Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 67

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 67

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Robert A. Mcclellan passed his boyhood attending the district schools, and working on the farm, of which he later became man- ager and subsequently owner. He married Amanda Hoff, a member of another family that has been identified with Summit County from its carliest days. Her parents were James and Wilhelmina Hoff, who died in Springfield Township, where they had spent long and useful lives. They were natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. McClellan still survives and is an esteemed resident of Mogadore. She was born February 9, 1847, and is one of a family of eight children, namely : Lucinda, who married James Stall, residing at Delta, Ohio; Miles, residing at Akron, who mar- ried Mattie Swain ; Emina, residing in Spring- field Township, who married Thomas Hale; Zadia, residing at Cuyahoga, Falls, who mar-

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ried L. Cramer ; AAlbert, residing at Tallmadge, Ohio, who married Hattie Treat; Frank, re- siding at Mogadore, who married Mary Hale; Amanda, who is the widow of Robert A. Mc- Clellan, who died April 29, 1907 ; and James.

To Robert A. McClellan and wife were born five children, as follows: Cora, William James, Charles, Robert A., and Fred. Cora, who married Robert Gates, April 27, 1891, residing at Mogadore, has three children, Harry, born November 22, 1892, Eunice Mary, born May 16, 1894, and Ernest, born April 17, 1903. Mr. Gates is a prominent Republican of Springfield Township, serving at present as a justice of the peace, and he is a charter member of Mogadore Lodge, No. 482. Knights of Pythias; William James, born November 18, 1874, was educated in the local schools and the Mogadore High School, married Lillian Selzer, daughter of Michael and Amanda Selzer of Springfield Township, and they have two children, Pearl, born De- cember 8, 1904, and Edna May, born May 18, 1906. Mr. Mcclellan is a very successful farmer, a Democrat in politics, and belongs to the order of Knights of Pythias at Mogadore. Charles, who has been in partnership with his brother in condueting a meat market, at Mogadore, since September, 1906, is a Demo- crat in polities and fraternally a Knight of Pythias. He married Elsie L. Denny, June 21. 1905, a daughter of Henry A. and Barbara Denny, of Suffield Township, Portage County. Robert A., who is in business at Mogadore, is a Democrat in polities, and fraternally a Knight of Pythias. He married Lizzie Bow- man, a daughter of Jefferson and Jemima (Boyer) Bowman, and they have two chil- dren, Earl and a babe. Fred resides with his mother at Mogadore.

About four years preceding his death the late Robert MeClellan moved from his farm to Mogadore, where he had erected a com- fortable home. He was a successful farnier, and was an honorable man. Politically, he was a Democrat. With his sons, he was as- sociated with Lodge No. 482, Knights of Pythias.

CHARLES N. MILLER, a representative citizen of Mogadore, and manager. secretary and treasurer of the Colonial Pressed Brick Company, an important industry of this sec- tion, was born in Plain Township, Stark County, Ohio, February 27, 1880, and is a son of N. S. and Ellen ( Wise) Miller.

The Millers came originally from Pennsyl- vania to Ohio, Abraham Miller, the grand- father, bringing his family to Stark County, where the father of Charles N. Miller was born and where he still resides, at the age of fifty-eight years. His occupation since he reached mature years has been farming. He married Ellen Wise, who also survives, and they are the parents of three sons and four daughters, namely: Roy C., residing at Can- ton ; Joseph A., residing at New Berlin; Net- tie, who married Harry Stover, residing at Canal Fulton; Minnie, who married Arthur Wearstler; Lydia, who married Thomas Weaver, residing at Canton: Ellen, residing with her parents; and Charles N.

Charles N. Miller was educated in the schools of New Berlin and after graduating from the High School, took a course in the Spencerian Business College, at Cleveland. where he was graduated in 1902, after which he accepted a position as cashier for the Fed- eral Manufacturing Company, manufactur- ers of automobiles and parts, at Cleveland. He remained with this organization until 1905, when he entered into his present busi- ness, which was then located at Akron. Ile became bookkeeper for the Pressed Brick Company, and after its removal to Mogadore he became manager, secretary and treasurer.

The Colonial Pressed Brick Company is an Ohio corporation, and in 1904. the late Ira A. Miller, of Greentown, was its presi- dent. J. A. Sheets was elected vice-president and C. N. Miller secretary, treasurer and gen- eral manager. The other capitalists con- nected with the company are: J. W. Hisey, Henry Sweitzer, Levi Stoner. E. C. Sheets and W. E. Butler. They are engaged in the manufacture of face or stiff mud brick. The kiln ha- a capacity of 12,000 brick per day. machine capacity. 40,000, and they employ

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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

25 men and market their product over a large area of country, finding ready sale on account of its superior quality. The plant is most conveniently located where there is an abun- dance of clay, with water supplied by the Little Cuyahoga River. Its equipments are entirely modern. When Mr. Miller took charge it needed a man of his business capacity to ad- just what was wrong and to put the business on a full paying basis. This he has done and it is numbered with the prospering industries of this part of Summit County.

In 1904 Mr. Miller married Rhuie Sum- mers, who is a daughter of Rev. II. B. and Elizabeth Summers, who was born at Balti- more, Fairfield County, Ohio, and they have one son, Homer Summers. The father of Mrs. Miller is a well-known minister of the Evangelical Church. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mil- ler belong to the United Evangelical Church. They have been residents of Mogadore for the past two years.

ROBERT C. GATES, a leading citizen of Mogadore, where he is engaged in a grocery business, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, July 18, 1861, and is a son of Henry and Eunice (Cornwell) Gates.

The founder of the Gates family in this State was the paternal grandfather, Halsey Gates, who came with his wife Lucy and set- tled at what has been known ever since as Gates Mills, as early as 1816. He was the founder of that village and there lived out a long and useful life. His children were: Washington, who is deceased; Edwin, who is deceased; Alexander, who has never been heard of by his family, sinee he moved to Mexico, in 1884; Maria, deceased, who mar- ried Selig Knapp; Eliza, who married Gordon Shipman; Hattie, who married D. B. Spear; William, who resides at Toledo, Ohio; and Henry. The grandparents were natives of New York.

Henry Gates, father of Robert C., was born at Gates Mills, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, in March, 1831. Soon after his marriage he left Gates Mills and settled at Cleveland, where he had charge of a mill, having been

trained in this industry. He moved from there to Elmore, in Ottawa County, and from there to Port Clinton, in 1887 loeating at Mogadore, where he has been engaged ever since in operating a mill of his own. Al- though many men of his age have retired from business, Mr. Gates has preserved his strength, vitality and ambition to a remark- able degree, and is just as capable of conduct- ing large business deals as in his earlier years. When twenty-one years of age he united with the Masons, at Chagrin Falls, and received his demit when he left Port Clinton. He is a member of the Disciples Church. Mr. Gates has been a life-long Republican, this being the political complexion of the whole kindred, with the single exception of Mr. Gosline, who is the editor of the Oak Harbor, Ottawa Coun- ty, Press, and a son-in-law of Mr. Gates.

Henry Gates was married (first) to Eunice Cornwell, who died at the age of sixty-three years. She was a daughter of Sanders Cornwell. There were five children born to that mar- riage, namely: Walter, who died in infancy; Luey, who married J. W. Sylvester, residing at Cleveland ; Cora, who married George Gos- line, residing at Oak Harbor; George, resid- ing at Mogadore, who married Grace Hicker- man; and Robert C.

Robert C. Gates attended school up to the age of seventeen years, both at Elmore and Port Clinton, after which he worked for a time in a printing office, and later worked at railroading. In 1887 he came to Mogadore with his father, and shortly afterward em- barked in his present business, in which he has met with suecess, being now one of the leading men in his line in the place.

Mr. Gates was married (first) to Sylvia Atchison, who died in the following year. He was married (second) to Cora MeClellan, who is a daughter of one of the prominent old county families, Robert and Amanda (Hoff) MeClellan. They have three children: Hen- ry Robert, Eunice and Ernest. Mr. and Mrs. Gates are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In polities Mr. Gates is a staneh Republican and on numerous occasions since locating at

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Mogadore, has been called to public office. He served six years as a member of the School Board, for three years was treasurer of the corporation, and in the fall of 1904, without his knowledge, he was nominated for justice of the peace and subsequently elected, his personal popularity being great enough to overcome a normal Democratic majority of some eighty votes. He has taken anactive interest in everything likely to advance the welfare and prosperity of the town and coun- ty. He is a charter member of Lodge No. 482, Knights of Pythias, at Mogadore. Like every other member of his family, he is a musician and has been the leader of the Mogadore band since it was organized in 1902. ITis father, in his youth, was a member of the old Gates Mills band and was a member of the Elmore band when living there.

BRADFORD W. SKINNER, a representa- tive citizen of Tallmadge Township, of which he has been a trustee for the past five years, resides one-half mile northeast of Tallmadge Center, where he owns fifty acres of excellent land. He was born in Bath Township, Sum- mit County, Ohio, April 7, 1833 and is a son of Col. Salmon and Caroline (Waldo) Skin- ner.

The father of Mr. Skinner was born at Milford, Connecticut. In his eighteenth year he entered the service of his country, in the War of 1812, after which he settled in Sum- mit County. He lived to the unusual age of ninety-two years, dying in 1892. He mar- ried Catherine Waldo, who accompanied her father, General Waldo, to Suffield Town- ship, Portage County. He later moved to the far West, where he died. Mrs. Skinner died at the age of forty-two years. The children of Salmon and Catherine Skinner were the following: Daniel, residing in Nebraska; De- catur, who died in California; Uriah, deceased ; Bradford W., of Bath Township; Oliver, who died in Geauga County, Ohio; Edwin, resid- ing at Tallmadge, married (first) to Caroline Wurst, and (second) a lady in Bath Town- ship, and he served in the Civil War as a member of the 29th Regiment, Ohio Volun-

teer Infantry; and Joseph, who died in a New York hospital, having served in the Civil War under General Sherman.

Bradford W. Skinner was eleven years of age when his mother died. He lived in Bath and Northampton Townships until he was eighteen years of age, in the meantime having but meager school advantages. When he came to Bath Township he hired out to run a sawmill, and he remained in the employ of one man for fifteen years. Ile then rented land of F. D. Alling for five years, subse- quently purchasing thirty-three acres of the land, which he has added to and continued to cultivate. For many years he followed teaming, this being very profitable to him, resulting in his becoming a man of independ- ent means.

On April 18, 1855, Mr. Skinner was mar- ried to Laura Dickerson, who is a daughter of William and Martha Dickerson, farmers of Northampton Township. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Skinner, namely : Etta L., Carlton B., Ollie, Lucy A. and Min- nie. Etta L. was married (first) to Arthur Hart and (second) to John Newton, resides at Hudson and has four children. Carlton B. married (first) Julia, a daughter of O. S. Treat, and (second) Fannie Bierce, daughter of Lucius V. and Hattie Bierce, and they have one daughter. Ollie married Frank Root, who is a mail carrier residing at Six Corners. They have four children. Miss Lucy A. is head nurse at the Battle Creek Sanitarium, Battle Creek, Michigan. She studied three years at Ann Arbor and holds the record of being the only girl who ever passed out of that institution from the school room directly to a high and responsible position, one which she has capably filled for the past three years. Minnie married Edwin Upson, who is engaged in farming in Tallmadge Township.

Politically Mr. Skinner has been a stanch Republican ever since he acquired his right to full citizenship and he has been a supporter of the Government both in peace and war. On May 2, 1864, as a member of Company D, 164th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, he accompanied his comrades to Cleveland

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and from there to Arlington Heights, Wash- ington, and when the military necessity was over, returned to Cleveland and was mus- tered out. As one of the township's intelli- gent, reliable citizens, Mr. Skinner has fre- quently been called upon to accept local of- fices and on all occasions he has performed his duties faithfully and efficiently. For the past five years he has been a township trustee and his caution and good judgment have made him a valuable member of the board. He belongs to Buckley Post, Grand Army of the Republic at Akron, and is a member of the local Grange. Ile is a liberal man in the support of charities and has never turned a deaf ear to distress.

ITOWARD A. BAUER, a well-known citi- zen of Norton Township, who since 1895 has been operating the Weygandt farm, which is a valuable tract of seventy-three acres, was born June 14, 1873, in Norton Township, Summit County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Susanna (Hoch) Bauer, who were natives of Pennsylvania.

Howard A. Bauer was reared in Norton Township, where he has resided all his life with the exception of two years spent at Bar- berton. On January 1, 1895, Mr. Bauer was married to Augusta Weygandt, who was born on the old Weygandt farm across the road from the present home, and is a daughter of Elias and Mary (Miller) Weygandt, the lat- ter of whom was a daughter of Peter Miller. Elias Weygandt was a native of Pennsylvania, and came carly in manhood to Norton Town- ship. Ile owned the farm on which Mrs. Bauer was born, his wife being the owner of the present Bauer home. Mrs. Bauer owns the present farm, which Mr. Bauer cultivates very successfully. Mr. and Mrs. Bauer have one child, Thelma May. They attend the Lutheran Church at Doylestown, Ohio.

EDWIN II. CARTER, general farmer and representative citizen of Northfield Township, was born in Boston Township, Summit Coun- ty, Ohio, August 14, 1858, and when fourteen helpful neighbor.

years of age, his parents moved to Everett, and his education was secured there and at Peninsula.

Mr. Carter worked on his father's canal boat and later assisted the latter on his farm, until he was twenty years of age, when he pur- chased the canal boat named Tempest, and later owned the Tidal Wave. He continued on the water for about two years, after which he engaged in farming for a time, still later entering a wholesale house at Akron, where he continued for five years. He had pre- viously learned the blacksmith business and spent a season in the Michigan woods working as a blacksmith for the Cleveland Sawmill Company, Prior to going to Akron, he con- dueted a blacksmith shop at Everett, for five years. Before his marriage in 1904, he rented a farm at Everett for two years, and after- ward came to the Chaffee farm, which he has operated very successfully ever since. He raises truck and produce of all kinds for the Cleveland market, keeps twenty cows and has butter made on the farm for special eus- tomers, has some twenty calves and twenty head of hogs. He raises good crops also of corn, oats, wheat and hay. The apple orchard is a fine producer and many barrels are shipped a season.

On May 2, 1904, Mr. Carter was married to Gertrude Wisneski, who is a daughter of Peter Wisneski. She was born at Inde- pendence, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, December 2, 1867, but for the past twenty-five years has lived with the Chaffee family, by whom she is looked on in the light of a daughter. Her father was born in Poland and came to Amer- ica with his parents. They settled first in Cleveland, moving later to Independence, where Mr. Wisneski followed the trade of stonecutter until within five years of his death, when he bought a farm in Northfield Town- ship, on which he raised truek for the Cleve- land market.

Mr. Carter takes no active interest in poli- ties, voting as his judgment directs. He is known to his fellow-citizens as a fine farmer, a reliable man and an accommodating and

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CHARLES W. WICKLINE, general su- perintendent of the Akron China Company, and one of the stockholders and a direetor in the concern, was born in 1869, at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he attended school in early boyhood.

Mr. Wickline is a self-made man, begin- ning at a very early age to provide for his own maintenance. He began to work as a feeder in a nail factory and so careful, ac- curate and industrious did he prove himself that by the time he was eighteen years old he was given charge of four machines, which he operated for about seven years. Desiring to see something of the country and to en- gaged in a more congenial business, Mr. Wiek- line then went to East Liverpool, where he learned the pottery trade, his natural deft- ness and ready understanding of the prin- ciples of this industry soon bringing him into notice with china manufacturers and dealers. Coming to Akron he was here given charge of one department of the Akron China Com- pany, in which he owned stock. His manifest ability resulted in his rapid promotion, and for the past six years he has occupied his present responsible position. The Akron China Company commands an extensive trade. as at their Chicago office they do a half mil- lion dollars' worth of business yearly in im- ported goods alone. They have 225 employes in their Akron plant. In addition to his in- terest in this important enterprise, Mr. Wick- line is a director in the Akron Mutual Fire Insurance Company. {Ie has always taken some interest in local political affairs.

In 1892 Mr. Wiekline was married to Mary Frances Hawkins, who was born at Steuben- ville, Ohio. Her grandfather was one of the first settlers in Jefferson County. Mr. and Mrs. Wiekline have one son, Frank Hawkins. Mr. Wiekline, with his family. is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church. is quite prominent in Masonry, having been identified with the fraternity for many years. He is past worshipful master of Akron Lodge, N. 83, F. & A. M .; past high priest of Wash- ington Chapter No. 25; past thrice illustrious master of Akron Couneil, No. 80: and belongs

to the Akron Commandery and Lake Erie Consistory.

COMFORT JACKSON CHAFFEE, who has the distinction of being the oldest resident of Northfield Township, was born in what is now Hampden, Massachusetts. April 14, 1817, and is a son of Comfort and Persis (Skinner) Chaffee.

The family can be traced back to France, from which country it early went to Wales and in colonial days came to Massachusetts. The original settler was named Samuel and he had a son, John, who settled at Pomfret, Connecticut, and he had a son, Asa. Asa Chaffee, the great-grandfather, was born in Connecticut, and was one of the early set- tlers at Wilbraham, Massachusetts. He had sixteen sons, many of whom were killed in the French and Indian and in the Revolu- tionary War. The youngest of these, Com- fort Chaffee, was born at Wilbraham, Mas- sachusetts. He participated in the Revolu- tionary War and proved a bold and resolute man. He was a strict Sabbatarian and per- mitted no household or farm work to be done on Sunday.

Comfort Chaffee (2), the second child and eldest son of his parents was born at Wil- braham, Massachusetts, where his life was spent. He was a farmer and stoekdealer and was a man of considerable substance. Hle as- sisted in suppressing Shay's Rebellion. He took a leading part in the town's government and held many of the offiees. He married Persis Skinner, who was born in Woodstock, Con- necticut, and they have six sous and three daughters. Their children were reared in great strictness.

Comfort Jackson Chaffee attended the dis- trict schools in his youth and received excel- lent training in the rudiments. On the last day of December, 1837, he entered the em- ploy of the firm of Waters & Flagg. armorers. at Millbury, Massachusetts, and remained a year, afterward worked at the Chicopee Falls Arms Company, and later eut a large amount of eord wood, taking his pay of thirty-seven and one-half eents a cord, in sole leather.

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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

Later he worked at manufacturing monkey wrenches. About 1839, Mr. Chaffee received a letter from his brother Jonathan, who was then at Brecksville, Summit County, asking him to join him in this part of the country. On April 1, 1840, he left Massachusetts, trav- eling by rail to Rochester, New York, which was then the terminus of the line, and there took a stage to Dunkirk, at that point tak- ing passage on the steamer General Scott, then making her maiden trip to Cleveland.

Having safely reached Northfield Town- ship, Mr. Chaffee bought seventy acres of land, which is included in his present farm and to the original purchase he continued to add until he owned 300 acres. He cleared the timber from his land, making his home for two years with his brother and also work- ing in a machine shop at Brecksville. In the second year he built a barn. When not em- ployed on his land he worked at Brecksville, in the iron works when they were running, and also, in the machine shops at odd times. He afterwards assisted in establishing a plant for the manufacture of rifles at Brecksville. He began to stock his farm with cattle and sheep, as soon as practicable, and in 1848, he began dairying, starting with two cows, and later increased to eighty-seven cows. At the same time he had 400 sale cows on the place. Later Mr. Chaffee became a drover, a very successful one, and in this capacity he was on the road until he was eighty-eight years of age, selling at Brooklyn, Ohio, and South Cleveland, when not holding sales on his own place. Mr. Chaffee is well known all over this section of the State, and for many years was regarded as an authority on cattle and stock. His operations sometimes were on a large scale and through his excellent business judg- ment, he accumlated an ample fortune.

Mr. Chaffee married Asenath W. Ferry, who died May 30, 1904, aged eighty-six years. She was a daughter of Noah Ferry and was born at Wales, Massachusetts. There were two children born to this marriage: Mozart, deceased : and Anna Maria, who is the widow of Dr. Franklin Coats, of Berea, Ohio.

In his early political life, Mr. Chaffee was

a Whig, later became a Free Trade Repub- lican, but at present is identified with the Democratic party. The only office he would ever consent to hold was that of school direct- or. His life has covered a notable period of history and has been more or less filled with interesting incidents. Mr. Chaffee is remark- ably preserved and enjoys social intercourse and takes the interest of a much younger man in the affairs of his community and of the world at large.

J. M. WILLS, president and superintend- ent of the United States Stoneware Company, at Akron, is one of the city's prominent and substantial citizens. He was born in 1841, in England and was eight years of age when he accompanied his parents to America.

Mr. Wills was reared and educated at Cuyahoga Falls. After graduating from the Iligh School of that city, he looked about for employment, and was engaged for some two years in making plows. He embarked then in a mercantile business in which he con- tinued for twenty-six years, during sixteen of which he officiated as postmaster at Mid- dlebury. In 1889, Mr. Wills became super- intendent of the United States Stoneware plant at Akron, and this city has since been his place of residence. On the death of George W. Brewster, Mr. Wills succeeded him as pres- ident of the company. This concern was organized for the manufacture of all kinds of stoneware and enjoys a heavy trade, the plant giving employment to fifty workers. Mr. Wills is himself master of every part of the business, and keeps closely in touch with commercial and manufacturing interests all over the country. Under his guidance the business is enjoying continued prosperity. In 1863 Mr. Wills was married to Martha E. Willis, of Middlebury (East Akron), and they have five children: Rena; Nellie J., who married A. H. Coles, of Cleveland; Bessie, who married J. J. Chamberlain, of Akron; Frank S., of Lima, traveling freight agent for the Lake Erie & Western Railroad; and Grant M., residing at Cleveland, who is stock clerk for the Ferro Machine & Foundry Com-

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 67

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