Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 66

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 66

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George P. Heintz was six years old when his father moved to Coventry Township, and there he obtained all his schooling. He re- mained at home until 1864, when he enlisted for service in the Civil War, during his first term being a member of the Sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, connected with the Army of the Potomac, for one year and seven months. During the great war he partiei- pated in a number of battles, including: Boynton Plank Road, October 27, 1864; Stony Creek Station, December 2, 1864; Hatcher's Run, December 9-10, 1864; Monk's Neck Bridge, February 5, 1865; Hatcher's Run, (2), February 6, 1865 ; Dinwiddie Court House, March 31, 1865; Fettersville, April 4, 1865; Famer Cross Roads, April 5, 1865; Farmsville, April 6, 1865; Harper's Farm, April 7, 1865; and Appomattox Court House, the memorable spot where General Lee sur- rendered to General Grant, April 9, 1865. Mr. Heintz was in the brigade that opened the fight in that closing action of the war. On his discharge papers may be read the follow- ing, under the signature of Lieutenant Smith, of his company: "In all eleven engagements in which he was commendable for his bravery and coolness." Those simple words tell the story of how Mr. Heintz served while in the uniform of his country. He was promoted to the rank of corporal, from being a private. His enlistment was for the whole of the war, the termination of the struggle happily end- ing it. He was honorably discharged at Petersburg, Virginia. August 7, 1865, hav- ing entered the army when a little past seven- teen, and was not quite nineteen when he was discharged.

After a short season at Akron he went to Louisville, Kentucky, where he enlisted a second time, on May 5, 1866, entering Com-

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pany G, Second United States Infantry, and served for three years with the Regulars. On April 1, 1867, he was made a corporal, and July 15, 1868, was promoted to be a sergeant. He was discharged at Atlanta, Georgia, on May 5, 1869. About one-third of his second term of service was spent in Kentucky, his regiment being stationed at Louisville, at Danville, at Stamford and Paducah. For a short time it was at Union, West Virginia, but returned for several weeks to Louisville, then was sent to Atlanta, where it was dis- charged some four months later. During all this long season, when each day was filled with danger, Mr. Heintz eseaped every death- ly missile, and at no time was seriously hurt except on one occasion when his horse fell on him. Three days after he returned to Akron, in 1869, Mr. Heintz with his widowed sister, Mrs. Sarah Pelott, moved to his present farm which his father had previously purchased. Here he has continued ever sinee, engaging successfully in farming and stockraising.

On November 25, 1869, Mr. Heintz was married to Sarah J. Harris, who is a daughter of Thomas and Eliza (Peach) ITarris. She was born and reared in Bath Township, Sum- mit County, but her father was a native of Pennsylvania, and her mother of West Vir- ginia. Mr. and Mrs. Heintz have no children of their own, but they adopted a little girl named Edith, who subsequently married Clyde Miller. Mr. Miller assists in carrying on the farm work with Mr. Heintz. The Millers have had four ehildren, namely : Iva Marie, Nona Grace, Homer Guy, and Lee Harold, the latter of whom died aged four vears. Since November, 1906, Mr and Mrs. Heintz have been enjoying the handsome resi- denee which was completed at that time. Both are members of the Evangelical Chureh, of Bath Township. Since 1905 he has served on the School Board. He is a member of Buckley Post, No. 12, Grand Army of the Republic.

GEORGE W. M'COY, residing on his well- improved and valuable farm of eighty-six acres, which is situated in Norton Township,

here carries on a general line of farming. He was born at Wadsworth, Medina County, Ohio, March 4, 1844, and is a son of Robert and Lucinda (Bartlett) McCoy.

Robert McCoy was born in Tallmadge Township, Summit County, and was a son of Samuel MeCoy, who was born in Ireland. Samuel MeCoy eame to America in young manhood and was an early settler in Tall- madge Township, moving from there to Wadsworth Township, in Medina County, where he purchased a farm. On that farm Robert McCoy was reared from boyhood, and in Medina County he was married to Lueinda Bartlett. Of their nine children, the four sur- vivors are: Mrs. Olive Dickerson, residing at Akron; George W .; States, residing in Copley Township; and Mrs. Ella Britton, re- siding at Sharon, Medina County. About 1859, Robert McCoy moved to Summit County and invested in 225 acres of land at what is known as McCoy's Crossing. It was all farming and pasture land at that time, but the city of Akron has long sinee invaded the fields which Mr. McCoy used to follow over with his plow. South Main street, a busy thoroughfare of Akron, now spreads out over this land. Robert McCoy also owned the land upon which Lakeside Park now stands. All this land each year grows more and more valuable. Robert McCoy was a contractor and he met his death while en- gaged in grading on North Hill, the accident occurring while he was superintending the work. His wife had died when the children were small.

George W. McCoy attended school at Wads- worth and later in Coventry Township. When twenty-one years of age he left home and spent three years on a farm in California and then moved to Nevada, where he went into contracting, cutting and hauling wood to the quartz mills. He owned a number of teams and employed a large force of men. Mr. McCoy remained in the West for ten years and then returned to Akron for about two years, but went baek to Nevada and re- sumed contracting. Several years later he again visited Akron for a short period and

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returned to Nevada for the third time, ae- companied by his wife, and remained six years. In October, 1881, Mr. McCoy re- turned permanently to Summit County and purchased the farm he resides on. This was first the property of his brother, the late Samuel McCoy, who sold it to another broth- er, States McCoy, who, in turn sold it to George W. It thus has not been out of the McCoy family for a number of years.

In 1876, Mr. MeCoy was married to Amelia J. Falor, who is a daughter of John Falor, of Akron. Her grandfather, Abraham Falor, was an early settler in this section, and when Mrs. MeCoy drives through South Main Street, Akron, it is over land which was once her father's farm, on which she was reared. They have four children, namely: Elsie, who married Norman Miller, of Barberton; George, unmarried, residing at Barberton ; Ernest, residing at home; and Myrtle, who inarried Henry Zeisiek, residing at Barberton. The beautiful family home was built by Mr. McCoy in 1883. It is one of the fine, modern residences of this section.

JOHN D. ARNOLD, proprietor of a valu- able farm which contains 102 acres and is situated on the old Smith road, about one and one-half miles west of Montrose, was born on a farm one mile west of Copley Center. August 1, 1855. His parents were Daniel and Sophia (Porter) Arnold.

The Arnolds came to Summit County, Ohio, from Maryland. The father of Mr. Ar- nold owned and disposed of a half dozen farms in course of his life, but John D. grew up on the farm near Copley. He was reared to agricultural pursuits and has been able to trace a straight furrow with his plow, ever since he was eight years of age. About two years after his marriage, he moved to the present farm, eighty-two acres of which he purchased at that time, subsequently adding twenty adjoining aeres. This makes a fine, easily cultivated farm and here Mr. Arnold carries on a general line of agriculture.

Mr. Arnold married Lizzie Hankey, De- eember 25, 1876, who was born in Copley

Township, and is a daughter of Samuel and Maria (Whitmer) Hankey. Samuel Han- key was one of the earliest settlers at Akron and from there he moved to Copley Town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold have three children of their own and another child, Hazel Brad- ley, whom they have reared from the age of two years to seventeen. Their three children are: William, who is employed by the Akron Telephone Company, married Mary Wiley, and they have two children, Eva and Ray; Lilly, who married Albert Boltz, has two children, Earl and Glen; and Frank, who as- sists his father.

Mr. Arnold's farm and surroundings show good management and thrifty methods. All of the substantial farm structures, except the house, he has placed here, and he has done much additional improving.

AARON A. SWIGART, who is engaged in agricultural operations on an excellent traet of 200 acres, is one of the substantial citizens of Franklin Township, and was born August 6, 1857, on his present farm in Franklin Township, Summit County, Ohio, and is a son of Joseph and Sarah ( Haring) Swigart.

George Swigart, grandfather of Aaron A., was a native of Pennsylvania, where he mar- ried. On coming to Ohio he had to clear most of his farm from the woods, and here his first wife died. He was married the second time to a Miss Daily, a native of Summit County, and here the remainder of their lives were spent, his death occurring in his 85th year, his second wife having preceded him to the grave. They had a large family, about fourteen children, and of these Joseph was next to the eldest.

Joseph Swigart was born on his father's farm, which was located south of the present Swigart farm, and was reared to manhood here, helping to clear the farin from the wil- derness. Prior to his marriage he purchased a part of the present Swigart farm, and to this he kept adding from time to time, making im- provements, including a large house and barn, and converting his property into one of the. finest farms in Franklin Township. Here he

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died in 1895, at the age of seventy years. Mr. Swigart was married to Sarah Haring, who was born .in Franklin Township, and who is a daughter of Charles Haring. Mrs. Swigart survives her husband and resides on the home farm with her son Aaron A. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Swigart: Aaron A., above mentioned, and Charles, who married Hattie Diehl, a daughter of William Diehl, and has two children-Gladys and Hallie.

Aaron A. Swigart attended the district schools and afterward engaged in agricultur- al pursuits, in which he has been occupied all of his active period. With his mother and brother he owns the excellent homestead of 200 acres, on which is situated a large and comfortable residence. The row of beautiful shade trees on each side of the driveway lead- ing to the house were planted by Mr. Swigart and others twenty-five years ago, and add much to the attractiveness of the property.

On September 16, 1901, Mr. Swigart was married to Mary Scholl, who is a daughter of Peter and Ann Scholl, and to this union one child has been born: Joseph Herman. Mr. Swigart is a member of the Reformed Church at Manchester.

L. K. FORCE, president of the Summit China Company, has been a resident of Akron for the past fifty-eight years. Born in New York, in 1848, he came to this city with his parents, in the following year, and thus may almost be called a native of Akron, where he was reared and educated.

In 1863, when only a school-boy of fifteen years, he enlisted for service in the Civil War entering the Sixth Ohio Volunteer Inde- pendent Light AArtillery. His battery was sent immediately to become a part of the Army of the Cumberland, and thus he par- ticipated in all the battles and marches of the Atlanta campaign. After returning to Tennessee, this battery took part in the bat- tles of Franklin and Nashville, after which it went into winter quarters at Pulaski. In the spring of 1865 it returned to Nashville, where it took boat to New Orleans. In the

succeeding August it returned to Columbus, where it was honorably discharged September 1, 1865.

After all this long and hazardous army ex- perience, Mr. Force returned to Akron, where he set about learning a peaceful trade, having no more desire for military life. He entered a factory where he learned the pottery trade, becoming so expert a worker, that in 1879. when the Akron Stoneware Company was organized, he was made superintendent and also president, and served as such until March, 1900. At this time, in association with R. H. Kent, he organized the Summit China Company, which is incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000, Mr. Force being president and superintendent and R. H. Kent, secretary and treasurer. This com- pany employs 150 men and does an annual export business of $175,000.

In 1870, Mr. Force was married to Alice L. Washburn, a daughter of Daniel B. Wash- burn, who was one of the pioneers of Summit County. Mrs. Force died March 14, 1893, leaving six children, namely: Mildred, who married E. L. Demming; Orlando, residing in Akron; Jessie B., residing at home ; Daniel B., working with the Summit China Company; Ferdman F., assistant superintendent of the Summit China Company ; and Benjamin F., who is a student at the Ohio State University. Mr. Force was married (second) in June, 1897, to Mrs. Yeomans, who is a daughter of John Wilson, of Brimfield, Ohio.

Although he has never sought public office, Mr. Force has long taken an active interest in politics, and on many occasions has demon- strated his public spirit and civic pride .. Fra- ternally, he is an Odd Fellow. He is a meni- ber of Buckley Post, Grand Army of the Re- public, and also of the German Rifle club. Ile ranks well up among Akron's prominent citizens.

WILLIAM A. MORTON, notary public at Barberton, has been established in the in- surance and real estate business here since 1903, and has been a resident of Summit County since 1873. He was born in Law-

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rence County, Pennsylvania, June 6, 1864, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Scott) Morton.

The parents of Mr. Morton were born in England and were married there prior to eom- ing to Ameriea in 1862. Thomas Morton was a coal miner and he engaged in this work first in Pennsylvania and after 1873, in Summit County, Ohio. For two years he lived at Tomotown, east of Akron, but in 1875 he moved to Norton Township and lo- cated at a point then known as Dennison and now as Sherman. At this place he became a mine boss and was known as a very reliable, capable man. His wife died in 1881 and his death followed in 1884.

Prior to coming to Summit County, Wil- liam A. Morton had attended school for a short time but had in no way gained a suf- ficient amount of education to satisfy him, even in boyhood. For three years he worked in the mines in Summit County and then started again to school, attending first the Copley and Norton Center High School and later the Normal Schools at Wadsworth and Lebanon. He then taught school for some time, after which he took a commercial course in the Iron City Business College at Pittsburg, where he was graduated in 1884. Upon his return to Summit County he engaged in teaching for ten years and for four years of this period he was principal of the Western Star Academy. He became widely known as an excellent educator, and he was made treasurer of the Summit County Teachers' Institute and later its president, serving one year in each position. In 1900, Mr. Morton came to Barberton and beeame a member of the office force of the Sterling Company, later of the Pure Gum Specialty Company, and later bookkeeper for the American Clay Company, of Akron. In 1903, he established a fire insurance office and began also to deal in real estate, and in company with Godfrey Werner he entered also into the coal business and developed the mines at Manchester, in Summit County. His business interests are large and important.

On September 8, 1887, Mr. Morton was

married to Sadie A. Boden, who is a daugh- ter of John Boden, and they have three children, namely: Raymond E., Bessie and Mary.

Mr. Morton has been in public office for a number of years. Since 1889 he has been a notary public and for nine years he served as a justice of the peace in Norton Township, where he also was trustee for two terms, and township clerk for four years. He is a mem- ber of the Summit County Court House Com- mission, appointed by Judge J. A. Kohler, has served two terms as Deputy State Super- visor of Elections, and has been a member of the city council of Barberton.

Mr. Morton is a popular and respected citizen. IIe is fraternally connected with the Odd Fellows and the Elks and is one of the trustees of the latter organization.

GEORGE DREISBACH, whose farm of 125 acres of valuable land, all in one body, is situated in Norton Township, is a representa- tive citizen of this section and one of its best farmers. HIe was born in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, December 19, 1843, and is a son of Charles and Sarah (Konkle) Dreisbach.

About 1865, Charles Dreisbach became a resident and landowner in Summit County and continued to invest in property until he acquired a very considerable amount. His first purchase was of 144 acres, to which he added sixty-five acres, and later bought sixty- seven aeres where Barberton now stands, a part of which, on which Lake Anna is situated, he sold to John J. Warner, and also owned fifteen acres in Coventry Township, the total reaching 300 aeres, the result of careful foresight and wise investing. He died on the farm where his son lives, in 1885. He was married three times, Sarah Konkle, his second wife, being the mother of George. He had fourteen children, ten of whom still survive.

George Dreisbach was born near a place called Big Grass Pond, from which his father moved in his boyhood, to near Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, where he bought a farm. In 1865, George accompanied his father to Sum-

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mit County, where he was subsequently mar- ried and one year later he moved to Michigan. He learned the joiner's trade in youth, work- ing with E. A. Barber of Akron, and worked also at this trade in Michigan. He also made a great deal of money by handling farming lands, buying, improving and selling, fre- quently owning and disposing of two farms in a year. Upon the death of his father, he returned to Ohio and bought out the other heirs, and has resided in Norton Township ever since. For a short time he owned the old Surfass farm, but this he sold to George Cowling.

Mr. Dreisbach was given but few education- al chances in his youth. Ile was only thirteen years of age when he was sent into the harvest field, and was proud to be able to do the work of a half hand. He has always enjoyed the hard, hearty work incident to safely get- ting in the crops, and for a period covering fifty-two years he has never failed to take part in this labor, even when working as a joiner.

Mr. Dreisbach married Martha A. Raber, who was born in Stark County, Ohio, who is a daughter of L. B: Raber, and she came to Summit County in girlhood. They have two children: Lewis B. and Charles C. A. The elder son married Anna Blocher, who is a daughter of Martin Blocher, and they have one son, Leroy. He resides on the home farm. Charles C. A., who owns forty acres in Coventry Township, married Mamie Strawhacker, and they have one child, Mer- land.

B. J. GIFFORD, city superintendent of the Mohican Oil and Gas Company, whose portrait appears in this connection, has been identified with the gas business all his life. He was born in the state of New York, in 1872. and was reared and educated in Penn- sylvania.

After finishing his schooling, Mr. Gifford went to work for the Standard Oil Company, at Titusville, and eighteen months later went to Fremont, Ohio, where he was engaged in the gas business for six months. Thence he went to Toledo, where he was employed for

two years. Later he worked all through the Indiana gas belt, subsequently returning to Pennsylvania. When the Mohican Oil and Gas Company was organized, in May, 1905, Mr. Gifford became associated with it at Bar- berton and later, when it became the lessee of the Akron Gas Company, and the offices were transferred to Akron, he became the su- perintendent at this point. His steady con- tinuance in one line of effort has given him the experience needful for an office of the im- portance of the one who fills. In 1898 Mr. Gifford was married to Bernice Giles, who was born at Dennison, Ohio, and they have two attractive children : Margaret Grace and Bernice June.

WILLIAM H. McCHESNEY, a descendant of one of Springfield's oldest and most hon- ored families, and a man of prominence and influence in his community, was born on the farm on which he now resides, in Springfield Township, Summit County Ohio, December 3, 1857, and is a son of William and Louise (Gressard) McChesney.

John McChesney, the grandfather of Will- iam H., was a farmer and distiller, and he erected the residence which stands, well pre- served, on his grandson's farm. The name of his wife was Martha and they had the follow- ing children: Andrew, who married Betsy Cables, died in Kansas; Margaret, who mar- ried Eli Flickinger, died in Iowa; Mary, who is the widow of Jacob Merton, resides in Ne- braska; Leslie. deceased, married Harriet Chote, who resides in Kansas; and William.

William McChesney was born March 3, 1817, in Westmoreland County, Pennsylva- nia, and was eight years of age when he accom- panied his parents to Ohio. He followed farming all his life and died in 1905, in his eighty-ninth year. Enterprising and public- spirited, William McChesney did much to- ward building up the community in which he lived. He was one of the heartiest sup- porters of the Valley Railroad. to which he donated the right of way through his farm. He was one of the pillars of the Presbyterian Church. Politically, he was a Republican

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but his desires never lay in the direction of politieal preferment.

William McChesney married Louise Gres- sard, who was a daughter of Frederick Gres- sard and had been a soklier in the French army before coming to America. He landed at Philadelphia but subsequently came to Coventry Township, Summit County, where he reared a family of six children. Both he and wife died in Coventry Township. To William and Louise McChesney were born the following children : Charles Lewis, who died in infaney ; Edward Austin, a contractor and farmer, residing in Springfield Township, married Sarah Wise, of East Liberty ; Philora, who married George L. Sypher, residing at Akron; Herman G., residing at Akron, owns a farm near Krumroy; Frederick, residing on his farm in Springfield Township, who mar- ried Nettie Yerriek, and William H.

William H. McChesney was reared in his native section and was educated in the dis- triet schools. For many years he carried on agricultural pursuits on the home farm. It is a tract of almost sixty acres and Mr. Me- Chesney's careful cultivation resulted in abundant returns. When he tired of farm- ing he became associated with his brother, Edward Austin, in building and contracting, renting his farm to a tenant. He is well known all through this section and enjoys the respect and esteein of his fellow-eitizens.

By his marriage to Lucy Thompson, Mr. McChesney became connected with another prominent old family of Summit County. Mrs. McChesney is a native of Summit County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Henderson) Thompson, and a granddaughter of James and Margaret (Sunderland ) Thompson. Robert Thomp- son was born in 1809, and came to Summit County, in 1832, where he died at the age of seventy-two years. The children of Robert Thompson and wife were: Margaret J .; Mary F., who married Oscar Collins, resid- ing at Cleveland; Nancy J., who died in 1900, was the wife of William L. Ewart; James A., who died in 1906, resided in Indiana; one

son died in 1864; and Luey, the youngest, who married William H. McChesney.

Although Mr. and Mrs. MeChesney have no children of their own, they have an adopted son who is very dear to them, who bears the name of Walter MeChesney. He is a bright, intelligent youth of twelve years.

Mr. McChesney is a stanch Republican. HIe belongs to the Presbyterian Church which has been the faith of the family for genera- tions. His beautiful modern home he erected in 1906, and there he and wife enjoy offering hospitality to their many friends.

ROBERT A. MCCLELLAN, who was, for almost seventy-two years a prominent eitizen and successful farmer of Springfield Town- ship, was born April 9, 1835, on the farm on which his son, William J. McClellan, now re- sides in Summit County, Ohio. He was a son of William and Jane (Fite) MeClellan.

The parents of the late Robert A. McClel- lan eame to Summit County in pioneer days and the family has been one of prominence in this section ever since its founding. Of the children of William and Jane Mcclellan the following reached maturity: William A., residing at Akron, married Alice Russell; Elizabeth, who married Urias Cramer, resid- ing at Wiehita, Kansas; and Robert A.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 66

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