Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 82

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 82
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 82
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 82

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The subject of this sketch was reared on the home farm, attending the district schools in his vicinity in the winter and sailing on the lakes in summer. He took a course in the Oberlin Business College, at which he graduated in the spring of 1874. He then served as mate on vessels on the lakes until 1876, when he abandoned the water and en- gaged in the merchandise business in Ash- tabula. Here he continued until January, 1883, when he and others formed a partner- ship under the style of A. J. Beckwith & Company, and entered into the merchandise business at Ashtabula Harbor. Two years later this company started another store at Ashtabula, which was continned a year, when the company 'was dissolved, Mr. Beckwith continuing the business at the Harbor, of which he became sole proprietor. By care- ful attention to details, liberal methods and thorough uprightness in business, Mr. Beck- with's efforts have been crowned with grati- fying success, and he is now numbered among the substantial men of his community.

September 8, 1877, Mr. Beckwith was married to Miss Pruilla E. Gerald, an esti-

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mable lady of Saybrook, Ohio. They have had three children by this marriage: Gracie, Minnie and Andrew J., Jr. Gracie died August, 1881, and Minnie, August, 1883; Andrew was born June 9, 1889.

Politically, Mr. Beckwith affiliates with the Republican party. He is a member in good standing of the Knights of Pythias and a Royal Templar of Templars, having passed all the chairs of both lodges. He and his worthy wife are useful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Upright and public-spirited, Mr. Beckwith has done much to develop the resources of his city and county, of which he is a highly esteemed resident.

S ILAS M. RAND, a member of one of the prominent early families of Lake county, Ohio, is now living retired in Madison. Appropriate mention of his father, Martin Rand, will be found in this work in the biography of Henry C. Rand, brother of Silas M.

Silas M. Rand was born in Madison town- ship, Lake county, Ohio, May 9, 1839. IIe was reared on his father's pioneer farm, re- ceived his education in the district schools and the Madison Seminary, and was in the prime of young manhood when the great Civil war burst upon the country. He en- listed August 22, 1861, in the Second Ohio Cavalry, and was mustered into the service at Cleveland. The first year he was with the forces that operated in the West, being under Generals Wier and Kuntz, and going through Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Indian Ter- ritory. At the end of the first year he was transferred to Kentucky, and was in numer. ous engagements throughout that State, Vir-

ginia and Tennessee. In the winter of 1863 he re-enlisted, and subsequently was in the Army of the Potomac. When the war closed, however, he was on guard duty in Missouri, remaining there until he was mustered out, September 10, 1865. Among the engagements in which he participated were the siege of Knoxville and the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania. At Hanover Court House he was wounded in the foot, from the effects of which he was laid up in hospital at Washington and David's Is- land for four months. Gangrene set in and he nearly lost his life as the result. After his recovery he joined the army at Petersburg and was in several small engagements before going West, as above stated. He now re- ceives a pension of $8.

The next important event in Mr. Rand's life was his marriage, which occurred January 3, 1866. Mrs. Rand, whose maiden name was Martha E. Hill, was born in Harpers- field, Ashtabula county, Ohio, daughter of Henry Hill, a native of Orange county, Ver- mont, and an early pioneer of Ashtabula county. Mr. and Mrs. Rand have one child, Ernest C.

After his marriage, Mr. Rand located east of Madison on the South Ridge, and a year later bought seventy-five acres of land in the northern part of Madison township, for a consideration of $6,500. By honest industry and good management he was in due time enabled to pay the whole purchase amount with interest. He cleared the entire farm with the exception of ten acres and continued to reside there, carrying on general farming and stock raising, until the fall of 1884, since which time he has rented the farm and lived retired in Madison.

Mr. Rand and his wife are members of the Congregational Church. Politically, he is a

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Republican. For the past three years he has served as Township Trustee and is still the incumbent of that office. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post, No. 358.

D WIGHT R. CARPENTER, a well known and prosperous farmer near Andover, Ashtabula county, Ohio, was born in this county, May 17, 1825. His grandfather, Benjamin Carpenter, was mar- ried, in the East, to Olive Wright, and they joined the western tide of emigration to Ohio in 1813, settling in the woods and living for many years in a rude log cabin. His son, Jahaziel Carpenter, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Chester township, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, March 23, 1793, and accompanied his parents to Ohio in an early day. He was married in 1817 to Demaris Houghton, a native of Keene, New Hampshire. Her father was Rufus Hough ton and her mother was a member of the Richardson family, prominent in the New England States, who removed to Harpers- field, Ohio, in 1811. The mother died in 1816 and is buried in the cemetery at West Andover. Mr. and Mrs. Jahaziel Carpenter had eight children, three of whom died in in- fancy. Of the five who attained maturity, four still survive: Louisa, who resides in Oberlin, Ohio; Dwight R., whose name heads this notice; Sarah, widow of Sylvester Searle, residing in Edgar, Nebraska; and Jahaziel, of West Andover. After marriage, the father of the subject of this sketch settled upon a good farm of 110 acres, which he industrious- ly cultivated, and derived therefrom a com- fortable income during the rest of his life. The family were first called upon to mourn the death of the beloved wife and mother,

who expired at the age of seventy-seven years, greatly lamented by all who knew her. July 29, 1887, the father died from the effect of injuries inflicted by a runaway team. He was in his ninety-fourth year. He was a pro- gressive and public-spirited man. Originally a Whig in politics, he afterward became a Republican with strong Abolitionist tenden- cies, and was a member of an underground railroad. He joined tbe Congregational Church October 18, 1817, and was ever after- ward a faithful adherent to this cause, event- ually serving as Deacon, in which capacity his father before him had acted and which position the subject of this sketch is now fill- ing.

Mr. Carpenter of this notice was reared on the home farm and received his education in the adjacent district schools. He remained at home until twenty-five years of age, when he settled on fifty-five acres of land, to which he has since added until he now owns 198 acres of the best realty in the county. On this he now has a comfortable residence and good barns, the lawn in front of his place be- ing surrounded by a beautiful arbor-vitae hedge and the yard dotted with flowering shrubs and ornamental shade trees-the whole offering an inviting retreat on a summer's day. He has an orcbard of four acres, keeps eighteen cows, a number of fine horses, some sheep and other stock, all exhibiting evi- dences of a high degree of care and lending to the general air of thrift which surrounds the place.

At the age of twenty-five, Mr. Carpenter was married to Charlotte Creesy, a lady of domestic tastes, who was born, reared and educated in Andover township, daughter of Trask and P. (Loomis) Creesy, early settlers of the county. They had two children: Amelia, now the wife of Lamore Seeley, of

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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

Painesville, Ohio, who have four sons, Bondi- not, Coral C., Lamore and Arthur C. Arthur B., the second child, was a physician and surgeon of much promise and skill in Cleve- land, but died at the age of thirty-seven years.

In 1856, the devoted wife and mother died, leaving two children to the care of the af- flicted husband. June 3, 1857, Mr. Carpen- ter was married again, his second wife being Mary L. Seymour, a worthy lady, born and reared near Lebanon, Madison county, New York. She was one of the ten children-con- sisting of five sons and five daughters -- of Silas and Sally (Gilbert) Seymour, the former born in Hartford, Connecticut, and the latter in Pomfret, the same State, and both mem- bers of old and respected families. Both parents are now deceased. By this marriage there were born to our subject two children: Jennie, wife of Clarence Yates, of Cherry Valley, and Herbert D., at home.

Mr. Carpenter is Republican in politics and has filled the office of Trustee of his township. He is prominent in the Congre- gational Church, in which he is Deacon, hav- ing acted in that capacity for a number of years. His prosperity is due to his energy and intelligent management, and in his suc- cess he has the best wishes of all who know him.

HARLES ABRAHAM MCNUTT, of East Plymouth township, Ashtabula county, Ohio, an early settler, prosperous farmer and influential citizen of this vicinity, was born-in Blandford, Massachusetts, April 17, 1833. When he was about six years of age his father, J. C. McNutt, brought his little family to Ashtabula county, Ohio. Here the subject of this sketch grew to maturity,

attending the common schools in the vicinity. In 1851, he returned to New England, for the purpose of learning the hatter's trade. Four years of close application amply fitted him for the business and he returned to Ohio, only to forsake that which he had spent so much valuable time to acquire. He immedi- ately interested himself in farming and the sale of farming machinery, soon after which he engaged with his brother, James A., in the milling business, manufacturing soft and hard wood lumber, including vessel oars, con- tinning this enterprise for many years. Of

late years Mr. McNutt's undivided attention has been claimed by the farmn, in the cultiva- tion and improvement of which he has been very successful, until he now has one of the most valuable pieces of property in the county, a circumstance due entirely to his own ener- getic and persistent efforts.

In March, 1865, at the time of the Civil war, Mr. McNutt went to Brooklyn, New York, and enlisted in the United States Navy as a first-class fireman, being practically an assistant engineer, and worked on half a doz- en or more vessels during his year's service. These vessels patrolled the coast as far south as the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico, but without any encounter with the enemy. On being honorably discharged, Mr. McNutt once more returned to Ohio, and after closing up his interests in Richmond township, Ash- tabula county, he moved to the city of Ashta- bula, where he was four years a partner with his brothers in a machine shop. Since then he has continuously made his home in Plym - outh township, where he is surrounded with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. His business ability and integrity have commended him to the people of his township as a proper person to represent them in an official capacity, and he has been elected to the

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

positions of Township Clerk, Treasurer and Justice of the Peace, in all of which he dis- charged his duties to the full satisfaction of the public and with great credit to himself, his frequent re-election to the last named office amply testifying to his fitness for its re- quirements. At the present time (July, 1893) he is serving as Postmaster of Plymouth.

Mr. McNutt was first married in Connecti- cut to Matilda Ellen Fox, a lady of superior culture and refinement, daughter of William Henry Fox, a prominent and esteemed citi- zen. They had six children: Henry C., William S., Robert E. L., Bert S., Hattie E., wife of C. T. Leonard; and Laura E., wife of Fred Newton, of Ashtabula. This family were called upon to mourn the loss of the devoted wife and mother, whose every thought had been to serve their interests and advance their welfare. April 12, 1877, Mr. McNutt was married to Maria Grabam, a highly estimable lady of Ashtabula, who is well known and greatly respected. Mrs. McNutt is a lady who by her own superior business qualities, prudence and energy, has secured to herself a competence. This has not been acquired by means of sordid parsimony, for to the kindly deeds of charity she has ever devoted herself and her means. She has contributed most liberally to the support of St. Matthew's Church (Episcopal) at Plymouth, having been a prominent member and communicant in that parish. Her father, H. C. Graham, was a most thorough churchman, and it was largely due to his zealous efforts and pecuniary contributions that the erection of the church edifice at his old home, in Plymouth, was made possible. He was also prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity. The sorrowing and the unfortunate ever find in Mrs. McNutt a sympathizing friend, and one whose sympathy is not that of words alone,

but of kindly ministration and of tangible aid when needed. It is scarcely necessary to say that to her has come the reward, in the love, respect and gratitude accorded her in the community. She is a firm beliver in the virtue of economy, and this is exemplified in her do- mestic relations. By her nothing is wasted, and in her home are saved many articles of furniture, not a few of which were brought from England more than a century and quar- ter ago, being of value not alone by reason of association and practical utility, but also on account of their antiquity. Mrs. McNutt has a large family Bible, which was buried, in Canada, at the time of the war of 1812, in order to preserve it from destruction by the soldiers.

Her father, Henry C. Graham, was a prom- inent and popular pioneer of Ashtabula county, Graham's road alone being sufficient to recall his public spirit and general interest in the county's welfare. This is a wagon road through the marsh between Ashtabula and Jefferson, and was proposed and mainly exe- cuted through his influence and efforts. He espoused the cause most ardently, and when the interest of others flagged he was to be found at his post, building corduroy road with his own force of men and team, feeding such of his neighbors as donated work, and often paying out his own money for some needed article. This commendable persever- ance in a good cause was finally rewarded by the completion of the road, which is a perpetual memorial of his enterprise and public spirit. The right of way for the Jef- ferson & Franklin Railroad was given by him for a distance of more than a mile through his farm; but he did not live to see its completion, having built for others to enjoy, and being therefore entitled to the grateful re- membrance of posterity. A brief notice of a

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man whose efforts who were so largely instru- mental in advancing the welfare of a com- munity will be of interest to the people of this county. Mr. Graham was born in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, March 23, 1796, and when but a boy went with his father and the family to Niagara, Canada. Here he re- mained until shortly after the outbreak of the war of 1812, when his early love for his native country revived and prevented his joining the king's army. He bought a boat and with a few friends came to the United States, land- ing at Ashtabula, Ohio. Among those who accompanied him was Elizabeth Miller, a na- tive of New York, born October 16, 1798, and who, in 1819, became the wife of Mr. Graham. They had seven children: Henry; Robert; Hannah Maria, born October 9, 1825; Julia Ann, who married Daniel Wood; Levi, Joseph and John. Politically, Mr. Graham was a strong Republican, and religously a member of the Episcopal Church. The Graham family was of English origin, the founder of the American branch being Robert Graham, who was born in London, in 1745. He married Hannah Claper and they had eight children: David, Henry C., Han- nah M., Nancy, Joseph, Benjamin; Phoebe, who married a Mr. Haines; and Frances, who became the wife of James Lawrence. Many descendants have risen to distinction, but none have more unselfishly served the inter- ests of the common people than Mr. Henry C. Graham, the Ashtabula county pioneer.

W ILLIAM F. MARQUETT was born at Lowellville, Ohio, November 29, 1848, a son of Josephus Marquett, whose father was a native of Michigan. The father of the last mentioned was born in France. .

During the Civil war Josephus Marquett served as home guard in Ohio; he was a blacksmith by trade, and lived to a good old age. William F. is one of a family of six children, all of whom survive. He attended the district school until fourteen years of age, when he went as a driver on the old Pennsyl- vania and Ohio canal; he also worked on the Erie canal, receiving $8 a month for his service. When a youth of only sixteen years, fired with patriotic zeal, he enlisted in his country's service, joining Company E, Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Gen- eral Hayes' old regiment. He joined the regiment at Charleston, West Virginia, in January, 1864, and his first engagement was in that State, May 13, 1864. He was taken prisoner while caring for the wounded, and sent to Andersonville where for four months he suffered all the horrors of the Rebel pris- on; he was then removed to Florence, South Carolina, and later taken to Charleston, where he lay under fire of the Federals during the siege of that city. He was afterward taken to Wilmington, North Carolina, where he was paroled in March, 1865. He was held a prisoner of war nine months in all, and two months of the time was in the hospital in Wilmington; he was greatly emaciated, and did not rejoin his regiment for some time; he was mustered out at Cumberland Gap, Mary- land, in 1865.

After peace had been declared he resumed agricultural pursuits and followed farming for two years. He then bought a boat and was on the canal for a few years. He was a blacksmith by trade, having learned the busi- ness from his father, and also worked in the coal mines in Pennsylvania at intervals for seven years. Locating in Youngstown, Ohio, he found employment in the factories and rolling mills for four years. In 1885 he

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came to Geauga county, Ohio, and engaged in agricultural pursuits, purchasing a tract of sixty-five acres which he has well im- proved.

Mr. Marquett was married in 1870, to Margaret; J. Scott, a native of Ohio. Three children have been born of this union: Mary, Carrie and William A. Politically, Mr. Marquett adheres to Republican principles. He has served as Constable for several years and has been an efficient officer. He is a mem- ber of I. N. Legget Post, No. 336, G. A. R., and has held the office of Commander. No man is more worthy a membership in that great fraternity, whose numbers are gradually falling by a death less violent than that of the field of battle, but which the coming generations may not re-enforce. The honor must be earned, not inherited.

L IEUTEN ANT JOHN OLMSTED, a re- tired farmer living in Conneaut, Ohio, was born in Delaware county, New York, January 25, 1828.

His parents, James and Hannah (Gilbert) Olmsted, removed from their native State, Connecticut, to New York soon after their marriage. They established their home and developed a fine farm, on what was then the frontier, there being only five white families in the county of Delaware at the time they settled there. Mr. Olmsted was keenly alive to the best interests of the farm and was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits all his life. He died at the age of fifty-five years, honored and respected by all who knew him. His life was characterized by honesty, simplicity and industry, his word ever being regarded as good as his bond. His good wife was for many years a devoted member of the Meth-

odist Episcopal Church. Her parents were Allen and Polly Gilbert, and her father was a cavalry soldier in the Revolutionary war, carrying to his grave the scars he received during that struggle. Mr. and Mrs. Olmsted had a family of twelve children, the subject of this sketch being the youngest and one of the four who are now living. The other three are as follows: Lucy, widow of James Wills, living in New York city; Mary, the widow of Mason Saulisbury, Oswego, New York; and Samuel, a farmer of Delaware county, Iowa.

John Olmsted was reared a farmer, and the greater part of his life has been devoted to that occupation. In 1859 he made the journey to California, via the Isthmus route, returning to New York in 1862 by the way of Central America. While in the Golden State he was first engaged in mining and af- terward in various other pursuits. In Feb- ruary, 1865, he enlisted, at Oswego, in Com- pany I, One Hundred and Ninety-third New York Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged in February, 1866, his service for the most part being guard duty. He also assisted in gathering up the Government property through the Shenandoah valley. His regi- ment went first to Summit Point, West Vir- ginia, where they remained in camp for three months, being then sent to Cumberland, Maryland, to do guard duty; thence were ordered to Harper's Ferry to dismantle all the adjacent farms there: they then proceded to Winchester to gather up Government property, taking in all the towns along the the valley. They camped for a time at Harris- burg and were then again ordered to Har- per's Ferry, whence they returned to Albany, where they were mustered out. After the war he turned his attention to the oil business in Pennsylvania, in which he was engaged

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for ten years. Then he came to Conneaut, and has been interesed in farming ever since, being very successful in his operations. He takes little interest in political matters, never seeking nor accepting office, but always votes the Republican ticket.

Mr. Olmsted was married February 14, 1849, to Miss Hannah M. Saulisbury, daugh- ter of Daniel Saulisbury, of Oswego county, New York. They had five children, namely: Mary; Frank, who married Eva Robins, has three children,-Homer, Harold and Lottie; Addie, wife of Laurel Stone, has two children, Frank and John; and Nannie, wife of A. F. Gove, has one child, Jennie; and Jennie, who died at Bradford, Pennsylvania, May, 1876. Mrs. Olmsted died May 6, 1887, aged fifty- six years. She was a member of the Baptist Church, as are also Mr. Olmsted and two of the daughters. He has been a Trustee of the Church for many years and is also a member of the G. A. R., Custer Post, No. 9. He is one of the substantial and highly respected itizens of the county.

W ILLIAM DUDLEY MATHER, ex- Treasurer of Lake county, Ohio, and a prominent resident of Mentor township, appears as the subject of this ar- ticle.

county in 1810, and by him she had three children, one of whom, Samuel C. Hale, is still living and is now a member of the edi- torial staff of the Cleveland Leader. George Mather located in Cleveland in 1849, where he was engaged in contracting and building until 1871. Disposing of his property there he then came to his present farm in Mentor township, Lake county, where he has since lived. He has filled various local offices here. His wife, whose maiden name was Rebecca (Allhouse), and who was a native of Char- don, Ohio, died in June, 1892. Her people were early settlers of Geauga county.

William D. Mather is an only child. His boyhood days were spent in Cleveland and his education received there. When the war came on he enlisted, in 1862, at Cleveland, in Company E, Eighty-fourth Ohio Regiment, and was on guard duty four months, at the end of which time he was taken sick and was discharged on account of disability. After leaving the army he went to Pittsburg and spent some time in a telegraph office. Then he returned to Cleveland, where the follow- ing seven years he was bookkeeper in a wholesale coal office. In 1871 he came to Mentor township and settled on the farm which his father purchased and was operat- ing, and in this township he has since re- sided. He now owns two farms here, each containing seventy-two acres, one of them located on Jackson street. This land is de- voted to general farming. About four acres are in grapes.

Mr. Mather was born in Akron, Ohio, May 11, 1843, son of George Mather, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1819, and grand- son of William D. Mather, a native of Ver- Mr. Mather was married in Pittsburg, in 1864, to Miss Henrietta B. Speer, a native of that city and a daughter of James A. Speer, a prominent foundryman and plow mann- facturer. Their eight children are as fol- lows: George D., court stenographer, Paines- mont. Grandfather Mather emigrated to Ohio at an early day and located at Cleveland. He married Sarah Cozad, and a few years later died, leaving a widow and three chil- dren. Some time afterward his widow mar- ried Jonathan Hale, who located in Summit ville, Ohio; William D., deceased; Sarah R .;

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 82

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