Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 78

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 78
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 78
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 78

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).

promptitude which characterizes all his movements. He is a member of Reed Post, No. 387, G. A. R. He and his wife' are worthy members of the Congregational Church.

ULLEN M. SPENCER, a highly re- spected citizen of Ashtabula county, was born at Geneva, Ohio, May 26, 1827,a son of Harvey S. and Louisa (Schnede- ker) Spencer; the father was born at Fish- kill, Dutchess county, New York, in 1797, and the mother was a native of the same State, born in 1804. Harvey S. Spencer was reared to the life of a farmer, and in early life became accustomed to the hard labor of the husbandman. In 1811 he removed to Ohio, which was then the border of the Western frontier, and settled on land which is now owned and occupied by his son Cullen M. Here he underwent all the trials and hardships incident to pioneer life, rearing a family of eight children. The oldest, a daughter, married J. P. Jones, was the mother of five children, and died in 1891; Pierce lives in Geneva, and has a family of three children; Warren A. died in infancy; Warren P. was a prominent citizen of Geneva,- for many years being editor of the Times; he died in 1883, without children; Percis J. married Mr. Woodworth, and has one child living; Marcia is the wife of Mr. Richards, deceased, and the mother of three children; Wayne A. served in the war of the Rebellion as a private, and died at the Soldiers' Home at Dayton, Ohio. Cullen M. is the fifth- born. He secured a common-school educa- tion and chose agriculture as his calling in life. He was married in 1849 to Mary A. Wilder, a native of Ashtabula county, Ohio,

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

and of this union three children were born, two sons and a daughter: Warren, born May 31, 1851, was married in August, 1873, to Ida Putman, and they have two children; Alanson and Heber; Lewis, the second child of our subject, was born February 4, 1859; he married Miss Theda Spring, and they have one child, a son named Robert; Susan the only daughter, married Luzern Bedell, and is the mother of two children. Two brothers of Mrs. Louisa Spencer were soldiers in the war of 1812; and her youngest brother was slain at Alamo, Texas, at the time David Crockett was massacred by the Mexicans.

Mr. Spencer gave his best energies to the cultivation of his land, and in 1869 he bought five acres adjoining his farm as a pleasure resort; the place is now known as Sturgeon Point, and is one of the most delightful re- treats on the shores of Lake Erie. Three acres are thickly wooded with maple trees, under whose umbrageous boughs are many cottages for campers; near by is a hotel ac- commodating seventy-five guests. During the warm season many tents of campers are pitched here, and nature dispenses her com- forts of quiet and peace with a bounteous hand.

In opening this resort Mr. Spencer has proven a benefactor to his fellow-men, secur- ing to many a place of rest where the sterner duties of life forsake one, and cares fly away, giving the gentle forces of nature undisputed sway in their life-giving and life-sustaining mission.

P H. WATSON, one of the leading business men of Pierpont, Ashtabula county, Ohio, was born at Woodstock, Canada, April 23, 1851, a son of Joseph and Abigail (Hendershot) Watson,

the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Canada. They were married in that country, where they still reside, the father aged sixty-seven years, and the mother sixty- five years.

P. H. Watson, the eldst of seven children, six sons and one daughter, was reared and educated in his native city. At the age of twenty years he went to Chautauqua county, New York, where he learned the art of cheese- making. After remaining in that city five years he came to Pierpont, Ohio, where he is now employed as superintendent of the cheese factory, and is considered one of the finest cheese-makers in Ashtabula county. About 200,000 pounds of cream cheese is manufactured annually, and the product is second to none manufactured in the United States. Mr. Watson is also engaged in the general mercantile business.

He was united in marriage to Dora Platt, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Henry and Emily Platt. Mr. Watson affiliates with the Prohibition party. He was made a Mason in Chautauqua county, New York, in Sylvan Lodge, No. 303, and is now Junior Warden of Relief Lodge, No. 284. He is also Master of the Grange.

C APTAIN ELEAZAR BURRIDGE, one of the largest land-owners and most prominent men of Lake county, Ohio, was born at Perry, this county, January 14, 1822.

Mr. Burridge is of English descent. · His grandfather Burridge was born in England, and when a boy attending school was pressed into the British service and taken on board a man of war bound for America to aid in supressing the Revolutionary war. The ves-

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sel was run ashore off the coast of Newfound- land, whence he made his escape and came and joined the Continental army. In it he fought until the close of the war. Then he settled in Massachusetts, but, a few years later, removed to Vermont. He was engaged in farming in the Green Mountain State the rest of his life, and died there at advanced age.

Captain Samuel Burridge, the father of our subject, was a native of Massachusetts. He married Hannah Parmly, a native of Ver- mont, and a few years after his marriage moved to Canada, where he was engaged in farming and gardening. When the war of 1812 broke out he was given the alternative of joining the British or the American army. Choosing the latter, he returned to New York, serving his time in the Federal army. In 1814, with his family, he came to Lake coun- ty, Ohio, making the journey by ox team, and upon his arrival here he took up land in Perry township, being one of the first settlers of that place, there being only three fami- lies in that township at the time. The country was then one vast wilderness, and he, being fond of hunting, killed many a deer, bear and wolf. He built his log cabin in the woods and made some clearing. Subse- quently he settled in Painesville, and a few years later moved to Mentor, where he died, at the age of eighty years. He was Captain of a company of militia here at an early day and was familiarly known as Captain Bur- ridge. He was a zealous member of the Methodist Church, and in every respect a just and upright man. His wife died at the age of ninety-eight years.

Captain Eleazar Burridge is one of a family of nine children, six of whom are living. He first saw the light of day in a log cabin, and in a pioneer log schoolhouse he received his

education. The schools were conducted on the rate-bill system, the teacher " boarding around." After reaching his majority he worked out by the month for some time and then went to Warren, JoDaviess county, Illi- nois, where he entered land. His journey to Illinois was made chiefly on foot. Two years later he returned to Ohio and purchased a farm near the center of Mentor township. Subsequently. disposing of that, he bought his present property, then known as the Cobb farm. To his original purchase here he has added until he now has 800 acres, which cost him on an average of $100 per acre. In connection with his farming operations, he gives special attention to dairying and sheep- raising, keeping a fine herd of Holstein cat- tle. His whole estate is finely improved. Among its attractions is a sugar orchard comprising 1,000 trees, from which he makes large quantities of syrup.

Captain Burridge entered the Union army in August, 1861, as a private in Company F, Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the first battle of Winchester, March 23, 1862, during which he acted as Second Lieutenant. He was afterward promot- ed to the captaincy of the company in which he enlisted. June 9, 1862, he was in the battle of Port Republic, where twenty-two of his for- ty-five men were killed, wounded or missing. He was struck on the head by a piece of shell and was carried off the field unconscious. His skull was crushed and he was sent to Washington with 300 of his wounded com- rades. On reaching Washington, an Ohio lady named Lannon, with whom he had no previous acquaintance, obtained permission from the surgeon of his regiment and took Captain Burridge to her house on Pennsylva- nia avenue, and cared for him until his brother came for him. He came home, and in Octo-

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ber was sufficiently recovered to join his reg- iment at Frederick City, Maryland. Being in Sigel's reserve corps, he was not in the engagement at Fredericksburg. His health continued poor, and he was discharged in February, 1863, on account of his disabilities.

Captain Burridge was married in Novem- ber, 1852, to Margaret Macumber, a native of Mentor, this county. They have six chil- dren: Levi, Sarah, Emma, Ehrick, Eleazar, Jr., and Kittie.

Politically, the Captain is a staunch Re- publican. He has served as Trustee of Men- tor township and is now serving his fourth term as County Infirmary Director. He is Senior Vice Commander of James A. Gar- field Post, No. 591, G. A. R. He and his wife are members of the Disciple Church at Mentor, the same church to which our late lamented Garfield belonged, the Captain be- ing intimately acquainted with President Garfield.

The subject of our sketch began life with- out a dollar, and to-day, as the result of his own industry and good management, he stands in the front ranks of the most success- ful men of his county.

N ORMAN C. FROST, proprietor of " Echo Hill Farm," Mentor, Ohio, is one of the prominent young business men of the town, and in sketching the lives of the representative men of Lake county, we allude to him as follows:

Norman C. Frost was born in North Evans, Erie county, New York, October 2, 1851, a descendant of an old New England family. His father, John S. Frost, was born in Ver- mont in 1821, and his grandfather, Nathan

Frost, was also a native of Massachussetts. Nathan Frost removed when a boy to Ver- mont and emigrated to New York and settled in Erie county about 1827, where he passed the residue of his life, dying in 1885, at the age of seventy-two. By occupation he was a farmer; in religion he was a Congregational- ist. John S. Frost was the younger of two sons. His brother, Nathan R., a farmer and carpenter, died in 1885. John S. is still liv- ing, engaged in farming at the old home place in Erie county, New York. He has been a Deacon in the Congregational Church for a number of years, and is one of the most highly respected citizens of the community in which he lives. His wife, nee Emily S. Clark, is also living. She is a nº- tive of Massachussetts and one of a family of seven children. She came with her mother to New York at an early day, her father hav- ing died in Massachusetts. By a subsequent marriage her mother had three children.

Norman C. Frost is an only child. He was born and reared on his father's farm, and received his education in the district schools, select schools, and the Griffith Institute at Springville, Erie county. He is also a grad- uate of the Bryant & Stratton Business Col- lege, Buffalo, New York. When he was twenty-two he rented the home place, and carried on farming operations there three years. Since 1878 he has been a resident of Mentor. His farm, Echo Hill, located just south of Mentor, and within the corporate limits, is well improved and beautifully situ- ated. Mr. Frost has given some attention to the breeding of short-horn cattle. In 1885, in addition to his farming and stock raising, he engaged in the coal business in Mentor, handling both hard and soft coal, and in the years since then his business has increased more than seven-fold.

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OF NORTHEASTERN QHIO.

Previous to his coming to Mentor, and while a resident of Erie county, Mr. Frost was associated with Mr. O. F. Chase in the manufacture of Chase's patent suspension spring bed, being in this business two years.

Mr. Frost was married in the fall of 1877 to Miss Mary N. Hart, a native of Lake county, Ohio, and a daughter of Stephen H. Hart, a prominent early settler of this county. Mrs. Frost is a graduate of the Lake Erie Female Seminary of Painesville, and was a teacher in that institution two years after her graduation. She also taught some time in the Mentor schools. They have two chil- dren, H. N. and Helen L.

Politically, Mr. Frost is a Republican. Since he came to Mentor he has served on the School Board and the Town Council, and also has been Mayor of the town, always devoting his energies for the general welfare of the community. He has been a director of the Lake County Agricultural Society. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a Trustee and Steward.

RED. D. GREEN, president of the Western Reserve Nursery, Perry township, Lake county, Ohio, is an en- terprising young man of marked ability.

He was born in the township in which he now lives, September 8, 1864, son of Lucius Green, a native of Madison township, this county, and grandson of Jesse M. Green, whose native State was Massachusetts. Jesse Green made the journey with ox team from Massachusetts to Ohio in 1820, and settled in Madison township, where, in the midst of the wilderness, he developed a farm. IIe died there at the age seventy-three years.

Lucius G. was reared on his father's farm and received his education in the old log schoolhouse hard by. He farmed in Madi- son township until 1859, when he came to Perry township. Here, in 1861, he started the Western Reserve Nursery, beginning with five acres, and from time to time increas- ing his facilities and spreading out over more ground. Now the establishment covers 400 acres, and is one of the largest of its kind in America. He sold out to the present com- pany in 1892, and on account of failing health retired from active life. He married Miss Corilla Sinclair, a native of Perry township, this county. and a daughter of one of its early pioneers. Her father, Milton Sinclair, kept a hotel for many years on North Ridge, on the route between Buffalo and Cleveland. Mr. and Mrs. Green reared two children, Mrs. Abbie Bartholomew and Fred D. Both parents are still living. The mother is a member of the Baptist Church.

Fred D. Green entered the Normal School at Geneva, Ohio, when he was fifteen, and spent four years there, completing an English course. Then he was a student at Spencer's Business College at Cleveland for one year. Since leaving school he has been identified with the nursery business, and for the past eight years traveled more or less in its inter- est. Reared in the business, he is conversant with its every department, and takes a just pride in the marvelous growth of the estab- lishment his father founded and of which he himself is now at the head. They handle all kinds of trees and plants, are constantly add- ing new varieties which they procure from the old country, have a soil which is especially adapted to the wants of a nursery. and are do- ing business with all the States and territories of the Union besides many foreign countries. They do exclusively a wholesale business,

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

having no agents out. The L. Green & Son Co. is officered as follows: Fred D. Green, president; H. J. Manchester, vice president; and F. G. Salkeld, secretary and treasurer.

December 15, 1885, Mr. Green was mar- ried to Miss Carrie Crofoot, a native of Painesville, Ohio. They have two children, Ethel G. and Edith M.

Politically he is a Democrat, and frater- nally, an Odd Fellow, having his membership at Perry.

F RED F. PARKER, saddle and harness maker, Conneaut, Ohio, has been iden- tified with the interests of this place for several years and is one of its most worthy and substantial men. Of his life and ancestry we make the following brief rec- ord:

F. F. Parker was born in Hancock county, Ohio, July 24, 1853, son of Abel F. and Sarah A. (Gale) Parker. His maternal grand- father, Rev. Isaac Gale, was well known as one of the pioneer Methodist ministers of New York. It is a fact worthy of note here that John Parker, the first man killed in the battle of Lexington, was a relative of this family.

Abel F. Parker was born in Windsor, Ver- mont, in 1798. His first adventure was to run away from home and enlist in the war of 1812. He took part in the battle of Platts- burgh, where he was taken prisoner, but made good his escape a few days afterward. He read law under the instruction of Judge Ebenezer Mix, and was admitted to the bar sometime in the '30s. He helped to survey the old Erie canal, and with General Wadsworth assisted in surveying the first railroad line in

the United States; this was from Albany to Schenectady. Moving to Findlay, Ohio, he served a number of terms as Prosecuting Attorney of Hancock county, and at a later date was appointed Postmaster of Findlay, and under President Buchanan's administra- tion received the appointment of Commis- sioner of Insolvents. He was too old to be ac- cepted in the service of the late war, but went to Cincinnati in the call of the militia as artil- leryman. He had a fine physique, being six feet three and a half inches in height and weighing about 225 pounds. He died in 1882, at the age of eighty-four years. He never had any serious sickness. For many years he was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and was noted for his generosity in the support of all worthy causes; indeed, he was too liberal for his own good. At one time he was the owner of large tracts of land in the vicinity of Findlay. His wife was buried on Christmas day, 1865, being fifty-three years of age. She, too, was a member of the Pres- byterian Church, and hers was a beautiful Christian life. They had three children: F. F., Robert and Dora.

Mr. Parker was married at Batavia, New York, to Miss Maria Strong, by whom he had four children: Edwin, Albert, Julia and Lucy, -two of whom, Julia and Lucy, are liv- ing. His second marriage was to Sarah, the widow of Benjamin Robinson, of Columbus, Ohio. She had six children by her first marriage, all of whom are living. By this second marriage three children were born: Fred F., the subject of this biography ; Dora; and Robert, who is a lawyer of Wood county, Ohio.

F. F. Parker was educated in the public schools of Findlay. At the age of fourteen years he began to learn the harness business, and has followed it up to the present time.

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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

He was elected a Justice of the Peace in Pleasant township, Hancock county, in 1871, on the Republican ticket in a Democratic township and received a majority of 105 votes. He was again elected Justice of the Peace, April 20, 1875, in Conneaut, and by a special election, May 7, 1887, was chosen for the same office and served another term. He was elected Mayor of Conneaut in 1886 and served one term, and at the next election was defeated by only three votes in his race for the same position, his opponent being Mr. Winship. He was elected again Justice of the Peace in 1893, and later appointed Police Justice, which office he is ably filling. While he has never sought office, yet when it was thrust upon him Mr. Parker has ever discharged his duty with the strictest fidelity.

He was married in 1870, to Miss Ida Allah Nye, daughter of D. S. and Mary (Star) Nye, the former having been an officer in the army during the late war and now be- ing a grocer and lumber dealer at Carey, Ohio. They have three children: Robert, Edith and Edna.

Mr. Parker is identified with the Masonic fraternity. As is evidenced by his long pub- lic service, Mr. Parker is held in high esteem and confidence by his fellow citizens. It is such men as he that advance public interests and give character and credit to a com- munity.

YMAN T. CREESY, a prominent farm- er of Cherry Valley township, Ashta- bula county, Ohio, was born in this township, December 14, 1843, a son of Trask Creesy. The latter was a son of Josiah Creesy, whose father was an old sea captain and who lost his life at sea. The family are

supposed to be of French origin. Josiah Creesy married Tryphena Wright, and they had six children: Frank, Dryden, William, Gilman, Delia Ann and Eliza. The mother died in Cherry Valley, at the age of ninety years. In the fall of 1823, when Trask Creesy was a lad of seventeen years, he came with his parents from Otsego county, New York, to Ashtabula county, Ohio, where he was among the first settlers. Cherry Valley township was organized and named at his father's home. Trask Creesy was married December 25, 1828, in this township, to Permelia Loomis, who was born near Great Barrington, Massachusetts, a daughter of Jo- siah Loomis, one of the early settlers of Williamsfield, this county. He died in that town at an advanced age. Mr. and Mrs. Creesy had seven children, four now living: Susan, wife of C. A Hitchcock, of Chicago, Illinois; Tryphena, wife of D. O. Tourgee; Truman, who served eighteen months in the Seventh Kansas Cavalry during the late war, is now a resident of Colorado; and Lyman, our subject. The deceased are: Charlotte, who was the wife of D. R. Carpenter; Celina and Abbie. Trask Creesy was a farmer by occupation, a member of the Congregational Church, and a Republican in his political view. He died February 2, 1890, at the age of eighty-five years, and his wife de- parted this life in 1874, at the age of sixty- five years. She was a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.

Lyman T. Creesy, the subject of this sketch, still resides on the old home farm where he was reared to manhood. In 1864, he enlisted for service in the late war, enter- ing Company D, One Hundred and Seventy - seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served ten and a half months. He participated in the battles of Murfreesborough, Town Creek,

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

etc. After the close of hostilties Mr. Creesy returned to his home in this township, where he now owns 200 acres of fine farming land, all well improved. In addition to his gen- eral farming, he also conducts a large dairy, keeping twenty-five cows of a high grade.

Mr. Creesy was married June 5, 1867, to Miss Elizabeth Laughlin, who was born in Richmond township, this county, August 21, 1843, a daughter of Hugh and Jeannette (Brice) Laughlin. Our subject and wife have four children: Filson D .; Lottie M., who has taught school seven terms; Belle, engaged in the same occupation four terms; and Budd L. Mr. Creesy affiliates with the Republican party, has served as Township Trustee, and has been President of the School Board six years. Socially, he is a member of the G. A. R., Hiram Kile Post, No. 80.

D R. ELIZUR M. WEBSTER, physician and surgeon, Kingsville, Ohio, was born at this place, May 21, 1827. He comes from an ancestry in which he may justly take pride, and he likewise has reason to be proud of his posterity.

The first of the Websters who came to Ohio landed in Ashtabula county in 1808, when this county was nearly all wilderness. Among them the oldest was the great-grand- father of the Doctor; Michael Webster, who was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, May 8, 1748, a direct descendant of John Webster, who came from Warwickshire, England, about the year 1636, and became Governor of Connecticut in 1656 and who was also one of the Commissioners of the United Colonies.

By occupation Michael was a farmer. He served as a soldier all through the Revolu- tionary war and died at Williamsfield, Ash-

tabula county, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Minerva North, February 15, 1850, lacking only two months of being 102 years old. The day he was a hundred he walked from Jefferson to Kingsville, a distance of sixteen miles. Elizabeth (Clark) Webster, his wife, died October 15. 1842, aged seven- ty-seven years. They had twelve children, two of whom, Michael and Daniel, settled in Jef- ferson, Ohio, and their families now live in that township. All the children's names were, in order: Clark, Elizabeth, Daniel, Michael, Jr., Luman, Leman, Polly, Sally, Elemuel, Fanny, Clarissa and Minerva.

Clark, the oldest son, was born at Litch- field, Connecticut, December 3, 1774, mar- ried Naamah Hall, by whom he had seven children, namely: Michael, Hiram H., Frances, Almira, Michael W. (2d), Ardavan and Sally. Michael (1st) died in infancy. Hiram H. was born at Lanesborough, Massa- chusetts, May 17, 1800, and was married to Corinna L. Loomis, April 10, 1824. They were the parents of Corinna, Elizur Michael (our subject), Laura A., Ann Eliza, Clarinda L., Charles H., Emily F. and Henry C.

Hiram H. came with his parents to Ash- tabnla county, where he received his prelim- inary education, subsequently supplementing the same with a course at the grammar school at Conneaut. He began the study of medicine at Kelloggsville, Ohio, in the office of Dr. Vosburgh, completing his studies un- der the perceptorship of Dr. Coleman, of Ashtabula, in 1824. After passing a rigid examination before the State Medical Board, he was admitted to practice and opened an office at Kingsville. He was appointed Jus- tice of the Peace July 8, 1839, by Governor Wilson Shannon. He was a member of the "underground railway" association and as- sisted to freedom many a poor fugitive from

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 78

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