USA > Ohio > Portage County > History of Portage County, Ohio > Part 105
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JAMES H. RAY, farmer, P. O. Rootstown, was born in Nantucket, Mass., September 6, 1839; son of Albert and Mary Ray, natives of Massachusetts, who came to Ohio in 1850, settling in Rootstown Township, this county, where the father died July 18, 1883; the mother still resides at Rootstown Center. Our subject was married the first time November 27, 1862, to Mary T. Par. sons, born in Rootstown, December 23, 1840, daughter of John S. and Lucy
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S. Parsons, natives of Massachusetts. She died September 19, 1869, and January 4, 1870, Mr. Ray married Phebe A., widow of John S. Parsons, by whom she had one child-Jennie S., wife of L. A. Reed, and daughter of Levi and May Beans, who settled in Randolph Township, this county, in a very early day, and where they remained until their death. By this union has been one child-Mary P., born August 25, 1872. Mrs. Ray is a member of the Congregational Church. Mr. Ray owns 180 acres of land.
HORACE REED, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Rootstown, the first white male child born in Rootstown Township, this county, was born near his pres- ent home, October 8, 1805, son of Abraham and Silie Reed, natives of Con- necticut, who immigrated to Rootstown Township, this county, November, 1804. This was then called the Western Reserve and there were only two little shanties in the place. Abraham Reed died January 6, 1849, his wife in 1834. Our subject was married May 24, 1826, to Lois E. Baldwin, born in Massa- chusetts February 7, 1803, daughter of John and Esther Baldwin, natives of Massachusetts, who came to this county in 1811, and remained until their death. Former died April 18, 1845, and latter September 17, 1848. Mr. and Mrs. Reed are the parents of seven children: Melissa E., wife of Edward E. Chapman; Anjanette, wife of Alfred Baldwin; John H., in Nebraska; Edward A., in Tennessee; Cornelius A., present. Probate Judge of this county ; Horace L., of Mansfield, Ohio, and Julia A. Our subject has engaged in farming all his life, and for about twenty years dealt in stock. He now owns 200 acres of land, but has been possessor of as much as 500 acres at one time. Mr. and Mrs. Reed are a worthy couple and command the love and respect of all who know them. They celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary nine years ago, and are now the only couple living together in town that were alive at the time of their marriage.
HARVEY O. REED, farmer, P. O. Rootstown, was born in Rootstown, this county, June 3, 1856, son of Otis and Laura M. Reed, who were also born in Rootstown Township, the former January 10, 1810, the latter April 17, 1813. They were married September 18, 1832, and settled where our subject resides, and here they remained until the father's death, January 18, 1881. The mother resides on the old homestead. They were the parents of seven children, four now living. Our subject, who is the youngest, was married October 1, 1879, to Emma J. Deming, born in this township October 2, 1855, daughter of Gideon Y. and Lucia Deming, who died October 25, 1877, and January 16, 1884, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Reed had one child-Elsie, born December 23, 1883, died September 28, 1884. Mrs. Reed died December 25, 1883. She was a faithful member of the Congregational Church. Our subject is a farmer by occupation. He is a member of the Congregational Church.
MOSES SAPP, farmer, P. O. Ravenna, was born in Cumberland, Md., September 3, 1823, son of Jacob and Mary Sapp, natives of Maryland, who came to this county in 182S, remaining until their death. The mother died April 9, 1852, the father January 13, 1868. Our subject was married Septem- ber 12, 1850, to Fannie Yoder, born in Wayne County, Ohio, October 3, 1829, and to this union has been born one son-Horton J., born January 18, 1852, and married September 30, 1874, to Laura E. Caris, a native of Franklin Township, this county, born August 12, 1850, daughter of Michael and Julia A. Caris, residing in Ravenna Township. Mr. and Mrs. Horton J. Sapp had twins, born July 30, 1875, one now living named Merton; the other died when four weeks old. Moses Sapp, our subject, who has been a farmer all his life, owns 140 acres of land. He has lived in Rootstown Township fifty-five years.
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L. C. SMITH, farmer, P. O. Rootstown, was born in Franklin Township, this county, March 30, 1834, son of Nahum and Julia Smith, natives of Mas- sachusetts, who came to this county in 1818 and here remained until their death, the mother dying in 1851, the father in 1866. Our subject was married August 23, 1871, to Adaline Betts, born in Deerfield Township, this county, July 8, 1848. daughter of Matthew Betts. To this union have been born two children: Clyde C., born June 18, 1872, and Ray L., born August 24, 1874. Mr. Smith was engaged in farming until the war of the Rebellion, when he enlisted, August, 1862, in Company F, Forty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served till the close of the war. He participated in several severe engagements. After the war he embarked in mercantile business at New Milford, Ohio, then again engaged in farming. He now owns sixty-six acres of land, where he and his family reside.
MARCUS F. SPELMAN, farmer, P. O. Rootstown, was born in Granville, Mass., May 31, 1809; son of Festus and Hannah (Dickason) Spelman, who settled in this county October, 1816, and remained through life. Festus Spel- man died October 8, 1818, and his widow subsequently married Dr. Belding, and died in' 1826, after which Dr. Belding married the Widow Umphrie (both are now deceased). Our subject was married October 6, 1831, to Mary A. Reed, born in Rootstown Township, this county, October 2, 1811, daughter of Abraham and Siley Reed, natives of Connecticut, who immigrated to this town- ship in 1804, where they remained until their death. Mrs. Reed died June 27, 1834, and Mr. Reed then married Drusilla Underwood, who died February 14, 1846, when he married Mrs. Fidelia Goss, who survived him. Mr. and Mrs. Spelman have had six children, three of whom are now living: Comfort A. C., Asa M. and Henry L. The deceased are Henry, Joel R. and Olive A. Our subject first settled in Rootstown Township, this county, in 1819, but subsequently moved to Edinburg Township, where he remained till 1854, when he returned to Rootstown, and here he and his family now reside. His life work has been teaching, traveling as agent and farming, and by industry and fru- gality himself and wife have secured a competence for old age. He and his wife are members of the Congregational Church, in which he has officiated since 1860 as Deacon, also serving for many years as Sabbath-school Superin- tendent in Edinburg and Rootstown, and holding various civil offices.
NATHAN TERRY, farmer, P. O. Rootstown, was born in Randolph Town- ship, this county, May 3, 1837, son of Timothy and Almira Terry, natives of Connecticut, who settled in Randolph Township, this county, in 1822, where they died, the father May 6, 1880, the mother December 17, 1878. Our subject was married July 25, 1858, to Elvira A. Woolf, born in Columbiana County, Ohio, May 16, 1840, daughter of Samuel Woolf, deceased, and to this union has been born one child-Florence A., wife of Lucius A. Deming, born Sep- tember 19, 1860. Our subject, who was reared on a farm, owns fifty acres of improved land, where he and his family reside. They are members of the Congregational Church.
MARTIN T. WEENINK, farmer, P. O. Rootstown, was born in Holland, November 10, 1834; son of John H. and Jennie Weenink, who remained there until their death. Our subject was married, April 14, 1859, to Jennie C. Sam- burg, born in Holland, February 25, 1837, daughter of George and Jennie Samburg; the former of whom died in Holland in 1847, and his widow then married John D. Deuink, and with him immigrated to New York State, where they have since resided. To this union were born seven children, five of whom survive: Henry J., Anna C., May, George W. and Ida L. Jennie and Lizzie are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Weenink immigrated to America the year they
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were married, and after remaining fifteen years in Cleveland, Ohio, came to this county. Our subject is a carpenter and joiner by trade, also a farmer, and owns seventy-eight acres of land where he and his family live. Mr. and Mrs. Weenink are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
S. C. WHIPPY was born in Nantucket. Mass., May 18, 1826; daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Green, who died in Massachusetts in 1877 and 1875 respectively. Our subject was married in Massachusetts June 15, 1851, to William S. Whippy, born in Nantucket, Mass., March 28, 1815; son of Josiah B. and Eliza Whippy, natives of same State, the former of whom died at sea in 1854. His widow then accompanied her son and his wife to this county, remaining with them until her death in 1865. To Mr. and Mrs. Whippy were born four children, two now living: William F. and Clarence E. The deceased are Susie E. and Eugene. William S. Whippy, like his father, was a ship Captain, and sailed the sea for twenty-five years. After he and his wife came to this county in 1855, he engaged in farming, but at the time of his death, February 10, 1881, was living a retired life. He was a member of the Con- gregational Church, as is also his widow.
JOHN WIEDEMANN, farmer, P. O. Ravenna, was born in Germany, October 5, 1818, son of Barney and Elizabeth Wiedemann, who remained in Germany, where the former died in 1832, the latter in 1856. Our subject was married March 18, 1841, to Mary M. Speallman, born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, May 27, 1817, daughter of Anthony and Margaret Speallman, who died there in 1847 and 1858 respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Wiedemann have had eight children, five of whom are now living: Emmeline, Margaret, John, Bar- ney and Charles. The deceased are Elizabeth, Abbie and John J. Mr. Wiedemann is a carpenter by trade, and came to Randolph Township, this county, in 1840. He has been engaged in farming for several years and owns seventy acres of good land in Rootstown Township, where he and his family reside. They are members of the Catholic Church.
ASA WOOD, farmer, P. O. New Milford, was born in Independence Town- ship, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, August 13, 1821, son of Silas and Phila Wood, natives of New York State and Massachusetts respectively. Silas Wood's par- ents emigrated from the State of New York about the year 1809, and settled in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, coming all the way from near Utica, N. Y., by water in a small boat, following the rivers and lakes to Buffalo, on Lake Erie. They traveled by water as far as rivers and lakes would permit, and then would take their boat out of the water and hire it carried by team over land to the next river or lake that lay in their route, and so on until they reached Buf- falo; then they came by Lake Erie to Cleveland, Ohio, keeping close to shore all the way, running on shore at night and camping on dry ground; then came up Cuyahoga River by boat to the mouth of Tinker's Creek, in Independence Township, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio. Here they settled and commenced to clear off the heavy timber, so that they might have farms to cultivate. At this time the country was full of Indians, and men when they went out to work took their guns with them to be ready against sudden surprise on part of the Indians, which might happen any moment. Phila Wood's parents came from Franklin County, Mass., soon after the war of 1812, traveling all the way with horses and wagon. They settled in Independence Township, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio. Silas and Phila Wood (the parents of Asa Wood) were married and lived in Independence Township, Cuyahoga County, until the death of Silas Wood, which occurred January 20, 1825. His widow afterward married George Leach, of Northfield Township, Summit Co., Ohio, and lived there until her death, which occurred July 15, 1881. George Leach died February
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17, 1870. Asa Wood, our subject, was married June 3, 1841, to Ruby E. Rose, born in the town of Canton, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., August 5, 1822. Her parents, Daniel and Polly Rose (long since deceased), moved from Canton, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., and settled in Bedford Township, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, in the year 1833, coming all the way with horses and a covered wagon. Asa and Ruby Wood, after they were married, lived in Little York, Northfield Township, Summit Co., Ohio, until April, 1872, when they moved to Roots- town Township, Portage Co., Ohio, purchasing of Rolland Hough the old Will- iam Holcomb farm, containing 124 acres, where they still reside. Asa Wood went to California in 1853 gold digging, and returned in 1856, since when he has followed farming ever since. To Asa and Ruby Wood were born four children: Josiah, Maria, Marilla and Frank, all living except Maria, who mar- ried Cassius Chamberlin, moved to Cass County, Mo., in 1872, and died Feb- ruary 7, 1873, aged twenty-eight years. Marilla Wood married Francis Loughery, and at present resides at Marshalltown, Iowa. Frank Wood mar- ried Miss Maggie Bohloer, of New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, and at present lives in South Cleveland, Ohio. Josiah Wood lives in Rootstown, Portage Co., Ohio. Asa Wood and wife are members of the United Brethren Church at New Milford.
SHALERSVILLE TOWNSHIP.
EDWIN B. BABCOCK, farmer, P. O. Ravenna, was born March 2, 1811, the first white child born in Hiram Township, this county, son of Simon and Sabina (Tilden) Babcock, and grandson of Simon Babcock, Sr., and Col. Daniel Tilden of the Revolutionary war, who died at the age of eighty-nine, the latter of whom named the township of Hiram, giving a gallon of whisky for the privilege, and being a Freemason he named it after Hiram Abift, the founder of Masonry. He was one of the proprietors of the same. He also christened the stream, Silver Creek, after quenching his thirst and that of his horse in its clear waters. Col. Daniel Tilden was an uncle of Samuel J. Til- den, of New York, and Hon. Daniel R. Tilden, of Cleveland, Ohio, is his grandson. Mr. and Mrs. Simon Babcock, Jr., came to this county in 1809 to occupy lands owned by the latter's father, Col. Tilden, who did not settle here till several years later, though he owned several hundred acres of land here. Simon Babcock, Jr., subsequently went South and was never more heard from. His son, Edwin B., resided with his grandfather, Col. Tilden, in New York for four years, then returned to this county in the fall of 1820 and, purchasing fifty acres of land, began its cultivation. In 1821 he went to live in Shalers- ville with his mother, remaining with her till her death. She married Elijah Burroughs, and died at Garrettsville February 23, 1836, aged fifty-two years. March 26, 1835, he married Alma, daughter of John Hoskins, one of the early settlers of Shalersville. She was the youngest in a family of twelve children. To our subject and wife were born Helen, wife of William Walker, of Michi- gan; Christopher G., a prominent resident of Branch County, Mich. (he was twelve successive years a Supervisor in his county); George W., a bridge- builder, who was killed by falling from a bridge he was constructing in Shelby County, Mo., December 18, 1882, aged forty three (left a widow and four chil- dren); Horace C., of Shalersville Township, this county; Amelia S. was married
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to J. W. Gray, died October 11, 1879, aged thirty-six, leaving four children, and Jaynes N., a model farmer of La Grange County, Ind., holds a prominent posi- tion in literary circles, serves his township in an official capacity. Mrs. Alma Babcock died February 11, 1846, aged thirty two years, and October 22, 1846, our subject married Amelia B., youngest of the nine children of Asa Crane, and by her he has two children: Sarah, wife of G. L. Horr, and William A., a lawyer of much promise in Cleveland. Mr. Babcock has a fine, well-regulated farm of 500 acres, and also a cultivated farm of over 500 acres in Branch County, Mich. He has conducted a dairy for fifty years. He has served this county several years in the capacity of Coroner, Trustee and Infirmary Director, and was one of the Directors and President of the Ravenna Savings Bank for several years. At the breaking out of the Rebellion he was appointed by the Government to enroll the township, and was afterward chosen by the citizens to fill the quota called for to relieve the township from draft, paid out about $17,000 for substitutes in Cincinnati and Cleveland, and not a man went into the service by draft. Our subject has been a resident of Shalersville Township nearly sixty-three years, and at this date (1885) there is but one person alive who was married when Mr. Babcock arrived in Shalers- ville, and that person is Alanson Lord, now in his ninety-first year.
COLUMBUS BEARDSLEY was born in Nelson Township, this county, August 1, 1830, son of Clark and Sarah (Sherwood) Beardsley; was united in marriage February 10, 1857, with Miss Eleanor Peirce, daughter of Samuel E. and Betsy Hopkins. By this union there is one son-Willie-a farmer by occupation.
JOHN BONNEY, farmer, P. O. Shalersville, was born February 24, 1806, in Cornwall, Litchfield Co., Conn., son of John and Orilla (Sherwood) Bon- ney, who, in 1813, were included with their family in a party of venturesome pioneers, consisting of Deacon B. Sherwood, Wells Clark, David Beardsley and some few others, who immigrated to Ohio. The journey in those days was one of privation and exposure, the experience of our subject's parents being augmented by the presence of a family of seven children. They came via Pittsburgh through Trumbull County, and on the last day out they were overtaken by a rain storm, which compelled them to camp in the woods. John Bonney, Sr., purchased a piece of land, about 200 acres, in Nelson Township, containing a small clearing, fenced with logs, and a log-house and barn (there was a cranberry marsh west of these premises, which, in the dry season, caught fire and destroyed everything in the vicinity, save the buildings), and the following year he died, leaving his widow with eight children to provide for. Upon one occasion the family existed for three days and nights on the milk of one cow and a quantity of soft maple sap, when they were relieved by some lady residents of Windham Township. About this time Buffalo was burned by the British, and our subject remembers hearing the cannonading on the lake. Bears, wolves and other wild game were plentiful, and at a hunt participated in by the inhabitants, twenty-five bears, six wolves and small game in abundance were bagged. When our subject was eighteen years old he assisted his brother in clearing and fencing five acres of the old farm, and that year raised twenty-six bushels of wheat to the acre. Our subject has been twice married, first May 10, 1826, to Anna Brown, who bore him seven chil- dren, three of whom are now living: Orpha (wife of O. Brown), Lydia (wife of E. Smith) and Eliza (wife of C. Fish). Mrs. Bonney died in 1873, and in January, 1876, Mr. Bonney married Mrs. Melona Haight (nee Hurd), a widow, who had two children living: Emeline (wife of I. Williams) and Adden Haight. Mr. Bonney has been identified with religious endeavors for fifty years, being
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the greater part of the time a leader in the Disciples Church, while living in Freedom, Portage Co., Ohio.
HARLAND P. BRADFORD (deceased) was born February 28, 1837, at Newburg, near Cleveland, Ohio, son of Grafton and Sharlane (Rice) Brad- ford, natives of Connecticut, who came to Ohio in 1832 or 1833, settling near Cleveland. Their family consisted of five children, one son and two daugh- ters now living. Our subject was a soldier in the late war of the Rebellion, enlisting in 1861, in Battery I, First Ohio Volunteer Artillery, and serving until 1864, when he was wounded at the siege of Atlanta and brought home. He was married June 11, 1865, to Eliza C., daughter of Cyrus and Clarissa (Wet- more) Prentiss, by whom he had the following children, all now living: Clifford P., Nellie W., William H. and Edith A. Mr. Bradford, for a time, was partner with B. F. King in the management of the Atlantic Mills. He subsequently disposed of his interest, however, and moved to his farm, where he died in September, 1881. He was a prominent citizen, and a social, genial gentleman. His widow is the daughter of one of the leading merchants of Ravenna, and is an amiable, Christian lady. She occupies the homestead farm.
C. P. COE (deceased) was born May 18, 1801, at East Granville, Mass., son of James and Nancy (Pratt) Coe. His father's family had its origin in England, and mention is made of it in the third volume of Fox's Book of Martyrs, wherein is related the burning at the stake of Roger Coe, of Milford, Suffolk, by order of Queen Mary in 1555. Later it was ascertained that a Robert Coe was the first of the family to emigrate to America, coming in the ship "Francis," John Cutting, Master, in the fall of 1634. He landed in Boston, April 10, 1635, somewhat later than the Massachusetts colony, and settled at Watertown. From the New England records our subject could trace back his pedigree through nine generations. C. P. Coe was twice married, on first occasion February 11, 1823, to Lucinda Cutler, who bore him the follow- ing children: Nancy O., Orpha A., Celina E., Eben S., Henry B. and Amy A. Of these Nancy O. married J. W. Gaylord (had four children: Amy M. ; C. C., born February 22, 1851, died December 11, 1853; Charles C., married to Lelia Garfield, who has one child-Mary; and Lillian I.); Mr. Gaylord died August 9, 1883. Orpha A. married Dr. E. L. Munger, and died May 21, 1877; Dr. E. L. Munger died in December, 1884; they left one son-Charles A. Celina E. married Malcome McCartey, and died January 5, 1875, leaving one daughter-Cora L., wife of F. W. Fitz. Eben S. married Helen Davis (have four children: Harry L., Frederick E., Florence H. and Clara L.) Henry B., who occupies the home place in this township, was married September 14, 1863, to Annette, daughter of Samuel Goodell, an early settler of this county; (they have no children). Amy A. married John R. See (had one child-Nettie B., born October 24, 1862, died April 21, 1864). Our subject married for his second wife, Mrs. Laura Cunningham, who died May 5, 1884. C. P. Coe died January 31, 1885.
E. M. CRANE, farmer, P. O. Shalersville, was born June 14, 1810, in Shalersville, this county, son of Simeon and Rachel (Catlin) Crane, natives of Salisbury, Conn., and who came to Ohio in 1801, first settling at Canfield, Trumbull County, having purchased land, and there lived until 1809, when they sold out and came to Shalersville Township, this county, where they passed the remainder of their days. They were the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter, two of whom are now living: Angenetta, widow of Sheldon Farnham, of Trumbull, Ohio, and E. M., our subject. Simeon Crane, previous to coming here, was Overseer of the Connecticut Iron Works, but after his arrival in Ohio he became a farmer. He was a son of Ezra Crane,
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who came to Ohio in a very early day, and whose family consisted of James, Jeremiah, Martin, Ezra, Belden, Dency, Simeon, Asa, Aaron and Calvin. Our subject has been twice married, on the first occasion July 1, 1835, to Lucinda A., daughter of Charles Streeter, who bore him three sons: Frank C., Auditor of the Lake Shore Railroad at Cleveland, Ohio, and married to Elena M. Bur- nett; Charles S., tin and copper-smith in Ravenna Township, this county, married to Laura Sanford; and Seneca L., a resident of Kansas City, married to Addie M. McGowan. The mother of these children died in 1842, and in December, 1843, Mr. Crane married Sylvinia, daughter of Jason Streator, by whom he has had six children: Cassius M., married to Marcella Bennet; Arthur E., married to Ella M. Beardsley; Frederick J., married to Ella J. Pratt; Ann Jewett, wife of Col. O. C. Risdon, a soldier in the late war of the Rebel- lion; Clarice L., married to J. S. Tilden, Cashier of First National Bank of Garrettsville, and Elton P. His sons are all merchants. Our subject was Trustee of the first bank established in Garrettsville, and influenced its rechar- ter as a national bank on the suggestion of President Garfield. He has held various township offices; was Justice of the Peace for fifteen years, Trustee, Assessor, etc., and is looked up to as a citizen whose judgment and opinion should be received with consideration.
SILAS CROCKER, farmer, P. O. Shalersville, was born April 3, 1799, in Chelsea, Vt. His father, David Crocker, was born in Norwich, New London Co., Conn., March 23, 1760, and came to Ohio in 1828. He was married to Sarah Jones, in New Hampshire, where she died, having blessed him with seven children: Charles, Jesse, Candace, David, Jabez, Silas and James H. Silas Crocker received his education in the country schools. In the spring of 1805 his father's family moved to Lebanon, N. H., and in 1808 his mother died, the family moved back from New Hampshire to Chelsea, Vt., in 1809, and in 1811 our subject joined the Thompson family at Williamstown, Vt. In the month of February, 1814, the Thompsons started for Ohio, young Silas going with them, and March 18, 1814, they arrived at Shalersville. They came via Buffalo, which at that time had but one house, the city having been destroyed by fire by the British. There were sixteen families in Shalersville when they arrived, and were all living in log-cabins. Streetsboro was yet unknown to settlers, and, together with Freedom Township, served for hunting grounds for a number of years. Mr. Crocker remembers having seen, as a result of a pioneer hunt in Freedom Township, twenty-five dead bears and nine wolves. He remained with the Thompson family until twenty-one years of age, when he began life for himself. He applied himself to his books during evenings, and obtained a practical knowledge of surveying. As the county became settled, he did considerable business in dividing lands and sur- veying roads. He also worked at the carpenter and joiner's trade for many years. He learned the distilling business, and followed it for three years. In the fall of 1824 Mr. Crocker returned to his native country to visit his rela- tives, and his expressed satisfaction with the Western country induced them to locate here later. February 4, 1827, our subject was married to Cynthia, daughter of Jonas and Eleanor Goodell, natives of Massachusetts and Ver- mont respectively, and the parents. of Dianthia. Linda, Carlton, Polly, Cyn- thia, Samuel, Sophia, George and Frinda. To Mr. and Mrs. Crocker were born two children: Homer, born February 4, 1828, killed by the kick of a horse April 13, 1839, and Sylvia, boru August 10, 1835, married December 6, 1857, to Lyman T. Hine, and died of consumption June 28, 1860. Mr. Hine has one son, Horace L., born February 26, 1859, who has lived with his grandfather, our subject, since he was three years old. He is an energetic
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