Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 105

Author: Doyle, William B., b. 1868
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Ohio > Summit County > Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens > Part 105

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Nicholas Knapp was the youngest of the family that accompanied their parents in an old sailing ship across the ocean to New York. In those days Ohio was reached by a still further voyage up the Hudson River to Al- bany, across New York by the Erie Canal, over the lake to Cleveland and by way of the Ohio Canal to Portage County. The father died when Nicholas was thirteen years of age and thus he had fewer advantages than many boys who had parents to provide for them into manhood. He was strong and industri- ous and won the favor of neighboring farm- ers, for whom he worked by the month until 1859. In the early part of that year he hired himself to a farmer in Brimfield Town- ship, where he had every reason to think he would find a good home and continued em- ployment, but the great fro-t of that year destroyed the crops and the farmer had no further use for his services. He then went to Ravenna, where he found work in a glass factory at six dollars a month, and boarded himself. and remained there during one sum- mer and in the fall he secured a better op- portunity, doing chores for his board. after work in the factory was done. In the fol- lowing spring he returned to work again by the month, in Suffield Township, and in the next year he found a home with his brother, with whom he remained until 1861.

in pursuance of the quietest of avocations, that Mr. Knapp experienced an injury which lost him his good left arm. By the accidental overturning of a hay wagon, he was caught in such a manner that the injury was so ser- ious that no mending of the shattered bones was possible. This accident occurred in 1891. Mr. Knapp has borne this affliction with fortitude very remarkable.

Mr. Knapp remained in Suffield Township after his return from the army until 1874, when he moved to Stow Township, in Sum- mit County, where he purchased a farm and lived on it until 1878, removing then to an- other in Franklin Township, on which he lived until 1888. In this year he bought 186 acres of his present farm in Boston Town- ship, to which he added the second 100 acres in 1907. About 150 acres of this land is under cultivation and he raises hay, wheat, corn, oats and potatoes, marketing from 300 to 500 bushels of the tubers in a season. He keeps twenty head of cattle and sells his milk to the Peninsula Creamery, and has eight head of horses. In 1890 he erected his present comfortable residence.

Mr. Knapp married Elizabeth Pero, for his first wife. who died February 22, 1873, aged thirty-two years. She had two children : Karl, who died at the age of nineteen years; and Park, of Portage County. Mr. Knapp was married (second) to Louisa Pero, who was a cousin of his first wife. She is a daughter of Nichola Pero. To this marriage seven children have been born, five of whom reached maturity, namely: Charles E., Pearl Ellen, Albert, Ralph H., and Orrin P. Pearl Ellen is deceased. She was the wife of Abra- ham Tischer, residing at Shalersville.

At the beginning of the Civil War. Mr. Knapp was one of the first young men to For some years past Mr. Knapp has been identified with the Democratic party. Form- erly he voted for both Abraham Lincoln and General Grant. For the past three years he has been a trustee of Boston Township, his re-election to this office taking place on No- vember 5. 1907. While residing in Suffield Township, he served five years in the office of constable. He belongs to Northampton enlist in Battery 1, First Ohio Light Artil- lery. which was sent to the western depart- ment of the army, and he served with faith- fulness for four years, lacking but twelve days. Ile participated in many engagements and went through the Atlanta campaign, and al- though almost constantly exposed to danger. was able to return from his military service unharmed. It was left for times of peace and Grange, and to the Maccabees, No. 56, at

GEORGE W. PLUMER

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Peninsula. Mr. Knapp is recognized as a man of excellent business judgment. His many sterling traits of character have won him the respect and esteem of his fellow- citizens.

GEORGE W. PLUMER, a retired eiti- zen of Akron, and a veteran of the Civil War, for many years was closely identified with the business and financial interests of this city. IIe was born at Franklin, Ve- nango County, Pennsylvania, in 1840, and is a son of TIon. B. A. Plumer, formerly a prominent merchant in Western Pennsylva- nia, where he was elected to responsible of- fices, serving for a long period as a judge of the courts of Venango County.

George W. Plumer was reared and edu- cated in his native place, and for a number of years was engaged in the hardware frade at Franklin. In 1887 he came to Akron and went into the furniture business in partner- ship with B. L. Dodge, under the firm name of Dodge and Plumber, which association con- tinued until 1899. Ile was one of the or- ganizers of the Security Savings Bank and continued as its president until January, 1907, when this bank was sold to the Peo- ple's Savings Bank. Mr. Plumer owns stock in a number of Akron enterprises and also has business interests in Pennsylvania.

In 1862 Mr. Plumer entered the Union army as second lieutenant of Company E. 121st Regiment. Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, in which he performed the duties of a good soldier, both on the march and in battle, for two years, and was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. He is a valued member of Buckley Post. G. A. R., and of the Loyal Legion.

In 1867 Mr. Plumer was married to Jen- nie M. Whitaker, who is a daughter of Al- bert P. Whitaker, one of the prominent journalists of Western Pennsylvania for half a century. Mr. and Mrs. Plumer have three children, namely: Mary Plumer, who mar- ried Dr. F. IT. Lyder, D. D. S., of Akron; Lida Plumer. who married S. II. Kohler. who is prominently connected with the busi-

ness interests of Akron, and George A. also of Akron. Mr. Plumer is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he was a trustee for many years. lle is a Thirty-sec- ond Degree Mason.

LEVI MADISON LEESER, who owns and operates a tract of 106 acres of excellent land in Green Township, is a leading agriculturist of this section. He was born on his father's farm in Jackson Township, Stark County, Ohio, and is a son of Peter and Sarah ( Buch- tel ) Leeser.

Abraham Leeser, grandfather of Lovi MF., came from Pennsylvania to Stark County, Ohio, and entered a tract of land there in 1815, on which the rest of his life was passed. Ile was the father of six children: John, Catherine, Elizabeth, Peter, Samuel and Nathan. Catherine became the wife of Rev. J. Eby.

Peter Leeser was born in Lawrence Town- ship, Stark County, Ohio, and like his fath- er, cultivated land during all his active years. ITe died in Jackson Township in 1892, aged sixty-seven years. Peter Leeser was married to Sarah Buchtel, who was born in Summit County, Ohio, and is a daughter of John Buchtel, who was one of the pioneers of this county. Mrs. Leeser resides at Greensburg. Five children were born to Peter Lecser and wife, namely: Catherine, who survives her husband, Samuel Devies; Eva: Levi Madison ; Ahna, who married Jasper Fry ; and John R.

Levi M. Leeser attended the district schools in his home neighborhood and spent his youth on his father's farm. One year after his marriage he removed to his present farm. and this property he purchased in 1894. from his father-in-law's heirs. He has here on- gaged in general farming, and has been more than ordinarily successful.

On January 27, 1881, Mr. Leeser was mar- ried to Emma Long, who was born on the present Leeser farm, and is a daughter of Christian and Anna ( IFeiss) Long. Mr. and Mrs. Long. who are now deceased, were mar- ried in Pennsylvania, and with two children made the long trip overland to Summit

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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

County, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Leeser there have been born four children: Maude, who is stenographer at the Mount Pleasant Hos- pital, Mount Pleasant, lowa; Mamie, who died in infancy ; and Ray and Wilma.

Mr. Leeser is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. With his family he attends the United Evangelical Church. Like his father, he is a Republican in politics and has been one of the most act- ive workers in that party's ranks in Green Township, where he has served as trustee and school director, and fills the latter office at the present time.

D. W. KENDIG, a well-known citizen of Akron, who has been finance clerk of the city postoffice for the past three years under Post- master Ebright, was born near Dayton, Mont- gomery County, Ohio, October 16, 1846.

Mr. Kendig attended the district schools through boyhood and later entered Wittenberg College. He was eighteen years of age when he enlisted in Company II, Eighth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in 1862, and served until the close of the great struggle, his field of action being mainly West Virginia. The Kendig family was one of marked loyalty, three of his brothers also becoming soldiers in the Federal Army. One of these, Lee, enlisted in the Sixteenth Ohio Regiment, Volunteer Infantry, which was one of the first regiments to answer the call for troops, and he died in the service. Benjamin, a sec- ond brother, was a member of the 161st Reg- iment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and he ac- companied General Sherman's army to the sea, and since the close of his military life has resided in Indian Territory. The third brother, Simon. now deceased, was in the 100-day service in Ohio.

Shortly after his return from the army, Mr. Kendig went to Missouri, where he re- mained for several years, and after he came back to Ohio. he was engaged in business at Mansfield for fifteen years. He came then to Akron, where he was in the employ of the Erie Railroad for one year, connected with the freight department. For the four follow-

ing years he was engaged in the retail coal business, after which he became interested in life insurance, and for the next fifteen years he represented some of the best life companies of the country. Since closing out his insurance interests, he has been an official in the Akron postoffice.

In 1869 Mr. Kendig was married at Mans- field, Ohio, to Frances E. Creigh, of that city, who died June 22, 1905. They had three children, viz .: Karl, residing at Akron, who is secretary of the Werner Company; Lee, who died at the age of twenty-seven years, was associated with the Akron Iron Company for five years, at New York City; and Katherine, residing at home.

Mr. Kendig is more or less active in politics and supports the Republican party. He is a member of Buckley Post, G. A. R., and is a Master Mason. He belongs to the First Con- gregational Church at Akron.

URIAS GARMAN, whose fine farm lies on the old Portage Path Indian Trail road, in Portage Township, about one-half mile north of the city limits of Akron, was born in Me- dina County, Ohio, March 27, 1853, and is a son of Benjamin and Esther (Clause) Gar- man.

Benjamin Garman and his wife were both born and reared in Lehigh County, Pennsyl- vania, and after their marriage they came to Medina County, Ohio, driving the long dis- tance with a one-horse wagon. They settled on a farm of 115 acres, in two tracts, in Ilomer Township, and this land Mr. Garman cultivated and improved for a number of years. In the course of time he decided to remove to Summit County, and on April 1, 1862. settled on a farm of 151 acres, in Por- · tage Township, a portion of which is included in the farm of Urias Garman. He was ac- companied to Portage Township by his seven children. who were the following: Alfred, who resides on a farm of twenty-five aeres in Portage Township. married Julia A. Norton and has four children: Rose, who is the widow of Louis Esselburn; Elizabeth, who married J. F. Weygandt : Sarah, who died in

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1906, was the widow of Louis Andrews; Urias, of Portage Township; Irene, who mar- ried Mandus Baughman, resides in AAkron ; and Mrs. Mary Starks, resides in Akron.

For several years after moving to Portage Township, Benjamin Garman and his sons did general farming, and then he went into the stone business, in partnership with his eldest son, having excellent quarries ón the land. After he retired, Alfred and Urias Garman carried on the business for some years. They also embarked together in a dairy business, which they conducted for six years. Benjamin Garman died in 1890, and his widow survived until December, 1902.

Urias Garman has lived on his present farm sinee he was nine years old. He at- tended the district schools through boyhood and subsequent reading and mingling with the world has made him one of the township's well-informed men. He carries on a general line of farming and meets with the success that usually attends industry and the follow- ing of excellent methods. For about nine years he worked in the rubber shops of Ak- ron, otherwise his whole attention has been given to agricultural pursuits. In the spring of 1876 he erected the large frame residence which is a home of attractiveness and is full of comforts.

In October, 1875, Mr. Garman was married to Mary Rogers, who is a daughter of Peter and Susan (Heberly) Rogers, and they have five children, namely: Frank, who married Allie Buss, has two children, Ralph and Mary. and he is a carpenter and contractor; Susan, who married John Gammeter, of Ak- ron : Millie, who married Ralph Hogan, has one child, Garman; and Allie and Marjorie, both reside at home.

CILARLES MERRIMAN, M. D., formerly a prominent physician and surgeon of Ak- ron, now lives retired on his farm in Portage Township, which is situated on the Merri- man road, about three quarters of a mile northwest of the city limits. Dr. Merriman was born in Massachusetts. May 21, 1829, and

is a son of Charles and Harriet ( Allis) Mer- riman.

Dr. Merriman's parents left Berkshire County, Massachusetts, with their possessions packed in wagons, and reached Ohio May 21, 1835, and came to Summit County a few weeks later, settling on the farm in Portage Township, on which the son now lives. The father invested his money in 372 acres of land, which then was covered with native timber.

On this farm young Charles Merriman grew to manhood, assisting his father to clear a large part of it and put it under cultiva- tion. He attended the country schools and when sixteen years of age taught a term of school in Bath Township, and in the follow. ing year, two terms at Greensburg. He con- tinued his own education at Akron and Tall- madge, and had academie training at West Farmington, in Trumbull County. When he made up his mind to study medicine, he placed himself under the tuition of Dr. Wil- liam T. Huntington, with whom he read for two and one-half years, and in the fall of 1849 he attended the lecture course at the Cleveland Medical School. During his ab- sence, his preceptor, Dr. Huntington, died and he spent the summer and the following winter under Dr. Ackley, surgeon of the med- ical department of the Western Reserve Uni- versity. He was graduated at this college, in 1858, having returned for his third course during the winter of 1857-8. Prior to this, however, he had studied and to some degree practiced, with his uncle, Dr. Andrus Merri- man, in Geauga, now Lake County, and in 1851 he went to Brownsville. Kentucky. He remained there until the latter part of the winter of 1853, having a third interest in the medical practice of Dr. Ira H. Keller. He gained other medical instruction and practice at the Transylvania Medical College, at Louis- ville, Kentucky, and at Dr. McDowell's col- lege, at St. Louis, Missouri.

In looking over the country for a place to enter upon practice, Dr. Merriman noted that there was no physician established at Hills- borough, Jefferson County. Missouri, and he

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located there until the fall of 1857, when he grain. In the meanwhile he had built up an returned for his last course of lectures. Ile honorable business reputation and had gained practiced one year at Peninsula, and then influential friends. When the Akron City settled at Montrose, Summit County, where Infirmary was opened, Mr. Kendall was selected its director, and so capable and so honest has been his administration of the of- fice that a change has never been suggested. lle is the oldest officeholder in the city, in point of continuous service. It is a matter of justifiable pride with Mr. Kendall that in all this time not a single bill he has ever con- tracted for publie use, has been questioned by the board of directors of this institution. he remained from the spring of 1859 until 1873, when he came to AAkron. This city was but a semblance of what it has since be- come, and the best location the young doctor could secure was a small office in Hall's Block, where he remained for several years. Ile moved from there to rooms over the City drug store and later established his office in his comfortable home on West Market Street. When he retired he sold his residence to Paul E. Werner. Ilis practice covered a period of fifty-three years and was one of unusual suc- cess. Dr. Merriman is held in high esteem.

In 1856, at St. Louis, Missouri, Dr. Mer- riman was married in Lavinia P. Myers, who is a daughter of Samuel and Gertrude (Rob- inson) Myers.

JOSEPH KENDALL, who has been di- rector of the Akron City Infirmary for more than twenty years, was born March 15, 1828, in England, and has been a resident of Ak- ron since 1862.

The death of his father when he was young, made his boyhood one of many hardships. For three years he tended the flocks of a hard-hearted shepherd, in the neighborhood of his home, with whom he was obliged to remain until he had completed the period for which he was bound. In 1848, being then twenty years of age, he determined to make his way to America, in order to better his condition, and he crossed the Atlantic Ocean in one of the old sailing vessels of the day, which required nine weeks to make the voy- age. He landed at New Orleans, and in search of work Mr. Kendall went up the Mis- sissippi River, and at Evansville. Indiana, he found employment, mainly along the river, which furnished him with support and enabled him to save a little money, with which he came to Akron in 1862. Here he engaged for twenty-five years in the metal business and then went into dealing in hay and the wholesale buying and shipping of

In 1864 Mr. Kendall was married to Frances Booth, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, who died in May, 1887. They had two chil- dren, Elizabeth and Ruth. Ruth resides at home, tenderly caring for her father. Eliza- beth died in 1903 .. She was a noble woman, and was deeply interested in Sunday-school work. Mr. Kendall was reared in the Episco- pal Church, but for many years has been an attendant of the Presbyterian Church.

SCOTT HI. MERRIMAN, whose fine truck farm of sixteen aeres is situated on the Merri- inan road, about two miles northwest of Ak- ron, was born in the old stone house in which his father still resides, located on West Mar- ket Street, Akron, August 8, 1863. His par- ents were Wells and Alberta Merriman.

Wells Merriman was born across the road from the farm which Seott II. now owns, in Portage Township, Summit County, Ohio, and is a son of Charles and a brother of Dr. Charles Merriman. During his younger years, Wells Merriman engaged in farming, then learned the machinist trade and for twenty-five years was employed in the stove works of the Taplin-Rice Company. He built the old stone house on West Market Street, in which he lives, and which was then sur- rounded by seven aeres of land which was used as a truck farm. The old house is a landmark in that part of the eneroaching city. Ile was married twice and the children of his first union were: Grove, residing at Akron; Forrest, residing at Minneapolis, Ottawa County, Kansas; and Seott H., resid-

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ing in Portage Township. The mother of these children died when her youngest son was small. ' To his second marriage, Wells Merriman had three children: Jesse, Mrs. Hattie Bechtol and Ruby, wife of Royal Scott.

Scott If. Merriman was reared in the old home on West Market Street, Akron, and helped to cultivate the garden which is now covered with structures. He spent twelve years, after completing his education, in the packing business and in operating a hotel, at Omaha, Nebraska, but in 1889 he returned to Summit County and settled on his present farm. Mr. Merriman has made a success of the trueking business. He raises large crops of the choicest vegetables that can be grown in this climate and sells by wholesale.

At Omaha, Nebraska, Mr. Merriman was married to Gertrude Finney, who is a daugh- ter of L. 1. and Sarah (Oakley) Finney. They have four children : Claude and Byron, both born in Nebraska, and Albert and Dor- othy, born in Summit County. Mr. Merri- man is not active in politics, merely show- ing the interest of a good citizen in public matters. He takes great pleasure in improv- ing his tidy little farnt and a plenteous re- turn is made him for his careful cultivation.

JOHN WOLF, superintendent of the Mar- ket House at Akron, was formerly engaged in the mercantile business for many years in this city and established a name for business ability and striet integrity. Mr. Wolf was born in Bavaria, Germany, January 25, 1837, and was a boy of fourteen years when he came to America.

For two years prior to coming to Akron, Mr. Wolf was a clerk in a dry goods store at Aurora, Indiana, and after reaching this eity, in 1853, he continued in the same capacity. In 1863 he became a member of the M. W. Henry Company, at Akron. In 1870, the firm of Wolf, Church & Beek was organized, which continued to do business until 1883, when Mr. Beck retired, the firm of Wolf & Church continuing until 1887, when Mr. Wolf beeame sole proprietor. Ile retired from

the mercantile business m 1893, and for some years devoted his attention to looking after the real estate of the Wolf family. For the past three years he has been superintendent of the Akron Market House, and has proven himself a careful and efficient officer.

In 1864 Mr. Wolf was married to Anna Howe, who is a daughter of Capt. Richard Howe, who was one of the early pioneers of Akron, and who was a valuable assistant in the building of the Ohio Canal. Two sons were born to this marriage, Charles R. and Harry Howe, both of whom are prominent business men, the former being purchasing agent for the B. F. Goodrich Company, and the latter, president of a brick company at Muncie, Indiana.

Politically, Mr. Wolf is a Republican and he has always been a patriotic supporter of the government. During the Civil War he served in the 100-day service, as a member of Company F, 164th Regiment, Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, and during his period of army service was located at Fort Cochran, Washington, D. C. He is a member of Buek- ley Post, Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Wolf was formerly a member of the Lutheran Church.

NATHANIEL PETTITT. Among the many valuable farms and hospitable homes in the environs of Akron, that owned and occupied by Nathaniel Pettitt deserves spe- cial mention in connection with its respected and esteemed owner. It lies on the Merriman road, about two and one-half miles northwest of the city limits and has been occupied by Mr. Pettitt for forty-four years. He was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1823, and is a son of Charles and Isabella (Karr) Pettitt.

Charles Pettitt was born in New Jersey and was a son of John Pettitt, who moved to Mary- land when Charles was five years old. Later he moved to Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Charles Pettitt engaged in farming in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, until 1837. when he came to Ohio and rented a farm which was in Copley Township, then

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in Medina County. This farm belonged to his brother, Rev. John Pettitt, who had come to this section in 1830, and was the pioneer founder of the Congregational Church at AAk- ron. Some years later Charles Pettitt bought this farm but sold it in 1854, and purchased another of 150 acres, which was situated in Portage Township, subsequently selling it also. Charles Pettitt died in 1867, aged seventy-seven years. He married Isabella Karr, who died in 1863, aged seventy-three years. They were people who were held in esteem and affection by their neighbors.

Nathaniel Pettitt lived on the farm in Cop- ley Township until he was thirty-one years of age. He attended the district schools in his boyhood and was trained by a strict father to be a good farmer. He assisted in clearing up the land and as the country was not very well settled at that time, experienced hard- ships which the present generation would probably consider unsupportable. With his brother, John Pettitt, he rented the farm now owned by Aaron Teeple, at Fairlawn, where he stayed two years and then bought the farm now owned by the Benjamin Garman heirs, on which he lived for seven years and then bought his present farm. Mr. Pettitt found a great deal of clearing had to be done and after that was completed he started improve- ments, and has a very valuable property.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 105

Author: Doyle, William B., b. 1868 Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1150

Author: Doyle, William B., b. 1868
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1150