History of Medina county and Ohio, Part 124

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Baskin & Battey. Chicago. pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1014

USA > Ohio > Medina County > History of Medina county and Ohio > Part 124

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down East as teacher, organized a subscription school of twenty-six scholars, furnishing the room and fuel and boarding herself, receiving therefor $2 per week. Mrs. Clapp had taught school iu Massachusetts. Mr. Clapp has often worked one-half a day to earn enough money to enable him to get a letter from the post office at Lodi, walking after the samc. Notwith- standing disadvantages, he and his faithful wife labored on, and, after years of arduous la- bor and much self-denial, they are in the posses- sion of an abundance of everything that will conduce to their comfort and happiness, having over 360 acres of choice land, and adorued with excellent farm buildings. To them have been born four children, viz .: Amasa L., of this township; Julia M., of St. Louis, the wife of Alvin Dycr, who is a reporter for the Globe- Democrat and other papers in the city ; George T., in Allegan Co., Mich., and Alvin R., on farm adjoining. While Mr. and Mrs. Clapp have been successful in life in acquiring this world's goods, yet they have uot donc this to the exclu- sion of laying up treasures above, as they have for forty-five years been consistent members of the Congregational Church.

LUTHER CLAPP, retired farmer ; P. O. Chatham Center. Among the representative farmers and self-made men of this township, is the above-meutioned gentleman, who was born Jan. 20, 1813, in Chesterfield Township, Hamp- shire Co., Mass., son of Ira Clapp, who was born March 14, 1783, and was a son of Amasa, whose great-grandfather was an Englishman, and came to this country three years subse- quent to the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers. From this gentleman and his brother, who came with him, have descended a numerous progeny. To Ira Clapp was born a family of five chil- dren, three sons and two daughters, who are Levi and Luther, of this township; Sophronia, Dorothy and Ira yet remain on the homestead in Massachusetts. The Clapp family are gen- erally farmers as a class, and of the successful kind, to which vocation our subject was, in early life, quite thoroughly drilled, as well as in the fundamental rules of a common-school education. Aug. 31, 1837, he was united in matrimony to Hannah Jackson, who was born Feb. 25, 1818, in Northampton, Mass. ; she was a daughter of Benjamin and Electa (Miller) Benjamin, she being a native of Eugland. Im- mediately after the marriage of Mr. Clapp, he

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came West, having, when he started, $300 in money, which he had earned prior to his mar- riage, working out by the month, which he in- vested upon his arrival, buying one-half inter- est in his brother Levi's land and stock and tools, he having preceded him one year; thus engaged in partnership, they continued in this relation for twelve years, at which time there was a division, and each assumed absolute con- trol over their own individual affairs. To Mr. Clapp have been born four children, who are Caroline, since the wife of Jonathan Beach, of this township ; Ellen, now Mrs. Silas Moody, of Gratiot Co., Mich .; Adelaide, Mrs. John B. Whitney, and Dyer A., who now resides on the home farm, which consists of 235 acres. Mr. Clapp is now retired from active business, hav- ing been successful in his career as a farmer and business man. Mr. Clapp's parents never came to this country to settle, but died in Massachusetts, he Jan. 27, 1850, she Dec. 26, same year, and was, for many years, a member of the Congregational Church. Mr. Luther Clapp and wife, since the spring of 1841, have been members of the same church as that of his parents. His father's family were all very temperate, neither using intoxicating liquors of any kind, or even tobacco, which ex- ample has since been ever followed by his de- scendants, even down to his grandchildren. Although a stanch and standard Republican, yet he has never craved publicity in the offi- cial relations of his township, and has declined all invitations to public honors, and been con- teut and best satisfied to remain in the quiet walks of life. His sound judgment and ripe experience in business affairs, and, pertaining to agricultural matters, are worthy of the emu- lation and practice of the rising generation. He is a liberal patron of the public journals, there being over a dozen of papers and peri- odicals taken in his family. Has been a patron of the Cleveland Leader and New York Inde- pendent since their commencement.

A. L. CLAPP, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Chatham Center ; is the eldest child born to Levi L. and Lucinda (House) Clapp ; his birth occurred Sept. 20, 1836, in this township. At the age of 21, he set out for himself; his first employment was in a saw-mill for William Packard, for whom he worked one year ; after- ward for Wales Dyer. Subsequently, he pur- chased an interest in the same, which firm was

known as Dyer & Clapp, which association lasted one year. April 5, 1860, married Eu- phemia Talbot, who was born on Oct. 22, 1839, in Madison Co., N. Y., being the eldest of a family of five children, born to Edward and Cynthia (Reynolds) Talbot. In August, 1862, though recently married, left his wife and donned the blue for three years. First enlisted in Co. K, 42d Infantry, and served two years as Wagonmaster. In 1864, was transferred to the 96th O. V. I. ; went into the ranks ; afterward was advanced to Corporal, and served until the close of the war. Soon after his return home, he engaged in the produce business, residing at Chatham Center. In 1867, he began farming. Since 1869, he has resided on the farm he now owns, which consists of 100 acres. In 1874, he engaged in the fine-stock business, making a specialty of the breeding of thoroughbred short- horn cattle, with Royal Airdrie at the head of his herd. Also of improved Amerian merino sheep and Berkshire swine, and, in this line of stock, has been the leading representative in Chatham Township. Since 1878, has served as President of the agricultural association of the county, his term expiring in 1881. Is a man that is well read in matters pertaining to the stock business, and is a liberal patron of the leading stock journals and agricultural papers of the day, as well as the general news. But one child has been born to him-Edna, whose birth occurred Oct. 14, 1861, deceased Aug. 5, 1864.

A. R. CLAPP, farmer ; P. O. Chatham Cen- ter ; is the youngest child born to Levi and Lucinda Clapp. His first observations were made in this township March 12, 1843 ; has been raised to the business of his worthy pa- ternal ancestor, and lived with him until his reunion with Martha M. Talbert, who was born Nov. 14, 1848, in this township, daughter of Edward and Cynthia (Reynolds) Talbert. The marriage of Alvin R. was duly solemnized in 1868. Their union has been blessed with three children-Edwin L., born June 10, 1870; Charles B., born Aug. 22, 1876 ; Clyde, born May 29, 1880. Since his marriage, he has re- sided on the farm adjoining his father's. As readers, the Clapp family are noted for their generous and liberal patronage of the literary journals and newspapers, as the mail which comes to their address most truthfully attests.

IRA CLEVELAND, farmer; P. O. Chat- ham Center ; was born March 3, 1800, in Sa-

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lem, Washington Co., N. Y. ; son of Job and Hannah (Clark) Cleveland. The Clevelands descended from one Moses Cleveland, who came from England in 1635, and settled in Woburn, Mass. Both Job and wife were na- tives of Rhode Island. His father was Deliv- erance Cleveland, to whom was born four children-Benjamin, Abel, Job and Hannah, who were born in New York, where their par- ents located when leaving Rhode Island. To Job were born eleven children, who were Anna, Hannah, Daniel, Lydia, Susan, Mary, Roxanna, Job, Ira, Levi and Benjamin ; all of them lived to maturity. Of those living are Levi and Benjamin, in Salem ; Mary, the wife of Mr. Graves, of Vermont ; Roxanna, in Wisconsin; and Ira, of this county and township, who was reared to farming pursuits. Nov. 18, 1821, he was married to Elizabeth Russell, who was born Oct. 10, 1799, in Salem, Washington Co., N. Y., whose parents were William and Submit (Fosgitt) Russell. William Russell was born in Washington Co., N. Y., and was Treasurer of that county for many years, and was a son of Ebenezer, born in Connecticut, and was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. His wife was a Wilson before marriage. Job Cleve- land, the father of Ira, was in the Revolution, as was also Daniel Clark, Ira's grandfather on his mother's side-he was killed in the battle of Bunker Hill. Job, the brother of Ira, was also a soldier in the war of 1812. After the marriage of Mr. Cleveland, he located on a farm in his native county, where he lived until 1831, when he moved to Akron, Summit Co., where he was engaged in the mercantile bus- iness two years ; subsequently engaged in farming near Akron. In 1840, he removed to Guilford Township, locating two years, when he moved to his present place of living, where he bought 197 acres of land, situated one mile and a half north of the Center, for which he paid $8 per acre, upon which there were no improvements. Five years after his arrival, he moved to Mississippi, and, in company with Mr. Blodgett, built a saw mill, but, as the ele- ments and times seemed to work against them, the enterprise did not prove a financial success, and he returned after two years' Southern ex- perience. Since that time, he has been a constant resident of the township. He has three chil- dren living-Elizabeth, Mrs. Suggett ; Laura, Mrs. Alfred Samelson, and Clara, Mrs. Amos

Jump. Mr. Cleveland has a good farm of 315 acres, and, for forty-five years, he and wife have been members of the Congregational Church. He is a solid Republican and a citizen highly esteemed in the community.

SIMEON CONKLIN, farmer ; P. O. Lodi; was born in Tioga Co., N. Y., Dec. 14, 1818, the third child born to Jonathan and Lucy (Nicholds) Conklin. Jonathan was born April 23, 1794. Lucy Nicholds was a daughter of Simeon Nicholds. Simeon came West with his parents in 1837, locating in Harrisville. His father was a cooper by trade, which our subject partially learned at home, and would have com- pleted it there, but ran away from his father ere he had it finished. After he left his father's, he completed the same, at which he worked for several years afterward. Feb. 15, 1849, he was married to Laura M. Belding, who was born in Portage Co., Ohio, in January, 1825, daughter of Titus and Lucy (Bostick) Belding, both natives of Vermont. Gershom Bostick, the grandfather of Mrs. Conklin, emigrated West in 1805, and was one of the first settlers in that county. Mr. Belding, the father of Mrs. Conklin, came West with the Bosticks, and was raised in that county, and afterward mar- ried his wife out of that family. To Gershom were born three children, Titus being one of two sons, to whom was born a family of twelve children, all of whom grew to man's estate. Of those living, are Melvina, of Iowa, now the wife of Joseph Wilcutt ; Sarah, Mrs. Snell, of Minnesota ; Mrs. Mary Bosworth, of Michigan ; Gershom B., in Stark Co., Ohio, also Omar; Byron, in Findlay, an engineer ; Edmund, in Washington, Clerk in the Treasurer's office. Of Mr. Conklin's brothers and sisters, four are living-Phobe, Mrs. Fleming, Mrs. Matilda W. Cotton ; and Charles, now in Minnesota. The parents of Mrs. Conklin were members of the Disciples' Church. Mr. Conklin moved on the farm he now owns in 1849, where he had located his land at $11 per acre. No improvements had been made on the land. There were 55 acres in the first purchase, and he has since added to it until he has 87. The cabin he erected at his coming, yet stands in the yard as a relic of former days. He has now a good home, and in easy circumstances, the result of the labor and savings of his manhood's years. Mr. and Mrs. Conklin have no children. He is a liberal patron of the leading newspapers of

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the day, and is a member of the Republican party.

WILLARD H. COLE, harness-maker, Chat- ham Center ; was born Aug. 1, 1854, in Pen- field, Lorain Co., Ohio, son of Hanson and Nancy (Mallard) Cole. Hanson was born in New York State iu 1817, and was a son of Walker Cole. Nancy was also a native of New York, and a daughter of John Mallard. Walker Cole came to this county when it was compara- tively new ; was a farmer, and one of the es- teemed citizens of the community in which he resided. His son Hanson was married in Litchfield. To him were born five children ; three living-Delia, Abbie and Willard. Wil- lard's father now resides in Strongsville. He resided eight years in Chatham and twenty in Penfield, where W. H. was born. W. H. was raised to farming pursuits, and left home at the age of 19 to do business upon his own account. Six years were spent in the cheese-factory at Chatham Center, in the employ of Maj. Williams. April 15, 1880, he bought out the harness-shop aud interest of Andrew Greenwald, and has since been conducting the same. Mr. Cole, though a young man, is, by his integrity, secur- ing to himself a liberal and growing patronage. He employs skilled labor, and, using the best of material and placing his work upon the mar- ket at the very lowest prices, he has a promis- ing future before him. Feb. 24, 1875, he was married to Etta Brogan, born in Chester Co., Penn., Oct. 24, 1853, daughter of John and Phœbe (Whitcraft) Brogan, now in La Fayette Township. Two children-Grace and Eva-are born to them. Both Mr. Cole and wife are members of the Congregational Church.

L. C. CRANE, farmer ; P. O. Chatham Cen- ter ; born May 27, 1822, in Schoharie Co., N. Y .; son of Charles A. and Lydia (Fuller) Crane, who were born in Massachusetts March 14, 1797, and Aug. 15, 1800, respectively. They were married Jan. 11, 1817. To them were born ten children-Emily, Lyman C., Ashbil, Lewis L., Elmina, Hannah, Walter, Abigail, John and Sarah. Of the above, six are living- Emily, of La Grange, the wife of Noah Hol- comb; L. C., this township; Lewis, in La Grange; Elmina (Mrs. J. Richardson), of Wood Co .; Walter, in Wellington, and Sarah (Mrs. Daniel Sheldon), also of Wellington. John was a soldier, and died in the service. The relig- ious belief of the family has heretofore been of

the Close-Communion Baptist, and politics Democratic. The younger members of the Crane family have been Republican. Mr. Crane, our subject, came West with his parents when he was 14 years of age. They settled in La Grange, Lorain Co., Ohio. Here his parents died-she February 5, 1855, and he Jan. 19, 1878. Mr. Crane was raised a farmer. Jan. 21, 1841, he married Dianah C. Hastings, born in Wilna Township, Jefferson Co., N. Y., Oct. 16, 1829, daughter of Curtis and Polly (Graves) Hastings. Mr. Crane has been engaged in farming. He first purchased 50 acres in Pen- field. Came to this county, locating in La Fayette in 1869, purchasing 168 acres where Duncan Nairn now resides, which farm Mr. Crane owned until 1876, when he sold out. Came to this township, purchasing 106 acres on the Smith road, which was settled by A. R. McConnell. Mr. C. remained on the farm until May, 1880. Has since been a resident of the Center. They have but one child living- Mary, born July 5, 1845, now the wife of Ed- ward Goodyear. They now occupy the home farm. They have three children-Charles, George and Edna. All the family are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Crane have lost three children-all died of consumption-Dianah, born Aug. 4, 1842, died at 16; Chester, born March 27, 1851, died at 28 years of age; Ernest, born May 25, 1852, died at 19. Mr. Crane has one adopted daughter-Alice, born July 15, 1861 ; also one child living with them, named Olive, born March 2, 1869 ; also Clarence C., their grandson, born Oct. 26, 1876, son of Ches- ter. John Crane, uncle of L. C., died in the war of 1812.

EBENEZER DUSTIN, farmer ; P. O. Chat- ham Center ; is a descendant of one of the early settlers of Portage Co .; was born March 5, 1821 ; son of Scth and Betsey (Redfield) Dustin. The Redfields descended from one Theophilus Redfield, who was born in England in 1682, and came to Connecticut in 1704, and settled in Killingworth one year later. His wife was Priscilla Grinnell. From this family have descended a numerous progeny, several of whom filled important stations in civil and mili- tary life. Seth, the father of Ebenezer, cmi- grated West from New Hampshire in 1813, locating in Portage Co., where he remained un- til his death. He was one of the pioneers of

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that county, and upon his way West passed through Cleveland. It was then a trading-post, there being but a few dwellings in the place. At the time of his location in Suffield, they had to go sixty miles to mill. Soon after Mr. Dus- tin arrived in Portage Co., he erected a saw- mill in Suffield Township, it being one of the first enterprises of the kind in that locality. To him were born Mandana, now Mrs. Robert Jordan, of Elkhart, Ind .; Sabrina, who died at 23 ; Cyrena, now Mrs. P. Merrill, of Utah ; Sylvanus, of Webster Co., Mo .; Ebenezer, this township ; Harriet M., now Mrs. Elisha Ells- worth, in Richfield, Summit Co., Ohio; also George, Chandler and Seth. Ebenezer left home at the age of 17. His first adventure in the way of travel was to Michigan, which, not having sufficent attraction for him, he returned to his native county and learned the black- smith's trade, which he followed for twenty-five years. At the age of 23, April 4, 1844, he was married to Rebecca Raudenbush, who was born in Berks Co., Penn., October, 1824, daughter of Adam and Barbara (Spone) Raudenbush. They were both born in Reading, Penn., in 1800. To them were born six children, four of whom grew to maturity-Mrs. Dustin; Adam, in Iowa ; Isaac, in Indiana, and William, in Michigan. Mrs. Dustin's parents moved West to Portage in 1842, afterward moved to Indiana ; remained there three years, then came to this township, where they died. Before Mr. Dustin left Suf- field Township, he began farming, which he carried on for eight years, then dropped his trade, and turned his attention exclusively to farming. In 1865, he moved to this county, locating in Hinckley, where he remained until 1869, when he located where he now resides. Hc has 241 acres of land, and was the first to introduce into the township short-horn cattle. Of a fam- ily of ten children born him, six are living- Ina L., now the wife of L. A. Wilson, attorney at law in Cleveland ; Harvey E., Nora, now Mrs. L. A. Severcool, of this Township ; Erwin D., Allon C. and Bessie L. Harvey E. was a soldier in the late war, and was a member of Co. H, 177th O. V. I., returning home safe. Mr. Dustin has always been a Republican.

BARNEY DANIELS, retired, Chatham Cen- ter; is one of the pioneers of this township, and was born July 27, 1798, in Hampshire Co., Plainfield Township, in the "old Bay State." His parents were John and Lucy (Monroe) Dan-

icls; he was born in Bridgewater Township, Plymouth Co., Mass., son of William Daniels, whose death was brought about by being over- heated and then immersing himself in cold spring-water. Lucy Monroe was born in Hamp- shire Co., daughter of Jonathan Monroe. Bar- ney was the third child of a family of twelve children. Seven of the number attained to man's estate. Our subject learned the shoe- maker's trade after he left home, which busi- ness he followed for several years. Jan. 29, 1822, he married Mehitable Lincoln, whose birth was Feb. 18, 1794, daughter of Joseph Lincoln. In November, 1832, he cmigrated West, in company with Amasa Packard and several other families, who cast their lots in the Buckeye State. Mr. Daniels swapped his farm down East (which, he says, was " onc-half rocks and the other portion break-knolls ") for 125 acres where he now resides, which, at his com- ing, presented to his view a wilderness wastc. A small log cabin was constructed, after some delay, it requiring threc half-days to raise it (inasmuch as he declined furnishing whisky for the occasion). For several years, Mr. Daniels experienced many of the privations and hard- ships that are endured by the frontiersman. In the spring of 1834, he had but one peck of corn-meal in his house. One Saturday, a neigh- bor came, who was without anything for his family, and craved assistance, which was grant- ed by dividing the meal-all he had. Mr.

Daniels then started, in pursuit of work, to Harrisville Township, stating his case to sev- eral-that he would work for anything they had to spare that would satisfy hunger. Mr. Dan- iels was a good woodsman. He rarcly went by the trace of the ax upon the tree's side, but would "strike out" through the forest, going miles to his destination, never losing his course. He was the first Supervisor in the township, as well as the first Treasurer. When he came here, there were but eleven voters in the township. He has always indorsed the principles of Jack- son and Jefferson. For two years, he served the county as its Treasurer, and for many years has been a member of the Congregational Church; was one of its Ruling Elders. He and his wife were of the few who constituted the first organization, his wife being a member ere she left Massachusetts. Mr. Daniels, be- fore dividing out his land among his children, had 255 acres. He has never changed his res-

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idenee sinee he came here, exeept to remove from his log eabin to his present domieile. He has already passed the age allotted to man, be- ing now past fourseore, yet he is well preserved for one of his years. His faithful eompanion has passed over before him; her deeease occurred in 1873. Of six children born him, but four are living, viz., John, who has settled near by ; Henry, in Kalamazoo, Mieh .; Lincoln, now a merehant at Grafton, Lorain Co., Ohio; and Susan, now the wife of Esquire Whitman, of this township. Mr. Daniels will be long re- membered in the minds of his friends and de- seendants, long after he has passed to his rest.

CALEB EDSON, farmer ; P. O. Chatham Center ; was born Dee. 4. 1801, in Willington Township, Tolland Co., Conn. His parents were John and Jerusha (Hatch) Edson. John was a son of Jesse, who was a son of Obed, who was a son of Samuel, whose father was John Edson. The Edson family eame from England. Samuel, who was the great-great-grandfather of Caleb, was born near London, and eame to Ameriea in the latter part of the sixteenth cen- tury. The old family Bible, printed in 1781, now in Mr. Edson's possession, tells the follow- ing : Jesse was born in Bridgewater, May 24, 1747 ; had sons and daughters as follows : Caleb, Hannah, Jesse, David, Howard, John, Susannah, Hannah and Elizabeth. Jesse's wife, was Susannah Howard, and he was born Mareh 25, 1748 ; they were married in 1768. Of those who grew up and raised families were Jesse, Howard, John, David, Hannah and Elizabeth. John Edson was born in Buckland, Franklin Co., Mass., April 8, 1779, and was married to Jerusha Hateh, born in 1779, in Willington, Conn. To them were born five sons and three daugh- ters, viz .: Caleb, Anna, Otis, Jerusha, Almon, Susannah, Dinarbus and John B. Our subjeet, at the age of 8 years, went on the sea, and engaged with his uncle, George Hateh, as eabin-boy, re- maining with him about three years. In 1811, he went on board an American man-o'-war ship, Constellation, and sailed in the waters of the Mediterranean. After the breaking-ont of the war, he was placed in the naval sehool, and, after four years' elose application, graduated as midshipman ; then went on the brig Enterprise, under Capt. Allen ; then the brig Philander ; afterward sailed on the brig Amelia, which was his sea scrviee. Jan. 15, 1825, was married to Sallie Nelson, born in Southwiek Dee. 22, 1801,

daughter of Luther and Sallie (Hall) Nelson. Three years after his marriage, he came West to Cuyahoga Co., where he purchased 108 aeres of land. In 1841, he located on the place he now owns, and has sinee remained. His wife died Feb. 6, 1870, leaving three ehildren-Ma- ria, of Williams Co., wife of Josiah Austin ; Celista A., now Mrs. N. W. White, of this town- ship ; Phoebe J., Mrs. Frank Mantz. Mr. Edson first purehased 60 aeres, afterward added 30 more. The land was formerly owned by Iram Paekard. Was married to second wife, April 8, 1872. Her name was Mrs. Rebeeea Austin, born in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Conn., in 1806. She died in 1876, leaving no issue. Dec. 8, 1878, he was married to Mrs. Mary Ann Ran- dall, born in New Haven March 18, 1814 ; was a sister of his second wife. She was a daughter of William and Jane (Cameron) Reed. William was a son of Martin Reed, who came over with La Fayette, and fought under him during the Revolution. The father of Jane Cameron was Daniel, a Highland Seotehman, and when but a eadet, was pressed by the British in the Revo- lution, and, upon his first opportunity, eseaped from them, and eame to the States, still wearing his kilt and hose. Mr. Edson is a man of re- markable memory ; been a great reader, and has always been a liberal patron of literature ; has always borne the part of an honest and worthy member of the commonwealth, and is held in high esteem by all who know him.

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History of Medina county and Ohio, Part 124

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Baskin & Battey. Chicago. pub Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1014

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Baskin & Battey. Chicago. pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1014