Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 73

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 73
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 73
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 73

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).

Prentice A., our subject, was the tenth in a family of twelve children, and the youngest of five sons, all of whom attained maturity, and all of whom are now living but one. Mr. Canada was reared to farm life, and was taught to love work, and to respect only people who

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were honest and industrious. The meager

opportunities for schooling during the winter season were improved, and at the age of fif- teen years the common branches had been mastered. Two terms in the Winchester

William Walter, enabled him to enter Union high school and the help of an older brother,

Christian College, at Merom, Indiana, in the autumn of 1877. By sawing wood, acting as janitor, teaching classes in the preparatory school, teaching two terms of district school, and by hard manual toil during vacations, Mr. Canada earned sufficient money to pay .

all bills, and graduated with class honors in 1883. The following year was spent in charge of the graded school at Greentown, Howard county, Indiana, and the next year in Oberlin Theological Seminary, and in preaching at the East Norwalk Mission Church, in Ohio. In the autumn of 1885, Mr. Canada removed to Columbus Grove, Putnam county, Ohio, where he was ordained to the work of the ministry in January, 1886. In that year also he located at Hagerstown, Wayne county, Indiana, near his old home, having charge of the Christian Churches at that place and Han- na's Creek, Union county. In 1888 he was called to the more important pastorate of the Christian Church at Versailles, Ohio, where he remained nearly three years, and from that place was called to his present field. April 1, 1891, he entered his third year of work in this church with every evidence of prosperity.

February 28, 1888, Rev. Canada was united in marriage to Miss Addie R. Spencer, who was born at Oxford, Ohio, September 28, 1861, a daughter of Frank and Catherine, (McArthur) Spencer, natives also of that place. Mrs. Spencer's father, Rev. John Mc- Arthur, D.D., and the venerable Dr. Scott, father of Mrs. Benjamin Harrison, were inti-

mately associated in ministerial and educa-

tional work. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer now reside at Chillicothe, Ohio. Mrs. Canada re- ceived her education mainly in the high schools of Connersville and Liberty, Indiana, graduating at the latter place at the age of seventeen years. She also attended the State Normal, at Terre Haute, and was a suc- cessful teacher. Rev. and Mrs. Canada have

three daughters : Susannah S., born March 18, 1889; Katherine, December 30, 1890; both at Versailles, Ohio; and Marguerite, born November 12, 1892, at Conneaut. Our subject also represents his denomination as one of the executive officers of the Ohio Christian Endeavor Union, is Superintendent of Christian Endeavor Work in the State for the Christian denomination, and has been ap- pointed by the Church Missionary and Ex- tension Board to oversee the missionary efforts of the Endeavor Societies of his church in the West.

W ILLIAM TODD, whose rural home is located near North Sheffield, Ohio, was born in Kingsville, Ashtabula county, this State, July 1, 1817.

Erastus and Susan (Morse) Todd, his par- ents, both natives of Connecticut, came to Ohio in 1816 and located on a farm two miles south of Kingsville. Erastus Todd began life a poor young man, and here on what was then the frontier he acquired a little farm, which he improved, and there he reared his family. His life was characterized by sim- plicity, honesty and industry, and was adorned by Christian acts of kindness. For over forty years he was a member of the Baptist Church, and few men in the community were held in higher esteem than he. He was born in December, 1786, and died February 5,

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1863; his wife, Susan, born August 10, 1792, died April 3, 1833. Of their family of five children we make the following record: Martha, wife of Amos Gear, died October 12, 1872, aged sixty-one years; Mary and her husband, Jonathan L. Haines, are both de- ceased, her death having occurred April 12, 1891, at the age of seventy-six; William Todd, whose name heads this sketch; Rev. Julius Todd, Berlin, Wisconsin, is a minister in the Seventh-Day Baptist Church; John Todd, born July 26, 1821, died May 15, 1864. Five years after the death of his first wife Erastus Todd was united in marriage to Mrs. Asenath Bowman, who survived him ten years.

William Todd has been a farmer all his life, an energetic, thrifty, successful farmer. He came to his present location in 1850, and has been a resident of Sheffield township since November 4, 1842. His farm contains eighty-six acres, nearly all improved land, and is beautifully located, being used for the propagation of a diversity of crops. During his long residence here he has gained the good will and high regard of a large circle of acquaintances. He has taken a commendable interest in public affairs, having served for about sixteen years as Township Trustee, not, however, successive years.

Mr. Todd was married May 14, 1842, to Miss Huldah Morse, a native of Kingsville, Ohio, born September 17, 1819. She is a modest, kindly-disposed and motherly Chris- tian woman, and highly respected as she is widely known. Her parents were Phineas and Abigail (Luce) Morse. Her father was born March 3, 1795, and died July 2, 1876. He was one of the pioneer farmers of this part of Ohio, having come here from his native place, Litchfield, Connecticut, about 1816, making the journey with ox teams.

His farm of 160 acres, located half a mile west of the County Infirmary, is now owned by Dick Woodburn. Few men in Ashtabula county were better known than he. For many years he was an active member of the Baptist Church, giving liberally to the sup- port of the ministry. His wife, born August 15, 1798, he wedded November 18, 1818. She, too, was a Baptist, being identified with that church for a period of sixty-seven years. After living a long and exemplary life, she fell asleep in Jesus. With her passed away one of Kingsville's sturdy pioneers, who had energy and pluck to leave home scenes and friends, and start afresh in a new country. She leaves behind her, besides the members of her grief stricken family, many friends who lovingly cherish her memory with great- ful hearts. Following are the names of their nine children: Mrs. Todd, Hiram M., Mary, Almira, Angeline, Almon, Laura, Alden, George W., all living except two.

Mr. and Mrs. Todd have had five children, viz .: Adel, who died at the age of fourteen months; Ada; Almon, who married Ella Fas- cet, resides on a farm in Sheffield township; Melzo, who married Mary Santee and lives in Sheffield township, has three children, Otis, Carl and Tula; and Bertha, of the same town- ship, is the wife of Delos Van Slyke, and has two children, Fannie and Abbie.

Our subject and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, in which he has been a Deacon for many years. Politically, he is a Prohibitionist.

H ERBERT E. ROGERS, Postmaster at Hampden Centre, Geauga county, Ohio, and dealer in general merchandise at that place, belongs to the progressive element of business circles, and has succeeded

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in establishing an extensive and profitable trade. He is a native of New York, born at Rock Glens, August 8, 1860, a son of Rufus Rogers, a native of Vermont. The grand- father, Isaiah Rogers, was born at Hamden, Connecticut, and the great-grandfather, Rufus Rogers, Sr., traces his origin to John Rogers, of Puritan fame. Rufus Rogers, Sr., was a farmer by occupation, and passed his life in the New England States and in New York, dying in the latter State, at the age of ninety- six years. Isaiah Rogers was also a farmer, and was a manufacturer of lucifer matches; he died at the age of eighty-three years, in New York State; his wife still survives, aged eighty-six. Rufus Rogers, father of H. E. Rogers, has been a traveling salesman all his life. In an early day he traveled in the interests of his father's match-making in- dustry. He married Rebecca Wiseman, of Gainesville, New York; she died at the age of twenty-two years, leaving one child, the subject of this sketch, who attended the schools of his native place, and spent three years in the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, completing also a course in the commercial department of that institution. He came to Geauga county in 1882, and bought his store at Hampden.

He was united in marriage, April 7, 1883, to Miss R. May Mosher, a native of Geauga county, and a daughter of S. C. Mosher, a native of New York State and an early set- tler here; he removed to Kansas in 1885, and is now general agent of the Kansas Farmers' Insurance Company at Abilene. J. A. Mosher, of Chicago, brother of Mrs. Rogers, is the in- ventor of the Mosher Arc Lamp. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers are the parents of two children: Clell M., born January 28, 1886; and Theo- dore N., born September 20, 1889. Mr. Rogers carries on a flourishing trade in gen-

eral merchandise, and in all his career has never swerved from the most correct and honorable methods of business. He has been Postmaster of Hampden for the past ten years, and has served as Township Clerk since the spring of 1884. He is Republican in his politics. He and his wife are worthy. members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

C HARLES FENTON, well-known in agricultural circles in Geauga county, is the subject of the following biograph- ical notice. He was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, April 26, 1832, a son of John Fenton, a native of Ireland. The latter emigrated from the Emerald Isle in 1825, and after landing in the United States came to Ohio, locating in Trumbull county, which was then a wild, uncultivated territory. He bought 160 acres and settled in the woods, having built a log cabin, and had only a British six- pence in his pocket. He cleared eighty acres of fine farming land. He married in his own country, his wife's maiden name being Anna Whaley. She was also a native of Ireland. They reared a family of seven children. The father died at the age of sixty-two years, and the mother passed away at the early age of thirty-five. They were worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Fen- ton was a Democrat, but independent in his views on political questions. Charles Fenton is the fourth of a family of seven children. He received his education in the pioneer schools, and at the age of seventeen years began life for himself, working out by the month. In 1853 he went to California, attracted by the reports of gold on the coast, making the trip by water, and crossing the Isthmus. He remained three years there

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

mining with marked success. At the end of this time he was satisfied with his experience, and returned to Ohio, locating in Orwell township, Ashtabula county, where he bought 102 acres of land, on which he lived six or seven years.

Mr. Fenton was united in marriage, Octo- ber 1, 1861, to Emily Bissell, of Trumbull county, Ohio. They have four children: Anna, wife of Charles Stephenson, is, a resident of Chardon; Mary, wife of E. J. Gray, lives in Lake county, Ohio; Frank and Howard are at home. Mr. Fenton came to Hampden township in 1867, and bought 127 acres, which he has since increased to 150 acres; he has made many excellent improvements, and carries on a very successful business, buying and selling large numbers of cattle. In politics he adheres to Democratic princi- ples, and has served his township as Trustee for two terms. He began life without means, but through perseverance and untiring indus- try he has accumulated a competence.

A LONZO ATWOOD, M. D., a resident of Middlefield township and one of the large land owners there, was born in Huntsburg township, Geauga county, Ohio, March 11, 1832, a son of Lemuel Atwood, a native of New York State. His grandfather, Joseph Atwood, was also a native of New York, but belonged to an old New England family whose first ancestors in this country settled at Salisbury, Connecticut; he was a farmer by occupation, and lived to the age of ninety years. Lemuel Atwood, father of the Doctor, followed agricultural pursuits. He was married in Pennsylvania, but afterward removed to Geauga county, when there were few families

residing in Middlefield township. He built a log cabin in the woods and began the task of clearing a farm from the heart of the forest. He died at the age of seventy-seven years, having led an industrious and useful life. He married Lydia Butler, of Pennsyl- vania, and they had a family of four chil- dren. The mother died at the age of seventy years; she was a member of the Disciples' Church, the first religious organization in the township. Mr. Atwood was a Whig and later a Republican in his political belief.

Dr. Atwood is the fourth of the family. His opportunities for acquiring an education in his youth were limited, although he enjoyed the advantages afforded by the select schools. At the age of nineteen years he began read- ing medicine, and made a special study of the drugs and herbs growing in this section. He attended the old Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati for one term, and was graduated from the American Eclectic College at Cincin- nati. He began practicing his profession at the age of thirty-two years, being associated with his brothers, who were both physicians.

He was married in 1860 to Cordelia S. Gray, who was born in this township, and they have a family of two children, Harley J. and John L. Dr. Atwood was engaged in practice at Whitehall, Muskegon county, Michigan, but returned to this county, where he has a good practice, in Middlefield township and West Farmington, his professional ser- vice being in demand throughout a wide territory. In addition to his professional work he superintends the cultivation of 273 acres in Middlefield township and fifty-three acres in another tract south of the main body. Some of the farm is grazing land, and it is the Doctor's purpose to put it all in grass. He spends his winters in Florida and has made some investments in the "Sunny

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South," owning 160 acres in Polk county, Florida. Although he began without capital he has accumulated a handsome estate. He has aided largely in the development of his own county's agricultural resources, and is numbered among the most enterprising citi- zens, both in farming and professional circles. Politically, he supports the principles of the Republican party.

A DDISON KIMBALL, of Madison, Lake county, Ohio, and one of the oldest settlers of the county, is a native of Rindge, Cheshire county, New Hampshire, the date of his birth being July 19, 1806. His father, Lemuel Kimball, was also a native of New Hampshire, and his grandfather, Richard Kimball, was born in one of the New England States.

Lemuel Kimball left Rindge, New Hamp- shire, in July, 1812, and with his family made the journey by wagon to Lake county, Ohio, being twenty-six days en route. While on the way he encountered a messenger near Buffalo, who proclaimed Hull's surrender, and advised Mr. Kimball to turn back. Mr. Kimball's plans, however, were not to be thwarted. He had started out with the pur- pose of establishing his home on the frontier, had his family and effects with him (his brother Abel had gone on the fall before), so he pushed forward and in due time reached his destination. His first settlement was made at Unionville, where he lived a year and a half. He and his brother purchased several hundred acres of land in this county, and each erected a log cabin. They took an active part in clearing up the land and in- ducing other emigrants to locate here. At that time there was a tribe of Indians be-

tween here and Buffalo, and another tribe at Sandusky, and as they passed back and forth visiting each other the red men frequently stopped at the Kimball cabins, some of the Indians being on intimate terms with Mr. Kimball and his brother. The forest abounded in wild game. Indeed, so numerous were the bears and wolves that the early settlers had to keep their sheep and hogs in high log pens. On one occasion Mr. Kimball was aroused at midnight by the squealing of his hogs, and he and his boys went out to the rescue. A bear had made a raid on the hog- pen and was carrying off a victim. Upon being pursued, it dropped the hog and made its escape. The hog, being much injured, was at once stuck by Mr. Kimball, and he and his boys built up a fire and by daylight had some nice dressed pork.

The most of the grain the early settlers raised was sold to the distilleries, there being seven here at one time, and the liquor manu- factured was hauled to Fairport, where it was sold to western buyers. It was then shipped to Mackinaw and sold to the Indians.

Mr. Kimball developed a farm here, and on it he passed the rest of his life. He died in 1824, at the age of fifty-eight years. His wife, whose maiden name was Polly Cutler, was also a native of New Hampshire, and she died here in 1865, at the ripe old age of ninety three. Both were members of the Congregational Church, which was organized at their house at an early day, Politically, Mr. Kimball was a Federalist, afterward known as the Whig party. They had a fam- ily of three sons and four daughters. The oldest was born in 1794, and all were natives of New Hampshire except the youngest.

Although only six years of age at the time he came with his parents to this county, Ad- dison Kimball has a vivid recollection of the

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journey. He went to school in the first log schoolhouse ever built here. He has an ex- cellent memory and relates in an interesting manner many of the incidents connected with his early life. Hunting was one of his boyish sports. It was no unusual thing for him to kill a wild turkey or a deer, and the larder at home was the richer thereby. His father having died when Addison was eighteen, he continued at home until he was twenty- seven. After that he engaged in work at the carpenter's trade. Many of the houses in Madison were built by him. In 1851 he was employed by the Lake Shore Railroad Company to superintend the building of all the depots and roundhouses on their line from Cleveland to Erie. He made all the contracts for these buildings, paid off all the men every month, and continued in the employ of that company until 1858. The greater part of the time since that date he has lived retired, his health being poor. He began life with but little capital, but by industry, judicious in- vestment and good management, he secured a competency, and now in his old age is nicely situated, surrounded with all the com- forts of life. He owns a small farm, and is a stockholder and director in the Madison Bank.

Mr. Kimball was married December 16, 1835, to Samantha Webster, who was born in Austinburgh, Ashtabula county, Ohio, No- vember 10, 1806. After more than fifty years of happy married life in the same house in which he now lives, his loving com- panion was called to her home above, her death occurring January 15, 1887. They had no children. Mrs. Kimball's father, Abram Webster, settled in Ashtabula county in 1804. During the exciting time of the war of 1812, he, with others, buried his valuables.

Politically, Mr. Kimball was a Whig in early life, but since the organization of the Republican party has affiliated with it. He cast his first vote for John Q. Adams. He is a member of the Congregational Church, as also was his wife.

S YLVESTER D. HOLLENBECK, Au- ditor of Geauga county, is a highly re- spected citizen and is regarded as a most capable and faithful official. He was born in Middlefield township, Geauga coun- ty, Ohio, August 10, 1850, a son of Reuben Hollenbeck, also a native of Ohio. Gadd Hollenbeck, the grandfather, was a native of New England, and emigrated to Summit county, Ohio, about 1813. He built a log cabin, cleared a farm, and endured the pri- vations and hardships of the frontier with that courage and fortitude which character- ized the pioneer. He finally removed to Middlefield township, Geauga county, where he died, in his seventy-sixth year. In poli- tics he adhered to the principles of the Whig party. Reuben Hollenbeck was a lad when he came to Geauga county; his youth was spent in attending the district schools and in hunting the wild animals and game that abounded in this section. He was a farmer by occupation, and when he had accumulated a little money he bought fifty acres of land, adding to it as his means permitted until he had a farm of 174 acres. He was untiring in his efforts to make a success of all his undertakings, and cleared many acres of land besides his own farm. He married Rhoda Morse of Middlefield township, a daughter of Moses Morse, a native of Ver- mont and one of the first settlers in Geauga county. Mr. Morse was the only blacksmith

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here for years, and in addition to shoe- ing horses manufactured plows and many other implements for agricultural purposes; he followed this calling until he was seventy- five years of age and then retired, but did not pass away until he attained the venerable age of ninety-four. Mr. and Mrs. Hollenbeck had a family of four children, three of whom sur- vive: S. D., the subject of this sketch, Har- mony and Charles W. The mother is still living and resides on the old homestead. Un- til a yonth of sixteen years, S. D. Hollenbeck attended the district school and then entered Western Reserve College, at Hudson, Ohio; afterward he took a commercial course at Hiram College, Ohio, and was graduated from this institution in 1869.

He was united in marriage September 19, 1872, to Jennie Bishop, a daughter of Hiram L. Bishop, who for thirty years was a mer- chant in Middlefield, Geauga county. Mr. and Mrs. Hollenbeck have two children, Harlan H. and Jessie B. After his marriage he engaged in the manufacture of cheese; he built a factory having the capacity for the milk of 850 cows. He sold this business at a good profit and removed to Garrettsville, Portage county, Ohio, where he embarked in mercantile trade; during the two years fol- lowing he operated the Braceville cheese factory, manufacturing the milk of 700 cows. Selling his interests there he removed to Middlefield and went into general mercan- tile business; he also sold agricultural im- plements, sending several agents on the road.

He was elected Auditor of the county in the fall of 1886, and took charge of the office in September, 1887; he has been twice re- elected, and will begin his third term in Sep- tember, 1893. He owns a farm of eighty- eight acres, which is well stocked with high grade horses, and sheep of a superior breed.

In politics he supports the issues of the Re- publican party. He is a member of the Ma- sonic and I. O. O. F. fraternities, enjoying here as elsewhere the regard and confidence of his fellow-men.

OHN M. WILLIAMS, well and favor- ably known in business circles through- out Geauga county, Ohio, was born in Concord township, Lake county, Ohio, June 7, 1842. His father, Herman Williams, was a native of Connecticut, and one of the first settlers in Lake county, coming as early as 1817. He built on Big creek a mill which was first used for carding, and was afterward changed to a gristmill. He married Anna Reynolds, a native of Connecticut, and they reared a family of ten children. Mrs. Will- iams died at the age of fifty-four years, and Mr. Williams lived to his ninety-second year. Both were members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and Mr. Williams was one of the first local preachers of Lake and Geauga counties. Politically he was a Whig, and later a Republican. John M. Williams is the youngest of the family. In his youth he at- tended the district schools and also acquired a fair knowledge of milling. He went to Winnebago county, Wisconsin, and was em- ployed in his uncle's mill for two years.

When the civil war broke out be offered his services to his country, enlisting January 8, 1862, in Company E, Fifty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered in at Painesville, Ohio, and the first battle in which he participated was Shiloh. He was after- ward in the engagement at Chickasaw, Vicks- burg, Arkansas Post, Champion Hills, Mis- sion Ridge, Resaca, Buzzard's Roost, and many of less note. He was taken prisoner

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before Atlanta, and was confined six months at Andersonville, where he suffered all the horrors of the place. He was paroled, rejoin- ing his regiment at Alexander, Virginia. He was sent to Little Rock, Arkansas, where he was mustered out August 15, 1865. He re- turned to Lake county after the war aud thence went to Berrien county, Michigan, where he farmed for five years. He there owned eighty acres of land, which he sold, re- turning again to Lake county. For three years he operated his father's mill, and then bought in East Claridon a mill, which he managed for eight years. In 1882, the pers- ent structure at Chardon was erected and furnished with all modern appliances, having a daily capacity of twenty-five barrels.

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 73

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