Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 84

Author: Doyle, William B., b. 1868
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1150

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vanced years, her memory is excellent and she is well preserved both in body and mind. She has been a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Loyal Oak ever since its establishment, her father having assisted in the erection of the church building. To Mr. and Mrs. John Lahr there were born three children: Lucinda Elizabeth, who married Daniel Everhard, died in 1874; and Jonas Franklin and William Il., twins, the former of whom died at the age of two years.

William II. Lahr was educated in the schools of his native section and was reared to agricultural pursuits, which he has car- ried on all of his mature life. Since 1904, he has lived more or less retired from the ac- tive duties of the farm, but he still takes an earnest interest in its improvement. In addi- tion to two fine residences, there is a substan- tial barn on this property, which was built by Mr. Lahr in 1868.

On December 1, 1870, Mr. Lahr was mar- ried to Sarah J. Lerch, who is a daughter of Peter Lerch, and to this union there were born two children: Charles H., and Aletta Pearl. Charles H. is a graduate of the ITam- mel Business College, at Akron, and is auditor of the Northern Ohio Traction Company. He married Lizzie Sieger. Aletta Pearl is the wife of Carman Myers, and they have one child, William A.

DANIEL O'MARR, general contractor, and one of the best-known citizens of Akron. has been a resident of this city since 1881 and has been closely identified with its material upbuilding. He was born at Cleveland, in 1849, but was reared at Independence, Ohio, where he learned the brick- and stone-ma- son's trade.

Mr. O'Marr has been interested in the stone business all his active life, with the ex- ception of his school days and the period up to seventeen years when he worked on a farm, and even during that time he did some work in the stone quarries. Later he ac- quired an interest in the stone quarries at Independence and Clinton, Ohio, and opened up several quarries of his own, continuing in

the quarry business for about fifteen years, at those points. He came to Akron, in 1881, and was engaged as foreman of the repair work in the stone construction of the Ohio Canal from Cleveland to Clinton, for three years, and since closing that contract has been occupied with general contracting. His sub- stantial work may be seen in all parts of the city, his first structure being the big cereal mill on Howard Street, following which he built the foundation of the High School Building, and then erected the Baker-Mc- Millan Building, the National City Bank Building, the Gas Works of the Sixth Ward, a part of the Buckeye Works, a part of Adamson's foundry, five buildings for the Goodrich plant, and many others. For the past seventeen years he has also been engaged in street paving and has put down many miles of it in Akron. lle estimates his pres- ent contraets as worth $30,000. He has al- ways been and still continues to be one of the busiest of busy men and has built up a repu- tation for thorough work and prompt service second to no contractor in this section.

Mr. O'Marr was first married in 1873, to Mary Conners, who died in the fall of 1882. The four children of that marriage were: Jessie, deceased; Minnie, who married a Mr. Connelly, residing at Chicago, Illinois; Maud, who married Jesse Jackson, residing at Buf- falo, New York; and William, a resident of Olio, New York. Mr. O'Marr married, sec- ond, Kate Glennon, and they have three chil- dren: John, Paul and Elinor. With his family. Mr. O'Marr belongs to St. Vincent's Catholic Church. Ile takes a good citizen's interest in politics and was appointed sani- tary officer, but found the press of private business too heavy and he resigned the of- fice.

JONAS BAUER, general farmer and ste- cessful grower of small fruit, who resides on his fertile farm of fifty-five acres, which ad- joins the Medina County line on the west. has been a resident of Norton Township since 1882. He was born in a seetion that has sent many excellent citizens to Summit

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County, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, July 18, 1846, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Marsh) Bauer.

Jonas Bauer was reared on his father's farm and remained in Pennsylvania for ten year's succeeding his marriage, when he eame to Summit County and rented farms in Nor- ton Township until 1895, when he purchased his present place.

Mr. Bauer was married in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, to Amanda Oplinger, who is a daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Rapt) Oplinger. She was reared near Mr. Baner's former home. To this marriage four children have been born, three sons and one daughter, namely: Owen, who is employed at Akron; Marcus, residing at Lafayette, In- diana, who married Graee Bryan; Oliver; and Minnie, who married Earl IIarter.

With his family, Mr. Bauer belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Loyal Oak, of which he is a trustee.

J. A. GEIRES, surveyor of Summit Coun- ty, has been identified with this branch of the public service since 1884. Ile was born at Marshallville, Wayne County, Ohio, October 2, 1861. After completing his education, he taught school at Marshallville up to 1882. During 1882-83 he was enrolled as a student at the O. S. U. College of Columbus, Ohio.

The Sparhawk family is of New England origin and was established in Ohio by the father of Harvey 1. Sparhawk, who brought his family from Vermont. Henry G. Spar- hawk came to Norton Township on horseback, his possessions eonsisting of his saddle bags and an ax. He took up land in Norton Township which he cleared and developed and which is now known as the Jacob Bowers farm. He married Lucy Baker and of their large family five reached maturity, namely : Luey, who married Rev. Henry Brown, re- siding at East Ninety-eight Street, Cleveland; Harvey A., who is deceased; Ilattie, twin of Harvey 1., who married Rev. Newton Brown, residing at Elliott, Maine; Melanchthon, who married Phebe Beebe, residing at Columbus, IFe entered the surveyor's office as deputy, in , Nebraska : and Martha. unmarried, residing at 1884. From 1892 until 1893, Mr. Gehres was engaged for the State in surveying the State rivers and canals, and for two years was engaged in platting for the city. With the exception of these periods of special work, he has been oceupied for the past eleven years as county surveyor. He was trained to the work in the Ohio State University, and with his public contraet and extensive outside de- mands, has his time very fully occupied. In addition to his engineering and surveying he is interested in a number of the successful business enterprises of Akron, being a stoek- holder in several and one of the officials in the German-American Building and Loan Association. In 1888 Mr. Gehres was mar- ried to Jennie M. Hartong. He is a member

of the Lutheran Church, and belongs to the Ohio Engineering Society, the Elks, and the Liebertaufal, and to the German-American club.

HARVEY A. SPARHAWK, whose sterling qualities and useful life made him a leading citizen of Tallmadge Township, was born in Norton Township, Summit County, Ohio, July 25, 1844, and died in 1896, on the farm of 138 26-100 acres, in Tallmadge Township, on which he had lived from the age of four- teen years. Ilis parents were Henry G. and Lucy (Baker) Sparhawk.

Columbus, Nebraska. Henry G. Sparhawk acquired the present home farm in Tallmadge Township about fifty years ago, and he died on it in 1870, at the age of sixty years. His widow died at Oberlin, Ohio.

Harvey A. Sparhawk received his educa- tion in the public schools and subsequently attended sehool at Adrian, Michigan. He was fourteen years old when his father settled on the present family estate, and he continued to reside on it, managing and improving it, until the time of his death. He was a man of high character and was regarded with respect and esteem by his fellow-eitizens. He belonged to Apollo Lodge, No. 51, Odd Fellows, at East Akron, and to Tallmadge Lodge of Knights of Pythias, and was also a member of Tall-

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madge Grange. For many years he was a leading member of the Congregational Church.

In 1870 Ilarvey A. Sparhawk was married to Emma Wolf, who is a daughter of Aaron and Catherine Wolf. Mrs. Sparhawk was born in Pennsylvania and accompanied her parents when they moved first, to Maryland, and later to Tallmadge, Summit County. They had the following children: Arthur, William, Frank O., Mary Arvilla, Howard H., Ira, Elmer, and an infant, the two last named being deceased.

Arthur Sparhawk was born April 1, 1872. Ile attended the schools of Tallmadge Town- ship and later took a course in Hammel's Business College, and still later spent a short time at Buchtel College. He is successfully engaged in farming. William Sparhawk was born February 20, 1874, and from the public schools entered the Ohio State Uni- versity at Columbus, and is now a resident of Cleveland, where he is employed as a meat inspector for the Government. He married Lulu Arbogast and they have three children : Theoron, Mildred and Evaline. Frank O. Sparhawk was born February 27, 1876. He first attended the public schools of Tallmadge Township and then took a course in Forestry, at the University of Colorado, and is in the employe of the Government as forest ranger and owns a section of land at Rongis, Wyo- ming. Mary Arvilla Sparhawk was born May 29, 1880, and married Herman T. Schlegle, of East Akron, who is the general manager of the Akron Fertilizer Company. They have one ehild, Harold Howard. Dr. Howard H. Sparhawk was born March 19, 1885, in the old family home in Tallmadge Township and attended first the local schools and later the public schools of Akron. He then entered the Ohio State University and was graduated in the class of 1907, in the de- partment of veterinary medicine. Ira Spar- hawk was born July 24, 1886, was educated in the public schools of Tallmadge Township and later the common and High School at Akron. The mother of this family resides on the homestead. She is a valued member of

the Congregational Church, and a lady who is highly esteemed for her many womanly qual- ities. The whole family ranks very high among the representative people of Tallmadge Township.

ROSWELL HOPKINS, residing on his valuable farm of 100 acres, which is situated in Bath Township, owns a second farm of 156 acres, in the same township, and in addition to farming, has been interested in the lumber business since boyhood. Mr. Hopkins was born in the house in which he resides, Sunt- mit County, Ohio, in 1872, and is a son of Roswell and Emily (Briggs) (Case) Hop- kins.

The grandparents of Mr. Hopkins, Isaac and Susannah ( Harrison) Hopkins, were na- tives of Connecticut, from whence they moved to the State of New York, and removed from there to Summit County, Ohio, locating in Bath Township, September 10, 1814. where the grandfather later bought a farm on which they lived the rest of their lives. Roswell Hopkins, Sr., was born in Bath Township, and resided here until his death. In 1860 he went into the lumber business, in partnership with William Barker, and they operated a sawmill and bending works. Mr. Hopkins sold his interest at a later date and com- menced to operate the sawmill near Ghent, which his son still conducts, this old mill hav- ing been in use over seventy-five years. He married Mrs. Emily (Briggs) Case, who is also deceased.

Roswell Hopkins, son of Roswell, was reared on the home property, and ever since leaving school he has been engaged in the lumber business. In 1905 he bought the planing mill and lumber interests of former Sheriff Barker, and moved the mill to its present location on his own land. one mile west of Ghent. Here he has large lumber yards and does a great amount of business.

Mr. Hopkins married Ossie Pierson and they have seven children, namely: Cecil, Ruth, Helen, Anna, Paul, Juanita, and How- ard. Mr. Hopkins is one of the leading citi- zens of his community and is interested in

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all that pertains to its welfare. lle is a mem- ber of the township Board of Education. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and the Maccabees.

LEVI ALLEN, formerly for many years a well-known and highly respected citizen of Akron, and a worthy representative of several of the old and honored families, not only of this section of Ohio, but also of New Eng- land, was born February 10, 1799, in Tomp- kins County, New York, and was a son of Jesse and Catherine (Fiethrick) Allen.

Jesse Allen, father of Levi, was born at Cornwall, Litchfield County, Connecticut, in 1770. Ile was still in young manhood when he went to Tompkins County, New York, where he was married, in 1797, to Catherine Fiethriek, who was born at Trenton, New Jersey, in 1776, of Holland ancestry. Jesse Allen followed farming and shoemaking un- til July. 1811, when he came to Ohio, trav- eling in a covered wagon and bringing along cattle and sheep with which to stock the new farm in the wilderness. Ile bought land in Coventry Township. Summit County, and here developed a valuable farm on which he died September 12, 1837. Ile served in the War of 1812 under Maj. Miner Spicer. Ile was a consistent member of the Baptist Church, and in the early days, when the vis- its of the pioneer preachers were necessarily few and far between, he opened his log house to his neighbors and kept religious feeling alive. His ten children were: Jonah, de- ceased, whose wife was Cynthia Spicer; Levi; David, who married Beulah Jones: Jacob, who married Catherine Van Sickle; John; Jesse ; Catherine. who married Mills Thompson; Sarah, who married James M. Hale; Hiram; and Christiana, who married Charles Cald- well.

Levi Allen was just twelve years old when his parents and other relatives came to Sum- mit County, Ohio, and in the exodus from the Eastern home it fell to his lot to drive cattle and sheep over the long route. Until his majority he remained assisting his father,

but when his own marriage took place or was in contemplation, he purchased land of his own in Coventry Township, on which he re- sided until 1868, when he retired to Akron, where the rest of his life was passed, his death occurring May 11, 1887.

On December 10, 1823, Levi Allen was married to Phebe Spicer, who was a daughter of Major Miner and Cynthia (Allyn) Spicer, and who died January 10, 1879. Major Miner Spieer was born May 29, 1776, and in 1798 married Cynthia Allyn, who died Sep- tember 10, 1828. In the following year he was married (second) to Mrs. Hannah (Al- lyn) Williams, a sister of his first wife and the widow of Barnabas Williams. Major Spicer served as a commander of militia dur- ing the War of 1812. He came to Summit County prospecting, in 1810, bought 260 acres of land in Portage Township and established his family on it in 1811. He was a promi- nent man in all the affairs of Portage Town- ship, and died September 11, 1855.

The mother of Mrs. Levi Allen was a daugh- ter of Ephraim and Temperance (Morgan) Allyn, the latter of whom was a daughter of Captain William and Temperance (Avery) Morgan. These are old New England fami- lies of Welsh extraction. Captain Willian Morgan was a son of William and Mary ( Avery) Morgan, the former of whom was a son of John and Elizabeth (Jones) Morgan, the latter of whom was a daughter of Lieu- tenant Governor Jones, who was governor of the New Haven Colony. The Morgans, also of Wales, were Puritans and from this same family came Edward D. Morgan. who be- came governor of the State of New York. Temperance Avery, wife of Captain William Morgan, was a daughter of Colonel Christo- pher and Prudence (Payson) Avery, and a granddaughter of James and Deborah (Stel- lyon) Avery. Captain William Morgan served under Colonel Parsons during several years of the Revolutionary War.

Levi Allen and wife had six children, as follows: Levi, Miner S., Albert, Miner J., Walter S. and Cynthia.

GEORGE PAUL

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GEORGE PAUL, for many years a promi- nent citizen of Cuyahoga Falls, and probably the most able civil engineer who ever claimed this section as his home, was born at Cuya- hoga Falls, Summit County, Ohio, September 8, 1837, and died January 9, 1900. His par- ents were Hosea and Ellen (Gamber) Paul. He was educated in the common and High schools of his native place, and in 1857 be- gan to learn the machinist's trade. With him this natural leaning developed into something very nearly approaching genius. Going east he worked at his trade in early manhood at Boston and at Brooklyn, New York, in the meantime devoting his evenings and leisure time to the study of civil engineer- ing, under a private tutor. When the Civil War broke out he was working as a machinist at Wilmington, Delaware, and in 1862 he enlisted in the Federal navy, as an engineer. For three years he served in the South At- lantic squadron under Admiral Dupont, and was attached to the "Nahant," the "Sonama." and to other monitors. At the close of the war he came back to Cuyahoga Falls, and in 1867 purchased a small shop, which, how- ever. he carried on but a short time, his sub- sequent work being all in the line of civil engineering. In 1871 he went to Waterloo, Towa, where he designed the magnificent bridge across the Cedar River, which is 600 feet long and one of the largest in the coun- try. Long before this he planned the first steam canal boat that plied on the Ohio Canal. After the filling of his contract for the above mentioned bridge, Mr. Paul had many professional ealls in Iowa, and did the surveying for a projected narrow-guage rail- road running north from Waterloo. Later he was engaged in laying the grade of a road projected from Marion. Ohio, to Chi- cago, but this work was stopped on account of the panie of 1873. At this time Mr. Paul ivas residing at Kenton, Ohio. from which city he again returned to Cuyahoga Falls, where for many years he was engaged in the practice of his profession, frequently be- ing identified with notable feats of engineer- ing. At the time of his death, January 9,

1900, he had full charge of the work of con- structing the Akron, Bedford and Cleveland Railroad. He died just as he would have wished, still with full mental powers, and at the head of a work of great importance. His death left a void in his profession at it did in the family and social circles. For six years he had been a member of the State Board of Public Works, and one of its most valued advisors.

On May 18, 1871, Mr. Paul was married to Olive 1. Babcock, a member of an old Co- lonial family. She was born at Cuyahoga Falls May 21, 1842, and is a daughter of Austin and Eliza (Taylor) Babcock, and a granddaughter of Chester Babcock, who was born June 9, 1781, and who lived and died at Tolland, Connecticut.

Austin Babcock was born at Tolland, Con- necticut, October 28, 1810, and died in 1876. He married Eliza Taylor, who was born at Lee, Massachusetts, December 28, 1809, and who died in September, 1890. They had two children, Erskine L., residing at Springfield, Ohio, at time of his death, in June, 1907, and Olive A., who is the widow of George Paul. Both parents were members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. In boyhood, Austin Babcock learned the trades of paper- making and mill construction. He came to Cuyahoga Falls in 1835, and was employed in the paper mill at this place for a number of years. In 1850 he made a trip to Cali- fornia, mainly for the benefit of his health, and came baek three years later much im- proved. Subsequently he hecame a member of the firm of J. M. Smith & Company, pa- per manufacturers, the firm later becoming Harrison, Hanford & Company. On this company's mills being burned he assisted in rebuilding them. At a still later date he and his son, Erskine, started into business as builders, and in connection with their building operations, they condueted a plan- ing mill. In the course of time he, with his son and several other business men, converted the planing mill into a rivet factory, and this was the first firm to manufacture rivets here. The old building is still utilized as

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a part of the present plant at Cuyahoga Falls. This was Mr. Babcock's last business connec- tion, and he was associated with these works at the time of his death. In early life he was a Whig, but later became identified with the Republicans.

Politically, Mr. Paul was a Republican, taking the interest of a good citizen in pub- lic affairs. He always enjoyed his connection with Eddy Post, No. 137, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was past com- mander. Mrs. Paul prizes very highly a number of historic relics which Mr. Paul gathered while in the service of his country and not the least of these is a quaint little ginger jar that was picked up at Fort Sum- ter on the day after it was evacuated. Mr. Paul was a member of Star Lodge, No. 187, F. & A. M., Cuyahoga Falls. Mrs. Paul is a member of the Congregational Church of this city, of which Mr. Paul was an attend- ant. He was a man of great mental equip- ment, broad-minded in his views, and chari- table in thought, word and action.

II. G. MOON, one of Akron's retired capi- talists and leading citizens, was born Novem- ber 12, 1830, in Oswego County, New York, and is a son of Silas and Mary ( Russell) Moon. ITis parents came to Northampton Township, Summit County, about 1831, eross- ing the lakes and traveling by way of the canal to Old Portage. Their last years were spent with their eldest son, William Moon, in Wisconsin.

Circumstances in Mr. Moon's family in his boyhood made it necessary for each member to contribute to his own support, ard the first effort of the subject of this sketch in this di- reetion was working as a chore boy. He learned the earpenter's trade and in following this, visited many different points, but for years his industrial activities found their scope in Akron.

Mr. Moon was married, first. July 16, 1853, to Fanny Cochran, who died in 1886, leaving two children, Mary E. and Alfred H. Mary E. was married (first) to Charles Pettit, and some years after his death became the wife of Wil-

liam Hammond. Alfred II. resides in Portage County and is engaged in farming. Mr. Moon was married, second, June 15, 1888, to Eveline W. Mallison, who was born and reared at Akron. She is a daughter of the late Albert G. Mallison, once one of Akron's most prominent men. He came to Summit County as a civil engineer, in 1832, and did the greater part of the surveying and platting of a large part of that section of Akron which is now most closely built, notably Market and Howard Streets. The family has been one of much prominence in the city's social life. Since retiring from business, Mr. Moon has taken mnuch pleasure in travel and for four winters he and wife have enjoyed the genial elimate of California.

DANIEL VOGT, an honorable, upright cit- izen of Tallmadge Township, who is suc- eessfully engaged in mixed farming on his valuable land consisting of eighty-one fertile. acres, was born in Rheinish Bavaria, Ger- many, August 8, 1836. His parents were John and Margaret (Selzer) Vogt.

The grandparents of Mr. Vogt were Daniel and Christiana (Hass) Vogt, and their whole lives were passed in Germany. The grand- father was a man of some consequenee, being postmaster of his native town for many years. Hle had two sons and three daughters. The Vogts eame originally from Holland, prob- ably Daniel and his four brothers, and set- tled in the town of Freinsheim, in the province of Rhine Phals, Germany, where they became soldiers in the army, one of them being formerly a guard to the king of Ilolland. IFe was embroiled in some trouble with another guard, which caused his leaving his native land, and he subsequently entered the English army. One of the other brothers entered the Prussian army, where he was given charge of the commissary department and was killed while on duty. A third brother was an expert swordsman and was a teacher of feneing.

The maternal grandfather of Daniel Vogt was George Selzer, who died at the age of eighty-five years, living in the old home

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which belonged to the family for generations, at Freinsheim. He married a lady named More. The Selzer children were: Franz, George and Peter, sons; and the daughters were: Catherine, who married Jacob Baker, lived and died in Germany; Mrs. Barth; Mrs. Heppihe, who came to America and in 1846 lived in Philadelphia; and Margaret, who be- came the mother of Daniel Vogt. The sons of Franz Selzer were bringing their parents to America, when he died on board the vessel and his widow died later at Cleveland.

Both parents of Daniel Vogt were born in Bavaria, Germany. They left their native land and came to North Springfield Town- ship, Summit County, Ohio, March 28, 1852, where they purchased twenty acres of land of Robert and John Gilchrist, and they resided on this until death. The father lies buried in Springfield Township and the mother at Akron. To John and Margaret Vogt were born four sons and one daughter, all natives of Germany. as follows: Daniel; Ilenry, who ha's had charge of the city parks of Akron for the past twenty-five years, married Lovina Walters, of Clinton, Ohio: Christina, who married John Ilebert, a carriage mannfac- turer of Akron: George, who was a victim of consumption, was a brave soldier during the Civil War, later an employe of the Collins & Fell carriage factory at AAkron, married Miss Cushman and left a son, Irvin, who has served as a member of the city council of Akron ; and Christian, who is a retired citizen of South Akron was formerly interested in carriage manufacturing. He married Mary McDonald.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 84

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