Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 18

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1040

USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 18
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 18

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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and in religious affiliation is a member of the U. B. Church, with which he and his wife united in 1868.

On October 1, 1852, William J. Hav- ens married Miss Ann M. Paden, daughter of Alexander and Maria (Remsburg) Paden, who migrated from Maryland, where they were both born, the father in Hagers- town, the mother in Middletown. The children born to this union were George WV., who married Marcella Swickard, and has two children-Frank and Dora; Ann Rebecca, who married Jerome Voorhies, and had two children-Stella (who died at the age of seven years) and Lula; John F., who married for his first wife Ann Fry (by whom he had one child, Ida), and after her death wedded Miss Fanny Winters, by whom he had four children; Charles, who married Miss Celiette War- ner, and has two children, Milo and Rus- sell; Frank, who married Avilda Winters, and whose children are Flavel, Robert, Essie, Ray, and one son unnamed; James, who died in Denver, Col., at the age of twenty years; two children who died in infancy; Emma Jane, who married C. C. Ritter, and has one child, Virgil; Orrville, who married Miss Cora Fought, daughter of William Fought, of Gibsonburg, Ohio, and whose children are Chattie and Orlie.

S OLOMON S. WRIGHT, an hon- ored pioneer of Scott township, Sandusky county, was born in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., August 25, 1816, and died in Helena, Sandusky county, Ohio, June 5, 1892.

He came to Ohio with his parents in 1835, settling in Scott township, where he resided until 1877, when he purchased a store in the village of Millersville. Mr. Wright, like his brother, settled in Scott township when it was comparatively a wilderness, and lived, not only to see it one of the best agricultural townships in Sandusky county, but helped to make it such, clearing and making for himself a

good home, and an excellent start in life for his children. In 1856 he was married to Miss Louesa Brownell, formerly of. Rhode Island. Mr. Wright began his: career as a merchant in the little village . of Greensburgh (Tinney), in 1856, and. the firm of S. S. Wright & Brother was. well and favorably known throughout. Sandusky and adjoining counties as one of the most substantial county general merchants in that part of the State. Mr. Wright was a man noted for his integrity and uprightness of character. He left a wife and two sons. His funeral services were held at his residence at Helena, June 7, 1892, the sermon being preached by Rev. Schumaker, of Tiffin, and the in- terment was made in Metzger Cemetery.

His wife, Louesa Brownell, was born October 12, 1837, in Rhode Island, and now makes her home near Fremont. Her father, Horace Brownell, was a na- tive of Rhode Island, born in 1811. In 1830 he came to Ohio, bought a farm in Scott township, where he died June 10, 1869. He was one of the pioneers of Scott township, making for himself and family a comfortable home from the wilderness where he first located. His wife was born in Rhode Island in 1813, and died at Gibsonburg, in February, 1887. She was the daughter of Amasa and Debora (Ross) Harris, who were the parents of four children: Elias; Louesa, born October 12, 1837; Julia, born May 15, 1842; and Mary, born October 12,. 1844. Louesa Brownell's (Mrs. Wright). paternal grandfather, George Brownell, was born about 1786; his wife, Mary Bussey, was born about 1790. They had one child, Horace Brownell. Mrs .. Wright's maternal grandmother, Debora. Ross, was born about 1773, and was the: mother of a large family.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Solomon S. Wright are as follows: Silas E., born January 22, 1857, completed his education in Fostoria Normal School, and has been associated with his father

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in business at Millersville; on December 21, 1885, he was married to Anna Schu- maker, of Toledo; about 1888 they left Millersville and located on the farm where he now lives, and where he has erected a good house and outbuildings. Mr. Wright is a member of the I. O. O. F., and politic- ally is a Democrat. To them have been born two children-Inez, born October IS, 1886, and Martin, born January 9, 1890. Mrs. Wright was born December 3, 1864, in Toledo, where she was edu- cated, after which she learned dressmak- ing, which she followed until her marriage. She is the daughter of John C. and Mary Schumaker. Her father was born, Au- gust 11, 1829, in Hanover, Germany; his wife was also born in the same place in 1833; they were married April 1, 1853, and had a family of six children. Mrs. Wright's paternal grandfather was born in Germany in 1814, as was also his wife, about the same year.

W. R. WRIGHT, the other son of S. S. Wright, was born January 19, 1864, in Scott township, where he received his edu- cation, and at nineteen years of age went into the livery business at Gibsonburg, after one year transferred his business to Millersville, where he remained three years. He then sold out and settled on the farm where he now lives at Tinney. In 1889 he married Miss Louisa Snear- ing, of Fremont, who was born March 2, 1865, in Sandusky county; she was educated in Fremont, and afterward made a specialty of music under Prof. Dickin- son. For five terms Mrs. Wright was a teacher in the public schools of Sandusky county. Her father, Sophferia Snearing, was a fine linguist, writing and speaking fluently three different languages. He was born in France about 1830. In 1856 he was married to Mrs. Nancy Miner, née Nancy Stull, who was born in Reading, Penn., in 1829. Four children were born to them. Mrs. Snearing's parents were born in Germany, and moved to this country in 1827.

G EORGE D. CLEVELAND, though still in the prime of life, has witnessed a wonderful trans- formation in the land about Clyde, Sandusky county, in the village itself, and in the conditions under which the people here live.

He is the son of honored pioneers, James and Jeannette (Rathbun) Cleve- land, and was born in Green Creek town- ship, Sandusky Co., Ohio, September 9, 1838. In his youth Clyde was known as Hamer's Corners, and only a few build- ings were then grouped here. The old stage-coach lumbered lazily through the straggling village, stopping at the inn for refreshments, while the passengers dream- ed about the time when they might hope to reach their destination. There were then no railroads. The inhabitants had not the thrifty and bustling metropolitan airs of the present citizens, but the trans- position has been made, swift, it seems, as the shifting panorama. To one who has seen it all, as has George D. Cleve- land, the change has been almost magical.

Clark Cleveland, Sr., his grandfather. migrated with his wife, Jemima (Butler), and family early in the century, from Mount Morris, Livingston Co., N. Y., to northern Ohio. He first settled in the forests of Huron county, and had made improve- ments, when he learned that his title to the land was not good. He then packed up his few household effects, and pene- trated deeper into the western wilderness, entering eighty acres of government land in Green Creek township, and there building his second pioneer cabin some time prior to 1822. Here he remained until his death, which occurred in 1831, in his seventy-first year. The children of Clark and Jemima Cleveland were as follows: Abigail, who married Oliver Hay- den; Cozia, who married William Hamer; Moses; Sally, whose first husband was Benjamin Curtis, her second, Alpheus Mc- Intyre; Clark, Jr., who married Eliza Grover, and left six children; Polly, who

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married Timothy Babcock; Betsy, who married Samuel Baker, and James. James Cleveland was born at Mount Morris, N. Y., March 14, 1806, and migrated with his father to the pioneer home in northern Ohio. He remained with his father until his marriage, March 3, 1831, to Jeannette Rathbun, who was born in Genesee coun- ty, N. Y., May 9, 1815, daughter of Chap- lin and Lucinda (Sutliff) Rathbun, pio- neers of Green Creek township, Sandusky county. At the time of his marriage James Cleveland had saved money enough to buy forty acres of land in Green Creek township, a part of the old Sawyer farm. For five years he was clearing and culti- vating the land. Then during one winter he rented, with his father-in-law, a saw and grist mill on Green Creek, several miles from the farm. He supported his family, and accumulated enough lumber to build a barn on his farm, and in the spring he returned to his farming opera- tions, and purchased some additional land.

In 1841 he took a contract to grade a half mile of the Maumee and Western Reserve turnpike. He moved his family near the scene of the operations, and upon its completion five months later re- turned to the farm richer by $600, paid in "State scrip." A part of this he traded for building hardware, and erected a large frame dwelling in 1845. Mean- while he kept adding more acres to his now quite extensive farm. He was a sagacious, tireless, thrifty pioneer, and at the time of his death, which occurred September 1, 1878, he owned nearly 400 acres of land, containing some of the best and most extensive improvements in the county. His wife, who survived until August 8, 1891, was a woman of unusual energy, and was in every sense worthy of his ambitions and plans for advancement. She ably seconded his efforts to secure a competence that might support them in their declining years. In physique somewhat below the medium size, scarcely weighing 120 pounds in her

best days, she left nothing undone to ad- vance the interests of her family. When her husband was clearing up the farm she hauled the rails which he split and made the fences with. Once, when help was scarce, she fastened her child to her back by a shawl, and, thus burden- ed, she planted and hoed corn in the field. Her first calico dress she earned by picking ten quarts of wild straw- berries, and walking to Lower Sandusky, where she traded them at a shilling a quart for five yards af calico worth two shillings a yard. Few pioneer families in Sandusky county have left a worthier record than that of the Clevelands. Ten children were born to James and Jeanette Cleveland, as follows: James, born De- cember 3, 1831, who reared a family and died in 1890, a farmer of Green Creek township; Eliza, born November 29, 1833, married A. J. Harris, of Clyde, and died in 1861, leaving two children; Clark R., of Green Creek township, born April 1, 1836; George D., of Green Creek township, born September 9, 1838; Lucinda, born May 29, 1841, married Horace Taylor; Chaplin S., born July 28, 1844, a resident of Green Creek township; John H., born November 21, 1847, died October 28, 1879, leaving one daughter; Sarah, born September 22, 1851, married Charles Sackrider, and now living on the old homestead; Mary, born February 25, 1854, married George Cros- by, of Clyde; Charles, born December 30, 1857, died December 14, 1879.

George D. Cleveland grew to man- hood on his father's farm near Clyde, and attended the schools in that village. He was married in 1864 to Miss Rosa Metz, who was born in Seneca county, near Green Spring, in 1842. She died in 1880, leaving three children: Clark, Min- nie and Olivia; Bertie died aged thirteen months. The second and present wife of Mr. Cleveland was Miss Mattie Stroup, who was born April 30, 1860, in Craw- ford county, where she was raised. She

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was married June 29, 1882, to George D. Cleveland. After living a few years elsewhere Mr. Cleveland settled on his father's old homestead. He has been buying out the heirs, and now owns 135 acres located just outside the corporation limits of Clyde. He is engaged in gen- eral farming and stock-raising, and in later years he has also devoted considerable attention to fruit. He has built an excel- lent barn, and his improvements are among the best in the township. In politics Mr. Cleveland is a Democrat, and as a thrifty progressive citizen he has few equals.

J JOHN FRABISH (deceased) belonged to that class of valued and progres- sive citizens to whom any commu- nity owes its advancement and pros- perity, and his death was a loss to the entire county. He was born in Saxony, Germany, August 16, 1814, and was a son of Godlup Frabish, a farmer of Sax- ony. He acquired his education in his native town, and then began learning the shoemaker's trade. In 1838 he crossed the Atlantic to America, locating in Wheeling, W. Va., where he followed shoemaking for a short time, later com- ing to Ohio, where he engaged in the same pursuit in Fremont.

In 1852 Mr. Frabish became a resi- dent of Woodville township, Sandusky county, where he purchased one hundred acres of land covered with timber. There were no roads in the locality, and only two other settlers in the neighborhood. In true pioneer style he began life upon this place, building a log cabin and con- tinuing the work of cultivation and im- provement. His task was a hard one, for his farm implements were crude; but un- daunted he continued his labors, cutting down the trees, removing the stumps and planting crops which soon yielded to him good harvests. He had to cut his grain with a sickle and thresh it with a flail,

for the improved machinery of to-day was then unknown. He hauled his products to the mill at Green Springs with ox- teams, a distance of twenty-four miles, and there had it ground into flour that the family might have bread. He had to go to Fremont to market, and went through all the experiences and hardships of pioneer life; but time and his arduous labor brought a change, and a substantial frame residence took the place of the rude cabin, a fine orchard supplanted the wild forest trees, ditches for drainage were dug, barns and out-houses were built, and all the improvements and ac- cessories of a model farm were added. Around the home is a well-kept lawn, and in front is an ornamental hedge fence, making the Frabish farm one of the fin- est in the township.

Mr. Frabish was married in Fremont, Ohio, in 1842, to Mrs. Rosenia (Walters) Bowers, a sister of Lewis Walters, and widow of John Bowers. For more than a quarter of a century this happy couple lived together in their cabin home, shar- ing in the trials of pioneer life, the wife encouraging and aiding her husband in all possible ways. She died in 1869, and in 1870 Mr. Frabish married Mrs. Hester (Mohler) Tucker, widow of Thomas Tucker, who was a native of New York, and a farmer by occupation. Removing to Ohio, he (Mr. Tucker) followed the same pursuit in Madison township, San- dusky county. He was married in Fre- mont in 1856 to Hester Mohler, and they became the parents of four children-Nel- son Tucker, a farmer of Woodville town- ship, Sandusky county; Addie, wife of Reuben Clink; Sebastian, who died in childhood, and Franklin, who died in in- fancy. Mrs. Frabish was born in Basel, Switzerland, in 1833, and came to this country in 1847.

Mr. Frabish was a well-known and highly-esteemed citizen, and for a num- ber of years held the office of township supervisor, being elected on the Repub-

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lican ticket. He was also a director of schools for a number of years, taking a deep interest in the cause of education. He was unfaltering in his support of the Republican party, and in his religious views was a German Methodist. His life was that of an upright and just man, whose kindness and generosity were manifest toward all. He was a loving husband and good neighbor, his genial disposition winning for him many friends, and mak- ing him very popular with all classes of people. His integrity and honor were above question, and his fidelity to the best interests of his adopted county was shown in his devotion to everything cal- culated to prove of public benefit-in- deed, this Biographical Record would be incomplete without a sketch of his life. He passed away in 1892 at the advanced age of seventy-seven years, five months, twelve days, mourned by all who knew him. Mrs. Frabish, a most estimable lady, still re- sides on the homestead, which is now operated by her son, Nelson Tucker, who was married, in 1882, to Miss Emma Rearick, of Woodville, Sandusky Co., Ohio, and resides with his mother. She is now surrounded with the comforts of life, and enjoys the esteem of a large cir- cle of friends.

J AMES CAMPBELL. One does not have to be very old to recall the time when the greater part of the magnificent State of Ohio was a "howling wilderness," nor even to have been a participant in the work of the pio- neer settlers, clearing away the mighty forests, cultivating the virgin soil, building roads and bridges, and subduing Nature until she became the obedient servant of her masters. Then, as the years rolled by, these same pioneers have seen the re- sults of their labors in busy hamlets, towns and cities, in schoolhouses and churches, and, best of all, in their children grown to be strong and noble men and women,

who take their places among the wisest and best of the land. Happy the people who have watched the steady progress of the glorious Buckeye State in her march to prosperity and honor.

Among the early settlers of Sandusky county were the parents of our subject, James and Nancy (Mickmin) Campbell, who came hither December 2, 1835, from Beaver county, Penn., and settled on eighty acres of land in Madison township. The father was born March 17, 1796, in Beaver county, Penn, of Scotch and Irish descent, his paternal grandparents being natives of Ireland, those on his mother's side coming from Scotland. The mother was born in 1794, in Pennsylvania, and died in November, 1878, in Sandusky county. When this worthy couple came west and took up their abode in Sandusky county, they settled in the midst of a forest. With the assistance of their sturdy boys a space was soon cleared, a log cabin erected, and the almost inces- sant stroke of the axes told daily of fallen trees, whose space was speedily converted into fruitful fields, smiling with golden harvests. On this land, wrested from the wilderness, the brave pioneer passed the remainder of his peaceful life, closing his eyes in death March 17, 1861, at the age of seventy-three years. His wife survived until November 20, 1878.

A family of nine children composed the parental household, of which our sub- ject was the youngest. The others in order of birth were as follows: Robert, born June 19, 1823, lives in Madison township, where he carries on farming; Elisan, born July 17, 1825, died May 10, 1848; Mary, born March 15, 1827, is the wife of Adam Ickes, a farmer in Steuben county, Ind. ; Daniel, born September 16, 1828, lives in Indiana; Louise Jane, born April 3, 1830, died August 8, 1832; Beisilve born December 19, 1831, died July 16, 1862; George, born December II, 1833, is a farmer of Madison township; Sinthiann, born September 8, 1836, is

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the wife of Jonathan Taylor, and lives in Madison township.

James Campbell, the subject of this sketch, was born in Madison township, August 16, 1839, on the home farm one half mile from Gibsonburg. His early days were spent in the hard work which falls to the lot of a pioneer's son, and he chopped timber and cleared away brush with his father and brothers, the only break in the steady labor being the few weeks in the depth of winter, when he attended the primitive schools of those days and gained what meager stock of in- formation could be imparted in that short space of time. He grew up, however, to be a strong and sturdy young man, and in 1862, at the age of twenty-three, fired with the patriotism which is inborn in a native American, he laid aside his axe and plough and donned the Union blue, enlisting in Company H, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Regiment O. N. G. They were sent to Virginia to guard the Capital from the advancing Rebel army, and were on duty for 115 days. He then returned to the farm and resumed his peaceful occupations.

On April 11, 1878, Mr. Campbell was married to Miss Caroline Zorn, daughter of Christian and Catherine (Snyder) Zorn, her parents being natives of Germany. Mrs. Campbell is the eldest of four chil- dren, viz .: Caspar, unmarried and living in Deuel county, Neb .; Philip, who lives in the same county, married Miss Santa Hartman, and has one child; Mary, who is the wife of John Blausley, also living in Deuel county, Neb., and has three chil- dren. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have had a family of six children, of whom one is dead; their names and dates of birth are as follows: Eda, August 3, 1879; Eli, August 1, 1881; Nelia, September 15, 1883; Ira, July 24, 1886 (died June 28, 1891, aged four years, eleven months and four days); Matilda, June 6, 1892; and Ray, July 11, 1894.

Mr. Campbell has always lived upon

the home farm, he buying the interests of his brothers and sisters after the death of the father. He has upon this property nine oil wells, which yield him an income of $50. per month. He is a Democrat in politics, and a man of integrity and good business ability. While he is not con- nected with any religious body, he believes in Christianity, is a reader of the Bible, and donates liberally to all good causes. He has filled the office of school director. His wife is a member of the Lutheran Church.

F LETCHER HARTSHORN. The subject of this memorial was born March 17, 1831, at Danbury, Ot- tawa county, where he spent the days of his boyhood, youth and early manhood. He was a son of Wyatt and Jane (Kelly) Hartshorn, the former born October 16, 1793, the latter on Septem- ber 17, 1805. His parents were married on the 18th of March, 1824, and he was the fourth in their family of eight chil- dren: Catherine D., born March 8, 1825, became the wife of George Mallory, May 18, 1845; Isaac B., born November 11, 1826, married Matilda Bryson, January 28, 1853; Byron, born January 1, 1829, wedded Mary Knapp, July 28, 1853; Sarah M. was born August 17, 1833; Alfred, born October 31, 1835, married Jane Mathews, August 31, 1859; Harriet, born December 27, 1837, became the wife of Charles D. Johnson, February 13, 1859; and Jane, born September 17, 1842, married Marshall Duroy, March 6, I 864.

His studious habits enabled Fletcher Hartshorn to quickly master all that the common schools of that day had to teach, and to this he added a course of study at Delaware and Oberlin. At an early age he left school to take charge of his father's business, and was soon brought to notice as a business manager by the success which attended his efforts. Soon his

F. Heartburn

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financial abilities became well known in the commercial circles in which he moved. His energy was untiring and his integrity beyond question. His sagacity and in- sight led to many desirable offers of busi- ness connections, some of which he made available. He had the Midas touch-all ventures seemed to prosper under his hands. He became interested at different times in farming, grazing, fruit growing, the handling and shipping of live stock, speculating in real estate, and later in the manufacture and shipment of lime. In furtherance of the last-named enterprise, contiguous to his extensive quarries and kilns, he built the work that is known as Hartshorn's Dock.

Mr. Hartshorn was a man of strong reliance, resolute character, always re- markably reticent in matters concerning himself. In such an active career he must have met with disappointments, but he made no mention of them. He was an enthusiast in outdoor sports, his dogs and gun furnishing the pastime in which he most delighted. He was a royal enter- tainer, and in his younger days delighted in playing the host to his bachelor friends, and later his home, until darkened by the affliction under which he suffered, was a model of hospitality. When a student at Oberlin, he was converted, united with the Congregational Church, and often acted as teacher in the Sabbath-school. He was free from narrowness and bigotry, had an open hand for all worthy objects of charity, and accepted nothing but good works as proof of good character.

On December 9, 1869, Mr. Harts- horn was united in marriage with Ann Jemmetta Elwell, the eldest daughter of H. H. Elwell, a former resident of San- dusky, Ohio, now of Danbury township, Ottawa county. Two children were born of this union-Lee, born December 10, 1872, died January 25, 1873; and F. Pierre, born June 4, 1875, still residing on the homestead. Remaining on his farm for several years, his time and en-

ergies were given to the development of its superior resources.

While still a young man in the enjoy- ment of a prosperous and rapidly increas- ing business, Mr. Hartshorn was stricken with paralysis. The best medical advice was summoned, mineral springs sought, and every known means employed, hop- ing to prevent a recurrence of the dread- ed malady. Few may know the deep anxiety which his case elicited from all his friends. His aged mother, who still survives him, with her superior intelli- gence and skill; with the accumulated ex- perience of years, gave her loving, watch- ful care, striving with a mother's solici- tude to lessen his sufferings. His young wife, with devotion unparalleled, was ever at his side to comfort and cheer, and to minister to his every want. But the insidious disease could not be eliminated. The attacks were repeated, and as time passed slowly but surely he was forced to yield to the blighting influence, and at length became a hopeless invalid. Through years of physical suffering, though disappointed in hopes and aspir- ations, his unimpaired mind was actively engaged with his business interests, which he advised and dictated with the clear- ness and precision of former days until a short time before the end came.

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 18

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1040

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1040