History of Ashtabula County, Ohio, Part 50

Author: Williams, W. W. (William W.)
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Williams brothers
Number of Pages: 458

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" The People of the State of New York, by the Grace of God, Free and Inde- pendent :

" To WILLIAM HUBBARD, ESQUIRE, greeting :

" We, reposing especial trust and confidence as well in your patriotism, con- duct, and loyalty as in your integrity and readiness to do us good and faithful service, have appointed and constituted, and by these presents do appoint and constitute you, the said William Hubbard, colonel of the Seventy-second Regi- ment of Infantry of our said State. You are therefore to take the said regiment into your care as colonel thercof, and the officers and soldiers of that regiment are hereby commanded to obey and respect you as their colonel ; and you are also to observe and follow such orders and directions as you shall, from time to time, receive from our general and commander-in-chief of the militia of our said

State, or any other your superior officer, according to the rules and discipline of war, in pursuance of the trust reposed in you. And for so doing this shall be your commission, for and during our good pleasure, to be signified by our council of appointment.

" In testimony whereof, we have caused our seal for military commissions to be hereunto affixed. Witness our trusty and well-beloved John Tayler, Esquire, lieutenant-governor of our said State, general and commander-in-chief of all the militia, and admiral of the navy of the same, by and with the advice and consent of our said council of appointment, at our city of Albany, the Fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen, and in the forty-first year of our independence.

" JOHN TAYLER. " Passed the secretary's office the 24th day of April, 1817. " CHAS. D. COOPER, Secretary."

In 1834 he removed to Ashtabula, Ohio, where he lived to see his only daughter and four sons settled around him. He was a farmer and descended from a long line of ancestors, almost invariably farmers back to the original George Hubbard, who came from England in 1640, and settled in old Middle- town. Among active and enterprising men William Hubbard felt himself a kindred spirit by reason of the interest he took in the common object, and always sought to promote the moral and material prosperity of the community; his disposition was to be public-spirited, and he considered that to maintain a char- acter of unimpeachable integrity was the highest aim of a good citizen. He died in the year 1862, in the seventy-sixth year of his life.

HENRY HUBBARD,

son of Isaac and Ruth Coleman Hubbard, was born in Trenton, Oneida county, New York, July 19, 1803, at that time a newly-settled country. He enjoyed such advantages of education as were offered at a district school during the fall and winter terms, and laboring upon the farm the remaining portions of the year, with the exception of three terms at an academy in the adjoining town of Steu- ben, and not far distant from the tomb of that famous Revolutionary hero, Baron Steuben. He removed to Ashtabula, Ohio, in November, 1825, and took charge of the post-office, his brother being the postmaster. In December of that year the Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, member of congress from this, the nincteenth, dis- trict of Ohio, addressed a letter to Colonel Matthew Hubbard, postmaster, re- questing an estimate for the construction of a harbor at the mouth of the Ashta- bula river. Mr. Hubbard assisted his brother in making the surveys and esti- mates, and in the circulation of petitions to congress praying for an appropriation of the necessary funds by the general government. A grant was made by con- gress, May 20, 1826, of twelve thousand dollars, and in the autumn of that year the work of building the piers was commenced by Major T. W. Maurice, United States engineer, Matthew Hubbard, disbursing agent, and Captain Daniel Dob- bins as foreman. In the spring of 1830 Mr. Hubbard engaged in the forwarding and commission business at the Harbor, which, in consequence of these improve- ments, had become the entrepôt for the produce of the farmer and the merchan- disc of the tradesman for a large extent of country. In 1832 a post-office (Mid- dlesex) was established at the Harbor, and Mr. Hubbard was appointed post- master, which office he held until 1835, when he resigned the office, and was appointed deputy collector of the customs, and in 1844 received the office of dis- bursing agent of the United States for the expenditure of moneys appropriated that year for the repairs and improvement of the harbor, which were expended by him to the entire satisfaction of the government officials. Mr. Hubbard, in 1853, took an active part in the formation of the Ashtabula and New Lisbon railroad company, and was elected a director; in 1857 vice-president, and in 1859 president. The results of the financial crisis of 1856 had so affected the finances of the company that it became necessary to make a compromise and settlement with the contractors to save the stockholders from personal liability for the debts of the company. This was effected by him, with the efficient aid of Henry Fas- sett, Esq., the secretary of the company. The organization, by this means and by the annual clection of its officers, was preserved until the year 1873, when the rights and franchises of that company were transferred to the Ashtabula, Youngs- town, and Pittsburgh railroad company, by a vote of the stockholders of the first aforesaid company. The last-named railroad forms an important line of internal commerce between the waters of Lake Erie, the Ohio river, and the city of Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania, passing through a country rich in its agricultural and min- eral productions.

Mr. Hubbard took an active part in the formation of the last-named company and in the construction of the said road, and has been a director in the company since its first formation. In June, 1836, at Trenton, Oneida county, New York, he married Julia A. Hulbert, daughter of Joseph C. and Phiana Dewey Hulbert,

MATTHEW HUBBARD.

WILLIAM HUBBARD.

HENRY HUBBARD.

PHOTOS. BY BLAKESLEE & NOORE. ASHTABULA,0

i PROBATE JUDGE ,

Mot Crowell ( AUDITOR )

EB Leonard.

DI Crosby (TREASURER )

Of Mason ( RECORDER. )

( PROS. ATTORNEY. )

A. M. Stiles. ( CORONER. )

J. S. young

(Co. TREASURER, ELECT )

( SHERIFF.)

125

HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.

who died July 4, 1858, and in March, 1862, married Harriet C. Stanhope, daughter of John R. and Harriet Cornell Stanhope, at West Williamsfield, Ash- tabula County, Ohio.

Mr. Hubbard has always taken an interest in all the improvements which tend to the material growth of the country. Is the youngest and only member of a family of nine children, and now, at the age of seventy-four years, is in the en- joyment of good health.

EDWARD J. BETTS, PROBATE JUDGE.

This gentleman was born at Norwalk, Connecticut, on the 4th day of June, 1838, and is the fourth child of Josiah and Jane Betts, who reside at present in the village of Jefferson. Judge Betts has been a resident of Ashtabula County since January, 1853, and of Jefferson since April, 1863. His education was ac- quired in the common schools of our county, and in Orwell and Kingsville acade- mies ; upon the completion of which he engaged in the occupation of school- teaching. Taught eleven terms. Studied law with Hon. Stephen A. Northway ; was admitted to the bar at Painesville, Lake county, Ohio, in May, 1864, and began the practice of his profession in Jefferson, in July, 1865, as a member of the firm of Wade & Betts. He continued as a partner in this firm, excepting a period of about six months, until January, 1872, at which time he was appointed to the office of probate judge, to fill a vacancy occasioned by the resignation of B. T. Cushing. The October following he was elected to the same position, and in October, 1875, was re-elected. On the 3d day of June, 1866, Judge Betts was united in marriage to Olive A., daughter of Jeremiah and Harriet Dodge, of New Lyme, this county, by whom was born to him on the 16th day of August, 1872, Ella J., who died on the 19th day of the following November. January 14, 1873, Mrs. Betts died. On the 28th day of February, 1874, Judge Betts married Martha T., daughter of Rufus and Jane Houghton, of Jefferson. They have by this marriage one child,-Cora M., who was born February 14, 1877. Politically the judge is a stanch Republican.

WILLIAM HENRY CROWELL, COUNTY AUDITOR,

is the third son of William and Nancy Crowell, and was born in Madison, Lake county, Ohio, on the 9th day of August, 1836. In April, 1840, the family re- moved to Geneva, in this county, and it was in the schools of that township the subject of the present sketch received his education. His easy method of hand- ling the pen was, however, acquired from the renowned father of penmanship, Platt R. Spencer, finishing, in the fall of 1854, at the old log house which Pro- fessor Spencer designated by the appellation of " Jericho Seminary." On Decem- ber 17, 1855, William H. secured a situation as book-keeper in the freight department of the L. S. & M. S. R. R., at Cleveland, and after eighteen months' service in this position was, for " sobriety and fidelity in the discharge of his duty," promoted to the responsible position of cashier in the same office. Served as cashier until January, 1863, when he resigned to accept the situation of chief clerk in the commissary department, at Camp Dennison, Ohio. He served in that capacity until the last days of December, 1864, when he returned to Geneva and assumed control of his business at that point, which was that of ready-made cloth- ing, gents' furnishing goods, etc., until he was elected to the office of county au- ditor, in October, 1866. He assumed the duties of the office in March, 1867 ; and his fitness has been amply attested by his re-election to the responsible office seven times in succession, the last of which was in the fall of 1877, for three years. Mr. Crowell was, on January 26, 1865, united in marriage to Miss Lida, youngest daughter of William and Elizabeth Butterworth, of Mainville, Warren county, this State. The pledges of affection which have been sent to cheer them in " life's weary pilgrimage" are Louisa Lavera, born November 1, 1865; Ruby De Mott, born February 10, 1868 ; Benjamin Butterworth, born March 3, 1869, died March 5, 1869 ; William Butterworth and Nathan Henry, born November 8, 1874 (the former deceased September 13, 1876) ; and Evangeline, the baby, born May 25, 1877. Mr. Crowell is a member of the fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, being an affiliant of Tuscan lodge, No. 342, at Jefferson. Is also a member of the order of I. O. O. F. Politically, Mr. Crowell is a Republican, of the unequivocal kind.

ERWIN F. MASON, COUNTY RECORDER.

The subject of this sketch was born in Andover, this county, on the 10th day of February, 1844, and is the eldest child of O. F. and Laura Mason, of that township, the former originally from Washington county, New York, and the lat- ter from Wayne, Ashtabula County. Erwin acquired his education in the com- mon schools of Andover, with one year in Kinsman academy, and another in the

college at Hillsdale, Michigan. Prior to this, however, he had completed his military record, as follows: enlisted on the 26th day of August, 1861, in Com- pany C, of that glorious old Twenty-ninth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, then in rendezvous at Camp Giddings, Jefferson, Ohio; went with the regiment to the front ; participated with them in those " heavy" engagements which were ever the lot of that regiment, and was wounded at Gettysburg, on the last day of that memorable battle,-July 3, 1863,-from the result of which he was con- pelled to suffer amputation of the left foot and ankle, and was by reason of the same discharged from the service on the 20th of the following November. Re- turning home, he attended Hillsdale college, as before stated ; from therc launched out as a school-teacher, and finally engaged in the insurance business, which he prosecuted until his election to the office of county recorder, which was in the fall of 1874, and in 1877 was re-elected. On the 23d day of June, 1869, Mr. Mason formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss Loretta, daughter of A. D. and Louisa E. Clifford, of his native town. Is an ardent Republican in politics, and a prominent member of Giddings post, No. 7, G. A. R., of Jefferson.

EMERSON B. LEONARD, PROSECUTING ATTORNEY,

a fine portrait of whom appears with the group of officials, is the seventh of a family of ten. His parents, Anson and Elizabeth (Baker) Leonard, were origin- ally from Massachusetts, settled in Pierpont, this county, at an early date, and were among the pioneers of that township. The cducation of Emerson B. was acquired at the common school and the Kingsville academy. He early decided to make the practice of the law his profession, and to this end read several elementary law-books prior to beginning a regular course. In April, 1870, he entered the law-office of Hon. W. P. Howland, and read until September, 1871, when he was admitted to the bar at Cleveland. The spring following began the practice, and met with good success. At the age of twenty-six, fall of 1875, his friends put him in nomination for the office of prosecuting attorney, and he was elected, and in 1877 was re-elected; this position he at present occupies, and performs the many and arduous duties incident thereto ably and well. The election to this important position of one so young was truly a compliment to his ability. He was united in marriage in July, 1876, to Miss Amanda, daughter of David C. and Mary Lewis, of Mount Vernon, Ohio. It is perhaps needless to state that Mr. Leonard is, politically, a Republican. He is a fluent and forcible speaker, ener- getic and zealous in his profession, and is one of the rising young men of the county.

THADDEUS S. YOUNG, SHERIFF,

was born in Venice, Cayuga county, New York, on the 31st day of March, 1826, and is the second child of Samuel and Freelove Young, who removed to this county in 1847 ; the father is still living, while the mother died in 1864. Sheriff Young owes much of his education to our grand system of common schools, so purely American, though the higher branches were received from select schools. Began the occupation of teaching when eighteen years of age, and taught successively for seven terms,-working on the farm during the summer, attending school in the fall, and teaching during the winter months. Mr. Young was married on the 22d day of September, 1847, to Caroline A., daughter of Reuben and Lydia Benjamin, of Pierpont, this county. Six children were born of this marriage, as follows : Myron B., born July 26, 1848; Chester C., November 10, 1849 ; Reuben C., December 28, 1851; A. Louisa, February 25, 1854; L. Emily, January 17, 1856, and II. Arthur, whose birth occurred on the 14th day of November, 1866. Mrs. Young died on May 23, 1876, and on the 25th day of August, 1877, he was again married to Flora, daughter of Elisha and Mary Farnham, of Conneaut, Ohio. Sheriff Young's military record began on the 2d day of September, 1862, at which time he was mustered into the service of the United States as a private in the Second Independent Battery, Ohio Light Artil- lery. This battery was assigned to the Twelfth Corps, and joined Grant's army at Young's Point, above Vicksburg; in April, 1863, was with that command during the Vicksburg campaign, and was transferred to the Department of the Gulf in the fall of 1863, and passed through the disastrous Red River campaign under Banks ; was under fire for forty-four days successively ; was in this depart- ment until the close of the war. In the mean time private Young had gradually ascended the steps of promotion, until, when he was mustered out, on the 9th day of July, 1865, it was as a lieutenant. Was elected to the office of sheriff in October, 1874, and re-elected in the fall of 1876. Is a member of Caché com- mandery, No. 27, Knights Templar, of Conncaut. Politically, he is, and has been since the organization of the party, a Republican. He has filled many posi- tions of trust, and is an efficient and faithful officer.

126

HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.

DWIGHT L. CROSBY, COUNTY TREASURER.

The above-named gentleman is the second son of Levi and Sarah Crosby, of Rome township, this county, originally from East Haddam, Connectient. Dwight L. was born on the 26th day of November, 1836. His education was derived prin- cipally from the common schools, with a term or two additional at Grand River Institute, Austinburg, Ohio, and his first departure from the " old farm" was in 1852, when he entered the store of his father at Rock Creek, and from that time until he closed out, in 1869, was in the mercantile business, either as an employee or on his own account. His next business avocation was in the lumber trade. Associating himself with his cousin, Frank Crosby, they prosecuted this business for some two years. Mr. Crosby was elected to the office of county treasurer in October, 1873 ; re-elected in 1875 ; has been a faithful, efficient officer, and prior to the date of his election held positions of trust in the townships where he re- sided. Was married on the 15th day of November. 1864, to Miss Augusta MI., daughter of Frederick N. and Eliza Bond, of Rock Creek. This marriage has been blessed with two children,-Harry L., the eldest of whom, was born on the 13th day of February, 1872, died October 16, 1874, and Cassie, born August 11. 1876. Politically, Mr. Crosby is a firm believer in the teachings of the Republican party.

ALBERT WARREN STILES, COUNTY CORONER.

was born in Warrensville, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, on the 3d day of September, 1841, and is the fifth child of Hiram and Mandana Stiles, who removed to Rome, Ashtabula County, in March, 1858, where the father died suddenly of heart-dis- ease in 1865. The mother is living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at present. The education of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch was obtained at the common schools ; had commenced a course of studies at Grand River Institute, at Austinburg, this county, which were relinquished for the dangers of soldier life and never resumed. The military record of Captain Stiles is one of which he may well be proud, and is as follows: enlisted April 24, 1861, in Company D, Nineteenth Ohio Volunteer Militia, Captain Crane, and was the first- volun- teer from Rome township; was under Mcclellan in West Virginia, and at the battle of Rich Mountain was first under fire. Mustered out August 29, 1861, and the 5th of September following enlisted in Company A, Sixth Ohio Volun- teer Cavalry, Captain Amander Bingham. He did prison dnty until May, 1862, when the regiment was ordered into the field and assigned to Fremont's com- mand in West Virginia; promoted sergeant, October 14, 1861 ; orderly-sergeant, January 1, 1863 ; re-enlisted as a veteran volunteer, January 1. 1864; appointed second lieutenant Company D, May 9, 1864 : promoted first lieutenant Company B. November 18, 1864, and to captain, Company E, February 17, 1865; re- signed June 19, 1865; was in some twenty-five general engagements and numer- ous skirmishes ; received a sabre wound and was made prisoner in the charge at Upperville, June 21, 1863 ; taken to Libby prison, and shortly afterwards paroled. Served under Fremont, Sigel. McClellan, Burnside, Hooker, and Meade; was in Sheridan's cavalry corps, and participated in his raids in May and June, 1864. Captain Stiles was married on the 24th day of September, 1866, to Miss Jane E., youngest daughter of Levi and Sarah Crosby, of Rome township, this county, and have had two children .- Jay, born March 6, 1869, died May 6, 1871, and Maud, born December 3. 1876. Mr. Stiles has followed the occupation of an " honest tiller of the soil" from the date of his mustering out of service until January, 1870, when he removed to Jefferson and entered upon the duties of the office of sheriff, to which he had been elected the October preceding; was re- elected October, 1871; appointed coroner January, 1877, and elected to same office in October, 1877. The captain has always been a Republican. This gen- tleman is a nephew of Professor P. R. Spencer, the father of the admirable system of penmanship which bears his name, and whose fine portrait will be found in another part of this volume.

SIDNEY HARRIS COOK, TREASURER ELECT.

It is with pleasure that we present to the readers of this volume the following sketch of the life of one of the many self-made men of our county. Mr. Cook was born at Newton Falls, Trumbull county, Ohio, August 11, 1838. His parents were Carlos P. and Alzina Cook, originally from New York. The father was killed by a falling tree. and consequent upon this the subject of the present sketch went to live with an uncle, but had no regular home and but meagre school advantages. At the age of fourteen he began to learn the carpenter's trade, and in 1856 went to Wisconsin with George S. Jones, of Jefferson, Ohio ; remained there some three years; was one of the contractors in the building of the Sharette House, which being heavily mortgaged, and the owners failing about the time it was completed, the builders lost everything, and Mr. Cook came home without a penny,-borrowing the funds necessary to pay his passage home. In

August, 1861, he enlisted in an independent company of sharpshooters, dis- banded, and in October enlisted under Captain W. R. Allen, of Jefferson, in what was to be " Lane's brigade band ;" sent home by general order, and on the 16th of August, 1862, again enlisted as a private under Captain O. C. Pratt, of Ashtabula, Ohio ; was assigned to Company A, Fiftieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; appointed corporal after battle of Perryville (October 8, 1862) ; quartermaster- sergeant. October 15, 1862, and assistant-brigade quartermaster, November 16, 1862; commissioned as lieutenant, and assigned to Company E, May, 1864; commanded the company through the Atlanta campaign ; February, 1864, ap- pointed provost-marshal of Third Brigade, Second Division, Twenty-third Corps, on staff of General S. A. Strickland ; in March, 1864, appointed ordnance-officer in General McLean's Division, and in April following to same position on the staff of General Schofield; was one of the eight officers who went to the head- quarters of General J. E. Johnson, at Greensboro', North Carolina, under flag of truce ; after the surrender received the ordnance stores and turned the same over to United States Government. When ordered home at the close of the war was temporarily in command of the company in which he went out a private ; participated in fifteen engagements ; was wounded in right ankle at Perryville, and in left arm at Dallas; was twice captured, but happily escaped. After the war engaged in the occupation of merchandising at Lenox, and will go from that into the office of county treasurer, to which he was elected October 8, 1877. Mr. Cook was married on November 1, 1865, to Miss Laura C., daughter of Rev. R. Clark, of Conneaut, Ohio ; have two children,-Hattie, born June 29, 1871, and Carlos Clark, whose birth occurred November 12, 1875. Is a mem- ber of Tuscan lodge, No. 342, F. and A. M., and of Giddings post, No. 7, G. A. R. Has always been a straight " out and out" Republican, and a member of the Free Baptist church at Lenox since 1868.

STEPHEN GRIGGS HOLBROOK, M.D.

The subject of this sketch was born in Tolland, Connecticut, May 21, 1798. His father dying, he, though but a lad, with an elder brother, Ralph, resolved to seek their fortunes in what was then the " New Connecticut." Arriving in Windsor they halted, cach engaging in teaching district schools, by which employment they were able to provide for the journey of their mother and the remaining family, who arrived in Windsor in the year 1816. Here for some years these two sons filially supported their family by alternate labor of teaching winters and felling forests and doing farm work in summer. Finally, one day, holding out his blistered hands to his brother, Stephen G. announced his solemn purpose (which no doubt had been long secretly maturing) to earn his living in some other way. The practice of medi- cine was determined upon, and he at once commenced its study with Dr. Brown, of Morgan. Some little time of preliminary study was also spent at Burton academy, in Geauga county. From this time on till his settlement in Kelloggs- ville, about 1824, he was engaged in study, attending medical lectures, and teach- ing common schools. He also studied for a time with Dr. Allen, of Trumbull county, and Dr. O. K. Hawley, of this county, who as president of the medical society signed his diploma and license to practice medicine and surgery, which was given May 21, 1825,-his twenty-seventh birthday.

Upon his arrival in Kelloggsville he boarded in the family of Martin Kellogg, with whose only daughter, Charlotte, he formed an acquaintance which ripened into an attachment and subsequent marriage. In this connection it is but just to bear testimony to the many virtues and excellences of this noble woman. In every high sense she was his help-meet, visiting with him the sick in the neigh- borhood, and ministering to the needy and afflicted as only a woman can do. In the home she was an affectionate and considerate wife, a wise and judicious mother. With one accord they together labored wisely and well in laying the foundations of their prosperity and happiness, which united labor was sadly and abruptly ter- minated by her decease in 1840. Though now nearly twoscore years have elapsed since she passed away, her memory lingers like a fragrance in the community that she adorned, and especially in the hearts of her children, now grown to maturity. Of this union are now living two daughters and one son, Rev. Martin Kellogg Holbrook, a minister in the far west. Of a subsequent marriage. one son and onc daughter were born, Stephen A. Holbrook and Flora, the wife of S. L. Fobes, both of Geneva, Ohio.

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History of Ashtabula County, Ohio, Part 50

Author: Williams, W. W. (William W.) Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia : Williams brothers Number of Pages: 458

Author: Williams, W. W. (William W.)
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Williams brothers
Number of Pages: 458