Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 92

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

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In October, 1852, Thomas Wright was mar- ried to Elizabeth A. Henderson, who died in May, 1904, aged seventy-two years. She was a daughter of James and Mary (Smith) Hen- derson residents of Springfield Township, who reared a large family which still has numer- ons descendants in this locality. Mrs. Wright was a teacher prior to her marriage. She was a most estimable woman, fulfilling every duty as wife, mother and neighbor. For many years she had been a consistent member of the Pleasant Valley Methodist Episcopal Church, and she was laid to rest in the cemetery ad- joining. Her happy married life had covered fifty-two years. She was permitted to enjoy the celebration of their Golden Wedding, on October 5. 1902. a memorable occasion to all who were permitted to participate in its quiet festivities. The children born to Thomas Wright and wife who reached maturity were: James F., John F., Lucy J., Myron T. and Edwin E. All the children, both of Thomas Wright, Sr., and Thomas Wright, Jr., who attained maturity were school teachers.

James F. Wright. eldest son of Thomas Wright, Jr., residing near his father and en- gaged in farming, is one of the leading citi- zens of Springfield Township. He married

Mary Steese and they have three children. Lucy, the only daughter, was educated very thoroughly and became a teacher. She mar- ried Herman G. McChesney, who is in the rural mail service, and resides at Akron. Mr. McChesney owns an excellent farin of forty acres near Krumroy. Mr. and McChesney have one sou in the mail service, and two other children residing at home. Edwin E., the second son of Mr. Wright, engaged in teach- ing prior to his marriage, but for a number of years has been prominently associated with newspaper work. He was first connected with the Akron Journal, later the Cleveland Press, then the Pitsburg Dispatch, and the New York Press, but now fills the editorial chair of the Youngstown Telegram. He mar- ried Lucy Carl of Mogadore, Ohio.

In his early political life, Mr. Wright was a Whig, casting his first presidential vote for Gen. Zachery Taylor. lle came into sym- pathy with the party that made John C. Fre- mont its standard-bearer, then voted for Ab- raham Lincoln and for every subsequent Re- publican candidate. He saw service during the Civil War, enlisting in Company H, 164th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in 1864, with the rank of corporal. He has long been an active factor in politics in Summit County, but has seldom accepted political office of any kind, although well qualified to do so. In 1889 he was elected a member of the State Legislature and served through one term with fidelity and efficiency, but no arguments were sufficient to induce him to be again a candi- date.

Mr. Wright's fraternal connections are with Buckley Post. Grand Army of the Republic, at Akron, and with Akron Lodge, No. 83. 1. F. & A. M. ITe is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JOSIAH BROWN, funeral director and furniture dealer at Cuyahoga Falls, was born in Summit County. Ohio, April 28. 1838. and is a son of Simon and Elizabeth (Pontious) Brown.

Jacob Brown, the paternal grandfather of Josiah Brown, was born in Pennsylvania, but

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died in Stark County, Ohio, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits. Hle had a family of thirteen children and of these Si- mon was the eldest. The latter was born in Pennsylvania and eame to Summit County about 1835. Ile died in 1895, aged eighty- four years. After reaching Cuyahoga Falls he learned the cabinet-making trade, with J. T. Holloway, and then went into partnership with Addison MeConkey, under the firm name of MeConkey & Brown. About 1848 he purchased his partner's interest and con- tinued alone, also carrying on undertaking, and being the only undertaker in the place for many years. Hle supported the candidates of the Republican party. IHis wife, who was a daughter of Solomon Pontious, was born at Uniontown, Stark County, Ohio, and died December, 1901, aged eighty-four years. The three children of Simon Brown and his wife were: Josiah, subject of this sketch; Mrs. Harriet Goble, residing at Cuyahoga Falls; and Ezra, who is now deceased. The family belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

After completing his education in the High School at Cuyahoga Falls, Josiah Brown learned his father's trade, and continued to be associated with him until 1873, when he went to Akron, where he worked through the summer and fall as a carpenter, and then en- tered the employ of Turner, Vaughn & Tay- lor. For twenty years he remained with that firm as a carpenter and then returned to his father. After the latter's death, he managed the business for his mother until her death, when he took entire. charge. It is one of the oldest business houses at the Falls.

Mr. Brown is a veteran of the Civil War. On September 10, 1861, he enlisted in Battery D. First Ohio Light Artillery, and re-enlisted in the same battery, in January, 1864, and was commissioned second lieutenant at that time. Ile took an active part in all the en- gagements in which his battery was concerned and he was honorably discharged in June, 1865. Mr. Brown is a member of Eddy Post, No. 37, Grand Army of the Republic, at Cuya- hoga Falls, and enjoys meeting with his old

comrades and living over again the dangers and triumphs of army days.

Mr. Brown married Luey E. Warner, a daughter of John Warner, of Cuyahoga Fails, and they have had three children, namely : Ida, deceased, who married William Graham, of Akron; Charles Arthur, residing at Toledo, a mechanical engineer in the employ of the Toledo Railway and Light Company; and Birdie B., who is the widow of John Wilson, residing at New York City. Mr. Brown and family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. Ile is affiliated with Howard Lodge, No. 62, Odd Fellows. Politically he is a Re- publiean.

W. C. KEENAN, one of Akron's business citizens, is established in excellent quarters on North Main Street, where he deals in bug- gies, wagons, harness and horses, shipping an- nually from six to seven carloads of the lat- ter. He was born in Boston Township, Sum- mit County, Ohio, on the old Ritchie home- stead, September 27, 1872, and is a son of John Keenan. The father of Mr. Keenan was born in Ireland and after emigrating, settled first at Niagara Falls, and in 1857 came to Summit County. He located in Bo-ton Township, where he has carried on agricul- tural pursuits ever since.

W. C. Keenan was reared on the home farm and attended the district schools and then entered the Western Reserve Academy as a member of the class of 1892. In the meanwhile, as he was dependent mainly on his own efforts, he left school and taught through ten seasons, subsequently returning to the university, where he completed his course and graduated with the class of 1894. During his period of teaching he started a grocery store at Peninsula, which he gradual- ly expanded until the commodities he han- dled included a general line of merchandise, buggies, agricultural implements, harness and horses. He dealt extensively in horses and at the time of his sale, in 1901, in preparation to move to Akron, he had forty-two head to dispose of.

Mr. Keenan was married to Lillian Thomp-

GEORGE CRISP

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son, of Cuyahoga Falls, and they have one son, William Harold. Mr. Keenan is a mem- ber of the Knights of Columbus and of St. Vincent de Paul's Catholic Church.

GEORGE CRISP, of the firm of George Crisp and Son, proprietors of the Akron Storage and Warehouse Company, located at Nos. 211-215 South Broadway, has been a resident of Akron for thirty-one years and is one of the city's most substantial and repre- sentative men. Ile was born in Northamp- tonshire, England, in 1849, and when a boy went to London, where he served an ap- prenticeship of six years to the brick-laying and stone-cutting trades. At the age of twenty-one he came to America, locating for a short time at Toronto, Canada. In 1872 he removed to Cleveland, and in 1876 to Akron. For some time, in association with his brother, John Crisp, he did a small jobbing business, and they then formed the firm of Crisp Brothers and entered into contracting. Their first large contract was the Henry school build- ing, a fine structure for those days, and its attractive appearance and substantial con- struction did much to extend the business of the firm. The brothers continued together for twenty years and during that time con- tracted for and erccted about one-third of all the prominent buildings in Akron, includ- ing many factories and seven school build- ings. The firm soon became the most promi- nent one in their line of business in this sec- tion of the State. Since 1896 the style of the firm has been George Crisp and Son, and in addition to general contracting, the firm does a large storage and coal business. They erected on South Broadway a fine brick build- ing. 220 feet by 45, five stories high, with basement, it being one of the best-built buildings in the city. They have also two fine brick buildings on North Howard Street. one 66 feet by 30, three stories in height, and the other 120 by 40, all having been built after modern plans. The latter buildings are their headquarters for general supply work of all kinds.

Mr. Crisp was married in 1876, to Susanna

Watson, whose parents were born in England. They have four children, namely : Frederick James, who is associated with his father in business; George Raymond, who is a student at the Ohio University ; Grace E., who is em- ployed in her father's office; and William E., who is attending school in Akron.

Mr. Crisp is an old member of the Odd Fellows Fraternity, having united with the Manchester Unity order in his native land, when sixteen years of age. In 1882 he joined Apollo Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Akron. He is affiliated with all its divisions and is faithful to all its teachings.

HON. DAVID TOD. Few men in Ameri- can public life have attained to a nobler fame than that which history accords to the late IIon. David Tod, Ohio's great war governor, whose death took place November 13, 1868. Throughout a public career which had its be- ginning when he was comparatively young and which continued through the trying years of the Civil War, he continued to be a type of American statesmanship at its best.

David Tod was born at Youngstown, Ohio, February 21, 1805, and was a son of Hon. George and Sally (Isaacs) Tod, and a grand- son of David and Rachel (Kent) Tod. of old New England stock. His father, Judge George Tod, was born at Suffield. Con- necticut, December 11, 1773, was grad- uated from. Yale College in 1795 and subsequently studied law at New Haven, Connecticut. He was there admitted to the bar and entered upon the practice of his profession. In 1800 he accompanied a party of prospectors to the Western Reserve and formed so favorable an opinion of the great opportunities for business and profes- sional development in Ohio that he made plans, which he later successfully carried out, to become a resident of this beautiful state.

In 1801 Judge Tod removed. with his wife and two children, to Youngstown. and in the same year was appointed secretary for the territory of Ohio. by Governor Arthur St. Clair. In 1802 Ohio became a state and at the first election held thereafter at Youngstown,

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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

George Tod was elected clerk of Youngstown Township, to which office he was subsequently re-elected. He continued in the practice of his profession but was soon called into active public life, being elected state senator from Trumbull County, serving in the session of 1804-5, and again, in the same capacity, in 1810-11. In the interim between these two terms of service, he filled for four years an important position on the bench, serving for four years as a judge of the supreme court of Ohio, which service was terminated in 1810.

At the opening of the War of 1812, Judge Tod signified his intention of taking an active part in military operations and was first com- missioned major of the 19th Ohio Regiment, later serving as colonel. On the field Judge Tod distinguished himself, participating in the battles of Fort Meigs and Sacketts Har- bor. At the close of the war he returned once more to the practice of the law, but in 1815 he was again honored by his fellow-citizens, being elected presiding judge of the court of common pleas, an office he held until 1829. With the exception of one term as prosecut- ing attorney of Trumbull County, this closed Judge Tod's public career. Upon the retire- ment from the cares and duties which had so completely filled so many years of his life, the aged jurist sought recreation in looking after his farm, to which he had given the name of "Brier Hill." This was appropriate on account of the abundance of briers then found therc. The name remains, but in these latter days it represents a wealth of coal, and its material products are carried over a large part of the world. At a later date the farm passed into the more practical hands of his son David, and it still remains a possession of the family. It is now owned and occupied as the residence of George Tod, one of the sons of David Tod.

Judge Tod was married in 1797 to Sally Isaacs, who was a daughter of Ralph and Mary Isaacs. Their long and happy compan- ionship lasted for forty-four years, broken by the death of Judge Tod, in 1841. The wife survived until 1847.

Like many other distinguished American

statesmen, David Tod graduated from no old- established institution of learning. His in- heritance of mental ability was great but to himself, alone, was due the wide knowledge and broad culture which made him the equal of the highest in his own or other countries, and the inherent manliness, integrity and de- votion to country that gained him the admi- ration, esteem and affection of his fellow-citi- zens and installed forever his memory in their hearts.

In 1827 David Tod, after completing what was little more than an elementary education and spending some time in the study of the law, was admitted to the bar and entered into practice at Warren, when 22 years of age. A cotemporary, in considering the almost imme- diate success which met his efforts, analyzed the situation as follows: "His success at the bar was, in the main, due to his unsurpassed ability in the examination of witnesses and to his power in gaining and holding the confi- dence of the jury, which he did by a manifest frankness, fairness and earnestness, together with his clear statement of the argument." For about fifteen years Mr. Tod continued in the active practice of his profession and dur- ing this period he demonstrated that it was in him to become a great lawyer and that, with his large legal knowledge, wide experience, high sense of honor and unsullied integrity, he would have been eminently successful on the bench. Other elements entered into his life, however, and in other avenues he became distinguished, political affairs claiming many years of his life.

In the campaign of 1824 Mr. Tod first be- came an enthusiastic politician, following in the train of that popular hero, Andrew Jack- son, and he remained an ardent Democrat un- til the secession movement of 1861. In 1840 he campaigned through the state. using his powerful oratory in the attempt to defeat Gen- eral Harrison. The first political office to which he was elected was that of state senator, in 1838. and he grew so rapidly in public favor that in 1844 he was unanimously chosen by the Democratic party as its candidate for governor. Hon. Mordecai Bartley, the Whig

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candidate defeated him with a majority of about 1,000 votes.

So prominent was his position by this time, that President James K. Polk, in 1847, felt justified in appointing him United States minister to Brazil. During his five-years' residence in that country he won many a quiet diplomatic victory which brought about a much better understanding between the two countries and reflected nothing but added honor upon him as the representative of the United States. It is a matter of record that upon his departure for his own country, the ruler of Brazil, in a parting address, took oc- casion to speak in the highest terms of Mr. Tod both as an individual and as a public official.

For the succeeding ten years Mr. Tod gave his attention mainly to business. He had taken charge of the family estates in 1841, and with remarkable business sagacity he en- tered into negotiations which later resulted in the developing of the great coal fields which have made Youngstown one of the noted industrial points in Ohio and incident- ally brought about much of the prosperity of the Mahoning Valley. Mainly through his enterprise, the Cleveland & Mahoning Rail- road was constructed, and he remained its president as long as he lived.

The next period of Mr. Tod's political ac- tivity belongs to the country's history. Se- cession was brought to light in 1860. He was made vice-president of the National Demo- cratic Convention that met at Charleston, April 23d of that year, of which Caleb Cush- ing. of Massachusetts. was chairman. Every state was represented, there being 303 dele- gates, equaling the electoral vote. The strong- est candidate was Stephen A. Douglas. The two-thirds rule for nomination prevailed. By a plank in the Douglas platform it was agreed to abide by the decision of the supreme court judges on the subject of the slave-code. The minority. or Douglas platform, was substi- tuted and adopted, whereupon the Alabama delegation withdrew, and a majority of the delegates from Arkansas. Florida, Georgia,

Louisiana and South Carolina also retired in the same manner.

After a week so spent the remainder of the convention proceeded to ballot under the two- thirds rule, and Douglas was by far the strong- est candidate, receiving as high as 152 1-2 votes several times, while 202 votes were nec- essary to a choice. The convention composed of those left after the seceders had withdrawn voted to adjourn to meet in Baltimore, Mary- land, June 18th.

The seceding delegates met in a separate convention, elected James A. Bayard, of Dela- ware, their chairman, and after adopting the majority platform of the committee, post- poned further action to June 10th, at Rich- mond, Virginia.

When the convention met at Baltimore, pursuant to adjournment, trouble arose about admitting delegates who had seceded at Charleston, or others who had been chosen in their place. During the discussion of this is- sue many delegates withdrew, among them being the chairman, Caleb Cushing. At this point Mr. Tod, with great presence of mind took possession of the deserted chair, and after an earnest appeal succeeded in restoring order. He was confirmed as chairman and the con- vention proceeded to its legitimate business, which resulted in the nomination of Douglas.

The members who had recently seceded in- vited the seceders at Richmond to join them, and John C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, was nominated for president by them, and Joseph Lane of Oregon, vice-president.

A "Constitutional Union Convention" met May 10th, also at Baltimore, and nominated John Bell of Tennessee, for president, and Edward Everett, of Massachusetts, for vice- president.

Later Mr. Tod supported the "Little Giant," giving him his unqualified support all through the heated campaign that fol- lowed. Mr. Tod made no secret of bitterly op- posing secession and when the test came he preferred the election of Lincoln to that of Breckinridge. He was quick to see the dis- asters sure to follow the policy of secession and when he saw that Civil War was inevitable,

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he made the choice that only a man of his integrity, loyalty and devotion to what he felt was duty, could possibly have made.

There came that time in the history of Ohio when, amid the beating of drums and the marching of troops, every bearded man or callow youth was a possible hero, for then patriotism was a flame and loyalty the torch. Far beyond physicial heroism was the moral heroism which inspired David Tod in those memorable days. Cutting loose from old party associates, severing ties which long con- nection and earnest conviction had cemented, he came forward and announced his principles -an unswerving devotion to the Union. Thus he became known as a War Democrat. The times were ripe for just such a man, and when the Republicans themselves suggested Mr. Tod as a candidate, enthusiasmn ran high. He was unanimously nominated by the Union Party, made up of Republicans and War Democrats, and was gloriously elected, with a majority of 55,000 votes, governor of the state of Ohio.

Governor Tod came to the capitol in 1862, succeeding Governor Dennison, and upon him fell the great responsibilities that made Ohio take so prominent a rank among the Northern States during the Civil War. After the first enthusiasm passed and war, grim war, made itself manifest in every town, hamlet and country side, troops still had to be enlisted and hurried to battle, discouragements of those at the front and at home had to be overcome, seditious political influence had to be com- batted, the state had to be saved from inva- sion and the public treasury had to be pre- served from depletion. In Governor David Tod was found the man of the hour. It is admitted that his administration as governor won for him justly illustrious fame. Every emergency was met with the calm, judicial mind that would have given him distinction as a judge, as we have intimated. He met difficulties of every kind. and firmly, prompt- ly and rigorously he administered the rem- edy. His devotion to the soldiers was so well known that his name was an inspiration to them. They learned of his constant efforts

on their behalf, not only to secure for them their rights of suffrage while away from home but to obtain food, clothing, medicine and care, all that he would have labored to obtain for his own sons.

When he was approached in 1863 with the urgent request that he seek renomination he positively declined to again assume the re- sponsibilities which his acecptance would en- tail. When his attention was called to the fact that thousands of his fellow-citizens were not only bearing heavy responsibilities, but were endangering their lives on the field of battle, Governor Tod replied, "Then, looking at it in that light, I am also willing to sacri- fice my life." He was not renominated. He had made many enemies, as any man with the courage to face such stern responsibilities necessarily will; the state had the year before gone Democratic; and C. L. Vallandigham, whose arrest for seditious utterances had been approved of by Governor Tod, had been placed in nomination by the Democratic party, and was making stirring appeals for his vindication at the polls. Under these circumstances the Republican managers thought it best for the interests of the party to place in nomination some man who had aroused fewer and less fierce antagonisms, and although eighty-eight counties had instructed their delegates to vote for his nomination, the political wires were manipulated in favor of Hon. John Brough, who was accordingly nominated. In January, 1864, Governor Tod retired from office, bearing with him the ap- proval of the majority of his fellow-citizens, the love of the army, and the confidence and personal esteem of the public men with whom the exigencies of the times had so closely as- sociated him.

Failing health caused him to decline fur- ther honors proffered him. It was a disap- pointment to President Lincoln that he was unable to induce him to accept the portfolio of Secretary of the Treasury which was tend- ered him. His fellow citizens soon realized that his health in their behalf had indeed been broken, and when the news of his death, No- vember 23, 1868, came to them from his Brier

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Hill Farm, to which he had retired, their grief was as that of a child for a parent.

Governor Tod was a man of unaffected manner, and a keen judge of men in all the changing elements of political and social con- ditions. Full well he knew the mettle of both friend and foe. His personal loyalty to his friends was unshakable, save when it con- flicted with the higher duties of an exalted patriotism ; and none of his political enemies could ever say that he was aught but a fair and open foe. Resolutions deploring his loss and speaking in appreciative terms of his high character as statesman and citizen were passed by the senate and house of representa- tives of the state, and the press throughout the country announced the sad news in words of sorrow and respect that found an echo in the hearts of all who knew him as he was. His name still remains one of honor in the great state he served so well, and although long years have passed away since his mortal presence has been removed, the principles he labored to sustain remain, and the country he loved is still united.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 92

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