USA > Ohio > Lorain County > History of Lorain County, Ohio > Part 35
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" You have my boy here, and I have come after him."
" Your boy," said the doctor ; "you may be some of the negro thieves that are following the army, and arresting colored men in order to get the reward offered. I don't know you, sir. You must do two things before you can have him. First, you must prove your loyalty; and second, you must prove be- fore the court your title to him, and if you, or either of you, lay a hand on him before you comply with these terms, I will shoot you."
After conferring together for a few minutes, the owner, the priest and one of the marshals retired, and in about two hours returned with two writs, one commanding the doctor to appear before the court, And, on the owner's giving bond in the sum of sixteen hundred dollars, to appear before the court at its next term, and prove his title to Ben, he was to be given up. The other writ was for the doctor to appear at the same term, and prove his title to the slave. By this time, a mob of about one thousand people had gath- ered in front of the hospital, and a company with the regimental band had paraded, also, in front, for the purpose of escorting the doctor to the court house. Ile sent them back to camp, mounted his horse, with Ben at his side, surrounded by a howling mob, and reported in court.
The officials were exceedingly polite, and presented a bond for his approval, which probably represented half a million of dollars, and Ben was handed over to his master. Had not the doctor been backed by a
regiment of bayonets, he would, doubtless, have been torn to pieces by the mob.
The doctor placed his own law suit in the hands of John M. Harlan- a brother of Justice Harlan, of the supreme court-who took him before a notary, and he subscribed an oath that he was in the military service of the United States, which put the case off till the elose of the war. In about a month, the doctor re- ceived a letter from Ben's master, proposing that, if he would pay the costs, he would withdraw the suit. The surgeon replied that, if the court at Cleveland decided, after the war, that he should pay the costs, he would do so. In about a year, while in East Tenn- essee, he received a letter from Mr. Harlan, stating that the case had been dismissed at the plaintiff's cost. So ended his Kentucky law suit.
In August, 1863, the regiment, (with the twenty- third army corps,) crossed the Cumberland moun- tains into East Tennessee, the rebel army retiring before them.
Early in November, the Union army was all con- eentrated at Kuoxville, indulging the vain hope that they were going into winter quarters. Before the cabins for quarters were completed, General Long- street appeared before the city, with ten thousand troops, and the seige of Knoxville commenced. The skirmishers, on both sides, were under fire, day and night, for Iwenty-two days. Several battles occurred during the time.
The battle of Armstrong's Hill was fought on the the 27th of November, in which the one hundred and third bore a conspicuous part. The rebel assault was repulsed, with great loss to them. The one hundred and third lost, in that engagement, two killed and thirty-two wounded, many of whom died of their wounds. Surgeon Griswold made temporary dress- ings of their wounds, as they were brought in, treat- ing union and rebel soldiers alike, and sent them in ambulances to a new hospital in the city. He visited the hospital the next day, and found the wounded lying on the floor, in their bloody clothing, without even blankets to cover them. He proposed at once to take charge of his own men, and soon after was ap- pointed surgeon in charge of the hospital. He soon procured, through the quartermaster, a supply of wooden bunks, and the union ladies of Knoxville, (of whom Mrs. Smoyer-a daughter of Parson Brownlow and now the wife of Dr. Boynton, late of this place- was a leading spirit,) a quantity of bed-ticks. He also secured a load of straw and blankets, and the poor wounded soldiers soon had comfortable beds. Ile was also appointed surgeon in charge of hospital No. 4, which contained five hundred patients, and, for a time, had charge of two hospitals, containing, in the aggregate, eight hundred sick and wounded soldiers.
The men suffered greatly for want of proper nour- ishment, during the siege, but after the seige was raised, and railroad communication opened, by aid of the government and the christian and sanitary com-
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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.
missions, they were supplied with everything neces- sary for their comfort.
On the first of May, the twenty-third army corps started on the Atlanta campaign. The one hundred and third regiment fought its first great battle on the 12th of May, at Resaca, Georgia. It went into the fight three hundred strong, and came out with a loss of twelve killed and eighty-two wounded.
Surgeon Griswold was ordered to the rear, at the beginning of the fight, to establish a field hospital for the third division. As fast as hospital tents could be put up, they were tilled with wounded, and in about three hours the hospital contained three hundred and sixty-two wounded men. The hospital of the second division, near by, contained about the same number. The doctor being at the time chief operator for the division, was engaged for thirty-six hours, with a corps of assistants, in performing the necessary ope- rations and in dressing the wounds. He performed a number of capital operations, including three am- putations of the thigh and two of the shoulder. As soon as possible, the field hospital was broken up, and the patients sent to Chattanooga, as the army had moved on in pursuit of Joe Johnson, the rebel general. He was then placed in charge of the corps hospital, which in about two weeks was also broken up, and the patients sent to the rear. Ile soon joined the main army, which was about forty miles in ad- vance. As a line of skirmishers was kept constantly in advance, who were day and night exchanging shots with the rebel skirmishers, wounded men were brought to the rear for treatment every day, and the surgeons were not idle. During this campaign, Dr. Griswold slept on the muddy ground, under a dog kennel tent, almost every night. It rained twenty-two days in succession, and his blanket and clothing were never dry during that time.
At length, after crossing the Chattahoochee river, having arrived within eight miles of Atlanta, the objective point of the campaign, Dr. Griswold found himself so redneed in strength by the diseases and fatigues of the camp and field, that he very reluc- tantly resigned his position in the army and returned home. After regaining his health, he again entered upon the practice of his profession.
In 1865, he was elected to the Ohio senate, and was re-elected in 1867. During his four years' service as senator, he was faithful in the discharge of his duties, being always in his seat, and gave general satisfaction to his constituents. He was principally instrumental in securing the passage of a law for the establishment of the Reform and Industrial School for Girls. Ile had felt for years that the interests of the people of the State demanded a home for incorrigible and vicious young girls, where they could be reformed, educated and fitted for lives of usefulness. In order to carry these views into effect, during the session of 1868, he offered a resolution for the creation of such an institution, and for the appointment of a com- mittee to tix upon a location, and to report at the
adjourned session. The resolution was agreed to, and the doctor was appointed a member of the com- mittee. The work of the committee was thrown principally upon him, and during the summer recess he corresponded extensively with the authorities of kindred institutions in this country and England. Soon after the general assembly re-assembled, he presented a report which attracted considerable atten- tian, and a large number of extra copies were ordered to be printed. The bill accompanying the report became a law, and thus was established one of the most beneficent institutions of the State.
After the close of the war of the rebellion, Dr. Gris- wold, with many other members of the grand army of the republie, felt a deep interest in the welfare of the orphans of our dead soldiers, many of whom were homeless and inmates of county infirmaries, At a meeting of the grand army at Sandusky, in the spring of 1869, measures were instituted for the establish- ment of a home for soldiers' orphans, where they could be provided for and educated. The Rev. Geo. W. Collier was appointed a general agent of the society, who traveled extensively through the State, addressed publie meetings, and collected considerable money for the establishment of such a home. In December following, the home was opened in the city of Xenia, and sustained for several months by contri- butions of the grand army of the republic. In the spring of 1870, it was adopted by the general assem- bly as a State institution, and Dr. Griswold was appointed its first superintendent. The people of Xenia and the county of Greene has donated to the grand army one hundred acres of excellent land, located within half a mile of the city, composed of clear land for cultivation, and an open forest, and commanding a fine view of the city. They had also agreed to put up buildings for the accommodation of two hundred and fifty children. The grand army had erceted two brick cottages, and got ont timber for a large barn. Xenia put up the frame, and in a very rough manner converted it into school rooms and a home for the children. This was the condition of things when the doctor took charge of the home. The grand army had previously turned the entire property over to the State. The grounds required to be cleared up; tree tops, brush, chips and stumps were gathered and piled in large heaps by the chil- dren. The burning of these piles at night afforded them great delight. The doctor remained in charge of the home a little more than four years, when he was superceded from political considerations only.
During his administration, the number of children increased from one hundred and fifty to six hundred. A large central building was erected, with an exten- sion to the rear of one hundred and thirty feet. The basement of this contained a kitchen and bakery; the second story a dining room, one hundred and thirty feet in length. The third story was used for a store- room, sewing rooms and sleeping rooms for the employes. Twenty brick cottages were erected, cach
HARraman raman
In 1822, from Genesee Co., N. Y., came to Avon, Lorain Co., Ohio, the parents of Anson Braman, who was born in said county in 1811. In the year 1832, A. Braman re- moved from Avon to Carlisle, where he followed the voca- tion of farmer and nurseryman. In 1855 he removed to Elyria, Lorain Co., Ohio, where he started the nurseries now owned by J. C. Hill.
Remaining in Elyria until 1872, he went to Northport, Mich., where he now resides with the faithful wife who shared the struggles of his early Carlisle life. She-of maiden name Miss Emeline Vincent-was born at Mount Washington, Berkshire Co., Mass., Oct. 10, 1818; com- mencing the duties of a wife at Carlisle in 1835. Their oldest child, William A., was born at Carlisle, Oct. 4, 1836. Twenty-one years were spent on the home farm. When desirous of better education, he worked by the month on other farms. Teaching school during the winter gave to him the necessary funds with which to gratify his desires. Thus passed seven years.
In 1864 he commenced the business of live-stock dealing. This he followed until 1870, J. E. Boynton and J. C. Hill being partners.
The following three years found him in partnership with J. E. Boynton, engaged in the purchase and sale of cheese. During the spring of 1874 the firm of Braman, Horr & Warner was founded, for the manufacture and general deal- ing in cheese and butter, with which firm he still remains connected.
This firm has become one of the largest in Northern Ohio, its business averaging during the last four years two hundred thousand dollars per year. Whilst buying to a certain extent of others, the great bulk of the butter and cheese handled by them has been and is of their own man- ufacture through their control of the many factories of Northern Lorain County and adjacent territory, control- ling the past year the products of over four hundred dairy- men, and four thousand cows.
Mr. Braman was married, April 18, 1865, to Miss Sophia E. Patterson, daughter of Hiram Patterson, then of Eaton, Lorain Co., Ohio. Two sons and one daughter make cheer- ful his pleasant home at Elyria, to which place he came, as a permanent resident, from Carlisle in 1869.
Mr. Braman is distinguished for his untiring energy and clear perceptions. These qualifications have made him a leading business man of Lorain County, and one eminently fitted for official position. Various are the places of trust
R. E. BRAMAN.
he has filled : township trustee for four years ; president of the Lorain County Agricultural Society six years, a full record of which is given in the history of said society in this history ; commissioner of Lorain County. All were filled with such fidelity that the reputation thus formed makes him one of the present members of the Union School Board, a place held by him since 1873. He was one of the directors of the Savings Deposit Bank of Elyria from its foundation. This faithfulness to trusts imposed also gave to him the treasurership of Lorain Co., Ohio, in 1876, and again in 1878 by acclamation, no competitor even appearing in the conventions that honored him so highly.
Mr. Braman, in the prime of life, with every surrounding pleasant, both private and public, may well take pride for the high rank he takes among Lorain County's " leading men."
R. E. BRAMAN was born at Carlisle, Lorain Co., Ohio, Oct. 20, 1838. Until the age of twenty-three his life was spent on the father's farm. Hard work filled up his time, with the exception of the educational advantages of the common school.
A brief notice of the parents of Ranson E. Braman is given in the biography of his brother, William A.
Aug. 9, 1861, he enlisted as private in Company I, 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; served the first year in West Virginia, and afterwards in the Army of the Potomac. Ad- vanced to the position of sergeant, he was, at the consoli- dation of the 4th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry into the 4th Battalion, made a first lieu- tenant. He was wounded at the battle of North Anna River, May 24, 1864. A return to the comrades of three years' noble work for the Republic gave him honorable dis- charge after full term of enlistment.
Returning to Elyria, August, 1864, he soon engaged in whatever his hand might find. For eight years he was elected to various offices in the township of Elyria, for four years being deputy marshal of the Northern District of Ohio. Mr. Braman was elected sheriff in 1872, and again in 1874.
He was married, Sept. 5, 1865, to Miss Helen M. Nick- erson, who gave to him five children, three now living and two dead. Now iu active business as coal merchant, even with a limb partially paralyzed by a " rebel bullet ;" in easy circumstances, he forgets the early toil and struggles of a " pioneer's" son.
8
E. D. HOLBROOK.
HMM WV Aldrich
Photos, by Lee, Elyria, O.
2 Plaines
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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.
two stories high, and a capacity for thirty children, also a commodious and well-arranged hospital, a chapel, a laundry, and a building for steam boilers, which furnished power for the laundry, and warmed all the buildings of the institution. except the chapel, which was heated by a furnace. A water tower was also erected, eighty feet in height, which contained tanks in the top, with a capacity for one thousand barrels of water. From this tower water was conveyed to all the cottages and the hospital, as well as to the steam boilers. The water was forced to the top of this tower from a clear spring stream at the base of the hill, some sixty rods distant, by a steam force- pump. The gas works were also located at the base of the hill. The lawn in front of the main building and cottages was ornamented with trees, shrubbery and flowering plants from the green-house. The
children at the home were bright and happy; many of them were beautiful, and attracted the attention of friends and visitors. They made rapid advances in their education. They looked upon the superin- tendent as their second father, and will remember him with gratitude and love long after he has passed away. This was the crowning work of his life.
He has retired from business, and now resides in Elyria, his home for many years, and the only place which seems to him like home.
DR. L. C. KELSEY
is the fifth child in a family of eight children, of David and Betsey (Merriam) Kelsey, the former of whom was born in Newport, New Hampshire, No- vember 11, 1790, the latter at Brandon, Vermont.
L. C. Kelsey was born at Whiting, Vermont, July 18, 1824. At the age of three years, he removed with his parents to Brandon, Vermont, where he attended the common schools, during the winter months, and in the summer season, worked upon his father's farm. He subsequently entered the Brandon seminary, re- maining there until he reached his seventeenth year, when he removed to Ohio, and entered the prepara- tory department of Oberlin collegiate institute; teach- ing school during the winter vacations. IIe left college in the sophomore year, and went to Geneva, Illinois, and there taught a select school, with marked success.
IIe subsequently returned to Ohio, and located at Mt. Vernon, where, for two years, he studied den- tistry with his brother, Dr. C. M. Kelsey. After completing his studies in dentistry, he located and practiced his profession at Galion, Ohio, where he remained about two years.
Not feeling entirely satisfied with that profession, and wishing for a wider field of activity, in a more public way, he entered the Unitarian theological school, at Meadville, Pennsylvania, from which insti- tution he was honorably graduated, in 1854, after
which he moved to Dixon, Illinois, and formed a Unitarian society, raised funds for the erection of a fine church edifice, and remained its pastor for almost three years.
On account of failing health, he left Dixon, and returned to Ohio, and located temporarily at Newark, where, after recuperating his impaired health, he re- sumed the practice of dentistry. From Newark, he moved to Malta, Illinois; and while there, the war of the rebellion broke out, and in August, 1862, Dr. Kelsey entered the union service as a private in the one hundred and twenty-fourth HHinois volunteer in- fantry, and remained in the army until after the close of the war. He participated in several engagements, notably those of Port Gibson, Raymond, Champion Hills, and the seige of Vicksburg. After the fall of Vicksburg, he was detailed as chief clerk at the headquarters of Gen. Maltby.
On his discharge, he settled permanently in Elyria, where he has since been a successful practitioner of dentistry. He is a man of more than ordinary liter- ary attainments, and is thoroughly educated in his profession. Two diplomas have been granted him; one from the Unitarian theological school, at Mead- ville, Pennsylvania, and one from the Ohio State board of examiners, for the practice of dentistry.
Dr. Kelsey has been twice married: first, in 1849, to Miss Elizabeth M. Avery, of Wellington, O., who died at Dixon, Ill., in 1857. By this union were born two children, Harriet J. and Frances Estella, the lat- ter of whom died in infancy. For his second (and present) wife, he married Cordelia Webster, of Car- lisle. O., by whom he has six children, Kate Isadore, Elizabeth M., Charles S., Grace M., Ada May and Florence W.
In politics Dr. Kelsey is a steadfast and consistent republican. Since 1871 he has held the office of cor- poration clerk of Elyria, which oflice he has filled with satisfaction to the people at large, and to his per- sonal eredit. The doctor is an able exponent of the Unitarian faith, and an exemplary member of that religious sect. ITis general reputation is so well known to the people of Lorain county, that anything of a landatory nature we could say of him woukl le entirely superfluous. His business probity and the general rectitude of his life are proverbial, while his activity in the various enterprises calculated to pro- mote the best interests of the community of which he is an honored member, is a well established fact.
WILLIAM W. ALDRICII.
William W. Aldrich was born in Dover, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, October 17, 1817,-son of Aaron and Elizabeth Aldrich, who were natives of Rhode Island. A. Aldrich was born April 27, 1793, and Elizabeth was born December 22, 1795, by maiden name, Win- sor. Married September 11, 1814. In 1816 they
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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHI10.
removed to Dover, Ohio. The journey there con- sumed six weeks of toilsome travel. Passing through Cleveland, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, only three dwell- ings greeted the eyes of Mr. A. and his companion, in the place of the so many tine mansions, that make it now so beautiful. In the history of Mr. A. Aldrich, occurs one of the rare and signal interpositions of divine providence, which it is pleasurable to record. Soon after his arrival amongst the woods of Dover, he became disabled from excessive labor. Having been reared in factory life, the labor of fefling the forest was too much for him? What should he do? Disqualified as a woodsman; a growing family upon his hands, and in a country uncultivated, unexpected as the "manna" descended for the relief of the chil- dren of Israel, came a letter from a stranger, author- ized by a company of strangers. This proposed a removal to Otsego county, N. Y., where he might take charge of a cotton factory, with a salary of eight hundred dollars per year, with house rent and fire- wood free. This proposal was accepted as a godsend. For several years he remained in this employ, each year increasing his compensation, until Mr. Levi Beebe, of Watertown, N. Y. proposed higher wages, wishing Mr. Aldrich to put a cotton factory in opera- tion at that place. Consenting, Mr. Aldrich remained at Watertown for nearly two years, when, finding himself provided with necessary means to found a home for himself and family, he again moved to Ohio. lle re-settled in Dover in 1829. Habits of industry and economy secured for him a comfortable and beautiful home on the shore of Lake Erie, a few miles west of the romantic residence of Ex-Governor Wood.
Mr. A. Aldrich affords a commendable example of industry, frugality, integrity, benevolence, piety and good will toward alt men. Of a sound and diserimi- uating mind, he was for many years selected as a magistrate in the township. In the discharge of the duties of said office he was ever more anxious to adjust matters of difference by compromise than liti- gation-never an instigator of quarrels, but a peace maker.
Mr. Aldrich and wife were baptized and united with the First Baptist church in Avon, Ohio, in 1832, elder Hanks officiating. In 1836 Mr. Aldrich was one of the original five who met and formed the First Baptist church of Dover, Ohio. For many years he maintained his christian profession with uniform consistency, and the jeer of the intidel was put to silence by his godly life.
Died, in Dover, on May 27, 1856, Deacon Aaron A. Aldrich, aged sixty-three years and one month. In his decease the Baptist church sustained an irre- parable loss in member and office bearer; community mourned the loss of one whom all joined in saying, "he was truly a good man." To his family he was ever dear, and his memory is ever hallowed at the family altar which he so constantly visited, no matter what the pressure might be of worldly business. Six
children are now grown to maturity and mostly set- tled in life. Two of these are companions of Baptist ministers in this State.
Mrs. Elizabeth Aldrich died December 21, 1869. She was a faithful christian worker, was always kind to the poor and needy, and ever ready and willing to supply their needs.
William W. Aldrich, son of Aaron Aldrich, received the advantages of a good common district school ed- ucation until twelve years of age. Three years after that he attended school during the winter months. With this exception, he from choice, worked faith- fully for his father until he was twenty-one years of age. These early years were spent in clearing up the forest, making roads, tearing down the old log dwell- ing, and replacing it with new structures. Often did he work until midnight to burn the log heap rolled together during the day. Homespun garments he wore, homespun tow and linen in summer, the fuller eloth in winter. Well does he remember the yoke of cattle and lumber wagon that, filled with father's family and neighbors, he so often drove to the old town house in Dover, where all denominations met under one roof to worship a common father.
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