USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of Huron County, Ohio, Its Progress and Development, Volume II > Part 25
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On the 28th of October, 1900, Dr. B. R. Reynolds married Miss Elleva F. Stewart, a daughter of Francis W. and Phoebe (Mann) Stewart, of Fairfield township. Her father was of Scotch descent, her grandfather, Daniel Stewart, having come from Scotland with his parents at the age of eight years. The lat- ter became famous as a lake captain and followed the lakes for a long period of years. He was a man of singularly powerful frame and robust constitution and was ninety-six years of age when he died, on the 6th of March, 1908. Francis W. Stewart was a farmer of Huron county and was well and widely known. He died December 29, 1898, and his wife two years later, dying on the 14th of Octo- ber, 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart had two daughters : Julia R., the wife of J. W. Muckley, a traveling salesman, who resides in the state of Washington; and El- leva F., the wife of Dr. Reynolds. Mrs. Reynolds was for years one of the popu- lar teachers of the Greenwich schools and still retains her interest in the subject of public education. She has the distinction of having received her county cer- tificate at the age of fifteen and of having entered upon her vocation before she became sixteen. She is a woman of refinement and intellectual attainments, and under her leadership the Reynolds home has become a factor in the social and lit- erary life of the village.
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Dr. Bushnell R. Reynolds, like his father, belongs to several organizations He is a member of the Ohio State Eclectic Medical Association, and the Green- wich Lodge, No. 640, I. O. O. F., and the O. K. Lodge, K. P., of Greenwich include him in their membership roll. He also belongs to the Uniform Rank of Knights of Pythias, of Shelby, Ohio and with his wife is a member of the Daugh- ters of Rebekah. Another means of recreation in which Dr. Reynolds indulges, are fine horses and a day's hunting or fishing. He is a man of progressive spirit, deeply interested in the welfare of the community in which he lives, and is one who views matters from an optimistic standpoint, and the good will of the people toward him promises well for his future success.
CHARLES W. MANAHAN.
Few attain the ripe old age of Charles W. Manahan, who has now passed the ninety-sixth milestone on the journey of life. His former years of industry and activity have supplied him with a handsome competence, so that now in the even- ing of life, he can enjoy all the comforts to be obtained, while at the same time he commands the full respect and veneration of one of his years. Born in the Empire state, May 16, 1813, his parents were Thomas and Violetta (Silcox) Manahan, the former a native of New Jersey, and the latter of New York.
Charles W. Manahan, when but twenty years of age, came to Ohio in the spring of 1833, this being then a frontier district. He addressed himself to the tasks which western life presented and with steadiness and courage met the prob- lems which confronted him. He first engaged in carpentering, but after a short time gave his attention to the manufacture of wagons and carriages on his own ac- count, when all such labor was then performed by hand. After about three years thus engaged, he sold out, taking wagons as payment, and these he traded for horses, which he took to his native county, Cayuga county, New York, where he disposed of them for cash. He then returned to the Buckeye state and dis- charged his indebtedness on farm land which he had contracted for and also made additional purchases, buying in all one hundred acres. While serving his appren- ticeship at Auburn, New York, he assisted in making the first threshing ma- chine ever made in the United States, and later he and his brother constructed three machines in Norwalk, two of which they sold. but abandoned the work on account of the labor required in its perfection.
It was in 1849, that Mr. Manahan established a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Delana Wheeler, who was born in Massachusetts. Bringing his bride to Huron county, they began their domestic life in true pioneer style in a log shanty on his father's farm, his own newly acquired farm having as yet no build- ings thereon. His wife, though born of wealthy parents and leaving a comfor- table home in the east, proved herself a worthy helpmate to her husband and at once submitted to the privations necessary to assist him in establishing a good home on the frontier. Having previously worked for a year and a half at the carpenter's trade, he found this knowledge of the trade of material value in build- ing his own home, performing all the work from digging the cellar to plaster-
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ing and painting the house. After about three years, he disposed of his one hun- dred acre tract and purchased an improved farm. For three years, he there en- gaged in general agricultural pursuits and then, believing money could be made in the sheep industry, he began buying of his neighbors, selecting only the largest and best grades of animals, and in the fall of 1849, he had a flock of two hundred head, which he fed during the winter. In the following spring-1850-he shipped his sheep to New York city, where he disposed of them for eight hundred dollars and with this capital, he purchased a stock of goods and opened a general store in Olena. For twelve years, he was thus engaged, building up an extensive busi- ness in Olena and the surrounding country. He took in payment for his merchan- dise, butter, eggs, wool and various commodities, which he shipped to the city markets, where he secured cash for them. In the meantime he bought wool for a Boston manufacturer, his annual purchases amounting to between forty and fifty thousand pounds. He also built an ashery on his farm. He secured a team and a man, who visited the farmers and bought their ashes, trading for the same goods from the store. Mr. Manahan then converted the ashes into potash, which he shipped to the New York market. He also bought colts for from thirty to thirty-five dollars each and, putting them on his farm, kept them until they were about three years old, when he would sell them at a good profit and use the money to buy more land. In this way, he accumulated two hundred and thirty- three acres in one body, which cost him at an average of twenty dollars per acre and which he disposed of in 1865 at fifty dollars per acre. It was by these various methods that Mr. Manahan gained a good start in life and his success continued throughout his active connection with business interests.
It was while busily engaged with his mercantile enterprise that Mr. Mana- han was appointed by the government as inspector of horses, with which to equip the First Ohio Cavalry, their headquarters being at Monroeville. During his four year's service, he bought and shipped more than one thousand head. At the expiration of that period, he turned his attention to buying and improving city property. His first purchase consisted of ten acres on West Main street in Norwalk, for which he paid two thousand dollars, while he spent an additional five hundred dollars in improving the same. He eventually disposed of a por- tion of this- the portion which had a frontage on Main street-for seven thous- and, five hundred dollars. Two years later, he sold one lot to Mr. Jackson, of Norwalk. In the meantime, Mr. Manahan took teams and went into the woods, digging up maple trees, which he transplanted in the streets of Norwalk, this being now one of the most beautiful residence district of the city. He also planted ever- green trees and other shrubbery on a lot, which he contemplated making a build- ing spot for his own home, but later abandoned the idea and disposed of the lot to W. W. Graham, which is his present place of abode.
Eventually Mr. Manahan again engaged in business in Norwalk, becoming a member of the firm which conducted business under the name of Parker, Mana- han & Taber. His time was thus occupied for twelve years, when being then a man of seventy, Mr. Manahan decided to dispose of his interests and retire to private life. However, he could not content himself in idleness and purchased a tract of land in Norwalk, opened up a street, now known as Manahan avenue, and here he built eight houses and beautified the street by planting trees on each
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side of the highway, which he himself had dug in the woods. He further im- proved his property by putting in gas and water, independent of the city sys- tem. He still owns this residence property, deriving therefrom a good rental. He likewise carries four thousand dollars in stock in the Chase piano factory, hav- ing been a director in the A. B. Chase Company for thirty-five years.
Although he is now more than ninety-six years of age, he is still hale and hearty and manages his own business affairs, takes care of his garden, attends to all repairs made in his houses, and makes frequent trips on foot to the cemetery, a mile and a quarter distant, where his wife and two sons lie buried. In his family were three children, but Charles W., Jr., and William Kendall are both deceased. His daughter, Mrs. David W. Peckham, is now a widow and resides with him. A republican in politics, he still takes a deep interest in public affairs, and from 1862 until 1866, he served as treasurer of Huron county. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Congregational church. He is also a member of the Firelands Historic Society.
Mr. Manahan arrived in Huron county during its pioneer epoch and when he located here in 1833, he purchased fifty acres of land within six miles of where the enterprising and progressive city of Norwalk now stands for three dollars per acre, while his father, Thomas Manahan, bought two hundred acres in the same district at the same figure. Although he could not see in advance the full im- portance of the work which he was accomplishing, the result is today seen in the various sections of Norwalk which have been improved and beautified by his own hand, while the income which he now derives from his invested interests, supplies him with every needed comfort. Although he is now necessarily on the declining side of life, he bears his years well and no man in Norwalk and Huron county is held in higher esteem and regard than is Charles W. Manahan.
EDWARD DENMAN.
There is within the borders of Huron county hardly a man who has re- mained here as long as Mr. Denman, who for eighty-nine years has resided in this portion of the state. He has lived to see the pioneer log cabins replaced by commodious and substantial homes, the forests converted into rich fields, the wild animals supplanted by high grades of live stock, while churches, schools, libraries and other evidences of intellectual and moral culture are found on every hand.
Edward Denman was born September 4, 1820, in Huron county, his parents being John and Miranda (Blackman) Denman. The father, a native of Eng- land, was born in the county of Kent, March 25, 1791, and when six years of age came to America with his parents, the family home being established in Sul- livan county, New York. He came to Ohio in 1816 as a young man with noth- ing but his ax as his capital. He possessed firm and determined purpose, how- ever,-qualities which enabled him to overcome the difficulties and obstacles of business life-and he met with undaunted courage the hardships and privations that come to those who locate on the frontier. The Blackman family had been
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EDWARD DENMAN
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established in Ohio four years before. Traveling westward by wagon, they had settled in the midst of the green forest, where they had to clear a spot large enough on which to build a cabin. Thus they began life in the west, facing all the difficulties and dangers of pioneer life. John Denman used his ax to good advantage, cutting away the forest trees and working for different pioneers in the locality until he gradually accumulated enough money to enable him to enter a claim from the government. After a few years he married Miranda Blackman, who was a native of Niagara county, New York. They became the parents of nine sons and five daughters, Edward, William, John, Henry, Charles, Roxanna, Ann, Laura, Miranda, Mary P., Amos, Ambrose B. C., Martin and Leverett B. Of these seven are yet living, Edward, Henry, Martin, Leverett B., Amos, Laura and Mary. Edward is the only one who has retained his res- idence in this state. The father prospered in his undertaking as the years passed by and became a large landowner, his farms comprising about seven hundred acres. He was very active in the development of the county, contrib- uting in substantial measure to its growth and improvement and he was, more- over, a positive and leading spirit in matters pertaining to the public welfare. To his family he gave the best advantages that frontier life afforded and made liberal provision for his children. He was also a charitable man along the lines of practical giving to the worthy poor. He died at his home in Florence, Erie county, Ohio, March 23, 1878, and his wife passed away March 24, 1887, the remains of both being interred in the Birmingham cemetery.
Edward Denman, whose name introduces this record, remained with his father upon the home farm until twenty-two years of age, and profited by such educational advantages as were at that time afforded in the neighborhood. The district school convened in a little log building for a few weeks each year and during that period Mr. Denman was instructed in the common branches of learn- ing. At the age of thirteen years he was capable of driving a two yoke ox-team in the logging camp and as his capacity for farm work increased it lessened his opportunity of attending school, his last term being when he was seventeen years of age.
At the age of twenty-two he left the old home farm and began earning his living in the employ of others at thirty-seven and a half cents per day, or ten dollars per month. At the end of two years he determined to engaged in busi- ness for himself and rented a farm from his father on a cash basis. That year he harvested an immense hay crop, all cut in stumpy meadows with sickles and scythes, but he found that there was no market for the hay after he had had it stacked. He consequently bought several hundred sheep on credit-for he had little capital-that he might feed to them this hay through the winter, and by diligence, perseverance and hard work he met success in this undertaking and prospered from the start. The idea of paying rent, however, annoyed him and he determined to purchase a farm. Carrying out this resolution, he bought one hundred acres of timber land and contracted with some young men to clear thirty acres of this to be ready for fall wheat sowing. This was accomplished and from the thirty acres he threshed over six hundred bushels of wheat the following summer. The product was sold at a good price and with his wool clips and his increase in flocks he began to see success ahead. The second year
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another thirty acres was cleared and put under cultivation and very soon more land was purchased and his acres broadened and his wealth increased. Those were the days in which ox-teams were exclusively used and part of a teamster's equipment was always an ax with which to cut away obstructions that might block the rude roads through the forests. Many discouragements beset the way of the early settler but Mr. Denman possessed a courageous spirit and firm pur- pose and, undaunted by the hardships and obstacles which he met, he persevered on his way until success attended his labors.
When he had secured a farm of his own he felt that he was justified in tak- ing another important step in life and was married on the 13th of October, 1847, to Miss Jane Archer, a daughter of Joseph and Adeline (Kelley) Archer, both of whom were natives of New York city. In 1837 they arrived in Florence, in what was then Huron county, where the father engaged in farming, but he only lived a short time after coming to Ohio. His wife lived to the age of eighty years. Mr. and Mrs. Denman became the parents of six children : Joseph A., Adeline, John E., Jennie A., Annabelle and Louise, all living with the excep- tion of the last named. The mother, who was devoted to the welfare of her household and possessed many excellent traits of heart and mind, passed away June 15, 1895.
The farm which Mr. Denman originally purchased was located on what is known as Butler road in Wakeman township. It was to that place that he brought his bride and they began housekeeping in a log cabin which he had already prepared. The dwelling, however, was rather pretentious for those times, with its plastered walls, good board floors, brick chimneys and a second story which was divided into bedrooms. The young couple started out happily and as the years passed Mr. Denman labored earnestly and perseveringly, add- ing to his acres from time to time. He engaged successfully in general farm- ing and took up sheepraising on an extensive scale, at times having a clip of wool that brought him as high as eighteen hundred dollars. His sheep were of the Delaine variety and of pure breed, some of his animals selling for high prices. He also bred and raised fine thoroughbred horses, which sold for a high figure, and was likewise a successful fruit grower, his orchards producing fine specimens of fruit that brought top prices on the market. On his farm the work of improvement was steadily carried on until it was all under a high state of cultivation and was probably the best improved property in the locality, his fields being most extensive and equal, if not superior, to all others in the quality of crops raised. In the fall of 1903 advancing age decided Mr. Denman to leave the farm and remove to a desirable location near the village of Wakeman, where he has erected a comfortable modern home and all conveniences and there he and his daughter Jennie reside, enjoying the comforts which a well spent and prosperous business life provides them.
While always a busy man, Mr. Denman has yet found time to participate in public matters and though not an office seeker, he has been interested in the elec- tion of good men-those who will serve efficiently and well the interests of the community at large. In national and state politics he supports the republican party but at local elections he has voted for the men whom he regards best qual- ified for the office, without considering their party affiliations. He and his family have been members of the Methodist Episcopal church for many years
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and his entire life has been upright and honorable, in consistent harmony with his profession. He is a man of humane spirit, charitable, kindly and reliable, his many sterling traits of character winning for him the trust and honor of his fellowmen and enabling him also to wield a wide and beneficial influence in the community. Few men now living have a clear conception of what this county was seventy-five years ago nor of the self-denial, industry and undaunted dili- gence which was required to bring it to his present high standard of excellence and progressive development. Mr. Denman, however, has been familiar with the history of the county for eighty-nine years and relates in an interesting man- ner many of the incidents which shaped its history during its formative period.
GREGORY JENNINGS.
On the roll of Huron county's honored dead appears the name of Gregory Jennings, a man who in his life displayed many sterling traits of character and won many warm friendships. He was among the worthy citizens that New Eng- land furnished to Ohio, his birth having occurred in Fairfield county, Connecti- cut, in 1832. His parents were Walter and Rhoda Jennings, who had a family of five children, namely: Gregory, Mary, Sarah, Ezra and Nelson. In 1835, when their son Gregory was a little lad of three years, they left their New England home and in the primitive methods of travel at that period made their way to Huron county, Ohio. Comparatively few settlements had been made within the borders of the county at that time and where are now seen richly cultivated fields at that time uncut forest stood, furnishing shelter for wild game and various kinds of wild animals. There were also seen evidences of Indian occupancy here al- though the red men had gone to hunting grounds farther west. With the work of development and improvement the Jennings family became closely associated as the years went by and Gregory Jennings, who was reared amid the wild scenes and environments of the frontier, shared with the family in all the hardships of pioneer life and also aided in the arduous task of developing a new farm.
It was in the year 1860, that Gregory Jennings was united in marriage to Miss Amanda E. Keeler, who was born in Fairfield county, Connecticut, in 1839, her parents being Burr and Mary (Nash) Keeler. Her grandfather was Jonah Keeler and her great-grandfather, Matthew Keeler. Jonah Keeler was united in mar- riage to Rebecca Raymond and their children were: Burr, George, Raymond, Smith, Rufus, William, Charles, Zalmon and David. Of this family, Burr Keeler, the father of Mrs. Jennings, spent his youthful days in the Charter Oak state and having arrived at years of maturity, he wedded Mary Nash, a daughter of George and Esther Nash and a sister of Henry and Maria Nash. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Burr Keeler were born nine children : Rebecca, Amanda, Mary, Burr, George, Sylvester, Harriett, Louise and Julia. The Keeler family remained in Connecticut until 1857, when they came to Ohio and were associated with the early develop- ment of the county.
Following their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Jennings took up their abode upon the farm in Huron county and throughout his remaining days, Mr. Jennings diligently
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tilled the soil in the production of crops which proved a generous reward for his labor. In all of his business dealings, he was reliable as well as enterprising and thus made for himself an untarnished name. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and his religious faith was that of the Congregational church. He was ever loyal in the cause which he espoused and in community af- fairs manifested a public-spirited citizenship that made his cooperation much sought. He passed away in 1893, leaving to his family the priceless heritage of an untarnished name as well as a valuable farming property. Mrs. Jennings is also a member of the Congregational church and her life has been guided by its teachings. She is well known in Fairfield township and the hospitality of its best homes is freely accorded her.
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MRS. REBECCA PARK.
Mrs. Rebecca Park, well known in Huron county, is the owner of a valuable farm property of two hundred and eighty-nine acres in Bronson township. She is the widow of Robert Park and was born in County Donegal, Ireland, near Lon- donderry, on the 11th of April, 1838. She has, therefore, passed the seventy-first milestone on life's journey. Her parents were James and Martha (Calhoun) Park, both of whom were natives of Ireland and came to this country in 1847, settling at Savannah, Ashland county, where James Park followed the occupation of farming. The Parks were reared in Protestant Ireland and James Park was the son of Joseph and Rebecca (Torrence) Park, while his wife, Mrs. Martha Park, was a daughter of William and Ellen Calhoun.
Mrs. Rebecca Park spent her girlhood days in her parents' home and was trained to the work of the household so that she was capable of managing a home of her own at the time of her marriage, on the 2d of March, 1859, to Robert Park, who died March 27, 1896. He was born November 26, 1829, and was a son of Joseph and Sarah ( McAddo) Park, who were also natives of Ireland and on coming to the new world in 1847, located in Bronson township, Huron county, Ohio. Joseph Park was a son of Josepli and Rebecca (Torrence) Park. Two children were born unto Robert and Rebecca Park. Carrie, whose birth occurred in 1860, is the wife of William Hall and resides in Huntington, West Virginia. They have two children: Percy and Park. Milton Park, born in 1863, is now a practicing physician located in Cleveland. He married Mrs. Catherine (Smead) Henry.
From the time of his marriage until his death, Robert Park followed the occu- pation of farming and to the work of the fields devoted his energies with good suc- cess. He held membership in the Presbyterian church, in which he was an elder for many years. His political allegiance was given to the republican party, but though he never sought nor desired office, he was always loyal to the best interests of the community in which he lived and was a public spirited and valued citi- zen. His life in all of its relations was honorable and upright and his example may well serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others. Mrs. Park is also a member of the Presbyterian church and a most earnest and con-
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