Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 88

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

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Mr. Shaw married Lucina Chopson, who is a daughter of John Chopson, of Washington Township, Utica village, and they have five children, namely: Gail, Mabel, Flossie, Reid and Charles. Mr. Shaw and family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. of which he is a trustee and in which he has served as a class leader.

Mr. Shaw is one of the leading Republicans of his section, and prior to coming here, served for six years as township trustee, and for ten or twelve years was a member of the School Board. Formerly he frequently served as a delegate to county conventions. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and also to the Maccabees.

WILLIAM R. HAGUE, a progressive farmer and energetic, intelligent citizen of Northfield Township, residing on his valu- ahle farm of 100 acres, was born August 15, 1870, in Washington Township, Guernsey Connty, Ohio, and is a son of Jehu and Preeney (Stillians) Hague.

William R. Hague is a self-made man. ITis parents died when he was young, leaving him and his sister, Nola, to be reared by family friends. The other children were: Louis, residing in Washington Township, and Cora who married Faraan Coats, residing at Cleve- land. Nola subsequently married B. H. Dea- con, of Alpena, Michigan.

Mr. Hague remained with his foster par- ents until they died, when he was about twenty-three years old, after which he came to Northfield Township, where he has been mainly engaged in farming ever since. In 1896, he was married to Charlotte Rinear, who is a daughter of Albert Rinear, the lat- ter of whom is one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of Northfield Town- ship. For four years following his marriage Mr. Hague rented his present farm and then built a house in Bedford, where he resided for about two years, and in the spring of 1907. purchased the farm. He carries on a general agricultural line, keeps ten head of cattle, raises about the same number of hogs annually, and grows potatoes, corn, hay, oats and wheat.

Mr. Hague is a good citizen of his com- munity but he takes no very active interest in politics, devoting his energies to the im- provement and development of his farm.

BRACE P. HILL, residing on the old IIill homestead in Norton Township, a valuable traet of 199 aeres, which is situated about two and one-half miles from Wadsworth, and lies on the county line between Medina and Summit Counties, has carried on general farming here with much success for the past twenty-one years. Mr. Hill was born on this farm and is a son of Dr. John and Catherine (Pardee) Hill.

The late Dr. John Hill was born in Sussex, England, October 26, 1823, and was a son of John and a grandson of John, the name being a particularly favored one in the Hill family, appearing in every generation. The mother of Dr. HIill was Harriet Wickham. and she was born in County Kent, England. In 1828 the Hills sailed for America, from the now sunken port of Rye, on the English Channel, and after a voyage of six weeks they landed in New York. The father of Dr. Hill engaged in farming in the vicinity of Utica, New York, until the spring of 1832, when he removed to Orange Township, Cuya- hoga. County, Ohio, where he invested in farming land on which he lived until 1843.

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After disposing of his interests there, John Hill moved to Tazewell County, Illinois, where he passed the rest of his life.

The son, John Hill, left his home to seek work with strangers when he was about fif- teen years of age, but for five years there- after he gave all his wages to his father. He was very anxious to obtain an education and was only a boy when he had determined to become a physician. Through rigid economy and persevering study he attained his am- bition. In 1847 he began to read medicine with Dr. Alexander Fisher, at Western, Star, Summit County, and in the fall of 1848 he attended his first course of lectures at the Cleveland Medical College, returning for his second course in the following year. In 1850 he went to California, where he was taken sick and lay for six months in a hospital in Sacramento, but subsequently recovered and remained in that State until May, 1853, when he took ship for Australia. After a voyage of seventy days he reached the island conti- nent, where he remained until the following May, when he went to London, England, on his way back to America. He left England in September, reached New York late in Oc- tober, and Cleveland early in December, and during the winter of 1854 and 1855, he at- tended medical leetures in the latter city.

In the fall of 1855 Dr. Hill entered Jeffer- son Medical College, at Philadelphia, where he was graduated in March, 1856, receiving his long sought diploma. For a short time Dr. Hill practiced at Western Star, from which place he removed to Sharon Township, in Medina County, where he practiced for a year, and then settled in Norton Township, Summit County. He was a man of such wide experience and much learning outside his profession that he soon became a leader among his fellow-citizens, and in 1870 he was elected county commissioner, in which office he served for almost nine years. In 1879 he was elected to the State Legislature and served one term, after which he retired from public life. His death took place December 13, 1890.

In March, 1857, Dr. Hill was married to Catherine Pardee, who is a daughter of Ebenezer and Almira (Brace) Pardee, and they had six children, as follows: Harriet Almira, who was born June 22, 1858, died October 30, 1878; John E., who was born August 7, 1859, resides at Barberton ; Martha B., who married D. H. Taft, resides at Co- lumbus, Ohio; Brace B., who was born Au- gust 12, 1865; Josephine Elizabeth, who mar- ried Richard Wasson, resides at Barberton, and Edward B., who was born January 4, 1881, lives in Illinois. The mother of this family still survives.

Brace P. HTill has always resided on the present farm, which has been under his di- rect management for many years. He at- tended the district schools of Norton Town- ship and also the Norton High School. He married Anna Wiser, and they have five chil- dren: Margaret K., Karl W., Lawrence B., Walter and an infant son born September 23, 1907. Mr. Hill belongs to the fraternal orders of Modern Woodmen and Pathfinders. Ile is one of Norton Township's substantial and reliable citizens, and has served as a member of the School Board and as clerk of the incorporated village of Western Star. Mr. Hill at present holds both of these offices.

1. S. NEALE, B. S., proprietor of Maple Mound Farm and president of the Northern Ohio Milk Producers' Association, is one of the most energetic and progressive agricul- turists of Northfield Township, having been thoroughly educated in the line of his pres- ent industry. He was born in Monroe Town- ship, Guernsey County, Ohio, September 8, 1870, and is a son of John and Amanda (Rourk) Neale.

Mr. Neale bears an old and honored name and readers of history will recall the promi- nent part the Neales took in English affairs; in the days of Cromwell. At the time of the Restoration, the family left England and came to America, locating first in Maryland and later in Pennsylvania, and in the person of the grandfather, Archibald Neale, became

HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

established in Harrison County, Ohio. He died in 1887.

Jolın Neale, father of A. S., resides on his farm of 160 acres, having always devoted himself to agricultural pursuits, in the past having given much attention to wool-grow- ing. In polities he is a Demoerat and has served in a number of the local offices in his community. During the Civil War he was in the service of the Federal Government for one year. Ile married (first) Amanda Rourk, who died in 1876. Her father was Edward Rourk, of Guernsey County. She was a consistent member of the Methodist Church. Of the four children born to this union, three reached maturity, namely : Maude, who married E. T. Broek, residing at Dillon, Montana; 1. S., and Lena, who married II. E. McCleary, residing at Milner ~- ville, Ohio. John Neale was married (sec- ond) to Lucina MeConneaughey, and to that marriage has been four sons and one daugh- ter. For twenty-five years, John Neale has been an elder in the United Presbyterian Church.

Until he was eighteen years of age, A. S. Neale spent his time in securing a good, com- mon school education and in assisting on the home farm, his father being a very large landowner. He then went to the southwest- ern part of Montana and spent two . years working on a raneh, in the meanwhile sav-

ing enough capital to take a preliminary course at the Ohio State University, becom- ing a member of the class of 1895. Prior to taking up the studies of his senior year. in 1904, Mr. Neale spent a season in Tus- carawas County, but his whole time was taken up either in study, experimenting or prepar- ing agrienltural literature. At the university he took the seientific course, specializing in Agriculture. During the year 1903-4 he was superintendent of the university farm. For a number of years prior to 1903, he had been a welcome correspondent of many agricul- tural papers, and early in that year he be- came associate editor of the North American Farmer, a monthly magazine, which was

started to present the scientific side of farm- ing, in a popular manner.

When Mr. Neale left the university he ac- cepted a position with the Scripps-McCrea League, one of the newspaper syndicates, as a special writer on agriculture, and continued with that company for two years, during which time he made several trips each year to Washington City, where he formed many congenial acquaintanceships with prominent men in the Agricultural Department of the Government. During this time Mr. Neale continued to reside on his farm of 162 acres, near Macedonia. Of this acreage he eulti- vates ninety aeres, producing hay, corn, wheat and oats, giving ten acres to potatoes, and growing raspberries and strawberries for market. IIe keeps twenty-five cows and sells milk to the Brooks Creamery Company.

Mr. Neale married Emma Rogers, a lady of most endearing qualities of heart and mind, who died November 9, 1906. She left four children: John and Comfort, twins, and Philip and Edward. She was a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Neale is one of the stewards.

Mr. Neale united with the Grange in Tus- carawas County, and is in full accord with all agricultural movements looking to the advancement of the farming community and the spreading of scientific knowledge.

FRANK H. MILLER, one of Norton Township', reliable citizens and good farmers. residing on his eighty-acre farm, was born at Loyal Oak. Summit County, Ohio. March 30, 1856, and is a son of Daniel and Amelia ( Boerstler) Miller.

Both parents of Mr. Miller were born in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, and the father eame to Summit County in 1843 and the mother in 1850. They were married in Norton Township and had but one child, Frank H. The father purchased the farm on which his son lives, when the latter was fifteen years of age, and here he died October 26, 1900. TTis widow still survives, aged seventy- four years, a lady who is most highly es- teemed in this community.

RESIDENCE OF MILTON A. SEIBERLING, NORTON TOWNSHIP

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Frank H. Miller attended the district schools of Norton Township, and his occupa- tion in life has been farming. In 1877, he was married to Sarah Ann Moser, who is a daughter of Louis and Litina Moser, and they have four children: Mattie, who married William Moser, has one child, Roy Daniel; Elsie; Louis D., who resides in Sharon Town- ship, married Nettie Davis, and they have two children, Wanda May and Una Marion ; and Earl Francis. Mr. and Mrs. Miller lost one daughter, Carric. The family belong to the Lutheran Church, of which Mr. Miller has been secretary for fourteen years. For several years Mr. Miller has been the treasurer of the Norton Fire Insurance Company.

MILTON A. SEIBERLING, a substantial citizen and successful agriculturist, residing on a small farm of five acres, which is located in Norton Township on the Center road, owns a very valuable farm of 111 acres, which lies on the Ifametown road, near Sherman. Mr. Seiberling belongs to a prominent old fam- ily of Summit County, and he was born on the farm which is the property of his brother, Gustavus Seiberling, November 20, 1850. His parents were Nathan and Cath- erine (Peters) Seiberling.

The parents of Mr. Seiberling were both born in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, where they were reared and attended school. Short- ly after their marriage they came to Norton Township, Summit County, where they lived long and virtuous lives ; and when the father died at the age of eighty years, and the mother. aged eighty-four, there were many outside their large family who grieved to lose them from the community in which they had been long noted for their kindness and char- ity. They were the parents of fifteen chil- dren.

Milton Seiberling was reared on the home farm in Norton Township, and, after com- pleting his education in the country schools, he immediately began active farming opera- tions. He remained on the home farm for about four years after his marriage, and then purchased the farm which is occupied by his

son-in-law, Robert Ilelmick, and started at once to make improvements. He removed a house from another farm to the new loca- tion, remodeled it, and built a substantial barn, and then set out orchards and a grove of maple trees, and continued improving un- til his property was equal in value to any of like size in the neighborhood and more at- tractive than any. On that farm Mr. Seiber- ling continued to reside, carrying on farm- ing and stock-raising, until in the spring of 1898, when he retired from hard work and settled on his present tidy little place, which it gives him only needful exercise to manage. Mr. Seiberling has always been considered one of the most prosperous farmers of Nor- ton Township on account of his progressive methods and the great interest he always took in his work.

On November 30, 1871, Mr. Seiberling was married to Fayetta Johnson, who is a daugh- ter of Joseph Johnson, who was born and reared in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Sei- berling have three children: Minnie, who married Harman Dague, resides at Doyles- town and has three children-Ethel, Flor- ence and Roy; Martha, wife of Robert Hel- mick, who operates her father's farm, and who has had two children-one who died in infancy; and Gertrude, the younger; and Ruth, residing at home. Mr. Seiberling and family belong to the Lutheran Church. He is a member of the beneficial order of Path- finders.

REUBEN STAUFFER, residing on his well-improved farm of forty-two acres. situated in Norton Township, is one of the leading men of his community. He was born in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1833, and is a son of AAbraham and Susan (Ruth) Stauffer. They were farming people and the father also followed carpentering.

Reuben Stauffer was reared in his native county and attended the district schools. He was twenty-one years of age when he came to Summit County, Ohio. Before leaving Penn- sylvania he learned the cooper trade and this he followed for a time, but worked mainly as

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a carpenter, following that trade for thirty- five consecutive years. During this time he has done a large amount of building through the county, ereeting as many as thirty bank barns and many of the most sub- stantial residences in Norton Township. His farming has been of secondary importance.

In 1855 Mr. Stauffer was married to Eliza- beth Hartzell, who is a daughter of Isaac and Mary HartzelI. Mrs. Stauffer was born in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, and was ten years old when her parents settled in Nor- ton Township. Mr. and Mrs. Stauffer have had three children, namely: Ellen, who married Hower Van Hyning, has two children, Earl and Ethel May, the former of whom married and has one child, Ellen; Harry Abraham, who died aged five years; and Milton Albert.

For seven years following his marriage, Mr. Stauffer lived at Norton Center and then set- tled on the present farm. They are members of the Reformed Church at Loyal Oak. For thirty years, Mr. Stauffer has served as school director and his fellow-citizens have, on vari- ous occasions, elected him trustee and treas- urer of the township.

LUTHER A. KUIIN, a retired farmer of Northfield Township, who still retains his valuable farm consisting of 114 acres, was born at Northfield, Summit County, Ohio, December 10, 1845, and is a son of William II. H. and Mary (Elder) Kuhn.

The father of Mr. Kuhn was born in Plum Creek Township, Allegheny County, Pennsyl- vania, and he came to Summit County with his wife and one child, settling on land lying on the line separating Northfield and Bedford Townships. He owned 208 acres on which he raised sheep for many years, but later turned his property into a dairy farm. He was a man of substantial character and was frequently chosen for local offices. He sup- ported the Republican party. He married Mary Elder who was born at Blairsville, Penn- sylvania, and of their children, the following grew to maturity: Margaret Jane, who mar- ried John II. Shirk, residing in Falcon County, Dakota; Luther A .; Elder, who died

September 14, 1907, aged sixty years, resided at Lincoln, Nebraska; and Louis and Frank, both residing at Cleveland. The mother of the above family died in 1896, aged seventy- two years. The father passed away in 1894, aged eighty-three years.

Luther 1. Kuhn was educated in the com- mon schools and at the age of eighteen years he became a clerk in a general store at Bed- ford, later entering into business under the firm name of Voght & Kuhn, in the gro- cery line, at Cleveland, occupying a building near the city market-house, which was owned by Mr. Kuhn's father. Six months later Mr. Kuhn sold his interest and went to Muscatine, Iowa, where he bought a farm of eighty acres, subsequently selling this at an advantage and buying 160 aeres, to which he later added a second farm of the same area. These farms he operated for many years, when he sold one, but retains the other, which he rents. In 1867, Mr. Kuhn came back to Northfield Township for a few years and. then returned with his wife to Iowa, where he continued to live until 1904. In that year he again came to Northfield Township and took up his resi- dence on what was formerly the McCon- neaughey farm, which he had bought in 1902. It formerly contained 120 aeres, but six aeres has been sold to the Lake Erie & Pennsylvania Railroad.

In 1867 Mr. Kuhn was married to Isabella Darrow, who is a daughter of the late Captain Darrow, who died in Cuyahoga County. Mrs. Kuhn is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Kuhn is a stanch Republican, but he is no seeker for political recognition.

JOHN CRISP, of the firm of John Crisp and Son, contractors, with offices at Nos. 173- 175 Annadale street, Akron, has been a resi- dent of this city for a quarter of a century, and during this period has been one of its most active business men. He was born in 1851, in Northamptonshire, England, where he obtained his education and prior to coming to America in 1872, he learned the trade of brick-layer.

Mr. Crisp crossed the Atlantic Ocean to

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Canada, where he spent one year and then moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and in the follow- ing year built a large church at Painesville. He returned to Canada and lived for three years at Hamilton. In 1878 he located at Hudson, Summit County, Ohio, and several years later came to Akron, then a small city of 12,000 population. Ile was in partnership with his brother, and the firm of Crisp Broth- ers was the leading contracting firm in this place for fully fourteen years. John Crisp was then appointed a member of the Board of City Commissioners and performed the duties of that office for four years, and then superin- tended the building of the Colonial Salt Works, the First National Bank Building, the Stein Block and other structures. In the fall of 1903 Mr. Crisp admitted his son, Edmund Crisp, to partnership, under the firm name of John Crisp and Son, which still eon- tinues. Into the hands of this firm has been placed the construction of a number of the most pretentious buildings which have re- eently added to Akron's architectural beauty. The firm has just completed the Flat Iron Building and has construeted several new school buildings. They also have a large gen- eral supply house.

In 1876, Mr. Crisp was married to Susanna Arkall, who was born in Canada, and they have three sons, T. Edmund, Arthur Lee and Roland Earl. The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church in East Akron. Mr. Crisp is a Knight Templar Mason, and senior warden of Akron Lodge F. & A. M., and is one of the directors of the Masonic Temple. Hle is also a director of the Employ- ers' Association and formerly was president of the Builders' Exchange.

JOHN J. WARNER, whose valuable farm of eighty-eight and one-half acres is situated five miles west of Akron, on the highway known as the Akron-Wadsworth road, is a well-known and respected citizen of Norton Township. He was born in Coventry Town- ship, Summit County, Ohio, October 23, 1855, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Weaver) Warner.

John Warner was born near East Liberty, Ohio, July 14, 1821, a son of Henry Warner, a pioneer of that section. John Warner mar- ried Elizabeth Weaver and they had the fol- lowing children : William, residing in Coven- try Township; Henry, residing at Barberton ; Samuel, residing in Copley Township; John J .; and Adam, residing in Coventry Town- ship, all being farmers. The mother died in 1905, aged seventy-nine years.

John J. Warner was reared in Coventry Township. In 1877, his father purchased his present farm and John J. settled on it at that time and subsequently bought it. Il℮ owned seventy aeres of land where Barberton now stands, owning nine of the thirteen aeres which comprises Lake Anna. He was the first man to sell his farm to the syndicate that built. Barberton. John J. Warner carries on gen- eral farming.

By marriage to Sarrah Dressbach, Mr. War- ner became connected with one of the sub- stantial old families of Norton Township. She was. born in Pennsylvania and was brought to Norton Township in infaney. Mr. and Mrs. Warner have had five children, the three survivors being: Fietta, who resides at Young's Crossing, with her venerable grand- father; and Elsie and William, residing at home. Bessie died aged three months, and Roy died aged nine months.

Mr. Warner is numbered with the leading citizens of the township and has served three years as trustee.

ANDREW FENN RICHEY, a successful general farmer of Northfield Township. resid- ing on his valuable farm of 111 aeres, on which he makes a specialty of dairying, was born on the Richey homestead, in Northfield Township, Summit County, Ohio, Jannary 15, 1864, and is a son of Andrew K. and Elizabeth (Bain) Richey.

Andrew K. Richey, father of Andrew F., was born in Chippewa Township, Wayne County, Ohio, January 31. 1828, and ae- companied his parents to Northfield Town- ship, Summit County, where he taught school in his early years. ITe subsequently acquired

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292 acres of valuable land, on which he car- ried on general farming and dairying for many years. He became one of the leading men of this section, prominent in church and public affairs, and when he died July 7, 1900, the community felt that it had suffered a deep loss. On November 6, 1856, he married Elizabeth Bain, who is a daughter of Jacob Bain and a granddaughter of James Bain, who came to Ohio from Argyle, New York. Mrs. Richey still survives and was born Sep- tember 19, 1836. She is a member of the Associated Presbyterian Church, in which her late husband was a trustee and one of the deacons. They had the following children : Margaret Zephina, who married John L. Ritchie; Jacob F. J., residing in Northfield Township; Thomas Tell, residing at Cleve- land: Andrew Fenn, residing at Northfield; Emmer Ross, who is deceased; and Elizabeth Catherine, residing with her mother.

Andrew Fenn Richey remained on the home farm until 1887, attending the local schools through boyhood, and worked for his father until 1897. Ile then purchased sixty- one aeres of his present farm, to which he later added fifty acres, all of which he culti- vates, together with land that he rents. He keeps twenty cows, making a specialty of dairying and in this industry follows the ex- ample of Reverend Deitrich, a Moravian preacher, whose Pennsylvania farm is declared by the United States Department of Agricul- ture to be the model farm of the country. He keeps his eows in the barn, in sanitary condi- tion, and carries green food to them. He

ships his milk to Cleveland. He devotes twenty-five aeres to wheat, eighteen to pota- toes and has three acres in fruit trees. Mr. Richey has made a scientifie study of his various industries and ean but be pleased with the application of the principles he has adopted.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 88

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