History of Portage County, Ohio, Part 81

Author: Warner, Beer & co., pub. [from old catalog]; Brown, R. C. (Robert C.); Norris, J. E. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Chicago, Warner, Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 958

USA > Ohio > Portage County > History of Portage County, Ohio > Part 81

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Mr. H. W. Stinaff, who for many years held the position of foreman of bridges and buildings on the N. Y., P. & O. R. R., retired from the service of the company November 29. Mr. Stinaff commenced work at building bridges for the A. & G. W. R. R. April, 1862, on the First Division, making twenty-two years and eight months. He was absent about two years while building the Kent Union School Building. Then returning as fore- man on the Third and Fourth Divisions, afterward was assigned to the Second Division and Franklin Branch as foreman of bridges and buildings, which position he held about fifteen years up to the time of his retirement. The following letter from Mr. Charles Lat- imer, Chief Engineer of the N. Y., P. & O., shows the esteem in which Mr. Stinaff was held by the company :

ENGINEERING DEP'T N. Y., P. & O. R. R. Co. } CLEVELAND, OHIO, December 4, 1884.

Mr. Henry W. Stinaff: DEAR SIR .- I wish to express my regret to you that any change should have occurred in the road management necessitating the change made whereby you leave the service of the company, and to also express my great satisfaction that in all of the eleven years past during which you have been foreman of bridge build- ing, there have been no accidents or loss of property in your jurisdiction which could in any way be ascribed to your failure. Your work speaks for itself, and I hope that you will feel that in retiring you take with you a record to which you can point with pride. Wishing you health and happiness in the future, I am your friend,

CHARLES LATIMER.

Mr. Stinaff has been married four times, his first wife being Lydia But- ton, of Kent, by whom he had one child-Charles H. (deceased). His second

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wife was Maryette Loomis, of Ravenna, by whom he had three children: Will- iam C., George and Perry (all deceased); his third wife was Mrs. Emily Plum, of Ashtabula County, Ohio, and his present wife was Mrs. Ellen Whit- ney, of Greenville, Penn. In politics Mr. Stinaff was formerly a Whig, cast- ing his first vote for Henry Clay. He joined the Republican party at its organization, and has acted with it ever since.

J. B. STRATTON, P. O. Kent, a retired farmer and an honored citizen of this county for upward of forty years, was born at Bennington, Vt., March 14, 1800. His parents, Joel and Rhoda (Beaman) Stratton, were farmers, to which occupation the subject of this sketch was reared. In 1824 he deposited his first vote for Henry Clay as President. He was married, in his native town, May 12, 1824, to Ruth Olin, a daughter of Ezra Olin, of Shaftsbury, Vt. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Stratton are as follows: Almira, born February 15, 1825; Mary M., born August 12, 1826; Asa, born February 24, 1828; Lucas, born November 8, 1829; Samuel, born August 19, 1831; Freeman, born June 26, 1833; Joel, born March 28, 1835, and accidentally scalded to death, Janu- ary 12, 1838; Jonathan N., born May 16, 1837; Melissa, born May 28, 1839; Susan, born December 30, 1840; Joseph B., born October 22, 1842; Clarissa C., born July 2, 1849. Soon after marriage Mr. Stratton moved to Genesee County, N. Y., and thence to Wyoming County, N. Y., and in 1837 took up his residence in this county, buying a farm of 130 acres about two miles north of the present village of Kent. Though Mr. Stratton received in his youth a very limited education, his success in life speaks well for his natural sterling qualities of mind. He added to his first possessions in this county, and at one time owned some 400 acres of valuable land and other property. At the time (1874) of the celebration of the golden wedding of himself and wife, eleven of their children were living, all of whom were married, ten of them being present on the occasion, and Mr. Stratton presented each of them, as a memorial of the event, with $1,000. The eleven children are all now living and in prosperous circumstances. In 1884 our subject's grandchildren num- bered thirty-two, and his great-grandchildren, fifteen. Mrs. Stratton, who was a member of the Universalist Church, died April 4, 1877, and Mr. Stratton then, January 15, 1878, married Mrs. Martha A. (Williams) Munsee, widow of Edward A. Munsee, and daughter of Mark and Polly (Staunton) Williams, of Hampshire County, Mass. Mr. Stratton now resides in the north part of the village of Kent, where he owns eleven acres of land. He and his wife are members of the Universalist Church. In politics he is a Republican.

FREEMAN STRATTON, farmer, P. O. Kent, was born in Genesee County, N. Y., June 26, 1833, son of Joseph B. and Ruth (Olin) Stratton, who settled in Franklin Township, this county, in 1837. Our subject was reared here and educated in the common schools, and has always followed farming as an occupation. He was married, May 5, 1857, to Emelia, daughter of Frederick and Margaret (Foster) Williard, of Franklin Township, this county. By this union there are three children living: Georgianna, Harry J. and Frank- lin S. Mr. Stratton resides on the old Williard homestead, where he has lived since 1869. In politics he is independent.

AARON B. STUTZMAN, A. M., Superintendent of the public schools at Kent, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, March 23, 1842, son of Henry and Catharine (Miller) Stutzman, natives of Summerset County, Penn., of German descent. They came to Ohio in 1826, locating in Greene Township, Wayne County, where they lived and died. The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm, and educated at the Smithville High School and Mount Union College, whence he graduated in 1870. He engaged in teaching, as

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Principal of the Dalton High School, of Dalton, Wayne Co., Ohio, where he remained two years; from there he removed to Doylestown, where he was engaged in teaching two years, after which he was for five years Superintendent of the public schools at Wadsworth, Medina Co., Ohio, and a member of the County Board of Examiners. In December, 1878, he passed a rigid examina- tion at Columbus, Ohio, before the State Board of Examiners, who granted him a certificate of high qualifications, which is good for life and in any pub- lic school in the State. In same year he located in Kent, where he has held the position of Superintendent of public schools to the present time. He was married, August 15, 1872, to Jennie, daughter of Israel Clippinger, of Dalton, Ohio, by whom he has had three children: Edwin H. (deceased), Grace E. and Willie G. During the civil war Mr. Stutzman served in the Union Army, as private in Company A, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Mr. Stutzman is a gentleman of culture and wedded to the profes- sion he has chosen. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Republican. He is a F. & A. M., and an active member of the I. O. O. F.

HENRY A. SWAN, farmer and milkman, P. O. Kent, was born in Boston, Summit Co., Ohio, September 28, 1840, son of Levi L. and Louisa (Metlin) Swan, early settlers of that locality. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native town, where he followed farming for three years after he became of age, then went to Bath, where he lived one year, thence came to Streetsboro, where he engaged in farming and dairying for six years. In 1873 he located in Kent, and in 1876 on the farm where he now resides. He keeps a dairy of from fifteen to twenty cows, and in 1882 built his present residence, one of the finest in the county. His barns and other out-buildings are first-class, well adapted to the uses for which they were built, and everything about his prem- ises shows evidence of care and thrift. Mr. Swan was married, March 9, 1865, to Eliza, daughter of Aaron and Mary (Dickison) Ferry, who located in Frank- lin Township, this county, about 1833. The issue of this union is two chil- dren: Herbert and Karl. In politics Mr. Swan is a Democrat.

J. S. SWEENEY, physician and surgeon, Kent, was born in Middlefield, Geauga Co., Ohio, August 14, 1831, son of John and Dolly (Brown) Sweeney, natives of Belfast, Ireland, and New Hampshire respectively. John Sweeney was a farmer by occupation, and one of the first settlers of Geauga County, Ohio, locating in Painesville in 1818, where he resided for several years; then removed to Middlefield, where he lived until his death, which occurred July 9, 1874, in his eighty-third year. He was pressed into the British service dur-

ing the war of 1812. In character he was upright, honest and honorable, a firm friend and true to his convictions. Our subject was reared on his father's farm and educated in select schools. From 1850 to 1854 he studied medicine with his brother, E. J. Sweeney, of Nelson, this county. He then went to Park- man, Geauga Co., Ohio, where he engaged in the practice of medicine two years; thence moved to Chardon, practicing there one year. At the breaking out of the Rebellion he enlisted in Company A, Hoffman's Battalion, and served on Johnson's Island, Lake Erie, guarding prisoners, until he received an honora- ble discharge on account of disability in the fall of 1862. He then located in Stowe, Summit Co., Ohio, and resumed the practice of medicine, remaining there until 1871, when he moved to Kent, where he has since been in active practice. He was married June, 1854, to Delia, daughter of Joseph W. Rock- well, of Rome, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, and by her he has three children: Dolly A. (Mrs. Byron Longcoy), Edward J. and Alice. Dr. Sweeney is an active member of the K. of P. and G. A. R., of which latter he is Post Commander. In politics he is a Democrat.

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JOHN L. TIBBALS, farmer, P. O. Kent, was born in Deerfield Township, this county, January 15, 1821; son of Alfred M. and Martha H. (Swem) Tib- bals. His paternal grandfather, Moses Tibbals, a native of Massachusetts, settled in Deerfield Township in 1805, where he cleared and improved the farm on which he lived and died. He had five children: Clarissa (deceased), Alfred M. (deceased), Arbet L. (deceased), Francis (deceased) and Seymour. His maternal grandfather was William Swem, a native of New Jersey, and a pio- neer of Salem, Columbiana Co., Ohio. The father of our subject was reared from eight years of age in Deerfield Township, this county. There he cleared and improved two farms (one now occupied by his son Frederick) and resided until he was killed at the age of sixty years by a falling limb of a tree. His children were five in number: John L., Norman (deceased), Frederick and Curtis (farmers in Deerfield) and Newell, a prominent lawyer of Akron, Ohio, and who has filled the office of Judge of Common Pleas. Our subject was reared and educated and served as Trustee for several years in Deerfield Town- ship, where he resided till 1875, when he removed to Franklin Township to the farm where he now resides. He was married, February 19, 1851, to Mary C., daughter of Frederick and Fanny (Williams) Dewey, of Franklin Town- ship, this county, former of whom was a native of Chester, Mass., and a son of John Dewey, parent of three children: Mary C., Sylvester F. (deceased), and Harriet F., wife of J. N. Stratton. Frederick Dewey came to Franklin Township, this county, in 1818 and located on the farm now owned by Marius Heighton, and in 1834 settled on the farm now occupied by our subject, most of which he cleared and improved, and here he died in February, 1872, in his seventy-fifth year. Mrs. Tibbals' maternal grandfather, Dudley Williams, also a native of Massachusetts, settled in Franklin Township, this county, in 1820. Our subject and wife are the parents of five children: Floris (deceased), Charles, Frank, John and Frederick. Mr. Tibbals is a Republican in politics.

TURNER BROS. (Joshua and John G.), manufacturers, Kent, are natives of Bradford, England, where they served {an apprenticeship of seven

years in the worsted mills of that city. In 1873 they came to America, and located in Jamestown, N. Y., where Joseph Turner, their father, started the first worsted mills, which he conducted for five years. They are now owned by

William Hall & Co., and still in operation. In 1879 the family located in Kent, and embarked in the manufacture of a superior quality of worsted dress goods. They occupy a building five and a half stories high, in dimensions 160x45, and thoroughly equipped with the latest improved dye-house, combing, drawing and spinning machinery, with 114 looms and 2,000 spindles, employ- ing 150 hands. The mills are run by two large turbine water-wheels, develop- ing 120 horse-power. The Turner Bros., who are the managers, are gentle- men of experience in all the details of their business, one of the leading industries of the place, contributing largely to the substantial welfare of the community.

JOHN G. TURNER, manufacturer, Kent, was born in England, April 10, 1857; son of Joseph and Martha (Gill) Turner, who came to Amer- ica in 1873, and located in Jamestown, N. Y., where his father, with others, under the firm name of Hall, Broadhead & Turner, started the first alpaca- mills in that city, and where he was engaged in business up to 1878. In 1879 Joseph Turner located in Kent, this county, and embarked in the manufacture of worsted goods in company with his sons, Joshua and John G., in which he continued until his death. He died in 1881 at the age of fifty-three years. The business is still carried on by his sons (see sketch of Turner Bros.). Our subject was reared in Yorkshire, England, until sixteen years of age, and was .

Oliver tuncer,

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educated in all the details of his present business in that country, and in his father's mill at Jamestown, N. Y. Mr. Turner is a gentleman of push and enterprise, and his identity with the manufacturing interests of Kent has been alike valuable to himself and the public. He is a F. & A. M. In politics a Republican.

JAMES WARK, photographer, Kent, was born in County Donegal, Ire- land, January 23, 1847; son of William and Catherine (Long) Wark. His ancestors, who were of Scotch descent, located in Ireland in 1798. The sub- ject of this sketch was reared and educated in his native county, and came to America in 1866, locating at Cuyahoga Falls, Summit Co., Ohio, where he remained five months. He then went to Akron and worked on a farm by the month until 1869, when he entered the photograph gallery of G. W. Manly, where he served an apprenticeship of two years. In 1871 he removed to Kent and opened a photograph gallery, in which he has been profitably engaged to the present time. He was married, June 8, 1874, to Belle, daughter of Jas- per and Fidelia (Bliss) Haught, of Kent, by whom he has two children: Will- iam J. and Bessie B. Mr. Wark is a member of the Episcopal Church, also an active member of the I. O. O. F. and R. A. He is now serving his third term as Clerk of this township, and first term as Clerk of Kent cor- poration. In politics he is a Republican.

LEWIS K. WILLIAMS, farmer, P. O. Kent, was born in Franklin Town- ship, this county, January 15, 1842, son of Austin and Adaline (Knowlton) Williams, the former a native of Massachusetts, the latter of Vermont. His . paternal grandfather was Dudley Williams, who came from Russell, Mass., to Franklin in 1820, and located on the farm now owned by Henry Lake. He afterward removed to Wisconsin and died there. He reared a family of five children: Calvin (deceased), Austin (deceased), George, Fanny (deceased) and Polly (Mrs. Sylvester Huggins). The maternal grandfather of our subject was William Knowlton, formerly of Vermont and an early settler of what is now Kent. Austin Williams, the father of our subject, was reared on a farm and always followed farming as an occupation. In his early manhood his father gave him forty acres of land, on which he moved after his marriage and to which he added by purchase until he had accumulated 320 acres, where he lived and died April 1, 1872, in his sixty-fifth year. He had four children: Lewis K., William D. (deceased), Scott T. and Charles A. The subject of this sketch, a farmer, was reared on his father's farm and educated in the common and high schools of Kent. In 1865 his father gave him and his brother, William D., 120 acres of land, which they worked together for two years. He then purchased William D.'s interest and conducted the farm himself up to 1883, in which year he rented his farm and, having purchased a residence in Kent, removed there, where he now resides. He was married November 30, 1869, to Abbie, daughter of Deacon Lyman and Lucy C. (Stebbins) Sabin, of Hampshire County, Mass. In politics Mr. Williams is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Congregational Church.

WILLIAMS BROS., proprietors of the Peerless Mills, Kent. This firm is composed of Scott T. and Charles A. Williams, the two younger sons of the late Austin Williams, the former a farmer by occupation, and the latter a stu- dent of the Western Reserve College. They began business in 1879 in the erection of the Peerless Mills. The present main building was erected in 1880, and the mill started in June, 1881, fully equipped for the manufacture of 125 barrels of flour daily by the "new process," as it was then known. At the end of two years the business had outgrown the building, also the capacity of the machinery for manufacturing, at which time (1883) the mill

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was enlarged by adding a wing nearly as large as the original building, the system of grinding changed to "full roller," the daily capacity increased from 125 to 200 barrels, and a feed department added. The mill is now 96x73 feet, five stories high, having a floor surface of over 35,000 square feet, and equipped in the best manner for flouring by the E. P. Allis system, con- taining sixteen full sets Gray roller mills, three clearing machines, twenty-one bolts, seven purifiers and aspirators, also dusters, centrifugals, packers, etc. It is run by a 100-horse-power engine, which is furnished with steam from two 75-horse- power boilers. As the mills are now run they consume from 250, 000 to 300,000 bushels of wheat annually, and also have a capacity for grinding 150,000 bushels of corn. Grain for supplying the mill is largely bought from farmers at home, and the prices paid are equal to any market in the State, making the best of home markets for the farm. The proprietors are young men of push and enterprise, and fully understand all the details of the milling business, which is one of the leading industries of Kent.

SCOTT T. WILLIAMS, miller, Kent, was born in Franklin Township, this county, February 26, 1852; son of Austin and Adeline (Knowlton) Will- iams. His paternal grandfather was Dudley Williams, an early settler of Franklin Township, this county, who afterward removed to Wisconsin and died there. His maternal grandfather was William Knowlton, a native of Cape Ann, Mass., also an early settler of Franklin Township, this county. Our subject was reared on a farm, and after he became of age engaged in agriculture for six years. In 1879, in company with his brother Charles A., he erected the Peerless Flouring Mills, and embarked in the milling business, in which he is engaged at the present time. He was married, October 17, 1877, to Hettie, daughter of Elias and Triphena (Blair) Converse, of Mantua Township, by whom he has one child-Lewis B. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are members of the Congregational Church. In politics he is a Republican.

FRANKLIN WILLIARD, farmer, P. O. Kent, was born in Franklin Mills (now Kent) November 11, 1822; son of Frederick and Margaret (Foster) Williard, respectively natives of Maryland and Beaver County, Penn. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Philip Williard, a native of Ger- many and one of the first settlers of Rootstown, where he lived and died. Frederick Williard, a carpenter by trade, was an early settler of Franklin Township, and for the last twenty years of his life he was a farmer, the home- stead now being occupied by his son-in-law, Freeman Stratton. He had nine children: Catherine (deceased), Sarah (Mrs. Hiram Merrell), George, Frank- lin, Frederick (deceased), Edwin, Mary (deceased), Samuel, and Amelia (Mrs. Freeman Stratton). The subject of this sketch has always followed farming. He has been twice married. His first wife was Mary Pratt, of Franklin Township, this county, by whom he had two children: Perry, and an infant daughter (deceased). By his present wife, nee Sarah A. Hackett, he has three children: Frederick, Frances and Asa. Mr. Williard now resides a mile east of Kent, where he has lived for eighteen years. In politics he is a Democrat.

SAMUEL WILLIARD, farmer, P. O. Kent, was born in Franklin Town- ship, this county, October 22, 1832, son of Frederick and Margaret (Foster) Williard, who were among the first settlers of Franklin Township, this county, wherein our subject has always lived, and he'now occupies a part of his father's homestead. He was married April 10, 1864, to Emma, daughter of Matthias Clark, of Akron, and by her he has had two children: Clifford (deceased) and Evalena M. Mr. Williard is a representative farmer and citizen of Franklin Township. In politics he is a Democrat.

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SIMON P. WOLCOTT, attorney-at-law, Kent, was born in Northfield, Summit Co., Ohio, January 30, 1837, son of Alfred and Mary A. (Scovill) Wolcott. He was born and reared on his father's farm and received his early education in the common schools. He prepared for college under the instruc- tion of the late President Garfield, at Hiram Eclectic Institute, Hiram, Ohio, and from there attended Western Reserve College at Hudson, Ohio, where he graduated in 1862. Choosing the law for his profession, he studied one year in the office of H. B. Foster, of Hudson, Ohio, and one year with N. D. Tibbals, of Akron. He was admitted to the bar of Summit County in 1864, and in the fall of the same year located in Kent, where he has been in active practice ever since. He was married July 17, 1866, to Mary H., daughter of Anson A. and Sally P. (White) Brewster, of Hudson, and the issue of this union was three children: Nellie B., Jennie B. and Duncan B. Wolcott. In 1866 Mr. Wolcott was elected Mayor of Kent, being the second Mayor of the town; also served as City Solicitor of Kent two terms; was a member of the School Board nine years, and he is at present member of the Board of Exam- iners. In the fall of 1881 he was elected to the State Senate, representing Portage, Summit, Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula Counties; was re-elected in the fall of 1883 and he is now serving his second term. In politics Mr. Wol- cott has always been a stanch Republican.

JAMES WOODARD was born in Ravenna, Portage Co., Ohio, July 31, 1810. He was the eldest son of Gen. Joshua Woodard, and the first white male child born in what is now Ravenna Village. He came to Franklin Mills (now Kent), Ohio, in 1818, his father soon after erecting a woolen mill and continuing that business with John Haymaker for many years. His early advantages for an education were very limited, but he acquired, by diligent study, a good practical common school education. He was possessed of an active mind, and was compelled by force of circumstances in that early day to habits of industry. In 1834 he married Maria Hopkins, daughter of Ruda Hopkins, of Copley, Summit Co., Ohio. Soon after their marriage they com- menced keeping hotel at the Upper Village at Franklin Mills, remaining there for some years, afterward settling on a farm now within the corporate limits of Kent. They raised a large family of children, two sons and seven daughters, all now living save one. Mr. Woodard occupied many positions of responsibil- ity and trust. He served many years as Justice of the Peace and was also Sheriff of Portage County for two terms, and it has been often and truthfully said that Portage County never had a more efficient Sheriff. He was strictly honest, brave and courageous, and during his terms as Sheriff had occasion to arrest many counterfeiters and rascals that then infested Portage County. Notably among these was the notorious "Jim " Brown, who was convicted and sent to the Ohio Penitentiary. Mr. Woodard in his later years had retired from the more active duties of life. He was the efficient Mayor of Kent two terms, closing his last term three months before his death. His administration was marked by his considerate attention to the best interests of Kent, where he had so long lived, and it is universally conceded that Kem has never had so efficient a Mayor. He was a man of most positive convictions, sterling integrity, and was fearless in the expression of his views on all subjects. He was kind and charitable to the poor, and always gave with an open hand. He died at his pleasant home in Kent, September 2, 1883, of neuralgia of the heart, after an illness of only two days, honored and respected by all who knew him.

CHARLES R. WOODARD, farmer, P. O. Kent, was born in Franklin Township, this county, April 4, 1854, son of James and Maria (Hopkins)

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History of Portage County, Ohio, Part 81

Author: Warner, Beer & co., pub. [from old catalog]; Brown, R. C. (Robert C.); Norris, J. E. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Chicago, Warner, Beers & co. Number of Pages: 958

Author: Warner, Beer & co., pub. [from old catalog]; Brown, R. C. (Robert C.); Norris, J. E. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Chicago, Warner, Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 958