Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 84

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 84
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 84
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 84

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).

friends he is spending his well-merited re- pose, the later years of a useful life.

In 1853, Mr. Keen was married to Ro- sanna Thompkins, a lady of social accomplish- ments, who was born near Salisbury, the capital of Wiltshire, England, where she was reared and educated. They have no children but gave a home to Michael McNerney, who was a gallant soldier and color-bearer in the Twenty-ninth Ohio Regiment.

Politically, Mr. Keen is a Republican, and before the war was a strong Abolitionist. He is a charter member of the Hiram Kile Post, . G. A. R., and a Mason, belonging to blue lodge No. 506. Of fine physique, a good and open countenance, cordial, kindly man- ners and excellent conversational powers, the latter a result of a well filled mind, Mr. Keen would command attention wherever he might go, while his enduring qualities of honor and liberality could not fail to strengthen the favorable impression which his personal- ity had made.

LIVER WEBB, a venerable citizen of Austinburg township, Ashtabula coun- ty, Ohio, has long been identified with agricultural interests here, and is one of the most highly respected men of his commun- ity. His home is located two miles and a half west of Austinburg. Of his life we make the following record:

Oliver Webb was born in Stanford, Con- necticut, May 29, 1809, son of Henry and Hannah (Waterbury) Webb. For many generations the Webbs were residents of Connecticut. Henry Webb, the father of our subject, was captain of a merchant vessel which he owned. During the war of 1812, he was approached on the ocean by a vessel

672

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

that was flying the American flag, but which proved to be a British man-of-war and which made him surrender. Thus, having lost his vessel and cargo, he determined to retire from the sea and seek a home in the far West. A Mr. Weed, who had been with him joint owner of the boat, had come to Obio the pre- vious year; so in 1815, Mr. Webb came out here, landing at his destination with $6 in money, two or three old horses and a family of eight children. He lived with Mr. Weed until he could build a home for him- self and family; and the house he then built in the forest is still standing, half a mile from where Oliver Webb lives. Here he cleared and developed a farm. He lived to be eighty-four years of age, and to see pros- perity once more smile upon him. He was a man of sterling character and exerted an influence for good in the community in which he lived. Both he and his wife were earnest and active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The latter was ninety- six years old at the time of her death. They had a family of ten children, only three of whom are now living. William is a capital- ist and resides at Topeka, Kansas; Mehitable, a widow, is a resident of Austinburg, Ohio.

Oliver Webb was a mere boy when his father came to this State, and here on their frontier farm he was reared. He was mar- ried in 1831, to Asenath Andrews, and they had six children, namely: Saphira, widow of Samuel Booth, Ashtabula Harbor, Ohio; Hector, of Davenport, Lincoln county, Washington; Naomi, now Mrs. G. P. Cod- ding, Ashtabula Harbor, Ohio; Emma, now Mrs. E. B. Cook, Ashtabula Harbor, Ohio; William H., who died in the army; and Oli- ver F., who died at the age of twenty-three years. The mother of these children died in 1863. September 13, 1869, Mr. Webb mar-

ried Mrs. Hannah Hardy, nee Belding. She was born in Otsego, New York, in 1832, and at the age of eighteen married S. S. Col- lar, who was killed in the battle of Antietam. She subesquently married Henry Hardy, and he met his death in a railroad accident at Cleveland. Mrs. Webb has had five children, three of whom are living, as follows: D. S. Collar, a resident of Allegheny, Pennsylva- nia; Rollin S. Collar, of Ashtabula, Ohio; and Ida Webb, wife of Clayton A. Kittinger. Mr. Kittinger has rented Mr. Webb's farm and lives with him. The Webb farm com- prises 161 acres.

Mr. Webb has been a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife is also a devoted member. Politically, he votes with the Republican party.

H A. MIXER, the leading merchant of Pierpont, was born at Unionville, Lake county, Ohio, October 6, 1853, a son of Albert K. and Mary P. (Stearns) Mixer, the former a native of Union- ville, and the latter of Gouverneur, St. Law- rence county, New York. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Phineas Mixer, located at Unionville, Ohio, in 1802. Albert K. Mixer left three children at his death: Gertrude, the wife of Charles Cleveland. a. nephew of the President, and they now re- side in the city of Cleveland; Carrie is the wife of W. P. Mosher, a nephew of Susan B. Anthony, and they live at Duluth, Iowa; and H. A., the subject of this sketch.

The latter received his education in the seminary at Madison, Lake county, Ohio, and was afterward engaged in teaching for a time. He was also engaged in the cheese business two years at Austinburg, and one

673

OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

year at Pierpont. He spent the years of 1875-'76 in the northwestern States, was en- gaged in farming one year after marriage, and in 1885 embarked in the mercantile business in Pierpont. His store room is 21 x 58 feet in dimensions, and he carries a large and well selected stock of dry goods, boots, shoes, gro- ceries, etc.

In 1877 Mr. Mixer was united in marriage to Vesta Bates, a native of Pierpont, and a daughter of M. and Laura (Gould) Bates. To this union has been born one daughter, Grace, now fifteen years of age. Mr. Mixer votes with the Republican party, has served as Township Treasurer six years, and in 1892 was a delegate to the Cleveland Convention. He is a member of the Masonic order, Relief Lodge, No. 284, and of the Commandery, No. 27.

A A. STRONG, the efficient and popu- lar agent at Ashtabula, Ohio, for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company, which office he has held for the last thirty years, was born in this city, September 5, 1827. His parents, Elihu C. and Caroline (Blakeslee) Strong, were both natives of Connecticut, the former born in Middletown and the latter in Saybrook. Nathan Strong, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was also a native of Connecticut

and of English descent. About the year 1812 he joined the westward tide of emigra- tion to Ohio, then on the frontier of civiliza- tion, settling with his family near Bunker Hill, Ashtabula county, being one of the ear- liest settlers of the county. At the call of his country in 1812, he patriotically re- sponded and served with valor and efficiency in that war. IIe was a farmer by occupa-

tion and became possessed of large tracts of land, which he divided among his children, of whom he had thirteen. He was a man of energy and ability, of sterling qualities of mind and heart, and highly regarded by all who knew him. He was the first Sheriff of Ashtabula county, and served in that capac- ity ably and honorably. His son, Elihu, father of the subject of this sketch, was also a farmer and equally a man of high honor in the various walks of life. He reared two children: a daughter, who died young; and son, whose name heads this notice.

Mr. Strong, of this biography, was reared in Ashtabula, the place of his birth, where he has passed his entire life. He obtained a common-school education and early in life taught for five or six years. In 1853, he en- tered the employ of the railroad company and in 1864 he became the agent of the Lake Shore Railroad Company at Ashtabula, in which position he has ever since remained holding one office longer than any other em- ploye of the company.

In 1858, Mr. Strong was married to Mrs. Sarah C. Crocker, a lady of domestic tastes, and they have an adopted daughter.

Fraternally, Mr. Strong is a Knight Tem- plar Mason. His long services in one posi- tion speaks well for his stability and worth of character, and he justly enjoys the best wishes of all for his future prosperity.

W U. MINER, a farmer of Ashtabula county, was born in Hartland, Con- necticut, January 4, 1825, a son of Hori Miner, a native also of that State. The latter's father, Joel Miner, was born in Con- necticut, and was a son of Christopher Miner, a native of New England. The mother of

674

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

our subject, nee Permelia Reed, was born at Granby, Connecticut, a daughter of Abner Reed, a Revolutionary soldier. His parents were also born in Connecticut. Hori Miner came to Ohio by wagon in September of 1825, via Buffalo and Albany, locating near Wick post office, formerly Lindenville, on lots 47 and 48. He purchased 165 acres of land, cleared twelve acres, and bought and moved into a school house. He was a blacksmith and hotel keeper, was the first Postmaster in Wayne township, holding that office twenty- four years, and was a Democrat in his politi- cal views. Mr. and Mrs. Miner had seven children, viz .: Sebra L. Sturgis, formerly a popular school-teacher; O. H., deceased; Milton Reed, deceased; W. U., our subject; Harriett P. Kendal of Kane county, Illinois; Mary C., deceased; and Joseph, who died at the age of seven years. The father departed this life at the age of eighty-eight years, and the mother at seventy-eight years.

W. U. Miner, the subject of this sketch, was educated in a select school in Wayne township, this county. He now owns ninety- six acres of rich farming land near the center of the township, where he has all the neces- sary farm conveniences. He also keeps a good dairy. In political matters, he affiliates with the Democratic party, held the position of Postmaster under Cleveland, and has served as Township Trustee several terms.

Mr. Miner was married November 28, 1855, to Adella Falkner, who was born, reared and educated in Canada, a daughter of Joseph and Harriett (Landon) Falkner, a native also of that country. Our subject and wife have bad four sons, two now living; Porter Reed, who has taught school about thirty-five terms, and is at present Township Clerk, married Etta Oatman, and they have two children, Fanny and Fred; and Joseph

H. married Julia Sheldon, and resides and is engaged in the grocery business in Ashtabula, Ohio. The deceased children were: Fred, who died at the age of nineteen years, and Willie, at the age of three years. The chil- dren were educated at Austinburg and New Lyme. The family are honored and respected by all who know them.

G E. COUGHLAN, proprietor of a livery and also dealer in buggies, wagons and harness, Conneaut, Ohio, was born in Erie county, New York, May 8, 1849, son of George and Mary (Ingles) Coughlan, natives of Watertown, New York.

The Ingles family were great musicians and were also noted for their patriotism. Three of Mrs. Coughlan's brothers were lead- ers of bands in the Mexican war. George Ingles, another brother, took part in the Civil war, responding to Lincoln's call for 75,000. He died in January, 1862. Albert, her other brother, was an architect.

George Coughlan, the father of our sub- ject, was a farmer, cultivating land on shares. He was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he filled all the offices of the layman. He died in 1882 at the age of seventy-three, honored and re- spected by all who knew him. His whole life was characterized by honest industry and Christian acts of kindness. His wife, also a devoted Christian and a member of the Meth- odist Church, died when the subject of this sketch was a few years old, he being the youngest of ten children. Four of this num- ber are still living. Two of the sons, L. M. and A. M., are engaged in the grocery busi- ness in Conneaut, the latter having been at

675

OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

the same location on Main street for the past thirty years. Only one of the daugh- ters, Frances, is living.

G. E. Coughlan learned the trade of painter in 1869, which trade he followed with good success for nineteen years. In 1887 he turned his attention to the carriage business, in connection with which he subsequently opened out a livery. He has a good busi- ness, his location being on the corner of Mill and Madison streets.

Mr. Coughlin was married July 19, 1874, to Miss Josephine Bartlett, daughter of Rev. Noah and Harriet (Wilcox) Bartlett, both natives and residents of Conneant and among the most highly esteemed people of the place. Mr. and Mrs. Coughlan have one child, Bessie Gertrude. Mrs. Coughlan is a member of the Episcopal Church.

Politically, Mr. Coughlan affiliates with the Republican party; socially, with the I. O. O. F., being a member of the lodge at Ashtabula.

N ATHANIEL FOLLETT, one of the wealthy and influential men of Con- neaut township, Ashtabula county, Ohio, dates his birth at Auburn, New York, in 1823.

Gratis Follett, his father, was born in Balls- ton, New York, in 1792. From Ballston he moved to the central part of that State, and in 1839 came to Ohio, locating in Pierpont, Ashtabula county, where he spent the residue of his life, and where he died in 1880. He was a mechanic and worked at his trade in connection with farming. In politics he was first a Whig and afterward a Republican. During the war of 1812 he enlisted his serv- ices in the American cause and acted as sen-

tinel. He was one of a family of nine sons and one daughter, his parents being John and Sally Follett. The Folletts have been residents of America for many generations, having emigrated to this country from Eng- land. Mary (Hunter) Follett, the mother of Nathaniel, was born in New York in 1796, daughter of Francis and Mary (Millord) Hunter. Her father was a native of Ireland and her mother of Scotland. Francis Hunter, in company with his two brothers, came to America during the Revolutionary period. For some time they were engaged in peddling. Finally one of them settled in Philadelphia, another in Montreal, and the grandfather of our subject on a farm near Auburn, New York, being the owner of 600 acres of land at that place. Gratis Follett was married in 1816, and he and his wife became the parents of five children: Jane, deceased, was the wife of Henry Gaylord, of Pierpont, and had eight children, five of whom survive her; Dorcas, wife of James Tuttle, of Conneaut, Ohio, has had two children, one of whom is living; Nathaniel, whose name appears at the head of this sketch; Francis, who is en- gaged in farming; and Sarah, widow of Milo Huntley, has three children.

Nathaniel Follett came to Ohio with his parents in 1839, and remained with them until 1849. He had the benefit of a good education, and during his early life rendered his father efficient service in helping to clear up the farm. When he married he bought the old home place, comprising 150 acres, and lived upon it until 1889, when he moved to Pierpont. This farm had been bought of the old Connecticut Land Company. Since 1890 he has resided at his present location in Conneaut township.

Mr. Follett married Emily M. Bushnell, who was born in Connecticut in 1824, dangh-

676

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

ter of Lynas and Harriet (Osborne) Bushnell, and who came with her parents to Ohio in 1833, settling in Monroe, Ashtabula county. Her parents are deceased. She was the old- est of their five children, the others being: Truman, who died at the age of thirty-eight years; Cordelia, wife of E. B. Ford, is de- ceased; Rosann, who died at the age of twenty-one; and Martin, who died when six- teen. Mr. and Mrs. Follett have three chil- dren: Idela A., wife of Calvin Austin; Har- riet L., wife of W. S. Ashley, has one child; and Frank W., who married Georgie Turner, owns and occupies the old home place above referred to.

Mr. Follett is one of the self-made men of his vicinity, having by his own energy and enterprise accumulated a competency. So- cially, politically and financially, he is ranked with the leading men of his township. He votes with the Republican party. For about fifteen years he has been Infirmary Director, and for several years he has also served as Township Trustee and Assessor. Mrs. Follett is a member of the Baptist Church, and Mr. Follett, although not a member of the church, is one of its active supporters. Indeed, he is generous in his contributions toward all worthy causes.

F RANK E. BURCH, East Orwell, Ash- tabula county, Ohio, is a young man who, as a trainer and driver of trotting and pacing horses, is well known in this county, especially among the lovers of the turf.

Mr. Burch was born July 7, 1867, son of Jerry and Caroline (Plumley) Burch, and one of a family of six children, the others being: George; Emma, now the wife of Artemus

Pryor; Phoebe, wife of Henry Hall; Hattie, wife of Charles Pryor; and Lida, wife of William Clute. The father of this family died at the age of fifty-five years. The mother subsequently became the wife of Samuel Swartz, a farmer residing near Cole- brook, Ohio.

Frank E. Burch is in partnership with his brother George in training horses, both being especially adapted to the business in which they are engaged. The former began work- ing with horses when he was eighteen years old. For a year and a half he was in the employ of J. B. Wilcox, a prominent horse dealer of Wayne, Ohio, and after that he was with W. P. Lossee, of Kinsman, Ohio, another distinguished breeder and trainer of fine horses. Although a young man, he has already had an extensive experience in horse training, and as such he and his brother have few equals any where in the country.

LIVER H. PERRY, a farmer, stock- raiser and fruit-grower of Jefferson township, was born August 19, 1838, a son of Samuel Perry, who was born in Connecticut, December 8, 1889. He grew to manhood and was married in his native place, where he learned the trade of edge tool maker. In 1835 he removed with his family to Norwalk, Huron county, Ohio, afterward followed his trade two years at Youngstown, and next moved to a settlement on Mill creek, near the present village of Jefferson, where he built a shop and engaged at his trade. In the spring of 1849, hearing of the gold excitement in California, Mr. Perry started alone for that State, and after reach- ing a settlement called Kansas City sold his horse and wagon. With others he bought an

677

OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

interest in an ox team, and the company made the hazardous journey to Golden Gate, suffer- ing many privations and encounters with the Indians. In one of those encounters Mr. Perry had his arm broken, but soon recovered. After arriving at his destination he engaged in making tools for the miners, and eventually accumulated a fortune. He afterward went to Carson City, Nebraska, where he died in the winter of 1876. He was a Whig in bis political views, later a Republican, and was of a wandering disposition.

The mother of our subject was born in Connecticut, March 12, 1805. She grew to womanhood in her native land, and was first married to James Williams. They had two children. Mr. Williams died, and January 9, 1833, his widow married Samuel Perry. To that union was born seven children, five daughters and two sons. The mother was one of those courageous women peculiar to pioneer days, and succeeded in keeping her family together until her death, February 23, 1869, at the age of sixty-four years. Her spinning-wheel was her constant companion. She united with the Baptist Church early in life, lived a devout Christian until her death, and was a loving and self-sacrificing mother.

Oliver H. and his brother, Samuel, were thrown upon their own resources at the re- spective ages of eleven and thirteen years. They secured employment on farms near home, receiving from $4 to $5 per month, and devoted their earnings to the care of the mother and the education of the sisters. At the age of fifteen years our subject went to his uncle, Orpheus Perry, at Norwalk, Ohio, where he received his first schooling, and completed his education at the academy of that city. At the age of seventeen years he made his way to Youngstown, was employed as helper in a dry dock and boat yard, at $1

per day, but at the end of three months' ser- vice received $1.75 per day. Mr. Perry was next employed as calker, and after six months at that occupation was promoted as head calker, at $2.50 per day. Two years later he began work on the farm of Benjamin Apple- gate, of Trumbull county, Ohio, remained there two years, was engaged in a planing mill in Jefferson, Ohio, a short time, and then rented-his father-in-law's farm for three years. While at that place he was engaged in farming in the summers, and worked at the carpenter's trade during the winter months. Mr. Perry also built extensive elevated coal roads for a coal company. In 1867 he bought the beautiful farm in Ash- tabula county he now owns, then consisting of eighty acres. A small clearing was im- mediately made, a rough house erected, into which he moved before the windows or doors were put in, and then he worked by the day in a planing mill at Jefferson and chopped wood at night. During the first year Mr. Perry cleared six acres of his farm, which was immediately planted to wheat, but dur- ing this time he never lost a day in the shop. He afterward, in 1871, worked at bridge building on a branch of the Lake Shore Railroad, at a salary of $75 per month, being thus enabled to save a sufficient amount to make the final payment on his farm of eighty acres. While he was engaged at this railroad work his wife and children remained at their home on the farm and cared for the stock, including the cow, which was pastured in the woods-no clearing for pasture having yet been made-and which was brought home each night by the chil- dren, who were able to find the animal by the sound of the bell which she always wore. While searching for the cow the chil- dren frequently encountered deer, foxes and

678

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

other denizens of the forest. In 1873 he built a stock and grain barn, 40 x 45 feet, and in 1878 erected his present residence, at a cost of $1,500. It contains twelve rooms. Mr. Perry has also a rock basement stock barn, 26 x 36 feet, built in 1881. He has added to his original purchase until he now owns 135 acres, which includes a cultivated vineyard. He handles many tons of grapes each year, furnishing a large supply to the Youngstown, Pittsburg and Oil City markets. As Miller creek runs through the farm and as the bed of that stream has a deposit of valuable building stone, Mr. Perry has found a source of considerable income by the sale of this stone for building purposes at Jeffer- son and other points. He has furnished stone for a number of the most substantial bridges built by the township and county. The sale thus made, combined with the revenue from the sale of lumber and fire- wood, have enabled Mr. Perry to carry out the many substantial improvements about his farm.

January 26, 1858, Mr. Perry married the daughter of Benjamin Applegate. She was born on the old farm in 1838, and was well versed in the duties of a farm home. She was married at the age of twenty years, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Benjamin Applegate was born in 1804, a son of James Applegate, a native of New Jersey. The latter went to Allegheny, Ohio, in an early day, and settled on a section of land in the southeastern corner of Liberty township. In 1800 he organized, for the war of 1812, a company of which he was elected Captain. He made a clearing on his farm, built a log cabin, and in 1801 brought his family to that place, guided only by the marks blazed on the trees. He made a road a year later, and then began the hardy life of

a pioneer on what is now one of the finest and best improved farms in northeastern Ohio. Mr. Applegate afterward built and operated a gristmill and distillery, where his surplus products assumed the form of flour, bacon and whisky, and these were conveyed to ports on Lake Erie, and exchanged for provisions of various kinds. Benjamin Applegate, father of Mrs. Perry, was an early pioneer of Ohio, was a stanch Whig in his political views, and was a man of great push and energy. He spent the remainder of his life on his father's farm, dying in 1874. His wife departed this life in 1877.

Mr. and Mrs. Oliver H. Perry have had six children, viz .: Mary, born March 5, 1859, is the wife of William Woodruff, of Geneva; Ida A., born June 2, 1861, is the wife of George Berry, also of that city; Oliver H., born January 13, 1863, married Miss Flora Tickner, of Griggs Corners, and they now reside at Ashtabula Harbor; Addie M., born May 10, 1870, is the wife of L. J. Brown, of Ashtabula; Hattie V., born De- cember 2, 1873, is at home; and Jerome G., born April 20, 1877. In political matters, Mr. Perry votes with the Republican party.

M ERVIN GODDARD, a prosperous farmer and prominent citizen of Or- well township, Ashtabula county, Ohio, was born in that township, July 27, 1845. He comes of New England ancestry, his father, Hiram Goddard, having been a native of Connecticut, born April 12, 1811, while his mother, nee Harriet Amidon, was born in 1816. This worthy couple were early settlers of Ohio, contributing their share to that prosperity which is now the

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

Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 84

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