History of Portage County, Ohio, Part 83

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 83

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MATTHEW D. CLARK, barber, Garrettsville, was born in Ireland, August 15, 1849, son of Michael and Jane (Sands) Clark, of Farmington, Ohio, who had a family of eight children, five now living: Mary, Matthew, Kate, Anna, and John, who married Celia Johnson (have three children: Elser J., Elton P. and Claud, deceased). Our subject received a common school edu- cation in his native land, and in 1864 came to America with his mother, brothers and sisters to join his father, who had preceded them seven years, locating at Farmington, Trumbull Co., Ohio. Our subject enlisted in Company D, Sixth Ohio Cavalry, and on March 31, 1865, in the battle at Dinwiddie Court House, Va., he was wounded, and a week later his left leg was ampu- tated by Dr. D. W. Bliss, Surgeon of the Army Hospital at Washington, D. C. After his discharge from the service he attended school a short time, then began to work at his trade, having learned it in Ireland. He was married, October 18, 1868, to Miss Alvira Johnson, born in Copley, Ohio, March 14, 1850, daughter of Fayette and Eliza (Taylor) Johnson. By this union there is one daughter-Maud J., born April 14, 1873. Since locating in Garrettsville Mr. Clark has here remained continuously, with the exception of three years

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spent in Akron, Ohio. He has been a member of Portage Lodge, No. 456, I. O. O. F., about nine years; also of the Encampment at Ravenna, and of Buckley Post, G. A. R., of Akron.

JEDEDIAH COLE, civil engineer and County Surveyor, Garrettsville, was born in Nelson Township, this county, May 26, 1830; son of Jedediah and Elizabeth (Noah) Cole, the former a native of Vermont, born in 1797, the lat- ter of Chester County, Penn., born in 1802. They were parents of four chil- dren, three of whom are still living: Rebecca J., wife of Uriah Craig, of Kid- der, Mo .; William C., a farmer, also in Missouri, and our subject. Jedediah Cole, Sr., was a carpenter in early life. He came to this county in 1816, and for a year or two worked at his trade, but for the balance of his life he was engaged in farming. He was a prominent man in religious circles, being one of the few to organize the Disciples Church. His death occurred May 10, 1850. His wife died August 5, 1834. Our subject in early life was employed in attending the neighboring schools and rendering what assistance he could to his parents on the homestead farm. He was married, September 6, 1855, to Miss Katie M. Dickens, who was born March 18, 1833, at Jacksonville, Ill., by whom he had five children: Augustus S. (an attorney at Ravenna, Ohio), Helen (deceased), James D., Katie E. and Paul H. Mr. Cole entered upon his career in life as a school teacher at Salem, Ill., where he remained until 1856; then for two years was in northern Iowa engaged in different enterprises, such as merchandising, contracting and land surveying, and while there he did his first work as land surveyor. From this point he went to Prairie du Chien, Wis., where he was employed principally in building and teaching. While there the war broke out, and he responded to the first call for men in 1862, enlisting in Company A., Thirty-first Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out in November, 1864, for promotion to Captaincy in the One Hun- dred and Twenty-third U. S. C. I., and was honorably discharged as such at the close of the Rebellion, after which he retired to his home in Ohio and embarked in lumbering, in which he continued till the fall of 1869, when he was elected to the office of County Surveyor, a position he still retains. He has served one term as Justice of the Peace, and has held the same office in Iowa and Wisconsin. Has also served as Clerk of the Board of Education two terms. In addition to his labors as County Surveyor he is engaged in collect- ing and in real estate business. Mr. Cole is a F. & A. M.

EDWARD L. DAVIS, grocer, Garrettsville, was born in Shropshire, England, March 8, 1840, and was brought to America when eleven years of age by his father, Ellis Davis. They first located in Ravenna, and from there went to Hiram Rapids, where they lived a few years. Ellis Davis, who was a miller by trade, died in Garrettsville September 3, 1865; his wife died in England about 1843. Their children were two in number: Ellis, who is in the insurance business in Cleveland, Ohio, and Edward L. Our subject received a common school education, and early in life began to work at the miller's trade. He was twice married, on first occasion November 3, 1861, to Ann Ferry, who died August 19, 1875, leaving to his care two children: Mary G. and Ellis F. Mr. Davis was again married March 23, 1876, this time to Emma L. Morgan (widow of H. Morgan, of Hartsgrove Township, by whom she had one daughter-Maud, now living with her step-father). By this union there were two girls: Grace and Daisy. Mrs. Davis died October 18, 1880. Our subject in 1861 took charge of the grist-mill at Garrettsville and five years later purchased an interest in the same, but in 1880, owing to the effects of dust on his lungs, he was forced to retire from milling. He then pur- chased an interest in a grocery, but two years later again gave up active busi-

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ness. The following year he purchased a stock of groceries, and is still engaged in that business. Mr. Davis has served the people as City Clerk two terms, and on the Board of Education three years. He is an active member of Portage Lodge, I. O. O. F.

JAMES DUNN, farmer, P. O. Garrettsville, whose portrait appears in this volume, was born October 11, 1822, in Hartford, Windsor Co., Vermont. His father, James Dunn, was a native of Massachusetts, and early engaged in brick making. When over thirty years old he went to Vermont, where he was employed in the manufacture of brick for a Mr. Udall, and while there was married to Mary Udall, a niece of his employer, and with her, in 1832, moved to this county, settling on the farm where their son, our subject, now resides, and there remained until their death. The father died in 1858 and the mother in 1864. He (the father) had some reverses financially before his marriage, having lost the first $500 which he had saved by economy, but such vicissitudes only served to make them more ambitious, and prosperity was the outcome of their efforts. They had seven children: William, a resident of Troy, Ohio; Mary, married to Albert Gage (they reside in Freedom Township, this county); Belinda, married to Benjamin Baker (they reside in Crawford County, Penn.); James; Amanda, married to James M. Bowman; Cosmo L. (deceased), and Rachel (deceased). Our subject was taken from the summer schools when ten years old to assist his father in farm duties, and was permitted to attend school during winter terms until 1844-45, during which period he was a student in the Troy, Ohio, schools. He was the only

son to remain closely associated with his parents in their farm labors, and was given the greater portion of their property in return for his labor and care of them in their old age, and to this he has added until he now ranks among the well-to-do men of this county, having 180 acres of well-improved land lying part within and part adjacent to the village of Garrettsville. He also owns a good share in the old bank building and the livery stable where Truesdall now conducts a general livery business, Mr. Dunn being partial owner of the stock. At one time he was interested in banking. During his farming and business career he has been fortunate, scarcely meeting any reverses. On his beautiful farm he has some fine Holstein cattle. October 14, 1846, Mr. Dunn was mar- ried to Armona S. Reed, who died March 31, 1873, and to this union were born the following children: Elma E., married to Charles Truesdall; Mary A., married to James VanHorn, and George J., recent graduate of the Gar- rettsville High School. Our subject was married, February 3, 1874, on second occasion, to Cordelia S., widow of Dr. O. Manley. Garrettsville has been an incorporated village for twenty years, and as an appreciation of Mr. Dunn's ability and judgment, the citizens have retained him as a member of the Council for eighteen years; he has also been interested in the public schools, and is a member of the School Board. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Dunn, in his lifetime, has experienced some miraculous escapes from sudden death or serious injury. About the year 1860 he was driving an ambitious horse attached to a sulky, and while moving at a rapid rate by the farm of Zeb. Rudolph, the father of Mrs. James A. Garfield, the animal became frightened at a load of straw, and made a sudden bound to one side, breaking the axle and throwing Mr. Dunn with such force against the fence or ground as to render him unconscious from that time, 3 o'clock P. M., till 4 o'clock A. M. the next day. Within ten days he was back to his farm duties. At another time he was clearing debris from his farm well, and the bucket, in which the dirt, etc., were drawn up, became detached from the rope when about twenty feet above him, and descended with tremendous force, just glancing off his

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head and inflicting an ugly incision, fracturing the frontal bone in three directions. In three weeks he was himself again. In October, 1883, our subject was engaged inserting blinds in a cupola of his barn, and by a misstep he fell down a three-eighth pitch roof with rafters about sixteen feet long, and to the ground, a distance of twenty-seven feet from the eave, and eleven feet from the sill. It was nearly one hour before his hired hand found him in an unconscious condition, covered with blood, and leaning against a trough about eleven feet from where he struck the ground. The depression in the earth showed that he struck on his toes and head, within eighteen inches apart. It was the spring in his toes which saved his head from utter destruction, and it appears as an act of Providence he received no serious injury. The bones in one foot were broken, which was his only hurt, and he is now hale and hearty.

OSMON S. FERRIS, attorney, Garrettsville, was born in Versailles, Wyandot Co., Ohio, June 1, 1843, son of Osmon and Lydia (Streator) Ferris, natives of Portage County, Ohio, and who shortly after marriage removed to Wyandot County. Both are now deceased. The former, who was a practicing physician of Mantua, Ohio, died October 10, 1884. Our subject for some time attended the Eclectic Institute, of Hiram, and then entered Hillsdale College, of Michigan, where he graduated in 1870. While not engaged with his studies he taught school, and in 1872 graduated from the law schools of Cleveland, Ohio. In January of the year following he came to Garrettsville, this county, and entered upon the practice of his profession. Mr. Ferris was married November 9, 1876, to Miss Ellen Rhinehart, of Union, Cass Co., Mich., born October 9, 1853, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Rhinehart, natives of Vir- ginia and Ohio respectively. By this union there are two sons: Arthur R., born September 4, 1879, and Mark S., born April 27, 1884. Mr. Ferris was elected to the office of Prosecuting Attorney in 1877 and filled that office one term, during which he prosecuted the case of Ohio vs. Mathew Powers, who was convicted of manslaughter. In this case Mr. Ferris was assisted by Alfonzo Hart, ex-LieutenantGovernor of Ohio. The opposing counsel were John McSweeney, of Wooster, and W. B. Thomas and I. T. Siddall, of Ravenna. Our subject has been twice Mayor of Garrettsville, has also served as Clerk and Solicitor, and is now holding his third commission as Notary. He is a member of Garrettsville Lodge, No. 246, F. & A. M.

ASEL C. HAWLEY, retired farmer, Garrettsville, was born December 9, 1814, in Berkshire County, Mass., eldest of the family of seven children of Asel and Esther (Clark) Hawley, natives of Massachusetts, who came to this county in 1829, when our subject was fifteen years of age, and settled in Free- dom Township. Here Asel C. grew to manhood, fully acquainted with the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. His education was limited to what could be obtained in the common schools of that early date. Mr. Hawley was married in 1836, to Sarah M. Gross, of Grantville, Conn., who died October 5, 1874. He was married on second occasion, July 1, 1875, to Betsey Clark, of Collins, Erie Co., N. Y., who was born October 2, 1831. Our subject entered upon his career in life as a farmer, and has always followed this pursuit, until 1874, when he retired from active labor, and removed to Garrettsville, Ohio, the better to enjoy the fruits of a well spent life. He was ever an energetic, enterprising man, and considered one of the practical as well as substantial farmers of Freedom Township.

N. WRIGHT LEEZER, photographer, was born in Noble County, Ohio, November 12, 1859, son of William C. and Sarah E. (Hill) Leezer, natives of Morgan County, Ohio, the former of whom is a mechanic and pattern-maker by trade, at present engaged with his son in the photographing business. They

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were parents of three children: Wright, Maud and Ella (deceased when but three years of age). The subject of our sketch was brought by his parents to Athens, Athens Co., Ohio, where he received but a common school educa- tion. Mr. Leezer's first business enterprise was manufacturing confectionery, but he eventually gave that up and learned photography. He first entered this industry in Athens Ohio. In order to perfect himself in the art, he soon entered a large studio at Logan, Hocking Co., Ohio. The following year he removed to Attica, Seneca Co., Ohio, where he stayed for about one year, then returned to Athens, Ohio. In 1882 he came to Garrettsville, Ohio, and entered the employ of C. M. French, photographer. In 1884 he embarked in the photographing business for himself and has since followed the art with good success. In 1883 he became a member of Portage Lodge, No. 456, I. O. O. F., and is one of the charter members of the Young Men's Temperance Council (Y. M. T. C.). Religiously he is a member of the Congregational Church. He was married August 13, 1884, to Almeda Stearn, who was born in Salem, Columbiana Co., Ohio, October 22, 1859.

EDGAR W. MAXSON, lawyer, Garrettsville, was born at Troy, Geauga Co., Ohio, February 3, 1844; son of William and Salina C. (Mumford) Maxson; the former a farmer by occupation, born in Connecticut, in 1813, and who came with his parents to this county in 1822; the latter a native of Otsego County, N. Y., where she was born in 1820. They had two children: Edgar W., and Victor R., a farmer now living on the old home farm in Hiram Township. William Maxson died September 20, 1876. The Maxson family are of English descent. Daniel Maxson was one of three brothers: Edward, John and Daniel, who came to America about the middle of the seventeenth century and settled in Rhode Island, where Joshua Maxson, the grandfather of our subject, was born. His grandmother was a Morris, and was a descendant of a Welsh family of that name who date back to the early pioneers of New York State. Our subject was raised on a farm in Hiram Township, where his parents removed while he was an infant. His time between the ages of ten and seventeen years was spent in Hiram College and in school teaching. In 1863 he went to Michigan University at Ann Arbor and graduated from the Law and Literary Department in 1865, and was admitted. to the bar in that State the same year. He then returned to Ohio and was shortly after admitted to the bar, but for three years following was engaged in teaching graded schools in Michigan and Illinois. He was married November 27, 1867, to Miss Elizabeth C. Mull, a school teacher by profession, and a native of Otsego County, N. Y., who died September 10, 1875, leaving to his care one daughter-Maud. Mr. Maxson then married, December 14, 1876, Miss Eudora Lockwood, also of Otsego County. N. Y., and a near relative of his first wife. In the spring of 1868 he returned to Garrettsville and entered in the practice of his profession, in which he has since been engaged. He has been Solicitor of Garrettsville for seven years and has refused several offices of honor, which at different times he has been urged by his friends to accept. He is Past Grand of Portage Lodge, No. 456, I. O. O. F., and an active member of Garrettsville Lodge, No. 246, F. & A. M. He has been connected with the Congregational Church about four years.

HENRY NOBLE MERWIN, produce dealer, Garrettsville, was born in New Milford, Litchfield Co., Conn., February 25, 1818; son of Daniel and Laura (Marsh) Merwin, who were of Welsh and English descent respectively (both now deceased) and parents of four children: Susan A., Abbie M., Henry N. and Amos M. The Marsh family were among the first settlers of New Milford, Conn. Amos Marsh, grandfather of our subject, was commissioned District Attorney of Vermont by George Washington. Our subject was raised

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on a farm and received a common school education. He was married November 27, 1845, to Miss Betsey N. Hine, born February 11, 1822, daughter of Isaac and Alta (Riggs) Hine, both now deceased, all natives of New England. In 1850 Mr. Merwin removed to Newton Falls, Trumbull Co., Ohio, where he engaged in farming for a period of twenty-two years. In 1873 he retired from farm labor and removed to Garrettsville, where he purchased a manufacturing establishment, formed a partnership with three others, and engaged in manufact- uring butter tubs, etc., for one year. Since then he has dealt more or less extensively in produce. Mr. Merwin is serving his second term as Justice of the Peace. He and his wife have been consistent members of the Congrega- tional Church for forty years. He is connected with Portage Lodge, No. 456, I. O. O. F. In politics he is identified with the Republican party.

OTIS S. NEWCOMB, retired farmer, Garretsville, was born in Ontario County, N. Y., March 13, 1814; eldest child of Orrin and Pamelia (Robison) Newcomb, natives of New York and Connecticut respectively, and who had a family of twelve childrem. Orrin Newcomb, who was an early settler of Geauga County, Ohio, a farmer and shoe maker by occupation, died in 1836. His widow died in 1878, aged eighty-five years. Our subject was raised on a farm and obtained a limited education. His parents removed to Geauga County, Ohio, in October, 1818, and he grew to maturity fully acquainted with the vicissitudes of pioneer life. He entered on his career of life as a farmer, and followed agricultural pursuits until 1873, when he retired from active labor and removed to Garrettsville, where he built a fine residence in which he now resides. He was married in November, 1841, to Mary A. Wright, of Geauga County, Ohio, born in 1819 and died in 1864, the mother of five children: Selah W. (died in Perryville, Ky., October 8, 1862); Neri, engaged in the Buckeye Works at Akron, Ohio; Wallace E. and Andrew B., farmers, and Aurie V., wife of W. S. Freeman. Mr. Newcomb married on second occasion, Octo- ber, 1864, Lucy A. Chapman, who died March 2, 1884, leaving to his care two children, George A. and Gertie A. Our subject has never been a politi- cian or office seeker, but has been content with the plain home life of a farmer. He may be considered a self-made man, and was one of the practical as well as substantial farmers of Geauga County, Ohio. He is a member of Garrettsville Lodge, F. & A. M.

JAMES NORTON, real estate, insurance and collection agent, and Notary Public, Garrettsville, was born September 9, 1833. His parents were then living in a log-house on their farm, on the west part of Lot 29, in Hiram. At an early day the homestead was changed to a farm on Lot 49, in the south part of Hiram Township. Here the subject of our sketch passed his childhood and youth, except four or five of his earlier years. When thirteen years of age a great misfortune came upon him, the result, as supposed, of being thrown from a horse about a year before. For several months his life hung upon such a slender thread that the community were in daily expectation of hearing that he had passed away. A surgical operation was performed upon the injured limb December 31, 1846, by Dr. De Wolf, of Ravenna. Not until the spring following did it appear that he could possibly survive the fearful attack disease had made upon him; an iron constitution alone was in his favor. For three years his health was so poor, and his disability so great, that he did not attend school at all. At sixteen, his health being still very far from good, he recommenced his studies at the district school in Freedom, about one and a half miles from home, to and from which he walked with crutch and cane. The advancement of those who had been his class-mates and associates before his sickness, caused a very dark cloud to envelop him. To

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hear them recite about numerator and denominator, reduction ascending and descending, and use other terms which it seemed to him he could never comprehend or understand, brought humiliation, sorrow and weeping. En- ergetic and determined application to his books soon dispelled the darkness and gloom, and at the close of the term he was fully up with his class. There- after every resource available for improvement was made nse of, and at the commencement of the autumn term in 1851, he was permitted to enter the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute, well advanced in the common branches. During this term a physician, learning of the existence of an unhealing and dangerous sore of some years' standing, upon an arm of our subject, engaged with his father for a stipulated price to effect a cure. After about six months the doctor's efforts were rewarded with permanent success. The acquaintance with young Dr. Smith (who died the next year) our subject looks back upon as being of the highest importance to him. About a year later, after three terms' attendance at the Eclectic Institute, he engaged as teacher of a district school in Freedom, on the Freedom and Ravenna diagonal road. After this and until the close of the year 1861, his time was occupied in attending school and in teaching. Most of the time he attended school at Hiram, but one term he attended the academy at Shalersville. He took a commercial course at the col- lege in Cleveland, and took lessons in penmanship of P. R. Spencer, Sr., at his log-writing academy in Geneva, Ohio. He taught the district school at the center of Shalersville three terms, taught two terms in different districts in Hiram, and in 1858 commenced as teacher in Garrettsville, and there remained as teacher of the fall and winter terms until December, 1861, when he resigned as teacher to enter the Recorder's office at Ravenna, to which the citizens of the county had elected him in October by a proud majority. Much of his day school work was supplemented by evening lessons given in penmanship. Of his services as Recorder we find the Portage County Republican-Democrat of January 8, 1868, speaking as follows: "Mr. James Norton retired from official connection with the County Recorder's office on Monday, after a six years' term of service. Mr. Norton has proved himself a model Recorder, and there is no risk in pronouncing his records as handsome and accurate as any in the State. Mr. Norton entered upon the duties of this office January 6, 1862, and up to January 6, 1868, has recorded 6,302 deeds, 2,039 mortgages, 134 leases, 409 soldiers' discharge papers, and released 1,705 mortgages. When it is taken into consideration that every deed, mortgage, etc., contains, say, 700 words, some estimate of the amount of work performed may be arrived at. In the entire six years Mr. Norton has not been absent from his office one single busi- ness day, and has made nearly all the records himself." Our subject declined to go into the convention as candidate for a third term, because there were several disabled soldiers seeking the place at that time. The suddenness of the change from years of close application to business to days of leisure, subdued the anticipated enjoyment and comfort of the latter. A line of business did not readily open up to our subject. He therefore spent the summer and autumn of 1868 in reviewing his studies at the Commercial College in Cleveland. It was his desire and purpose to go into the real estate agency business in the city, but as no satisfactory opportunity presented itself or was found, he engaged with others, in the winter of 1868-69, in organizing a banking insti- tution at Garrettsville, and for a time was its Cashier. The perils incident to banking in those days, added to other harassing features then existing, were a severe strain upon his undisciplined and overly sensitive nerves, and he with- drew from the business, one of the acts of his life, as he says, upon which he looks back with regret. A vacancy having occurred in the superintendency of

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History of Portage County, Ohio, Part 83

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