USA > Ohio > Lorain County > History of Lorain County, Ohio > Part 33
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efforts and means, he was thorough and practical, and became a successful educator.
In the spring of 1860, Mr. Reefy went West, and located at Roanoke, Ind., where he organized the Roanoke Educational Society, and by its aid founded Roanoke Seminary. In 1862 he married Miss Mary Shearer. He remained at the head of the seminary eight years, during which time it was one of the most popular schools in Northern Indiana. In addition to his educational labors at the seminary, he served part of this time as superintendent of the sub-district schools of Huntington County. On account of fail- ing health, in 1868, he quit teaching for a time, and subsequently moved to Bluffton, Indiana, and organ- ized the graded schools of that place, and remained in charge as superintendent until 1872, when he re- signed, and with his family moved to Elyria, and be- came editor and proprietor of the Elyria Constitution.
As a political writer Mr. Reefy is conscientious, bold, and vigorous. He criticises severely and commends generously. In the descriptive, his pen delincates the picturesque and beautiful in nature with happy effect.
The German spelling was Riffe.
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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.
he was acting in the latter capacity, the legislature authorized a loan of three million dollars, at seven per cent interest, provided Ohio bonds could be sold at par. For some time, the bonds of the State had been worth but fifty cents on the dollar, in the New York market. Under these discouraging circumstances, Dr. Hubbard and the late Governor Brough (theu auditor of State, ) proceeded to New York and Boston, and in six weeks negotiated for the entire amount. On reaching the city, they issued a pamphlet, show- ing the wealth and resources of Ohio, and the addi- tional fact that, she had never failed promptly to pay the interest on her bonds when due.
In 1851. Dr. Hubbard removed to Tottenville, Staten Island, where he continued in practice until the time of his death, in 1872, at the age of seventy- three years.
Dr. Hubbard was a man of much more than ordinary ability. He was not only well versed in his profession, but as a scientist, he enjoyed, to a consid- erable extent, a national reputation. lle did not commence the study of the national sciences until he was forty years of age, and engaged in the practice of a laborious profession, and yet he became thoroughly familiar with the botany of this country, was well posted in geology and mineralogy, and as a conchol- ogist had one of the finest collections of fresh water and marine shells in the country. His cabinet at- tracted visitors from a distance, and they were amply repaid for their trouble. Ile was genial and pleasant in the discharge of his professional duties, and his presence in the sick room was cheering, and added much to his success in the treatment of his patients.
DR. NORTON S. TOWNSHEND is still living and in the midst of his usefulness. We do not feel compe- tent to write a sketch of his life and do him justice. We shall briefly recapitulate the important positions he has held, without much comment. His father emigrated from England to this country when Norton -an only child-was fourteen years of age, and set- tled in Avon, in this county, on the beautiful farm which the doctor still owns. What advantages for obtaining an education he enjoyed before coming to Ohio, we do not know; but, after the family settled in Avon, his labor was needed on the farm, so that he never found time to attend even the district schools of that day. Perhaps he did not need the aid of teachers as most persons do. ITis mind was capable of grasping and mastering any branch of study that lay in his way. We first heard of him as a well grown boy aiding in organizing a literary society and then a book club among the young people of his own age, and the intluence for good, especially of the read- ing club, is felt in Avon to this day.
In 1837, he entered the office of Dr. R. L. Howard, in Elyria, as a student of modicine. He was then about twenty-one years of age. In the fall and winter of that year he attended a course of medical lectures in Cincinnati. He returned to Elyria in the spring,
and continued his studies until the fall of 1839, and, after attending a course of lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, graduated in the spring of 1840. Hle immediately sailed for Europe and spent the succeeding year and a half in attending the hospitals of Paris, London, Edinburgh and Dub- lin. At the close of this time he returned to Ohio, and, for a short time, practiced medicine in Avon,
In 1843, he was married to Miss Harriet Wood, an estimable lady, and moved to Elyria. Here, as every- where, his influence was felt. He took a prominent part in organizing and carrying on the Elyria Natural History Society, and delivered more and better lec- tures before that society than any other person. Whenever a lecturer failed to appear, Dr. Townshend was called on to fill the place, and he was always ready to deliver a most interesting and instructive lecture. While in practice he performed a number of capital surgical operations, such as lithotomy, ampu- tations of the thigh, shoulder, etc.
In 1848, Dr. Townshend was elected to the house of representatives of the State by the free soil party. It so happened that he and the Hon. John F. Morse, of Lake county, were the only free soilers elected, and that they held the balance of power between the whig and democratic parties. They used this power to great advantage, and, with the aid of the demo- cracy, secured the repeal of the odious "black laws," which had disgraced the statute book of Ohio for many years. They also secured the election of Salmon l'. Chase to the United States senate-which was the beginning of his public life-as well as the appoint- ment of several other anti-slavery men, to prominent positions in the State. The doctor was understood to be the controlling spirit in bringing about these results.
In 1850, Dr. Townshend was elected a member of the constitutional convention which formed our pres- ent excellent constitution, and occupied a prominent position in that body. In the fall of that year he was elected a member of the thirty-second congress. Being a young man and an abolitionist, he was cut by the lordly slaveholders, who then had a controlling influence in congress. Mr. Stanley, of North Caro- lina, condescended to attack him in a speech on the floor, to which the doctor replied; and it is said that after the reply the gentleman from North Carolina was known as "the late Mr. Stanley." At the end of his congressional term he was nominated for re-elec- tion, but the democracy had so gerrymandered his district that he was defeated.
In 1853, he was elected to the State senate. Dur- ing the session, he introduced a bill to establish an asylum for imbecile children and youth. It passed at the next session, and he was appointed a member of the board of trustees, which position he held, by re- appointment, until 1878.
In 1858, while living on his farm, in Avon, he was elected a member of the State board of agriculture, and, by re-election, this office was held by him for
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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.
eight years, he being twice elected president of the board.
In 1863 he was appointed, by President Lincoln, a medical inspector in the army, with the rank of col- onel of cavalry, which position he held until the close of the war.
In 1867. he accepted a professorship in the Iowa agricultural college, which position he resigned at the end of two years.
In 1820, he labored earnestly and successfully to secure the passage of a law to establish an agricultural and mechanical college for this State, and when the bill passed, he was appointed a trustee.
In 1873, when the college buildings were completed, and the institution ready to be opened, he accepted a professorship, and removed with his family to Co- lumbus. He is still an honored and useful member of the faculty.
In the winter of 1854, his first wife died, leaving a son and daughter. He was subsequently married to Miss Margaret A. Baily, of Clarksburg. Virginia, who is a highly cultured and excellent lady, and makes the doctor's home very pleasant.
Few men in Ohio ean show such an honorable record, and few have done more to promote the gen- eral welfare of the people. Dr. Townshend is yet in the prime of life, possesses a robust constitution, and has, we trust, many years of usefulness before him.
DR. EDWIN KELLEY came to Elyria in 1849, and soon secured a good practice. He was thoroughly educated in his profession, was gentle and courteous in his manners, warm in his friendships, and pure in his morals. He married a daughter of William M. Beebe, of Hudson, Ohio. Pulmonary consumption. that insatiable messenger of death, soon made him its victim. Ile spent a winter in Florida, without any permanent benefit, and, in a year or two, he passed away, greatly lamented in this community, where he had many friends.
DR. JAMIN STRONG was born in Parma, Monroe county, New York, November 27, 1825. From the age of five until twelve he attended school in his native village. most of the time. After his parents removed to Shetlield, in this county, in 1838, he at- tended the common schools, and was assisted in his studies, during the intervals, by his sister, who was a teacher. For one year previous to his entering upon the study of medicine, he studied Latin, botany and chemistry. He entered the office of Dr. Eber W. Hubbard, in Elyria, as a student, in the spring of 1846. After attending three courses of lectures at the medical department of the Western Reserve Col- lege, he graduated at that institution, in 1849. HIe immediately thereafter commenced practice in Elyria, and continued in successful business until 1870.
In 1866, he was appointed professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the medical department of the Wooster University, and resigned that position in the spring of 1820.
In the fall of 1869, he was elected to the house of
representatives of the general assembly of Ohio, which office he resigned in June, 1870, at which time he was appointed special agent of the post office department, and resigned the same in September, 1875.
In November, 1875. he was appointed superintend- ent of the Cleveland Asylum for the Insane, which position he still holds.
It will be seen that Dr. Strong has filled many positions of honor and trust, and in every position he has done credit to himself, and greatly benefited the public. In his present difficult and responsible office, having the care of nearly six hundred unfor- tunates who are deprived of reason, he has united firmness with gentleness and kindness in a remark- able degree, and has manifested a high degree of ad- ministrative ability.
The present physicians of Elyria are: G. R. Sher- wood, l'. D. Reefy and J. V. Sampsel, of the regular profession.
P. W. Sampsell. E. C. Perry and G. H. Tyrrell, Eclectic.
C. F. Cushing and G. F. Peckham, Homeopathists.
SKETCHES OF FORMER RESIDENTS OF ELYRIA,
WHO HAVE ATTAINED DISTINCTION HERE OR ELSEWHERE.
In the year 1855, there were in the Elyria High School a class of boys who will be long remembered by our older citizens as the brightest and most intelligent of any who have passed through our union schools. Their names are: Charles C. Good- win. Osceola Bliss, Henry Joy, Thomas J. Boynton and Charles C. Parsons. They organized a school Iveeum, and their debates and other exercises attracted the attention and admiration of many of the best cultured minds in this community.
CHARLES C. GOODWIN, after doing good service as an officer in the Union army, during the war of the rebellion, went into business at its close, in Jackson, Mich., where he now resides.
OSCEOLA BLISS opened a drug and apothecary store also in Jackson, where he made many friends, and enjoyed the confidence and regard of the entire com- munity. He died young, leaving a wife and daughter, greatly lamented by his friends and acquaintances.
HENRY JOY is a distinguished minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, and resides in the State of Michigan.
THOMAS J. BOYNTON was the son of John Il. Boynton, Esq., and was born in Amherst, August 31, 1838. When twelve years of age, he removed with his father's family to Elyria, and was educated in our union schools. He studied law with the Hon. L. A. Sheldon, and was admitted to the bar when twenty years of age. He opened an office in St. Joseph, Missouri, and during the winter of 1858-59, was a correspondent of the Missouri Democrat. His letters attracted much attention on account of their ability and brillianey. In March, 1861, he was appointed by President Lincoln marshal of the southern district of Florida. This office he filled with prudence and
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ability for two years, when in 1863, on the resignation of Judge Marvin, he was appointed United States judge for the above distriet. It is believed that "he was the youngest person ever appointed to that position in the history of this country." Ile discharged his duties with eminent satisfaction until 1869, when failing health compelled him to resign. He hoped that a change of climate would result in the restoration of his health. Ile spent most of his time, after his resignation, among the mountains in the western territories, but without receiving any benefit. His disease-which was a bony tumor pressing upon the brain-steadily progressed. Hle submitted to an ope- ration for its removal, at the Bellevue Hospital, in New York. The operation was performed by the celebrated surgeon, Dr. Wood, and for ten days there seemed a fair prospect for his recovery; but at the end of that time, inflammation set in, which soon destroyed his life. His parents reached his bedside while he was able to recognize them, but was unable to speak. He died on the 2d of May, 1871, aged thirty-two years. His remains were brought to this village for interment.
This is a brief history of the brief life of an esti- mable young man, but how precious is his memory to his family and surviving friends. Few young men have left such a record. Perhaps none have done more honor to the town where he was raised and edu- cated. The following are the closing paragraphs of an obituary notice published in the Missouri Dem- ocrat :
"Judge Boynton was a man of remarkable promise. He was unusu- ally talented, and if health and the ability to use his faculties had been granted him, he would doubtless have achieved a wide reputation. He was an earnest and eloquent speaker and a peculiarly facile and vig- orous writer. When but twenty-one years of age he was employed as a campaign speaker in New York, and the same year was appointed to welcome Governor Seward to St. Joseph, on the occasion of his visit to that city. He was for several years an able and always interesting correspondent of the Missouri Democrat. His early demise will be deeply regretted by a very large circle of warm friends."
CHARLES CARROLL PARSONS was the son of Jonathan Trumbull and Mary C. Parsons, who removed from Bloomfield, Hartford county, Connec- tient, to Elyria, in 1827, and settled on the farm now owned by Stephen Smith. Mr. Parsons died October 31, 1838, and the subject of this sketch, then a babe six months old, with his mother and a brother aged five years, became members of the family of his uncle, Dr. Griswold. llis mother married the Rev. William Butlin, after three or four years, but Char- ley, as we loved to call him, remained most of the time in the family of his uncle, who considered him a foster son. He was educated in our public schools, and was distinguished as a bright, active boy, and an excellent scholar. In 1857 he was appointed by Judge Bliss (who was then in Congress) a cadet at West Point. He graduated in 1861, and was at once commissioned a first lieutenant and assigned to the Fourth regiment U. S. artillery. He served a few months in the mountains of West Virginia, and then joined Gen. Buell's troops, who by a forced march
reached the battle field of Shiloh at the close of the first day's battle, when the Union troops were defeat- ed and greatly demoralized. Gen. Buell's troops crossed the river as soon as possible, the army was rallied aud before morning took their position for the second day's battle. Lieut. Parsons commanded a battery of U. S. troops in that battle, which resulted in a victory for the Union army, and the next day a detail of officers was appointed to examine as to the execution of his battery, who reported a hundred and fifty dead rebels on the field killed by his guns. For distinguished bravery in this action he was promoted and made a captain. In the early summer he obtained a "leave of absenee," returned north and was married to Miss Celia Lippett, of Brooklyn, New York. Returning to duty he reached Louisville, where he found communication with his battery ent off by the rebel General Bragg. General Terrel, then in command, made a detail of two hun- dred men from the raw troops of the infantry reg- iments, and ordered them to report to Capt. Parsons for duty. Out of this material he organized an eight gun battery. He commanded this battery at Perry- ville. Gen. Jackson, his division commander, and Gen. Terrel, who commanded a brigade, were killed almost at his side. llis men, though raw, seem to have been brave, as forty of them were killed or wounded. The rest, with the regiment supporting the battery, retreated. His horses were nearly all killed and still Capt. Parsons stood by his guns. It was emphatically a one man battery.
At this juneture a column of rebel troops advanced to take the battery, and the Captain with his face to the enemy, retreated backwards. A hundred guns were raised to shoot him, but the rebel officer, admir- ing his bravery, ordered them not to fire, and the two officers, giving each other the military salute, Capt. Parsons walked deliberately away. The next morn- ing he re-took part of his battery. For distinguished bravery in this battle he was breveted major. llis next battle was that of Stone River. Gen. Palmer (since Governor of Illinois) says of him: "During the whole day I regarded the battery under command of Capt. Parsons as my right arm. My orders to Parsons were simple: 'Fight where you can do the most good !' Never were orders better obeyed." For this battle he was breveted lieutenant-colonel of the regular army. Soon after this battle he went to New York to submit to a surgical operation and soon after was detailed as an instructor at the West Point Mili- tary Academy, where he remained until the close of the war, at which time he was ordered to Fort Leaven- worth, Kansas, where he served for two years, part of the time on the plains, when he was again ordered to to West Point as a teacher. While there he became acquainted with Bishop Quintard of the diocese of Tennessee, under whose guidance he began the study of theology. He resigned his position in the army and repaired to Memphis, where he took holy orders in 1870. He was for a time rector of St. Mary's in
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Memphis, but was soon called to St. Mary's in the Highlands, at Coll Spring, opposite to West Point. Ile served the church faithfully and acceptably for about two years, when he was called to the Church of the floly Innocents, at Hoboken, N. J. He served here for three years, when the death of his beloved wife making a residence at that place painful to him, he returned to Memphis, and became canon of St. Mary's cathedral. Here he labored with the zeal and earnestness, which had characterized his whole life, until that fatal seourge (yellow fever) which made Memphis a charnel house, took possession of that doomed city. At the commencement of the disease, and before it became epidemic, he sent his wife and two children (he had re-married in Memphis) to friends in the country, but he remained faithful at the post of duty, laboring night and day in comfort- ing the sick and administering the consolations of religion to the dying. We quote from an article pub- lished in the Chicago Tribune, written by a former comrade:
" A man of polished intellect, of beautiful soul, the possessor of every grace, l'arsons seemed to have been created for the sweet offices of charity and friendship. From the outbreak of the plagne until he he- came one of its victims he had been constantly busied, (as he wrote me a few days ago) " in caring for the dead, the dying and forsaken " He has been winning the useful victories of peace: he has stood by his guns, but alas, the invisible enemy, less generous than the visible, has not held his tire. "
Another writer, in the Madison ( Wis. ) Democrat, says:
" HIP looked death calmly in the face, and when his turn came, died as a true soldier of Christ, at his post of duty. Let no one sorrow over such a death. It rounds ont in full perfection the record of a hero's courage and a martyr's steadfastness."
The Memphis Avalanche says of him:
" He died to save those against whom he fought."
He died September 6, 1878, leaving a disconsolate widow, and a son and daughter, the eldest but four years of age.
Col. FRANK H. MANTER was the son of the late Dr. Nathan H. Manter, and was born in Elyria, December 31, 1834. He spent his boyhood here, and, at a suitable age, entered the Western Reserve Col- lege, at Hudson, where he remained two years. He then, at the age of twenty, took charge of an academy at or near Natchez, Miss., for about two years, when he removed to St. Louis, Mo. He soon obtained the position of clerk of one of the courts, and, while dis- charging the duties of that office, studied law and was admitted to the bar. On retiring from office, he opened a law office and soon obtained a leading prac- tice, lle was for a time president of the city council, in which position "he diligently and intelligently served his constituents." We quote from the proceed- ings of a meeting of the " St. Louis bar" convened immediately after his death :
"When the clouds which have since burst In storm over our land, began to gather and give sign of the approaching tempest, he was prompt among the foremost to promote the organization of those bodies to which the successful resistance of St. Louis to the efforts of secession in the spring of 1861, was mainly dne."
We cannot better detail the subsequent career of
Col. Manter than by quoting the general order of Major General Steele, issued at the time of his death:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF ARKANSAS, LITTLE ROCK, JUNE 13, 1864.
General Orders No. 39.
With feelings of sorrow and regret the general commanding an- nounces to the troops of this department the untimely death of Col. F. Il. Manter, chief of staff. He died at two o'clock this morning from an injury received by the falling of his horse. He survived the fatal acci- dent but a few hours, and breathed his last surrounded by his milltary friends and companions. Col Manter's military career, which com- menced at the commencement of this rebellion, reflects great credit upon his character as an officer. He was energetic in raising troops to stay the rebellion in Missouri immediately after the Camp Jackson affair, and first distinguished himself on the battle-tield at. Wilson's Creek, as first lientenant in the First Missouri infantry, having pre- viously participated in the skirmish at Boonesville. After the battle of Wilson's Creek, his regiment was transferred to the artillery service, and he was promoted to the command of Battery A, which served in Gen. Steele's division during the first campaign into Arkansas, and acquired a reputation for discipline and efficiency, which no volunteer battery in the west had at that time acquired. In the summer of 1862 he was promoted to the command of the Thirty-second Missonri infantry. and commanded his regiment in the assault on Chickasaw Bayou, and at Arkansas Post in Blair's brigade, Steele's division, He commanded one of Steele's brigades during Grant's memorable campaign into Mis- sissippi, which culminated in the surrender of Vicksburg. In conse- quence of the arrival of a senior officer at Vicksburg, who was entitled to the command of the brigade, Col. Manter was assigned to duty on the staff of Major General Steele, then in command of the Fifteenth Army Corps, and served in that capacity during Sherman's siege of Jackson, and the pursuit of the rebel, Joe Johnson, beyond Brandon, and in the capacity of chief of staff he accompanied Gen. Steele on the Arkansas expedition, which resulted in the capture of Little Rock and the occupa- tion of the line of the Arkansas. Ile accompanied the command in the recent operations sonth of the Arkansas, and had just returned from an important mission, when his career of honor and usefulness was sud- denly terminated by a fatal accident. Those who knew him most inti- mately can but appreciate the great loss which the government as well as themselves have sustained. He was brave, patriotic, able, inde- peudent in thought and action, a true soldier and an honest friend.
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