Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 95

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 95
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 95
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 95

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).

A skillful physician and surgeon and an honorable and cultured man, Dr. Lawyer is a valued acquisition to the community in which he has lived and labored so long, and that his worth is duly appreciated is made manifest by the high esteem which is ren- dered him.

A S. HUDSON, an honored citizen of Geauga county, is a native of the State of Ohio, born in Cuyahoga county, May 20, 1833. His father, William Hudson, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, but emigrated to Cuyahoga county, in 1817; he was a joiner by trade, and made all the window sash in the Wedell and American hotels when they were built in Cleveland.

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He worked on some of the oldest business blocks in Cleveland, and followed his trade in that place until 1845. He was united in marriage with Delphia Sherwin, a native of Vermont, who came with her father to Ohio in 1820. They had a family of eight chil- dred, six of whom grew to maturity. The father died at the age of seventy-nine years, and the mother lived to be eighty-four. Be- fore the war he was a Democrat, but after that conflict he gave his allegiance to the Re- publican party. A. S. Hudson is the seventh- born; he was reared in the city of Cleveland, attending Shaw Academy, and finishing his education at Hiram College, where he and James A. Garfield were classmates. He and the distinguished statesman were close friends and visited each other in after years. Mr. Hudson learned the carpenter's trade in Cleveland. Just before the war between the North and South he had removed to Michi- gan, expecting to locate near Grand Rapids. On August 30, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics. He was mustered in at Grand Rapids and sent to Louisville, Kentucky. His first engage- ment was at Perryville, and thence he went to Nashville, Tennessee. He built many block houses, bridges and commissary buildings, and did much repairing. His regiment was divided, and his company went through to the sea with Sherman. He participated in the battles of Mill Creek, and Bentonville, North Carolina, and took part in the Grand Review at Washington. He was commis- sioned Second Sergeant at Alanta. He was never absent from duty a single day, and was mustered out at Washington, June 16, 1865. He settled in Cleveland after the war, and engaged in contracting and building. For fif- teen years he carried on a successful business, erecting many of the large and handsome

blocks on Euclid avenue and Chestnut street. In 1883 he retired and removed to a farm in Chardon township, on which he lived until September, 1892. In order to give his chil- dren better educational facilities he came to Chardon.

He was married in 1856 to Nancy Z. Hen- dershot, of Cleveland, Ohio. They have a family of eleven children: Acy K., Herbert E., Robert A., Vila S., Thomas S., Clarence W., Howard G., Chauncey O., Delphia P., Gertrude E., and Florence Z. Mr. Hudson and wife are consistent members of the Church of Christ and take an active interest in the welfare of the society. He was a Republi- can in politics for thirty-seven years, but now supports the views of the Populist party. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post, No. 387. Beginning life with no capital, by industry and frugality he has amassed a competence.

B ENJAMIN F. THOMPSON, Super- intendent of the Geauga county in- firmary, was born in this county in Middlefield township, March 16, 1832, a son of William Thompson, a Pennsylvanian by birth and grandson of Isaac Thompson, also a native of Pennsylvania. The grand- father settled in Middlefield township in 1800, and was one of the first permanent white residents. He bought land at $1.25 an acre, built a log house and kept tavern. The Indians were his neighbors until after the war of 1812, and his table was supplied with wild meat and game which abounded. William Thompson was a child of twelve years when his parents came to the county, where he grew to manhood. He owned and developed a farm of 108 acres in Middlefield township, and served as Treasurer of the

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

township for a number of years. He died at the age of eighty-four years. In politics he associated with the Whig party, and later voted the Republican ticket. He married Lucinda Waldon, a native of Connecticut, who came to Ohio when a young girl and settled in Trumbull county. She was the first school teacher in Huntsburg township. She reared a family of nine children, Clarissa, Isaac, Justis C., William A., Augustus, Silas R., Elisha J., our subject and Henry. Henry was killed by lightning when fourteen years of age, and Elisha by the fall of a tree when he was twelve years old. The mother lived to the age of eighty-five years. She was a con- sistent member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and a woman of excellent traits of character. B. F. Thompson is the seventh son and eighth-born of the family of nine children. He was reared to the life of a farmer, and acquired his education in the district schools of Middlefield township. At the age of twenty-one years he began life for himself, and bought all his father's personal property, giving his notes for payment. He then engaged in the cultivation of the home- stead farm, and kept his parents the most of their lives. Lydia Thompson, the youngest sister of his father, was the first white child born in Middlefield township.

Mr. Thompson was married September 5, 1858, to Miss Anna Bosley who was born in Claridon' township, Geauga county. They have two children: Robert W., who was born in September, 1863, and Charlie, born in December, 1880. Mr. Thompson was a member of the State militia, and was called into the United States service May 2, 1864. He was sent to Johnson's island, where he did guard duty, and was also stationed at Cincinnati and Cleveland. He was mustered out at Cleveland August 20, 1864.

He traded his farm for a hotel at Burton, which he kept four years. Subsequently he was proprietor of the Cataract House at Cleveland for a year, and then went to An- dover, where he kept the Morley House for three years, when he became the proprietor of the Austin House at Warren, retaining the same for three years. At the end of this time he returned to his father's farm, and finally bought a tract of eighty acres in Clari- don township, which he farmed until he took charge of the county infirmary, January 1, 1888. The county farm consists of 258 acres, all of which is under cultivation. There are fifty inmates, as many as can be accommo- dated in the buildings. Mr. Thompson has made a very efficient Superintendent, and has been very ably assisted in the management of affairs by his wife, who is possessed of con- siderable executive ability.

Politically, our subject adheres to the prin- ciples of the Republican party; he has served as Justice of the Peace five years in Claridon township, and was Treasurer of Middlefield township when a resident there. He is a member of the G. A. R., at Burton, and be- longs to the Masonic order.

Mr. Thompson has made a speciality of maple sugar and syrup, owning a grove of 800 trees. He sent to the Columbian Expo- sition in 1893 a bottle of syrup that was made in 1863.

A BRAM A. WILMOT, one of the most . successful agriculturists of Geauga county, is the subject of the following biographical sketch. He was born at Claridon, Geauga county, Ohio, August 11, 1826, a son of Abraham Wilmot, whose history will be found in connection with that of his son, Lucius T. Wilmot, elsewhere in

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this volume. Abram A. grew to manhood in the county of. his birth, attending the typical pioneer school and participating in the sport of hunting deer and other game which abounded in this section at that time. He remained under the parental roof until his marriage, which important event occurred September 10, 1850, when he was wedded to Augusta Taylor, who was born at Hartland, Hartford county, Connecticut, and was a child of three years when her parents came to the West and located in Claridon town- ship. Her father was also a native of Con- necticut, and was a farmer by occupation; he died at the age of sixty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Wilmot are the parents of three chil- dren: Lucina A., Julius E. and Marshall J.

All his life Mr. Wilmot has been inter- ested in some branch of agriculture; he has 120 acres of well improved land, which includes a sugar orchard of 1,000 trees. In 1891 he made 550 gallons of maple syrup, shipping both to the Atlantic and Pacific seaboard. During the past fifteen years he has given special attention to dairy farming, and has made in that time 20,000 pounds of butter, sending the milk to the factory in the summer time and making the butter in winter. Well informed upon the most approved methods of conducting this indus- try, he has met with excellent success. He is thoroughly attentive to all the details of the business, and the products of his farm in every department show a master hand. He has made most of the improvements upon his place, which are of a most substantial character.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilmot are worthy mem- bers of the Congregational Church at Clari- don, and their children belong to the same organization. Formerly Mr. Wilmot was identified with the Republican party, but

being an ardent advocate of temperance reform, has lately given his support to the Prohibition party. He has served as Trustee of his township. Mr. Wilmot has been quite active in church work, having been a Dea- con in the church for many years and for a long time Superintendent of the Sunday- school. He made a special feature of his work among the young people, and in this was very successful. He is living on the farm which was purchased by his father in 1815, and which came into his possession partly by inheritance and partly by quit- claims from other heirs. He has been a member of the Farmers' Club for the past thirty years, and is one of the leading spirits of that body. Having aided very materially in the development and growth of his county, he is now enjoying the success that has resulted from his earnest and untiring efforts.

D ANIEL H. TRUMAN, ex-Commis- sioner of Geauga county, is one of the most intelligent citizens of Troy township, and is entitled to more than pass- ing mention in this history. He was born in Troy township, Geauga county, Ohio, Octo- ber 13, 1829, a son of Lyman Truman, a native of New York State. The grandfather, Josiah Truman, was a native of England, and emigrated to America, taking up his resi- dence in New York, where he followed agri- cultural pursuits; he afterward removed to Ohio, locating at Burton, Geauga county, in 1818, and going thence to Hillsdale, Michi- gan, where he passed the remainder of his days. He was accompanied to the United States by three brothers. Lyman Truman was one of a family of nine children that were born of his father's first marriage. He

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came to Ohio about the year 1816, and located at Burton. He lived in the family of Colonel Henry Ford for about five years, and then took up land in Troy township, where he built a log house and began clearing his farm. He enjoyed the spor' . ' hunting and brought down many a deer, and after the game disappeared from Ohio he went fre- quently to Michigan to hunt. He died in January, 1871, at the age of sixty-six years. A man of honor and integrity, he was called to represent the people of his township in the offices of Justice of the Peace and Trus- tee. He married Sallie Pratt, of Massachu- setts, whose parents came to the West early in the '20s; she died at the age of seventy- four years.

Daniel H. Truman is the eldest of their seven children, four boys and three girls, and was born in their humble cabin on the frontier. He attended the school in District No. 1, Troy township, and during the sum- mer helped his father in clearing two farms; he received a thorough training in agricul- tural pursuits, and chose farming as his avo- cation. He settled on his present farm in 1854.

Mr. Truman was married January 2, 1854, to Fidelia Luce, who was born in Chautauqua county, New York, a daughter of Henry and Eliza R. Luce, also New Yorkers by birth; they removed to Ohio in 1833, and first settled at Rome, Ashtabula county; they came to Geauga county in 1847, and settled in Troy township. Mr. Luce died at the age of sixty-six years, and his wife at sixty-nine; they had a family of nine children, six of whom survive at the present time. Mr. and Mrs. Truman are the parents of four chil- dren: Frank, Della and Gena are deceased; they had reached maturity, and were all talented musicians; Grant, the fourth child,

has received a good common-school edu- cation, graduated in a commercial course, and is well qualified to transact the ordinary busi- ness of life. Politically, Mr. Truman adheres to the principles of the Republican party. He was elected County Commissioner in 1879, and served six years, discharging his duties to the entire satisfaction of the public and displaying a decided aptitude for the management of public affairs. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, and in his religious faith he is known as a liberal thinker; he and his wife are spiritnalists and are familiar with the advanced thought of the age.

A SAHEL W. STRONG is prominently identified with the growth and devel- opment of Geauga county, and is enti- tled to more than passing notice in this record of the lives of leading citizens. He was born in Huntsburg township, May 16, 1832, a son of Baxter Strong, a native of Westhampton, Massachusetts, born in 1804. The paternal grandfather, Amasa Strong, was also a native of Westhampton, Massa- chusetts, and was descended from Elder John Strong, the first member of the family to take up residence on American soil. He emigrated from England and located in Con- necticut in 1630. He afterward removed to Northampton, Massachusetts, and reared a large family of children, whose descendants are numbered in the thousands. In 1837 Amasa Strong emigrated to the Western Re- serve, accompanied by one brother, two hav- ing preceded him. He cleared and improved a farm, contributing his mite to the develop- ment of the great West. Baxter Strong came to Ohio in 1829, when a young man, making the journey partly by the Erie canal and on

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foot; he settled on wild land in the north part of the township and built a house in the woods. From this beginning he cleared a number of farms, and owned several hundred acres. He was married in 1831, to Juliana Strong, of Westhampton, Massachusetts, and she reared a family of four children; she died at the age of fifty-one years, and he lived to the age of eighty-one years. In politics he supported successively the issues of the Whig, Free Soil and Republican parties. Mrs. Strong was one of the earliest members of the Con- gregational Church in this township.

Asahel W. Strong is the oldest of a family of four children. He received his education in the pioneer schools, the high school at Unionville and the old Kirtland Academy in Lake county. He made his home with his parents until he was 27 years of age, although at the age of eighteen he began to teach school, conducting twelve terms very success- fully. He spent one winter teaching at Read- ing, Hillsdale county, Michigan, and two winters he was in central Ohio.

Mr. Strong was married December 1, 1861, to Charlotte E. Barnes, whose family history will be found in connection with that of her brother, O. M. Barnes. Mr. and Mrs. Strong had one son, Orrin H., who died at the age of nine months. Subsequently they adopted a son, Harry W., who lived to the age of nine years, but their home has not been empty, as they have reared four other children to matur- ity. They took a young babe,-foster daugh- ter,-Sarah Eliza, who is now ten years old.

Mr. Strong purchased his farm in 1860, and has made many substantial improve- ments. His wife owns 150 acres in the southern part of the township; there are 101 acres in the home place, all of which is under good cultivation. Mr. Strong and his wife are members of the Congregational Church,

of which he has been a Deacon for twenty years; he is also Clerk of the church. Polit- ically he adheres to the principles of the Re- publican party. He was first elected Justice of the Peace in 1860, and, with the exception of two years, has ever since held the office; he is also Notary Public. During the war he was on the military committee and was one of the most active workers in raising money to save the township from a draft, and was at the time Township Clerk. Being a man of superior business ability and unquestioned honor he has been called upon to settle many estates, and in the capacity of Justice he makes every effort to settle all cases without the expense of trial. He has a wide circle of friends and enjoys the confidence of the en- tire community.

H ORACE F. JEROME, one of the most substantial and successful agricultur- ists of Huntsburg township, was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, September 22, 1845. His father, Asahel Jerome, a na- tive of Connecticut, removed to Ohio after his marriage, and settled in Cuyahoga county in 1830; the journey was made by the Erie Canal to Buffalo, and thence by the lake to Cleveland, when that flourishing city was a mere hamlet. He bought eighty acres four- teen miles east of the present site of the city in Orange township, which he cleared and placed under cultivation. He married La- vina C. Sabin, a native of New York State, and they had a family of four children. She died at the age of seventy-three years, and he lived to be seventy-nine years old. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for forty years he was Class- leader. Politically, he was successively a

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Whig and Republican, and held many of the township offices. H. F. Jerome, the young- est of his family, received his education in the district schools, and also attended West- ern Reserve College for a year. One of the most important events of his life was his en- listment in the service of his country, when he became a member of Company A, One Hundred and Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, August 4, 1862. He was mustered in at Camp Mitchell, Kentucky, and participated first in the battle at Blue Springs, Tennes- see; he was in the siege of Knoxville, Ten- nessee, where he was wounded in the left hip and was confined in consequence to Bell hos- pital, at Knoxville, but finally came home on a furlough in the spring of 1864. He re- joined his regiment four months later. He was in the engagement at Resaca, where he was wounded by a shell, which disabled him for four months, during which time he was in the hospital at Louisville. Again joining his regiment near Atlanta, after the capture of the city, he participated in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, and was on the cam- paign in Tennessee in pursuit of Hood, join- ing Sherman at Raleigh, North Carolina. There he was honorably discharged, and was mustered out June 23, 1865, at Cleveland, Ohio.

After the war was ended and peace was declared, he settled in Cuyahoga county. He was united in marriage October 13, 1870, to Ordel Lockener, who was born in Cuyahoga county, and they are the parents of two chil- dren: Charles A. and H. Grove. Mr. Jerome has devoted his efforts to agriculture, and has made a most gratifying success; he cul- tivated eighty-three and a half acres in Cuya- hoga county, which he sold before he came to Geauga county in 1886. Here he bought 100 acres of choice farming land on which he has

made excellent improvements; he raises grain and live-stock, and has a small, well-managed dairy. From 1878 to 1881, Mr. Jerome was a resident of Riley county, Kansas, be- ing engaged during the time in farming, but at the end of three years he returned to Ohio. In politics he supports the Republican party. He has been a member of the School Board for the past six years and takes a deep inter- est in the advancement and progress of the schools. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and are highly esteemed members of the community.

F RANCIS P. WORK, one of the most progressive and successful farmers of Middlefield township, was born at Som- ers, Tolland county, Connecticut, September 2, 1831. His father, James M. Work, was a native of Massachusetts, and his grandfather, James Work, was born in the same State, but in 1828 he emigrated to the West and settled in Logan county, Ohio, where he lived to the good old age of more than four-score years. His son removed to Geauga county in 1836, and located in the northern part of Claridon township. He rented land for a few years and then came to Middlefield town- ship, where he bought 1212 acres; he made most of the improvements, which are of a very substantial character, and placed the land under good cultivation. He was a man of fine constitution, and was an industrious worker. He died at the age of eighty-three years. He married Harriet Pease, a native of Massachusetts, and they reared a family of six children. The mother is still living, in her ninetieth year, and makes her home with her son, F. P. Work. Politically, the father affiliated with the Whig party, and later

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became a supporter of Republican principles; he served as Trustee of his township, and was a man much respected by all with whom he came in contact. F. P. Work was a child of five years when the family emigrated to the West, and well remembers many incidents of the journey. He received his education in the pioneer schools, and when old enough began farming.

He was married April 14, 1857, to Mary Ames, a native of Geauga county, Ohio. They have had born to them one daughter, Mary J., who married Walter Bowen, an agriculturist of Middlefield township.

Mr. Work is the owner of 266 acres of fine farming land, in four different tracts, and in addition to the cultivation of the soil he runs a dairy, milking thirteen cows. He is an excellent manager, and has been very pros- perous in all his undertakings. Politically, he votes with the Republican party, but takes no active concern in the movements and is- sues of that body.

G EORGE H. CLEVELAND, a retired merchant of Conneaut, Ohio, was born at this place November 18, 1840, son of Cyrus and Ann Eliza (Latimer) Cleveland, the father a native of Fair Haven, Vermont, and the mother of Dryden, New York.

Cyrus Cleveland, late of Conneaut, was well known in this vicinity and was highly respected by all. He was born in Rutland county, Vermont, in 1807, and at the age of sixteen was left an orphan, dependent upon his own exertions and the kindness of- an older brother. He made his home with his brother at Saratoga, New York, for three years. At the age of nineteen he started out

in life on his own responsibility, working by the month, and after he had saved $60 he re- turned to Saratoga and entered into a co- partnership with his brother in the general merchandise business. This partnership lasted two years, at the end of which time he purchased his brother's interest, and con- tinued the business five years longer. It was while he was in Saratoga that he married Miss Latimer, who proved herself a helpmate to him not only in name but also in deed. They had two sons, both now residents of Conneaut.

In 1833, we find Mr. Cleveland established in business at Conneautville, Pennsylvania, where he remained two years, coming from there to Conneaut, Ohio, in 1835. In 1836, he became the landlord of the Mansion House, then the hotel of Conneaut, and had fairly good success, but the business was not congenial to his taste and he relinquished it at his earliest opportunity. In 1837, his brother Oliver and family came to Conneaut, and the same year Messrs. Cyrus and John B. Cleveland commenced the erection of the building where Mariam's planing-mill now stands. When it was completed they filled it with goods, and carried on business for fourteen years. During these years Cyrus was the active manager and did nearly all the business. From 1851 until 1862, he was in business by himself, was very successful and accumulated property rapidly. In 1862, he took in his youngest son as partner. In 1861, he began the erection of the block which bears his name and which at that time was the best in the county. The substantial structure is still an ornament to the city. He also owned and occupied one of the finest residences in the county. Besides accumu- lating a large amount of property, he gave liberally of his means toward advancing the

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best interests of the town. He was the first president of the Conneaut Mutual Loan Asso- ciation. Mr. Cleveland continued in busi- ness here until 1868, when he retired. His death occurred March 5, 1892. He was a inan loved and respected by all who ever had the pleasure of his acquaintance. He was possessed of a strong constitution, a vigorous intellect and a cheerful disposition. In the family circle he was a kind husband and an indulgent father; in church work he was earnest, and in business enterprising and progressive. Mrs. Cleveland also lived to an advanced age, her death occurring in 1891, aged eighty-two years. Hers was the first death in the family for a period of sixty- three years. For over sixty years she was a member of the Baptist Church. She was a conscientious Christian, always ready and willing to assist in all good works for the Master and for humanity. She and her worthy husband had a happy married life of more than sixty years, by their many amiable qualities made hosts of friends, and their memory will long be cherished with grateful affection.

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 95

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