History of Lorain County, Ohio, Part 84

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia, Williams brothers
Number of Pages: 626

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SOUTH AMHERST.

The little village in the southern part of the town- ship, is known as South Amherst, though the post office is Amherst. Its early settlers have been noticed in the first part of this chapter, and as the village is not incorporated, and in fact consists of only a few people and a small cluster of houses, there remains but little to be said about it. The place was known many years ago by the unpoetical title of " Podunk." It was also known as the " Little Whig hole," for nearly all of its residents were whigs. All of the postmasters up to the time the party died, were of this political persuasion. Eliphalet Redington was the first. He was followed by A. H. Redington, his son, and he by Peter Lunt. Joseph Reynolds was the next postmaster, and then came J. C. Jackson. The present incumbent, Henry Jackson, followed him.

The first store at South Amherst was kept by Ad- dison Tracey. Stores were kept later by R. E. Gil- lett, Eliphalet Redington, George S. Everett, J. C.,

Barter Clough

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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

and I. S. Jackson. Roswell Cune had a tannery there as early as 1825. The only business and indus- trial interests represented in 1878, are Henry Jackson, keeper of a general store; Stephen Barnes, harness maker; G. Gritlin, shoe maker; and Wm. Biggs, wagon maker.

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Following are the statistics for 1828, showing the amount of the most important productions of the township, also the population in 1870, and the vote for president in 1876:

Wheat, 1,0:5 acres.

18,630 bushels.

Potatoes, 107

12,572

Oats,

758

33,190

Orchards, 415

12.405

Corn, 1,042

36,493

2,432 lons.

Butter.

132,080

Cheese.

195

Maple Sugar.

2,482 Population in 1870

VOTE FOR PRESIDENT IN 1876.

R. B. Hayes.

386 | S. J. Tilden 337

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

BAXTER CLOUGH

was born in Canterbury, New Hampshire, September 15, 1807. He was the fourth child of a family of fifteen, of Deacon John and Judith (Gerrish) Clough. Ilis mother was granddaughter of Joanna Hale, who was a near relative of Captain Nathan Hale, the martyr spy of revolutionary fame, also a descendant of Sir Matthew Hale, of England. In childhood and carly manhood he did not enjoy firm health; he attended the district school (which was two miles from his home), a limited time; and it may be said that his only education was obtained by observation and read- ing, which his vigorous, thoughtful mind digested to good purpose. He was naturally inquisitive and in- ventive. Many incidents illustrating this are related; among the rest he discovered a living spring of the purest water near his father's residence, and brought it to the house and barn, which was of incalculable benefit. His father and grandfather before him had lived on the farm, and not suspected the existence of such a spring. Another time his father had his orchard grafted. Baxter did not think it was done in the best way, and thought he could do it better. In his father's absence he did it as he thought best. His father, on his return, very sorrowfully said, "Baxter, you have ruined my orchard;" but he saw his mistake when, in a few years, it supplied him bountifully with choice fruit, and it was an original idea with Baxter. His ancestors were eminent chris- tians, and he was naturally serious and thoughtful; and

at the age of fifteen made a public profession of religion, and united with the Congregational church. Ile had a musical bass voice of great power, and was of great assistance in the church choir; was also quite a proficient on the flute. Ile assisted his father in the cultivation of his farm, and in his seventeenth year, his father, while overseeing the building of a church, left the management of the farm to Baxter. who employed men, and did the haying and harvest- ing withont the use of rum, a thing considered im- possible at that time. Much against his parents' and friends' wishes, who did not give him any pecuniary aid, in 1830 he came to Ohio. The journey was made by stage as far as Albany, and from there by Erie Canal lo Buffalo. Cleveland being his destined point, he took a sailing vessel from Buffalo, but the wind not being favorable for landing, passed by, up as far as Black River (now Lorain), and then returned to Cleveland. Soon after arriving there he was taken sick, when his clothes and the small amount of money he had were stolen from him. Ile recovered, and with courage undaunted sought employment, and found an oppor- tunity to peddle tin ware, which suited him, as he wished to look over the country before locating. Ile finally bought one hundred and forty acres of land in Solon township, in Cuyahoga county, then an unbroken wilderness, to go into the dairy business. A cousin from New Hampshire, and himself, cleared a small place, and erected a log cabin, and commenced clear- ing the land of its heavy timber, keeping bachelor's hall in the mean time. July 19, 1832, he was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Gerrish, formerly of Boseawan, New Hampshire, at that time residing with her brother in Solon. It was the first wedding in that town, and their sufferings and enjoyments were many and peculiar to pioneer life. He was active, public spirited and enterprising in all that related to the future welfare of the town, such as making roads, arranging for schools, etc. He went into the work of promoting the worship of God and Sunday schools with all his heart. His feelings, however, were deeply injured by the lack of sympathy and hard criticisms of those less zealons than himself, so that for many years afterwards he did not take an active part in church matters, but was always a firm believer and friend of the cause. Hle owned and worked this farm with success for seven years, but during the time his health not being firm and strong, commenced travel- ing through Pennsylvania and other States, building hay scales, the exercise of horseback riding being bene- ficial to him. In 1839 he disposed of his farm, and moved to Cleveland; and commenced making scales of different kinds, and during this time was appointed eity weigher. As he was unable to get such castings as he needed in the manufacturing of scales, he added a foundry to his business.

And now his ingenuity and inventive mind came into play, and enabled him to make many improve- ments. During this time he invented a stove called the Regulator, which was considered the best extant

Meadow, 1,930

29,690 pounds.

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ITISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

at that time. In 1846 he moved to Berea. and engaged in the business of manufacturing pig iron. This venture was disastrous to him, as a change in the tariff caused a decline in the price of pig iron from fifty dollars to twenty dollars per ton. Here he was taken sick with typhus fever, and his life was des- paired of for a time, but he recovered, and he always said and felt sure his life was spared in answer to prayer, that he might provide for his family. After his recovery he manufactured small grindstones for a short time, when his attention was called to the quarries at North Amherst, Ohio, where he moved in 1852, and formed a partnership with P. & L. Dean, which was of short duration, he having purchased the interests of the Messrs. Dean, when he commenced alone the manufacture of grindstones, which amounted to from two to four hundred tons a year. They were hauled by teams to Black River, and shipped by water to Cleveland, and exchanged for goods of varions kinds. Up to this time, his career had not been specially notable, but peaceful and useful, winning for him the respect and esteem of a wide circle. lle conceived the idea of obtaining for them a more ex- tensive sale throughout the east, and in order to do that, went east, and introduced them successfully among the large manufacturers of edge tools, and to increase the supply as was needed, invented machinery and applied steam for turning large grindstones, and from this time was continually inventing and applying different kinds of machinery to facilitate the working of the quarries. The trade increased rapidly from year to year until 1860, when the annual manufacture amounted to three thousand tons. About This time there sprung up a demand for block stone for building purposes, and he turned his atten- tion more particularly to that branch of the business, which increased rapidly until the year tsst. During the next four years there were manufactured and de- livered the amount of nine hundred and sixty-one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight cubic feet, the greatest amount being shipped in 1822-two hundred and seventy-eight thousand seven hundred and eighty cubic feet. During these years he built a dock at the lake so as to ship by water, hauling his products there some two and one-half miles with mule teams; but always progressive, went to work, and built a railroad, and equipped the same with steam engine and flats, having then what no other quarry owner possessed, a direct outlet of his own to ship by water. He was always making experiments with machinery to cheapen the manufacture of stone, the majority of which proved successful; other quarry owners waiting the results, thus reaping the benefit of his experience. He also purchased and developed what is known as the Independence and Columbia quarries; manufactured large amounts of both block and grindstones which found a ready market at re- munerative prices. He was loved and respected by all, especially the men in his employ. He always used his personal influence to help them to be indus-

trions, steady and frugal, to save their wages and secure homes, which a large number have done. lle died very peacefully, in November, 18:2. A short time before his death he united with the Congrega- tional church, of which for many years he had been a zcalons friend, and liberal supporter. He was a man of fine person, good address, pleasing manners, strict integrity, faithful to the duties and requirements of a varied life. ITis wife survives him, and this biog- raphy would be incomplete if we did not add that through his married life, she was a true helpmeet, always labor'ng and economizing to promote his inter- esis and the welfare of their large family. Their eldest son died in infancy; their youngest daughter, Ella J., died eight months previous to the time of their father's death, and Mary E., wife of O. P. Mc- Millan, five months later. The sons, J. B. and Il. IL., continue the large and prosperous business left by their father. Mattie A., wife of N. C. Gibson, resides in Hamilton, Missouri. Sarah .l., wife of .I. K. Hunt. resides in Cleveland, Ohio. Hattie II. remains at home, and cares for the mother who, though now growing feeble, has always labored faithfully and cheerfully for the best interests of the society in which she moved.

ASAHEL ALLEN CROSSE.

Asahel Allen Crosse, physician and surgeon, was born in Cineinnatus, Cortland county, New York. on the 22d of August, 1824. His parents were in mod- crate circumstances, and he early learned the lesson of self-dependence and self-help. Al the age of thir- teen years he left home lo make his own way in the world, and henceforth relied entirely upon his own resources. lle went to work on a farm, and such school education as he obtained was by going to a district school during the winter months, his sum- mers being too much occupied in farm labor to give him any opportunity for summer study. Not long after leaving home he went to Ashtabula, Ohio, and there, in addition to the opportunities afforded by the district schools, he for a time enjoyed the advantage of attending the Ashtabula academy. From thence he removed to Mentor, Lake county, Ohio, where at the age of sixteen he commenced the study of medi- cine. After having attended three full courses of medical lectures he graduated at the Willoughby university, in Lake county, Ohio, in the year 1842, and went at once to AAmberst, Lorain county, Ohio. lle had, when he arrived in Amherst, fifty dollars, and on the day after his arrival he made the uncom- fortable discovery that forty-six dollars of his little fortune consisted of bills of a bank known as the Ohio Railroad Bank, located at Cleveland, Ohio, which had failed the day before, and were perfectly worthless, so that his available assets amounted to just four dollars. Fortune was not stubborn against him, however, for almost immediately he formed a partnership with Dr.

A. A. CROSSE, M.D.

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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

Luman Tenney, an old physician of the place, and so was introduced to a practice that speedily became large and lucrative. His partner died at the end of three years, and then he took the entire charge of the practice. His diligence, ability and skill, added to the high reputation he had already earned, made him well known as one of the most successful physicians in the county. As a citizen, no less than a physician, is he appreciated in the community, and from time to time that appreciation has been shown by placing him in several of the elective offices of the township of Amherst. He has successively held the offices of township assessor, township clerk, justice of the peace, and was the first mayor of the incorporated village of North Amherst. He was postmaster of Amherst during President Johnson's administration. Politi- cally he is a democrat, and, although the require- ments of his profession do not leave him much leisure to devote to polities, he is nevertheless one of the lead- ing spirits of his party in the community where he lives. Although he has acquired a fair competence, his experience has not been one of unmingled pros- perity. On the 1st of March, 1858, he was thrown from his carriage, and his right leg was broken at the ankle. Being a heavy man, the ends of the broken bones were forced through the skin and boot-leg, and were driven three or four inches into the ground by the violence of his fall. It was found impossible to save the limb, and it was amputated below the knee by Professor Horace A. Ackley, his former preceptor. Ile has been three times married. His first wife, Diantha Walker, he married in 1844, by whom he had four children, three daughters and one son. one of whom, Mrs. II. W. Barnard, is now living. His wife. Diantha, died in 1855. On the 16th of September, 1859, he married Sarah E. Post, of Milwaukee, Wis- consin, by whom he had one son, now living. His second wife died in 1866, and on the 18th of Novem- ber, 1875, he married Ella G. Pelton, of Vermillion. Ohio. The doctor has a vigorous constitution, and from present appearances he will feel of pulses, look at tongues, and deal poisons for many years to come; that is, he is hale and hearty, and the youngest in the community always find him a pleasant social com- panion.

CURTIS BAILEY

was born in Potton Township, Canada East, February 17, 1830. He was the fifth child in a family of ten children : his father was Jonathan B. Bailey, who was born at Peacham, Vermont, October 31, 1794, and died October 6, 1815.

He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his father before him, Abijah Bailey, had been a soldier in the revolutionary war, and died at the age of eighty-four years.

Jonathan B. Bailey spent the earlier part of his life,

and up to 1844, in Orleans county, Vermont. His oc- cupation was farming, at which he was engaged nearly all his life. In the fall of 1844 he removed to Lorain county, first stopping at Brownhelm, where he remain- ed four years. The next four or five years of his life were passed in Henrietta township, from whence he removed to Ransom, Hillsdale county, Michigan, where he spent the remainder of his life. He always lived an honest and industrions life, and at the same time an humble and unostentatious one. His friends and acquaintances will bear us out in the assertion that he was a man of irreproachable personal integrity and general worth. He married Hannah Dufur, who was born in New Hampshire, May 15, 1797, and died in Ransom, Michigan, January 3, 1879. They were both exemplary and consistent members of the Con- gregational church. They had a large family, to the bringing up of whom, in a proper manner, was ex- pended almost all he could accumulate. Ile was never very successful in the acquisition of wealth, but was always generous, according to his means.

Curtis Bailey's early hfe was confined to agricul- tural pursuits, which he followed until he attained his twenty-fifth year. In the spring of 1855 he removed, with his family, to Amherst township, and entered the employ of Baxter (longh, to work in his stone quarries. At the end of the first year he became foreman, and has continued in his and the employ of the Clough Stone Company, as superintendent of their stone quarries, ever since, with the exception of one and one-half years, in 1864-65, at which time they lived in Hillsdale county, Michigan, one year, and at Wellington, six months. At the age of twenty- two years, and on the 30th of March, 1852, he was married to Lovina, daughter of Arvy Whitney, and Lucinda Remington, of Camden township, who was born in Sherbourne, Chenango county, New York, March 10, 1802. She was born in Clarendon, Mon- roe county, New York, April 1, 1832. They have four children, namely : Ida J., born January 10, 1853, married Horace Seeley, of Amherst township, March 30, 1872: Edna C., born December 11, 185%, married F. M. Lewis, editor of the Amherst Free Press, May 9, 1878; Florence H., born January 27, 1869: Warren C., born August 7, 1812.

Mr. and Mrs. Bailey are both members of the Free Will Baptist church, having joined that denomina- tion in Henrietta, in the year 1854.

The ancestors of both Mr. and Mrs. Bailey were of New England origin. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Bailey was Elisha Whitney, who was born in Vermont, August 25, 1762, and died August 27, 1822. His wife was born in Connectiont. Her maiden name was Mariam Eaton. She was twice married, first to Ezra Taylor. January 16, 1786 ; second, to Elisha Whitney, March 24, 1991. Mr. Bailey's maternal grandfather was William Remington, who was born in Stephentown, New York, January 25, 1215; died in Sweden, New York, September 13, 182". He married Lovina Hill, who was born in Stephenson,

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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

New York, February 20, 1781; died in Sweden, New York, October 2, 1828.

Mr. Bailey is quite extensively known in the com- munity in which he resides, and his general good character, faithfulness and industrious habits have gained for him an enviable reputation. He obtained the respect of his employers and others by close atten- tion to duty, and has retained the same by his eon- tinned faithful discharge of the same. He possesses ability and applies it ; he is honest and practices thal. quality always : hence his success in life.

JOSEPHI AND J. J. RICE.

A half century ago, when the territory embraced within the present limits of Lorain county was mostly an unbroken wilderness, with here and there, at con- siderable distances, a solitary clearing, Joseph Rice, with his wife and four sons, arrived and effected a permanent settlement in what is now the town of Amherst. We quote from a series of historical rem- imscenees, by "Squib, " published in the Amherst Free Press, the following information relative to these pioneer settlers:

"Joseph Rice, son of John and Ann Rice, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, May 6, 1788. After arriving at mature age, he married Betsey E. Uery. In the spring of 1829, he came to Amherst. bringing with him his family, consisting of his wife and four sons. He purchased a farm, a little west of Ken- deigh's corners, and began clearing and improving it for his future home. But in 1835 his health failed, which resulted in his death. September 30 of that year, at the age of forty-seven. His widow continued to live on the farm, surviving her husband thirty years, and died October 3. 1865, at the age of eighty years.

The four sons who accompanied their father to Amherst. we judge, were all the children born to Mr. Rice. Their names were as follows: Henry, born July 13, 1816; he moved to Crawford county, Wis- consin, where he died March 5, 1849; his family came to Amherst. Peter J., born February 19, 1818, who lives at this date of writing (September, 1816,) about two miles west of Oberlin. Samuel B., born February 1, 1825; he went to Wisconsin in 1846, and from thence went to California in 1852, and died September 23, of the same year. Joseph J., born September 17, 1828, and is living on the old home- stead, which his father first purchased in Amherst.

J. J. RICE,

son of Joseph and Betsey E. Riee, was born, as above stated, September 17, 1828, in Fayette county, Penn- sylvania. He remained with his father until the death of the latter. On the 29th of October, 1857, he married Emily J., daughter of L. R. Cook, of Amherst. By this union were born three children, namely, Arthur J., Virgil E. and Tracy J., all of

whom are living, and reside at home. Mr. Rice en- gaged early with his brothers, Henry and Peter J., in their foundry, first as a laborer, and subsequently as a partner; and finally, in 1857, he became sole proprietor of the business by purchase, and has eon- tinned to conduct the same ever since. He is also engaged in agricultural pursuits, owning abont one hundred and forty acres of land, being the old home- stead, which he has continued to improve from time to time, until it is quite a pleasant home and a highly cultivated Jarm. A neat and natural illustration of his place, together with the portraits of himself and wife, appears on another page of this volume.

* In politics, Mr. Rice is a republican, and has been since the organization of that party, having been a whig prior to that event. He is a liberal minded gentleman, and has always contributed his full share to all public enterprises tending to promote social progress. To religions and educational interests he is ever a cheerful giver. He is now one of the oldest living settlers, having resided in the place where he now lives for fifty years. He is a deservedly popular and much respected citizen.

LEWIS RODMAN COOK.

For upwards of thirty years, the gentleman whose name heads these lines, was a prominent and well known citizen of Amherst township. He was born in Franklin, Delaware county, New York, Angust 5. 1811. and was the youngest of a family of six chil- dren. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died when Lewis was three months old, leaving his family in a poor condition, financially. At the age of nine, therefore, it became necessary for Lewis to work for himself, and at the age of sixteen he learned the carpenter and joiner's trade.

In the year 1835, he was married to Miss Emeline Remington, daughter of Daniel and Nancy Reming- ton, who are of New England origin; her father having been born in Vermont February 15, 1785; her mother, Nancy Rich, at Bristol. Connectient, December 17, 1795. Mr. and Mrs. Cook had three children, all living and married, as follows: Emily J., now the wife of J. J. Rice, of North Amherst; Armina J., wife of .John S. Perry, of Brownhelm; and Newel, who married Miss Eliza Harley, of Camden township, Lorain county. After his marriage, Mr. Cook con- tinued to work at his trade, making Franklin his headquarters, until the fall of 1843, when he moved to Norwalk, Huron county, Ohio, remaining there three years. In 1846, he moved to Amherst town- ship, and purchased the farm on which he spent the remaining days of his life.

At the age of twenty, he became a zealous chris- tian worker, was baptized in the Baptist faith, and lived a consistent member of that body to the end of his days. Mr. Cook was a man of some faults; who

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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

is not? but his good qualities greatly predominated, charity being a leading trait in his character, and all who knew him can testify to his willingness ever to help those in sorrow, sickness, or distress. He was a serupulously honest and economieal person, and dur- ing his lifetime accumulated a comfortable compe- tenee; but liberality, in deserved cases of poverty or trouble, was a leading feature of his disposition.

He was a faithful husband, a kind and indulgent father, a liberal provider, and a highly respected member of society. His loss is not only felt in the church, where his zeal and activity were greatly ben- eficial, but his family, and a large circle of friends, will sorely miss his kindly presence and genial worth.

On Sunday, September 8, 1828, he was taken sick with janudice, but was not confined to his bed en- tirely till six weeks later. From the commencement of his indisposition he seemed to have a premonition that his disease would terminate fatally. He sank slowly but surely, ever bearing up under his affliction with christian fortitude, and a longing to be with his God. At last, on Sunday evening, November 10, 1878, the soul returned to the God who gave it, and Lewis Rodman Cook passed quietly into eternity.

His widow and three children survive him. Mrs. Cook is a devoted and earnest member of the Baptist church, with which she formally united, at Franklin, thirty-eight years ago. She is an eminently christian woman, and a worthy reliet of the good man whose faithful wife she was.

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History of Lorain County, Ohio, Part 84

Author: Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia, Williams brothers Number of Pages: 626

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia, Williams brothers
Number of Pages: 626