Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 124

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 124

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For the past fifteen years Mr. Winum has been colonel of the Sixth Regiment of the Ohio Knights of St. John. He is district deputy of the Knights of Columbus for the district composed of Summit, Medina, Ash- land. Holmes, Wayne, Stark and Portage Counties. Mr. Winum belongs to the Alsace Lorain Benevolent Association, the St. Joseph Benevolent Society and the Verein Thalia Benevolent order. Ile is a man of high ehar- actor and is well and favorably known over a wide territory.

JACOB A. REAGLE, township trustee and owner of a very fine farm consisting of 131 1-2 acres, situated in Copley Township, Summit County, Ohio, was born on his pres- ent place. May 11, 1863, and is a son of Dan- iel and Elizabeth (Serfass) Reagle.

Daniel Reagle, father of Jacob ., was born in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. where he was reared on his father's farm. In early manhood he came to Ohio and settled in Sum- mit County, where he worked on various farms for some years. He subsequently mar- ried a farmer's daughter-Elizabeth Serfass- who was born in Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Andrew Serfass, who came early to this section. Shortly after their marriage, Daniel Reagle and wife went to housekeeping on the farm now owned by their son, Jacob Andrew, a part of which Daniel bought at that time from Andrew Serfass, and in the following year he bought the other half. The land was well eleared. but the only house was a log cabin and Mr. Reagle had to ereet new buildings. Daniel Reagle and wife lived on

the farm until 1892, when they retired to a pleasant home at Loyal Oak, where Mr. Rea- gle died in January, 1905, aged seventy-three years. Ilis widow still survives. They had five children, namely: Catherine, who mar- ried George Beck ; Jane, who married Edward Miksch; Jacob Andrew; Ella, who married A. Houglan ; and George, who died young.

Jacob Andrew Reagle was educated in the district schools and the High School at Cop- ley Center, and remained at home with his parents until his marriage, which took place in April, 1891, to Orpha Serfass, who is a daughter of Andrew and Harriet Serfass. They have three children: Grant, Hazel and Esther. Mr. and Mrs. Serfass live at Doyles- town.

Mr. Reagle has devoted himself to agri- cultural pursuits. His land lies on both sides of the road about eight miles west of AAkron, and it is considered one of the best tracts in the township. The beautiful hedge fence which encloses the farm was set out by Mr. Reagle's father. In polities, Mr. Reagle is a Demoerat, and on that ticket he was elected township trustee in 1906, making an excel- lent record as such. He has also served on the school board a number of years, and is considered by his fellow-citizens a reliable and representative man. He belongs to the or- ganization known as the National Protective Legion. In religious belief and connection he is a Lutheran.

JAMES P. BOYD, M. D., a member of the consulting staff of the AAkron City Hospital. and a leading physician and surgeon of this city, was born in 1850, at Wimbleton. Eng- land, and was brought to America by his par- ents when four years of age.

The parents of Dr. Boyd settled in West- ern New York, and he obtained his literary training in the schools of Jamestown, New York, after which he entered the university of Michigan. taking first a course in pharmacy, graduating in 1873, and subsequently a med- ieal course there, and in 1875. graduated in medicine from the Long Island College Hos- pital. at Brooklyn. New York. After serving

HENRY E. MERRILL

EDWIN IL. MERRILL

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one year there as an interne, he came to Ak- ron, where, for the past thirty-one years he ha- been in continuous practice. He is well known all over Summit County. In addition to looking after his many patients, Dr. Boyd has found time to attend to various duties imposed on a good citzen, and he has also contributed more or less regularly to the med- ical literature of the country. He is a mem- ber of the Summit County, the Ohio State and the American Medical Societies and to the Cleveland Academy of Medicine.

In 1879 Dr. Boyd was married to Marie A. Partridge, of Jamestown, New York, and they have three children: James A., who is connected with tlie Columbus Gas and Fuel Company; and Althea and Marie Antoinette. residing at home. Dr. Boyd and family he- long to St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Dr. Boyd is a Thirty-second Degree Mason and belongs to the Blue Lodge. Chapter. Council and Commandery of Akron, and to Lake Erie Consistory and Alkoran Shrine of Cleveland. He is past master of Akron Lodge, F. & A. M., and is past high priest of Wash- ington Chapter. He belongs to the Masonic and the Portage Country clubs.

EDWIN H. MERRILL, who was one of the first founders of the sewer pipe industry at Akron, which has become one of the largest enterprises of the State, through a long and particularly busy life, was a leader in manu- facturies here, in many of which he was the pioneer. Ile was born February 9, 1808, at Painesville, Ohio. With his father, he learned the potter's trade, and when he came to Springfield Township, he worked until 1835 in the various potteries. He was gifted with the inventive faculty, and when he went into business for himself, in the manufacture of beer bottles, he invented his own machinery. To this industry he later added the manufac- turing of tobacco pipes. Ilis ventures prov- ing successful. he sought a larger field, and in 1847 moved to Middlebury and went into partnership with his brother. Calvin J. They inaugurated the manufacture of water-pipes and stone pumps, adding these to their other

output. Vitrified sewer pipe was first manu- factured about 1851, by the firm of Hill, Mer- rill & Company, which was succeeded by Mer- rill, Powers & Company. This was the first fac- tory to turn out sewer pipe in its present form and quality. In 1860 Mr. Merrill removed his pipe, bottle and stoneware plant to the corner of South Main and Center Street, Akron. In 1887 the business was incorpo- rated as the E. II. Merrill Company. During all these years, E. H. Merrill had been the prime mover of the whole enterprise. He died January 25, 1888, aged almost eighty years. In 1838 he married Emily Gleason, and seven children were born to them.

HI. E. MERRILL, who has been identified with pottery interests all his mature life, and for forty-seven years has been connected with factory No. 2 of the. Robinson Clay Product Company, was born in 1839, in Springfield Township. Summit County, Ohio, and is a son of Edwin II. Merrill, who was a large manufacturer, and was one of the founders of the great sewer pipe industry at Akron.

II. E. Merrill was eight years old when his parents moved to Middlebury, now East Ak- ron, and he was given such educational ad- vantages as the place at that time afforded. Early in youth he began pottery work in his father's factory, and has continued to be in- terested in this business ever since. In 1860 he was connected with the firm of E. II. Mer- rill & Company, later the E: H. Merrill Com- pany, which was followed by the Robinson & Merrill Company, and still later by the Robinson Clay Product Company. He owns stock in other companies and is one of the city's substantial and prominent men.

In 1877 Mr. Merrill was married to Ara- bella Bartges, who died February 26. 1905. aged fifty-nine years. She was a daughter of Dr. S. W. Bartges, a pioneer at Akron. They have two children. George B. and Katharine, the former of whom is employed in the office of Factory No. 2. Robinson Clay Product Company, and the latter of whom married W. W. Pope, who is with the Hall & Harter Company. of Akron.

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Mr. Merrill has always been a public-spirited and loyal citizen. In 1854 he enlisted in the 100-day service, entering Company .F, 164th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was stationed at Fort Corcoran, near Wash- ington, during that period. He is a member of Buckley Post, Grand Army of the Repub- lic.

WILLIAM H. BLILER, who operates a fine farm of eighty-one acres in Franklin Township, is one of the prominent citizens of this section, and a representative of an old pioneer family. He was born in Franklin Township, Summit County, Ohio, April 3, 1849, and is a son of Joel and Mary ( Hower) Bliler.

Daniel Bliler, the grandfather of William H., came by wagon from Pennsylvania to Ohio and settled on the farm which is now the property of the Stumps, clearing the land and building two log houses. His life was spent in hard and useful work, and his death occurred at the age of seventy-seven years. Mr. Bliler had been twice married, Joel being one of the children of the second union.

Joel Bliler grew up in the woods of Sum- mit County, and spent his younger days on the home farm. Here he was married to Mary Hower, who was a daughter of Jes-e Hower, whose father, Adam Hower, had come from New Berlin, Ohio, and entered a section north of Clinton. He died at New Berlin, Ohio, at the age of ninety-three years, having given one-quarter of his section of land to Jesse, the other three-quarters having been sold. ITere Jesse Hower erected a sawmill, where was furnished most of the timber used in the locks of the canal. Jesse Hower died on this property three years after loeating on it, and forty years prior to the death of his father, his daughter Mary being then a. child of four years.

After their marriage, Joel and Mary (Hower) Bliler lived at the home of his father in Franklin Township, near Man- chester, but subsequently removed to the property on which William H. Bliler was born, the home of Nathaniel Stump, where

the Brewster coal bank is now situated, rent- ing this place for five years. At the end of this time he purchased the present Bliler farmi from a Mr. Miller, of Canton, Ohio, and here Joel Bliler died in October, 1880, aged fifty- eight years. Ilis widow, who still survives, makes her home with her son, William H. Bliler.

William II. Bliler received but a scanty ed- neation in his boyhood, most of which was spent in hard work on the home farm. Ile was also employed for six months in laying the tracks of the branch of the C. A. & C. Railroad, when he removed to Norton Town- ship, and there operated two farms on shares for six years. Hle then returned to Frank- lin Township, where he. conducted a farm near his own on shares for six years, and also the Cox farm for seven years. In 1896 he bought out most of the heirs to his present property, on which he has since continued. Mr. Bliler's success tells its own lesson of the value of perseverance and industry. He is a man who commands the respect of his neigh- bors, and has a wide cirele of personal friends. In the best sense of the word, Mr. Bliler is a self-made man, having fought his way, al- most unaided, from the bottom of the lad- der.

In August, 1870, Mr. Bliler was married to Amanda Wilson, who is a daughter of Isaac Wilson. Of this union there have been born twelve children, namely: Charles, who died in 1902; Elsie, who married M. High, and died in 1892: Ellie, who married John Summer- man : Della, became the wife of George Kep- plinger ; Milton, who married Lucy MeCarty; Edward, who lost his life in the Spanish- Amerean War; William, who married Flora Steinbangh; Newton, Gertrude, Lloyd and Trene, the last mentioned of whom died at the age of seven years; and Dora, who died when one year old.

DAVID D. HOLLINGER, one of the rep- resentative farmers of Summit County, Ohio, whose 47-aere farm is located in Franklin Township. was born Jannary 9, 1843, at Man.

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chester, Summit County, Ohio, and is a son of Jacob and Barbara (Dailey ) Hollinger.

Jacob Hollinger, grandfather of David D., came to Ohio from Pennsylvania with his first wife, and entered the land from the gov- ernment. Both his wives died in Ohio, and Mr. Hollinger then removed to Indiana, where his death oeeurred at the home of his eldest daughter, when over seventy years old. He had a large family, Jacob, the father of Hiram, being a child of the first union. His twin brother, Michael, was well known in this seetion, and died in Michigan, whenee he had removed with his family. There was another set of twins, one of whom died young, while the other, Joseph, grew up an invalid, and was given the forty-seven-acres farm now in the possession of David D. Hollinger. This property was held by Joseph Hollinger as long as he lived, and then went to Michael, who later sold it out of the family, but it was later purchased by Jaeob Hollinger, brother of David D., the latter of whom acquired it by trade.

Jacob Hollinger, father of David D., was reared on his father's farm, and later bought the old home place, on which he built a brick house. He spent the remainder of his life there, with the exception of a few years on the Judge Hoy farm in Manchester, and was con- sidered the most successful member of the family, having 200 acres in the home tract, 160 acres in Kansas and thirteen acres at Clinton. it all being valued at about $35,000. Mr. Hollinger was married (first) to Barbara Dailey, who was born near Manchester, Ohio. and who was a daughter of Anthony Dailey. one of the pioneers of Summit County. She «lied when about thirty years of age, having been the mother of the following children : Joseph, Michael. David Dailey, Jacob, Levi, who resides at Barberton; Amanda, who was the wife of Jacob Weyggandt: Hattie. who married L. F. Baker: Josiah, who died at the home of David D .; Uriah, a twin brother of Josiah. and Barbara, all of whom are now de- ceased. except David D. and Levi. After the death of his first wife Mr. Hollinger was. mar- ried (seeond) to a Mrs. Griffiths, who had two

children by a former marriage-Samantha and Lucy, the latter of whom married Rev. Kelser, and both are now deceased. Two children were born to Mr. Hollinger and his second wife, namely: Warren, of Clinton; and Minnie, of Akron. Mr. Hollinger lived to the age of fifty-five years, and his second wife survived him for a long period.

David D. Hollinger was taken by his par- ents to the old home farm when he was but six years of age, and here he grew to inanhood, attending the district schools and assisting his father in the field. For a short time he worked around the coal banks, but he finally secured his present farm by trade from his brother, Joseph, and here he has earried on general farming. Mr. Hollinger is a first- class, practical farmer, and uses modern ma- chinery in his work. Under his methods the land produces abundantly.

In April, 1864, Mr. Hollinger was united in marriage with Mary Housman, who was born on the Manchester Road, near the Hol- linger home. Her father was Jaeob Housman, one of the early settlers of Ohio, to which state he came with his parents from Penn- sylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. Hollinger there have been born three children, namely: Wal- ter, who resides at Barberton; Lloyd, who lives at home; and Charles, who lives near his father's place, married Mary Sowers. and has one child. Myron. In polities, Mr. Hollinger is a Republiean, and he has always taken a good citizen's interest in publie affairs. Fra- ternally, he belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees. With his family, he belongs to the United Brethren Church.

C. M. HUMPHREY, M. D., physician and surgeon. at Akron, who has been a resident of this city, and engaged in the active practice of his profession sinee the fall of 1882. was born at Hudson, Summit County. Ohio, De- cember 30, 1858.

Dr. Humphrey was reared at Peninsula, where he attended school. going from there to Oberlin College for a short time and sub- sequently entering the medical department of the Western Reserve University, where he was

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graduated with his degree in 1882. Ile is a valued member of the Summit County, the Sixth Councilor District and the Ohio State Medical Societies. Ile enjoys a large prac- tice and is numbered with the able scientific men of this city.

In 1881 Dr. Humphrey was married to Millie M. Crisick, and they have two chil- dren : Lionel C. and Gertrude A., the latter residing at home. Lionel C. Humphrey graduated from the Akron High School and spent several years studying art in different colleges and then located in the Rose Building at Cleveland, where he deals in works of art.

Dr. Humphrey is a substantial citizen, and is a stockholder in the Logan Sewer Pipe Works at Logan, Ohio.

HENRY ROBINSON was one of the best- known pioneer business men of Akron, and was the last survivor of one of the honorable old business firms that had added prestige to this city as a manufacturing center. Mr. Robinson was born April 27, 1844, in Fenton, Staffordshire, England, and died at his beau- tiful home in Akron, September 21, 1905, aged a little over sixty-two years.

Mr. Robinson was four years old when his parents came to America, settling at East Liverpool, Ohio, for a short period, and re- moving to Akron in 1850. He had the ad- vantage offered by the public schools in the way of education, but in boyhood he began to learn the pottery trade, and with the manu- facture of pottery he was concerned through the entire period of his business activity. In

1855 he became associated with his brothers, Thomas and William Robinson, and his brothers-in-law, Richard Whitmore, and J. B. Manton, in the manufacture of Rockingham yellow ware and stoneware, and was later ad- mitted to partnership. being the youngest member of the firm. and the last to pass away. One of a family of six children, he is only survived by a sister, Harriet, widow of the late J. B. Manton.

The manufacturing concern in which Mr. Robinson was interested and in which he ac- cumulated a large fortune, began business as

Whitmore, Robinson and Company, with quarters on the corner of East Market Street and Case Avenue. At a later date the firm was merged with the Robinson Clay Product Company, manufacturers of clay products, now operating nine plants, five of which are located at Akron, with another in course of erection, and giving employment to more than 1500 men. Of this large enterprise Henry Robinson was president from its in- ception, and was the able director of its poli- cies. He was closely identified with a number of the leading industries in other cities, and was connected officially with the Second Na- tional Bank of Akron.

On May 22, 1879, Mr. Robinson was married to Mary Cotter Myers. Mrs. Robin- son and two children, Elizabeth and Eber, survive.

The death of Mr. Robinson was a distinct loss to his city, for he not only was the assist- ant founder of a great business, but he also took an active part in forwarding many of the public enterprises for which Akron is known today. Although he never courted the regard of the public eye, his influenee was felt in widely varying fields of activity. His chari- ties were so many that their entire scope was known only to himself. He was one of the original benefactors of the Akron City Hos- pital and he was always foremost in the movements of practical benevolence, which re- lieved distress in his or other cities. For many years he was an active worker in the First Presbyterian Church, of which he was a trustee. and was chairman of the building committee which completed the crection of the present stately edifice.

TION. CHARLES O. HALE, one of the leading citizens of Bath Township, has been prominently identified with the agricultural interests and with public affairs in Summit County ever since reaching his majority. His residence is on his finely improved farm of 200 acres, which is favorably situated about nine miles north of Akron. Mr. Hale was born March 14. 1850, on his present farm. and is a son of Andrew and Jane (Mather)

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Hale, and a grandson of Jonathan Hale, who settled in the wilderness in 1810.

Jonathan llale was born at Glastonbury, Connecticut, where he acquired a farm which he valued at $1,200. This property he traded for 500 acres of wild land in Bath Township, Summit County, Ohio. A man by the name of Miller had settled on this land, but as he had obtained no title, Jonathan Ilale seeured the land and became the first permanent set- tler by paying Miller for the few improve- ments he had made. He hved on this traet to the end of his life, dying in 1855, aged seventy-seven years. He was married (first) to Merey Piper and they had five children, namely: Sophronia, William, Pamelia, An- drew and James M. Jonathan Hale was married (seeond) to Sarah Mather, who was a widow with three children-George, Jane and Betsey. To this seeond marriage three more children were born, namely: Jonathan, Merey and Samuel C.

Andrew Hale was born on the farm above mentioned in 1811 and was the first white child born in Bath Township. Ile grew up amid pioneer surroundings, developing into a man of worthy character and spending the whole of his life in the home in which he was born. He married Jane Mather, who was the daughter of his step-mother by her first mar- riage. She still survives and resides on the homestead farm with her son, Charles O .. having reached the age of eighty-six years. She has seen wonderful development of all this section. having come here in girlhood. Andrew Hale died in July, 1884, and is sur- vived, not only by his widow. but also by all of their six children, as follows: Pamelia L., who is the widow of William C. Ovatt; So- phronia J., who is the wife of S. J. Ritchie: Clara. who is the widow of L. II. Ashmun : Charles O .; Alida. who married T. Hum- phrey; and John P.

Charles O. Hale obtained his primary edu- cation in the distriet schools and then became a student at Richfield. Oberlin and Hnd-on. completing his education at Oberlin College in 1870. He then returned home and man- aged the farm until the death of his father.

when he came into possession of a part of it. flere he has given attention to farming and fruit-growing and is also interested in sugar- making, having one of the best equipped sugar camps in the state, including some twenty aeres.

Mr. IIale has been one of the leading Re- publieans of this section of Summit County for many years and has served in a number of the township offices. In 1891 he was elected a member of the State Legislature, in which he served two terms, during the four years proving himself a faithful and efficient public servant.

On May 20, 1875, Mr. Hale was married to Pauline Cranz, an accomplished lady who was then a popular teacher in the Akron pub- lie schools. She is a daughter of William F. and Mary (Drushal) Cranz. Mr. and Mrs. Ifale are members of the Congregational Church, in which he is a deacon.

EMIL GAMMETER, one of Akron's promi- nent business inen, is a member of the firm of Schumacher & Gammeter, the city's lead- ing tea, coffee. spice and china firin, was born in Switzerland. in 1866, and was brought to Akron in infaney, where he was reared and educated

When he left school while yet in boyhood. Mr. Gammeter worked for a short time with the Diamond Match Company and later with the Werner Printing Company. In 1880 he entered the employ of the Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company and remained seven years. after which he spent three years on the road repre- senting the National Biscuit Company, in the meantime considering plans to enter into business on his own account. Those were brought to a satisfactory focus in 1890, when, in association with Mr. Schumacher. he bought out the Laidlaw Brothers and estab- lished the firm of Schumacher and Gammeter. This firm deals both wholesale and retail, handling teas, coffees, spices and china, and an extensive business is done in roasting eof- fees, the plant having a capacity for roasting 12.000 pounds of the fragrant berry weekly. Quite a large amount of business is also done

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in roasting peanuts. In additon to carefully looking after the interests of this business, Mr. Gammeter occupies the position and performis the duties of treasurer of the Black Drug and Chemical Company.

In 1890 Mr. Gammeter was ma ried to Lounettie L. Black, who is a native of Ak- ron, and they have two daughters, Muriel and Constance.

Mr. Gammeter takes an active interest in civic affairs. For two years he served ably as president of the Akron Chamber of Com- merce, and during this time he gave freely of time and money for the purpose of advanc- ing the city's interests. He is a worthy rep- resentative of the high standard of busines: integrity which the leading men of Akron strive to maintain.

WAYLAND S. HOUGHI. M. D., physician and surgeon, at Cuyahoga Falls, enjoys the distinction of being the oldest physician in practice at this place. his location here dating back to 1876. Dr. Hough was born at At- water. Portage County, Ohio, April 3. 1844. and is a son of Joel J. and Mary (Linn) Hough.

Dr. Hough belongs to an old colonial fam- ily which was established in Portage County prior to 1821 by his grandfather, Bazalia ITough, who came from New York and en- gaged there in agriculture. He lived to be cighty-three years old. Joel J. Hough. father of Dr. Hough, was born in Portage County. Ohio, in 1821. and died there at the age of fifty-four years. He was a merchant for many years, but during the latter part of his life was a druggist. His polities identified him with the Republican party and fraternal- ly he was a Mason. He married Mary Linn, whose father was born in Treland. Their children were: Wayland S., subject of this sketch : Lodema. who married John Holmes. of Huntington, Indiana; William, who is de- ceased : John, residing in Chicago; and Mary, who married Mund Card, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 124

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