USA > Ohio > Portage County > History of Portage County, Ohio > Part 66
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Barnet Stilwell
581
ATWATER . TOWNSHIP.
George F., born June 12, 1856, a teacher in the Union Schools, but preparing for the practice of law; Jennie T., born September 10, 1864, married, January 1, 1885, to H. Alva Myers, a teacher; Thomas D., born January 27, 1867, engaged in teaching: Clinton A., born June 1, 1870, attending school and helping his father on the farm. During the late war Mr. Douthitt located on his present farm of 225 acres, clearing it of timber, etc., besides several other large tracts, and with the revenue received from the railroad company (in payment for thousands of cords of wood) he has paid for the farm and liquidated other large obligations. The majority of the family are regular attendants on the service of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but not any are members of any religious denomination. In politics Mr. Douthitt is an unswerving disciple of Jefferson, but although living in a township overwhelmingly Republican, his fellow-townsmen have seen fit to repose in him the responsible position of Real Estate Assessor in 1880, and Township Trustee for three terms.
JAMES B. ELTON, farmer, P. O. Atwater, was born in Atwater January 14, 1848, son of Erbin and Caroline (Woodruff) Elton, and grandson of Ebenezer and Emily Elton, of Puritan stock, who came from Connecticut in 1833 via canal to Buffalo, thence by lake to Ohio, and settled on the land now occupied by their son Erbin. Mrs. Caroline Elton came with her parents, Chancy and Perlina Woodruff, from Farmington, Conn., to Atwater Township, this county. They had with them their seven children: Havey, Ezekiel, Henry, Caroline, Cornelius, Cornelia and Alfred, and after coming here had two more-Sarah and William. Ebenezer and Emily Elton had six children: Lucella, married Watrous Fairchild Taylor; Erbin, married Caroline Elton; Elizabeth, married John Norton; Harriett, married Lucius Walker; Edwin, married Harriett Knapp, and Ebenezer, died at the age of two years. Ebenezer Elton lived to enjoy pioneer life but a short time, dying December 22, 1835, aged forty-three. At his death, Erbin, who was but a boy at the time, took charge of the homestead and diligently cleared it of timber, etc., and still makes it his residence. He had four children: Edwin, died April 18, 1870, aged twenty-six; those now living are James B., born in this township in 1848, (married, in 1871, Miss Sarah Hacock, by whom he has two children: Iona A. and Edwin); Henry, a farmer, Windham Township, this county (married Miss Eliza Hacock, June 26, 1883, have two daughters: Carrie and Nina); Emily, married October 8, 1879, to Earnest Youngman, farmer, Windham Township, this county. The family are highly esteemed and respected members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
THOMAS W. GILSON, farmer, P. O. Atwater, was born in Oil Creek Township, Crawford County, Penn., in 1823; son of William and Mary (Laf- ferty) Gilson, natives of Pennsylvania, both now deceased. Of their chil- dren, John, Alice, Peter, Margaret and Thomas W. are now living. Our sub- ject spent the greater part of his life in his native county, and has always been a farmer by occupation. He was married, in 1846, to Miss Cynthia Fowler, a native of Crawford County, Penn., who died January 19, 1876, the mother of five children, viz .: M. H., M. W., L. A., A. T. and E. L., who have been spared to care for their father and his home through the declining years of his life. In 1865 Mr. Gilson purchased and settled on his present estate, comprising 120 acres, now one of the best cultivated farms in Atwater Town- ship. He and his family are highly respected in this community.
HOMER HILLYER, retired, was born in Deerfield Township, this county, November 17, 1815; son of Daniel and Charity (Loomis) Hill- yer, natives of Southwick, Mass. The family, along with a colony of seventy-five persons, embarked for the West in 1815, and were forty-four days
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on the road, settling in this county during October, 1815. Daniel Hillyer was a farmer and did considerable surveying in Atwater and Randolph Townships. Of the six children born to him and his wife, three are now living: Homer, Joseph T. and Edwin, the two younger now residents of Dodge County, Wis. Homer Hillyer was brought up on a farm and was married, June 11, 1845, to Miss Hannah Cooney, a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, who died Janu- ary 17, 1865, without issue. He was married, on second occasion, September 6, 1865, to Miss Celinda C. Crail, born in Beaver County, Penn. Mr. Hillyer was appointed station agent at Atwater on the C. & P. R. R. at the time it was built and acceptably served in that capacity until 1884, when he resigned, being one of the oldest agents on the road, and retired to enjoy the well- earned results of his labors. He has been a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church for years, and is widely known and esteemed by all.
IRA JACKSON, firm of Baith & Jackson, merchants, Atwater, was born in Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., Ohio, in 1853, and is an adopted son of Josiah and Lucy A. (Phinney) Jackson, former of whom, now in his seventy-ninth year, is a native of Rutland County, Vt., and the latter of Dover, Ohio. The family settled in Freedom Township, this county, at an early date and cleared a farm where they resided until their removal to this village. The subject of this sketch served an apprenticeship of ten years at Ravenna in merchandising, and in the spring of 1884 formed the present partnership. This firm are suc- cessors to Brush, Alden & Butler, the leading business house of Atwater. Mr. Jackson married, August 15, 1877, Miss Mary F., daughter of Capt. J. C. Long, of Nantucket, commander of a whaling vessel for years, but now living a retired life in Ravenna. The children born to this union are William and George. Mr. Jackson is a member of the Congregational Church; a member of the Royal Arcanum.
S. W. JOHNSON, farmer, P. O. Atwater, was born in New Haven County, Conn., in 1825; son of Levi and Eliza (Riggs) Johnson, who crossed the country, arriving in this county in 1834, and settling in Rootstown Township, where the father purchased a farm and founded a home. In 1846 Levi John- son removed to Atwater Township, where he lived till the close of his life, August 25, 1862. His widow is now in the eighty-sixth year of her age. Of the children born to this couple, but two survive: S. W. and Henry. The subject of this sketch was married, in 1849, to Miss Sally, daughter of Ste- phen Wooley, deceased. His living children are James R. and Eliza, wife of B. F. Hathaway, present Clerk of Atwater Township. In 1850 Mr. Johnson settled on a farm of 100 acres in the northern part of Atwater Township, on which he resided until 1882, when he moved to his present farm, comprising sixty acres, situated near Atwater Station. He has spent a life-time of labor and toil in clearing land and creating from the wilderness scenes of growth and abundance.
JOHN KENNEDY, section foreman Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad, P. O. Atwater, was born in Tipperary, Ireland, in 1819; son of John and Ann Ken- nedy. He crossed the ocean in 1851 and began the struggle of life, posses- sing a vigorous constitution, strong ambition and an honest heart as his only capital. He made his way to the "West" and worked for two months on the Akron branch of the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Delaware Railroad. In 1852 he was appointed to his present position, and has proved, by his careful appli- cation to business, one of the best, as he is one of the oldest, men in the com- pany's employ. He was married first to Miss Mary A. Sebrell, who died in 1871, leaving four children: Ellen, Ann. John and Patrick. He was married, on second occasion, to Mrs. Margret Coats, who died in March, 1883. Mr.
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ATWATER TOWNSHIP.
Kennedy, who has ever been temperate and frugal in habits, in 1864 was enabled to purchase his present farm, consisting of 128 acres of land.
WILLIAM W. KETTRING, farmer, P. O. Atwater, was born in Atwater Township, this county, in 1842; son of Jacob and Rachel (Petrie) Kettring, natives of Baden, Germany, the former born in November, 1815, the latter in 1822, the respective families immigrating to America in 1831. They were the parents of six sons: William W., George, Joshua, Jacob, Caleb and Eli. Jacob Kettring, Sr., cleared forty acres of land in Atwater Township, this county, where he engaged in farming till his death. His widow, who survives him, is a resident of Atwater, this county. Our subject was brought up on the farm, and has always followed agricultural pursuits. In 1862 he joined the Union Army, enlisting in Company C, One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving till the close of the war. He participated in the battle of Stone River, siege of Knoxville, the Georgia and Atlanta campaigns, Franklin, Ft. Fisher and Nashville under Thomas, and received an honorable discharge as Corporal in July, 1865. Returning to peaceful pursuits he was married, in 1867, to Miss Lucy A., daughter of Thomas Gilson, of Atwater Township, this county. Six children were born to this union, all now living: Henry, Clara, Charles, Maggie, Edith and Mary. Mr. Kettring is a member of the I. O. O. F.
JOHN MANSFIELD, farmer, P. O. Atwater Centre, was born in Walling- ford, Conn., November 18, 1806; son of Ira and Susan (Kirtland) Mansfield, who had a family of six children, of whom our subject is the only survivor. His grandfather, John Mansfield, was an officer of some distinction in the Revolutionary struggle. Ira Mansfield, his father, better known as Maj. Mansfield, made his way through the wilderness of Ohio in 1806, and suc- ceeded in making a trade of land with Joshua Atwater, the original proprietor of the township, securing 360 acres. Returning to the East he brought his family back with him in 1808, and here founded a home. This land he sub- sequently sold, and purchased 150 acres near the present homestead. He raised a company of volunteers for the war of 1812, in which he took an active part. While in camp at Detroit his trusted clerk decamped with $1,500 of his money. For a time this crippled him, but his untiring ambition soon enabled him to retrieve the loss. Ira Mansfield's death occurred in Atwater in 1849. His widow survived him until 1851. Our subject was married, in 1833, to Miss Mary Hall, also a native af Wallingford, Conn., and who has borne him two sons: Ira K., residing at Chicago, Ill., is married to Emma J. Cook (their living children are Mary M., Susan M. and Bessie I.); Silliman S., married to Margaret Goss, they reside in Atwater Township, this county, (Their children are Charles K., Alfred H., Pearl W., Henry L., Carrie J., Frankie G. and Ira S.). Mr. Mansfield is among the oldest settlers of Atwater Township. He has served as Assessor several terms, and has ever taken an active part in the development of his township.
EDGAR H. MANSFIELD, farmer, P. O. Atwater, was born May 4, 1843, in Atwater Township, this county; son of Henry E. Mansfield, born in Wal- lingford, Conn., August 16, 1803, and grandson of Maj. Ira Mansfield, a pioneer of 1807 to Atwater Township. Henry E. Mansfield was twice mar- ried, first to Miss Jane Stanly, a native of Newton Falls, Trumbull Co., Ohio, who died April 2, 1837. Jane, the only surviving child of this union, married M. D. Motherspaw, and is the mother of two children-Harry and Frank-and grandmother of Carl and Ruby. His second union was with Ann S. Stanly, a sister of his deceased wife, born August 16, 1815, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary (Moore) Stanly, the former born November 15, 1768, died August 13, 1848, the latter born August 22, 1772, died June 11, 1847, and who
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
had thirteen children, of whom two survive: James, born July 23, 1801, and Ann S. There are seventy-nine living descendants of this couple. The sub- ject of this sketch was married, in 1869, to Miss Lora E., daughter of Will - iam Campbell, a native of Atwater Township, this county. This family and its connections are among the oldest and most respected in Atwater Township; they are both industrious and successful, walking in the steps of their fore- fathers.
SIDNEY A. MATTOON, farmer, P. O. Atwater, is a native of Atwater Township, this county, born December 25, 1832, son of Caleb and Betsey (Hall) Mattoon, of Connecticut, and grandson of Caleb Mattoon, one of the earliest pioneers of this township, coming here from Connecticut with an ox team. Here he cleared a farm comprising 100 acres and lived the balance of his life. The sub- ject of this sketch was united in marriage, in Atwater Township, this county, January 9, 1856, with Miss Elizabeth, adopted daughter of Aaron Baldwin. This union has been blessed with five children, four now living: Charles A., Jessie, Estella and Edwin. In 1858 Mr. Mattoon settled on his present farm of 240 acres. He is Trustee of the Congregational Church and Superintendent of the Sabbath-school. The family are among the oldest and most respected in Atwater Township.
JOHN MYERS, Atwater, Ohio, was born in Berlin Township, Mahoning Co., Ohio, December 22, 1828, son of Daniel and Polly Myers from Pennsyl- vania, and early pioneers of Mahoning County, Ohio. The subject of this sketch had not the advantages of acquiring an education that many boys, even of his time, possessed. Arithmetic was his "main fort," and in that branch he got as far as the "double rule of three." His constant practice in com- pound numbers, interest, percentage and mensuration has made him so proficient in these departments of arithmetic, that better scholars than he frequently acknowlege his superiority in these departments. When about twenty years old he commenced to battle with life for himself, and his first undertaking was a contract to cut 100 cords of four-foot wood at 25 cents per cord for John Boles, of Campbellsport. Taking for a partner his brother Henry, they accom- plished the feat in ten days, going to and from their work twice during the time, a distance of fifteen miles. With his share of the proceeds, as part pay- ment, Mr. Myers purchased a "Canfield grain thresher " for which he paid $200. This was his first investment, and he continued to follow threshing for sixteen years. In February, 1851, he was married to Miss Sophia Betts, a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, but who when two years old moved with her parents to Trumbull County, Ohio, where she lived until united in marriage to Mr. Myers. Our subject and wife spent one year of their married life in Berlin Township, and in the fall of 1852 they moved to Atwater Township, this county, on the farm where they now live, consisting of 120 acres, for which Mr. Myers paid $17.50 per acre; about ten acres of this farm were cleared off when Mr. Myers moved on it, but being possessed of a strong constitution and a tireless ambition, with the best elements of character and natural frugal- ity, his life's work has been crowned with merited success. He is owner of over 500 acres of land in Atwater Township, and notwithstanding the vast amount of labor connected with operating such a farm, he has always taken an active interest in educational matters, giving his children every advantage of acquiring a thorough education. The record of his family, all of whom are now living, is: W. C., born November 3, 1852; Lucy A., born July 11, 1854, married to L. I. Glass; Chester A., born December 16, 1856, married to Clara E. Hawn; H. Alva, born August 20, 1859, married to Jennie T. Douthitt; Vinnie M., born August 27, 1861; Eddie M., born December 11, 1864; Hattie
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ATWATER TOWNSHIP.
J., born January 8, 1867; Jesse O., born May 26, 1870, and Worthy Allen, born December 14, 1873. Six of these have taught school, viz .: W. C., Chester A., H. Alva, Vinnie M., Eddie M. and Hattie J. Mr. Myers is a strong supporter of Democracy, casting his first Presidential vote for Franklin Pierce, and voting for every Democratic candidate for President since that time.
HENRY NICHOLS, farmer, P. O. Atwater Centre, was born in Fairfield, Columbiana Co., Ohio, September 20, 1825, son of Nasin and Elizabeth (Gould) Nichols, natives of New York State, where the former died when our subject was but two years of age. The widowed mother, with her son, came West and located in Ellsworth, Mahoning Co., Ohio, and three years later removed to this county, settling in Edinburg Township, where she was mar- ried,' on second occasion, in Columbiana County, to Mahlon Siddall, by whom she had eleven children, nine of whom are now living: Marilda J., George W., Matilda A., Louisa and Elisha (twins), Lovinia, Keller, Isaac and Melissa. The subject of this sketch has been a resident of Atwater and Edinburg Townships, this county, since 1834 and experienced all the hardships incident to pioneer life. Between his residence and Atwater Center the road covers hidden timber which he helped to fell in order to obtain a pass through the woods. He has been twice married, first in 1850 to Miss Mary K. Lynn, born in Limestone, Fayette Co., Penn., September 29, 1831, and who died in 1874, the mother of two children, both now living: Frances J., wife of Jerome Hux- ley, of Princeton, Kan. (have two children: Dallas H. and George E.), and Samuel E., residing in Atwater, married to Ada Wireman (have two sons: Bernard H. and Walter). Mr. Nichols was married on second occasion, in 1875, to Miss Eliza, daughter of Jesse and Emily Rogers, a pioneer family. Mr. Nichols in 1866 settled on his present estate, comprising 126 acres, where he has established a permanent home. He and his wife are connected with the Disciples Church of Edinburg.
JOHN NORTON, farmer, P. O. Atwater, one of the oldest native resi- dents of Atwater Township, this county, was born here in 1813; son of Jerry and Rachel (Hubbard) Norton, who journeyed from Connecticut in 1812, with ox teams and one horse. They had two children with them, were six weeks on the road, and located in Atwater Township, this county. They had a family of twelve children, of whom five are now living: Sarah, wife of Daniel Hall, in Richmond, Mich .; Mary, wife of Isaac Elliott; John; James; and Ellen, wife of Henry Beebe. Jerry Norton in the latter years of his life removed to Randolph Township, where he died. Our subject was married in Edinburg, this county, March 11, 1846, to Miss Elizabeth Elton, of Atwater Township. Their only child (adopted), Martha, married Z. Strong and has three children: Willie, Henry and Landa. Mr. Norton lives on the homestead farm consist- ing of 100 acres. He has served his township as Treasurer.
JAMES SPIERS, farmer, P. O. Atwater, was born in England, October 16, 1813, son of Thomas and Ann (Parkins) Spiers, with whom he immigrated to this country in 1833, and located in Deerfield Township, where Thomas Spiers died the following week. In 1840 our subject secured fifty acres of his present estate, now comprising eighty-two acres, which at that time was wholly wooded. A road through the forests had to be cut to make a clearing for the erection of a cabin. Their bread was baked in a kettle suspended on poles, over a fire, and they experienced all the other hardships and privations incident to a pioneer's life. He was married in Boardman, then Trumbull, now Mahoning County, Ohio, February 29, 1844, to Miss Betsey, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Webber, by whom he has the following children living:
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Milo; Lucy, wife of Charles Craig (have one child-Ethel M.), and Celeste, residing at home, the joy and solace of her parents' declining years. The fam- ily are widely known and highly esteemed.
C. J. STANFORD, member of firm of Stanford & Mendenhall, furniture dealers and undertakers, Atwater, was born in Randolph Township, this county, September 7, 1841. His father, Orrin Stanford, a native of Connecticut, came to this county when a youth, with his father, Oliver, who was one of the pioneers of Randolph Township. Orrin Stanford married Eliza Coe, a daughter of Deacon James Coe, Sr., who was born in Granville, Mass., March 19, 1769, and settled in Randolph Township, this county, in 1811. The Coe family came to this country from the County of Suffolk, England, where their ancestors for many generations back had resided. Robert Coe, of Milford, Suffolk, was burned at the stake by orders from Queen Mary, September, 1555. Robert Coe (of the ninth generation) is the first of this name who came to this county. The subject of this sketch learned the carpenter's trade of his father, and worked at the same until he joined the Union Army, in 1861, enlisting in Company A, Forty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and serving three years. He participated in the battles of Middle Creek, Ky., under Garfield, Pound Gap, Siege of Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, and in other skirmishes. After his return he worked at his trade until 1877 when he opened a furniture store and undertaking establishment at Edinburg. In 1880 he removed his business to Atwater, and in 1883 Mr. Mendenhall was admitted a partner in the concern. Mr. Stanford was married, March 15, 1883, to Miss Nina Mendenhall, by whom he has one son-William.
W. H. STOCKBERGER, carriage manufacturer, P. O. Atwater Center, was born in New Lisbon, Columbiana Co., Ohio, in September, 1841, son of Fred- erick and Elizabeth Stockberger, who emigrated from Germany in 1835. They were married at New Lisbon and settled at Atwater Center in 1854. Their family consisted of four children: Caroline, W. H., Daniel and Lizzie. Frederick Stockberger was a carriage-maker by trade, and established the present business here, which he carried on to the close of his life, in 1878. His widow is still surviving. The subject of this sketch was married in Pitts- burgh, Penn., in 1862, to Miss Louisa Rettman, also a native of Germany. Their living children are Jessie, Carrie, Mary, Frank, Lottie, Frederick, Wal- ter and one nct named. Mr. Stockberger has made great improvements in the carriage factory, moving the old building to the rear and erecting a substantial two-story structure. The main floor is used as a carriage repository and the upper floor as a paint shop and drying room. This addition was completed in 1880. Mr. Stockberger and family are members of the Lutheran Church.
JARED STRATTON, farmer, P. O. Atwater, was born in 1841, in Atwater Township, this county; son of Jared and Damaris (Perkins) Stratton, natives of Connecticut, who settled in Atwater Township in 1821. Of their children, three are now living: Almon, born in this township, in 1831, married to Rebecca Henline (they have two children: Willie J. and Howard S.); Jared; and Samuel, unmarried. Jared Stratton, Sr., was a carpenter by trade, and worked at this occupation until within a few years previous to his death in 1883. His widow is now a resident of the old homestead farm. The subject of this sketch, in 1871, settled on his present farm, consisting of fifty-six acres, which he has greatly improved and cultivated. He was married in 1872, to Miss Lydia B. McLeish, who has borne him four children: Fannie, Frank, John and Walter. Mr. Stratton is present Clerk of this district, School Direct- or and a member of the Board of Education. He was appointed a Deacon in the Congregational Church, of which he is a member, in 1883.
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ATWATER TOWNSHIP.
SAMUEL STRATTON, farmer, P. O. Atwater, was born in Atwater Township, this county, June 21, 1843; youngest son of Jared Stratton, Sr., whose history appears above. Samuel Stratton has always remained on the homestead farm, and since his father's death, February 18, 1883, has been the support and companion of his respected mother, now in her eightieth year. Our subject has added thirty-seven and one- quarter acres to the original homestead, making a total of seventy five and one-fourth acres. He is con- nected with the Congregational Church.
WILLIAM THOMPSON, farmer, P. O. Atwater, was born in Deerfield Township, this county, in 1822, son of Uriah and Elizabeth (Allen) Thompson, natives of New Jersey, and among the pioneers of 1810 to settle in Deerfield Township. At that time there were but ten families in the township, the country was covered with woods, and wild animals were in abundance. Their nearest market was New Lisbon. Uriah Thompson secured eighty acres of land which he cleared, but subsequently removed to Atwater Township, where he and his wife died at the ages of eighty-four and seventy-nine, respectively. Of their six children, three now survive: Uriah, Jr., William and Elizabeth. Our subject has occupied his present farm, now comprising 225 acres, since he was eighteen years of age. He erected a cheese factory on his place, and has won for himself a wide reputation as a successful manufacturer of this com- modity. He began life empty-handed, clearing his farm of woods and slowly improving it until he has now one of the best in the county. Mr. Thompson was married in 1855, to Miss Emily Fowler, of Pennsylvania. Of the chil- dren born to this union five are living: Louie, Owen P., Lillie, Leona and Wendell.
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