Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 39

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 39

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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

February 1, 1863, to IHilton Head, South Carolina, where they endured all the dangers and privations of the siege, sustaining a heavy loss in the disastrous assault on Fort Wagner, July 18, 1863. In this engagement Colonel Voris was seriously wounded in the side, which necessitated his return home for rest and recuperation.

At the end of sixty days Colonel Voris re- joined his regiment, which, in February, 1864, re-enlisted as veterans and returned to Ohio on furlough. Early in May, 1864, the regiment joined General Butler's forces at Bermuda Hundred, and on the 8th was sent to guard the left flank of the Tenth Corps, while destroying the railroad from Chester Station to Petersburg. On the 19th they had a desperate encounter with the enemy. los- ing sixty-seven officers and men in killed and wounded, but holding their ground against four successive charges. For their conduct on this day Colonel Voris and his command were highly complimented by General Terry, the Colonel being recommended for promotion as a brigadier-general of volunteers. The rest of the history of this regiment to the close of the war was one of glory and honor. May 20, 1864. in a magnificent charge on the enemy's lines, the Sixty-seventh lost sixty-nine officers and men killed and wounded, but ac- complished the object of the charge-to re- cover a portion of our lines which had been captured by the rebels. In this engagement the rebel. General W. H. S. Walker was cap- tured. Colonel Voris relieving him of his sword, which he afterwards retained as a trophy. In August, at Deep Bottom, four companies of the Sixty-seventh lost nearly one-third of their men in a charge on the enemy's rifle-pits, which, however. they eap- tured before the rebels could reload their guns. During that year the regiment was un- der fire 200 times, and, it was said by White- law Reid. that "out of 600 muskets taken to the front in the spring. three-fifths were laid aside during the year on account of eas- malties."

In the spring of 1865 the Sixty-seventh was actively engaged until the collapse of the re-

bellion. Its record shows gallant service at Fort Gregg, Petersburg, April, where Colonel Voris was the first Union officer to enter the fort, and at Appomattox, where the Colonel received a wound in the left arm from a frag- ment of a rebel shell. "Brevetted Brigadier- General in 1864, and Major-General in 1865, on the elose of hostilities General Voris was assigned to command the politico-military district of South Anna. Virginia, and, with his regiment, to perform garrison and police duty. For six months and more the general performed the arduous and perplexing duties of the position so satisfactorily to all parties as to call forth the following commendatory notice from the Charlottesville Daily Chron- icle, of strong rebel proclivities: 'General Voris has conducted himself in command here in the kindest and most considerate man- ner, and has shown himself an energetic, faithful, and just officer. He leaves with the best wishes of our people.'"

From the close of his army service until the end of his life, which closed July 28, 1904, General Voris was actively engaged in professional work, and he was honored by an election to the Common Pleas Bench, for Summit, Medina, and Lorain Counties, No- vember 4, 1890. He was also a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1873. in the deliberations of which he bore a conspicuous and honorable part.

On June 20, 1853, Judge Voris married Lydia Allyn, who died March 16, 1876. leav- ing three children. namely: Edwin F .. now senior member of the well-known law firm of Voris, Vaughan & Vanghan, of Akron: Lucy, who became the wife of Charles Baird; and Bessie C., who married William T. Saw- ver. General Voris married. for his second wife. February 21, 1882, Mrs. Lizzie HI. Kel- ler. a daughter of the late Judge C. G. Ladd. Mrs. Voris who survives her distinguished husband, resides on Diagonal Road. Perkins Hill, Akron.

HON. NEWELL D. TIBBALS, senior member of the law firm of Tibbals & Frank, at Akron. formerly state senator, and judge

HON. NEWELL D. TIBBALS

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of the Court of Common Pleas, has been a prominent factor in public affairs in Summit County for many years. He is a native of Ohio, and was born at. Deerfield, Portage County. Ohio, September 18, 1833, and is a son of Alfred M. and Martha (Swem) Tib- bals.

The parents of Judge Tibbals were pioneers in Portage County. The father was born in Massachusetts and the mother in New Jersey, and both, in their youth, had accompanied older members of the family to this section, where the whole of their subsequent lives were passed. They were among the carly founders of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They be- came people of substance and reared their chil- dren in comparative comfort.

Newell D. Tibbals completed his education in 1853 at MeLain Academy, then a noted school at Salem, Ohio. Two years of contin- nous study of the law prepared him for ad- mittance in 1855 to the bar, and he entered upon practice at Akron. In 1860 he was elected proseenting attorney, and two years later he was re-elected. and in 1865 he was elected city solicitor, being the first incum- bent of that office. While advancing thus rapidly in his profession, he was also becom- ing a valuable factor in the Republican party, which was proven by his election as state sen- ator to represent Portage and Summit Coun- ties, and his subsequent service in the notable sessions of 1866 and 1867. In 1875 he was called to the bench, being elected judge of the Court of Common Pleas, for the second sub- division of the Fourth Judicial District of Ohio, to which honorable po-ition he was re- elected in 1880. Judge Tibbals continued to ably perform his official duties until the spring of 1883, when he resigned in order to devote his attention to the active practice of law.

Judge Tibbals was married October 22, 1856. to Eney A. Morse, born at Randolph. Portage County. Ohio, July 9, 1835, who died at Akron. October 28. 1894. She was a lady of beautiful Christian character and innumer- able virtues. An admirable mother and lov- ing wife, her heart was so large that her gen-

tle mini-trations went out to all who were unhappy or in need in any circle.

She was at the head of many charitable organizations, both during the Civil War and subsequently, and was the founder of many benevolent enterprises, which still prosper and remember her with affection and admiration. Judge Tibbals and wife had seven children and the following still survive: Mrs. Martha 1. Day, Mrs. Jessie A. Hoover, Mrs. Ger- trude 1. Stanley, Newell L. and Ralph Waldo.

Although Judge Tibbals has always been a man with landable ambitions, he has never permitted the high honors conferred on him to close his eyes to loyalty to his country, in- terest in his city or devotion to his home. In 1864 he served as sergeant in Company F, 164th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, at Wash- ington, D. C. Later he was commissioned by Governor John Brough as major of the Fifty- fourth Battalion, Ohio National Guard. In 1886 he was appointed judge advocate for the Department of Ohio, (. A. R., and in 1890 was reappointed and made aide-de-camp to Commander-in-Chief R. A. Alger; also was on the staff of Commander-in-Chief R. B. Brown in 1906. Since the close of the Civil War he has constantly interested himself in the affairs of Buckley Post. No. 12, G. A. R .. at Akron, and in 1894 was elected its com- mander. In that year he was the Post's ren- resentative at the National Encampment held at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Since 1887 he has been associated in the practice of law with Mr. J. C. Frank.

HON. HENRY C. SANFORD, an able member of the Summit County bar, and one of Akron's most enterprising citizens, is a conspicuous example of the value of self-help, through which only he has attained his pres- ent position in life. He was born at Portland. Maine, September 11, 1833.

His father, John Sanford. was a native of Maine and an inventivo genius, being granted several patents, among which were those for a fanning mill. straw board. a journal for redneing friction, a pulley power, a tide mill (one of the most novel) and several others

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that came into practical use. He married Priscilla Delano, by whom he had nine chil- dren. The Delanos are of Huguenot ances- try, and are descended from the family of that name from which came General Grant. The first of them to come to this country made the passage in the sailing vessel "Fortune," landing at Plymouth, Massachusetts, where the mother of the subject of this sketch was born.

When he was but nine years old, Henry C. Sanford's father died, and from that time until reaching the age of eighteen he made his home with a brother, at Manchester, New Hampshire. During his school days he not only kept up with his classes in the Kendall Academy, but entered upon an apprenticeship in the Manchester Locomotive Works. When eighteen years old he came to Ohio. For a number of years thereafter he followed rail- roading, increasing his knowledge and receiv- ing steady promotion until he was one of the most capable engineers to be found on any of the various systems. In the latter part of his railroad career he was located for some time at Kent, Ohio, as engine dispatcher for the Erie Railroad. He also had charge of ordi- nary repairs on locomotives at that point. Dur- ing his career as a railroad man he enconn- tered many dangers and had many trying ex- periences. One such occurred near Plymouth. when he was engineer for the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy road, which in these days might have won him a Carnegie medal. It was a daring act which endangered his own life, to run his train into another for the pur- pose of crippling it, and thus prevent it from being engulfed at Crooked Creek, where he had discovered the bridge had been washed away.

Before giving up railroading Mr. Sanford had procured books and begun the study of law. Every spare moment was taken advan- tage of. Sometimes he might have been seen sitting on the foot-board of his engine with a law book in his hand. His determined efforts were rewarded by success. He completed the study of his chosen profession at the law school of the University of Michigan. Ann

Arbor, where he was a student for one year preceding his admission to the bar. When he came to Akron, in 1870, he was already recognized as an able attorney, and since then he has both added largely to his professional reputation and has also served in publie life with conspicuous success. Eleeted prosecuting attorney, he served in that important office in 1873 and 1874, and in 1879 and 1880 as city solicitor. Not content with this, his fellow- citizens still further showed their appreciation of his ability and trustworthiness by electing him to the State Legislature, in which he served two full terms, covering the years from 1888 to 1891, inclusive. IIe is still engaged in the active practice of law, having an office in Room 1, Arcade Block, Akron.

Aside from his law practice and public service, Mr. Sanford has ever been a useful and public-spirited citizen. IIe has been per- sonally connected with the promotion of many worthy business enterprises, whose suc- cess has contributed largely to the prosperity of the city. He was one of the two promoters of the Peoples' Savings Bank, and for some years a member of its board of directors. In the fall of 1907 he organized the Commercial Savings Bank of Akron, with a capital stock of $100,000.00, which institution is located in the building owned by him, at the corner of Main and Exchange Streets.

Mr. Sanford was married, January 10,1857, to Emily J. Fairchild, of Amherst, Lorain County, Ohio. Mrs. Sanford died March 6, 1890, having borne her husband three chil- dren, namely: William H., a graduate of the Cincinnati Law School, who is engaged in the real estate business in Akron ; Burton I., who is now deceased; and May F., who for the past five years has had charge of the art de- partment at Buchtel College.

WILLIAM T. VAUGHAN. a member of the prominent law firm of Voris, Vaughan & Vaughan, of Akron. Ohio, was born in Cov- entry Township, Summit County, Ohio, in 1860, and is a son of Thomas and Catherine Vaughan, who was married in Treland, in 1848. His mother's maiden name was Cath-

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erine Callahan. They came to America from Ireland in the same year, and to Summit County in 1849, and engaged in farming in Coventry Township in 1850, where he resided until his death in 1892. His wife Catherine died in 1884. He took a prominent part in local politics and was well and favorably known in his locality. They reared a family of seven sons, namely: Maurice, who is con- nected with the freight department of the B. & O. Railroad Company, at Akron; Timothy, residing on the old farm; Thomas, who was a graduate of St. Charles, Md., died in 1892; William T., who is a middle member of the law firm of Voris, Vaughan & Vaughan; Cor- nelius, who is a foreman of the B. F. Goodrich Company ; Richard, residing on the old farm, and John R., who is the junior member of the law firm of Voris, Vaughan & Vaughan.

William T. Vaughan spent his boyhood days on a farm, and was educated at Buchtel College, Akron, and the Ohio Northern Uni- versity. He taught in the public schools in Summit County for fourteen years. He studied law in the law office of Watters and Phelps, and was admitted to the bar in Oc- tober, 1894. He is interested in polities and in 1884 was elected clerk of Coventry Town- ship. In 1898 he was appointed member of the Board of Control of the Akron Publie Li- brary, and is at present, 1907, president of said board. He was married to Mary Doherty in 1897 at Hudson, Ohio, and they have four children-Wilola, Francis, Eldred and Wil- liam T .. Jr. Mr. Vaughan and family be- long to the Catholic Church, and he belongs to the order of the Knights of Columbus.

JOHN R. VAUGHAN, a member of the prominent law firm of Voris, Vaughan. & Vaughan, of Akron, was born in Coventry Township, Summit County, Ohio, in 1869, and is a son of the late Thomas Vaughan. He was reared in his native township, where he attended school, after which he was for some time a student at Buchtel College. He then taught for two years in the public schools, and subsequently entered the Northern Ohio University at Ada, where he completed his lit-

erary education. He then engaged in the in- surance busines as general agent for the Union Central Life Insurance Company, of Cincinnati, Ohio, which position he resigned to accept a position with C. T. Parks, under- taker, and remained with him for three years. Almost immediately on entering into business life he began to take an interest in politics, and was soon appointed deputy-sheriff, which position he filled for three years, when he resigned to take charge of the Akron District Telegraph Company. He was with this con- cern but a short time when he was appointed justice of the peace, in November, 1900, to serve out the unexpired term of E. J. Hard. In the meanwhile he had begun the study of law with the firm of Vaughan & Phelps, and was admitted to the bar in December, 1902. He immediately began practice with his brother, under the style of Vaughan & Vaughan, the firm being expanded later by the admission of Edwin F. Voris, when the present style of Voris, Vaughan & Vaughan was adopted. In addition to his law practice, which is considerable, Mr. Vaughan has large farming interests, and is one of the leading citizens of this section.

He was married, June 28, 1905, to MIrs. Margaret Anne (Kennedy) Nelan. He is a member of St. Vincent de Paul's Catholi- church, and is fraternally connected with the Knights of Columbus, the Maccabees, and An- cient Order of Hibernians.

HON. CHARLES G. LADD, once promi- nent in the professional and social life of Akron, and the first probate judge ever elected in Summit County, was born June 22. 1822, at Rutland, Vermont. He came to Akron in the spring of 1840, his sister being already a resident of this city, and the wife of General Lucius V. Bierce. He was a young man of ability, but was largely dependent upon his own efforts, and by serving as a deputy to the United States marshal at Akron, he earned enough money to enable him to complete his education at the Western Reserve College. After adequate study in the office of General Bierce, he was admitted to the bar in 1845.

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and was taken into partnership by his brother- in-law, under the firm name of Bieree and Ladd. In the fall of 1851, he was elected probate judge of Summit County, but his health was then failing and the duties of the office were accordingly delegated to AAlvin C. Voris, who was made his deputy, and who served as such until the lamented death of Judge Ladd, July 30, 1852.

Judge Ladd was married July 12, 1845, to Ilannah Ermina Williams, who was a daugh- ter of Barnabas Williams, one of the founders of Akron, Ohio. They had three children. namely: Walter C., Lizzie, and Emma E. Walter C. Ladd, born June 21, 1846, was mar- ried December 23, 1869, to Genevra F. Oviatt. and died in 1902. Lizzie, now residing on Diagonal Road, Perkins Hill, Akron, is the widow of the late Gen. A. C. Voris. She is a lady of social prominence in this city and is a charter member of the Daughters of the · Revolution. Enuna E., the youngest daugh- ter, is the widow of Albert J. MeNeil, who died July 10, 1873. She has one child, Grace E., wife of George B. Merrill, who is connected with the Robinson Clay Product Company. They have two children-Henry and James. Judge Ladd died while but at the entrance of what promised to be a brilliant and useful career. lle served one terni as mayor of Akron, and almost every office of trust and responsibility was within his grasp.

HON. R. M. WANAMAKER, attorney of Akron, was born at North Jackson, Mahoning County, Ohio, son of Daniel anl Laura (Scho- enberger) Wanamaker. He completed his literary education at the Ohio Normal Uni- versity, at Ada, Ohio. He began the study of law under Ridenour & Halfhill, of Lima, in the fall of 1891 entered the law department at. Ada University. and was graduated there- from in the spring of 1893, being admitted to the bar in March of the same year. He came to Akron in September, 1893, and in October following the firm of Young & Wanamaker was established. In 1895 Mr. Wanamaker was elected prosecuting attorney of Summit

County. lle is a member of the State Bar Association. and of several fraternal order -. In 1906 he was elected to the office of the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in the district composed of Summit, Medina and Lorain Counties. Judge Wanamaker was at very successful lawyer and ably filled the of- fice of prosecuting attorney for two terms, and during this time he represented the state in the celebrated case of the State of Ohio against Cottell for murder, and also prose- cuted a large number of indictments for riot, growing out of the great riot and destruction of property that occurred in the city of Ak- ron. He has entered now upon the discharge of his duties a- Common Pleas Judge and bids to become as successful in that office a- he was in the office of prosecuting attorney.

HON. C. R. GRANT, senior member of the law firm of Grant, Sieber & Mather, at Akron, and for several terms probate judge of Sum- mit County, though a resident of Ohio since 1864, was born in New Haven County, Con- necticut, October 23, 1846. When a school boy of only fifteen years, he demonstrated his patriotism and manly qualities by enlisting in the service of his country, being accepted. although so young, as a member of the Twelfth Regiment of Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. He was later assigned as bearer of dispatches for several of the noted officers of the Union army in the Civil War, among them General B. F. Butler and General Banks, serving on the staff of the latter general until October, 1863, when he was honorably dis- charged and returned to Connecticut.

In April, 1864, Mr. Grant settled on a farm in the neighborhood of Cuyahoga Falls, where, during his leisure moments, he pre- pared for college by private study, and in September, 1868, he entered the freshman class of the Western Reserve College, at Cleve- land. 1 brilliant student, he was graduated at the head of his class, which consisted of eighteen members, in 1872. receiving valedic- torian honors. For the two following years he was engaged in the study of law under the supervision of Judge N. D. Tibbals, at Akron,

HON. C. R. GRANT

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and in 1874 he was admitted to the bar. Close attention to study had somewhat impaired his health, and, therefore, he wisely returned for a while to the invigorating life of the farm. In 1876 Mr. Grant entered into partnership with II. B. Foster, of Hudson, and in the fall of that year the law firm of Foster, Marvin & Grant was organize ' and continued in busi- ness at Akron until September 16, 1883. This congenial association was then dissolved, owing to the junior member being appointed probate judge of Summit County by Governor Foster, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge Goodhue. Twice afterward, in 1884, and in 1887. Judge Grant was elected to the bench and served through the whole period, acquitting himself with eredit, and never for- getting that he was entrusted with the adınin- istration of an office, not only of honor. but of grave responsibility. He returned to his private practice, with many friends both on the bench and bar. His present offices, with the firm of Grant, Sieber & Mather, are in the Dobson Building.

Judge Grant was married (first) October 9, 1873, to Frances J. Wadhams, who died Sep- tember 14. 1874. Hle married (second), No- vember 9, 1876, Lucy J. Alexander, who died June 8, 1880, leaving one child, Frances Vir- ginia, who was born September 24, 1877. The third marriage of Judge Grant took place Au- gust 19. 1891, to Ida Schick, by whom he has two surviving children, Louise E .. and Ione.

WILLIAM E. YOUNG, of the firm of Al- len, Waters, Young and Andress, attorneys, of Akron, was born at Mount Hope, Holmes County. Ohio, February 3, 1863, son of Mat- thias and Catherine (King) Young. In 1882 he entered the Ohio Normal University from which he was graduated in 1888. He studied his profession in the law department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and was graduated in 1892. He was admitted to the bar in March, 1892, and on January 1, 1893, opened a law office in the Pflueger Block, on Howard Street, Akron. In October, 1893, he formed a partnership with Mr. Wana- maker. In April. 1897. he was elected mayor

of Akron. November 1, 1906, Mr. Young assumed his present firm relationship, as above noted.

WILLIAM T. SAWYER, attorney, of AAkron, was, born in Springfield Township, Summit County, Ohio, December 1, 1862, son of Robert V. and Martha Ann Sawyer. After his father's death, which occurred in March, 1877, he accompanied his mother to Akron. IIe spent two years in the city schools and two years in the preparatory department of Buchtel College, and was then admitted to the college proper, from which he was graduated in June, 1887. After some time spent in travel, he began to read law under the direc- tion of the firm of Kornie and Caldwell. He was admitted to the bar of Tennessee in May, 1888, and then returned to Akron. Here he further pursued the study of law and was ad- mitted to the bar of Ohio in June, 1890, since which time he has been engaged in the active and successful practice of his profession. Mr. Sawyer was elected mayor of the city of Ak- ran. in the fall of 1907. after a very spirited contest and his term of office will begin in January, 1908.

SAMUEL G. ROGERS, a member of the law firin of Rogers, Rowley and Rockwell, of AAkron, was born in this city, November 6, 1865, son of Joseph M. and Sarah J. ( Gray- bill) Rogers. In 1885 he entered the law of- five of Judge U. L. Marvin to begin the study of his profession. After being graduated with honors from the Cincinnati Law School in 1887, he was admitted to the bar, and he- gan the practice of his profession in Akron. In 1892 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Summit County, in which office he served efficiently for three years. ITe has since con- tinued in the practice of his profession, and is now a conspicuous figure at the Summit County bar. Ile is one of the attorneys for the Northern Ohio Traction and Light Com- pany and is recognized as one of the most. successful and efficient trial lawyers in the county.

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GEORGE G. ALLEN, attorney, of Akron, member of the law firm of Allen, Waters, Young and Andress, was born in Granger, Medina County, Ohio, August 26, 1855. He was graduated from the Akron High school in 1873, and began the study of law in the offices of John J. Hall and Edward Oviatt. He then took a six months' course in the law department of Michigan University, at Anu Arbor, and was admitted to the bar at Akron in August, 1876. He began practice in as- sociation with Edward Oviatt under the firm name of Oviatt and Allen, and has since built up a very successful practice. He has taken an active part also in business and public af- fairs, and in 1883 was for a short time acting mayor of Akron.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 39

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