Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 65

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 65
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 65
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 65

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 politics Mr. Townsend is a Republican, deeply interested in the public welfare, but taking no active part in political matters. Domestic in his tastes and thoroughly de- voted to his business, he finds his mind and heart fully occupied. Upright in his deal- ings and uniformly courteous, he enjoys the high regard of all, and has the best wishes of his fellow-citizens for his success.

C HARLES J. OLDS is Postmaster at Or- well, Ashtabula county, Ohio, as well as editor of the Orwell News-Letter, a" weekly paper which has a large circulation. It is ably edited and contains interesting coun- ty and State news. Our subject does all kinds of general job printing, etc., and makes low rates and estimates on all varieties of work in his lines. In every possible manner he en- deavors to improve his paper and has made of it a very interesting and newsy sheet, one of the best in the county. He has had con-

siderable experience along literary lines and as an editor is able and well posted. The post office comes under the head of fourth class, and Mr. Olds has been the genial Post- master since 1889.

The birth of our subject occurred in Rich- mond, Ashtabula county, May 11, 1865. His parents, Frank E. and Matilda C. (Nims) Olds, now make their home in the village of Orwell. Charles J. is one of seven children, two of whom died in infancy, and one, Sarah, died at the age of thirteen years. The others who survive are Agnes, now Mrs. Porter Hodge, of Orwell, who was born August 2, 1861; Heman C., born October 12, 1863, and who now lives in Orwell, and Henry W., whose birth occurred June 24, 1877. Until ten years of age our subject was reared on a farm, after which his parents removed to Or- well, where he received his entire education at the Orwell Normal Institute. For some time he engaged in teaching, but finding that occupation not as remunerative as he wished he embarked in 1886 in the printing busi- ness, purchasing a half interest in the An- dover Citizen, published in Andover, Ohio. After remaining there for one year he sold out and entered the employ of the Gazette, of Jefferson, Ohio, Senator Lampson's paper.

In July, 1889, Mr. Olds was appointed Postmaster at Orwell by President Harrison, who gave him the preference over two other candidates. In 1891, he erected a fine brick business house, where he conducts his edi- torial work. The large front apartment is de- voted to the post office. In 1890, he estab lished the Orwell News-Letter and has con- tinned as its editor and sole proprietor. Though the paper has been so recently estab- lished, the circulation has steadily grown and the paper maintains its place among the best of the county.

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

On the 11th of December, 1888, Mr. Olds married Miss Josephine Tuttle, daughter of A. T. and Abagail Tuttle, of West Andover, their family being one of the representative ones of the township. Mrs. Olds is a grad- uate of the New Lyme Institute. She was, before her marriage, one of the successful teachers of the county. She is very fond of painting and has given instruction in the art. Our worthy subject and wife are the parents of two children: Harmon T., born March 15, 1890, and Marjorie, born July 25, 1892. Mrs. Olds is a member of the Congregational Church of West Andover.

Politically, Mr. Olds is a stanch Republi- can, and it is needless to say that his paper is a purely Republican sheet, devoted to the in- terests of the party. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and also belongs to the Junior Order of American Mechanics. As a man he merits the high esteem in which he is held by one and all, for he is a man of integrity and sterling worth.

P HILO B. WATERS, one of the ener- getic business men of Geneva, was born February 3, 1844, a son of Lorenzo S. and Betsey P. (Broder) Waters; the father, a native of New Hampshire, was born September 9, 1809; the mother was born at Hartford, Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1812. Lorenzo S. Waters emigrated to Ohio with his parents in 1813; they located in Trumbull county, where he engaged in farming, follow- ing agriculture through life. He was mar- ried in 1835, and reared a family of six children: Lorinda was born in 1837 and married Horace King: she died in 1892; El- mer H. was born in 1842: in 1863 he en- listed in the One Hundred and Twenty-

fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and was wounded in the thigh at Knoxville, Tennes- see. He started home, but continued his journey only to Louisville, Kentucky, where he died from the effects of the wound; Philo B. is the subject of this biographical sketch; Homer T. was born in 1846: he mar- ried Orelia Pelton and resides in South Bend, Indiana; Clinton D. was born in 1847, and married Lydia Fabes; C. G. was born in 1849 and died in 1889. The father of the family died September 9, 1886, and the mother passed away in April, 1890, aged seventy-seven years.

The boyhood of our subject was spent after the fashion of a farmer's son; he attended the the common school during the winter season and in the summer assisted in the lighter work of the farm. At the age of twelve years, he left his home and went to live with an uncle, where he passed an uneventful youth. Embracing the limited opportuni- ties offered him he gained a good education, and at the age of twenty-one began teaching in the dist. ict school. For two years he de- voted himself to this profession, and then apprenticed himself to a carpenter for a term of three years; after he had served his time he was engaged in various lines of business until 1881, when he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Portage county, Ohio, serving with efficiency for a period of two years. In the year 1882 he began to establish a business which has since grown into a most important industry; in Portage county, Ohio, he put down the first artificial-stone pavements, and in 1883 he came to Geneva, where he con- tinued this business; he has laid miles of this pavement in different sections of the State and in northwestern Pennsylvania, winning an enviable reputation as a solid and success- ful business man.

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Mr. Waters was married April 16, 1885, to the daughter of Elihu B. and Laura (Fris- bie) Gill; Mr. Gill was for thirty years an engineer on the Lake Shore & Southern Mich- igan Railroad and was a most trusted em- ployée. Mr. Waters is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue lodge and chapter; he is a charter member of the Agathon Lodge, K. P., Geneva. Politi- cally he is a stanch Republican, voicing his sentiments with no uncertain sound and giv- ing his best efforts to insure the success of his party.

W K. GATES. - He whose name initiates this brief biography is an enterprising and, as a natural se- quence, prosperous farmer and stock-raiser, whose well improved farmstead is located in Dorset township, Ashtabula county, Ohio. Mr. Gates was born in beautiful old Chau- tauqua county, New York, March 12, 1836, being the son of George D. Gates, a native of Rensselaer county, New York, whose father, Luther Gates, was one of those stal- wart patriots who aided in securing our na- tional freedo n by their noble and efficient service in the war of the Revolution. The father of our subject evidently inherited a patriotic spirit, for chronlogy reveals the fact that he was an interpid soldier in the war of 1812. While in his adolescent prime he was united in marriage to Miss Elmira Ward, who was born in Herkimer county, New York, being the daughter of Caleb Ward, who also was a Revolutionary soldier and who married a Miss Rice, a cousin of Dan Rice, whose fame as a showman was as wide as the national domain.

While our subject was yet but a babe in arms, his parents removed from the State of

New York and took up their residence in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, where the father died, at the age of sixty-eight years, and the mother at fifty eight. Their children were: Alma, deceased; Rhoda, who married Mr. Taylor; Henry; Harriet; Larkin; W. K. and Robert.

Our subject, the next youngest of the chil- dren, was raised on the farm and received his early educational training in the district school. At the age of twenty years he began work in a sawmill, with which undertaking he was concerned for some little time. In 1878, he came to Dorset, where he purchased of W. J. Ford a general mechandising busi- ness, which he continued very successfully for more than a decade, securing, by reason of his correct business methods, a large and representative patronage. In 1890, he sold the stock and business to James Brown and since that time he has devoted his attention almost entirely to the operation of his fine farm, having given particular attention to the raising of good road horses and Angus cattle. The farmstead is one that shows, in every portion, the well directed care and the constant attention that have been given, the result being a place that might well be taken as a model in many ways.

When he had attained the age of twenty- three years, Mr. Gates became thoroughly convinced of the truth of the old precept, "It is not well for man to live alone," and accord- ingly, in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, he was wedded to a young lady of high culture and refinement, Miss Jane Loucks, who was born in Herkimer county, New York, being the third of the nine children of John R. and Eunice (Malette) Loucks. It is but consistent that, in this connection, be given the names of the children-six sons and three daughters-of Mr. and Mrs.

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Loucks. They are: Helen, W. P., Jane, George, Miles, May, Jay, Lee and Dayton. Of these W. P. was one of the first to take up arms in his country's behalf at the time of the late civil conflict, serving as a mem- ber of General Mcclellan's staff until that general was removed from the command, when he joined a cavelry corps and served in that connection until the cessation of hostili- ties.

Mr. and Mrs. Gates have two children: Ruric R., a popular and successful farmer at Dorset, Ohio, who married Miss Jessie Ritter, by whom he had one son, Lloyd; the second son is W. W., who married Miss Minnie Leonard, by whom he has one child, Leonard, the family being residents of Dorset township.

Mr. Gates was Postmaster at Dorset for a period of twelve years, proving a capable and popular official. He is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, and both he and his wife are prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Gates is a member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and a most zealous worker in that noble cause.

A man who has proved his worth in the community in which he lives, and to the advancement of which he has largely contrib- uted, Mr. Gates has not been denied that measure of esteem which is his unmistakable due.

B ENJAMIN S. SNYDER, foreman in the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad shop at Conneaut, Ohio, was born in Wyandot county, this State, son of Simon and Caroline (Edwards) Snyder, his father a native of Virginia and his mother of Connecticut.

Simon Synder came from Virginia to Ohio at an early day and settled in Wyandot county, being one of the prominent pioneers of that county and one of its well-to-do farmers. He died at the age of forty years. His wife sur- vived him a number of years, her demise oc- curring March 3, 1886, at which time she had reached the age of seventy-two years. For more than twenty years she was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Benjamin S. is the youngest of their six children, the others being as follows: W. W., a ranchman, is married and living at Eden, Texas; A. W., a miller by trade, married Miss Myram Peters, and resides in Licking county, Ohio; Lucy died at the age of forty-three years; Laura, wife of Joseph Baird, died at the age of thirty-nine; and Carey M., who married Miss Anna Robertson, is a resident of Tus- cola, Illinois.

B. S. Snyder has been engaged in railroad- ing ever since he was sixteen years of age, beginning as brakeman, afterward being em- ployed as conductor, fireman and engineer, and at present is foreman in the shops. With the completion of the road to Conneaut in 1882, he came from Columbus to this place. He is engine dispatcher, and has charge of both the road men and shop men. His long connection with the business and the many places he has filled eminently fit him for his present position which he has held the past four years.

Mr. Snyder was married, November 17, 1872, to Miss Lizzie Hogan, who was left an orphan at an early age. She is a member of the First Baptist Church of Conneaut. Mr. Snyder is an enthusiastic Mason, having the reputation of being better posted on Masonry than any other man in the town. He has taken the degrees of the blue lodge, chap- ter, council and commandery, and is Emin-

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ent Commander of Cache Commandery of Conneaut, No. 27. He takes little interest in political matters, but votes the Republican ticket.

Personally, Mr. Snyder is a most genial and courteous man, popular with his railroad em- ployers and associates, and, indeed, with all who know him. His home surroundings indicate culture and refinement as well as contentment and happiness.

H C. TOMBES. - The death of few persons has caused more universal regret throughout Ashtabula, Ohio, than did that of the subject of this sketch, who was distinguished, during his long residence in the city and State, as a man of persistent industry, the highest integrity, superior business ability and uniform cor- diality.

Mr. Tombes was born in Somerville, New Jersey, February 16, 1824. His father was a shoemaker by trade, a whole-souled, jolly man, naturally of a roving disposition, who never seemed able to content himself in one place. He removed his family to New York State, where the subject of this sketch lived until he attained the age of nineteen, obtain- ing a fair education in the common schools of his vicinity. At the end of this time he joined the westward movement to Ohio and settled in Lake county, where he secured a position at the bench as harnessmaker. This continued to be his occupation as long as he remained in Lake county, and he followed it for some time after removing to Ashtabula county. His last years, however, were spent in Ashtabula, where he was the proprietor of a grocery store doing a thriving trade, gained by his uniform uprightness of dealing and

the reasonableness of his charges. His con- stitution was originally like iron, but during the last thirty years of his life was much broken, and he was a constant sufferer. For many years he was unable to be about, except as he could use his horse and buggy, and had it not been for his invincible energy he would have succumbed entirely and been a confirmed invalid. His indomitable will, however, kept him up until but one week before his death, a rare instance of the power of mind over matter. His loss was a great shock to the community, by whom he was regarded as a good business man and worthy citizen. His advice was often sought, and was greatly valued, on account of his rare judgment and extensive experience, and many attribute their prosperity to a timely hint from him. He was essentially a self-made man, possessed a good mind and natural conversational powers, which, with his love for study made him thoroughly familiar with all current events and questions of Government and society. He was public-spirited in the fullest sense of the word and never lost an opportunity of speaking and working for the best interests of his city and county. In religion he was an investigator of Spiritualism, but had not become convinced of its genuineness. His family are Congregationalists.

January 1, 1847, Mr. Tombes was married at Painesville, Ohio, by Rev. Carlos Smith, to Miss Lucy Huntington, born in 1828. Her father, Julian C. Huntington, was born in Connecticut, in 1796, whence he came to Ohio in 1801. His father later became the second governor of the Buckeye State. Julian C. Huntington married Adaline Parkman, also a member of an intelligent and promi- nent family, and they had five children: Samuel, who died in 1892; Robert, also de- ceased; Mrs. Tombes; Edwin and Henry.

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Mrs. Tombes was educated at Painesville and Callomer, now East Cleveland, and was mar- ried at the age of nineteen. She has had four children: Adaline P., wife of William Sanderson, in Bronsou, Michigan; Henrietta L., married to L. E. Rockwell; Andrew C., who married Maria Cox; and John H., who died February 19, 1890, aged eight months. The legacy of honor received from the father has fallen into good hands, which will trans- mit untarnished the illustrious name they are permitted to bear.

N ORRIS T. PHELPS, a well-known business man, blacksmith and apiarist, of Kingsville, Ashtabula county, Ohio, was born in Portage county, this State, May 15, 1838, son of Truman and Caroline (Gardner) Phelps. His grandfather, Lyman Phelps, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and two of Lyman Phelps' brothers also took part in that war, one being killed in Perry's engagement on Lake Erie, and the other drowned in a military operation at Braddock's Field, Pennsylvania.

Truman Phelps was born in Connecticut, August 14, 1812, and in 1828 came to Ohio, settling in Ashtabula county, where he has resided ever since, with the exception of a little over a year spent in Nelson township, Portage county, this State. He is a black- smith and mason by trade, but is now living retired. During his active career he filled various minor offices, and gained a wide acquaintance all over the county, being highly respected by all who know him. He was married in Kingsville, May 1, 1836, to Car- oline Gardner, whose birth occurred in Mass- achusetts, May 15, 1814, and who still shares with him the joys and sorrows of life. She

has been a member of the Christian Church for many years. The subject of this sketch is the oldest of their family of seven children, the others being as follows: Obed K., a me- chanic, residing at West Farmington, Ohio; Dr. Byron H., physician and surgeon for the Erie & Philadelphia Railroad, resides at Corry, Pennsylvania; Addison B., a mechanic of some note, and a resident of Andover in the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company; Charles H., also a mechanic of superior ability, resides at Terre Haute, Indiana; Lyman C., a druggist of Andover, Ohio; Sophia M., wife of Charles Tuttle, resides at Andover, Ohio.

Norris T. Phelps received a common- school and a select-school education, and as soon as he was old enough began work at the blacksmith trade, at which he has continued ever since, and in which he has developed marked skill, being able to make almost any thing out of iron. For two years he worked on the road.

Mr. Phelps has been twice married. May 1, 1861, he wedded Abbie J. Leonard, daughter of Asahel Leonard, of Williamsfield township, this county. She died in 1872, at the age of thirty-three years, leaving an only child, Belle C., who died at the age of thir- teen years. Mrs. Phelps was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for a num- ber of years. August 14, 1876, Mr. Phelps married Miss E. Rosetta Tourgee, a half sister of the distinguished author, Albion W. Tourgee, and a daughter of Valentine and Roena Tourgee. Valentine Tourgee, a na- tive of Massachusetts, was a farmer and a much respected citizen of Ashtabula county. He was an ardent Republican and an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died in 1889, at the age of seventy-eight years. By his first wife he had one child, A.

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W., and by his second wife three children, Mrs. Phelps being the only one of the three now living. Mrs. Roena Tourgee, now seventy-three years of age, makes her home with her daughter Mrs. Phelps. She, too, is identified with the Methodist Church, and has been a Christian from her girlhood. Mr. Phelps and his wife are also Methodists. He has been chorister at Williamsfield for thir- teen years, ten years of this time also serving as chorister of the Congregational Church.

Mr. Phelps has been Captain of the State Police Association the past five years. In the order of K. of P. he is Master at Arms. Politically, he is a Republican. He has served as Trustee of Williamsfield township, but has never been an office seeker, prefer- ring to give his attention to his own business rather than to that of others.

UCIUS E. JUDSON, of the well-known dry-goods firm of Judson & Smart, Painesville, Ohio, was born in Madison, this State, in 1836. He comes of a good old New England family, his grandfather, Enoch Judson, having been born in Williston, Ver- mont. He came to Lake county, Ohio, when it was a wilderness and engaged in farming, in which occupation he continued until his death at an advanced age. The father of the subject of this sketch, Ethan A. Judson, was also a native of Vermont and a carpenter and merchant by occupation. He conducted a dry-goods and grocery store in Madison for many years, where he was well and favorably known. He was a Whig in politics and took an active interest in all public affairs of im- portance. His wife, nee Fannie Curtiss, was a native of Connecticut, a member of an old and prominent family of that State. They

reared two children: Sarah L., now Mrs. Dr. Wadsworth; and Lucius E., whose name heads this sketch. Both parents died com- paratively young, the mother at the age of forty-two years and the father aged forty-six. Both were worthy members of the Congrega- tional Church and both enjoyed the universal esteem of their fellow men.

Thus, at the early age of ten years, the sub- ject of this sketch was fully orphaned. Up to this time he had resided in Madison, but he then came to Painesville and lived with Mr. William Holbrook until that gentleman's death. Young Lucius attended the common schools, and when twenty years of age began clerking in a grocery store. Later, he entered the dry-goods establishment of Messrs. Will- ' iams & Curtis, one of the oldest and best known firms in Painesville, where he con- tinued three years. He afterward pursued his studies for a time and then secured a position with Mr. Curtis, the firm now being Curtis & Pancost, still in the dry-goods busi- ness. He remained with this house until 1864, when he formed a partnership in the dry- goods business with Maltbie Brothers, under the firm name of Maltbie & Judson. After three years in this business, the firm sold out to Messrs. Curtis & Smart and Mr. Judson subsequently went to Reading, Michigan, where he opened a dry-goods store, which he successfully conducted six years. He then returned to Painesville, and became a sales- man for Mr. S. G. Pancost, in the dry-goods business, remaining with that gentleman seven years. In 1880, Mr. Judson started his present store, and in 1881 took Mr. Smart into partnership, the firm becoming Judson & Smart. They have a large double store and three rooms below for carpet and cloak rooms, and carry a complete stock of high- grade goods, their business being conducted

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

entirely on the merit of their merchandise, by which means they have secured the confidence and patronage of the people.

In 1860, Mr. Judson was married to Mary J. Huston, a lady of domestic tastes, who is a native of Leroy township, Lake county, and they have two children: Lucius E., Jr., and Clyde H.

Mr. Judson advocates the principles of the Republican party, and both he and his wife are useful members of the Congregational Church, in which he is a Trustee. Both have personally many friends and well wishers and are representative residents of a typical American city.

H P. SMITH, one of the representative citizens of Ashtabula county, Ohio, was born in Dorset township, May 8, 1836, a son of John and Charlotte (Cottrell) Smith, natives of Massachusetts, but early settlers of this township. The father was a son of John and Mary (Bent) Smith. John Smith, Sr., was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and his son, the father of our subject, took part in the war of 1812. The latter was reared, educated and married in his native State, and was a farmer all his life. He came by wagon to Ohio in 1820, and resided in Jefferson a few days, until he could erect a log house on his land. His house, built in the dense woods, was 20 x 18 feet. He cleared about 400 acres of land, and at that time the woods were filled with wolves, bear and deer. On landing in this county Mr. Smith had only $1 in money, with which he purchased a grindstone. In 1836 he erected the first brick house in this part of Ashtabula county, making his own brick for the construction of the same.

Mr. Smith was a man of determination and pluck, was a stanch Whig in political matters, and held many of the township offices. Both he and his wife were members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church. They were the par- ents of the following children: John C., who died in 1892; Mary, wife of Chester Chapin, of Dorset; Alexander H., of Dorset; Phil- ander, deceased : George, deceased; Philander (2d), deceased; H. P., our subject; Rufus, a resident of Nashville, Tennessee, and Lucy, deceased.

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 65

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