Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 107

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

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principally to wheat and hay. Mr. Stanford has a fine silo, 19x20 feet, 26 feet high. In former years he kept from twenty-five to thirty head of cattle, but he now keeps only ten or twelve cows, and has a flock of sixty- five sheep. In polities he is a Republican, and he has served as a delegate to county con- ventions. He was elected justice of the peace and was re-elected, but resigned before the ex- piration of his second term. For three years he has been township assessor. He is a mem- Ler of Meridian Sun Lodge No. 226, and Sum- mit Royal Arch Chapter No. 74 of Masons.

Mr. Stanford was married to Eliza Lida Wetmore, daughter of William Wetmore, of Peninsula, and to this union there were born three children: Ellen, Perkins W., and Clay- ton J. The only daughter was born Febru- ary 6, 1871, and married Edgar E. Jobe. She lives with her father, and has one child, Cur- tis 1., who was born January 17, 1905. Per- kins W., who was born May 2, 1874, resided in Indianapolis, Indiana, for eight years, where he received the main part of his school- ing. He enlisted in Company D, 158th Regi- ment, during the Spanish-American War, but was never called on to leave the country. IIe is a general merchant at Boston village, and is postmaster. He married Stella Morgan, and has two children, namely, George J., born December 7, 1904, and Dorothy, born June 19, 1906. Clayton J., who was born Angust 4, 1877, married Catherine E. Coonrad, of Brecksville, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Stanford are members of the Methodist. Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Stanford is trustee and steward, in addition to having been superintendent of the Sunday-school for many years. He has been a member of the Summit County Agri- cultural Society for a long period.

F. B. LIVERMORE, M.D., a leading physician and surgeon, at Barberton, for- merly demonstrator of Anatomy at the Cleve- land University of Medieme and Surgery, has been located at this place since October, 1899. Dr. Livermore was born at Port Henry, New York, December 28, 1871, and is a son of R. F. and Eliza Hester (Bates) Livermore.

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

In 1878, the parents of Dr. Livermore re- moved from Port Henry to Corry, Pennsyl- vania, where his father embarked in a whole- sale and retail dry goods business. There Dr. Livermore was educated. and after gradu- ating from the Corry High School, he entered Allegheny College, at Meadville, where he took ¿ preparatory course in medicine. following which he entered the Cleveland University of Medicine and Surgery, at Cleveland, Ohio, from which institution he was graduted with his degree, in March, 1895. While Dr. Liver- more practiced at Cleveland, he held the chair ot demonstrator in Anatomy in his alina mater, and was also one of the physicians at- tached to the Huron Street Hospital. in that city. The training of two years which he en- joyed in hospital work was of inestimable benefit, giving him an opportunity to study diseases and injuries in a practical way. In October, 1899. Dr. Livermore came to Bar- berton, and although a number of other prac- titioners of excellent repute are located at this point. he has built up a most satisfactory practice and in large degree enjoys the confi- dence and support of the leading eitizens.

In 1895. Dr. Livermore was married to Minnie 1. ('reel, who is a daughter of Ben- jamin Creel, of Parkersburg, West Virginia.

Fraternally, Dr. Livermore is connected with the Maccabees and the Knights of Pyth- mas, while also retaining membership with his college fraternity. the Delta Tau Delta. Pro- fessionally, he is a member of the Cleveland Medical Association and the Summit County Clinical Association.

1. R. LODWICK, president of The Lod- wick Company, leaders in the grocery line at Akron, with business location at No. 10 East Market Street, has been a resident of this eity for thirty-three years and during the whole period of his commercial life has been identi- fied with grocery interests. Mr. Lodwick was Lorn in 1870, at Clinton, Missouri, and was four years old when his parents brought him to Akron.

In the schools of Akron. Mr. Lodwick se- cured his education. His father was engaged

in the grocery business and very early the soul became his assistant and learned all the prac- tical details by the time he was ready to as- sume the responsibility of conducting a busi- less of his own. For a number of years he was one of the stockholders in the Tanner Company, grocers, at Akron, which was sue- ceeded in 1907 by the Lodwick Company. The latter was incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000, with these officers: 1. R. Lodwick, president; 1. M. Lodwick, vice- president; and I. A. Lodwick, secretary and treasurer.

In April. 1901, Mr. Lodwick was married to Lilian Douglas who was born at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

Mr. Lodwick is affiliated with a number of the leading fraternal organizations. He is 32nd degree Mason, and belongs to the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Couneil and Commandery at Akron, to Lake Erie Consistory at Cleveland. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows. the Roval Arcanum, the Protected Ifome Circle and the National Association of Letter Car- riers. He is identified with the Masonic club. Ife is not an active politician but always takes a good eitizen's interest in public affairs, he gives liberally to charity and his civie pride is shown in the support he lends to public- spirited enterprises.

WILLIAM AMOS MANSFIELD, M.D .. physician and surgeon, at Barberton, where he has been established since 1900, is one of the leading medieal men of Summit County. Hle was born at Ravenna, Muskegon County, Michigan, February 28, 1859. and is a son of 1. J. and Ann (Ellithorpe) Mansfield.

The father of Dr. Mansfield was born in Canada and was a son of Harry Man-liell. who was born near Platt burg. New York. and was a son of an Englishman, who had settled very early in that city. The mother of Dr. Mansfield was born near Toronto, Canada, where her English parents had set- tled. For a number of years the father of Dr. Mansfield was prominently identified with the lumber industry in Canada. Ile bogan manufacturing business near Toronto a

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shortly after his marriage, but subsequently removed to Muskegon County, Michigan, where he bought large tracts of lumber and continued in the lumbering business, and the furniture manufacturing business, until his death, in 1906, the death of his wife having immediately preceded his own.

Dr. Mansfield was reared in Muskegon County, Michigan, and first attended the dis- triet schools near his home and then entered Bryant and Stratton's Business College, at Buffalo. New York, where he took a two- years course. Equipped with a first-class com- mercial education, he then went to Boston. Massachusetts, and for two years was a stu- dent in the Emerson College of Oratory and Dramatic Art, graduating from that well- known institution, May 3, 1889. From prob- able success in business and celebrity on the stage, he then turned his attention to the sei- ence of medicine and entered the Cleveland University of Medicine and Surgery, graduat- ing in the class of 1895. For the succeeding five years he practiced his profession in the city of Cleveland and then came to the pros- pering town of Barberton, where he has be- come a leading citizen. He is a member of the Summit County Medical Club, and is an enthusiast in his profession. Ilis fine office is equipped with modern appliances of all kinds, including an expensive X-ray machine, and he keeps thoroughly in touch with medi. cal progress. He served one term as health officer of Barberton. having been appointed by the village council.

In 1893, Dr. Mansfield was married to Lenno Mowry, and they have two children : Ellithorpe and Marie. Dr. Mansfield is prominent in fraternal life, belonging to the Masons, the Elks and the Knights of Pythia -.

WILLIAM HENRY MIDDLETON, resid- ing on a very valuable farm of over 200 acres, which he acquired in 1882, is one of the sub- stantial agriculturists and leading citizens of Hudson Township. He was born, May 19, 1856. in County Kent. England, and is a son of James and Mary Ann (Grigsby) Middio- ton.

Both parents of Mr. Middleton were born in County Kent, England, and in 1869 they came to America with their seven children. The voyage was one of danger and disaster. The family set sail in the vessel the City of Hudson, which was wrecked on the banks of New Foundland and drifted backward help- lessly, for 500 miles, with three feet of water in the hold. The captain had lost all hope of saving his passengers, but fortunately kept up their courage when he lost his own, and finally help came and in the course of time the Middleton family reached East Cleveland in -afety. The father was a brick-layer by trade. He died August 4, 1906, aged seventy- five years. The mother of William H. Mid- dleton died December 21, 1878. The father was married (second) January 7. 1880, to Mrs. Elizabeth Pincombe. The children born to his first marriage were as follows: Wil- liam II. ; George, residing at Mayfield Heights, Cleveland: Sarah Jane, who died October 12, 1905; Alfred who died April 12, 1883; Eliza- beth, who married George Lintern, died in 1894, at Cleveland ; James, residing at Cleve- land: Charles, residing in Hudson Township; and Hattie, who married Julian Scott, resid- ing on the Streetsboro road in Hudson Town- ship.

William H. Middleton resided at East Cleve- land and at Glenville for about two years, and started a milk route which he continued until 1884, when he came to his present farni. He bought over 202 acres and has since added about twenty-seven acres. He operates his farm mainly as a dairy farm and ships his milk to Cleveland.

On August 31, 1875, Mr. Middleton was married to Sarah Ann Pincombe, who was born at Plymouth, England, and was ten years old when her parents William and Elizabeth (Rockey) Pincombe, crossed the Atlantic Ocean. The father went back to England and died there. The mother, later in life, became the second wife of the father of Mr. Middleton, and died on the present farm in an adjoining house, December 3, 1894. The Pincombes had three children to grow to ma- turity, namely : Elizabeth, who married

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John Lintern, residing at Cleveland; Selina, who married W. B. Hopkins, residing at Cleve- land; and Sarah AAnn, who married Mr. Mid- dleton. Mr. and Mrs. Middleton have five children. as follows: May Elizabeth, who married W. S. Mills, residing at Twinsburg, has two children, Florence Elizabeth and Winnifred Ann; William, residing in Hud- son Township, married Pearl Beardsley ; Emanuel Alfred, residing in Bedford, mar- ried Emma Post, of Macedonia ; and Blanche Winnifred and Bert Eli, both residing at home. Mr. Middleton and family belong to the Congregational Church at Hudson. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Middleton is a type of self-made man and enjoys the posi- tion in which he finds himself, in middle life, because through his own efforts he has brought his prosperity about.

ELMER ROBINSON, residing on his valu- able farm of ninety acres, situated in Bath Township, where he is engaged in general farming and dairying, is one of the substan- tial men and reliable citizens of this section. Mr. Robin-on was born in Wayne County. Ohio. October 6, 1855, and is a son of Robert and Sarah ( Clapper ) Robinson.

The grandparents of Mr. Robinson were James and Sarah (Yates) Robinson. who were natives of Pennsylvania. James Robinson was a cigar-maker by trade, but after moving to Missouri in 1869. he followed farming. His children were: John and Robert. both of whom are deceased: Jacob, residing in Missouri: Benjamin, residing in Wayne County : Joseph and Abraham, both, of whom are deceased : Katherine, residing in Missouri ; and Elizabeth, who is decea-cd.

Robert Robinson, father of Elmer, was born att Pittsburg. Pennsylvania. October 2. 1839. and died in Bath Township. Summit County. Ohio. July 30. 1900. lle wecompanied his parents to Missouri, where he lived for two years and then came to Bath Township. where he passed the rest of his life. He was a man of education and taught school in Missouri and later in Wayne County. He was a staneli

Republican and was elected a director of the Summit County Infirmary, to which position he was re-elected, and was the only member of his party who gained popular recognition at that time in this section. He died while serv- ing in his second term. His widow still sur- vives and resides on the home farm in Batlı Township. The children of Robert Robinson and wife were: AAllie, who married Charles H. Francisco, residing in Copley Township; Elmer C .. Mettie, who married Andrew Harris, residing in Copley Township. Edward, who married Lottie Leiby, resides in Sharon Township; Irene, deceased, who mar- ried James Myers; and Vera. who married Earl Rockwell, residing on the old home in Bath Township.

Elmer Robinson was reared on the home- stead farm and obtained his education in the schools of Bath Township. He remained as- sisting his father until his marriage, when he purchased his present farm. where he has made all the improvements, including the building of the substantial residence and farm structures. He is a man of practical ideas and thoroughly understands how to make every part of his land produce satisfac- torily. in other words, he is a successful agri- culturist.

In 1886, Mr. Robinson was married to Alpha L. Miller, who is a daughter of Rals- man and Sarah (Hershey) Miller, former residents of Bath Township, where the former died in 1897, and the latter in 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have had four children, namely: Glenn, who died aged eight years: Pearl: Wayne; and a babe that died in in- fancy.

Mr. Robinson is a member of the East Granger Disciples Church, in which he is one of the deacons, and is superintendent of the Sunday-school. Politically he is a Repub- lican and is serving in his fifth year as town- ship trustee. Ile is one of the directors in the Farmers' Mutual Cyclone Association, and the Bath Horse Protective Association. and is president of the latter organization. Ho is a member of the Grange of Bath Cen- ter.

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IRA L. UNDERWOOD, residing on his valuable farm of 152 acres, situated on the township line road, between Bath and Rich- field, in Bath Township, was born in Granger Township, Medina County, Ohio, February 18, 1857, and is a son of Henry and Han- nah (Dunsha) Underwood and a grandson of llenry Underwood.

The Underwood ancestors came to Now York from Scotland. The grandfather was born in New York and came to Wayne County, Ohio, prior to the birth of his son, Henry Underwood, who was a boy when his parents settled in Granger Township, Medina County. lle died in Medina County, but his widow survived some years and died on the farm of her son Ira L., in Bath Township.

Ira L. Underwood was reared in Granger Township, remaining at home until his twenty-first year, when he came to Bath Town- ship, where he has since resided. In 1900, he came to his present property, which is a finely improved tract of land, and here he has engaged in general farming and dairying, keeping about twenty cows. Mr. Underwood also owns a small tract of seven aeres in Ghent. He is very well known in his vieinity, and his fellow-townsmen elected him assessor for two terms.

In 1881 Mr. Underwood was married to Louisa Miller, who is a daughter of Ralseman Miller, and to this union there have been born two children: Edith: and Miller HI .. who married Opal Fuhner.

SMITH D. TIFFT, senior member of the firm of Tifft and Vogan, dealers in carriages and agricultural implements, at Cuyahoga talls, is a leading citizen and representative business man of this section of Summit County. Ile was born in Norton Township, Summit County. Ohio, Mareh 16. 1840, and is a son of John D. and Anna (Bangs) Tifft.

John D. Tifft, father of Smith D., was born in the State of New York, and died at Cuya- hoga Falls, in 1876, aged seventy years. Ile remained on the home farm until he reached maturity and then came to Ohio. securing work at Cleveland, where he assisted in elear-

ing the virgin forest from the present sites of the beautiful Wilson and Euclid avenues of that city. After two years at Cleveland, about 1840, he settled at Johnson's Corners, near the present site of Barberton, and in the fall following the birth of his son, Smith D., he came to Cuyahoga Falls. Here he kept a livery stable and also engaged in a meat business. The year 1847 he spent in Chicago, Fut returned to Cuyahoga Falls, where he be- came one of the substantial citizens, during the following seven or eight years. An un- lucky speculation in hogs caused his business failure and from then to the close of his life, he engaged in the manufacture of numerous patents and machines, of which he was the inventor. Ile first patented a fanning mill, for cleaning grain, his rights to which he sub- sequently sold. Later he patented and sold his rights to a certain kind of fence and still later, he patented an invalid's spring bed, also selling his rights in this valuable invention. All of his inventions were of such recognized utility that they came into general use, and before his death he had become again a man of amiple means. Early in life he was a Whig, but after 1852 he was identified with the Republican party. He was a man of Ster- ling character and at the time of his death was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.

The mother of Smith D. Tifft was born in Vermont and died in 1884. Sho wa- the youngest of a family of seven children, all of whom were remarkably long-lived. only two dying before the age of eighty-eight years, and several living to be over ninety. The four children of John D. Tifft and wife to reach maturity were: Smith D .: Eliza MI. (deceased). who married W. A. Allen, of Akron; Ilorace, residing in the Soldier's HIome at Dayton, who is a veteran of the Civil War, and Alice, who married Charles Hawn. of Cuyahoga Falls. The mother of this family was a consistent member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church through life.

Smith D. Tifft was educated in the common and High Schools at Cuyahoga Falls, and en- tered into business on his own account in the

GEORGE T. BISHOP

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meat and cattle industry, in which he con- tinued for eleven years. From 1867 until 1869, Mr. Tifft was in partnership with W. A. Taylor, speculating in cattle, after which he beeame the "Co." of the then well-known car- riage and wagon shop of W. A. Allen & Co. He continued with this firm for nine years and then sold out to his partner and resumed speculating in cattle. Some six months later he started a meat market and continued in the meat business until 1885, when he traded it for a farm, which he operated for one year. He left farming in order to go out on the road as the traveling representative for the milling concern of Howe & Company. Mr. Tiff't remained with the above firm until 1891, when he engaged in an agricultural imple- ment business beginning in a modest way and conducting it alone until January 26, 1896, when he entered into partnership with F. D. Vogan. The firm of Tifft & Vogan has pros- pered from the first and has deserved the name of being the first business house at this place, to handle "everything for the farmer." The business has increased to such proportions that it won the prize-a check for $100- which was offered by the International Har- vester Company, of Cleveland, for handling the largest volume of business of that com- pany's products, through a certain area. This could not have come about without excellent business management and a fine quality of goods. Mr. Tifft is interested in other en- terprises which contribute to the prosperity and good name of Cuyahoga Falls. He was one of the organizers of the Falls Savings and Loan Association and has been its president for the past eighteen months. He is also a director of the Cuyahoga Falls Savings Bank.

On January 29, 1863, Mr. Tifft was mar- ried to Julia E. Allen, a daughter of George Allen, of Cuyahoga Falls. For forty years Mrs. Tifft has been a devoted member of the Episcopal Church, and Mr. Tifft is a liberal contributor to its various beneficent enterprises. Politically. Mr. Tifft is a Republican, and he served as village clerk for six years. In 1863. he united with the Masons and is a member of Star Lodge. No. 187, at Cuyahoga Falls.

GEORGE T. BISHOP, formerly president of the Northern Texas Traction Company, and president of the Washington, Baltimore & Annapolis Street Railway, for many years has been prominently identified with electric railways and has also been concerned in other important business enterprises, but since 1901 he has made his summer home on his farm in the township where his boy- hood was spent. Mr. Bishop was born at Ravenna, Ohio, October 11, 1864, and is a son of Clark Benjamin and Arvilla (Taylor) Bishop.

Mr. Bishop's American ancestors were of New England birth and training. His great- grandfather, Benjamin Bishop, on the occa- sion of Lafayette's visit to America, in 1824, took that Revolutionary hero and friend of Washington from Burlington, Vermont, to Montpelier, that State, in a coach drawn by four white horses, with outriders.

Mr. Bishop's grandfather, Orin Azro Bishop, was born at Richmond, Vermont. He married Celina Lillie, who, like himself, graduated at the Jericho Academy, at Jeri- cho, Vermont, and who after her graduation taught school. In 1831, after their marriage, they came to Northfield Township, where life must have seemed crude and hard in those early days. Here Grandfather Bishop ereeted a log cabin west of Northfield Center, and in 1838 built a tavern or public house, which still stands, as a landmark, on the southwest corner of the Square at Northfield Center. This was the first tavern in North- field Township, a commodious two-story build- ing which was quite a notable building in its prime. and was conducted under the name of the Washington Inn. By the premature discharge of a cannon, on training day, Mr. Bishop was so injured that he died one year after the accident. His three children were: Clark B .. George L. and Orin Azro.

Clark Benjamin was born September 12, 1833, in the little log cabin home in North- field, and was reared to his father's pursuits. After his marriage he removed to Ravenna, Ohio, where he engaged with his father-in- law. in conducting a hotel, and during the

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Civil War they operated the Exchange Ho- tel, but in 1866 Mr. Bishop took charge of the American House, in Cleveland. Return- ing to Northfield in 1873 he purchased the farm one and one-fourth miles west of North- field Center, returning to the quiet of coun- try life as a means of regaining his health. Eight years on the farm restored him to his former robustness and on his son George T. Bishop's seventeenth birthday, he returned to Cleveland. He died April 3, 1899. Dur- ing his residence in Northfield Township, he served in public offices and was a representa- tive man of his section. Politically, he was identified with the Republican party. He was a member of Summit Lodge, No. 281, F. & A. M., of Twinsburg.

On September 17, 1862, he married Ar- villa Taylor, who died February 3, 1904. She was a daughter of Timothy Taylor, of Twinsburg. They had two sons, George T. and Hal F., the latter now residing at Cleve- land.

George T. Bishop's boyhood was mainly passed in Northfield Township. In his sev- enteenth year he accompanied his father to Cleveland, and in the following year entered the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, in the traffic department. He was connected with the steam railroad business until 1895, during the last few years being general agent of the Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City Railroad. In the above men- tioned year he became interested in financing and building electric railroads. He was president of the Northern Texas Traction Company, which built and financed the pio- neer interurban electric railway of Texas, the line connecting Dallas and Fort Worth. After disposing of his interests in Texas, Mr. Bishop became interested in other sections and, as mentioned above, fills the office of president of a very important electric line, which has great future possibilities. He is a director of the Cleveland Trust Company and is concerned in a number of other en- terprises in different sections.

In 1901 Mr. Bishop gave way to a natural impulse in turning to the home of his child-

hood, purchasing the old Baum property and converting it into an elegant summer home. Mr. Bishop has not spared expense in im- proving the old place and his improvements include making over the public highway in the vicinity. Mr. Bishop received a hearty welcome from his fellow citizens of North- field Township. He has named his place Sagamore Summit, the latter part of the name being suggested by its natural elevation, which is among the highest in Ohio, and the former coming from the beautiful stream of water named Sagamore Creek, which has its rise on his farm. The Common Council of Macedonia, in recognition of his public- spirted enterprise in repairing the highway, voted that henceforth it should bear the name of Sagamore Road.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 107

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