Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 87

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 87
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 87
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 87

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).

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Company, where he remained sixteen months. After the flood of the Conemangh had de- stroyed Johnstown, Mr. Townsend, being well acquainted with the flooded district, was given charge of the wagon force engaged in cleaning the third division of that city. This done, he was ordered to Fairport to build 2,300 feet more of dock, being the total of all docks built at that point except 900 feet. In July, 1890, he came to Ashtabula in the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan South- ern Railroad Company, to construct a dock and breakwater at the harbor. To give an idea of the enormous amount of work done in three years, and for which $1,000,000 has been expended, it is only necessary to state that 870 feet of breakwater, 1,800 feet of straight dock, and 1,100 feet of protection to the canal have been built, besides 1,800 feet of additional dock, now under construction.

On December 8, 1867, Mr. Townsend was married in Maryland, to Sarah J. Brookhardt, a native of Baltimore and of Pennsylvania- German parentage. Three children have been born to them: Thomas E., born April 1, 1869, now a mechanic in the employ of W. S. Mc- Kinnon, a prominent business man of Ash- tabula; Katie J. died at the age of ten years; and Jesse M., Jr., born May 21, 1873, is a machinist by trade and is assisting in his father's office.

Politically, Mr. Townsend affiliates with the Republican party and although once a Councilman in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, he has manifested no particular interest in public affairs until 1892, when he was quite active locally.

That Mr. Townsend and family are firm believers in fraternities is evidenced by the several societies in which their household is quite conspicuously represented. Mr. Town- send is a member of the Masonic order, hav-

ing been initiated in Maryland; is a member of the Western Reserve Chapter and the Columbian Commandery, a charter member of the Royal Arcanum of Connellsville, Pennsylvania, member of the Topeo Lodge of Knights of Pythias at the Harbor and of the Pythian Sisters, of which last Mrs. Townsend is also a member. The older son is a mem- ber of the same commandry as is his father, while the younger belongs to the order of American Mechanics.

In considering the lives of the representa- tive residents of the section and in incident- ally touching upon the accomplishments in various lines of industry, it is but compatible that place be accorded to such men as Mr. Townsend, who has contributed his quota to the material advancement of the community.

JOSIAH SMITH,-The death of few men has caused more general sorrow through- out northeastern Ohio than that of the subject of this sketch, who enjoyed a large acquaintance and was esteemed by all who knew him for his manly character.

He came of good old New England, Rev- olutionary stock, his grandfather having fought on the side of the patriots in the war for independence. His parents removed to Ohio in 1818 and settled in Claridon, Geauga county, where his father entered, cleared and improved a good farm on which the parents resided until death.

The subject of this sketch was born in Cheshire, Connecticut, December 19, 1817, and accompanied his parents to Ohio the fol- lowing year. He was reared on the home farm near Claridon and received a good edu- cation in the schools of his vicinity. When twenty years of age, he came to Orwell, Ashtabula county, near which city he pur-

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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

chased land that was then a wilderness, but which, under his skillful management and industrious labors, soon gave way to a highly cultivated and valuable farm. He was mar- ried at the age of twenty-three to Miss Mar- tha Haskell, of Bloomfield, Ohio, and they had seven children, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are: Albert H., of Bloomfield; Charles, professor in Adelbert College, Cleveland, Ohio; Jesse, residing in Kansas; Julia, now Mrs. Anderson, of Or- well; and Mrs. H. E. Stetson, of Earlville, Iowa. In February, 1872, the devoted wife and mother died, leaving her family and many friends to mourn her loss.

June 18, 1874, Mr. Smith was married to Mrs. Emily A. Chislette, a lady of refinement and ability. Her maiden name was Hayward and she was born in Huishchampflower, Somer- setshire England, February 10, 1839. Her parents, Richard and Elizabeth Hayward, were also natives of England, from which country they emigrated to America in early life. It was while on a visit to their native country that their daughter and only child, Mrs. Smith, was born. They eventually resided in England until the mother's death in 1850, after which the father came to Ohio, where he died in 1868. Mrs. Smith was first married Febru- ary 22, 1860, to William Chislette, also a na- tive of England, and they had two children: William H., now in business in Chicago; and Elizabeth A., book-keeper in a wholesale house in the same city. March 23, 1873, the family were bereft by death of the kind and affectionate husband and father, who died aged fifty-six years. '

The following year Mrs. Chislette was married to Mr. Smith, with whom she lived happily until his death in Orwell, Ohio, April 4, 1893, after twelve days' illness with ty- phoid pneumonia.

Mr. Smith was a very successful instructor in vocal music, having taught in nearly every township in Ashtabula and Trumbull coun- ties, Ohio, and in Mercer county, Pennsyl- vania. Among his pupils were Prof. N. Coe Stewart, of Cleveland; C. C. Case and other musicians of note. His services were in much demand throughout northeastern Ohio for the conducting of musical conven- tions, he having been a talented musician and vocalist of wide reputation. Later in life he did an extensive business as lightning-rod salesman and was also a successful farmer and inore or less of a speculator. In politics he firmly supported the principles and poli- cies of the Republican party, and although not an office-seeker was an active participant in local and national elections. In domestic and social relations he was kind, considerate and obliging; as a business man he was ca- pable and energetic, while as a citizen he was public spirited and progressive and held a high place in the esteem of the community.

P ROF. RALPH H. TALCOTT, one of the most widely and favorably known instructors of music, now residing in New Lyme, Ohio, was born in Jeffer- son, this State, December 3, 1860. His father, Henry Talcott, was one of the pioneers of the county, having come to Jefferson in 1853, with a trade and $50 cash capital. By industry and perseverence, however, he grad- ually rose to wealth and prominence. He was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Jefferson, in 1864, and in 1869, he with others, started the Jefferson Loan Asso- ciation, of which he was president until a year after it became the Second National Bank, with increased capital, when he with-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

drew. In the spring of 1873, he started a private banking house, known as Talcott's Deposit Bank. In 1854, he married Miss Cordelia J. Pritchard, and in 1867 built the fine brick mansion on Jefferson street, where he now resides. He reared five sons, all of whom attained maturity and fill business positions of honor.

Prof. Talcott, of this notice, was reared and educated in his native town until he reached his eighteenth year, when he went to Pough- keepsie, New York, and entered the Eastman National Business College, where he secured a thorough business education, and at which he graduated with distinction. It was then his intention to devote himself to a business career, but his love of music lured him away from his chosen vocation, and he began to prepare himself to teach that art. In 1879, he entered Dana's Institute of Music in War- ren, where he remained a year, after which he went to Boston and entered the New En- gland Conservatory of Music, remaining there four years under the personal instruction of the world-renowned musician and composer, Prof. J. B. Claus. He received his diploma from this institution in June, 1882, having completed the course in harmony, cornet and theory. While in Boston he studied violin under Prof. Julius Eichberg of the Boston Conservatory for nearly three years. In November, 1884, he received the appoint- ment of examiner in cornet, harmony and theory from the New England Conservatory.

In 1883, Prof. Talcott erected a handsome building in Jefferson, in which he established a music school. Beginning on a small scale, he soon found his school increased to sixty- four pupils, and, in 1884, found it necessary to employ an assistant. In the meantime, he conducted Talcott's Music School and Pier- pont bands, also the orchestra of Talcott's

music school, all the members of which are loud in praise of Prof. Talcott as an instruc- tor.

In 1886, the Professor found it necessary, owing to ill health, to dispose of his music school, and seek less confining employment, which he found in the management of his father's plantation near McMinnville, Tennessee. He remained there three years, and the pure, bracing air, with perfect men- tal as well as physical rest, resulted in re- covering to him that health which he had formerly enjoyed. While there, he organ- ized a colored band of fourteen pieces, and in two years made it one of the best companies of musicians within the limits of the State. At the time of the celebrated campaign of the Taylor brothers in Tennessee, this band fur- nished much of the music, and one of the dis- tinguished brothers unreservedly endorsed its work, as " the best music" they had had "during the campaign." This band now enjoys a national reputation, and has recently closed an engagement to play forty-six weeks for a comedy company in Cincinnati. The follow- ing unequivocal statement comes from C, L. Morford, manager of the band: "We owe our success to the thorough instruction of Prof. Talcott. He is a grand teacher." In 1889, Prof. Talcott and his father traded the Tennessee plantation for the farm near New Lyme, Ohio, on which the Professor now re- sides. In the following fall, he began teach- ing in the musical department of New Lyme Institute, and during his extensive experi- ence in Ashtabula county, he has trained some excellent musicians. Among those of superior reputation may be mentioned, For- ester Archibald, of Rock Creek; Mrs. Dr. Perry, Andover; Harry Wade, of Chicago; Mrs. Hattie (Prindle) Lee, of Padanaran; and a number of others, all of whom vie with

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each other in praising the Professor as an in- structor. He, however, needs no other en- dorsement than that of his own too-exacting self-approval, which stops not short of perfec- tion and finds its greatest happiness in duty done.

In January, 1882, Prof. Talcott was mar- ried to Marian T. Colson, of Boston, a lady of musical tastes and accomplishments, daugh- ter of a former prominent citizen of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Her father went to California at the time of the gold excitement and there engaged in mining. He subse- quently went from that State to Galveston, Texas, to purchase supplies, and never re- turned, all trace of him having been lost, and it is supposed he was murdered. Prof. Tal- cott's married life has been an unusually happy one, and has been blessed by four bright children: Nellie May, born March 10, 1883, at Jefferson, Ohio; Henry Day, Octo- ber 11, 1885, also born in Jefferson; Ralph H., Jr., a native of Tennessee, was born Octo- ber 22, 1887; and Robert William, was born in New Lyme, September 8, 1889.

In politics, the Professor is a Republican, but not active in public affairs, although deeply interested in the welfare of his coun- try. He is essentially an artist in his chosen profession, a man of the highest character and a citizen of whom any community may be proud.

OHN REEVES, familiarly known as " Uncle John," whose bright, cheerful countenance is daily seen in Orwell, Ohio, was born February 25, 1803, in Glas- tonbury, Somersetshire, England. He comes of an old and respected English family, his father, George F. Reeves, having been a prominent citizen of Edington, Somerset-

shire, England. The subject of this sketch was one of seven children, but three of whom, two sons and one daughter, grew to maturity. Of these, Mr. Reeves of this notice is the oldest; William, his brother, was born in Edington, Somersetshire, Eng- land, August 26, 1806, and resided in that city until manhood. Determining to seek his fortune in the new world, William set sail for America May 8, 1830, arriving at his destination July 2 of the same year. He settled in Pompeii, now called Cardiff, New York, where he followed his trade of tanner and currier, in which he was a master work- man. In 1835 he removed to Orwell, Ohio, where he became a prosperous and influential citizen, his death occurring, January 6, 1872, in that city where he was greatly regretted by all who knew him. Betsey, sister of the subject of this sketch, died in her native country.

Mr. Reeves of this notice is a man of superior education, yet the opportunities afforded him after the age of ten years were obtained through his own hard labor and economy, and he deserves great credit for his perseverance and industry. He learned the trade of tanner and currier and that of fine leather dressing, at which he worked all his active years. He is a good Latin scholar and well versed in science, and is also a good penman. He is an apt and accurate mathematician, and is the author of " Reeves' Tabulated Forms for Commercial Calculations," an exhaustive and extended as well as valuable work. He is also a poet of some note, although his poems have never been published, as he has never tried to turn this talent to profit, but has writ- ten for pastime only.

May, 1828, Mr. Reeves was married to Miss Ann Jeanes, a lady of many worthy

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traits of character, a native of Lamyatt, En- gland, and they lived happily together until her death in 1850, her loss being widely and sincerely mourned. They had no children.

In 1851 Mr. Reeves came to America, crossing the ocean in a sailing vessel, being five weeks on the voyage. On his arrival in the United States, he at once began work at his trade, his skill readily finding and retaining employment in the best establish- ments. He worked in all the principal cities in the East, being employed all the time as a journeyman, with the exception of a few years during which he owned and managed a business of his own in Newburg, Ohio. This he sold, owing to his advanced age and its attendant infirmities. He has never remar- ried and being childless makes his home with a nephew, Captain Calvin Reeves, a genial, whole-souled gentleman and prominent citi- zen of Orwell, who is a son of William Reeves, deceased, brother of the subject of this sketch.

In politics, our venerable subject advocates the principles of the Republican party. He is a useful member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church and beloved and respected by all who know him.

OLONEL WILLIAM CASSIUS HAS- KELL, the efficient and popular United States Marshal for the northern district of Ohio, is a native son of the Buck- eye State, having been boru in Ashtabula county, July 24, 1845. He comes of an old and respected family, several members of which have attained positions of honor in the State. He is the third of four children.

The subject of this sketch was educated in the private school of William Hubbard,

which gentleman was among the earliest settlers of Ohio and did much by his energy and worth of character toward the advance- ment of civilization in the western wilds. His school was one of the first in the State, having flourished in ante-bellum days, but is now extinct. Under the direction of this worthy schoolmaster, Mr. Haskell learned not only those necessary principles of edu- cation usually laid down for the youth of the land but also imbibed healthy ideas of honor, perseverance and industry, which have contributed to his present success. At the early age of sixteen he enlisted in the Civil war, and had an extended experience, of which we shall speak more at length further on. On his final return, and when twenty- one years of age, he entered the mercantile business, in company with his brother, D. W. Haskell, and was1 thus successfully engaged four years. At the age of twenty- four the subject of this sketch was married, and soon after went to Indiana, where he engaged in the lumber business, his oper- ations extending to western Ohio, with head- quarters at Waterloo, Kendallville, Frank- fort and Crawfordsville, in Indiana, from which points he shipped largely of the Wabash export. He was thus occupied until 1876, meeting with gratifying success, when he returned to Ashtabula county, where he settled permanently and engaged in the same business, his field of operations extending to western Pennsylvania. He was thus occupied until 1888, when he was ushered into public life by his election to the office of Mayor of Ashtabula, in which capacity he served efficiently one term, advancing by liberal measures the general welfare of the com- munity. In February, 1892, he was ap- pointed to his present position of United States Marshal of the northern district of

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Ohio, succeeding Hon. B. F. Wade, an old and esteemed resident of Toledo. The able and prompt discharge of his duties in this capacity has served to increase the confidence of his friends in his energy and wisdom, and they are to be congratulated on their choice.

Colonel Haskell's military record, an important one, has been reserved until now. In 1861 he enlisted in the Nineteenth Regi- ment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served three months, participating in the battle of Rich Mountain in West Virginia. He was then discharged, but soon resumed connection with the army, in the Sixth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, from which he was brought home sick. Before the regiment left Cincinnati. With patriotism undampened, however, as soon as he was able for duty, he again enlisted, under call of Governor Tod, as one of the Squirrel Hunters, and was after- ward in Company A of the Fifty-sixth Regi- ment of Pennsylvania. This regiment was stationed at New creek, Virginia, most of the time, during the remainder of his ser- vice, and he was mustered out at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. In 1867 the subject of this sketch was elected First Lieutenant of the Ashtabula Light Guards, and three months later became Captain of the same, which position he filled efficiently for seven years. The Ashtabula battalion was then formed, of which his company was a part, and he was elected Major. This battalion was one year later consolidated with the Tenth Regiment, of which Major Haskell was chosen Lieuten- ant Colonel, which rank he held until this regiment was incorporated with the Fifth Regiment, when Governor Foraker, of Ohio, appointed him Chief of Engineers of his staff, with the rank of Colonel.

November 17, 1868, Colonel Haskell was married, in Ashtabula, to Miss Emma

Kruger, an estimable lady, daughter of Prof. Jordan Kruger, who came from Hanover, Germany, and is an educator of ability. Prof. Kruger espoused the cause of the "Blind King" of Hanover, and upon the retire- ment of the latter the former left his native country, and, coming to America, settled in western Pennsylvania, near Erie, his daugh- ter, Emma, wife of our subject, being at that time ten years of age.

Colonel and Mrs. Haskell have had six children: John Winship, deceased; Isabelle D., now Mrs. Ray D. Lampson; John Moody; Jacob A .; Harvey, deceased; and Douglas Dysmar.

Politically, the Colonel is stanchly Repub- lican; fraternally, is a Knight Templar Mason. He is a man of strict integrity, generous-hearted and public-spirited, and stands high in the community of which he has been a worthy member for so many years.

M ARCUS WEST, a well-to-do and re- spected farmer of Saybrook township, Ashtabula county, Ohio, was born in Middlefield, Hampshire county, Mas- sachusetts, January 16, 1822. He comes of good old patriotic American stock, his grand- father, David West, having been a native of Connecticut, whence he emigrated to Mas- sachusetts about the beginning of the present century, taking with him all his family, among whom was Horace, the father of the subject of this sketch. David was out on a small lake with an old sea captain shortly after his removal to his adopted State, when a squall came up and overturned the craft, drowning the occupants. Horace West, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Ellington, Connecticut, and was a small boy

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when his parents removed to Massachusetts, where his life was passed. He married Jemima Torry, daughter of Elijah Torry, of a well-known New England family, and they had four children: David and Elijah, twins, born July 25, 1818; and a second pair of twins-Marcus, the subject of this sketch, and Mary, who married John Adams, now a resident of Wyoming county, New York.

Owing to the limited means of his parents, the subject of this sketch was early thrown on his own resources, and did not receive the educational advantages which his father greatly desired to give him and which he would, under other circumstances, certainly have enjoyed. However, he obtained a fair education in the district and select schools of his vicinity, which he supplemented by self application and general reading, until he is now a well informed and capable man. When nineteen years of age, he entered into an agreement with William Masters who had a mail contract between local points of Chester, Middlefield, Becket, Hinsdale and Washing- ton, to carry the mail for said contractor on Saturdays for his board during the week while he attended school. After reaching his majority, he worked for many years by the month. In fact, his self support dates from the tenth year of his age. He had a natural mechanical aptitude, and by experi- ment and practice, acquired quite a know- ledge of carpentry, at which he has worked to a considerable extent, being, in fact, a handy man with any sort of tools to which he has had access. To slightly anticipate, we may call attention to the fact that when his children were small, he took out his leather and implements and mended their shces in approved style. By economy he has accumulated a competency to provide himself with comforts during his declining

years. In 1845 he removed from Massachu- setts to Wyoming county, New York, return- ing to the Bay State in 1853. In the spring of 1858 he moved to Lowville, Erie county, Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1883, when he came to Saybrook, where he has ever since resided. Here he purchased 100 acres of excellent land which he has hand- somely improved, the farm now justly rank- ing with the best in the county. This pros- perity is entirely due to his own unaided efforts and good management, and reflects credit on his industry and determination of character.

Mr. West was first married to Thankful Davis, a woman of sterling worth, daughter of Austin Davis, a Lieutenant in the war of 1812. By a previous marriage, Thankful had four sons, whom Mr. West reared to manhood as his own. To our subject and his wife five children were born: Ellen Esther, deceased, was the wife of Prof. Washburn; Luvena Letica, deceased, was the wife of Nelson Hunt; Sexton De Witt, a prominent citizen of Wattsburgh, Pennsylvania; George Emmett, now of Ashtabula; and Nathan, who died at the age of five years. November 1, 1853, the family were called upon to mourn the loss of the devoted wife and mother, who died regretted by all who knew her: Mr. West was afterward married to Caroline L. Ballou, an estimable lady, daughter of Elias Ballou, a wealthy farmer, and they had three children: Mary, wife of William Howes, Horace Bert, now at home; and Monroe. E., deceased at three years. Death again visited the family and removed the faithful mother, who left three children to the care of the afflicted husband. Mr. West was married January 1, 1874, to Hattie Gillett, a lady of domestic tastes, daughter of a prosperous farmer of Goshen, Massachusetts, and they

curs Truly E.g. Klapp

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had one child: Hattie, now a young woman, who graduates in 1893 at a New England College in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1875, Mr. West was deprived by death of his wife, who was a woman of many amiable qualities, and greatly esteemed by all who knew her. June 12, 1887, Mr. West was married to Mrs. Emma E. Franklin, a highly respected lady, whose husband died in the Union army. Her maiden name was Dole, her father being a well-to-do citizen of Frank. lin county, Massachusetts, widely and favor- ably known. Her mother was before mar- riage a Miss Rudd, a member of an old and prominent family.

All young men would do well to study the life of Mr. West in order to discover the secret of his success, which is not confined to financial prosperity, but extends to the higher matters of social prominence and esteem as well as domestic happiness. It will be found that all this is due to his continued industry, economy and careful management, as well as upright dealing with his fellow men, and his general moral character.

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 87

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