Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 89

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 89

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Mr. Richey married Chloe M. Mack, who is a daughter of John Mack, of Antrim, Guern- sey County, Ohio, and they have three chil- dren: Andrew Lawrence. George Grant and Ralph Stuart. Mr. and Mrs. Richey are members of the United Presbyterian Church.

FREEMAN W. STROH, a leading citizen of Barberton and elosely identified with many of its interests, is senior member of the promi- nent lumber firm of Stroh and Millis, which firm owns an extensive lumber yard and a finely equipped planing mill at this point. He is also largely interested in the real estate business. Mr. Stroh was born in DeKalb County, Indiana, September 9, 1864, and is a son of llenry and Elizabeth (Mottinger) Stroh.

Henry Stroh, father of Freeman W., re- sided formerly at Greensburg, Ohio, where he followed shoemaking in his earlier years, but after moving to Indiana, he confined himself to agricultural pursuits. It was on his fath- er's farm that Freeman W. Stroh was reared, and there he remained until twenty-four years of age, in the meantime securing a good, com- mon school education in the country schools. Following his marriage he farmed for his father-in-law, near Massillon, Ohio, for two years, meeting with success in that industry. He was, however, a natural born mechanic and had never been quite satisfied with raising grain and stock, the constant trend of his mind being in the direction of machinery and the improvement of the same, his spare time all being given to inventions along this line. He therefore moved from the farm into Massillon and after securing several patents on his "brain children," he made up his mind that the most sensible and satisfactory plan would be to enter a machine or foundry business, where his talents could have full play. This state of affairs was soon brought about and for some time prior to 1893, when he came to Barberton, he was engaged in the manufaetnr- ing of sawmill machinery, and carrying on a foundry business.

When Mr. Stroh came first to Barberton, he was associated with his brother-in-law, Jacob Milton McIntosh, in operating a foun- dry for the manufacture of saw mill and wood-working machinery, under the firm name of Stroh-MeIntosh Company. The prospeets were bright, but the business had been but fairly started when a fire destroyed the factory, entailing great financial loss. Mr.

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Stroh, however, is not a man who is easily dis- couraged, and within sixty days he had start- ed in the turning business, having secured a small factory, where he turned out moldings and interior finishings. He had bought the ground, the same on which his present build- ings and yards are located, and during the three years in which he continued alone, he kept increasing his facilities and adding to his buildings until he commanded a trade of large proportions.

After three years' work alone, in the turn- ing business, Mr. Stroh went into partnership with Jacob E. Millis, and the firm style be- came the Stroh and Millis Company. They now operate a large, thoroughly equipped planing mill, having twenty-eight different machines, and manufacture all kinds of out- side as well as inside furnishings for buildings and in addition make doors, sash and show- cases. Regular employment is given twelve experienced workmen, and this is a flourish- ing industry of Barberton, its suecess being mainly due to Mr. Stroh's energy and enter- prise.

On January 15, 1889, Mr. Stroh was mar- ried to Cora Alice McIntosh, who was born near Massillon, Ohio, and they have two chil- dren, a son and daughter: Lillian Blanche and Byron Freeman. Mr. Stroh and family belong to the First Methodist Episcopal Church, at Barberton. He is a member of the Junior Order of American Meehanies. Mr. Stroh has always believed in the educa- tional value of useful work and in his own ease has proven how sure are the rewards of industry and perseverance along the line of one's natural gifts.

J. IRA EMMETT, has resided on the old Emmett homestead in Springfield Township, for the past twenty years, the valuable farm of 125 aeres, on which his grandfather settled in 1832. Mr. Emmett was born on the farm on which he lives, September 15, 1856, and is a son of Franklin and Mary A (Chamberlin ) Emmett.

There is not a schoolboy in . America who has not sympathized with and longed to emu-

late the deeds of the Irish patriot, Robert Emmett, and undoubtedly from the same stoek came the progenitors of the Emmett family in Summit County. Three brothers of the name came from the north of Ireland to America, in colonial days, separating after reaching these shores, one going South, one settling in the Susquehannah Valley, in Pennsylvania, and later, a branch of the family was found in Illinois, and another in New York. In the main they all possess the same sterling traits which have made of them good citizens and valuable members of $0- eiety.

The paternal grandparents of J. Ira Em- mett were William and Mary (McBride) Em- mett, the former of whom was a son of William Emmett, who was of American birth. The grandmother was a native of Columbia Coun- ty, Pennsylvania. William and Mary Em- mett had four children: Franklin; John, who resides in Tallmadge Township, aged seventy years; Merey Jane, who died aged ton years; and a babe that died in infancy. Franklin Emmett, father of J. Ira. was born in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, June 21, 1832, and accompanied his parents to Ohio, they settling in Springfield Township, Sum- mit County in his childhood. In 1851, he

married Mary 1. Chamberlin, who was born in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. in Au- gust, 1829. She was a daughter of Joseph and Agnes (Deal) Chamberlin, and a grand- daughter of William Chamberlin. who was born in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, Sep- tember 25, 1736.

This ancestor was a man of great promi- nence during the Revolutionary War. in which he served as lieutenant-colonel of the Second Regiment under Col. David Chambers. his commission bearing the date of Septem- ber 9, 1777. In November of that same year, he was ordered by Governor Livingston of New Jersey, to call on Messrs. Penn and Chew. at the Union Iron Works and conduet them to Worchester, Massachusetts, and to de- liver them to the council of that State, and he was also directed to purchase in Connecti- eut or Massachusetts Bay. 20.000 flint- for the

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council of New Jersey. He participated in the battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778, in which his eldest son, Lewis, was killed by a cannon ball. In 1793 he moved into Buffalo Valley, and on August 16, 1794, he married his fourth wife, Mary Kemble. He was the father of twenty-three children, fifteen of these having been born in New Jersey. The children born to his last marriage were: John, James, Lewis, Mary Frances, who married John Linn, Joseph Park, James D. and Moses.

Joseph Chamberlin married Agnes Deal and they came to Uniontown in 1832, from Columbia County, Pennsylvania, and bought land in Springfield Township. Joseph and Agnes Chamberlin had eight children, as fol- lows: Mary Ann, who married Frank Em- mett ; Sarah, who married Benjamin Chisnel, both died in Green Township; Rebecca, who married Daniel Zeisloft, a native of Pennsyl- vania, who is eighty-one years of age and has survived her since 1902; Franeis L., residing at Tallmadge; William, residing in Kent, married Mary Barker; John, deceased, mar- ried Elizabeth Wise; and Lewis, deceased, married Mary Hageman. There were but two children born to Franklin and Mary A. (Chamberlin ) Emmett, namely: William J. and J. Ira. William J. Emmett, residing at Tallmadge, is a traveling salesman for the Russell Manufacturing Company of Massillon. Ile married Belle G. Treat, who is a daughter of Stanley Treat, and they have three sons: Homer I., Stanley T. and James.

J. Ira Emmett was reared on the old home- stead and first attended the district sebools in the neighborhood, later becoming a student. in the Tallmadge High School and Academy, the family having moved into Tallmadge Township in 1861. After the death of his parents, and his own marriage, Mr. Emmett returned to the old family farm, and here he has continued to live ever since. Ile has made many improvements and he and family enjoy every comfort to be found in a well reg- ulated rural home. He carries on a general line of agriculture, and has other farm inter- rests outside the old homestead.

On March 3, 1887, Mr. Emmett was mar- ried to Mary F. Moore, who is a daughter of Oliver C. and Marion (Golden) Moore, form- erly of Richfield township, Summit County, Ohio. Both Mr. and Mrs. Moore were born in Summit County, where the former died, in February, 1907, at the age of seventy-three years. Mrs. Moore still survives, aged sixty- seven years. They had two children, namely : Mary F., who became Mrs. Emmett, and Ella, who married Frank Converse. Mrs. Emmett is a graduate of the Akron High School and is a lady of superior educational attainments. Prior to her marriage she taught in the pub- lie schools of Summit County and later be- came the principal of the Tallmadge High School.

Mr. and Mrs. Emmett have two children, Iris M. and Frank Moore, the former of whom is a student in Buehtel Academy, and the lat- ter in the public schools of Springfield Town- ship.

Politically, Mr. Emmett is identified with the Republican party and on numerous oc- casions he has been elected to township of- fices, although he has never solicited the same. Ile has served as a member of the Summit County Republican Executive Committee and has been interested in public affairs to a con- siderable extent, ever since he was twenty- one years of age. For a period of six years he served as township trustee, and at present is serving both as township elerk and as clerk of the School Board. Having the financial stand- ing as well as the personal qualifications of a representative citizen, Mr. Emmett is natu- rally frequently consulted concerning public movements calculated to advance the interests of his community, and he is never found unwilling to contribute liberally when the ob- jeets meet with his approval. In fraternal life, Mr. Emmett has long been a member of the order of Odd Fellows. He was one of the early members of the Patrons of Husbandry in this section, being fully in sympathy with the Grange movement. With his family he belongs to the Presbyterian Church of Spring- fick.

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WILLIAM H. WINTER, justice of the peace, president of the Barberton Business Men's Association, and president of the Nor- ton Mutual Fire Association, is a busy and prominent citizen of Barberton. Mr. Winter was born in Holmes County, Ohio, March 19, 1858, and is a son of Daniel and Catherine (Sommer) Winter.

The father of Mr. Winter was born in Pennsylvania, and was a son of Joseph Win- ter, the latter of whom died in Pennsylvania. Daniel Winter cane to Holmes County, Ohio, in 1850, and in 1852 was married to Catherine Sominer, who was born in Holmes County, and was a daughter of Joseph Sommer, a mil- ler, who was an early settler there. In 1868 Daniel Winter and family move to Wayne County, Ohio.

William H. Winter attended the public schools both in Holmes and Wayne Counties, beginning when he was only three and one- half years of age, the school-house at that time being located on his father's farm. Later, he attended the Smithville Academy, and when eighteen years of age, entered the Urbana High School. After completing his own edu- cation, Mr. Winter became a teacher, and for twenty-six years he continued to teach, during ten years of the period in Norton Township, Summit County, two years in the West Bar- berton school, and also near Wooster, in Wayne County, and ended his long and suc- cessful educational career, by teaching a term in District No. 9, Coventry Township, Sum- mit County. In 1893, he removed from Wayne County to Norton Township, Summit County. In 1905, when elected to the office of justice of the peace, he quit teaching, but continued to reside on his farm of fifty-seven acres in Norton Township, until February, 1906. when he established his home at Bar- berton.

In January, 1907, Mr. Winter, embarked in a grocery business at Barberton, in partner- ship with F. E. Barns. They carry a very complete and well assorted stock, and are cen- trally located at No. 1021 Wooster Avenue. In March, 1907, Mr. Winter was shown the confidence his fellow-citizens feel in him, by

his election to the presidency of the Barberton Business Men's Association, an organization of commercial importance here. The other officers of the association are: E. J. Quigley, vice president; J. W. Rider, secretary and J. H. Miller, treasurer. The Norton Mutual Fire Association was organized in 1872, and Mr. Winter has been its president since 1899. It is in a very prosperous condition and its area of risks covers about nine townships.

In 1883, Mr. Winter was married to Sarah E. Orr, who is a daughter of Thomas B. and Elizabeth Orr. Mr. Winter is an elder in the Presbyterian Church at Barberton and is su- perintendent of the Sunday school.

LORIN BLISS, township treasurer of Northfield Township, is a prominent citizen and representative agriculturist of this section, and was born in Summit County, Ohio, No- vember 18, 1842. He is a son of Ambrose Williams and Emeline (Palmer) Bliss.

Both the Bliss and Palmer families were early settlers in New England, and both have contributed largely to the country's prominent men in various walks of life. The father of Lorin Bliss was born at Jericho, Chittenden County, Vermont, December 6, 1806. He was a carpenter and builder and in that ca- pacity he came to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1833, ·to accept work on the public improvements then in progress at Cleveland and Black River, as Lorain was then called. Later he worked on the Ohio canal and built many bridges, locks and gates. He soon began to invest in land, and at the time of his death owned 240 acres, all of which he had accumu- lated by his own industry. He was a man of sterling character, one of whom his descend- ants can refer with pride and affection. His death took place when over eighty-seven years of age.

Ambrose Williams Bliss was married May 9, 1839, to Emeline Palner, who was born at Windsor, Connecticut, April 5. 1815. They had four children : Ellen, Lorin. George and Horace. Ellen. who resides in the old home, acted as township historian for the Western Reserve Historical Society, in the preparation

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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

of the work on "Pioneer Women of the West- ern Reserve." George, resides in Northfield Township. Horace, died February 20, 1863, from disease contracted while serving as a soldier in the Civil War. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, 115th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Ambrose W. Bliss served in many public offices. He was town- ship trustee, for some years was a justice of the peace, and from 1854 until 1860, he served as county commissioner of Summit County. He was an almost life-long mem- ber of the American Bible Society. Political- ly, he was strong in his support of the Re- publican party. He was one of the contract- ors of the Cleveland, Zanesville & Cincinnati Railroad. His brother, Hon. George Bliss, was once presiding judge of the Third Judi- cial District of Ohio. From 1852 to 1854. he represented the 18th Congressional District, in Congress.

Lorin Bliss was educated in the district schools of Northfield Township and remained on the home farm until his marriage, in 1878, when he purchased the place on which he lives. Ile remodeled the residence and made additions to the other buildings. He carries on mixed farining, cultivating fifty of his eighty-five acres, raising hay, corn, wheat, potatoes and oats and keeping from twelve to fourteen head of cattle.

Mr. Bliss married Mary Emeline Wallace, who is a daughter of James W. Wallace, of Northfield. Mrs. Bliss is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Bliss was reared in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been a trustee and a steward. He takes a great deal of interest in the Sunday-school, of which he has been superintendent.

Politically a Republican, he has been elect- ed township trustee on two occasions by that party, and has also served as township clerk and supervisor. Prior to the disbanding of the Northfield Grange, he was a member and supporter, and he was identified with and a hearty worker in the order of Good Temp- lars.

IIENRY H. WEIMER, a leading agricul- turist and prominent citizen of Springfield Township, who owns an excellent farm of seventy acres, was born November 23, 1849, at Marshallville, Wayne County, Ohio, and is a son of Adam and Lydia (Keiffer) Weimer.

Barnhart Weimer, the grandfather of Henry H .. married a Miss Zimmerman, and both died in Germany. Barnhart was in the army and crossed the Alps with Napoleon's army. Their children were: Barnhart; Jacob; Martin, who married Susan Mercer; Adam; Frederick, who married a Miss Fetzer; and Margaret, who married Jacob Bough- man. Of this family, Martin, Adam, Fred- erick and Margaret came to America and all settled in Wayne County, Ohio, Martin being the first to locate there.

Adam Weimer, the father of Henry H., was born in 1824, in Germany, and came to this country about 1840. He was a tailor by trade and worked at Uniontown and at Columbus prior to his marriage, following which he moved to Easton, Wayne County, where he continued tailoring until 1853. In this year Mr. Weimer purchased a farm, on which the remainder of his life was spent, his death oc- curring September 17, 1905, at which time he was rated one of the substantial men of his community, his property consisting of 372 acres of land. Adam Weimer was married to Lydia Keiffer, who was born near Marshall- ville, Wayne County, Ohio, and they had nine children : Ilenry II .; AAnnie Maria, who married Solomon Gerbrick, a resident of Wooster. Wayne County; Barbara, who is de- ceased; Maggie, who married John Tyler, who resides near Sterling, Wayne County; Al- bert; William; Eli, who married Annie St. Clair, resides near Smithville, Wayne County ; Daniel; and Wesley, who resides near Wooster, married (first) Cora Oller, and (sec- ond) Violet Metzer. All of these children, with the exception of Henry H., are residents of Wayne County.

Henry H. Weimer was reared in Wayne County, from whence he came, in March, . 1876, to Mogadore, where he was engaged in

FREDERICK RIES

MRS. LOUISA K. RIES

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a meat market business until his marriage, at which time he settled on the farm of his father-in-law, Peter Hile. For the past six- teen years he has been operating his present farm, a tract of seventy aeres in Springfield Township, where he carries on general farm- ing. In 1903 he erected his fine residence, and in 1905, a large, substantial barn. Mr. Weimer is an up-to-date, practical agrieultur- ist, keeping himself well abreast of all new movements and methods in farming by his membership in the local Grange. He has been a resident of Springfield Township for thirty-one years, while his wife, who was born in the township, has lived here all of her life.

On December 26, 1878, Mr. Weimer was married to Sarah L. Hile, who is a daughter of Peter and Olive (Boyd) Hile. Peter HIile, whose mother had died when he was but ten days old, came as a boy from Pennsylvania to Ohio, with his brother, Jacob Ilile, and set- tled in Norton Township. For seventy years he was a resident of Summit County, and his death occurred February 16, 1905, in his eightieth year, on the farm on which his widow now resides, where she has lived sinee 1855. Peter Ilile married Olive Boyd, who is a daughter of Andrew and Roxie (Atwood) Boyd, the former of whom is a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Connecticut. Ten children were born to Andrew Boyd and wife: Iehabod, who was twice married, (first) to a Miss Clark, who died on Lake Erie, east of Cleveland; Olive, who is the mother of Mrs. Weimer; Urias, who died in California; Mary, who married Ross Thomas; Emma, who mar- ried Frank Proctor, resided for a number of years at Mantna, from whenee she removed to California, where her husband died; and five children who died in infancy. Two children were born to Peter and Olive (Boyd) Hile, namely: Sarah L. and Emily. The latter married Quiney Monroe. They resided for five years in Suffield Township, then moved to Tennessee and subsequently to Texas, and for the past fifteen years have lived in Oklahoma. They have had eight children, six of whom survive. Mr. and Mrs. Hile were members of the Mogadore Church of Christ.

Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. llenry H. Weimer, namely : Elmer and Irwin, who make their home with their par- ents; and Frank, who died September 17, 1905, aged sixteen years, five months. They belong to the Church of Christ, at East Akron.

FREDERICK RIES, whose beautiful farm of 114 aeres lies just east of Johnson's Col. ners, has resided here for almost a half con- tury and its excellent condition is due to his 'industry and careful management. Mr. Ries was born in Prussia-Germany, March 24, 1830, and is a son of Christian and Mary Ries.

Although Mr. Ries has developed into an excellent farmer, he was not reared as one. After he had completed his schooling he went to work in a eoal bank, with which his father was connected as an outside boss, and he thus continued mining until he was nineteen years of age, when he deeided to follow his broth- ers to America. In July. 1849, he left home for the great country aeross the water, and, as far as we have been informed, although his thoughts have often gone backward. he has never returned to his native land. The ves- sel on which he sailed was not a great tur- bine-wheel mistress of the sea, which takes but four days to cover the distance between Europe and Ameriea, but a sailing ship that was on the water forty-nine days before sight- ing land. Landing at New York he joined his two brothers in Iowa, where he worked for two years in the lead mines, after which he settled in Chippewa Township, Wayne County. There he and his brother, Paul Ries, operated a eoal bank. In 1855 he was mar- ried, and continued to run the eoal bank for five years longer, and then eame to the farm on which he has lived ever sinee. Mr. Ries has retired from aetive work and rents the farm, but still retains his comfortable home here. Through hard work and persistent ef- fort he has gained an ample fortune which he and his estimable wife can enjoy in their evening of life.

Mr. Ries was married November 23. 1855, to Louisa Klein, who is a daughter of Peter

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Klein, who was also born in Germany, but becca, deceased, married (first) Jacob Becker settled in Ohio before the birth of Mrs. Ries. and (second) David Keller; Amanda, who is the widow of John Spangler, who died in the spring of 1907, lives in Franklin Township; and Aaron, who married Amanda Smith, re- sides on River Avenue, Akron. To this marriage thirteen children were born, as follows: Charles, deceased at three weeks; Frederick, who is married and lives at John- son's Corners; Jacob, married, also lives at the Corners; Emma died aged three years, two months; John, who is married, lives in Indiana; George; Ella, who married Bert Haines; Mary, who died at eleven months; Christian, residing at home; Arthur, married, who lives at Johnson's Corners; Harry, de- ceased at six weeks; Minnie, who married Andrew Backdur; and Edward.

Mr. Ries, as one of the township's repre- sentative men, has served in public office at various times and has been a valuable mem- ber of the School Board and an efficient road supervisor. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.

HIENRY L. WAGONER, a leading citizen of Springfield Township, has been postmaster at Krumroy for the past twenty-seven years and has been identified with the growth and development of the village. He was born near Manchester, in Franklin Township, Summit County, Ohio, March, 8, 1827. and is a son of George and Rebecca (Sowers) Wagoner.

George Wagoner was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, in 1795, and came to Summit County with his parents, in 1812. Ilis father was Henry Wagoner. George Wagoner was married first in Pennsylvania, his second marriege being to Rebecca Sowers. He entered 160 acres of land which Henry L. assisted to clear. Ile died in 1874, and was survived some fifteen years by his widow. They had a family of ten children, as follows: Catherine, who married Philip Houseman, both died in Indiana; Sarah, who married Aaron Baughman. both died in Norton Town- ship; Henry L .; Philip, who was formerly county commissioner of Summit County, mar- ried Hannah Haney; John Jacob, who mar- ried Catherine Weaver, resides in Summit County ; Harriet, who married Michael Harp- ster, is a widow residing at Akron; Anna Re-

Henry L. Wagoner obtained his education in the subscription schools, and continued to assist his father in clearing and developing his land until he reached manhood, in the mean- while learning the trade of shoemaker. In the early days of the great Rebellion, Mr. Wagoner enlisted for army service, entering Company A, Second Regiment, Ohio Volun- teer Cavalry, in 1861, selecting the cavalry on account of being accustomed to horses and with an idea that he could better stand the hardships he knew were ahead of him. His health broke down, however, and in 1862, he was discharged at Fort Scott, on account of disability. He continued to farm for the next five years and then applied himself exclusively . to work at his trade until February, 1880, when he came to Krumroy.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 89

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