USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908, Vol. II > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
605
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY
On the 25th of September, 1867, Dr. Mitchell was united in marriage to Miss Mary Burns, a daughter of Colonel Barnabas Burns. By this union were born three children, namely : Milton Burns, the eldest, who died at the age of nineteen years while attending high school. He took an active interest in sports, was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church and Sunday school, and was a most affectionate and dutiful son. In fact, he was a young man of great promise, whose purpose it was to enter the medical profession. Paul Caldwell, after a preparatory course at Delaware, Ohio, entered Williams College, Massachusetts, where he was graduated, and is now studying law with his uncle, John C. Burns, of Mansfield, Ohio. Mary De Vatte, the only daughter, is a graduate of the high school of Mansfield and Dr. Gannett's school of Boston, Massachusetts. She possesses an excel- lent soprano voice, of much power and sweetness, and prosecuted her musical studies both in Boston and Paris. She is now devoting her talent to concert and choir work. Mrs. Mitchell takes an active interest in all matters affecting the welfare of her family and in church and literary work, and has an enviable reputation as a writer, her family being gifted in that line.
Dr. Mitchell is a member of the Odd Fellows society and maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his connection with . the Grand Army of the Republic and the Loyal Legion. He has long been a most helpful and devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has served as president of its official board. He came to his majority soon after the republican party was formed and throughout his entire life has been a stalwart advocate of its principles, but at local elections, where no party issue is involved, casts an independent ballot, supporting the men and measures whom he thinks best qualified for office. Such in brief is the life history of Dr. Mitchell, now one of the oldest and most honored physicians of Richland county-a man whose life has been actuated by noble principles and high ideals, and who has found and utilized in his profession the chance to do good to his fellowmen. He recognizes the truth of universal brotherhood and is one whose beliefs find exemplification in daily life.
FRANK PHIPPS.
Frank Phipps is a member of the firm of Phipps Brothers, proprietors of a meat market in Butler, his native town. He was born here February 25, 1864, of the marriage of Samuel and Elizabeth (Teeter) Phipps. His father was born in Richland county, and followed the occupation of farming through- out his entire life, and became the owner of a productive tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres, which he brought under a high state of cultivation, transforming it into a productive and valuable property. He died in this county, May 19, 1894, at the age of seventy-two years, and is still survived by his widow, who was born in this county, May 6, 1826. She is still living at the age of eighty-two years, making her home with a daughter on a farm in
606
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY
Worthington township. This worthy couple were the parents of eight children and those who still survive are: Mary, whose home is in Worthington town- ship; J. A., a conductor on the Pennsylvania Railroad; Frank, of this review ; and Robert, who is the partner of our subject.
Spending his boyhood days on the home farm, which was less than a mile north of Butler, Frank Phipps early became familiar with the duties and labors incident to the development of the fields and the care of the crops. He acquired his education through the medium of the public schools, was married when nineteen years of age and began working on his father's farm. In 1895 he removed to Indiana and there the succeeding four years was employed as a fireman on the Wabash railroad, but in 1899 returned to Butler and established a meat market in connection with Tom Sheehy. This part- nership was continued until 1903, when Mr. Sheehy sold his interest to the brother of our subject, and the market has since been conducted under the firm style of Phipps Brothers. They kill all their own meat and conduct a most neat and attractive market, receiving a liberal patronage because of the quality of meats which they handle and the good service which they render to their patrons.
On Christmas day of 1883 Frank Phipps was married to Miss Sarah C. Ward, who was born in Worthington township August 24, 1863. She is a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Hilderbrandt) Ward, both of whom were natives of Richland county, but are now deceased. They had but two children, the son being Charles Ward, now a resident of Worthington township. Mrs. Phipps is the elder and by her marriage has become the mother of two children, Doris and Francis.
Mr. Phipps is a member of Sturgis Lodge, No. 357, I. O. O. F., and in politics is independent, voting for men and measures rather than for party. He has always lived in this locality and is well known to its citizens as a business man who is thoroughly trustworthy and as a resident whose interest in public affairs is manifested in the hearty cooperation which he has given to many movements for the general good.
JOHN L. BAXTER.
John L. Baxter, as president and treasurer of the Baxter Stove Company, is one of the leading and prominent representatives of industrial and com- mercial interests in Mansfield. Honored and respected by all, he occupies a most enviable position in business circles, not alone by reason of the success he has attained, but also owing to the straightforward business principles he has ever followed and the course he has pursued in the development of an important productive enterprise.
A native of Pennsylvania, John L. Baxter was born in the city of Pitts- burg in 1841, his parents being Thomas and Isabella (Musgrove) Baxter. For many years the father was a stove manufacturer in Salem, Ohio, to which place the family removed in 1849. Establishing business there, he continued
607
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY
in the manufacture of stoves at that place for a quarter of a century and then came to Mansfield, where he equipped a plant and continued in business.
John L. Baxter was a youth of eight years at the time of the removal to Ohio and in the schools of Salem acquired his education, while under the direction of his father he received his business training and gained knowledge of all departments of stove manufacture. He has been continuously connected with the business, which in 1883 was reorganized under the name of the Baxter Stove Company, the partners being J. L., E. C., E. D., C. C. and B. A. Baxter. The business was capitalized for sixty thousand dollars and the officers were J. L. Baxter, president; C. C. Baxter, secretary ; E. C. Baxter, treasurer ; B. A. Baxter, vice president; and E. D. Baxter, superintendent. Employment was furnished to seventy-five men in the manufacture of stoves and ranges and as the business has developed the capital stock has been increased to seventy-five thousand dollars and the number of employes to one hundred and fifty. The annual sales reach two hundred thousand dollars and the enterprise is one of the most important industrial concerns of the city. This was the first com- pany organized to manufacture stoves and ranges in Mansfield. In 1905 C. C. Baxter died and E. C. Baxter has since removed to Cleveland, Ohio, while B. A. Baxter is general manager of the New Method Stove Company of Mansfield. These changes have necessitated election of different officers, but J. L. Baxter still remains as the president and treasurer, while Frank B. Black is vice president, H. K. Dislane secretary, and A. L. Bliss superintendent. In addi- tion to his other interests John L. Baxter is vice president of the Mansfield Phone Company and a director of the Mansfield Mutual (fire) Insurance Company.
In 1869 occurred the marriage of John L. Baxter and Miss Lizzie Sharp, of Salem, Ohio, a daughter of Thomas Sharp, a manufacturer of engines and machinery. Their children are: Jessie, now the wife of Frank B. Black, president of the Ohio Brass Company, of Mansfield, and vice president of the Baxter Stove Company; Carrie, the wife of A. L. Bliss, superintendent of the Baxter Stove Company; and Reba, the wife of H. K. Dislane, secretary of the Baxter Stove Company.
Mr. Baxter belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and is interested in all that pertains to the business and material development of the city, and to its social, intellectual and moral progress as well. He is a member of the First Congregational church, in which he is serving as a trustee, and belongs to the Congregational Men's Club. Throughout his entire life he has displayed an aptitude for successful management in business affairs and the power to control, direct and shape into unity complex interests. This quality has been a very important element in the success of the enterprise of which he is now at the head, and throughout his entire commercial career he has maintained a reputation for unassailable business integrity that is most commendable.
E. D. Baxter, a brother of John L. Baxter, whose youth was spent in a similar manner and who was one of the organizers of the Baxter Stove Com- pany, is now a director of the Bank of Mansfield and has long been prominently and favorably known in business circles here. He wedded Mary Simpson, of this city, a daughter of Professor John Simpson, who for years was superin-
608
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY
tendent of schools here. They have one daughter, Dorothy. E. D. Baxter is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, is identified with the Masonic fraternity and belongs to the First Presbyterian church, of which he is treasurer. He is also vice president of the Young Men's Christian Association and is active in work for the benefit of his fellowmen and the raising of the standards which govern humanity.
H. F. SMART.
An excellent farm of two hundred and thirty acres situated on section 4, Monroe township, pays tribute to the care and labor of H. F. Smart, whose business methods are practical and who by his keen discernment and careful management has gained a place among the prosperous residents of the com- munity. He is also identified with financial interests as the vice president of the Farmers & Merchants Bank at Lucas. His birth occurred February 15, 1852, on the farm where he now resides. It was also the birthplace of his father, Perry Smart, who was born October 30, 1820. The family is one of the oldest in this part of the state, the paternal grandfather having located in Richland county in 1816, while in 1818 he entered from the government the land upon which H. F. Smart now resides.
Grandfather Smart was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and removed to Ohio in 1798 before the admission of the state into the Union. He assisted in building the third log cabin that was erected in Columbus. In 1799 he was captured by the Indians, but escaped without injury, and after- ward returned to Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1814, when on again coming to Ohio he located in Richland county. He felt that in the meantime civilization had progressed to such a stage that the interests of the white man in Ohio would then be safe, and still there was numerous tribes of Indians living within its borders and great tracts of land over which the white man had never trod. The forests still remained in their primeval strength, while all kinds of wild game was to be had in abundance, including deer and many specimens of the feathered tribe. Much of the land was still owned by the government. and the grandfather, securing his claim, began cutting away the timber preparatory to planting the fields. As time passed he converted his land into a productive tract and the work of further develop- ment and improvement was carried on by his son, Perry Smart, who in his boyhood and youth aided in the arduous task of developing new land. Throughout his entire life he remained a farmer and was one of the respected and representative citizens of this part of the state. In business affairs he was found thoroughly reliable as well as energetic, and when he passed away the county lost one of its most honored native pioneer citizens. He gave his political allegiance to the democratic party and was a member of the Lutheran church. He died September 2. 1891, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Louisa Zody, survived until December 15, 1906. They were the parents of two children. the older being Leander T. Smart, who was born
609
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY
July 18, 1847, and died in 1890. He enlisted for service in the Civil war in 1864 when only sixteen years of age, and went with Sherman on the cele- brated march to the sea. While at the front he was captured and incarcerated in Andersonville prison, where he remained for some time ere he was exchanged.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for H. F. Smart in his boyhood and youth. He was a pupil in the public schools, and when twenty-one years of age started out in business life on his own account. Taking charge of his father's farm, he has since cultivated the old homestead, which he later purchased, and is now the owner of two hundred and thirty acres of rich and valuable land on section 4, Monroe township. He has carefully cultivated his fields and annually gathers good crops. He has also handled stock in connection with general farming, and his business interests, carefully systematized and ably conducted, are bring- ing him a gratifying measure of success. Aside from his agricultural inter- ests Mr. Smart is well known in banking circles as the vice president of the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Lucas.
In 1892 Mr. Smart was married to Miss Harriet Lambright, who was born in Ashland county, Ohio, a daughter of Levi and Sarah Lambright, in whose family were eleven children. Mr. and Mrs. Smart have one son, Perry H., Jr., who is now attending the high school at Lucas. He and his mother are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Smart is an exemplary representative of the Masonic fraternity and has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party, and he has served as township trustee for six years, being faithful in office and loyal to the interests of the community. He is widely and favora- bly known in the county, where his entire life has been passed, and where the name of Smart has figured honorably and prominently for almost a century. The work which was begun by his grandfather and carried on by his father is continued by him, and the old Smart homestead is one of the landmarks of the county, the property having been in possession of the family for ninety-two years.
WEBSTER H. SHRYOCK.
Webster H. Shryock, one of the best known citizens of Richland county, has since 1901 been president of the County Agricultural Society. He is also identified with several business enterprises of importance, wherein capable management, keen discernment and unflagging enterprise are constituting the elements in his success. He has been a resident of the county since 1877, in which year he located in Springfield township. His birth occurred in the Shenandoah valley of Virginia on the 12th of February, 1858, his parents being Jacob N. and Mary E. (Dinges) Shryock.
Jacob N. Shryock was a merchant and during his boyhood days Webster H. Shryock assisted him in the store. He also pursued his education in the
610
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY
public schools and at the age of nineteen years came to Ohio. He followed farming for one year in Morrow county. He has lived in Richland county for thirty-one years and for two years was employed at farm labor, after which he began the cultivation of a rented farm. Later he bought sixty-five acres in Jackson township, which he afterward sold and subsequently invested in twenty-five acres in Springfield township. This he still owns, together with city property. He furthermore derives a good income from his investment in mercantile lines. In 1903, at Ontario, in association with Robert M. Taylor, he established a machinery company and now owns and conducts a store for the sale of machinery, buggies, harness, implements, fertilizers, flour, etc. In 1906 the firm established a similar house in Mansfield, where the business is still being carried on, the trade having already reached extensive and profitable proportions.
In 1879 Mr. Shryock was married to Miss Mary J. Haffich, of Springfield township, Richland county, and they have four children: Hoyt S., who is superintendent of the golf grounds of Mansfield; Eula N., a teacher in the city schools; Ray H., who is connected with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company ; and Mary Goldie, who is a high-school student.
Mr. Shryock is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity and also belongs to the Highland Grange. He has always been deeply interested in the agricultural development of the community and has done effective work in its behalf. For years he has served as a director of the Richland County Agricultural Society and in 1901 was elected its president, since which time he has been continued in the position by reelection. For five years he has been a member of the school board of Springfield township and the cause of education Ends in him a stalwart champion. He has a wide acquaintance in the county of his adoption and his fidelity to duty in all life's relations has gained him the regard of his fellowmen in a high degree. Among his friends he is a genial, social gentleman of cordial disposition, and his friends esteem him highly for his genuine worth.
CAPTAIN LUCIUS ONZLOW DOOLITTLE.
Captain Lucius Onzlow Doolittle, numbered among the honored veterans of the Civil war and by meritorious conduct winning promotion to the rank of captain, is now living in Mansfield, a most worthy and respected resident of that city. He was born in Windham county, Vermont, December 27, 1832, and in the paternal lines comes of English ancestry. His grandfather, on the maternal side, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and after his death his widow received a pension from the government in recognition of his services.
Captain Doolittle spent the first eleven years of his life on a farm in the Green Mountain state, and in 1844 accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio, the journey being made by wagon to Troy, New York, by canal to Buffalo, and by lake to Sandusky, Ohio. The family first located near Loudon- ville, and from there removed to Hayesville, where the captain attended col-
LO Doolittle
613
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY
lege. Having completed his education he began his business career in 1852 as a clerk in a store, where he received only one hundred and fifty dollars per year, and had to board himself. The following year the firm sold out and their stock of goods was taken to Lexington, where he was given the same salary and also his board. In 1853 he came to Mansfield and began clerking for Weldon & Robinson, with whom he remained for several years, and when Mr. Robinson withdrew from the firm, Captain Doolittle remained with him and later formed a partnership with that gentleman and J. P. Vance, retaining his connection therewith until after the outbreak of the Civil war.
When the need of his country aroused the patriotism of his nature, Captain Doolittle offered his services to the government in the opening year of the war, when men from the workshops, the counting houses, the offices and the fields were flocking to the standard of the Union. He became a member of Company G, Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which regiment rendezvoused at Mansfield until organized and was then stationed at Columbus, where the troops received their uniforms. He joined the army as a private, but on the organization of the regiment, was made orderly sergeant, which position he filled for ten months, and was then promoted to second lieutenant. Later he was made first lieutenant, and served with that rank for about a year, while on the 18th of January, 1865, he was commissioned captain. and remained in command of his company until the close of the war. The first engagement in which he participated was the battle of Shiloh, where the regiment suffered a very heavy loss. He participated in all the movements and battles of his regiment and made an excellent military record, never faltering in the performance of any duty, whether it called him to the lonely picket line or stationed him in the face of danger on the firing line.
At the close of the war Captain Doolittle returned to Mansfield, where he engaged in clerking in a dry-goods store for a time, and later became express agent. In 1873 he bought a farm, whereon he lived for about twenty-seven years, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation and adding many modern improvements. In 1901, with the competence acquired through his earnest and persistent labor, he retired and is now enjoying a well earned rest in Mansfield.
On the 14th of March, 1866, in Mansfield, Captain Doolittle was married to Miss Martha Watkinson, who was born in Lancaster, England, October 30, 1839. Her father died in that country and her mother afterward married John Booth, who brought the family to America in 1850, the voyage being made on a sailing vessel and occupied six weeks. They first located in Shelby, Ohio, but in 1851 came to Mansfield. Mr. Booth was a landscape gardener and owned the first hothouse in the latter place. He laid out the cemetery and was its first superintendent. For a number of years he was secretary of the Richland County Agricultural Society, and later bought a farm near Ontario, Ohio. He subsequently removed to Kansas, but died at Petersburg, Virginia.
Captain Doolittle and wife became the parents of seven children : Herbert Onzlow, who was born March 21. 1869, and is now living in Richland county ;
614
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY
Martha Mandana, who was born January 2, 1871, and is the wife of M. F. Leppo; James Sabine, born October 25, 1872; William Watkinson, born March 6, 1874; Rufus Percival, born November 13, 1875; Mary Elzina, who was born August 3, 1877, and is the wife of E. F. Dent; and Milton Oscar, born March 27, 1880. All were born in Mansfield and are still living.
Captain Doolittle is an independent voter. He belongs to the Episcopal church, of which his wife is also a member, and is interested in all that per- tains to the intellectual, material and moral welfare of the community. In matters of citizenship he is as true and loyal to his country as when he followed the old flag on southern battlefields. His activity and energy in business have brought him substantial success, and he is now numbered among the men of affluence of the community, whose financial position is most credit- ably by reason of the fact that it has been won through earnest and honorable effort.
LUTHER N. PITTENGER.
Luther N. Pittenger, who since his boyhood days has followed the black- smith's trade and who celebrated his eightieth birthday by completely shoeing a horse and then driving him to Mansfield, is a native of this county, having been born in Weller township, December 16, 1825, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Kent) Pittenger.
His paternal grandfather came into this section of the country in 1814 and entered land from the government. One year later his son, Samuel, the father of our subject, who was born in Wellsburg, Virginia, on September 6, 1795, followed his father into this section and aided him in the work of clearing the land and getting it under a state of cultivation. The Kent family settled in the county about the same time, coming here from Butler county, Pennsylvania, and in early manhood Samuel Pittenger was united in mar- riage to Elizabeth Kent, who was born December 10, 1800. They became the parents of twelve children, of whom our subject is now the only one living. The father engaged in agricultural pursuits up to the time of his death, which occurred on July 10, 1880, while the mother was called to her eternal rest the same year.
Luther N. Pittenger was reared in the country, and while the educa- tional advantages at that time were not very good, he received a meager edu- cation. He aided his father in the cultivation of the land that was available for seeding purposes, and utilized his spare time in clearing new tracts. At an early age he learned the blacksmith trade, and found ample opportunity for the use of his skill in this direction in doing work for the settlers that were then flocking into the country. On March 25, 1847, he wedded Mary Ann Lockhart, who was born in Richland county, October 10, 1827, the daughter of Allen and Lydia (Witzen) Lockhart. Her father was a native of Virginia and her mother of Pennsylvania. She was one of twelve children of whom but two are now living, namely: Miss Catherine Lockhart and Mrs. Lydia Rose.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.