Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 75

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 75
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 75
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 75

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).

Hospital, New York city, on the eye and ear, and in 1892, took a second course on the eye, ear, nose and throat. His pioneer work is done, and his practice is confined to the town and office. Politically the Doctor supports the issues of the Democratic party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the Chardon Chapter, Eagle Commandery, No. 29, and the Alkoran Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Cleveland; he also belongs to the Royal Arcanum. His professional associations are with the Geauga County Medical Asso- ciation, the Ohio State Medical Association and the United States Medical Association.

OSEPH W. GOODRICH, a prominent and successful farmer of Hampden township, is a native of Geauga county, Ohio, where he was born March 29, 1826. His father, Oliver S. Goodrich, was a native of Newburyport, Massachusetts, born in 1788. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was taken prisoner and confined at Montreal, Canada, for a time. He came to the West in the '20s and settled at Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio. For some time he teamed from Fairport to Warren, and about 1830 removed to Madison, Lake county, where he was employed in the Arcol furnace. Later he came to Chester, Geauga county, after- ward to Chardon, and finally settled in Hart- ford, Trumbull county, where he died, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. He married Catherine Levins, a native of New York State, who came with her parents to Ohio when a girl. They reared a family of eleven children: Joseph W. (the subject of this notice), Susan, Betsy, Sarah, Addie, Cyrus (deceased), William, Malinda, John, Laura and Mary. Andrew died when an in-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

fant of two years. The mother is still living, in her eighty-sixth year, a resident of Hart- ford, Trumbull county. She is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Joseph W. is the eldest child. He was reared to manhood on the farm, and when a boy attended the primitive log schoolhouse, with its rude accessories of slab benches and open fire-place. He saw the deer roam the forests, and heard the howl of the wolf not far from the cabin door. From the time he was ten years old he worked away from home, and at the age of eighteen began the founda- tion of his own fortune. He followed agri- cultural pursuits until 1848, when he went to Cleveland and secured employment in a hotel and livery stable, remaining there five years.

Mr. Goodrich was married, April 18, 1850, to Jane Mckinley, a second cousin to Gov- ernor Mckinley. Her father and Governor McKinley's grandfather were first cousins. She was born in Clarion county, Pennsylva- nia, November 21, 1828, and came to Ohio in 1848. Her father, Joshua Mckinley, was a native of Ireland, and was brought across the sea to America when a child of four years. He was a farmer by occupation, and followed this calling until in his eightieth year. His death occurred in Clarion county, Pennsylvania. He married Mary Monks, and they reared a family of seven children. She died October 7, 1830. Mr. and Mrs. Goodrich are the parents of one child, An- nette, wife of Loren B. Simmons. Mr. and Mrs. Simmons have two children: Mabel and Genivieve. After his marriage Mr. Good- rich lived one year in Leroy, Lake county, and then removed to Chardon township and purchased a partially improved farm of fifty- seven acres, where he lived for five years. He then sold this farm and moved to the

north part of Chardon township and bought a farm of sixty-nine acres, which he culti- vated for about six years. In 1861 he ex- changed this place for his present farm in Hampden township, the place then compris- ing 230 acres. He later on sold this farm and purchased one of 100 acres on Wooden Hill, same township. He retained said property and made his home there for about eight years. He then made an exchange, by which he once more acquired his old farm, where he has since made his home. Of the 230 acres, he las deeded to his daughter fifty-five acres. He carries on a general farming business, and raises horses, cattle and sheep. He has one of the finest of sugar orchards; it consists of 800 old trees, be- sides 2,000 young trees. Mr. Goodrich has taken a special pride in his bush, which is more like a park than a sugar-bush. A coach and four could be readily driven through any part of it.

In early days Mr. Goodrich was a Whig, but he adopted the principles of the Repub- lican party upon the organization of that body.

When Mr. Goodrich started out for him- self he was $20 in debt. His success in life demonstrates what may be accomplished in farming by industry, economy and good judg- ment. For many years he conducted a dairy, which proved a very profitable enterprise. Although he has now attained nearly three- score years, he is still vigorous in both mind and body. He stands over six feet in height and is as straight as an arrow. He has ever been distinguished for his integrity of char- acter and upright dealing; as a neighbor he has always been highly esteemed, and he is benevolent, charitable and a true Christian gentleman. Of these goodly attributes of character his wife has an equal quota, and,

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surrounded with the comforts of life and blessed with the good-will and esteem of all who know them, they may now, in the eve- ning of their lives, enjoy that calm content which comes as the just heritage of those who have striven to do unto others as they would have others do unto them.

F RANKLIN BREED, owning one of the best farms on the North Ridge road, two and half miles east of Paines- ville, Ohio, a representative citizen and busi- ness man, was born in Venango county, Penn- sylvania, February 5, 1822. The original ancestor in America came from England in 1630 and settled in the New England States. Joseph Breed, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Connecticut and was a ship carpenter by trade. He was an ef- ficient soldier in the Revolutionary war and an ardent patriot on all occasions. He was a pioneer of Venango county, Pennsylvania, settling there in 1818, when it was a wilder- ness. He there partially developed a farm, on which he continued to reside until his death at the age of eighty-four years. Nathan Breed, father of the subject of this sketch, was also a native of Connecticut, where he married Fanny Hancox, also born in that State. With his wife and one child, he re- moved to Venango county, Pennsylvania, when a young man, and there developed a farm in the wilderness. He was a man of vigorous constitution and great energy and a hard worker. He commenced life for him- self by working on a farm at $10 a month for five years, within which time he was drafted to serve in the war of 1812, but his employer hired a substitute. He died in comfortable circumstances, owning a good

farm which he had successfully cultivated. Six of the eight children of his first marriage were reared to maturity: Nathan, deceased; Eliza; Reuben, deceased; Franklin, whose name heads this notice; William F .; Free- love; Nathan, the second; and Amos. The devoted wife and mother died at the early age of thirty-five years. In 1836, the father married Ruth Gleason and they had three children: Gleason, Lucy and Sallie A. The father was a Democrat in politics and he and the family were Baptists in religious belief. He died in 1840, lamented, as an able and good man.

The subject of this notice was the fourth child and was reared in Pennsylvania, on the pioneer farm, to which his father had re- moved four years before. Franklin attended the old log schoolhouse of pioneer times. The rudimentary institution of learning was sup- plied with slab benches and an open fireplace and conducted on the subscription plan. He was eighteen years of age when his father died, when he began life for himself by clerk- ing in a store, and dutifully helped to care for and educate his younger brothers and sisters. He married at the age of twenty-three and then he settled on a farm near Titusville, Pennsylvania, where he continued to follow agricultural pursuits until 1852, when he en- tered the general merchandise business in Titusville, where he remained twelve years. He then sold out and bought a gristmill, which he operated successfully and profitably for twelve years. At the end of this time, in 1870, he sold out and came to Painesville, near which he bonght his present farm of 210 acres, diversified by four kinds of soil, gravel, sand, muck and loom. This is cultivated by mixed farming, besides which he keeps thirty- five cows and selle large quantities of milk in the city, which enterprise yields a profitable

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income. For the past two years, Mr. Breed has rented his land, thus relieving himself of the active labor, while still sharing in the profits. He has a comfortable home, good barns and other modern improvements, pos- sessing altogether one of the most valuable places in the county. His prosperity is en- tirely due to his own exertions, steady indus- try and careful economy, combined with in- telligent management. He began life with nothing and is now numbered among the sub- stantial men of his vicinity, which circum- stances speak well for his ability and energy.

His first marriage occurred in 1845, to Angelet Daggett, a native of New York State, and they had one child, Frances, who mar- ried a Mr. Taber; she died, aged thirty-three., Mrs. Breed died in 1868, leaving her family and many friends to mourn her loss. In 1869, Mr. Breed married Miss H. Amelia Tracy, an estimable lady, a native of Chau- tauqua county, New York, who settled with her parents in Pennsylvania, when she was twenty years of age. Their three children were: Nathan T .; Vernie, now deceased; and Flora E.

Like his father, Mr. Breed is Democratic in politics, as in his opinion that party voices those sentiments best calculated to advance the interests of the people. Of a progressive and public-spirited disposition, he has con- tributed to the general welfare of his com- munity, and deserves the esteem which he so universally enjoys.

A USTIN J. SMITH, a worthy represent- tive of one of the oldest and most highly esteemed and influential famil- ies of Ashtabula county, Ohio, is a na- tive of this county, where he was born July 9,

1823. His father, Thomas Smith, whose name was for many years a household word in this viciuity and whose memory is deeply cherished by the community for which he so unselfishly labored, was born in Connecticut -that grand old State which has produced so many great and good men-in 1793, in one of the most eventful periods of the country's history. In 1811 he joined the western moving tide of emigration, coming to Ashtabula county, Ohio, being then eight- een years of age, with all the vigor and high aspirations of intelligent young manhood. He became the owner of a portion of the townsite of East Village and labored indus- triously and systematically to make of it a city of large and beautiful proportions. The broad streets of this village and its proposed parks, all of which he laid out and planned, show his knowledge of the needs of a city, and that his efforts were appreciated is amply testified to by the friendly interest with which his memory is recalled. Nothing definite is known in relation to his law training, but that he possessed a naturally judicial mind, and clear insight and strong judgment is shown by his able fulfillment of the duties of a judiciary, to which he was elected by an admiring constituency. It was while in the active performance of these duties that he contracted a severe cold, from the effects of which he died at the early age of thirty-twc, thus terminating a career which promised much for the welfare and advancement of his community. His loss was mourned as a public calamity, while each honsehold felt as if it had lost a personal friend. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Strong, was the daughter of Nathan Strong, a prominent pioneer of Ashtabula county, of whom men- tion will be made more at length further on. Their children were: Elizabeth W., deceased;

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Henry T., died in 1860; Austin J., whose name heads this notice; and Thomas A., de- ceased, who married a Miss Prentiss of Jef- ferson, Ohio.

Nathan Strong, previously mentioned, was also a native of Connecticut, born toward the last of the eighteenth century. He possessed superior ability and energy and exercised a strong and beneficial influence on the com- munities in which he resided. He was for many years a Sheriff in his native county in New England and also in Trumbull county, Ohio, at the time it included Ashtabula county and when Warren was the seat of government for that territory. During the Revolutionary war, he was Quartermaster in the patriotic army, serving with efficiency and distinction. In 1808, he came West, with a deed from the Connecticut Land Com- pany for a large tract of school land, aggre- gating several hundred acres situated on the town site of Ashtabula. His wife before marriage was Lucy Cornell and they had nine children: Polly, Nathan, Lucy, Samuel, Jabez, Nathaniel, Timothy, Elihu and Sarah, mother of the subject of this sketch.

Austin J. Smith, whose name heads this notice, has resided in East Village and vicin- ity all his life and has been, during that long period, essentially a farmer. Thirty years ago he took possession of his present place, which he has greatly improved until it is now one of the best in the county. Here, in con- nection with his farming interests, he carries on a milk business, his milk wagon being one of the most familiar objects on the streets. Some years ago, Mr. Smith was en- gaged in buying and shipping live stock, which business was at that time very profit- able, but is not now followed by any one. His prosperity is entirely due to his own in- dustrions efforts combined with intelligent

and careful management, strict economy and thorough integrity in business transactions. He has thus won and retained the confidence of his fellow men.

March 11, 1847, Mr. Smith was married in Ashtabula, to Lonisa Watrous, a lady of sterling worth, daughter of Winthrop Wat- rous, who was one of the first settlers in this county, and whom we will mention again. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had five children: Albert C., a prosperous merchant at the Harbor, who married Miss Mills and has two children,-Nellie and Blanche; Elizabeth W., married H. B. Huff, and they have two child- ren,-Harry and Elizabeth; Fred died in Kingman, Kansas, where he was a prominent and popular merchant, possessing many of the qualities of his illustrious grandfather, and being one who, had his life been spared, would have impressed himself on the com- mercial world. He died at the same age as his grandfather, in February, 1893, greatly lamented by all who knew him. The other two children are Henry T., at home, and Eugene.

Mr. Watrous, Mrs. Smith's father, pre- viously mentioned, was born in Connecticut, April 22, 1792, and passed his younger years in the State of his birth. In 1809, he came with his father, William Watrous, and the rest of the family to the Harbor, where his father erected a brick residence, which yet stands, being now owned by the Thayer es- tate. Winthrop Watrous, of whom this por- tion of our sketch treats, engaged in shipping at the Harbor, in partnership with Henry Hubbard and Joab Austin. They built ves- sels and did most of the carrying trade be- tween Ashtabula and outside points on the lake. He continued in this business until 1836, when he gave up the lake trade and settled on a farm to which he gave his future

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attention. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 when the British threatened to capture Ashtabula, and served faithfully and well. He was widely acquainted and was very pop- ular with his associates. He was married March 28, 1816, to Parmelia Castle, and they had nine children: A. O .; Alvira Ann, deceased; John S .; Ann Louise, born April 20, 1827, married the subject of this sketch; Mary S., married A. B. Robbins; Emily C .; Katherine, the wife of Clinton Markell, of Duluth, Minnesota; Frederick W., deceased; W. E. and F. E. Those surviving are men and women of worth, who enjoy universal respect and esteem.

In politics Mr. Smith is a Democrat. He was reared an Episcopalian. His wife is a member of the Baptist Church.

A RTHUR D. DOWNING, President of the First National Bank of Char- don, was born at Stanstead, Canada, September 7, 1833, a son of Major Alvin S. and Sarah (Morey) Downing, the former of whom was born in the State of Vermont in 1800. The grandfather, George Downing, was a native of New Hampshire, and was descended from English ancestors who emigrated from Downing street, Lon- don, in colonial days. He was a surveyor by profession, and followed this vocation through life; he lived at Colchester, Ver- mont, and was Sheriff of his county at one time. He was a man of robust constitution, and lived to old age. Major Alvin S. Down- ing was a farmer and carpenter by occupa- tion. He was married in Vermont, but re- moved to Canada, locating in the border of the Dominion. He came to Ohio as early as 1832, but did not settle permanently until

1833, when he located in Munson township, on land which he owned in partnership with his brother Joshua. For ten years he worked at his trade in Cleveland, and his brother managed their farming interests. He became Major of the State militia, and was gener- ally known by this title. He crossed the plains to California in the spring of 1849, when the tide of emigration swept to the gold fields of the Pacific Coast, and was on the way from 'March 1 until the following August, suffering from many of the ills of the long and tedious journey. He married Sarah Morey, who was born in Canada in 1805, and they reared a family of eight chil- dren. The father died at the age of eighty- four years, and the mother lived to the age of seventy-six years. She was a very domes- tic woman, and took a deep interest in her home and family. Politically he supported first the Whig and then the Republican party.

A. D. Downing is the fourth of the fam- ily. He was a young child when his father removed to Ohio, and received his elementary education in the common schools. He en- tered Hiram College at the age of twenty years, and was a student in that institution at the same time James A. Garfield was there. He pursued his studies for two years, taking an elective course. He then began life for himself by teaching school in Scioto county, Ohio, which occupation he continued for two years. He also taught a writing school. Thence he went to Lawrence Furnace in Lawrence county, Ohio, in 1857, and was with this institution for seven years as book- keeper. In the spring of 1864 he bought an interest in Buckhorn furnace, selling out at at the end of two years. Going to Ironton, Ohio, he secured a position as bookkeeper in the rolling mill of Campbell, Woodrow & Co.,

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which he filled for two years. He then ac- companied General Powell and his brother George E., to Clifton, West Virginia, where they erected the Clifton Iron Works. He became financial agent for the concern, and also embarked in general mercantile pursuits, which he conducted three years.

In the fall of 1870 Mr. Downing came to Chardon and opened a general store, continu- ing the business for twenty years. He has been connected with the Geanga Savings and Loan Association since 1875, in the capacity of a director, and served two years as vice- president. In 1891 he assisted in the or- ganization of the First National Bank, and was elected president of the corporation. The authorized capital of the Savings and Loan Association is $100,000, and the capi- tal stock of the National Bank is $50,000. The First National Bank and the Geauga Savings and Loan Association are under al- most the same management, having the same president and the same vice-president.

Mr. Downing was married April 1, 1857, to Miss Barbara M. Fisk of this county, who was educated at Hiram College, and was a woman of many admirable traits. She died without children, in June, 1865. She was a worthy member of the Disciple Church, and took a leading part in all its work. Mr. Downing's second marriage occurred in 1868, when he was united to Miss Jennie C. Smith, daughter of George Smith, a leading citizen of Munson township. Two children have been born to them: Willis G. and Bessie M. Mrs. Downing is a member of the Congre- gational Church, to which she contributes of her time and means. Politically, Mr. Down- ing adheres to the principles of the Republi- can party, having cast his first vote for John C. Fremont. He is a member of the town council, and has been its Treasurer several

years. He belongs to the Masonic order, and is a member of the Mystic Shrine of Cleve- land. Although he began life without capi- tal, he has accumulated a competence. He is considered one of the best financiers in the county, and is highly esteemed by all classes of citizens for his moral worth.

P LIMON D. HOWARD, a representa- tive of one of the oldest and most influential families of Orwell town- ship, Ashtabula county, Ohio, and one of her most prominent citizens, is a native of the Green Mountain State.

His father, Johnson Howard, was a typical New Englander, devoted to his home, his country and his God; stern and uncompromis- ing, when religious principles were involved, he never abated one jot of his incorrupt- ible integrity. A native of New Hamp- shire, he adopted Vermont as his home, and subsequently removed from there to Ohio. It was in Plainfield, Vermont, December 17, 1829, that the subject of our sketch was born. Removing to Ohio in 1834, the Howards first settled in Bloomfield, where they remained four years. In 1838 Johnson Howard removed his family to Orwell, pur- chasing the farm now owned by Hiram God- dard. Here he and his wife lived and died. Finding only a dense and unbroken wilder- ness, the sturdy efforts of Mr. Howard grad- ually transformed it into productive fields. Mrs. Howard, nee Harriet Townsend, was also a native of Vermont. She was a noble woman, economical and industrious. In those trying days of early settlement she arose to the full measure of the necessity of the occasion, and performed her full share toward providing for the family. Six chil-

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dren were born to this worthy couple,-one, Elvira, dying in infancy. The remaining five reached maturity, and four yet survive. The eldest, Samantha, married Z. C. Biglow, of Orwell, and both have passed away; Rosina, the second, became Mrs. N. A. Barnes. She resides in Orwell with her three children. Marshall J., the third, is a resident of Warren, Ohio. The fourth is the subject of this sketch. Harriet Jennette, the young- est, became the wife of Prof. Henninges, a celebrated music-teacher of Cleveland. This family, consisting of the professor and his wife and their daughter, Dora, and son, William, have an extensive reputation in musical circles.

By the death of his father, P. D. Howard found himself, at the early age of fifteen, thrown upon his own resources. Beginning life with no other endowments than those which nature had bestowed upon him, he has secured for himself and family an ample competency. After about three years in Michigan, where he pursued his chosen voca- tion of carpenter and builder, he returned to Orwell and purchased the property now owned by Homer Stone. Disposing of this a few years later, Mr. Howard acquired the property upon which he now resides. Here he has erected buildings, and made other im- provements, and has to-day, one of the finest residences in the village.

Mr. Howard was first married to Betsey Ruby, daughter of John Ruby, of Orwell. They had one child, Cora A., who died in her twenty-second year, February 6, 1879. Her friends speak lovingly of her beautiful Christian character. Misfortunes never come singly. Three years after his daughter's death his devoted wife was called to her last home, her death occurring February 24, 1882. The present Mrs. Howard was before her marri-

age Miss Ellen Morris. She is a daughter of Thomas Morris, of Orwell. They have five children as follows: Mabel, born September 29, 1883; George E., September 7. 1885; Plimon D., December 10, 1887; Clara, De- cember 20,1889; and Earle M., June 3, 1893.

During the war Mr. Howard was debarred from active military service by a disability which unfitted him for marching. He was enabled, however, to render his country much valuable service as a master builder. This responsible and lucrative position Mr. How- ard filled until ill health compelled him to resign. In this capacity he erected several important buildings for the storing of Govern- ment supplies in Chattanooga. His work always met with the entire approval of the Government inspectors. General Thomas, " The Rock of Chickamauga," then com- manding the Fourteenth Corps, in the Army of the Cumberland at Chattanooga, after inspecting one of those buildings, remarked to the Quartermaster, " Your master builder throughly understood his business."

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 75

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