Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 66

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 66
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 66
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 66

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).

H. P. Smith, the subject of this sketch, was reared on the old home farm in Dorset, and received but a limited education, as his help was required in clearing the farm and assisting in the duties at home. At the age of twenty-one years he began work in an oar shop, where he was employed about ten years. Mr. Smith then located on his present farm of 100 acres of well improved land in Dorset township. He has one of the best residences in this part of Ashtabula county. The same was erected in 1891, and is constructed of tile or hollow brick, is two stories high, and 30 x 35 feet in dimensions. He also has good barns and other substantial improvements, and is engaged in general farming and stock- raising. Mr. Smith also owns 100 acres of timber land in Dorset.

In 1876 he was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Bissell, a native of Geauga county, Ohio, and a daughter of Pezorra Bissell, a resident of Orwell, this State. The fruit of their union was five children, viz .: Agnes, Lizzie, Maude, Henry and Emma. The wife and mother died November 4, 1887, and in 1890 Mr. Smith married Mrs. Addie Bing- man, widow of Fred Bingman, and a daugh- ter of Adam and Isabella (Morgan) Archi- bald. They came from England to America about 1850, locating in Virginia, where

539

OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

Mrs. Smith was born. In 1854 they settled in New Castle, Pennsylvania, and later came to Trumbull county, Ohio, where they still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Archibald had ten children, four now living: Lizzie, wife of Tyrus Price, of Hubbard, this State; Cynthia, wife of Andrew De Vosse, also of that place; John, a resident of Coalfield, lowa; and Addie, wife of our subject. Mr. Smith was made a Mason about thirty years ago, and is now a member of the Golden Rule Lodge, of Cherry Valley. He affiliates with the Re- publican party, has held the office of School Director, and is one of the leading and enter- prising citizens of Ashtabula county. He is purely a self-made man, having risen, by his own industry and perseverance, from the bottom round of the ladder to his present high position.

S (). STILLMAN, a successful farmer of Andover township, Ashtabula county, was born in the house in which he still resides, August 31, 1835, a son of Erastus and Sarah (Seymour) Stillman. The father was born September 22, 1783, and died June 8, 1869. He was one of the first settlers of Dense Woods (Andover) Ashtabula county, where he was obliged to cut his own roads. The mother was born December 15, 1796, and died December 10, 1878.

S. O. Stillman, the subject of this sketch, and the youngest in a family of five children, was reared to farm life on the old home farm, and received his education in the first frame schoolhouse. He now owns 162 acres of rich farming land, where, in addition to general farming and stock-raising, he con- ducts a dairy.

Mr. Stillman was married July 4, 1856, to Jane Merrill, who was born and reared in Andover this county, a daughter of Norman and Minerva (Stewart) Merrill. The father was born July 10, 1784, came from Hartford, Connecticut, to Ashtabula county, Ohio, in 1819, and his death occurred May 15, 1861. The mother was born at Williamstown, Mass- achusetts, April 17, 1791, and died Novem- ber 8, 1878. They were the parents of nine children, three now living: Harriett, of Perry county, Ohio; Henry L., of Kansas, and Jane, wife of our subject. The deceased were: Trumbull, Judson, Mary, Edmond, Philander and Newton. Edmond was a soldier in the late war. Mr. and Mrs. Stillman have two children: Herbert E., who married Blanch Platt, and who has four children: Samuel, Lena and Rae and Rex (twins). The daugh- ter, Mary L., formerly a teacher by occupa- tion, is the wife of Will Skells, and they have one daughter, Kate. Mr. Stillman affiliates with the Republican party. He has been a member of the School Board for thirteen years.

W. WILKINS, one of the well-known citizens of Ashtabula county, was born in New York, November 16, 1835, be- ing a son of Preston and Nancy (Coburn) Wilkins. At the age of three years our sub- ject came with his parents to Ashtabula county, Ohio, later spent three years in Hills- dale county, Michigan; was next at Mineral Point, Grant county, Wisconsin, and after- ward went to Leavenworth, Kansas. In the summer of 1857 Mr. Wilkins drove a six- mule Government team to Salt Lake, with a stock of clothing. At that time he traveled hundreds of miles without seeing a house,

540

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

and the country was the habitation of In- dians, wolves and buffalo. After reaching Salt Lake he went overland to Los Angeles, California, spending seven months on the road, and afterward returned to New York, via the Isthmus. Mr. Wilkins then lived for a time on a farm in Rockland county. In 1861 he enlisted for service in the late war, joining the Seventeenth New York Infantry, served two years, and was detailed as teamster. He afterward served one year on the navy, near Pensacola, Florida, and was honorably discharged in July, 1864. Mr. Wilkins next lived for a time in Oceana county, Michigan, and then came to Ashtabula county, Ohio.

He was married in Dorset township, this county, to May, a daughter of George Rich- ards. To this union has been born one daughter, Stella, wife of E. E. Shrague. Politically, Mr. Wilkins affiliates with the Republican party, and socially, is a member of the G. A. R., Kile Post, No. 80.

AMES H. COOK, one of the most in- telligent and progressive farmers of Perry township, Lake county, Ohio, is a native of this township, born February 6, 1839.

Joseph Cook, his father, was born in Essex county, New York, in 1800, and was married in that State to Nancy Richmond, a native of Massachusetts, the date of her birth being May, 1807. They were among the early settlers of this country, coming here in 1831. Joseph Cook was a blacksmith by trade, and as such was a prominent factor in the early history of Perry township. He bought tif- teen acres of land on the North Ridge road, where his shop was located. For a number of years he also kept the postoffice. Politi-

cally, he was a Democrat. He died Septem- ber 13, 1844. In their family of twelve children James H. was the seventh born, and one of the ten who reached mature years. The mother died February 17, 1875, at the age of seventy years. At the time of her death she was the wife of Horace Lamson, having married him in 1852. She was a woman of sterling qualities and deep relig- ious convictions, and for over thirty years was a member of the Church of Christ.

James H. Cook received his early training in the district schools, but the chief part of his education has been gained in the school of experience, he having started out in life on his own responsibility at the age of six- teen. When he was seventeen he engaged in grafting trees, in pursuance of which busi- ness he traveled through Michigan, Ohio, Georgia, Alabama, Florida and North Caro- lina. After his marriage Mr. Cook settled down on his present farm of 120 acres of im- proved land. The soil here is varied and is well adapted to general farming, in which Mr. Cook is engaged. He has ten acres of fine onion land and raises large crops of onions. Since locating here he built his barns and fine frame residence, and from time to time has made other improvements, the general surroundings of which all indi- cate the owner to be a man of enterprise and thrift.

Mr. Cook's attractive home is presided over by a wife of culture and refinement. He was married November 22, 1865, to Ann M. Wood, a native of this township. Her father, Otis M. Wood, was born in Vermont, November 29, 1801, and in 1816 came with with his father, Lewis Wood, to this county and settled in Perry township near the lake. Lewis Wood lived here until 1845, when he went to Cass county, Illinois, and there spent

541

OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

the residue of his life and there died. Otis M. remained here, married Electa Lyman, and reared a family. He was engaged in farming all his life, and died at the age of sixty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have one child, Willis W., at home.

Politically, Mr. Cook is a Democrat. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity in Painesville, and both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church.

Such, in brief, is a sketch of the life of one of the most prominent and successful farmers of Lake county.

H ON. BENJAMIN B. WOODBURY, deceased, was for many years promi- nently and closely identified with the history of Geauga county, and this volume would be incomplete without his biography.

He was born at New London, New Hamp- shire, in the month of December, 1810, and was the son of Daniel Woodbury, who emi- grated from New England to Ohio in 1834, and settled in Newbury township, Geauga county. His wife's maiden name was Rap- simi Messenger, and she was a native of Massachusetts. She became the mother of eight children, seven of whom grew to maturity. The father and mother lived out their allotted three-score years and ten, he passing away at the age of seventy-six, and she at the age of seventy-nine. Their son, B. B. Woodbury, received his education in the common schools and at the academy at Concord. He was a bright student, and be- gan teaching at the early age of seventeen years, and for a number of terms followed this profession. In 1832 he removed to Lake county, Ohio, and for two years was em-

ployed as clerk in a store in Concord township, Lake county. He then went as clerk on a river steamboat, working his way up until he became captain of an Ohio river vessel. Returning to Ohio, he was married and em- barked in mercantile business, which he con- ducted four years. His next investment was in land. He purchased 600 acres sonth of Chardon, and also dealt extensively in cattle which he purchased, fattened and sold to Eastern dealers who traveled through the country. He carried on this industry until 1867, when he sold his land and came to Chardon. For a few months he was inter- ested in a wholesale grocery business in To- ledo, but disposed of this, and came back to Chardon. After the destructive fire of 1868, he was prominent among the earnest and energetic men who rebuilt the business por- tion of the town. He was one of the princi- pals in the organization of the Geauga Sav- ings & Loan Association, and was its presi- dent from 1872 to the time of his death, which sad event occurred April 11, 1888.

Politically, he was a Jeffersonian Demo- crat until 1844, when he withdrew his sup- port on account of the increasing demands of Southern Democrats for slave territory. He despised and abhorred the curse which rested upon this fair land, and in 1844 he be- came an Abolitionist, and cast his vote with the Republican party in 1856. He served as County Commissioner two terms, and was elected a member of the House of Represent- atives of Ohio in 1861, and re-elected in 1863, serving through four years of the most critical period of the nation's history. He was very active in raising recruits and money for carrying on the war, and gave his best efforts toward the perpetuity of the Government. During the last ten years of his life he was one of the trustees of the

542

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

State Imbecile Asylum at Columbus. He was not a member of any church, but belonged to the Congregational society, and contrib- uted generously toward the building and support of the church. He was a man of great benevolence, liberal and kind to the poor and needy, and helped many to success and to lives of usefulness. Beginning life without means, he had a ready sympathy for the unfortunate, and although success attended his efforts he never lost charity for those who failed of success.

Mr. Woodbury was united in marriage July 9, 1840, to Mary A. Murray, who was born in Lake county, Ohio, a daughter of John and Sarah (Blaine) Murray; Mr. Mur- ray was of Scotch-Irish descent, and was born at sea while his parents were coming to America, and his wife was a native of North- umberland, Pennsylvania, of Scotch extrac- tion. They were early settlers in Concord township, removing to that place in 1812. Mr. Murray was a large land-owner and also dealt extensively in cattle. He was quite successful in his business operations, and was well known for his honesty and upright- ness. He was a man of progressive ideas and public-spirited. He was very popular with the people, and a potential factor in the development of Chardon. Mrs. Woodbury resides at her pleasant home in Chardon, se- cure in the esteem of the community of which she has so long been a member.

D R. MARCUS KINGSLEY, physician and surgeon, Kingsville, Ohio, was born in Barrington, Yates county, New York, March 15, 1837.

Connecticut respectively, and descendants of old New England families. His father, a wagon and buggy manufacturer, died in 1844, at the age of about fifty years; his mother, in 1888, aged eighty-seven. The latter united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in early life and remained a consistent member of the same until she was called to her home above.

Dr. Kingsley is the youngest of five chil- dren, three sons and two daughters. One brother, Gilbert F., resides on a farm in Monroe township, Ashtabula county. George W. resides in Dundee, Yates county, New York. The Doctor received a common-school and academic education, and at the age of eighteen began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. George Z. Noble, at Dundee, New York, to which place his mother had moved soon after his father's death. Since 1860 he has been a resident of Kingsville, Ohio, where he began his practice, in April of that year. After practicing under a cer- tificate of the Ohio Homeopathic Society for a number of years, he entered the Homeopathic Hospital College of Cleveland, of which in- stitution he is a graduate. During his long professional career here, he has established a reputation not only as a skillful physician, but also as a worthy citizen, winning the re- spect and esteem of all with whom he comes in- contact, either in a social, business or professional way. He came to Kingsville an entire stranger, with limited means, and found here a prejudice against his school: to- day he has a large and lucrative practice, and is ranked with the leading physicians of the county. He is examiner for the United States Mutual Accident Company. He is a Republican in politics and an active worker in the ranks of his party, having been elected and served as Coroner, and for a short time

His parents, Simeon and Lima (Stanton) Kingsley, were natives of Rhode Island and | filled the office of Sheriff, the incumbent hav-

543

OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

ing died. His first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln. In educational matters he has taken a prominent part, having been for many years the School Board Clerk. He was active in organizing the Kingsville Spe- cial School District, and nearly all his active life has been a member of the School Board. He was one of the Trustees of the Cemetery Association, and for two years President of the Board of Trustees. He was also instru- mental in organizing the Evangelical Society of North Kingsville, and assisted materially in erecting an edifice for public worship. Dr. Kingsley is identified with the Kingsville State Police Association; is hononary mem- ber of the Ontario and Yates County Medical Society, of New York, and the Ohio Homo- pathic Medical Society; and for thirty years has been a member of the Masonic frater- nity, affiliating with blue lodge, Orien, No. 353, of Kingsville; Western Reserve Chapter, Ashtabula, No. 65; Conneaut Council, No. 40; and Cache Commandery, No. 27. He is Past Master of the blue lodge. In politics he is a Republican, and has been a prominent and active member of that party.

Dr. Kingsley has been twice married. March 3, 1870, he wedded Miss Celina S. Smith, daughter of J. C. and C. M. Smith, of North Kingsville. She died in April, 1882, at about the age of forty years. She was an active member of the Baptist Church of Kingsville, and in every respect was a most estimable lady. August 8, 1883, he married Miss Jennie M. Tracey, daughter of Mrs. Lorenda Tracey, of Jamestown, New York. They have two children: Marcus, Jr., and Neva T.

Mrs. Kingsley's father died January 7, 1860, at the age of fifty-seven years, she being six months old at that time. Her mother is still a resident of Jamestown, and

her only sister, Nettie, wife of Charles P. Bush, lives in Portland, Oregon. Mrs. Kings- ley and Mrs. Bush were both successful teachers previous to their marriage, the for- mer being a graduate of the Worthington Business College of Jamestown. She is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Orien Chapter, No. 12, of Kingsville, of which she is Worthy Matron, and is also Conductress of the Grand Chapter of the State.

D R. GEORGE A. HURST, a physician and surgeon of Dorset, Ashtabula county, was born at North Royalton, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, August 18, 1847, a son of William and Mary (Willman) Hurst, natives of England. The parents came to America when quite young, and were reared in Cleveland, Ohio. The father, a farmer by occupation, is deceased, but the mother still survives. They had four children: George A., our subject; Jane, wife of Thomas Francis, of Lorain county, Ohio; Matilda, wife of Hen- drick Raymond, of Labette county, Kansas; and Sarah, now Mrs. Thomas J. Horley, of Columbia, Lorain county.

George A. Hurst, the subject of this sketch, enlisted for service in the late war, March 4, 1864, at the age of sixteen years, entering Company F, Second Ohio Cavalry, and was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, Oc- tober 11, 1865. He took part in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Petersburg, Winchester, in the raid around Richmond, and in the Shenandoah valley. He was pre- sent at the Grand Review. Although but a boy, Mr. Hurst was a valiant soldier during the entire struggle. After returning from the army he spent three terms in the school of Berea, Ohio, and then took a commercial

544

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

course in the Spencerian College at Geneva. Mr. Hurst next began reading medicine with F. G. Spencer, of Cherry Valley, and completed his medical course at the Eclectic College, of Cincinnati, in June, 1876. Since that time he has followed his profession in Dorset, and by his skill and proficiency has built up a large and lucrative practice. Mr. Hurst is a member of the National and Ohio State Me- dical Associations, and was appointed a mem- ber of the World's Congress Auxiliary of the World's Columbian Exposition, at Chicago. He affiliates with the Democratic party, has served as Director of the Board of Education, and is still a member of that body.

The Doctor was married in 1869, to Miss Mary C. Phillips. They have four sons: William A., George S., Jonas L. and Frank E. Dr. Hurst is a self-made man and one of great push and enterprise.

C M. WILKINS, of Ashtabula county, Ohio, was born in Chenango county, New York, September 8, 1828, a son of Preston T. Wilkins, also a native of that county. His father, Cooly Wilkins, was born in New England, of English descent. The mother of our subject, nee Nancy Co- burn, was born in Chenango county, New York, a daughter of Amariah Coburn, a na- tive also of that State. In 1837 Mr. and Mrs. Preston Wilkins located at Pierpont, Ashta- bula county, Ohio, and in the following year, came to Andover township. The mother died at Mineral Point, Wisconsin, at the age of fifty-one years, and the father at Andover, Ohio, at the age of seventy-one. The latter was a blacksmith by trade.

C. M. Wilkins, one of twelve children, came, at the age of nine years, to this county, |

where he was afterward employed as a tinner and telegraph operator. In August, 1862, he enlisted for service in the late war, enter- ing the Eighth United States Infantry, as a musician, and serving until honorably dis- charged from the army. At that time he was obliged to walk with crutches. After re- turning to Andover Mr. Wilkins resumed work at the tinner's trade, later was engaged as a telegraph operator and agent on the Franklin Branch of the Lake Shore & Mich- igan Southern Railroad for a period of ten years, but since that time has made his home at Andover.

At the age of twenty-three years our sub- ject was united in marriage to Philena M. Root, a native of this township and a dangh- ter of Warren and Alice (Strickland) Root. To this union was born one daughter, Alice, now the wife of J. W. Sutton, of Bucyrus, Ohio. They have three children: Grace, Charles and Robert. Mrs. Wilkins died De- cember 29, 1861, and August 28, 1862, Mr. Wilkins married Charlotte P. Mosley, a na- tive of Wayne township, Ashtabula county, and a daughter of William Mosley. The mother of Mrs. Wilkins was a niece of Joshua R. Giddings. Our subject affiliates with the Republican party, and in 1888 was elected to the position of Mayor of Andover. So- cically he is a member of the G. A. R., Kile Post, No. 80, and of the Masonic order.

JOSIAH FIFIELD, a retired farmer and one of the most substantial men of Ash- tabula county, has been identified with this county all his life, having been born in Conneaut, October 16, 1821.

His parents, Benjamin F. and Hannah (Abbott) Fifield, were natives of Vermont

545

OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

and New Hampshire respectively. Benja- min F. Fifield came to Ohio about 1816 with his mother, and was among the early pio- neers of Ashtabula county, where he was en- gaged in farming until the time of his death. During the war of 1812 he enlisted in the service, but the war closed before his regi- ment was called into action. He was born in 1793 and died in 1871. In early life he was a stanch Whig, but later was a Repub- lican. A Deacon in the Christian Church and an honorable and upright man, his in- tegrity was never questioned, and few men in the county were more highly respected than he. His wife, born in November, 1797, died in April, 1885. She, too, was a mem- ber of the Christian Church, having obeyed the gospel in her girlhood days, and her whole life was adorned with Christian graces. The Abbotts were also among the pioneers of Ohio, having settled on the lake shore at an early day. Mr. and Mrs. Fifield had two children, Laura Ann and Josiah. The former died in 1841, aged nineteen years.

Josiah Fifield was reared a farmer, which occupation he has followed through life. He was married April 6, 1843, to Miss Emma T. Ford, daughter of Ambrose and Amanda (Barnum) Ford. Her mother, a cousin of P. T. Barnum, died at the age of twenty-five years, and her father lived to be seventy- eight, his death occurring in Pierpont, this county, where he had lived on a farm for many years. Mrs. Fifield and her sister, Abbie, widow of John Miller, are the only survivors in a family of five children.

The family of Josiah F. Fifield consisted of three children, namely: B. Ambrose, who was born December 28, 1844, and died October 24, 1864, aged twenty years; Green- leaf F .; and Ella M., wife of F. W. Chidester.

Mrs. Fifield has been a member of the

Baptist Church since her seventeenth year. Since 1855 Mr. Fifield has been identified with the Masonic fraternity, having taken the degrees of the blue lodge, chapter and council. He has served as Worthy Master of the lodge and High Priest of the chapter. Politically, he is a Republican.

C W. OSBORNE, a prominent attorney and esteemed citizen of Painesville, Ohio, was born in Mesopotamia, this State, December 31, 1845. He comes of an old and highly respected family, his grand- father having been a Presbyterian minister of New York State, where he died in middle life. Rev. Hezekiah W. Osborne, father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of the Empire State and a graduate of a prominent college of that commonwealth. After gradu- ation he took a theological course at Yale University. He fitted himself for a foreign missionary, but on the completion of his studies, the society, under whose auspices he was to be sent abroad, had exhausted its financial resources. He therefore came West to Trumbull county, Ohio, preaching in Mes- opotamia sixteen years, next removing to Hampden, where he filled the pulpit in the Congregation Church two years, or until his death in October, 1854. A man of superior ability and quick sympathies, he found a large field for philanthropic efforts in the troublous times preceding the Civil war. He was a strong Abolitionist and was a member of an underground railway association, assist- ing many slaves to freedom. His wife, nee Evelina Smith, was a native of Connecticut, but was mainly reared in New York State. She attended a ladies' seminary for several years and subsequently devoted her time to

546

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

teaching until her marriage. She survived her husband a number of years, dying in 1888, at an advanced age. She was for many years a Presbyterian, but eventually joined the Congregational Church. She was the mother of three children: Sarah A., wife of John Castle; C. W., whose name heads this notice; and William H., a lawyer of Char- don.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 66

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