Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 86

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 86

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Politically Mr. White is stanch in his Re- publicanism and has long taken an active in- terest in party policies. Fraternally, he is an Odd Fellow, for the past thirty years having been a member of Apollo Lodge, No. 61, East Akron.

ELMER A. GAULT, who, for the past ten years has had charge of all the coneessions of the Lake Side Park, at Akron, is one of the city's best known and substantial men. Mr. Gault was born in 1862 in Wiseonsin, and in childhood accompanied his parents to Lodi, Ohio, growing to the age of sixteen years on a farnı.

At the above-mentioned age Mr. Gault went to Cleveland, where he learned the business of manufacturing eandy, and was engaged in the candy line at Lexington, Kentucky, for five years. Failing health eaused his return to Ohio, where he was married to Ella A. Zarle, of Wooster, in 1894. After a year spent at Cleveland, Mr. Gault eame to Akron and for one year conducted a pleasure resort at Chippewa Lake, and then embarked in his present enterprise. He has a lease extending for eight more years and has felt justified in making many improvements on these grounds, in the spring of 1907 completing a large haseball diamond here at a cost of $2,500.

He has visited many parts of the United States and understands how to seeure the best attractions. He is one of the largest stockholders in the East Market Street rink and owns other property, ineluding a fine home at No. 936 South Main Street.

The parents of Mr. Gault were Daniel and Sarah (Hutchinson) Gault. the latter of whom still survives, the father having died February 17, 1906. Their children were: U. H. Gault, residing at Lodi, Ohio, and en- gaged in well drilling and eoal prospecting: S. L., a retired farmer, living near Lodi: E.

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A., of Akron; Mary, who married W. J. Feazel; Miller, of Lodi; Nellie, who married Edward Paden, an engineer, running the fast express between Chicago and Pittsburg; Frederick, who is in the employ of the Bal- timore & Ohio Railroad as an electrical signal man : and Ida, who married William Bower, hose maker at the Diamond Rubber works, Akron. Mrs. E. A. Gault is a leading mem- ber of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church on West Thornton Street, Akron.

GEORGE W. RUCKEL, a well known Akron citizen, superintendent of the Summit Sewer Pipe Company, was born in Medina County, Ohio, September 23, 1848. His father, George Ruckel, one of the leading farmers of Summit County in his day, and in polities a staneh Republiean, died in 1878.

At a very carly date in the life of the sub- jeet of this sketch, his parents moved to a farm near Tallmadge, Summit County, where he was reared and attended the district schools. Later he attended school at East Akron. His first industrial experience begun at an early age, was gained on the farm, and he followed his father's occupation on the home farm at Tallmadge until 1894. In that vear his industrial activities underwent a rad- ical change, for he then came to Akron, from which place he went out to superintend the building of a paper-mill at Boston, this county. For the past eight years he has been superintendent of the Summit Sewer Pipe Company, a responsible position, calling for a thorough practical knowledge of the business and good managerial ability. He is financial- ly interested, both in this concern and in the Cleveland-Akron Bag Company. In politics, Mr. Ruekel is a Republican. His fraternal affiliations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

He married, in 1878, Miss Delia Baldwin, daughter of Harvey Baldwin, the president of the Buckeye Sewer Pipe Company, and one of Akron's best known and most respected citizen, further mention of whom may be found elsewhere in this work.

MILTON OTIS HOWER, one of the fore- most business men of Akron, was born in Doylestown, Wayne County, Ohio, November 25, 1859, son of John II. and Susan ( Young- ker) lower. His early ancestors in this coun- try were of German origin. Removing with his parents to Akron in 1866, he was educated in the Akron Publie Schools and Buehtel Col- lege. paying particular attention to those studies best calculated to equip him for a successful business career. With his father and two brothers he was associated in the or- ganization of The Hower Company, oatmeal millers, of which company he was elected sec- retary. This company was, in June, 1891, merged with the American Cereal Company, and Mr. Hower was one of the directors, later filling the position of vice-president and chair- man of the Executive Committee. ITis active business connections have extended until he is now a leading offieer in some of the most important business enterprises of Akron and elsewhere. He is president and general man- ager of The Akron-Selle Company and The Akron Wood Working Company; vice-presi- dent of The Central Savings & Trust Com- pany; president of the Lombard & Replogle Engineering Company ; president of theJahant Ileating Company, president of the Bannoek Coal Company; president of The Akron Hi- Potential Company, of Barberton ; president of the Akron Skating Rink Company and The Automobile Club. He is also a director of The Akron Gas Company and the Home Building & Loan Association, and is active in the promotion of all private and publie en- terprises, having for their objet the moral or material advancement of the community.

Mr. Hower was married. November 16, 1880, to Miss Blanche Eugenia Bruot. daugh- ter of James F. and Rosalie (Gressard) Bruot, of Akron. Of this marriage there are two children, Grace Susan Rosalie and John Bruot. Mr. Hower resides in the old Hower homestead. No. 60 Fir Street, one of the larg- est and most commodious residences in the eity. He is an independent Republican and noted for his fight against corruption and graft in any party.

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FOREST SWAIN, trustee of Norton Town- ship, and a substantial farmer residing on his valuable ninety-six aeres, was born October 4, 1870, on the old Swain homestead, in Norton Township, Summit County, Ohio, and is a son of Frederick and Rosanna (Roth) Swain.

Jacob Swain, the grandfather of Forest Swain, was born in Germany, and, after com- ing to the United States, settled near Smith- ville, Wayne County, Ohio. There Frederick Swain was born and resided until he came to Summit County, just prior to his marriage. He became one of the leading farmers of Nor- ton Township. He was married (first) to Rosanna Roth, who died August 18, 1880. She was the mother of seven children; of these, John. Forest and William are surviv- ors, the latter living on the old Swain home- stead. Frederick Swain was married (sec- ond) to Ella Fisher, and they had two chil- dren, the older of these dying in infancy, and the younger, Grace, residing in the old home. Frederick Swain died February 20, 1902.

Forest Swain has never lived outside of Norton Township. In boyhood he attended the neighborhood schools, and sinee attain- ing manhood he has devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. In 1900 Mr. Swain, together with his brother John, purchased the present farm. Forest Swain bought his broth- er's interest and later the latter bought one of the father's farms of ninety acres and removed to it in 1905. John Swain erected a fine dwelling.

The Swain brothers have always been bound by the closest of fraternal ties and they hold many interests together. They married sisters, both being daughters of Jeremiah Harter, a well-known resident of Norton Township. Forest Swain married Clara Harter, and they have one child, Harold. John Swain married Ede Harter, and they have four children : Paul, Ruth, Frederick and Clifford. Both brothers are leading mem- bers of the Lutheran Church. For ten years John Swain has been a member of the Sehool Board, and at present is president of this body. In 1903 Forest Swain was elected township trustee on the Republican tieket.

and has served as such ever since. In Forest and John Swain Norton Township has two honorable, intelligent, broad-minded eitizens, men who exert a good influence in the com- munity and who command the respeet of all who know them.

CHARLES CALVIN EWART, a promi- nent and substantial citizen of Springfield Township, who is engaged in mixed farming and dairying on his fine estate of 200 acres, on which he was born, in Summit County, Ohio, July 13, 1850, is a son of John and Elizabeth ( Harris) Ewart.

The paternal grandfather of Mr. Ewart was Joseph Ewart, who came with his wife to Summit County, in 1811. She was of Scotch deseent, and was a girl of eleven years when the Revolutionary War closed. Joseph Ewart was born in the north of Ireland and when he emigrated to America, located in Washing- ton County, Pennsylvania, where he married. After coming to Ohio, the Ewarts lived for one year at Tallmadge and then settled in Springfield Township, on the farm on which their grandson now lives.

John Ewart was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, Deeember, 1809, and died in Angust, 1901. He was one of the following family of children: John; James, who mar- ried Rebecca Babb, daughter of George Babb, died in Summit County; Campbell, who was married (first) to a Miss McClelland and (second) to Ann Adams, died in Wyandot County; Silas, who married a Miss Hile, moved to Clark County, Missouri, where he subsequently died: Robert, who married Martha Lemon, died in Springfield Town- ship; Polly, who married a Mr. Frederiek- burg, moved to Tusearawas County, but died in Summit County; and Nancy, who married Armstrong Thomas, died in Springfield Township. There are numerous descendants of the above children of Joseph Ewart settled in different sections of this county.

The parents of the mother of Mr. Ewart died when she was two years old and she was reared in the family of William Krantzer. She still survives, having reached her eighty-

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fourth year. There were five children born to John and Elizabeth Ewart, as follows: Jo- seph, who died in boyhood; Perry A., who resides in Springfield Township, married Jen- nie Schaffer; Charles Calvin; Mary B., who married John Sheppard, resides in Lake County; Ada, who married Hubert Wright, resides in Lake County.

Charles Calvin Ewart obtained his early education in the district schools and spent a short season in academies at Darby and Moga- dore. With the exception of a period of four months, Mr. Ewart has always lived on the present farm. It was first settled about 100 years ago, the original owner being named De Haven. He was a blacksmith and had a shop on the farm. For many years Mr. Ewart was engaged in sheep-raising, but for some years past he has given the larger part of his attention to the dairy business. His beau- tiful herds of Guernsey cattle are of great value and at the present writing he has thir- ty-five head, milking twenty head. He feeds many hogs annually, and with the good man- agement which has made him a prosperous man; he watches his opportunity to make each line of agriculture profitable.

On January 1, 1874. Mr. Ewart was mar- ried to Leora Weston, who is a daughter of Solomon and Mary Jane (Force) Weston, the former of whom died in Summit County in February, 1907, and the latter in July, 1905. Both were natives of Summit County and Mr. Weston died on the farm on which he was born. Mr. and Mrs. Ewart have had six children, the survivors being: Eva, who mar- ried Lewis Houseley, residing in Brooklyn, New York, has one son, Burton; Aurie, who married Curtis Ewart, residing at Pomona, California. has one son, Robert Weston ; and John and Elizabeth, both residing at home.

In politics, Mr. Ewart is a Democrat. For the past fifteen years he has served continu- ously as a member of the School Board, his whole term of service covering twenty years. For a number of years this Township was the banner one of the county in relation to the number of graduates and it is only reasonable to suppose that the excellent control of the

schools by an intelligent township board had much to do with this.

JAKE L. RANNEY, general merchant at Macedonia Village, was born in Northfield Township, Summit County, Ohio, July 10, 1855, and is a son of Moses and Miranda (Rogers) Ranney.

Moses Ranney was born in Hudson Town- ship. Summit County, Ohio, August 12, 1819, and died June 24, 1895. After attending the district school through boyhood he learned the blacksmith trade at Little York and then opened a shop at Peninsula, which he ran for seven years. On May 1, 1851, he came to what is now Macedonia, where he established himself in business, where he re- mained active until within twenty years of his death. He took much interest in public affairs, was a Democrat in political belief, and served frequently in township offices. ITe was a valued member of the Masonic lodge at Hudson. He married Miranda Rogers and they had. the following children. Edward G., who was killed at the battle of Gettysburg; Frank, residing at Akron; J. L., residing at Macedonia: and Fred E., residing at Akron.

Jake L. Ranney learned the blacksmith trade with his father and worked at it for some nine years and then embarked in a gen- eral mercantile business, in partnership with his brothers. nuder the firm name of F. M. Ranney & Company. In 1888. after eight years of experience, Mr. Ranney sold his in- terest and learned the carpenter trade, but in 1892 he returned to merchandising.

In 1904 he became manager of the Mace- donia Implement Company. handling all kinds of agricultural implements and feed. and making a specialty of the manufacture of a can cleaner for the use of dairymen. It is a very useful device and is in general de- mand. being much superior to any article of the kind ever before put on the market.

Mr. Ranney married Pearl M. Clifford. who is a daughter of James C. Clifford, of North- field, and they have had two children, the one survivor hearing the name of Roger Clif- ford, and he was born April 6. 1897. Mr.

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Ranney owns considerable property at Mace- donia, including his own home, which is fur- nished with beauty and taste.

When Mr. Ranney became a member of the Masonic fraternity there were about for- ty-eight members in Northfield. Previous to this time, township politics had been largely controlled by the United Presbyterian Church influences, inimical to the Masons, and this induced the Masonic people to get up a popu- lar ticket which would sweep the town. On this ticket they elected Mr. Ranney, who was then twenty-two years of age, constable, an office he soon resigned. He never consented to hold any other until he was elected to his present office of township trustee. In the fall of 1904, he was appointed a justice of the peace, without being consulted, and he promptly declined the honor. Mr. Ranney is to some degree interested in opening up a gas well, in this section, which may prove of considerable valne. He is one of the rep- resentative men of this part of Summit County.

JOSEPH BENSON CARTER, general farmer at Macedonia, Northfield Township, was born in Twinsburg Township, Summit County, Ohio, February 28, 1839, and is a son of Thaddeus Andrews and Esther (Mar- shall) Carter.

The Carter family originated in southern England and probably the first settler in America was Robert Carter. who was the father of seven children, and who died at Killingsworth, Connecticut, in 1751. His son, William, was born in 1702, and joined the church at Killingsworth in 1725. soon after this removing to Guilford and thence to Wallingford, where, in 1733, he married Ann, daughter of Capt. Theophilus Yale.

Thaddeus Carter, son of William, was born at Wallingford. in 1735, removed to Richfield, Connecticut, in 1783, and married Lucy, a daughter of Elisha Andrews.

Noah Andrews Carter, son of Thaddeus, was born at Wallingford in 1777, removed to Richfield with his father, thence to Bris- tol. He was adopted by his uncle, Noah An-

drews, one of the pioneer Methodist preachers of Connecticut. In 1815 he moved to Bark- hamstead, where he died in 1830. He mar- ried Lydia Gaylord, who was born in 1778.

Thaddeus Andrews, father of Joseph B. Carter and second child and first son of Noah Andrews Carter and wife, was born at Bristol, Connecticut, March 24, 1902. In 1828 he married Esther Alford Marshall, who was born at Canton, Connecticut, December 9, 1805. They probably came to Ohio soon after their marriage. loeating two miles west of the center of Twinsburg, on a wild, unim- proved tract of land. On this farm Mrs. Car- ter died. September 1, 1845, leaving behind a record of a beautiful, unselfish life and many heroic deeds, as fell to pioneer woman's lot. The father of Mr. Carter was married (second) December 28, 1845, to Margaret Mckesson, who was born at Yorktown, Mary- land, May 6, 1812. He died October 22, 1870. At one time he was a member of the Masonie lodge at Twinsburg. In early life he was a Whig and later a Republican, and frequently was elected to offices of responsi- bility, both in public affairs in the commu- nity and in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Joseph B. Carter remained assisting on the home farm until twenty-two years of age, but when the Civil War was precipitated on the land, he determined to offer his life and services in defense of his country. He enlisted August 26. 1861, in Company K. Nineteenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. and was honorably discharged in the fall of 1864. He was connected with the Army of the Cum- berland and participated in all the battles in which his regiment took part. from Pittsburg Landing to Stone River. where he was wounded by a bullet in his knee. This injury confined him to the hospital and subsequently made his transfer necessary to the invalid corps. in which he remained eight months. He barely escaped death on the same battle- field, as a bullet penetrated the buckle of his belt. This buckle is preserved as a very precious object by his family.

After the honorable close of his military service Mr. Carter returned to the Twinsburg

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farm and remained until 1870, and two years later bought a farm of 160 acres, which was the old homestead, which he still retains and has cultivated by a tenant. In 1889 Mr. Car- ter came to his present farm of 275 acres, on which his wife was born. Mr. Carter has 100 acres under cultivation, and feeds all he grows except wheat and potatoes. He keeps forty head of cattle, ten horses and seventy- five sheep. Ile ships his milk to Cleveland. He has excellent, substantial buildings and has a silo 18 by 30 feet, 30 feet high.

On December 24, 1873, Mr. Carter was married to Amarilla L. Spafford, who is a daughter of Jason M. Spafford, of Northfield, where she was born August 4, 1852. They have two children, Lena May and Thaddeus B. The family belong to the Methodist Epis- copal Church, at Twinsburg. Mr. Carter has been viee commander of Royal Duun Post, No. 177, Grand Army of the Republic, at Bedford.

The father of Mrs. Carter was born at Sa- lem, Ohio, September 13, 1831, and died May 25. 1876. His parents moved into Summit County when he was a small boy. Soon after his marriage he bought the farm in lot 3, on which the Carter family now lives. Ile married Philena Cranson, who was born in New York. and accompanied her parents to Geauga County, Ohio, in childhood. She still survives. Mrs. Carter was an only child.

MUNN BROTHERS, a firm made up of twin brothers, Abram Cranner and Amos R. Munn, has been prominent in the business affairs of Macedonia for a number of years, and the two brothers, together and individ- ually, have been identified with much of the public life and commercial concerns of this section. . The brothers were born at Mace- donia, Northfield Township, Summit County. Ohio, May 6, 1840, and are sons of Hiram and Esther (Cranmer) Munn.

Warner Munn, the grandfather, was a na- tive of New Jersey, and served in the Revolu- tionary War. For a number of years near the close of his life he lived in Northfield

Township, and his remains lie in Northfield Cemetery.

ITiram Munn was born at Trenton, New Jersey, in January, 1800, and died in 1880. When he was still young his parents moved to the State of New York, and during the War of 1812 he served as a drummer boy at the battle of Sacketts Harbor. Subsequently he followed his trade of cabinetmaker at Cleveland for a few years, and then came to Northfield, where he followed carpentry dur- ing the remainder of his active life. Ile mar- ried Esther Cranmer, who was a daughter of Abraham Cranmer, of Macedonia. She was the first school teacher in Northfield Town- ship. Iliram Munn and wife had eleven children, eight of whom reached maturity, as follows: Irene, who married .J. J. Brit- tain, residing in Streetsboro Township; Fran- cis Adelia, who is survived by her husband, J. W. Caldwell, residing at Macedonia: John Wesley, who is deceased; Abram C. and Amos R .: Zorada, who married Harry Brumley, re- siding at Cleveland, and Ferdinand Sylvester, residing at Macedonia. The parents of the above family were most worthy people in every phase of life. They were active mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which the father was a local preacher, and they were largely instrumental in having erected the present Northfield Church.

Abram C. Munn obtained a common school education at Macedonia, and after acting in the capacity of a clerk for several years, in the post-office, he learned the shoemaking trade, and in 1858 the firm name of Munn Brothers came into existence, the young men entering into partnership, and they continued to carry on a shoemaking industry for about ten years. In 1861 A. C. Munn was appointed post-master by President Lincoln, and in 1863 he became local agent for the American Merchants Union Expres- Company, and con- tinued in that capacity until he went to Cleveland, where he fitted himself to be a practical steam engineer. He was succeeded as agent by his brother, Amos R., who fills the position for the Adams Express Com- pany at this point.

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After closing out their first business enter- prise, the brothers engaged in a general mer- cantile business at Macedonia, which they continued as a partnership until 1885, when Abram C., went to Cleveland to accept the position of engineer of the waterworks depart- ment for the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany. Amos R. continued the business at Macedonia, changing its character somewhat, and has added notions and coal to the com- modities he handles. Abram C. Munn re- mained in the employ of the railroad com- pany until 1902, when he returned to Mace- donia, where he now lives partially retired, al- though the brothers still have business inter- ests in common. They are much alike in their modes of thought, and view publie questions in the same light, hence, both are identified with the Republican party, both are Masons and both are Maccabees. For five years A. C. Munn served as elerk of Northfield Township. Their Masonie connections are at Bedford, and A. C. Munn is also a member of Summit Chapter, Royal Areh. Of the Maccabees, A. C. Munn is past commander, and A. R. has served as treasurer of the lodge.

Abram C. Munn was married (first) to Mary S. MeLaughlin, who died in 1898. She was a daughter of Robert MeLaughlin of Corona, Michigan. No children were born to that marriage and Mr. and Mrs. Munn adopted a daughter, Grace A., who subse- quently became the wife of A. T. Brooks, of Macedonia. Mr. Munn was married (see- ond) July 3, 1904, to Mrs. Ella 1. ( Allen) Wadham. She is a member of the Disciples Church.

In 1866, Amos R. Munn was married (first) to Sarah Ann DeHaven, of Northfield Township, and of their children, one sur- vives, Gertrude, who married Frederick Jen- kins. of Macedonia. Mrs. Munn died in 1874. Mr. Munn was married (seeond) to Johanna Havens, of Bedford, who formerly was a school teacher in Northfield Township. They have two daughters: Stella, who married Al- bert Jenkins, residing at Macedonia, and Rada, who married Homer Armstrong, who is a teacher in the Akron High School.

Amos R. Munn resides on a farm which his grandfather Cranmer eleared. There are about twenty acres in the place and Mr. Mun cultivates about twelve. He has put in all kinds of modern improvements, including a silo 10 by 12 feet and 30 feet high. He has twenty-five stands of bees and produces a great deal of fine honey. Ile ships milk to Cleveland, keeping some six head of cattle. Many of the old orchard trees set out by his grandfather are still in hearing condition.

JAMES F. WRIGHT, a leading citizen of Springfield Township, resides on an excellent farm of thirty-six acres, which he purchased in 1896. Mr. Wright was born in Spring- field Township, Summit County, Ohio, July 4, 1856, and is a son of Ilon. Thomas and Elizabeth (Henderson) Wright.

When Thomas Wright, Sr., the grand- father of James F .. eame from New York to Summit County, in 1837, he settled first by Springfield Lake, where he built a log house. Later he moved to the farm now owned by his son, Hon. Thomas Wright, chosing the land on account of a fine spring located on the place. There were few settlers in Spring- field Township at that time, and but little clearing had been done. On the farm, after all these years, there still remains one tree, the markings on which recall the time when blazings were the only sign posts by which settlers could reach civilization from their homes in the forest. This tree marked the old forest road which led to the river, near Mr. Wright's home. The highway which runs by his property has a foundation of cor- duroy, the logs having been laid years and years ago.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 86

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