USA > Ohio > Medina County > History of Medina county and Ohio > Part 113
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145
York Township, and, possibly, the oldest in Medina Co. They have passed the limit al- lotted to man, and are now fast passing down the western slope of life. They have lived an eventful, nseful and busy life, and are loved by their children, and held in high esteem by the people among whom they have lived so long.
GEORGE C. PEARSON, farmer ; P. O. Mal- let Creek ; is a native of the township in which he lives, and was boru Aug. 26, 1833. Arza and Achsah (Lampsou) Pearson, his parents, are among the old and time-honored residents of York Township, and much of them and the Pearson family will be found in another part of this work. The subject of this biography passed his youth and early manhood with his parents, and, when his majority was reached, he embarked on his own responsibility, by working his father's farm until he was married. Oct. 15, 1862, he was united in marriage with Miss Lydia L. Drake, daughter of Daniel and Almira Drake, and by her had two children- Frauk Leland, born in York Sept. 15, 1863, aud Lulu May, born in York April 30, 1865. Mrs. Pearson was born in Dickinson, N. Y., Aug. 2, 1841, and was one of a family of four children, Seymour, Sumner and Lyman being the three besides herself. The two former served in the late war, Seymour as Sergeant. Seymour died at Ft. Scott, from disease eontracted in the army, while Sumner was killed by a ball from the enemy, at the battle of Winchester. Lyman is a teacher in the Reform School, at Plainfield, Ind. Mr. Pearson's wife died from consumption, in July, 1868. Mr. Pearson is the owner of 60 acres of good land. He is a Re- publiean in politics, and an intelligent and en- terprisiug citizen.
JESSE SEELEY, retired farmer ; P. O. Mal- let Creek ; was boru in Schoharie Co., N. Y., Aug. 8, 1808. His father, David Seeley, was a uative of Connecticut, and his mother, Ursula (Sweetman) Seeley, was a native of New Jer- sey. Jesse was raised on a farm, and, as his father's health was very poor, the care of the family fell upon his shoulders, as he was the eldest. He thus learned in early years to be self-reliant, which proved to be of great bene- fit iu later years. He was married in Schoharie Co., N. Y., to Miss Prudence Brown. Mr. Seeley is one iu a family of twelve children ; Mrs. See- ley is one in a family of thirteen, and together they are the parents of fifteen childreu. They
741
YORK TOWNSHIP.
have one son, Samuel B., now living iu Michi- gan, who is the father of twelve children. Mr. and Mrs. Seeley's children are : Marietta, John V. K., Hester M., Caroline F., Elizabeth P., Wesley A., Samuel B., George D., Harmon J., Emma J., Adelia, Niroom, Nathan S., David O. and Charley M. Mr. Seeley and wife came to York Township, Medina Co., Ohio, in 1835, where he has remained ever since, with the ex- eeption of seven years, when he lived in Me- dina. Mr. Seeley was a farmer until 1863, when he took the office of Sheriff of Medina Co., having been choseu by the people to fill that offiee the year before. He was an efficient officer, and, while in that offiee, eondueted the exeeutiou of Streator, the murderer, a detailed deseription of which is found elsewhere in this work. He served two years as Sheriff, and the five following years remained in Medina, in the agricultural implement business. He theu moved to York Center, where he at present re- sides. Mr. Seeley had five sons in the late war, all of whom served their country faithfully. Heis a Republican in politics, aud he and wife are among the best eitizens of York Towuship. They are the grandparents of fifty-one lineal deseendants, and have five living great-grand- children.
PAUL SWARTZ, farmer ; P. O. Mallet Creek ; was born in Northampton Co., Penn., July 26, 1832. He is a son of Michael and Sarah (Shook) Swartz, and grandson of Henry Shook. When Paul was but 2 years old, his mother died, and the next year, his father, with five motherless childreu, moved to Medina Co., Ohio. They arrived in Litchfield Township one Saturday evening, and, as their wagon was heavily laden, stuck fast in the mud within sixty rods of where he afterward built a log eabiu. He remained in this eondition until the next Monday morning, and then, with some assist- ance, extricated his wagon and journeyed on to the place he selected for his house. Mr. Swartz was in very straitened circumstanees at this time, and very often he and children would go to bed hungry. These children hardly knew what it was to have a mother. Their childish pleasures and troubles were not soothed by the tender influence of a mother, and thus they lived many years. The eldest child, Elizabeth, who was but 13 years of age when they came to the township, was the only housekceper Mr. Swartz had for many years, and right nobly did
this heroie girl fill the void destiny had made in taking away the mother, often denying her- self little eomforts that the younger children might have them. Mr. Swartz lived in Litch- field Township a number of years, then married Mrs. Laurana Anson, and in 1859 moved to Lorain Co. Mr. Swartz's third wife was Mag- daline Glossar. He was a model farmer, but his poor start prevented him ever gaining a competency, and he struggled through life working hard, and finally died iu December, 1870, gaining in death a rest that had been de- prived him in life. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, his early manhood being given to assist his father. When he reached his majority, he commenced working on a farm by the month, and eontinned at this two years. Nov. 2, 1854, he was united in marriage with Miss Amy Wilson, and to this union were born three children-George W., born Jan. 25, 1856, married Florenee Williams and lives in York Township ; Mary E., born Nov. 27, 1858, is the wife of G. B. Oviatt, and also lives in York Township ; and Luna G., born Jan. 29, 1870. Mrs. Swartz was born in Summit Co., Ohio, Jan. 29, 1838. Mr. Swartz enlisted Aug. 5, 1862, in Company K, 103d O. V. I., and was discharged Oct. 11, 1863. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Swartz has profited much by his father's experience. He started out in life with but a very small amount of capital, and has, by economy and hard la- bor, gained a fine farm of 128 acres. He is regarded as an excellent farmer, and is an hon- est, upright gentleman. He is a Republican in polities, and Mrs. Swartz has been a member of the Protestant Methodist Church twenty-two years.
RICHMOND C. VAN ORMAN, miller, Mal- let Creek ; was born in Ontario Co., New York, June 26, 1829; is a son of James and Orpha (Flemming) Van Orman, who were parents of twelve ehildren, six of whom are yet living. These pareuts emigrated to Granger Township, Medina Co., Ohio, in 1830, where they lived until Mr. Van Orman's death, which event oe- curred in 1868. For some time the widow continued to reside on the old homestead until she discontinued housekeeping, when she eom- menced living with her son with whom she has ever since continued to reside. Richmond Van Ormau was reared on a farm, receiving a com- mon-school education. In 1866, he purchased
742
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
the "Hart Mill," in Richfield, Summit Co., Ohio. He remained there two years and then traded his mill for one iu Wayne Co., and soon traded that property for a mill in Lodi, Medina Co. In 1872, he exchanged this property for a mill in Weymouth and 104 acres of land. He had run this mill but one year, wheu it took fire and was burned to the ground. The general belief is that it was the work of an incendiary. Soon after the burning of his mill, Mr. Van Orman disposed of the land and in 1874, re- moved to York Center, where he began the building of a grist and saw mill combined, which has since been completed. The capacity of the grist-mill is about 300 bushels per day, while that of the saw-mill is from 11,000 to 12,000 feet per day. It has an excellent 40- horse steam engine, and is prepared to do a general custom business. Mr. Van Orman was married June 16, 1851, to Miss Ann R. Young, of Granger Township, and by her had seven children-Francis F., dead, Ida J., Nor- minda, Jennie, Richmond G., Wilna and one that died in infaney without being named. Ida married George Brnce ; Norminda married F. B. Smith, and both reside in York Center. Mrs. Van Orman was born June 14, 1839, in Gran- ger Township. Mr. Van Orman enlisted August, 1862, in Co. C, 7th O. V. I., and served faithfully in that regiment, when he was transferred, dur- ing the spring of 1864, to Co. D, 178th O. V. I., in which he served until the elose of the rebell- ion. His final discharge was dated July 11, 1865. In the last regiment, to which he belonged, Mr. Van Orman served in the capaci- ty of Sergeant. He participated in the battles of Stone River, Kingston and Leesburg, and was one of the brave men who captured tlie rebel Capt. Grub and seventy men. Mr. Van Orman was an excellent soldier, and the least that ean be donc for the defenders of our coun- try is to keep a record of their deeds that the future generation may read with interest the battles of their forefathers, and live over in their imagination the scenes of the past.
MRS. L. A. WARNER, Mallet Creek ; was born in Addison Co., Vt., July 25, 1816. Her parents were Zina and Betsey (Pierce) Denni- son, who were parents of the following family : Laura A., George L. (deceased), Julia A., now wife of Lucius H. Warner, and Lucinda M., wife of John Depew. The father, Mr. Den- nison, was born in Goshen, Conn., in 1790, and, when but a boy, moved with his parents to Waltham, Vt., where he was raised, and where he met her who afterward became his wife. She was born in Waltham, Vt. After their mar- riage, Mr. and Mrs. Dennison moved to Medina Co., Ohio, remaining in a little log house op- posite where F. T. Brintwall lives, in York Township, during the winter of 1833. In 1840, they removed to Litchfield Township, same county, where they lived until Mr. Dennison died, that event being April 10, 1872. Mrs. Dennison lived there a short time and then passed the remainder of her days with her children. She died in 1877. Laura, the eldest child, and the subject of this sketch, married Horace Warner, in 1840, he being a son of Johnson and Abigail (Munson) Warner. The Warners are natives of Connecticut, and Hor- ace was born in Waterbury, in 1805, and to his union with Miss Dennisou there were born five children-Elizabeth J., Horace D., Emma I. (died when 4 years old), Millard J. and Frank E. Elizabeth lives in Westfield Town- ship, the wife of William Chivings. Horace married Isabel Smolk, aud resides in Litchfield. Millard married Mary Goodrich, and also lives in Litchfield. Frank is single and lives at home with his mother. After her marriage with Mr. Warner, Mrs. Warner lived in Lorain Co., Ohio, until Mr. Warner died, his death being caused by consumption. In 1866, Mrs. Warner located on the farm she now owns and lives upon. This farm consists of 173 acres of good land. The Dennisons and Warners were excellent citizens, and Mrs. Warner and her children are to-day regarded as among the best in Medina Co.
743
LITCHFIELD TOWNSHIP.
LITCHFIELD TOWNSHIP.
WILLIAM H. BROOKER, molder, Litch- field; was born in Wolcottville, Litchfield Co., Conn., Feb. 9, 1826, and came with his father's family to this State and county in September, 1834. When he was 13 years old, he went to live with a Mr. Frederick Graves, who then resided in Seville. His occupation at that time was the care of horses, in which Mr. Graves dealt quite extensively. At the age of 20, through love of adventure and boyish curiosity, he resolved to enlist for the Mexi- can war; with two other boys, he sallied out on foot to seek a recruiting office. Going to Wooster, Ohio, they were fated to disappoint- ment, and trudged back, via Seville, to Litch- field, and thence to Monroeville; but again disappointment awaited them-the recruiting officer having met with an accident which dis- abled him. Nothing daunted, the three, being out of funds, laid their case before the land- lord, offering him one-half of their bounty of $8 each if he would keep them over night and carry them to Sandusky City the next day. With this he cheerfully complied, and the young men were soon made glad by their ac- ceptance in the 6th U. S. Regular Infantry, February, 1846. Soon after, they were sent via Cincinnati, to New Orleans, where they took a steamer for Vera Cruz, Mexico. They arrived the same night the city surrendered to the victorious army under Gen. Scott. The first battle in which he engaged was that of Cerro Gordo, followed by that of Contre- ras, Churubusco, Molino del Rey, the Castle of Chapultepec, and the taking of the Mexi- can capital. Mr. Brooker was wounded by a musket ball passing through his leg, and at the same time three ribs were broken; this was in the fight at Churubusco. Peace was declared, and he was sent home to be mustered out of the service at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., in August, 1848. Upon his return to Litchfield, he learned the trade of molder in the fur- nace owned by Harvey Rice, in the creek bot- tom in the western part of the township. He married, Feb. 22, 1850, Miss Alsina Herrick,
born in Montgomery Township, Hampden Co., Mass., Feb. 2, 1828. Mr. Brooker con- tinued to work at his trade until the breaking- out of the rebellion, when he entered the serv- ice as Lieutenant of Co. E, 10th Ohio Cav- alry, Capt. Nathan W. Filkin. They were mustered in at Cleveland, Jan. 15, 1863. He was in several skirmishes in Tennessee, when,
on account of some disagreement with his regimental commander, he resigned in Febru- ary, 1865. He remained at home about six weeks, when he again entered the service as Lieutenant of Co. E, Capt. Nobles, 182d O. V. I. They were mustered in at Toledo, Ohio, March 27, 1865, and were mustered out of the service at Columbus, July 7, 1865. With this regiment, he participated in the bat- tle of Nashville, which was the last battle of the 182d Infantry. Mr. Brooker's father, Warren Brooker, was born in Connecticut, in the year 1800, and married Miss Mary Ann Keys, April 24, 1825. She was born in Middle- town, Conn., in 1807, and is now living in Wauseon, Fulton Co., Ohio. Mr. Warren Brooker died Nov. 21, 1875. Their children are-William H., born Feb. 9, 1826; Mary A., Aug. 24, 1827 (now Mrs. Henry Kellogg); Frederick M., March 17, 1829, died March 12, 1880; Emeline E., born Nov. 12, 1830; Warren, Feb. 25, 1833; Lury J., Oct. 22, 1834 (now Mrs. William Nickson): Lucius E., Oct. 18, 1837; Nettie V., Nov. 30, 1841 (she married Mr. Walter Travis, and died March 18, 1864); Hiram R., Sept. 24, 1842; Merritt W., July, 1845, died Oct. 28, 1845; Alfred J., Sept. 4, 1846; Merritt W. second, April 30, 1848. There were four of these brothers in the army-William H., Warren, Lucius and Hiram; the last two were mustered out as Lieutenants; three veteranized and served throughout the war,
JAMES HARVEY CARPENTER, physi- cian, Litchfield. James Harvey Carpenter, M. D., was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., Feb. 8, 1818, and taught school from his 15th year until 1839. He came to Ohio in 1838. Read
0
G
744
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
medicine with Dr. Tolman, of Litchfield, and attended lectures at Willoughby and Cleve- land, beginning the practice of medicine in 1845. Previous to this time, he had been as- sociated with Dr. Tolman in medical practice, and, when the latter left Litchfield, he contin- ued alone. In 1836, Dr. Carpenter was mar- ried to Miss Sarah Sperry, of Greece, Monroe Co., N. Y., who bore him several children; those still living are as follows: Elmira L. (wife of A. B. Curtis, of Cuyahoga Falls), was born in 1839, and married in 1867; Charles N. Car- penter, of Litchfield, was born iu 1842; Jo- sephine H. Carpenter was born in 1854 and resides at home. Mrs. Sarah Sperry Carpen- ter died in 1864, and. in 1865, he married a sister of his first wife, who has borne him two children-Edna M., born in 1866, and Frank A., born in 1867, both of whom are living at home.
H. HARTWELL DOANE, physician, Litch- field. H. Hartwell Doane, M. D., was born in La Fayette, Medina Co., Ohio, Oct. 11, 1844. He attended school in Muskegon, Mich., until he began reading medicine with Dr. W. J. Sloan, of Muskegon, from whose office he went to attend lectures at the Chicago Eclectic Med- ical Institute; he graduated from that insti- tution in 1866, and immediately began the practice of medicine with his former preceptor at Muskegon. He continued there three years, removing at the end of that time to Grand Rapids, where he remained about the same time. In 1872, Dr. Doane removed from Grand Rapids to Litchfield, Ohio, and has since resided here in the successful practice of his profession. In 1874, he was married to Miss Mary A. Caswell, of Litchfield, who has borne him one child-Bertha M., now 5 years of age. During his medical practice, Dr. Doane has been very successful in the use of electricity as a remedy for various diseases, and has provided himself with the latest and best instruments for its appliance. One un- fortunate circumstance attendiug his practice in Litchfield was the burning of his dwelling and office, in 1879, by which he lost his books, instruments and medicines. In other respects he has been extraordinarily successful in his professional practice.
MOSES HALLADEY, farmer; P. O. Litch-
field. Is of the old New England stock, and was born in Hampden Co., Mass., March 16, 1810. He was married to Miss Emily Allen, who was born in the same county and State, Sept. 16, 1813. Their children were William D., born April 9, 1833; Chester F., April 6,1835, both born in Massachusetts ; John Tyler, born here May 10, 1840; he enlisted in the three months' service, and after his discharge was drafted, but on account of business was obliged to hire a substitute to take his place. Henry C., born Aug. 4, 1843; Ethan A., March 10, 1845; Emily D., Sept. 10, 1850, died in Aug. 1853. Mr. Halladey bought the north part of his brother Solomon's farm, a lot of 30 acres, afterward buying 18 acres more. There was a log house upon the place, which they moved into, and then commenced to clear the place and reclaim it from the wilderness. His brother Solomon's farm at first consisted of 300 acres, but he sold a part of it. He was born Feb. 2, 1800, and died Sept. 1, 1878. He married Miss Dotia Chamberlain, born in Otsego Co., N. Y., in 1819. Moses Halladey's father was born in Connecticut, in 1753, but moved to Massachusetts in his younger days, and, tak- ing up a tract of wild land, began the life of a pioneer. His wife, Mrs. Submitta (Wright) Halladey, was born in Connecticut in 1767, and died in 1826; he died in 1831. Their children were eight in number: James, Levi, Ruth, Solomon, Tallethy, Betsey, Moses and Delia. Moses Halladey came to this State and county in 1836, and ten years after, or in 1846, had the misfortune to have his house burned to the ground, losing in the fire all the records and books of the family. The only furniture saved was the family spinning- wheel and a few light articles. Ethan A., then one year of age, narrowly escaped, he was saved by one of the neighbors. Mrs. Halla- dey's mother, Rachel (Babcock) Allen (widow of Mr. Ransford Allen, of Westfield Farms Mass.) was born in Norwich, Coun., Feb. 16, 1778, and is, therefore, 103 years of age, and the oldest person living in that State. She is mother, graudmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother of 105 lineal de- scendants, eighty-oue of whom are still living in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Carolina
745
LITCHFIELD TOWNSHIP.
and Georgia, and the eighty-one, with those connected by marriage, will give a present total of 125 who may be numbered in her family. Of the eighty-one, eight are children, thirty-eight grandchildren, twenty-nine great grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchil- dren. At 100 years, she was bright, active and intelligent, and the only sign of failing was evidenced by a dimness of vision, which pre- vented the recognition of the features of a person, except they addressed her, when she would know them by the voice.
ANSEL S. JENNE, farmer; P. O. Litch- field. Was born in Saratoga Co., N. Y., Sept. 25, 1808; was married to Narcissa Merrill, Sept. 27, 1830. He came to Ohio in 1836, and earned money by mowing grass to make a payment on 65 acres of land on the Smith Road, paying $6 per acre. He had to endure all the hardships of pioneer life, and for many years had a hard struggle to keep the wolf from the door. At one time he conceived the idea of collecting the ashes left by the burn- ing of logs and trees in clearing the land, and for many years carried on a good business in manufacturing "black salts " and pearl-ash, for which he found market at Elyria. At one time he started for that place in a wooden- wheeled cart, driving a pair of 4-year old steers, when he became mired, and only got out with the assistance of his faithful wife. On that occasion, he promised her that she should ride over that self-same road some day in future in a carriage of her own, and with as good a team as any one in the township, a prediction which he has since fulfilled. To Mr. and Mrs. Jenne were born ten children, five of whom are still living. The names of those who grew up are as follows: Allison was born in the State of New York, Jan. 29, 1832, and died in Maple Rapids, Mich., Oct. 6, 1872; Samantha M., was born in Litchfield, Ohio, June 6, 1837, and died Aug. 14, 1857; Mary J. was born June 21, 1847, and died Aug. 13, 1850; Margaret A., wife of Philander Starr, of Litch- field, was born Oct. 1, 1830, married May 20, 1852; Fannie R., wife of Nelson Harris, of Lodi, was born March 13, 1835, married Feb. 22, 1855; Ann Eliza, wife of John Price, of Fulton, Mich., was born in Litchfield, April 22, 1840, married in 1873; James, of Fulton,
Mich., was born in Litchfield, Ohio, Oct. 25, 1845, married in 1866; Harvey was born in Litchfield, July 17, 1851, married Jan. 12, 1874. Mr. Jenne is, in the strictest sense of the word, a self-made man, and his success is due, under Providence, to his own exertions. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since about his 25th year. His wife, who was born in 1810, has been a member of the same denomination since her eighteenth year. By hard work and strict integrity, this worthy pioneer couple have built up a name and fortune which are an honor to them and to their posterity. In the early days it was very common to see deer among the few cattle which were turned out to graze, and Mr. Jenne has frequently shot them by keeping along with the cattle, and using them as a decoy and screen at the same time, until he got in shooting distance. Wild hogs were also killed, but it was necessary to make sure work, or the hunter would have to run to " save his bacon," as the porkers were very ferocious when wounded. To dress the hogs was somewhat difficult, as few iron kettles were to be had. It was necessary to heat large stones in a log-heap and throw them into a wooden trough filled with water, thus bringing it to a boil. Such was life at that time in the community in which he has lived for so many years.
MRS. CLARA P. JUDSON, Litchfield. Mrs. Clara Pickett Judson was born in Coles- ville, Broome Co., N. Y., in 1812. She was married to Orville Nickerson in 1829; came to Ohio in 1831, and settled in Litchfield, Medina Co. Mrs. Nickerson bore her first husband several children, the names of those now living being given below: Jane A., wife of Francis Peck, of Litchfield Township, was born in New York State in 1831, and was mar- ried in 1849; Sarah E., wife of E. C. Minor, of Jonesville, Mich., was born in 1834, and was married about 1854; Cornelia C., wife of Edward Campbell, of Hillsdale, Mich., was born in 1838, and married about the year 1858; Benjamin F. Nickerson, of Greenwich, Huron Co., Ohio, was born in 1840; Orville Nickerson, of California, was born in 1840. Mr. Nickerson died in 1848. In 1850, the subject of this biography was married to Mr.
746
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Nelson Judson, of Litchfield, and bore him one child-Mary L., wife of Frank P. Smith, of Michigan. Mrs. Judson is the only person now living in Litchfield Township who was here when the first church society (Congrega- tional) was organized, and of which she was a member.
JAMES LIFE, general merchandise, Litch- field. This gentleman's ancestry is traced back to a prisoner in one of the wars in Den- mark, who was exiled to the British Islands, and settled in Scotland. After several gener- ations, the family moved to England, this time settling in Hull, Yorkshire, on the prop- erty known as the Cockgrove Farm. Mr. George Life, grandfather of the subject of this biography, married Miss Ann Swinglehurst, the last descendant of the generation of the Helms and Hays families. They had owned and occupied the ancient property known as St. Johns of Jerusalem, a freehold landed property, which descended to the Life family by the marriage as mentioned above, and which is still held by them. Mr. John Life, the father of our subject, was born in the northern part of Yorkshire, England, and came to this country in 1854, and settled in the township of Royalton, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio. He was born in 1805, and was, by occupation, a farmer and shoemaker. He was known and respected as an honest and industrious citi- zen, strictly moral and conscientious in all his intercourse with his fellow-men. He married Miss Mary Bramley, of Lancashire, England, who was born in 1803, and they were married in 1830. Their children were James, Mary Ann (now Mrs. Isaac Gifford, of Cuyahoga Co., Ohio), Swinglehurst and Richard. Mr.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.