USA > Ohio > Ashtabula County > History of Ashtabula County, Ohio > Part 57
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142
HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.
dent ; Joseph B. Crosby, vice-president ; J. Sum Blyth, cashier; and Henry Fassett, Joseph B. Crosby, Barnard Nellis, William Humphrey, James C. Smith, Charles O. Warner, George E. Nettleton, and Charles Walker, directors. The present officers are Henry Fassett, president ; P. F. Good, vice-president; J. Sum Blyth, cashier ; and Henry Fassett, P. F. Good, Joseph B. Crosby, Harvey J. Nettleton, William Humphrey, M. G. Diek, Lewis W. Smith, A. Case, and Charles Walker, directors.
The Ashtabula Loan Association .- This banking-house was organized Feb- ruary 14, 1872, with a capital stoek of one hundred thousand dollars, with the following list of corporators : Lorenzo Tyler, George C. Hubbard, Frank Silliman, A. A. Southwick, Stephen H. Farrington, and Henry L. Farrington. The bank began business May 1, 1872, with the following board of directors : Stephen H. Farrington, Lorenzo Tyler, John W. Haskell, I. B. Shepard, George C. Hubbard, H. L. Morrison, and Frank Silliman. The following are the officers : Lorenzo Tyler, president ; II. L. Morrison, vice-president ; A. A. Southwick, cashier.
BUSINESS HOUSES.
Dry Goods .- Ashtabula store, L. W. Smith & Son ; Erie store, Kepler & Co., Gilkey & Perry, H. L. Morrison, Carlisle & Tyler, Thomas N. Booth, W. S. Burnham, Collins Bros., W. W. Mann, J. A. Manning, A. H. Moore, and D. W. Gary.
Milliners .- Mrs. M. A. Prusser, Mrs. C. A. Rieard, Mrs. G. A. Streeter, Miss Inez Stone, and Messrs. Smith & Son.
Grocers .- J. M. Faulkner & Son, P. P. Butler, Hall, Stevenson & Nettleton, Humphrey & Baldwin, J. Rowland, John Massena, W. Readhead, Richard Bros., Chauncey Richardson, Robert Ridell, A. H. & E. W. Savage, Tombes & Rockwell, George Willard, L. Ensign, D. Dean, Paul C. Chenny, E. W. Fisk, W. W. Starkey, J. S. O'Neal, Richard Handsley, M. Farley, and Thomas Doohan.
Hardware .- Crosby & Weatherwax, George C. Hubbard & Co., and H. J. Topky, Salisbury Bros., tin-shop.
Druggists .- George Willard, G. L. Knapp, A. R. Thurbur, Charles E. Swift, M. Newberry, D. D. Matteson.
Clothing .- B. Webb, J. E. L'Hommedieu, E. G. Pierce, and C. T. McClan- ning.
Merchant Tuilors .- John Porter and J. M. Wileox.
Boots and Shoes .- James Anzer, W. S. Burnham, C. W. Chamberlain, C. F. Fink, C. A. Hastings, A. H. Moore, Wm. Nuttall, J. W. Stall, G. W. Van Name, S. B. Wheeler, White, and M. Flinn.
China, Glass, and Queensware .- A. C. Bootes and W. S. Burnham.
Confections .- J. Bieder, John Fowler, George Stein, Waldeck & Cramar, D. H. Du Bois & Co.
Jewelers .- Gco. W. Diekinson, J. K. Stebbins, A. O. Amsden.
Banks .- Ashtabula Loan Association, Ashtabula National, Farmers' National, Henry Fassett, loan-office.
Meut-Markets .- G. G. Cooper, Wm. A. Field & Co., Silas Lyons, John Reif, H. L. Webb, Thayer & Calloway, Harman & Weatherwax, Hough & Smith.
Flour and Feed .- William Seymour & Son, and Fisk & Silliman.
Photographers .- Blakeslee & Mo re, A. J. Skutt.
Hotels .- Ashtabula House, Fisk House, American House, Lake Street House, Smith House, Culver's House, Union.
Livery-Stables .- J. S. Fuller, E. M. Patchen, Frank Gregory.
Harness-Makers .- F. D. Fiekinger, P. C. Ford & Bro., W. H. Williamson. Marble- Works .- Eli Beers, Reeves & Derby, William Smith.
Miscellaneous .- Richard Bros., lunch-room ; Geo. D. Zeile, restaurant; C. H. Noyes, wall-paper and faney goods ; M. G. Dick, bookseller and stationer; Hum- phrey & Baldwin, lime-works ; Wm. Haneoek, J. F. Good, and Strong & Man- ning, lumber and stave dealers; Rhodes & Co., Andrews, Hiteheock & Co., and Strong & Manning, coal-dealers and shippers.
Physicians,-J. C. Hubbard, E. L. King, William M. Eames, H. P. Frieker, Charles Eames, P. Deichman, H. H. Bartlett, L. B. Bartlett, F. D. Case.
Dentists .- P. E. Hall, W. T. Wallace, D. E. Kelley.
ASHTABULA SOCIAL LIBRARY.
On the 15th of January, 1830, a few of the citizens of the village who were desirous of establishing a well-selected and regulated village library, met at the town-house for that purpose, and, after carefully considering the matter, adopted and signed the constitution of the " Ashtabula Social Library Association," and on the 23d of the same month they adopted a constitution and by-laws and elected the first officers. On the 20th of July, 1830, the first books were ordered, and on the 11th of September they were received, and the library opened for use, and on the 27th of December, 1830, it was by act of the State legislature duly incorporated.
Commencing with less than one hundred volumes, it has slowly but steadily in- ereased to the present time, though it has not received as general support and en- couragement as it deserves. The present uumber of shareholders is forty-nine. The number of volumes upon its catalogue is now twelve hundred and thirty-oue, comprising many valuable standard works of the best authors, of history, biog- raphy, travel, seience, fiction, poetry, belles-letters, etc.
During its existence twenty thousand two hundred and eighty-eight volumes have been drawn from the library, which, if attentively read and carefully digested, must have had some beneficial effect.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
On the 29th day of November, 1836, the purchase of a fire-engine was ordered by the council of Ashtabula village. This was a hand-machine, was procured of Messrs. William Platt & Co., and eost, with the hose, seven hundred dollars. An engine-house was constructed in 1837, on lands donated for that purpose by I. H. Fisk, on the corner of Main street and Fisk alley. This was coustructed by S. S. Fassett, for one hundred and fifteen dollars. Isaae Lockwood was appointed to keep the engine in order. The steam fire-engine now known as " Neptnue, No. 3," was purchased in 1874, at a total cost of six thousand one hundred dollars. William Sanderson was employed to act as engineer on a salary of one hundred and fifty dollars per year. The following from the annual report of the chief engineer for the year ending March, 1878. The department consists of " Neptune Steamer No. 3," four muen ; " Neptune Hose Company," thirty-four men, eleven hundred feet of hose ; " Lake Erie Company, No. 2," haud-engiue, forty-three men, five hundred feet of hose; "Protection Company, No. 1," hand-engine, thirty-four men, and five hundred feet of hose ; " Alert Company," hook-and-ladder, thirteen men. The force as at present organized is as follows : H. H. Hall, chief engineer ; George Brake, assistant engineer ; Paul Ford, eaptain " Neptune, No. 3"; B. H. Rickord, foreman " Neptune Hose, No. 3"; William Clover, foreman " Protection, No. 1"; H. Apthorp, foreman " Lake Erie, No. 2"; and James Thorp, foreman " Alert Hook-and-Ladder Company." The water-supply is principally derived from eisterns. Taken together, Ashtabula has a very satisfactory fire brigade.
SCHOOLS.
The first school-house ereeted in Ashtabula was a small log building standing at the junction of Jefferson and South Ridge. It was built in 1809. The first teacher in this house was Miss Julia Hubbard, succeeded by Miss Achsah Nettleton. The subsequent teachers were Mr. Warner Mann, 1810-11 ; Miss Lucia Badger, 1811; Mr. Harvey Nettleton, 1812; Miss Betsey Nettleton, 1813; Mr. John Hall, 1814-16. Miss Sarah Booth taught a school in 1815, in a store-room in Mr. Amos Fisk's barn. This was the first school in the centre of the incorpo- rated village.
Up to the year 1816 the schools of Ashtabula were located in various districts. The history of these schools has already been given. During that year (1816) the building now known as Firemen's Hall was erected, and used as a school- house, meeting-house, town-house, and Masonie hall. The first teacher in this building was Rev. John Hall, and he continued a teacher at intervals for a num- ber of years. In the winter of 1820 and '21 the school numbered ninety-five scholars. In 1830, Mr. Hall taught the school, with Mr. Richard Roberts as assistant.
A similar building was put up in 1821 on the square in the East village, and a " select school" was taught in the lower story, while the upper story was used for public assemblies. This house was burned in 1826. During this time Mr. Thomas Smith, the chief business man upon the east side, died, and his funeral took place in this house. In the west village the select school continued until 1832, when it was superseded by the Ashtabula academy, which was incorporated Feb- ruary 6, 1832. In reference to the instruction in these different sehools, Mr. Griswold says, " Rev. Joseph Badger, an early resident, was not only a brave self- sacrificing man, but a scholar ; Rev. John Hall acquired sufficient knowledge of Latin and Greek to be able to fit pupils for college; Rev. Mr. O'Brien taught in the town-house for some time. He was a graduate of ' Dublin University,' and was a very thorough teacher."
ASHTABULA ACADEMY.
This institution was a joint stock enterprise. The incorporators were Matthew Hubbard, Russell Clark, Roger W. Griswold, W. W. Reed, Amos Fisk, Philo Booth, Gad Loveland, and others.
The academy was taught in the old building for twenty years. Among the teachers are mentioned Miss Mary Ann Fuller, of Cleveland, and Miss M. E. Marsh.
In 1851 a new building, forty by fifty feet, three stories high, was erected. There were at this time fifty-two shareholders, whose names are on record.
B.4.U. BUY DRY GOODS OR MILLINERY, VISIT THE ...- ASHTABULA STORE
ASHTABULA STORE
WHOLESALE & RETAIL,
SMITH'S OPERA HOUSE.
GILKEY & PERRY
COLLINS BROS
SMITH'S OPERA HOUSE, LW.SMITH &SON, PROPS ASHTABULA. O.
L.W.SMITH &SON
B
ASHTABULA STORE, L.W. SMITH & SON, PROP'S. ASHTABULA, O.
INTERIOR VIEW OF B. WEBB & SON'S CLOTHING HOUSE, ASHTABULA, ASHTABULA CO., 0
143
HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.
The total expenditure was nineteen hundred and ninety-three dollars. The upper story was sold for six hundred dollars to the Masons and Odd-Fellows, for halls. The record is, much difficulty was experienced iu raising the funds required to erect and furnish so large a building, but it was successfully accomplished.
The first teachers in this were Rev. J. Y. Calhoun and his wife. They were followed by a Mr. A. B. Tuttle, who gave it up for want of scholars. He was succeeded by Mr. Samuel C. Weatherwax, who taught from 1852 to '56. On the 22d of March, 1855, the electors of this village adopted the union school system.
A parish school belonging to St. Peter's church was established in 1850. A building was ereeted, two stories high, fifty by twenty-six feet.
The teachers were Rev. John Hall, rector of the church, and Rev. George F. Rickards, principal, who was succeeded by Rev. Albert Bingham for one year. The assistant teachers have been Miss Marietta Fuller, Mr. Albert A. Strong, Mr. Charles Bingham, Miss Harriet Sabin, Miss Julia M. Diekiuson, and Miss Mary E. Hubbard.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The organization of the public schools here was attended with mueh discussion and some differences of opinion. This was effeeted in 1856. The first board of directors was as follows : Henry Fassett, president; Leander Hall, clerk ; and Stephen Hall, treasurer ; H. L. Morrison, Frederick Carlisle, John A. Prentice. Mr. Carlisle resigned, and A. F. Hubbard was elected in his place. The academy building was leased. The first board of examiners was Rev. Homer Wheeler, Rev. J. M. Gillett, and Dr. Thomas MeCune. Rev. C. E. Bruce was the first superintendent,-salary eight hundred dollars; Miss Wakefield, Miss Carpenter, and Miss Kate Hubbard assistants. The following books were adopted : Ray's series of arithmetics, Monteith's and McNally's geographies, Greene's grammar, Sargeant's reader, and Webster's dictionary. The following were the assistant teachers in 1858 : Sarah M. Gaylord and Miss W. Kellogg. A course of study in the high school of 1858 was Goodrich's history, Wood's botany, Parker's phi- losophy, chemistry, Loomis' physiology, Thompson's algebra, geometry, Latin grammar aud reader, Cæsar and Virgil, Greek grammar and reader. Platt R. Speneer had charge of writing, and William Edson Webster taught music. In 1859 the old Baptist meeting-house was purchased, moved and repaired, at an expense of five thousand dollars. Rev. J. W. B. Clark was appointed examiner ; C. E. Bruee, superintendent ; Misses W. M. Kelley, Lydia Willey, Elizabeth Brown, Sarah L. Paine, Aliee D. Winchester, Anna Ford, and Mary Robertson were assistants. Value of two school buildings, four thousand dollars. In 1860 Gornell's outline-maps were bought.
In 1861 the following were teachers: George W. Waite, superintendent, at the salary of seven hundred dollars; Miss Sarah M. Sehommer, Mary J. Schaf- fer, Susan Sampson, Sarah J. Hutchins, Anna Ford, and Miss M. Ingersoll. Number of scholars, two hundred and thirty-two.
In 1862, Miss S. E. Wilder, Susan Tower, Emily Ensign, and M. G. East- man were assistants. In 1864, Miss Carrie E. King was assistant. In 1866, J. B. Corey was superintendent ; Misses H. E. Bliss, S. E. Sampson, Kate Tyler, Jennie Cook, Ella H. Payne, assistants.
In 1868, Rev. Edward Anderson and J. N. McGiffert were elected examiners. Mr. Beck was superintendent, with a salary of twelve hundred dollars.
In 1873, J. W. Clemens was superintendent. In 1874, R. W. Kilpatrick was superintendent, and in 1875 Prof. J. F. Wilson was elected, and still retains the position. George W. Waite is principal of high school.
The population of the incorporated eity of Ashtabula is at present about forty- five hundred. This includes the Harbor.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
PHILO BOOTH
was the son of Lemuel Booth and Mehetabel Morse, his wife, and was born at Huntington, Connecticut, August 11, 1780. Was apprenticed to a druggist of Troy, New York, named Hyde. Afterwards, while a elerk in the store of Abra- ham Cooper, at Trenton, Oneida county, New York, he married Sophia Cooper, a sister of his eruployer, August 22, 1805. He afterwards engaged in merehan- dising at Rodman, in Jefferson county, New York, and in the fall of 1813, as soon as Perry's vietory on Lake Erie had freed the west from all danger of hostile Indians, he started with his family and goods for Cleveland, Ohio, expecting to transport his goods in boats from Buffalo to Cleveland.
On arriving at Buffalo he found that all of the boats and shipping on the lake had been taken by the government, for the purpose of bringing General Har- 36
rison's army down the lake, and the road west from Buffalo was almost impassable, having been badly cut up by the transportation of military stores. Leaving most of his goods in Buffalo, he employed two teams to transport his family and some light goods, and in nine days arrived at Erie, Pennsylvania, where he remained over two months. In the mean time the British took Buffalo and burnt it, and he lost all the goods that he had left there. He was at Erie when General Harrison arrived there from the west, and the town being crowded with soldiers and sailors, he started again, with his family and what property he had, in wagons, and arrived at Ashtabula, January 15, 1814, and being detained there by the birth of a son, and having no merchandise to sell, he concluded to settle there.
l'hoto. by Blakeslee & Moore, Ashtabula, O.
PHILO BOOTH.
His father and mother were with him, and as his father was a tanner, he at onee started a tannery on the west side of Ashtabula ereek, and continued in that business for about fifteen years. In the fall of 1827 he commenced merchandising in company with his son-in-law, Charles Crosby, and continued in the business for many years, generally in company with one of his sons.
Ile was one of the most enterprising, honorable, and publie-spirited business men of the town, and did his full share in building up the village, which is now so prosperous. He died at Ashtabula, June 27, 1852. His widow, born Sep- tember 17, 1785, died September 3, 1861.
They lost in infancy three sons and reared a family of two sons and six daugh- ters, all of whom, excepting the oldest and youngest daughters, have remained at Ashtabula, viz. :
Cordelia C., born at Western, Oneida county, New York, September 29, 1807 ; married November 16, 1825, to Charles Crosby ; both now living at Chicago, Illinois.
John, born at Rodman, July 26, 1809; married Mary Ann Fuller, May 9, 1836, who died July 13, 1856. He still lives at Ashtabula.
Laura, born at Rodman, October 24, 1811 ; married, November 18, 1829, to Stephen H. Farrington, M.D., who died March 8, 1875, at Ashtabula, where she still resides.
Charles, born January 15, 1814, at Ashtabula, where he still resides.
Sophia, born March 4, 1816, at Ashtabula ; married, June 10, 1841, to Ezekich C. Root, a merchant, who died, May 8, 1861, at Ashtabula ; and she died there, May 10, 1875.
Caroline, born June 22, 1822, at Ashtabula, where she still lives.
Catherine, born at Ashtabula, January 26, 1825 ; married, November 10, 1846, to Stephen B. Wells. They still live at Ashtabula.
Harriet, born at Ashtabula, January 3, 1828; married, March 16, 1849, to Augustus Henry Griswold ; both now living at Oakland, California.
His father died at Ashtabula, May 5, 1825, aged seventy-six ; and his mother died at Ashtabula, August 4, 1838, aged eighty-five.
AMASA CASTLE, JR.
Amasa Castle, Jr., was born in Plymouth, Connecticut, April 5, 1786, from which place his parents removed to Burlington, Vermont, where they remained several years, finally emigrating in 1808 to " New Connectieut," and halting in
144
HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.
Ashtabula, at that date a dense forest teeming with Indians, wolves, bears, and other wild animals.
His father, Amasa Castle, Sr., was a brave, intrepid soldier in the War of the Revolution, and brought to the new home all the spirit and energy which charac- terized the men of that generation, and helped them to conquer the apparently insurmountable obstacles which beset the frontiersman's progress. The mother, Mrs. Mary Stanley Castle, who was a direct descendant of the English Stanleys, was a woman of rare abilities and great strength of character,-a worthy mother of children who helped to make the history of this country. Her father and eldest brother were made prisoners of war by the British, and, with hundreds of others, were poisoned while confined ou a prison-ship at Baltimore. Afterwards a monument, in or near New York, bearing their names, and which still exists, was raised to their memory. Another brother, Frederic Stanley, Esq., afterwards a distinguished lawyer of New York, was, wheu only nineteen, one of General Washington's aides-de-camp, and on numerous occasions distinguished himself by his fearless heroism and devotion to the cause for which they were fighting.
With the inheritance of such qualities as these, combined with inflexible recti- tude of principle, Mr. Castle brought to the wilderness only his strong arms, light heart, aud perfect health. Buying some laud on the "South Ridge," about a mile east of where the village stands, he, with his father, and brother Daniel, commenced the task of making a productive farm in the midst of the unbroken forest. Like all the pioneers of that time, they suffered great hardships, ofteu lacking necessary food, and beiug compelled to depend on wood-craft to keep fromu starvation. Even after the grain was raised it was difficult to get it ground, the uearest mill being at Cleveland or Waluut Creek, sixty miles away, and no mode of conveyance except the horse's back. This, with the dangers from wild animals which beset the journey, made it a great uudertaking, and ofteu their only bread was made from corn pounded in a wooden mortar. In these days of steam-mills, railroads, and other things, which seem a common and necessary part of our civ- ilization, it seems almuost incredible that people should voluntarily endure such privations, and the present generation is too apt to forget how much of its pres- eut prosperity is owing to the courage and perseverance of its ancestors.
During the War of 1812, Mr. Castle was one of the militia so often called out to protect the government stores at Cleveland and at Ashtabula Harbor from being captured by the British. So continual were the alarms, so great the anxiety, and so determined the patriotism of the hardy settlers, that scarcely enough persons were left at home to raise the necessary food for sustenance, and nearly all the work was done by the women and children, aided by a few men unfit for military duty. During all that time of trial and suffering no one was ever more ready and willing for service, however hard and dangerous, than the subject of this sketch.
In January, 1813, he married Miss Rosalinda Watrous (their marriage license standing third on the records of Ashtabula County), daughter of Captain John Watrous, who emigrated from Saybrook, Connecticut, in the year 1810, with two yoke of oxen and one horse, the journey occupying forty days. With Captain Watrous were his wife and ten children, some of them already men and women, Rosalinda being at the time but fourteen years old.
Arrived in Ashtabula, they first settled at the Harbor, with every prospect of prosperity ; but a heavy sorrow was in store for them, for only four brief weeks had elapsed when the father suddenly siekened and dicd, leaving this stricken family, homesick and almost discouraged, to struggle with the hardships of the uew country. Captain Watrous was the third white man buried in West Ash- tabula.
Mr. and Mrs. Castle raised a family of six children, two of whom, with their mother, still reside in Ashtabula. For fifty-eight years they walked hand-in-hand through the path of life, sometimes in sunshine and sometimes in shadow, but always in perfect harmony ; and when at last, in December, 1870, at the age of eighty-four, he lay down to his final rest, his devoted wife received his last word and look of recognition. By their industry and self-denial they not only edu- cated their children, but acquired a competeney which rendered comfortable their declining years ; but the best inheritance of their children will be the example of their lives of energy, content, aud spotless integrity.
GEORGE WILLARD
was born in Holland patent, New York, on the 12th day of August, 1812, and is the fifth of a family of twelve children born to Simon and Rhoda Wills Willard, originally of Weathersfield, Connecticut, but who removed in 1804 to Holland patent, where they remained until 1834, at which date they came to Ashtabula township. There the parents died,-the mother January 21, 1842, aud the father November 18, 1850. Of the brothers and sisters of George Willard, all
are dead except one, the oldest brother, William, who is still a resident of Ashta- bula. The education of Mr. Willard was acquired through the medium of our American system of common schools, after the completion of which he began what has proved to be the occupation of his life, that of merchandising, making his début, iu 1828, as clerk in a general store and forwarding and commission house, at Whitestown, Oneida county, New York. The Erie canal was then in its palmiest days. Remained here, engaged in this avocation, until 1831, when he came to Ashtabula, Ohio, and for the succeeding five years was clerk in the post-office and store of A. C. Hubbard. In April, 1836, Mr. Willard asso- ciated himself with Richard Roberts, and, under the firm-name of Roberts & Willard, opened, iu the north half of the double two-story brick block built by H. J. Rees, a stock of goods, consisting of drugs, medicines, groceries, hardware, nails, and iron. This firm continued in business only about six months, when the death of Mr. Roberts occurred. From this time until 1844, Mr. Willard con- ducted the business in his own name. He, however, rented the south half of the building, and put in a dry goods stock. In 1844 the firmn was changed to that of George Willard & Co., by the admission of S. B. Wells, Esq., a former clerk, as a partner. General produce became a feature of the businesss at this time. In the year 1850 the firm was again changed, by the admission of another clerk (Henry Griswold), to Willard, Wells & Co. In 1855, Messrs. Wells and Gris- wold withdrew. Since this time Mr. Willard has been the sole proprietor. The fine three-story brick block which he now occupies was erected in 1874. The first real estate purchased by Mr. Willard in this township was the lot upon which stauds his preseut business block. This was in the year 1838, and the subse- quent year he purchased the property now occupied by William Willard. Mr. George Willard has been engaged in the mercantile business in this city for forty- two years, in addition to five years' service in the same occupation as clerk. During this time has been quite largely engaged in lake commerce. Had a con- trolling interest, in whole or in part, in the following vessels, viz., schooners " B. F. Wade," " Boston," "Julia Willard," "York State," and the bark " Naomi." Has served as mayor one term, and member of the common council of the " in- corporated village of Ashtabula" for several terms. Has also been township trustec. Has been one of the directors of the Farmers' National bank from its organization. Was director and president of the Ashtabula County Central plank-road company for a number of years. This road was constructed some time prior to the opening of the Franklin division of the Lake Shore and Michi- gan Southern railroad, aud extended from Ashtabula Harbor to the village of Jef- ferson, and thence on to the lumber region in Richmond township. This road was for its time a great convenience. Politically, Mr. Willard is ardently Repub- lican.
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