Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 79

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 79

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David, son of David, son of David, son of Robert and was in the fifth generation from a daughter of Governor Robert Treat of Con- necticut. Oliver Ashley married, in 1793, Tabitha Baker. Ile was born at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, November 20, 1766, and died June 14, 1825. Anson Ashley, father of Mrs. Seward, was born in Massachusetts, in 1796, and was married in Tallmadge Town- ship, Summit County, to Miranda Fenn, who was born June 1, 1798, and lived to the age of ninety-one years, within two years of the limit of the lives of her mother and her grandmother. Peck Fenn, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Seward, was also in the fifth generation from Governor Robert Treat, of Connecticut. He came to Tallmadge Town- ship in 1818, one year later than Anson Ash- ley, his son-in-law. There were ten children born to Anson Ashley and wife, namely : Miranda, who was the wife of Edward C. Leach, of New York; Sarah, who was the sec- ond wife of Edwin C. Leach, died in 1902; Anson, who lived to the age of seventy-nine years; Urania; Andrus; Lucretia; Anna, Ar- lington, residing in California; and two chil- dren died in infaney.

Mr. and Mrs. Seward have three ehildren : Myra, Anna Woodhouse and Henry Baldwin. Myra Seward was born July 24, 1859, and was married to William G. Pitkin, in 1880. and they have five children: Paul B., Fred- erick S., William Henderson, John Ashley and Thomas Monroe. Anna Woodhouse Seward went out to China as a missionary. under the auspiees of the Southern Baptist Association. In her field of work she met Rey. C. W. Pruitt, who was also a missionary, and they were married and are stationed in North China and have four children : John and Ida. who are attending school at Atlanta. Geor- gia; and Robert and Dudley Mcclellan. Hen- ry Baldwin Seward was born August 19. 1865. and in 1892 he married May Avery. They reside at Mineral Ridge, Ohio, and have three children : Myra Rosalie, Laura May and .11- len Dudley.

Mr. Seward is a member of Buckley Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Akron. For

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forty-two years he has belonged to the Tall- madge llistorical Society and is an authority on matters pertaining to its researches, and is treasurer of this organization. He is one of the leading members of the Congregational Church at Tallmadge, and has long been treas- urer of the church's private benefactions. For eighteen years he was registrar of the Puritan Conference of this religious body. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Seward, at Tallmadge Cen- ter, is the residence in which she was born, the old part of which is the oldest frame house in the town.

JOSEPIE WARBURTON, M. D., a well- known physician and surgeon, who has been established at Tallmadge since the spring of 1902. was born October 17, 1874, at Green- town, Stark County, Ohio, and is a son of Richard and Sarah (Marsland) Warburton.

The parents of Dr. Warburton were natives of England, where the father was born June 3, 1835, and the mother, December 21, 1842, the latter at Hazel Grove, near Stockport, not far from Liverpool. Richard Warburton was a mining engineer and a superintendent and inspector of mines. He preceded his family to America and sent for them in 1864. At the time of his death, October 5, 1895, he resided at New Berlin. The family of Richard and Sarah Warburton consisted of the following children: John Thomas, residing at New Berlin, Stark County, Ohio; David; Mar -. garet. who married Henry Gladieux; Rich- ard ; Emma and Joseph.

Dr. Joseph Warburton was educated in the public schools and in 1897 he graduated from the New Berlin High School, after which he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and spent one year in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and following this, three years in the Ohio Medieal University at Columbus, graduating in the class of 1901. For one year he served as honse physician at the Dea- coness ITospital, at Dayton, Ohio, and in the spring of 1902 he located in Tallmadge, where he has enjoyed a large and Merative practice and is recognized as a man of per- sonal high standing.

In 1901 Dr. Warburton was married (first) to Maude E. Wills, who died in the fol- lowing September. She was a trained nurse by profession. In October, 1903, Dr. War- burton was married (second) to Myrna Munn, of Macedonia, who is a daughter of Wesley and Mary Munn, and they have one child, Francis Munn, who was born at Tall- inadge. He is an interesting child of three years.

Mrs. Warburton's grandparents were Iliram and Esther Munn, who were pioneers in Summit County and early settlers at Mace- donia. Wesley Munn, father of Mrs. War- burton, married Mary Lanier, who was a na- tive of New York. They had the following children: Esther, who married Frank Wise, a prominent eitizen of Macedonia, who was the first mayor there; King, residing at Mace- donia; Myrna; and Gladys, residing at home. Mr. Munn died in 1891, aged fifty-eight years, and Mrs. Munn died in 1903, aged fifty-two years.

Dr. Warburton is a member of the Summit County Medical and the State Medical So- eieties. Politically, he is a Republican, but is only active so far as becomes a good citizen. His fraternal connections are with the Knights of Pythias. No. 501 at Tallmadge, and the order of Maceabees, at New Berlin.

THOMAS E. McSHAFFREY, of the firm of E. MeShaffrey & Son, general contractors, doing a large business at Akron and at other points in Summit County. has been one of the partners in this firm for the past two years, and has been indirectly connected with the coneern for the past ten years. He was born in 1876, at Akron, and is a son of Edward and Margaret (Magrath) MeShaffrey.

Edward MeShaffrey was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1851, and came to Amer- iea at the age of sixteen years. He located at Akron, where, for the past quarter of a een- tury, he has been engaged in general eon- traeting, in 1905 admitting his son to part- nership.

Thomas E. MeShaffrey was reared at Akron and attended the parochial schools, later tak-

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ing a course in Hammel's Business College. Prior to entering into partnership with his father, he was foreman of the Whitman- Barnes Manufacturing Company for eight years, and was identified with that firm for seventeen years in all. The firm of E. Mc- Shaffrey & Son have done a large amount of street paving at Akron, with other work, and at present they are building a large sewerage disposal system at Ravenna, Ohio. They are practical men and their work gives universal satisfaction.

On September 28, 1899, Mr. McShaffrey was married to Rose C. Gilbride, of Ravenna, and they have two children: Regina and Thomas Vincent. Both Mr. McShaffrey and wife are members of St. Vincent Catholic Church.

Politieally he is a Republican and takes an intelligent eitizen's interest in public affairs. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the ancient order of Hibernians and the Whitman-Barnes Relief Association.

JARED BARKER, formerly sheriff of Summit County, resides on his farm of forty- four acres, situated in Portage Township, where he is engaged in making such im- provement- as will make his one of the lead- ing dairy farms of this seetion. Neither time nor expense is being spared in the construc- tion of sanitary buildings and wholesome surroundings. Mr. Barker was born March 14, 1861. at Bath, Summit County, Ohio, and is a son of William and Eliza ( Hutchinson) Barker.

Lanson Barker, the grandfather of Jared Barker, was born in Connecticut, November 17. 1791. and he was a son of Jared Barker. who was born in England. Lanson Barker became a resident of the State of New York and, in 1809, he was married to Betsey Phelps. who was born in Connecticut, August 15, 1791. They moved to Ohio and first bought land in Holmes County, remov- ing from it to Massillon, but soon after to Granger Township, Medina County, where they resided a number of years. Still later. Lanson Barker bought land at Royalton,

Cuyahoga County, Ohio, where his wife died in 1847, his death following in 1855. They had eight children: Roxie 1., Willian, Jared, John, Lyman, Mary, Frances and Nel- son.

William Barker, father of Jared, was born in the State of New York, July 30, 1817, and accompanied his parents to Ohio. In 1849, he went to California but soon returned, ow- ing to poor health, and in 1853, he purchased the farm in Bath Township. At that time it was all covered with timber, which he cleared off and erected substantial buildings, devel- oping subsequently a good farm. He engaged also in manufacturing to some extent. In polities he was a strong suppporter of the Re- publican party and held many offices of trust. He died February 10, 1896. In 1856 he mar- ried Eliza Hutchinson, who was born April 3, 1826, who died .October 2, 1876. She was a daughter of Warren and Martha (Mc- Laughin) Hutchinson. They had four chil- dren, namely: Alonzo, who was born in 1857; Jared and a twin brother, the latter of whom died in infancy; and Bettie, who was born in 1867, died in infancy.

Jared Barker was reared and educated in Bath Township, where he owns a magnificent farm of 267 acres, located in the Yellow Creek bottom. In addition to farming and stoek-raising, Mr. Barker engaged in lumber- ing, owning a planing mill and a sawmill. He purchased his dairy farm of forty-four aeres, June 1, 1907. Until 1902, he con- tinued to live in Bath Township, when, hav- ing been elected sheriff of Summit County, he moved to Akron and resided there during his two terms in office. His administration of the responsible office of sheriff gave universal satisfaction to all law-abiding citizens and he retired with a fine record as to efficiency. Since then he has devoted a large part of his attention to developing his dairy farm along first-class lines. it being his idea to supply certified milk. absolutely pure. This is a land- able enterprise which engages the attention of the publie at large.

On September 13, 1883. Mr. Barker was married to Almira Myers, who was born

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February 24, 1862, at Rome City, Indiana, and is a daughter of William and Sarah (Weikel) Myers. The parents of Mrs. Barker moved from Ohio to Indiana, in 1856, settling in Noble County, where they are prominent in every circle. Mr. Myers is one of the largest agriculturists in that section. They had four children, namely: Samuel, born March 27, 1857; Ellen, born June 22, 1858, who married R. Shroyer, of Indiana; Almira, Mrs. Barker; and Charles, who was born April 7, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Myers are members of the German Lutheran Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Barker have five children, namely: Pearl, born January 7, 1886; Bes- sie, born October 25, 1889; Mary, born Oc- tober 21, 1891; Sarah, born August 31, 1890; and William Barker, born July 7, 1898. Mrs. Barker and family are members of the Disciples Church. Politically, Mr. Barker is a stanch Republican, casting his first Presi- dential vote in support of Hon. James G. Blaine. Mr. Barker is one of the representa- tive men of Summit County.

A. J. DIETRICH, senior member of the firm of Dietrich & Brunswick, proprietors of pattern works, located at No. 90 East Sonth Street, Akron, is at the head of one of the prospering industries of the city. He was born in Akron, in 1872, and is a son of the late Anthony Dietrich, a native of Germany who came to America in 1861. The latter followed the trade of stone-mason until within a short time before his death, which occurred in 1891.

A. J. Dietrich was reared and educated at Akron and is master of two distinct trades, those of cabinet-maker and mill-wright. For eight years he was connected with the Ameri- can Cereal Company's plant. Later he was employed in the pattern shops of the Taplin- Rice Company, for seven and a half years, for two years of this period being in charge of their pattern department. Having gained the necessary experience and possessing suffi- cient capital, Mr. Dietrich then entered into partnership with William F. Brunswick, es- tablishing the pattern works of the Dietrich

& Brunswick firm, which are fully equipped with all kinds of appliances and modern ma- chinery for every known kind of pattern work.

In 1900 Mr. Dietrich was married to Louise Willenbacher, of Akron, and they have two interesting little sons, Carl Philip and Philip Joseph. Mr. and Mrs. Dietrich are members of St. Bernard's Catholic Church. He belongs to the order of Knights of St. John.

PETER SERFASS, a successful agricul- turist of Norton Township, residing on his valuable farm of seventy-six acres, was born in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, August 15, 1826, and is a son of Peter and Eva (Hout- smith) Serfass.

The parents of Peter Serfass came from Pennsylvania to Ohio, in 1838, and as they traveled by wagon their progress was slow and they were on the road nineteen days. The father bought eighty acres of land in Norton Township, which had been partly improved, but later he sold four aeres, the remainder being the farm now owned by his son, Peter Serfass. The house that was standing on the place at that time still serves as a residence, although a large amount of money has been spent in remodeling it. The land was soon all cleared and orchards were set out and the parents lived to enjoy some years of comfort and ease on this farm before they passed away. Of their five children, three survive, namely: Ladina, who is the widow of Louis Mosier; Matilda, who is the wife of Jacob Boerstler; and Peter, of Norton Township.

Peter Serfass remained at home and as- sisted his father until he was twenty-one years of age, and for the following three years worked by the month on the home farm. At this time he was married to Ansaneta Seig- freid. who was born in Pennsylvania and came to Ohio in girlhood, accompanying her father, who was Lonis Seigfried. They have had four children, namely: Clara, who is the wife of Dr. Joseph Wingerter, residing at Akron: Alice Viola, who died aged twenty-

ROBERT J. RODD

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one years; Cora May; and Elva, who died aged fourteen years.

After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Serfass set- tled on the farm, on which they have resided ever since, with the exception of fourteen years spent at Akron, during which time Mr. Serfass was employed by the Hankey Lumber Company. He carries on a general farming line. Mr. Scrfass and wife belong to the Lutheran Church.

ROBERT JAMES RODD, superintendent of the rivet department of the Falls Rivet and Machine Company's plant at Kent, Ohio, but a resident of Cuyahoga Falls, was born at London, England, May 29, 1854, and is a son of William James and Sarah (Ashby) Rodd.

The father of Mr. Rodd was born in the great manufacturing city of Birmingham, but learned no trade, having been eollege- bred. He worked as an accountant until 1875, when he crossed the ocean and settled in Canada, residing at Dundas until 1893. He then came to Cuyahoga Falls, where his death occurred when he had reached the age of sixty-two years. He married Sarah Ashby, who resides with her daughter, Mrs. George Shannon. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while her late husband belonged to the Episcopal com- munion. They were the parents of eight ehil- dren, namely: Kate, who married John Morrison, residing at Jordan, Canada; Rosa, who married George Forester, and resides at Cleveland: Mary; Frederick, residing at Cleveland; Arthur; Charles, residing at Cleveland; and Esther, who married George Shannon, and resides at Cuyahoga Falls. Mary and Arthur are deceased.

Robert James Rodd enjoyed good eduea- tional advantages, and before coming to Can- ada, was associated with his father in office work. Ile then learned the machinist's trade and in 1877 became foreman for the Canada Screw Company, with which eoncern he re- mained until it went out of business. In 1879 Mr. Rodd came to Cuyahoga Falls,

where he was employed by E. L. Babcock, then of the Falls Rivet and Machine Con- pany, to operate the eold headers, and has been identified with this business ever since. From 1888 until 1891 he was engaged as erecting engineer in the East and South; in the latter year he became assistant superin- tendent, and in the fall of 1893 beeamne su- perintendent of the rivet department, which was then separate from the machinery de- partment. He remodeled the shops, and the trork has so increased that from a force of thirty-five men then required, he now em- ploys 150.

In June, 1891, Mr. Rodd started to build machinery for making bolts. Prior to that time the company had made only rivets. By adding the manufacture of bolts, the output of the plant was doubled. Mr. Rodd has patents on machines for automatically tap- ping nuts, this being known as the Rodd's Automatic Nut Tapper. It is in use in all the leading factories of the United States and Canada, and sales have been made also in England and Germany.

On January 4, 1881, Mr. Rodd was mar- ried to Katherine Cooper, who was born at Grantham, England, and is a daughter of William Cooper, who settled at Dundas, Can- ada, in 1859. They have one son, William Cooper, who learned the machinist's trade with his father and now fills the position of draughtsman, with the International Har- vester Company, of Akron. Mr. Rodd and family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In 1901 Mr. Rodd built a fine residence on the corner of Broad and Third Streets. The land was secured from the Sill family, whose deed came from the Connectieut Land Company, its earliest owners, the Indians having sold it to that body of promoters.

In politics Mr. Rodd is a Republican. He has never been anxious for politieal honors, but has served several years as a member of the Board of Education. He has been iden- tified with the Masons for a number of years, and is past master of Star Lodge, No. 187.

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L. W. CAMP, president of the L. W. Camp Company, is one of Akron's enterprising and progressive business men of the younger gen- eration, whose energy, in many instances, has infused new life into old and conservative houses. Mr. Camp was born in 1879, at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and is a son of H. B. Camp, one of Akron's prominent men. He was reared at Cuyahoga Falls and Akron, where he attended school. Ile then engaged in contracting, in association with his father, with whom he remained for three years in New York, where the father had at that time large business interests. In 1902 the L. W. Camp Company was organized and incorpo- rated with a capital stock of $100,000, for the manufacture of fireproof clay products, with L. W. Camp as president and R. E. Arm- strong, secretary and treasurer. Mr. Camp has other business interests, being president of the Factory Oil Company and treasurer of the Akron Fire Proof Construction Com- pany. On June 18, 1904, he was married to Louise B. Wettach, who is a daughter of F. J. Wettach, of Akron.

GEORGE A. BISBEE, a veteran of the Civil War and a substantial business citizen of Akron, where he is engaged in a wholesale and retail feed business. at No. 127 South Main Street, was born in 1844, at Union Mills. Lagrange County, Indiana.

Mr. Bisbee was but four years old when his parents died and he was taken into the family of a Mr. Capon, whom he subsequently ae- companied to Summit County. Here he was reared and attended the district schools. Ho learned the blacksmith trade and worked at it until 1864, when he enlisted in Company F. 164th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for the 100-day service in the Civil War. During this enlistment he was stationed at Fort Cochran, near Washington, D. C. In Feb- ruary, 1865, Mr. Bisbee re-enlisted, entering Company T, 188th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was sent first to Murfreesboro, and thence to Nashville, where it was stationed at the close of the war, being later mustered out at Columbus.

After the close of his military service, Mr. Bisbee went to work again at his trade, first in Michigan and later at Orland, Indiana, but in February, 1867, he returned to Sum- mit County and went into business at Ghent, where he lived until September 23, 1872. He then came to Akron, and for the succeeding seventeen years was an employee of the Whitman-Barnes Company. He next em- barked in his present business, in which he has met with very satisfactory success.

In 1868 Mr. Bisbee was married to Sarah Davis, of Bath, Summit County, and they have one child, Adelia B., who is the wife of M. Janse, residing at Maple Creek, North- western Canada. Mr. Bisbee has an honorable record as a soldier, and is a valued member of Buckley Post, G. A. R. He belongs to the Knights of llonor, at Akron.

WILSON F. SEIBERLING, a general farmer, residing on a part of the old Seiber- ling homestead farm, which is situated on the Norton Center road, just east of Western Star, was born on this farm, in Summit County, Ohio, September 24, 1876, and is a son of Gus and Julia (Kulp) Seiberling, the former of whom was one of the county's prominent men.

Wilson F. Seiberling was reared and edu- cated in Norton Township and attended school at Western Star, completing his edu- cation at the Norton Center Iligh School. From that time to the present he has given his attention to general farming and to the raising of fine horses. He settled on his pres- ent farm immediately after his marriage, and has continued to develop and improve the land ever since.

On November 29, 1899, Mr. Seiberling was married to Kittie Marnin, who was reared in Chippawa Township, Wayne County, Ohio, and is a daughter of William Marnin. They have had two children, a babe that died in infaney, and Marcella Gertrude.

Mr. Seiberling, like other members of this old Summit County family. is a member of the Lutheran Church.

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JAMES B. CROSS, a well-known citizen of Tallmadge Township, where he owns a fertile farm of sixteen and one-half acres, on which he carries on general farming and poultry- raising, is a survivor of the great Civil War and a veteran of the same. Ile was born in Cambridgeshire, England, January 30, 1844, and is a son of Elijah and Hannah (Bidwell) Cross.

The parents of Mr. Cross were natives of England and came to America in 1853. The father settled first in Medina County, Ohio, where he engaged in business as a horticul- turist and florist, having served an apprentice- ship of seven years to this business in his na- tive land. He died in Medina County in 1879, aged seventy-one years. His widow died in the town of Medina, in 1861. The father was married twice and to his first union there were born four children: Joseph, William, Mary and Elijah. To the second marriage four children were born, as follows: Sarah, who is the widow of Clarence Peck, resides in Lorain County, Ohio; Hannah, de- ceased, who married Eudoris Stewart ; Henry B., who was born in 1848, operates a broom factory in Akron, where he is a useful citizen, taking an interest in public affairs, and being the originator of the measure known as the Buchtel Bill for the Blind; and James B.

Janes B. Cross attended the district schools in Medina County and assisted his father un- til he entered the service of the United States. becoming a member of Company G. 84th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Ile was enrolled June 2, 1862. to serve three months. and was honorably discharged September 20, 1862, at Camp Delaware. Ile re-enlisted May 2, 1864, in Company B, 162nd Regiment, Ohio National Guards, to serve 100 days and was honorably discharged a second time. Sep- tember 4, 1864, at Camp Chase. A third time he enlisted, February 19, 1865. in Company I, 188th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for one year. Ilis first service was on the United States mail boat, taking prisoners from Covington, Kentucky. to Louisville, and the second was at Tullahoma, Tennessee; New Creek, Virginia; Cumberland. Maryland, and

at Nashville, Tennessee. He was at Tulla- homa at the time of General Lee's surrender, being so ill at the time that it required two men to bring him home.

Following his return from the army, for forty-three years he worked in the gearing department of the Aultman-Miller Company, at Akron, engaged in putting machinery to- gether, and remained until the business changed hands. For twenty-four years he resided at Akron, and has lived on the pres- ent place for the past nineteen years. On February 20, 1865, Mr. Cross was married to Almira Branch, who belongs to a very old pioneer family and is a daughter of Lawson and Cordelia Branch. Mrs. Cross is of Eng- lish descent on the paternal side. The grand- father, Levi Branch, with his brothers, Theo- dore, Edwin and Elisha, came to Ohio from Massachusetts, and they all settled in York Township, Medina County. The children of Levi Branch were: Lawson, Levi. Theodore, Elisha, Edwin and Mary. Levi Branch was born at Worthington, Massachusetts, Septem- ber 17. 1779. and died in York Township, Medina County, Ohio, in 1855. He came to that section from Sweden, New York, in 1830, accompanied by his wife and several children. Ile was a man of authority in York Town- ship. The first election was held in his barn and the first religious meeting was held in his house. The first educational institution the little community erected was named the Levi Branch school-house. For a time he owned the only team in the town and had the monopoly of hauling provisions from Wooster and Portage. For a long period he was the owner of the only stove in the township.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 79

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