement and welfare of his fellow citizens.

It was little thought, at the time the fore- going sketch was prepared, that it would be the mournful duty of the biographer to record the sad fatality which has brought to a close the life of one who has ever been a man who stood four-square to every wind that blew. On the 12th of June, 1893, Mr. Humphrey, in company with his niece, Miss Mary Hum- phrey, went to Chicago for the purpose of visiting the great Columbian Exposition. Two days later, on Wednesday, June 14, Mr. Humphrey was thrown from an over-crowded cable street-car and received injuries which resulted in his death about fifteen minutes after the accident! He lived long enough to tell his name, age, place of residence of stop- ping-place in the city. He was on his way to the home of his niece, Mrs. Sturges, of 755 Sixty-third Court, in the suburban town of Lake, by whom a search was instituted. Not until two o'clock at night did the anxious

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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

friends succeed in finding the object of their quest, and then only to look with heavy grief upon his mortal remains which had been held for identification at the morgue. After the inquest the remains of Mr. Humphrey were laid to rest beside those of his wife and chil- dren in Rose Hill cemetery. Thus suddenly has terminated the life of one who was a true nobleman,-one who leaves an heritage of kindly deeds and honest worth.

C HESTER PALMER, for many years one of the much revered pioneers of Chester township, Geauga county, Ohio, but now of Willoughby, this State, is a native of the township of Danby, Tompkins county, New York, born December 13, 1812. He belongs to the ninth generation of the descendants of Walter Palmer, who emigrated from England to this country and settled at Stonington, Connecticut, in Colonial times.

The grandfather of our subject was Ezekiel Palmer, a native of Connecticut and a Revo- lutionary soldier. He died at a ripe old age. Rev. Erban Palmer, son of Ezekiel and father of Chester, was born July 1, 1787, at Warren, Litchfield county, Connecticut. At the age of thirteen he was bound out by his father to Chester Bennett of Warren, Connecticut, to serve an apprenticeship at blacksmithing. He was to work eight years, but at the expiration of seven years he purchased his release for $150. Going to Salem, Massachusetts, he was employed in a foundry until his health failed from overwork, after which he spent three years at sea, visiting South American ports. During this time he became master of a vessel. Returning to Warren, his old home, he was married, December 22, 1811, to Lucy Ranney, and moved to Danby,

Tompkins county, New York, where he re- sumed work at his trade. He had always been skeptical in his religions views and finally became an infidel; but at Danby he was converted and at once began to prepare for the ministry, and was in the ministry of the Presbyterian Church the remainder of his life. While pastor at East Genoa, New York, his health failed and he was advised by a physician to come West to Ohio. Fol- lowing this advice in 1822, he traveled to Chester, Geauga county, Ohio, on horseback. Soon after his arrival here he conducted a revival meeting at Kingsville, which resulted in about 300 conversions. He preached at Kingsville, five years. Then he removed with his family to Chester, Geauga county, where he preached several years. One year he had charge of a church at Monroeville, Huron county, Ohio. His health again fail- ing, he retired and moved to Orwell, Ashta- bula county, where he died of consumption, at the age of sixty. He was one of the most remarkable pioneer ministers in the Western Reserve. He organized many churches and did a great amount of good at the various places where he lived. His wife died while they were residents of Chester, They had seven children, Chester, and a brother who is now a resident of California, being the only ones of the number that survive.

Chester Palmer lived in Tompkins county, New York, until he was eleven years. When he was thirteen his father found a place for him to work in Kingsville township, Ashta- bula county, where he was employed by one man about three years, chopping wood and clearing land. As he had to work out in his youth, his educational advantages were of course limited, but he made the best of his opportunities, studying at night by the light of a pine knot. Thus, in the school of experi-

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ence, he gained a store of valuable informa- tion. In 1827, when his father moved to Chester township, Geanga county, he accom- panied him and found employment at farm work there. In 1835 he married and settled on a farm. This farm he cleared and im- proved, and as the years rolled by prosperity smiled upon him. To his original purchase he added other land until he became the owner of 300 acres. For thirty-five years he followed farming in Chester township. Dur- ing this time he became noted as a breeder of fine stock, especially sheep and Durham cattle. He at one time had a fine herd of sixty Durhams, which he sold for breeding purposes and sent to all parts of the United States. He was one of the pioneer stock men of Geauga county. In 1838 he arranged with E. P. Morgan & Co., of Massachusetts, to buy wool in exchange for cloth, and in 1842 he was engaged by another firm to buy wool, the firm furnishing him money so that he could pay cash for the wool he purchased. The latter arrangement was a great accom- modation to the people of this section at that time, as money was what they needed. He bought wool for this firm for twenty-nine years, during which time he disbursed in four counties over $800,000.

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 59

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