Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 99

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 99
USA > Ohio > Geauga County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 99
USA > Ohio > Lake County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake > Part 99

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Mr. Bunnell, of this notice, was eight years of age when his parents removed from New York State to Ohio, and his entire life since has been spent in Jefferson township, most of it in farming. He received his early educa- tion in the district schools of his township, after which he spent six terms at the Grand River Institute in Austinburg. He then taught for a year, at the end of which time he engaged in farming, subsequently erecting a sawmill, which he operated in connection with his agricultural pursuits. He early took charge of his father's farm, long before the latter's death, and managed it creditably and profitably. In 1868 he bought his present farm of 102 acres, on which he at once set- tled, and by industrious and careful manage ment has made of it one of the best places in the county. He now has in course of con- struction a large and substantial residence. He has all the modern improvements of barns, etc., and has in every way a model farm, all of which prosperity is attributable to his own industry and wise regulation.

May 30, 1866, Mr. Bunnell was married to Miss Mary E. Lindsley, born in Cherry

Valley, Ohio, March 17, 1846, where she was reared. She received her education at the Grand River Institute, in Austinburg, and was married at the age of twenty. Her parents, Horace and E. A. I. (Giddings) Linds- ley, were natives of New York and Williams- field, Ohio, the former born in 1811 and the latter September 23, 1818. The father of Horace Lindsley died in New York State when Horace was very young, after which, in 1817, Horace's mother removed with her children to the vicinity of the town of Cherry Valley, where she bought a farin. On this Horace resided the remainder of his days, devoting himself entirely to his farming interests, accumulating in time 300 acres of excellent land and also ample means. He was an intelligent, energetic man, of moral. uprightness and business integrity. In poli- tics, he was originally a Whig, and later a Free Soiler and Abolitionist. He was reared in the faith of Congregational Church, his demise taking place June 1, 1891, in the midst of many sorrowing friends. His wife, to whom he was married December 26, 1842, was a niece of Hon. Joshua R. Giddings, and was about twenty-four years of age at the time of her marriage. She, as well as her husband, was before marriage a success- ful teacher. She was a woman of rare intel- ligence, a great student and of decided liter- ary tastes, her time in later life, however, be- ing devoted to the interests of her family and her household duties. She and also her hus- band were actively interested in the issues of their day and enthusiastic advocates of the anti-slavery movement, their home being an important depot of the " underground rail- way." She was reared in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She died Sep- tember 5, 1882, greatly mourned by her family and friends. She had eight children,

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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

six of whom attained maturity, and now sur- vive: John Q. A., lives in Emmet county, Michigan, and is a farmer with two surviving children, Buzzy and Louisa; Joseph W. is a hardware merchant of Delano, Minnesota, with one son, Fred Q .; Matthew and Lucretia, deceased; Lucretia W., wife of E. H. Green, a lawyer and farmer of Andover, has one daugh- ter, Amy G .; Frank H., of Delano, Minnesota, is a lawyer and Superintendent of Schools in Wright county; he has one daughter, Laura; Wendell P., lives on the home farm near Cherry Valley, and has two children, Mabel and Wendel. The other member is Mary E., wife of the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Bunnell is a lady of culture and refinement, as her home fully testifies, and is devoted to her family's interests. She has two children: Horace L., born April 3, 1870; and Clara M., born March 31, 1884. Horace received his early education in the district schools of Jef- ferson township and at Jefferson Educational Institute, and later took a four years' course in the Michigan Agricultural College, at which he graduated in 1890, being president of his class during his senior year, and receiv- ing the degree of B. S. He afterward spent six months as a civil engineer in st. Louis, Missouri, but in July, 1891, was called home by the illness of his father, since which time he has superintended the home farm, the thrifty condition of which is ample evidence of his skill and industry.

l'olitically, Mr. Bunnell of this notice is a Republican, and has represented the people in a number of official positions. He has been Assessor of personal property for six years and real estate Assessor for ten. He has been Township Trustee twelve years, which office he still holds. He has been a member of the Township Board of Education many years, and also acted as Supervisor.

He is President of the Ashtabula County Farmers' Institute, in which he formerly held the office of Secretary for many years. Both he and his wife are members of the county and subordinate granges, to which they lend much aid, he having been Master of both the county and subordinate granges. Mr. Bun- nell joined the Masonic order about 1862, and has filled two chairs in his lodge; he is also a member of Tuscan Lodge, No. 342, F. & A. M. He is deeply interested in all things tending to advance the welfare of his community, of which he is justly recognized as a representative citizen.

HE DENTONS .- The first American ancestor of the Chardon Dentons was Rev. Richard Denton, a distinguished New England divine. He was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1586, was graduated from Cambridge University in 1623, and came to America about 1630. After preach- ing with great success in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Long Island, he returned to. England in 1659, dying there in 1662. He was the author of a system on the fourfold state of man entitled "Soliloquia Sacra.". His four sons-one of whom wrote the first his- tory of New York State-remained in this country. Cotton Mather, in his " Magnalia," gives an interesting and highly eulogistie sketch of Rev. Richard Denton.

The first Ohio ancestor of the family was Dr. Evert Denton. He was born at Green- wich, Connecticut, in 1789. He was edu- cated at Columbia College, and at the age of twenty-one began a professional career as a physician. He practiced for a time in Con- necticut, later removed to New York, and thence to Chardon in 1820. After ten highly

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

successful years, the hardships incident to the life of a pioneer physician undermined his constitution, and he passed away at the early age of forty. Hon. A. G. Riddle, in " Williams' History of Lake and Geauga Counties," published in 1878, thus speaks of him: "Dr. Denton was undoubtedly the first physician of his day in the West- must have been one of the first anywhere. He was a man of mind, of intellect, of ideas, of thought; more than that, he was a man of genius. Without advantages of per- son or a striking face, his eyes were fine, and his manner and address somewhat abrupt, were usually easy and charming. In conver- sation his power was remarkable: his dark, plain face would light up, his fine eyes lend an added expression, and his person become endowed with flexible grace. His wit and readiness of repartee, his facility for conning and uttering striking and extraordinary things must have been remarkable. Forty years ago the country was full of his say- ings, which, however, could no more be gathered up and placed on paper than could one glean up the sunbeams after they have faded from tree, hillside and field." Dr. Denton was twice married. He married for his first wife, Elizabeth Granger, and for his second wife Sidney Metcalf (who by a later union with Jude Converse became the mother of Hon. Julius O. Converse). Six children were the fruits of the two unions. By the first union were born Cornelia (who became the wife of Edwin F. Phelps), Evert, Maria and Elizabeth, and by the second union were born Richard E. and Sybil. Maria and Richard E. alone survive.

Richard Evert Denton was born Septem- ber 10, 1826, and has passed his entire life in Chardon. Though never enjoying the benefits of a collegiate course, he has always

taken a deep interest in educational matters, and been an ardent student. He is a man of remarkable acquirements in the languages, and has been a frequent lecturer on philo- logical subjects at teachers' institutes and other educational gatherings. He taught school for many seasons, and, like his father before him, served with credit as a school ex- aminer of the county. November 25, 1858, he married Lydia E. Pomeroy, of Hunts- burgh, a successful school-teacher. Four children were the fruits of this union: Franklin E., Richard L., Harrold P., and George M.

Franklin Evert Denton was born Novem- ber 22, 1859. At the age of seven years he began the printer's trade in the office of his uncle, Hon. J. O. Converse. With intervals for schooling he set type on the Geauga Re- publican until 1884. In that year he be- came connected with the Geauga Leader, published at Burton. On the death of Hon. Peter Hitchcock, he succeeded him as editor and business manager, conducting the paper until it was sold to the present owner. In 1887 he removed to Cleveland and has since been connected with four of the leading papers of that city, for some time being associate editor of the Sun and Voice and later a member of the editorial staff of the World. He at present holds a responsible position on the Leader. Mr. Denton enjoys a very wide and growing literary reputation. In 1883, he received a prize offered by the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette for the best story. The same year he published a volume of poems which, though receiving great praise from many sources, fell into especial disfavor with the New York Independent and Boston Literary World. In 1885 a high authority in England expressed enthusi- astic admiration for one of the poems of the

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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

volume, speaking of certain lines as "abso- lutely beautiful and absolutely new." In 1890, when Crandall's " Representative Son- nets by American Poets," was compiled in Boston, Mr. Denton was solicited for contri- butions. He is a member of the Western Association of Writers, and in 1889 read a poem at their annual convention at Warsaw, Indiana. October 18, 1882, Mr. Denton married Martha A. Goldthorp, of Chardon. They have one son, Paul, born December 24, 1884.

Richard Linwood Denton was born July 17, 1864, and learned the printer's trade in the office of the Geauga Republican. In 1886, he went to Nebraska, where, in com- pany with Warwick V. Saunders, of Staun- ton, Virginia, he established the Platte Center Argus. The following winter, in company with his brother, H. P. Denton, he founded the Democratic Record, the first Democratic paper ever published in Geauga county. He afterward became sole owner ot the paper, conducting it with abil- ity. In 1890 he disposed of his interests, and is at present in the newspaper business in Cleveland. December 31, 1883, Mr. Denton married Harriet L. Pierce, of Char- don. They have one daughter, Kittie, born June 10, 1885.

Harrold Pomeroy Denton was born Sep- tember 19, 1866, and also learned the prin- ter's trade in the office of the Geauga Re- publican. In the winter of 1886, in com- pany with his brother, R. L. Denton, he founded the Geauga Democratic Record. Soon after becoming an editor, he took an active interest in Democratic politics. He was mentioned as a candidate for the Legis- lature in 1888, but declined the nomination in the convention. He represented Geauga county in several State conventions, serving

on important committees. He also served for four years as Chairman of the Demo- cratic Congressional Committee of the Nine- teenth District. Mr. Denton has been a correspondent for various papers, and enjoys a wide acquaintance among the public men of the State. After disposing of his in- terests in the Democratic Record, he re- moved to Cleveland and is at present con- nected with the World, of that city.

George Metcalf Denton was born March 1, 1871, and, like his three brothers, was graduated at the printer's case. In 1888 he removed to Cleveland, where he has since resided, except for a number of months in 1890, when he assisted in the editorship of the Democratic Record at Chardon. He is at present connected with the Cleveland Press.

0 RLANDO A. DIMMICK, an old citi- zen of Chardon township, and an hon- ored member of the medical fraternity in Geauga county, is the subject of the fol- lowing biographical sketch. He was born in Claridon township, Geauga county, Ohio, July 28, 1837, a son of Asa Dimmick, a native of Tolland, Connecticut, and grandson of William Dimmick, also of Tolland, Con- necticut, of English descent. The latter was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and removed to Geauga county, Ohio, in 1832, preaching throughout this section until his death, at the age of seventy-six years. Asa Dimmick was married in Connecticut, and in 1832 came to Geauga county, settling in Claridon township, on land which he de- veloped into a good farm, the same consist- ing of 127 acres. He died at the age of eighty-four years. He married Mary Alger, of Connecticut, and they had a family of five

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children, three of whom grew to maturity : Mary died at the age of seventeen years, of small-pox; Lorena died in infancy; Asa also died in childhood; Parley P. died at the age of fifty-two years: he left two sons, Gordon and Dan, agents for the Northwestern Life Insurance Company, of Milwaukee, Wiscon- sin; Dr. Dimmick is the only surviving child. The mother died at the age of twenty-seven years.

Dr. Dimmick received his elementary edu- cation in the district schools, and was also a pupil at the old Kirtland Academy in Lake county and at the academy at Austinburg, Ashtabula county, Ohio. When the great Civil war broke out between the North and South, he went out in defense of the Union flag, enlisting in Company F, One Hundred and Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered in at Cleveland, Ohio, and joined the Army of the Cumberland in Kentucky. He was attacked with the measles soon after going into the service, and was confined to hospital at New Albany, Indiana. He re- joined his regiment at Gallatin, Tennessee, just before the battle of Stone River. In the battle of Chickamauga he received a gunshot wound in the right hand, losing a finger; he was disabled for a time, and was afterward transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps. It was during this portion of his military career that he developed a taste for the practice of medicine, as he did hospital duty until his honorable discharge, June 28, 1864. He read medicine while on service in the hospital, and after his return home entered the medical de- partment of the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor, Michigan, from which he gradu- ated with the degree of M. D., in 1869. He located at Waterville, Kansas, and was en- gaged in practice there until 1873, when he returned to his old home.

The Doctor was united in marriage, June 13, 1877, to Hannah Young, and they are the parents of one child, a son named Paul. Mrs. Dimmick's father, Allison W. Young, was born in Parkman township, Geauga county, a son of William Young, a pioneer of Park- man township, having removed from the State of Maryland to Ohio. Allison Young was a merchant here for many years, and was Re- corder of the county from 1867 to 1875, when he died, at the age of sixty-one years. His wife was Harriet A. Moseley, a native of Genesee county, New York; they had a fam- ily of five children, all of whom lived to ma- turity. Mrs. Young died at the age of sixty- two years; they were both worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and active in the work of their Master.

Dr. Dimmick has a large general practice, ramifying over a large scope of country; he is a man well informed upon the discoveries and improved methods of the science of medicine, and has met with very satisfactory results in his professional labors. In politics he is a Republican. In her religious faith his wife adheres to the doctrines of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. The Doctor is iden- titied with the State and county medical societies.

A C. EVANS, one of the largest land- owners of Huntsburg township, and a prominent pinoneer of Geauga county, was born in Delaware county, New York, February 12, 1820. His father, An- drew Evans, was a native of New York, and his grandfather, John Evans, was born in Massachusetts; the latter was a tailor by trade, and at an early day removed to Scho- harie county, New York, where he followed this vocation. He was a Major in the Revo-

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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

Intionary war, and was a man of broad intel- ligence and much force of character; he died at the age of sixty years. Andrew Evans was a shoemaker by trade, and worked at night at this calling, while he spent his days in farm labor. He emigrated to Delaware county, Ohio, in 1833, locating in Huntsburg township four years later. He purchased 150 acres of land in the forest, and built a log cabin for his home; he succeeded in clearing his land before his death, which occurred at the age of fifty-five years. He married Lydia Cole, who was born in New York, and was a classmate of Martin Van Buren. They reared a family of seven children, and she lived to the age of eighty-six years. She was a fine seamstress, and used her needle with much taste and skill, even after she had attained her four score years and ten.

The eldest of a family of seven children, Mr. Evans was early in life thrown upon his own resources and became accustomed to the hard work of pioneer farming. He was mar- ried December 18, 1844, to Abigail Strong, who was born at Westhampton, Massachu- setts, coming to Ohio in her girlhood. They had three children: Dr. Ephraim B. Evans, of Farwell, Michigan; Clara L., now Mrs. Horace Carothers: and Asel S., who died at the age of twenty-one years. The wife and mother died December 7, 1889. Mr. Evans was married a second time, in June, 1890, being united to Julia A. Strong, a niece of his first wife. He is now the owner of 440 acres of land, 150 of which is fine timber land, the balance being in a high state of cultivation. Mr. Evans does a general farm- ing business, and has a well-kept dairy; he has made all the improvements on his land, and the buildings which he has erected are of a most substantial order. Although in the beginning he had no capital save that with

which nature endowed him, he has accumu- lated a handsome estate. Mr. Evans is a member of the Masonic order, Benton Lodge, No. 274, and is an attendant and liberal sup- porter of the Congregational Church. Po- litically, he adheres to the principles of the Republican party, and has served as Trustee of his township, discharging his duties with the same fidelity that has marked all the un- dertakings of his life.

OHN CALVIN ANDREWS, a prosper- ous and well-known farmer of Ashtabula county, was born in Wayne township, this county, January 6, 1825, son of Deacon Calvin and Eliza (Crosby) Andrews.

The Andrews family is of English origin. Some members of the family came to this country at a very early day and settled in Connecticut, and John C. Andrews is able to trace his ancestry back six generations. His grandfather and other members of the family were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. Grandfather Andrews reared three sons and one daughter, Calvin being the third son. The two older boys came to Ohio at an early day, but Calvin remained at home until after his father's death. Then he, too, came to this State, and settled in Wayne township, Ashta- bula county. He was married three days be- fore he started for Ohio, and he and his bride journeyed in an ox wagon to their new home in what was then the far West. That was about 1810. In Wayne township they reared their family and spent the rest of their lives, his death occurringin 1864 and hers in 1886. She was ninety-two at the time of her death. Calvin Andrews was one of the founders of the First Congregational Church in his town- ship, being a Deacon in the same for forty

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

years. They had twelve children, seven of whom they raised to maturity, viz .: Rosetta J., now Mrs. McMichael, Wayne township, Ashtabula county, Ohio; Eliza P., deceased; Jane C., deceased; Temperance, deceased; John Calvin, whose name heads this article; M. E., of Centralia, Kansas; and George Whitefield, D. D., Professor of Theology at Talladega College, Alabama.

John C. Andrews was reared in his native township. He was married in 1848 to Eunice C. Cook, daughter of John L. Cook, one -of the very earliest settlers in Ashtabula county, They have five children, all living and settled near them. They are as follows: John Wells; Rollin R., a school-teacher at Ashta- bula Harbor, Ohio; Felicia E., wife of Almon March, Denmark township, this county; Cal- vin C., a meat vender in this county; and Lyman L., a member of the home circle.

Mr. Andrews lived in Wayne township until 1865, when he moved to his present location four miles east of Jefferson, where he has a fine farm of 300 acres. He is a man of considerable prominence in this commu- nity, having filled all the townshipoffices. He is a stanch Republican. He was reared in the Congregational Church, but is not now a member, being inclined to Spiritualism. His wife is a Methodist.

E DGAR J. GRAVES is one of the best known and most influential citizens of Hart's Grove, Ashtabula county, Ohio. He was born July 30, 1849, the youngest of three sons of Joseph and Mary (Higley) Graves. His brother Wallace, born in 1844, is at present a resident of California. His other brother, Wilbur, born in 1846, is a well-known resident of the town of his birth.

Edgar J. obtained his education at Mt. Union College, Ohio, graduating there in 1877, with honor to himslf and to the college. He was married June 30, 1880, to Miss Lucy Jarvis, the only child of William and Lucy (Rogers) Jarvis. Mr. and Mrs. Jarvis were the early pioneers of Hart's Grove. Mr. Jarvis, being the agent for the sale of public lands, became well known throughout this section of the State, and was highly esteemed by all the early settlers. He was born in Connecticut in the early part of the century, and was only a youth when he came West to Ohio. When he grew up he married Miss Lucy Rogers, an estimable lady, who was born and reared in the adjoining township of Rome. For many years he was Postmaster of Hart's Grove. Politically, he was an old- time Democrat, and obtained the office in 1836, retaining the same until his party went out of power in 1861. Although he had passed away before the election of Mr. Cleve- land in 1884, yet such was the influence of his name in the locality that Mrs. Jarvis, his widow, was given the office during the four years of the Democratic administration, end- ing in 1889. Mr. Jarvis was a prominent member of the State militia for a long period, identifying himself closely with all the in- terests of the organization. being a Colonel therein. Religiously, he was a consistent member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, holding his membership at Geneva, where his wife and daughter still retain theirs. Mrs. Jarvis is noted for her strong love of home and care for its interests. Thus Mrs. Graves inherits from her parents a disposi- tion to do well all that she undertakes. She is a musician of rare native talent, and while it may be that she has not received a thorough classical education in music, yet her education in this line is far above the average, for she

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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

has received instruction from the best of teachers. She is now, and has been for a number of years, a very popular instructor, counting her pupils by the hundreds. The young people of Hart's Grove and vicinity owe more to this lady than to any other one per- son for their knowledge of music, both vocal and instrumental. She has not only taught music, but she has also done that which is better: she has instilled into them the en- thusiasm with which she herself is so fully imbued, so that many of them have gone else- where to prosecute more advanced studies. Mrs. Graves is still the recognized leader in all concerts and entertainments of a musical nature at Hart's Grove. Mr. Graves has in- deed been fortunate in the choice of a help- mate. He himself has led an exceedingly busy life, although not in the best of health. He was a teacher in the common, select, and graded schools for a great number of years, altogether having taught more than twenty terms. In 1878 he was given a place on the Board of School Examiners for the county, and such was the satisfaction with which his services were received that he continued a member of the Board for fourteen years, with the exception of a few months only. He is at this writing a candidate for the office of County Treasurer, a position no man is bet- ler qualified to fill than himself. An ardent Republican and a leader in his town, he stands high in the councils of his party, and de- servedly so.

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, Part 99

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