Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 45

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 45

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From the age of fourteen Mr. Thompson was trusted by his father with business affairs, having shown rare good judgment, even in childhood, concerning the handling of stock. During most of his subsequent life, Mr. Thompson has given special attention to this line of industry, for many years being a noted breeder of stock and fine horses; and even now. when his main attention is directed to another industry, he still breeds Shetland ponies and at the present writing (1907) has twenty-four head of these beautiful little animals. On the above farm, Mr. Thompson also ran a dairy, raising many eows at that time and there started his horse-breeding in- dustry which later assumed such large pro- portions. In 1888 he bought his present farm of 171 acres, naming it appropriately the Crystal Creek Stock Farm, for the breed-

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ing of trotting and draft horses from regis- tered stock. Mr. Thompson improved his farm with the idea of developing speed, along with other good qualities in the horses he bred, to this end building a half mile track. where matinee races were held as long as he devoted his attention to that industry. lle raised many notable horses. among them ba- ing Fanny Wilkes, who easily made a record of 2.26 1-4, and that was not the limit of her speed. She was used mainly as a brood mare. Mr. Thompson also bred the noted horse Jessie Wilkes, who made a record of 28 1-4 and a trial mile of 2.11. Mr. Thompson was offered $7,000 for her, but she died on his hands. Mr. Thompson has since bred Car- dinal Wilkes, and Noble Wilkes, who made a mark of 29 1-4.

Mr. Thompson continued in the horse busi- ness on his place until within the past twelve years, and he is still interested in the breed- ing of `draft horses, being president of the Springdale Horse Company, which imported the Belgian stallion, Toto to improve the breed of local draft horses. This noble ani- mal was imported July 27. 1903, at a cost of $3,000. He was approved by the Belgian government to stand for public service in Bel- gium, and was also approved by the French government to stand for publie serviee in France. It is generally coneeded that the Belgian is the coming breed of draft horses. During all the time that Mr. Thompson was engaged in the horse business, he also ran a large dairy, having a milk route at Cuyahoga Falls and supplying milk to Fair Oaks Villa for many years.

About the time that Mr. Thompson retired from the breeding of horses, he turned hi- at- tention to another profitable industry, the growing of celery, his celery tract covering about twenty-five acres, on which he raises something like $5,000 worth of the succulent vegetable a year, with the work of eight en- ployes. He raises also corn, wheat and oats, and, as mentioned above, gives attention to his Shetland ponies. It will be seen that Mr. Thompson is a man of great business capacity and occupies a very prominent place in the

attention of his fellow citizens. He has had the foresight to enable hint to see favorable business opportunities, and has had the cour- age to push forward and make every enter- prise to which he has given direet attention, a success.

When nineteen years of age Mr. Thompson was married to Isabella Machiner, who is a daughter of John Machmer, of Lake Town- ship, Stark County. They have three chil- dren. namely: Pinetta, who married Fred- erick Hibbard, residing in Stow Township; Lillian, who married W. C. Keenan, residing at Akron; and Roy Otis. In 1906, Mr. Thompson erected what is probably the finest rural residence in this county. It is modern in every particular, equipped with hot and cold water, with a sewerage system that carries the waste to a distant ercek running through the farm. The house is placed on an emi- mence which gives a beautiful view of the surrounding country, with a handsomely shaded lawn sloping from the front to the highway. He has three other dwellings on the farm which are occupied by his employes. Other substantial improvements made by Mr. Thompson, inelude the fine bank barn which was built in 1895, its dimensions being 40 by 60 feet, with 18-foot posts. Prior to this, in 1887, he built the horse barn which is 70 by 26 feet in dimensions, with 16-foot posts. For fourteen years he has been a director of the Summit County Agricultural Society and he has served as expert judge of horses and cattle at county fairs all over the State. In poli- ties he is a Republican, but he has never sought political office. Since its organization. he has been a member of Eddy Post. Grand Army of the Republic at Cuyahoga Falls. He is termed the "celery king" on account of his success in growing celery and to the fact that he is the largest grower in this part of Ohio. Personally, Mr. Thompson is a man who impresses one with his vigor and enter- prise.

COL. STEWART MILLER, a well known and highly respected citizen of Akron, resid- ing in his comfortable and attractive home

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at No. 183 Ellwood Street, is a worthy veteran of the great Civil War, throughout which he served with honorable distinction. He was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, February 7, 1834, and eomes of the sturdy Scotch and German stock with which that section of the United States is largely settled.

When Colonel Miller was a child of ten years his parents moved to Harrisburg, where he spent three years of his early life, at the end of that period accompanying them to Lancaster County, in the same State, where they settled on a farm. This furnished him with plenty of healthful occupation until he was eighteen years old. He then began an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade, at which he continued for three years, during this period receiving wages amounting to but $25 a year. After becoming proficient at his trade, and being confident of seeuring em- ployment almost anywhere, in order to see something of his native eountry, he left home in 1860, journeying as far west as Mansfield, Ohio, where in August of that year, he began work in the blacksmith shop of the Mansfield Machine Works. Here he might have re- mained indefinitely, but for the breaking out of the Civil War. But the rebel attack on Fort Sumpter changed for the time being the even current of his life. He had a good posi- tion with an excellent concern. but to hin his country's call was imperative. Putting aside all thoughts of self-interest, with loyal determination he stepped promptly forward to join the ranks of the Nation's defenders.

On April 13, 1861, Mr. Miller enlisted for a service of three months in Company I, First Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, AApril 18th, being sent directly to Philadelphia. Ten days later the regiment went to Wash- ington City, camping for drill along the Orange Run Railroad. From that point it was sent soon after to Vienna, Fairfax County. Virginia, where it had its first engagement with the enemy, sustaining a loss of ten men wounded. Its second was at Bull Run, July 21, 1861, and this closed Mr. Miller's first term of enlistment, which had been fairly

strenuous. His second enlistment was on October 14, 1861, in the Sixth Ohio Inde- pendent Battery, and his third, for three years more, on December 12, 1863, his final dis- charge being effeeted September 1, 1865, at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio.

During this long period of alnost constant military activity Colonel Miller participated in the following engagements, being pro- moted from the ranks to one official position after another. As noted, his first two engage- ments were at Vienna and Bull Run respect- ively, after which he was on duty at Wash- ington, D. C., until his discharge, August 3, 1861.

The Sixth Ohio Battery in which Mr. Mil- ler re-enlisted in the following October, was organized at Camp Buekingham, Mansfield, Ohio. On November 10, 1861, Mr. Miller was made a sergeant of his company. On De- cember 15, 1861. the battery was sent to Louisville, Kentucky and assigned to the Eleventh Brigade, Department of the Ohio. It remained at Camp Gilbert until January 12, 1862, when it transferred to the Cumber- land River. March 18, it journeyed to Nash- ville, Tennessee, by steamer, marched with the Artillery Reserve, Army of the Ohio, to Savannah, arriving at Pittsburg Landing on the morning of the second day of the battle of that name, otherwise known as the battle of Shiloh. The siege of Corinth under IIal- leck, April 30, to May 30, followed, the bri- gade being under the immediate eommand of General James A. Garfield. On the evacua- tion of Corinth by the Confederates the bri- gade went into camp at Stevenson, Alabama, where it remained from June 18 to August 21. It then took part in the pursuit of Bragg to Louisville, Kentucky, until September 25.

As a part of the Artillery Brigade. Sixth Division, Second Corps, the Sixth Battery en- gaged in the pursuit of Bragg to Crab Orch- ard. October 1 to 15, subsequent movements being to Perryville. Oetober 8, Harrodsburg. October 11, Stanford, October 14; thence to Nashville, Tennessee.

The Sixth Battery was then made a part of the Artillery Brigade First Division Re-

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serves of the Fourteenth Army Corps of the Army of the Cumberland, and as such saw active service at Lavergne, December 26-27; Stewart's Creek, December 28; Stone River, December 28-31; January 1-3, 1863, Colonel Miller being wounded January 2d. The next service of the battery was at Tullahoma, June 24-30; Hoover's Gap, July 24-25; Lee and Gordon's Mill, September 11; Leet's Tan- yard, September 12-13; Chickamauga, Sep- tember 18-21; Siege of Chattanooga, Septem- ber 24-October 26; then in garrison at Fort Wood, where Colonel Miller veteranized.

Colonel Miller took part in all the engage- inents of importance in which his command participated in the Atlanta campaign, includ- ing the following: Tunnel Hill, May 7; Buzzard's Roost Gap, May 8; Rocky Face Ridge, May 8-11; Resaca, May 13-16; Adairs- ville, May 17-18; Dallas, May 25-June. 24; Pickett's Mill, May 27; Kenesaw Mountain, June 17-July 2; Pine Mountain, June 14; Lost Mountain, June 15-17 ; Pine Knob, June 19; Culp's House, June 22; Assault on Kene- saw, June 27; Smyrna Camp Ground, July 3-1; Chattahoochee River, July 6-17; Peach Tree Creek, July 19-20; Siege of AAtlanta, July 21-August 25; Ezra Chapel, July 28; Utoy Creek, August 5-6; Jonesboro, August 31- September 1; Lovejoy Station, September 2- 6; Pursuit of Hood in Nashville Campaign, November to December; Columbia, Duck River, November 24-28; Spring Hill, Novem- ber 29; Franklin, November 30; Nashville, December 15-16; Pursuit of IIood to the Ten- nessee River, and Huntsville. Alabama.

Colonel Miller was on duty in the Depart- ment of Louisiana from July 3 to August 23. 1865, and was mustered out September 1, as before mentioned. During this long period of almost constant danger Colonel Miller was twice wounded-once seriously, through the arm at Stone River, and once slightly, in the abdomen, his life being saved on this latter occasion by his having a notebook with family letters in his pocket. His wounds kept him in the hospital for over two months. The life-preserving book and papers he still keeps, naturally regarding them with tender senti-

ments. They will descend to those who come after him as precious relics of the day when, but for their opportune presence, a brave sol- dier's life would have been sacrificed.

At the close of the war Colonel Miller re- turned to Mansfield. where he resided until 1882. He then came to Akron, entering the rolling mills of the Akron Iron Company, in which he continued to work at his trade for thirteen years, after which he retired from active industrial life.

On December 15, 1864, Colonel Miller was married to Lizzie McCoy, a daughter of John and Jane McCoy. He and his wife are the parents of three children, namely: Mary S., wife of A. J. Wills, who has charge of the tire department of the B. F. Goodrich Company ; Charles J., who is a traveling representative of Leggett and Company, of New York City, the largest wholesale grocery house in the world; and Harry C., who is a salesman for the B. F. Goodrich Company. Both Mr. Miller's sons are very able business men.

A man of firm political convictions, Colonel Miller has taken an active part in civie mat- ters. He has held local offices at various times and for six years was assessor for the Second Ward at Akron. Army affairs, too, have always remained interesting to him, and the old veteran organizations have claimed inuch of his time and attention. He was the main organizer of the Union Veteran Union of Ohio, from which organization -his title of colonel was received. For the last thirty-two years he has been a member of the order known as the Knights of Honor, belonging to Acme Lodge, No. 35. Akron, Ohio.

PHILO B. UPSON, who is now one of the most influential citizens of Sedgwick County, Colorado, where he has a valuable homestead of 160 acres, belongs to one of Ohio's old and honorable families, whose ancestors were identified not only with the early settlement of the Western Reserve, but also the establish- ing of civilization in the New England col- onies. He was born June 14, 1844, in Me- dina County. Ohio, and is a son of Reuben A. and Jane (Furber) Upson.

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Reuben Upson, the grandfather of Philo B., was born at Waterbury, Connecticut, Au- gust 14, 1771, and in 1798 he married Han- nah Richardson, who was born at Water- bury, October 18, 1780. In 1808, he came to Ohio with his brother Stephen and family. cutting a path through the forest to Portage County, where the brothers bought land of the Connecticut Land Company. Later Reu- ben Upson moved to Tallmadge Township, Summit County, where he bought a farm, on which he lived until 1818, when he removed to another part of the same township, pur- chasing 300 acres. Not being able to secure a clear title to this land he later accepted the same amount in still another part of the same township. He died in 1848, aged seventy- four years. His children were : Phebe, Emma, Reuben. Polly. Chloe, Hannah, Jul- ius A. and George C.

Reuben Upson (second), son of Reuben and Hannah Upson, was born near Water- bury, Connecticut, in 1808, and accompanied his parents to Ohio, growing to manhood in Summit County. He then returned to Con- neetieut and worked one year for Seth Thomas, the famous clock maker. after which he returned to Ohio and settled on a farm. In 1835 he made a trip to lowa, going down the Ohio River and up the Mississippi, and after reaching that then far distant State, he "homesteaded" a farm; but not finding the prospeet satisfactory, he returned to Ohio in 1837, walking the distance from Roek Island, Illinois to Chicago, then a "little village in the mud," where he took a steamer to Cleve- land and settled in Medina County. In 1867 he traded his farm for a hotel in the town of Cuyahoga Falls, where he remained until 1871, when he removed to Henry County. Illinois and resided there until his death. which occurred in February. 1884.

Before moving to lowa, Reuben Upson (second) was married to Jane Furber, who was born in England, August 26. 1810, and who died in Illinois in 1901. She was a daughter of Frances and Elizabeth Furber, who settled in Summit County when she was nine years old. Her parents lie buried at

Kent. Of the nine children comprising the family of Reuben and Jane Upson, three sur- vive, namely: Philo B .; Benjamin L., resid- ing in Henry County, Illinois, engaged in farming; and Mary L., who is now the wife of Joseph U. Barnes, residing at Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Philo B. Upson was reared and mainly edu- cated in Northampton Township, Summit County, and was engaged in farming there at the outbreak of the Civil War. In July, 1862, he entered the Union army, enlisting as a member of Company G, 115th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was ordered to the front. For one year the regiment was engaged in provost duty at Cineinnati, and at Covington, Kentucky, going thence to Mur- freesboro, and during the winter of 1863-4 it did pieket duty. In the following summer, Mr. Upson was one of the body of thirty men detailed to man a blockhouse on the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, near Lavergne, and on the 5th of December the men were surrounded by a party from General Forest's army, and all were captured. When en route for Andersonville Prison, twenty days later, Mr. Upson was fortunate enough to escape, while his poor comrades. after enduring the horrors of that terrible prison pen, were pa- roled and placed on board the ill-fated steamer "Sultana" which was destroyed by an explo- sion, near Memphis, in which disaster. many of the members of Mr. Upson's company were killed.

After his escape from the Confederates, Mr .. Upson returned to Murfeesboro and rejoined his regiment and a few days later was detailed for duty at the very point where he had been captured, the blockhouse having been de- stroved at that time. Mr. Upson was a good soldier and he remained on duty at this point until he was recalled in order to receive his discharge, which took place at Murfreesboro. Tennessee, in July. 1865. He was paid off at Cleveland and then was at liberty to return to his home, reaching there safely, with the conseiousness that he had performed his whole duty as a patriotie and loyal citizen. He has always since then enjoyed his meet-

HON. LEONIDAS S. EBRIGHT, M. D.

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ings with old comrades, taking much interest in matters pertaining to the Grand Army of the Republic and at present is past comman- der of Julesburg Post, No. 21, Department of Colorado and Wyoming.

Mr. Upson remained in Summit County until 1867, when he went to Illinois and for two years he worked as a farm hand in Henry County. and then rented a farm which he car- ried on for two years, after which he bought a place five miles from Geneseo, which he culti- vated for the following thirteen years.

It was in 1885 that Mr. Upson made a great change in his life by removing to Colorado, and arriving there, having the foresight to take up a homestead, being the first man to set- tle in Sedgwick Township. His farm lies with- in two miles of Sedgwick, and its value has increased many times over sinee he saw its possibilities in the spring of 1885. For some years he was extensively engaged in the cattle business, but in 1892 he turned his attention to other lines of industry, his son being old enough by this time, to take charge of the farm. Mr. Upson went to Wadena, Min- nesota, where he became manager of a farm loan agency, and vice-president of the Wa- dena State Bank. One year later he went to Minneapolis, where he was connected with the Minneapolis Title and Trust Company a- col- lector, remaining in that city until August. 1895. Ile then severed his connection with the company and returned to Colorado, once more resuming tlie care of his cattle business.

When Sedgwick County was cut off from Logan, in 1889. Mr. Upson was selected by Governor Cooper as one of the first county commissioners, and in the following fall he was formally elected to fill a term of three years, being the only member of the first board who was returned to office. In the summer of 1892, he was chosen as an alternate dele- gate to the National Republican Convention which convened at Minneapolis, and which nominated Benjamin Ilarrison for the Presi- dency of the United States.

On March 12, 1868, Mr. Upson, while liv- ing in Henry County. Illinois, was married to Sarah \. Richardson, who is a daughter of

Stephen Richardson, a farmer of that sec- tion. She was born at Pleasant Valley, Illinois, where she enjoyed fair educational advantages. To Mr. and Mrs. Upson a family of eleven children have been born, and what is remarkable is that all but one survive. William G., the eldest, is engaged in farming and stock-raising in Logan County. Clara L. is the wife of E. C. Smith, a stockman of Sedg- wick County. Charles B. is cashier and pay- ing teller of the Minneapolis Title, Insurance and Trust Company, of Minneapolis. Joseph Clinton is a business man also of that city. John E. is a member of Company B, Thir- teenth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer In- fantry, now at Manila, having left the Uni- versity of Minnesota in order to enter the army: Chloe Etta is a teacher in the public schools of Sedgwick. Jennie E., Ray R., Daniel D. and Bessie R., reside at home. Mrs. Upson died July 5, 1904. Mr. Upson and family belong to the Methodist Episco- pal Church.

IION. LEONIDAS S. EBRIGHT, M. D .. postmaster at Akron and formerly a member of the Ohio State Legislature, representing Summit County, was born near Royalton. Fairfield County. Ohio, September 25, 1844, and is a son of George and Rachel (Hatha- way) Ebright.

Dr. Ebright i- of German-Scotch ancestry. His father, who for many years was a minis- ter in the Methodist Episcopal Church, died in 1864, at the age of fifty-three, leaving a widow and nine ehildren.

From the public schools of Fairfield Coun- ty, Leonidas S. Ebright entered the Union Army as a soldier. enlisting May 7. 1852. for three months' service in Company K. 85th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably discharged in the following September. He re-enlisted in April. 1864. in the Eighty- seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Later he was transferred to Company G, 88th Infantry, and served on detached duty until July 3, 1865, when he was mustered out by special order at Camp Chase.

During the interval between his terms of

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army service, he taught school. In February, 1866, he came to Akron, after serving as a elerk in a drug store at Wooster, for six months, and entered upon his medical stud- ies in the office of Drs. Bowen and Ebright. Subsequently he entered the Charity Hospital Medical College, at Cleveland, where he was graduated in February, 1869. He then re- sumed his residence in Akron, engaging in practice until 1871, when he took a post- graduate course in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at New York City. In the fall of 1872 Dr. Ebright went to Europe and spent ten months in special study in some of the most famed hospitals and laboratories there. After an absenee which covered thirteen months, he returned to Akron, in which city he became an eminent practitioner. He was the first secretary of the Northeastern Medi- cal Society and later was its president. For a protracted period he was the city health of- ficer, and for a number of years also was physician to the Children's Home, and a member of the board of physicians of the Akron City Hospital.

For nearly a quarter of a century Dr. Ebright has been one of the active and intlu- ential Republicans of this section of Ohio, serving on the various important county and State committees. In 1879 he was elected a representative from Summit County, to the State Legislature, and demonstrated during his term at Columbus that he might be trusted to look after the people's interests. In campaign work throughout the country, Dr. Ebright has been a tower of strength to his party, and has been associated, on one or another ocasion, with almost all of its lead- ing orators. His equal command of the Ger- man tongue with the English. often proved advantageous to Republican interests. Dur- ing 1898, Dr. Ebright, as a political speaker, visited the States of Illinois, Michigan, Ken- tueky and a large part of Ohio. July 27, 1897, he was appointed postmaster at Akron by the late President MeKinley, who was his personal as well as political friend. In that year the Akron office had sixteen carriers, one of whom still serves as such, having been

identified with the office ever since its estab- lishment, and the receipts amounted to $400,- 000. In comparison, in 1907, Postmaster Ebright has twenty-three elerks and thirty- six carriers, handling in all the respectable sum of $1,000,000.

On November 15, 1883, Dr. Ebright was married to Julia A. Bissell, who was born at Sharon, Medina County, Ohio, and they have two children, Ruth B. and Mary R. The fam- ily residenee is situated at No. 678 East Mar- ket street.

Dr. Ebright has been prominent also for many years in fraternal cireles, having filled some of the highest offices in R. A. bodies as well as with the Knights of Honor. For four years he served as surgeon-general, with the rank of brigadier-general, on the staff of Gov- ernor Mckinley ; for five years was surgeon of Battery B, Ohio National Guards, and for five years of the German Guards. In 1890 he was honored by being made president of the Decennial Real Estate Board of Equaliza- tion, of Akron. At various times he has been more or less interested in business enterprises. He served as president of the Akron Sewer Pipe Company, and was one of the directors until it was merged with the American Sewer Pipe Company. His busy life has brought him into close contact with men and affairs, and he numbers friends and admirers in every class both in Akron and elsewhere.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 45

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