Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 129

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 129

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Ransome M. Sanford was three years old when his parents moved to what is now the Terry farm. He went to the district schools during boyhood and when seventeen years of age he learned the carpenter's trade at New- ton Falls, where he remained at work for several years, although he always made the old farm his home as long as his mother re- tained the property. He has been one of the leading builders of this action, and can point to many substantial and bandsome structures to testify to his ability. Although he is over seventy-seven years of age. he is still working at his trade. For thirteen years he worked for Seymour, Strait & Company, engaged in building cheese factories.

On November 19. 1856. Mr. Sanford was married to Mary Harmon, who was born at Aurora, Ohio. The fifty-first anniversary of their wedding has but recently been cele- brated. They have four children, namely : llarmon, deceased. who married Jennie Doyle, also deceased, left two sons, two daugh- ters and a grandchild; Edward, residing at Columbus. married Clara Stover. and they have one son. Edward; Charles R., residing at Hudson, married Jennie Dodge: and Burt Sheldon, residing at Hudson, married Ruth II. Eby. and they have one son. Lawrence Eby. Mr. Sanford votes with the Republican party.

JOHN L. COMSTOCK. one of Richfield Township's retired farmers and substantial. public-spirited citizens, residing on his farm of 103 acres, was born near his present farm. in Summit County. Ohio. September 13. 1842. and is a son of Allen and Lydia (Mil- ler) Comstock.

The father of Mr. Comstock was born at Independence. Cuyahoga County. where he

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remained until about the time of his mar- riage, when he purchased farming land in Richfield Township. During the whole of his active life he engaged in farming and stock dealing. Ile died in 1856, aged forty years, leaving an estate of 340 acres to his family. Ile married Lydia Miller and they had nine children, namely: John L., Myron R. and Orrin M., Rosaline C., Laura J., Julia M., Warren E., George E. and Allah E. All are now dead but Rosaline C. and John L.

John L. Comstock obtained a district school and academic education and his occupation since has been farming. When his father's estate was settled he purchased 103 acres of the homestead farm, on which he continued to carry on general farming and bred short- horn cattle and Shropshire sheep. until he retired from active life in 1902. His land is well situated and very fertile, producing excellent crops of potatoes, wheat, corn, hay and oats. He kept usually about twenty-five head of cattle. Mr. Comstock carried on operations along modern lines and made use of the best machinery. He was one of the first agriculturists of this neighborhood to see the value of silos and has two on his farm, with dimensions of 12 by 12 and 27 feet deep. His buildings are kept in com- plete repair and they are substantial and suf- ficient for the needs of a first-class farm. Mr. Comstock has his farm under rental.

Mr. Comstock married Elizabeth Killefer, who died in 1900, aged fifty-eight years. She was a consistent member of the Congrega- tional Church. They had three children, namely: Allen L., residing at Waynesville, Ohio: and Harley M. and Warren E., both residing at Cleveland. In political sentiment Mr. Comstock is a Republican. IIe is not a politician, but he has served in township of- fices as occasions seemed to demand. He taught school two seasons and was director in his district for about forty years in succes- sion. and for many years was president of the Board of Education. He is a member of the Congregational Church and has been one of the trustees.

HARVEY LANCE, who resides on his well-improved farm of eighty-five acres of excellent farming land, situated in Norton Township, Summit County, was born in Chip- pewa Township, Wayne County, Ohio, March 20, 1848, and is a son of George and Eliza Jane (Richards) Lance.

The founder of the Lance family in Ohio was Abraham Lance, the grandfather of Har- vey, who came by wagon from Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, when his son George was a child of two years, and settled on a tract of 152 acres in Chippewa Township. Wayne County, on which he died, aged eighty-two years.

George Lance was reared to manhood on the above mentioned farm and succeeded to its possession. He disposed of a portion of this farm, and the remainder comprises the farm of his son Harvey. George Lance mar- ried Eliza Jane Richards, who was born in Wayne County, Ohio, and was a cousin of John R. Buchtel, who was the founder of Buchtel College at Akron. To the above mar- riage eleven children were born. George Lance died March 5, 1881, aged sixty-four years, and was survived by his widow until January 5, 1887, her age being sixty-nine years.

Harvey Lance was reared on the old farm settled by his grandfather, and attended the schools in his neighborhood during the period of boyhood. Farming has always been his occupation. In 1879 he was married to Flora Kepler, and they have had five children. Those surviving are: Cleber Leroy, residing in Me- dina County, Ohio, a machinist, married Bes- sie Bear, and they have one child, Gladys Opal: Jesse Richard, residing on the home farm: and Myrtle May, residing at home. Those deceased were: Gertrude, who lived but five days, and Roland Earl, who died aged eleven months.

Mr. and Mrs. Lance resided at Johnson's Corners for two years following their mar- riage, Mr. Lance having purchased a farm there which he subsequently sold to Norman Ware. In the spring of 1883 they settled ou the farm they now occupy, and in August.

SALEM KILE

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1887, they built their present comfortable residence. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lanee are re- ligious people, Mr. Lance being a member of the Disciples Church and Mrs. Lance and the children of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

SALEM KILE, president of the Kile Man- ufacturing Company, and one of Akron's firmly established business men, was born in 1839, in Canada, but was reared in Ashta- bula County, Ohio, where his parents located in 1848. Ile was one of a family of eleven children.

Mr. Kile attended school during boyhood as opportunity offered, and early became in- tered in the lumber business. For forty years he engaged in the manufacture of sneker rods for use in the oil regions, and he continued his lumber operations in AAshtabula and Trumbull Counties until 1895. when he came to Akron. At that date they moved the bend- ing works from West Farmington to Akron establishing the Thorpe and Kile Company here, for the manufacture of shafts and poles, the firm name later being changed to Kile and Ford. In the winter of 1902-3 he sold out to the Pioneer Pole and Shaft Company. and in association with his sons. George and Wil- liam Kile, established the Kile Manufactur- ing Company. for the manufacturing of hoops, staves and sneker rods. This company has one of the finest bend sawmills in this section, which has a capacity for cutting about 3.000.000 feet of lumber per year. The mill has over 100 names on its pay roll and keeps fifteen teams busy. In addition to the plant at Akron, Mr. Kile and his son George have a plant at Barberton for the manufacture of insulators and electrical supplies. He is inter- ested also in other Akron enterprises, being a stockholder in the Pioneer Pole and Shaft Company and in the People's Savings Bank.

In 1862, Mr. Kile was married to Carolina Heath. and they have a family of six chil- dren. namely: Orra, who married E. E. Northway. who is secretary of the Standard Tool Company. of Cleveland: George H. and William L .. who are associated with the Kile

Manufacturing Company; Flora, who mar- ried Dr. Ilillman, residing at Akron; Mary J .. who married W. II. Lantern, of Shreve, Wayne County, Ohio; and Sarah G., who married Dr. Underwood, residing at Akron.

For a period covering thirty years, Mr. Kile has been an Odd Fellow. From the age of twenty-three years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and for thir- ty-three years was superintendent of a Sun- day School. He is president of the Board of Trustees of the Woodland Methodist Episco- pal Church, and is also president of the Board of Trustees of the Young Men's Christian As- sociation ; also a member of the Board of Trustees of Mount Union College Alliance, Ohio. In 1904 he was sent as a delegate from his church to the General Conference at Los Angeles, California, and while in the far West spent two months visiting various points of interest, including the National Park. In September 1907, he was again elected a mem- bor of the General Conference to meet in Bal- timore in May, 1908. He is a man of ster- ling character and bears his years lightly. Both his personal and business reputation are unblemished.

GEORGE W. WUCHITER, one of Tall- madge Township's well known citizens, resides on his farm of thirteen and one-fourth acres, which is widely known as a fine stock farm, having much more than a local reputation. Mr. Wuchter was born in Norton Township, Summit County, Ohio, August 26. 1848. and is a son of William and Aurilla (Cahow) Wuchter.

The father of Mr. Wuchter came to Ohio from Pennsylvania, with his father, John Wuchter, who in early days lived at Stowe Corners. Later he moved to Norton Town- ship, where he owned land and he became a man of substance. He died in 1867. aged seventy-three years. He was twice married. Two sons were born to him and his wife. Mary. namely. William and Eli. The lat- ter lived and died in Norton Township. where his widow still resides.

William Wuchter was a young man when

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he accompanied his parents to Norton Town- ship, where he lived many years, finally sell- nig his farm and moving to Jolinson's Cor- ners. He died May 30, 1898, aged seventy- five years. Ile married Aurilla Cahow, who survived until 1905, dying in her seventieth year. Her father brought his family from Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, to Summit County, Ohio, by means of a wagon and an ox-team, and lived to see his fortunes so in- creased that he could have used any mode of transportation back again that he desired.

From the old homes in Pennsylvania, both the Wuchter and Cahow families brought many articles of household utility, and George W. Wuchter owns and highly prizes a chair that has been in the Cahow family for over 150 years. The children of William and Aurilla (Cahow) Wuchter were: George W., residing in Tallmadge Township; Mary, who married Ephriam Marsh, residing at Dixon, Tennessee; Aurilla, who married Joseph Knecht, residing in the State of Washing- ton; Helen, who married Burt Dilsworth, re- siding at Barberton; Eli, who married Calista Flickinger, residing at Johnson's Corners; Lottie, who married Charles Heller, residing at Barberton; Lydia, who married Frederick Tincum, residing at Fairlawn; and others who died in infancy.

George W. Wuchter attended the district schools of Norton Township, where he grew to manhood. His occupation has been along agricultural lines and he has become a man of note as a raiser of fine stock. Te resided for four years in Green Township, and for a time in Coventry Township, and came to Tallmadge Township in 1879. In 1881 he purchased the farm on which he has resided ever since, which he has vastly improved and brought to a high state of cultivation. Mr. Wuchter has made a specialty of raising Berk- shire hogs, but has stock of all kinds, from imported strains, which he has exhibited at agricultural expositions all over the country, including Buffalo, New York. Detroit, Mich- igan, the State Fair at Columbus, Ohio, at Wheeling, West Virginia, and other points, and he has taken many premiums. To see

his fine stock bearing off the coveted blue rib- bon is no new sensation to him. Visitors of note frequently are the guests of Mr. Wuchter, as his farm has an established repu- tation, but probably no more distinguished ones were ever entertained here than on the occasion when President Roosevelt and Vice President Fairbanks spent an enjoyable half hour with him, while awaiting the train to convey them to the funeral of the late Mrs. MeKinley. The visit impressed President Roosevelt so pleasurable that on his return to Washington he hastened to write a letter to Mr. Wuchter, giving expression to his sen- timents, and enclosing an autograph-photo- graph of himself. With a great deal of pride. Mr. Wuchter displays these tokens of the great executive's appreciation, and has both neatly framed.

On November 7, 1871, Mr. Wuchter was married to Sarah lines, who was born in Carroll County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Henderson) Ilines. The father of Mrs. Wuchter died in the army dur- ing the Civil War. He was a member of Company F. 85th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The mother of Mrs. Wuchter died when she was four years old. Mr. and Mrs. Wuchter have had the following children : William, residing on Buchtel Avenue. Ak- ron, married Mary Klinger, and they have one daughter. Ruth: John M., married Allie Kline, of Akron, residing at home: Bessie. who married John M. Smith, residing at Akron; Lola A., who married Frederick W. Kirk, residing at Youngstown ; Arline S .. who married Jacob Kuhn, residing at Akron. has one daughter, Alda: and Russell F .. residing at home.

TIENRY WILLETT ITOWE, A. B., M. 1. No history of Summit County would be in any way complete without extended mention of the Howe family, which has been so prom- inently identified with its growth and devel- opment through several generations. \n honored representative of this family is found in TIenry Willett Howe, residing at Tra, Northampton Township. He was born in

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Bath Township, Summit County, Ohio, within sight of his present home, June 29, 1828, and is a son of Richard and Roxanna (Jones) Howe.

Richard Howe was born in St. Mary's County, Maryland, March 8, 1799. He had but meager educational advantages, as his father died when he was quite young. At the age of ten years he accompanied his mother to Ohio, settling in Franklin Coun- ty, but her second marriage deprived him of a home. After leaving his mother, he went to live with Lucas Sullivan, a large land- owner and a surveyor, and soon made his way into the confidence and esteem of his employer, who provided him with books, which, in those days, were of considerable cost. The boy appreciated what was being done for him and studied hard by the light of the evening fire, acquiring a good knowl- edge of the elemental faets of learning and also of surveying and engineering, and had his home with Mr. Sullivan until he became of legal age. He then secured work as an en- gineer in the construction of the Ohio Canal, and while in pursuance of his duties he be- came well acquainted with William H. Price, the leading engineer on the construction work of the Erie Canal.

This acquaintance developed into friend- ship and Mr. Price, recognizing the mechan- ical ability of Mr. Howe, and wishing to as- sist him, gave him a book containing pencil drafts of work used in the building of the Erie Canal, loeks and other mechanieal con- trivances which had, as yet, never come under Mr. Howe's observation. This book was of inestimable benefit to him. For a period cov- ering thirty years. Mr. Howe was in the em- ploy of the state of Ohio, the eonneetion being severed by his resignation in the spring of 1850, in order to visit California. This was the period of the gold fever, and a company of enthusiasts had been organized to cross the great plains to the golden land, and Mr. Howe was elected captain of this company. He started on the long journey with the horse and sulkey that he had used in his work on the canal, both being well seasoned, and sub-

sequently arrived in California with the horse still alive.

At. Sacramento, California, Mr. Howe en- gaged in a commission business with Samuel 1. Wheeler, under the firm name of Wheeler, Howe & Company, he having known Mr. Wheeler in Ohio. He built a warehouse at Lock No. 1, Akron, which he had rented to Mr. Wheeler, who subsequently died in Cali- fornia. Other members of the original party from Ohio either died, fell siek or became discouraged and, as all the responsibility fell on his shoulders, Mr. Howe wisely closed out his interests at Sacramento. Soon after he entered into the employ of the United States government, and much of his work in the way of surveying and engineering proved of the greatest value for years afterward. Ile ran the base line from Mt. Diablo south to the Pacific Ocean and from that line all lands of the southern half of the state of California are still surveyed. He also laid out and superintended the construction of a mining race for the washing of gold, but finally be- came wearied of the crude civilization of the far West and longed for the comforts of home, consequently he sold his interests and re- turned to Ohio. The return journey was made by way of Panama, where he contracted fever, from which he suffered for two years. To name all the important work subsequently done for his native state and particularly for Summit County in the way of his profes- sion, would fill many pages. He was widely known and is still reealled by the older gen- eration as a man of remarkable vitality and ability. He continued to engage in profes- sional duties up to the time of his death. For two years he had charge of Nugent's section of the canal construction, while Mr. Nugent was serving in Congress. He superintended the change in the connection of the lower end of the canal with the Ohio River. In 1825 he bought 400 acres of land where Tra Station on the Valley Railroad is now located, and he also owned eighty acres on Summit Lake. in South Akron. The Howe school building at Akron was named in honor of Richard Howe and his son. Henry Willett Howe. the latter

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of whom was a member of the school board for six years, dating from 182. Richard Howe was a Mason and an Odd Fellow. Hle was a Whig in politics, but no active poli- tician. lle died March 19, 1872.

Richard Howe married Roxanna Jones, who died February 14, 1875. She was a daughter of Sylvanus Jones, who was a min- ute man in the Revolutionary War, married a daughter of Captain Alden Sears, who was a descendant of Priscilla and John Alden, and they settled at Bristol, Ontario County, New York. There Mrs. Howe was born January 18, 1805. She taught school in Bath Town- ship, Summit County, prior to her marriage. There were seven children born to this un- ion, namely: Henry Willett; Charles Rich- ard, who is deceased; Nathan J., who is de- ceased; Emily Barrett, who married James Ingersoll, residing at Chicago, Illinois; Mary Ann, who married John Wolf, residing at Akron; and two others who are deceased. Both Richard Howe and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and in the First Methodist Episcopal Church at Akron appears a beautiful memorial window in honor of Mrs. Ilowe. For fifty years she was an active worker in church and Sunday school, a lovely Christian woman.

Henry Willett Howe attended the public schools at Akron and also was instructed in his earlier years in select schools chosen by his wise and careful mother, and there he was prepared for Oberlin College, where he was graduated in 1849 in the classical course, with the degrees from this institution of A. B. and M. A. For about two years after the close of his collegiate course he took charge of his father's contracting business while the latter was in California, and then entered upon the study of law with Judge James S. Carpenter. In 1854 he was admitted to the bar and entered into a law partnership with Judge Carpenter, under the firm name of Car- penter & Howe, this association lasting until Judge Carpenter went on the bench, when Mr. Howe continued to practice alone. It was while attending to legal work in connec- tion with certain patents that he became in-

terested in agricultural implements, and sub- sequently engaged in the manufacture of the same under the firm name of Hawkins & llowe, a partnership which lasted for ten vears. In 1870 Mr. Howe bought a manufac- turing property at Richfield and entered into partnership with a Mr. Hinman, the firm being Howe & Hinman, which engaged in the manufacture of spokes, handles of all kinds, axles and manufactured lumber, and as his manufacturing business increased Mr. Howe gradually dropped his law practice, thereby regaining the health which close pro- fessional work had endangered. After a suc- cessful period, he sold his manufacturing in- terests, and in 1881 he settled on his present farm, which originally contained 200 acres, but has been reduced to 100. For a long time Mr. Howe rented out the larger part of his estate, but in late years he has developed an active interest in raising fine stock. IIis father brought the first blooded Durham stock into Summit County.

Mr. Howe has been closely connected with all the progressive movements made in this section during the last half century, in edu- cational circles and has been a more or less prominent factor in politics. Originally a Whig and an Abolitionist, he identified him- self with the Republican party, but has never been a seeker for political preferment. HIc served three years as a member of the Akron city council, and in 1852 he was elected a member of the Board of Education at Akron and served six years as its secretary without compensation. He was one of the officials at the laying of the corner stone of the first grammar school of any size and was prac- tically its superintendent. For six years he was county and city examiner of teachers. For about twenty years he served also as a justice of the peace, both in Richfield and Northampton Townships.

Mr. Howe married Isadore C. Bell. who is a daughter of Edwin Bell, of Portland, Con- necticut, and three of their four children still survive: Edwin, who is station agent at Ira: Frank Richard, residing at Darrowville, Sum-

C. F. CHAPMAN

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mit County : and Abbey, who is postmaster at Ira.

In 1887 Frank R. Howe bought a small job printing press, making his otlice in a build- ing on his father's farm, in what is now the postoffice building. His carly work was the printing of supplies for school teachers and he carried on his business under the style of the Howe Publishing Company. After his marriage he started a more ambitious business at Darrowville, under the name of the School Publishing Company, which he still contin- ues. Ilis office is equipped with two large cylinder newspaper presses, two job presses, a power paper cutter, folder and binder. all of which are run by a gasoline engine. His publications include a small newspaper. The Entertainment, which issues specialties for Fri- day afternoon exercises at the public schools and thousands of amateur plays. A postoffice has been established at 'Darrowville. Mr. Howes' brother-in-law, Edward Shirely. being postmaster. Frank R. Howe married Nina Danforth, who is a daughter of Milton Dan- forth. of Darrowville.

At the age of eighty years, Henry W. Howe is serving in the office of president of the Association of Lincoln Voters.

Mr. Howe joined the Odd Fellows at Ak- ron when a young man, where he also became a Mason. During his residence in Richfield Township he united with the Richfield and Pomona Grange and for fourteen years he was secretary of the Summit County Grange. In 1850 he assisted in organizing the first agricultural fair of Summit County and in the same year was elected a director and for eight years continned to be identified with this enterprise, either as a director or as soc- retary. In his religious views Mr. Howe is ex- tremely liberal. Personally he is a man of fine presence. Time has treated him kindly as may be seen by his clear eyes, which do not require the help of glasses. his erect stature and the vigor of every faculty.

C. F. CHAPMAN. local manager of the American Sewer Pipe Company at Akron. was born in this city. in 1852. and is a son of the

late Edgar T. Chapman, who was an early set- tler and later one of Akron's most prominent citizens. In early days he was postmaster of Middlebury and later was extensively engaged in the stone-ware manufacturing industry.

C. F. Chapman was reared and educated in Middlebury, now East Akron. After leay- ing school he learned the pottery business and worked at the stone-ware trade for twelve years. In August. 1881. he became connect d with the Akron Iron Company, at Buchtel, Ohio, where he remained until August. 1884. He then became associated with the Akron & Ilill Sewer Pipe Company, which in March, 1900. was merged into the American Sewer Pipe Company, since which time he has been local manager. ITis long experience in this line has made him a very efficient man for the position. He has. besides, other business interests and is one of the representative busi- ness men of AAkron.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 129

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