History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 122

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1060

USA > Ohio > Stark County > History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio > Part 122

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JAMES SUTER, stone quarry. Massillon. One of the prominent business men in this city is Mr. Suter, who was born April 27, 1525. in Zurich, Switzerland, son of James and Esther ( Lascher) Suter, who was a son of Jacob. James, our subject, came to this State from Switzerland in July, 1848. While in his native country, he attended school, obtaining a good education. after which he served a four-

years' apprenticeship at book keeping. After coming to this country, he engaged as elerk for some time. In 1850, he engaged in the (marry business at the north end of Summit street, with his uncle, Mr. Warthorst. and, in 1867, formed the partnership of Warthorst & Co., the firm being composed of Warthorst, Everhard and Suter, which lasted five years, and then changed to Warthorst Company, in honor of the uncle, being com- posed of Suter and Everhard, which ran right years. In ISSO. the lease expired. They then came to the place where they now are, and where he had quarried stone twenty-five years before. They manufacture grindstones of all sizes, and ship their productions not only to all sections of the I'nion, but to Canada as well. They also make a specialty of grinding sand, such as is used in steel works; employ about fifty-six men. Mr. Suter was married. in Au gust. 1561, to Miss Augusta Pietzeker, born in Berlin, Prussia, in November, 1825; she died in 1577, leaving one daughter, Auna. He was married a second time, to Mina, sister of first wife, in 1978. Mr. Suter is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church, and is a stanch Republican.

CHARLES K. SKINNER, deceased: was born in January, 1792. in the city of Hartford, Conn., on the oldl homestead, situated on Cooper Lane, now La Fayette street. the place having been inherited by his father from his grandfather, whose father was a blacksmith, the blacksmith's father having come from England in the early settlement of Connecticut. During the years of his earlier youth, while yet resid. ing in his native State, he worked in a woolen- factory. and became familiarized with its operations. In the year 1812, he decided to follow the course of his elder brother, Alex- ander, and come to Ohio. Bidding good-by to his aged parents and younger brothers, he mounted his horse and faced for the West, not daring, as he afterward toll us, to look behind, where stood the dear ones watching his reced- ing form. He passe t through New York. then a small city (City Hall Park then being on its extreme outskirts), across New Jersey, through Pennsylvania and over the mountains, being guided to the best stopping-places for night by the most worn and beaten tavern yards,

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and where the straw lay thickest, there he found the best fare: he crossed the Ohio at Steubenville, and took the road for Kondal. By this time, the advance guard, so to speak. of the pioneers. had driven back and thinned off the Indians, so that but few scattering ones remained, and the autumn fires of Indian times had ceased to burn the tall. dry grass of the plains and hills; scrub oaks had sprung up. and at this time (1812) were well started, being knee high to a horse, of which such as now remain, are trees fifty to eighty feet in height: grass then grew on the Kendal green and its surrounding plains breast high to a man. Such was Kendal seventy years ago. Arriving there. he went to work for his brother Alexander, who at this time was a partner with Thomas Roach in a woolen-factory already built, in which stood near the foot of Rodman street, in Kendal. It was Alexander Skinner who, at that carly day, built the brick house which stands at the corner of Front and Rodman streets, the latter then leading down to the factory, and to the old road to Canton; this was the first house of the kind built in the township: the work was done by two brick- layers from Boston, and the old house as it stands to-day attests the skill and honesty of their workmanship. Alexander finally dis- solved the partnership with Thomas Roach. and moved to Londonville, where he built a grist-mill on the site now occupied by A. A. Taylor's great flouring-mill; doing some re- pairs to his new and unsettled mill-dam, work- ing in the water, contracted the bilious fever of the country at that time, and died in the year 1820. at the early age of 33. Thus were nipped in early manhood his building enter- prises, and for over sixty years the green grass has been growing over his peaceful and un- marked grave-unmarked at his own request. Charles remained with Thomas Roach, carry- ing on the business of the Kendal woolen- factory for him: quitting his employ finally. he set up some carding machines in James Duncan's grist-mill, in the new town of Mas- sillon: a prosperous business at once com- menced: an addition to the mill was built for a complete woolen-factory, which continued to prosper, and eventually was the means of drying up the one in Kendall. Among the old

records that may be found in the office of the Probate Judge of Stark County is the follow- ing:

Stark County S. S.

I hereby certify that ou the 23d day of November last, I joined together in the holy band of matrimony Charles Skinner and Eliza Reed, by license agreeable to law. Given under my hand and seal this 23d day of November. Anno Domini, 1821.

GILBERTHARP EARL. J. P

" Squire Earl!" Peace and love to his memory! A kindly gentleman of the old school, whose friendly and unassuming ways and genial hospitality at his home in the woods did much to brighten and to cheer the circumseribed circle of social intercourse. Long may " Earl's Bridge " and " Earl's Mill Road " remain a name, and a land-mark to perpetuate the memory of the earliest pioneer of that locality, and a good man's name! It might be remarked, parenthetically, that up to this time, and for a number of years after, there was no church but the Quaker Meeting- house, nor established preacher, nor regular preaching: but. while the quiet community were denied the smiles and benedictions of the preacher, they could not do without a library, and at that early day a circulating library of useful and entertaining books was formed. Thus we may see, in the establish- ment of this library, an exponent of those germs of thought which eventually blossomed into the early adoption by the town of Mas- sillon of the present school system. Surely those quiet men, many of whom were cut down in their prime, have not lived in vain! Charles and Eliza Skinner became the parents of four children - Alexander, who died in infancy; Augustus Thomas, born in 1824, married Ce- celia A. Van Rensselaer, of Canton, Oct. 15, 1849, and resides in Massillon; Charles Phil- lips, born in 1827, married Emily Platt, of Owego. N. Y., in 1853, where they reside: Saralı Elizabeth, born in 1831, married James P. Zay, of Milan, Ohio, in August, 1849, and resides in Cincinnati. Eliza Reed Skinner was born in Lynn, Mass., in the year 1797; her father, Thomas Reed, in his day, was extensively en- gaged in the leather and tanning business in

CITY OF MASSILLON. 695

his native town of Lynn a pioneer in the business, which has since become a leading branch among the industries of New England: himself a Quaker, as were his ancestors, who were settlers in Lynn nearly two hundred years before him, and are mentioned in the annals of Lynn. His wife, Elizabeth Phillips, came from an ancestry whose records date back 250 years, were also Quakers, originally from Wales. England, and of that branch of the Phillips family of whom an eminent Bos- tonian recently said: "They have owned land. for 250 years, for miles along the beach from Swampscott to Lynn, that is now worth $1.000 an acro-very good sort of people, but they won't sell any of their land." Reverses in business which followed the war of 1812. in- dorsements for friends and the results which flowed therefrom, induced him to close his affairs and to try the virgin soil of Ohio. In October, 1517. Thomas and Elizabeth Reed, with their children Eliza, Phillips and Walter

left their pleasant home by the sea so near that when the Atlantic was driven by Eastern storms, their front windows would be covered with salt spray; packed in their wagons, he- held with tearful eyes the dear, familiar scenes of their childhood fade, as they slowly moved along the beach from Lynn to Boston, Egg Rock, Nahant, High Rock, and finally the blue waters of the ocean disappeared- forever, from those parents' eyes. For two long months they held their weary way. stopping only for Sun- days and rainy days. Reaching Canton. Thomas Roach sent Arvine Wales, then a young man father of the Hon. A. C. Wales -there to meet them. and to escort them to Spring Hill, where they were most hospitably entertained by Thomas and Charity Roach for a week, when they took a temporary residence in Kendal for the winter, and the following spring moved onto their farm in Jackson Township, opposite the farm of C. K. Skinner. where, by this time, resided his parents, and younger brother. William T. Skinner, now and for many years past residing on his farm in Coshocton County. After unaccustomed toil incident to clearing and opening a farm in the woods, Thomas Reed took the bilious fever, and. begging for water, which was denied him by the medical practice of those times, breathed

his last JJuly 7, 1824. For his amiable quali ties he was much loved, and his death re- gretted by all who knew him. Elizabeth. his gentle wife, followed him in the spring of 1832. Thomas Phillips Reed. in early life. entered the woolen- factory of his brother-in- law, C. K. Skinner, and was associated with him for many years, when, in 1846, he entered the merchandise business in Massillon; in this he continued for a number of years: was sie- ceeded by his son. Gustavus P., under whom it continues to prosper. Thomas Phillips Reed died June 21. 1875. Walter Augustus Reed chose the occupation of his father, and berame a tanner: built the first tannery in Massillon; built four or tive briek houses in the town, as well as some frame ones. and was carly identi- fied with the prosperity of Massillon: he con- tinned in the tanning business until 1549, when he went to California: after an absence of nearly two years, he returned to his home, where he remained until 1955, when, meeting reverses. he moved to Des Moines, Iowa, where he has again acquired a handsome competency for himself and his children; has arrived at serene old age, surrounded by all the comforts that loving children and grandchildren, and all that prosperity can buy. Eliza Reed Skinner died Jan. 17. 1566. Charles K. Skinner died Nov. 4. 1575.

HARMON SHRIVER. farmer and coal speculator. Massillon; is among the success- ful financiers of this city: born Oct. 10. 1513. in Hanover, the eldest of a family of four chil- dren; after his majority, he came to this country: was a shoemaker by trade: came to Ohio a poor man, but worked hard, and by the most rigid economy, was enabled to make a commencement. Buying a team, he en gaged, for a time, at first, in farming: after ward worked on the public works, taking jobs and contracts on the railroad; also acted in the capacity of superintendent over laborers; afterward, he purchased a farm of 171 acres. in Jackson Township, which he improved, dis- posing of the wood to the railroad company: subsequently, he, in company with William Brown, were instrumental in starting a coal bank, which was among the earliest that was established in the township; since 1867. ho has been a resident of the city of Massillon,

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and interested in real estate and the coal in- terests. In January, 1840, he married Barbara Rickheimer, a native of Saxony; she died in 1879; of the children born him are Chris- tina, wife of L. Hess; Harmon; Catharine, wife of John Dielhenn: Mary, Mrs. Fred Sny- der; unmarried: Frances, Otto; Martha and Louisa. Mr. Shriver is a member of the Luth- eran Church, and one of the efficient members of the same.

CHARLES STEESE, banker, Massillon; Cashier of the First National Bank of Massil- Ion; was born, 1842, in Canal Dover, Tusca- rawas Co., the eldest son born to Dr. Isaac Steese and Ann Johnson; he came to this city when about four years of age; he received the advantages of the common school and com- pleted his education at Kenyon College: his first business experience was in the banking business: was employed about three years in the Merchants' Bank, at this place, as Teller; at the organization of the First National Bank, he was employed as Assistant Cashier; since 1874, has been Cashier; September, 1875, formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss A. Giles; no issue.

FRANK P. SLADDEN, railroad agent, Massillon. The gentlemanly and efficient agent on the C., T. V. & W. R. R. Co., of this city, is the above gentleman, who was born in Kent, England, May 17, 1827; his parents were George Sladden and Emma Tomsett, to whom were born a family of thirteen chil-' dren, eleven of whom grew to years of matur- ity. Mr. Sladden has, for one of his years, seen much of the world, and had the benefit of extended travel. Leaving England at the age of 14, he went to the East Indies, going as a sea-faring lad: subsequently to the coast of Africa, as a citizen, remaining at Sierra Leone some time, where he was engaged in trading with the natives; afterward returned to England, where he spent some length of time, after which he went to Demerara; re mained five years; during the time was en- gaged in sugar planting; from here, went to New York and other points, being engaged at different places as salesman and book- keeper; since 1872, has had charge of the freight and ticket office of the C., T. V. & W. R. R. Co .; 1861, was married to Hannah L.

Miller, a native of Buffalo, N. Y., daughter of James and Ann Drew, the former a native of England, the latter of Wales; his wife died in 1864, leaving two children; in 1868, mar- ried Mary F. Miller, sister of former wife; by her has six children; is a member of the Episcopal Church; also Clinton Lodge, A., F. & A. M., No. 47, and a stanch and wide- awake Republican.

NELSON J. SMITH, farmer; P. O. Massil- lon; born in June, 1830, in Luzerne Co., Penn .. the third of the family born to his parents, who were Benjamin Smith and Mary Coder; he was born in Pennsylvania in 1800; son of Phineas Smith, a native of Maryland. To Benjamin Smith and wife were born nine children. Mary was a daughter of Henry Coder, who served in the war of 1812. Ben- jamin Smith came to Stark County, locating in Perry Township, in 1830, purchasing 160 acres of unimproved land, upon which he re- mained until his death, which occurred in November, 1873; he was for fifty years a member of the Methodist Church; his father was a local preacher. Mrs. Smith also was a faithful member of her husband's church; she died April, 1844. Nelson J. remained on the home farm until April, 1854, when he married Matilda Wesener, who was born in the city of Philadelphia Sept. 11, 1833, daughter of Christian Wesener, who was born in Westpha- lia, Germany, in 1776, the youngest of a family of twelve children. The father of Mrs. Smith was educated for a priest; his father was a prominent man of that time; he had a son who served in King William's army, and was said to be seven feet in height. Christopher Wesener, not liking the idea of being raised in priesthood, left, and came to the Isle of Demerara, where he had one child born, Vin- cent, the eldest child of his family. The mother of Mrs. Smith was Charlotte Buckius Smith, being the youngest child. His second

wife was Margaret Buckius. Christopher Wesener was an excellent chemist; after leav- ing the Isle of Demerara, he located in Rose- ville, in the suburbs of Philadelphia, where he followed his profession. Mr. Buckins, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Smith, was a native of Germany, and a Mason; while on his voyage to this country, the vessel was

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taken by pirates, and he about to be killed, but making the mystic sign of his order, his life was spared and was put off on an island. Mrs. Smith came to Canton in 1840: one year later, came to this township, and has since remained. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two children, Anna W. and Emma C. All of the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Smith has been a constant resident of the township since his birth, and lived adjoining to the homestead farm.

JOHN SHEPLEY, retired, Massillon; was born Jan. 1. 1810, in Funkstown, Washington Co., Md .; son of Peter Shepley and Catharine Shilling. Peter Shepley's father was named Peter, who married Barbara Oberlin, and by her had three sons and one daughter. viz .: Frederick, Peter, Samuel and Martha. Peter. the father of our subject, entered the war of 1812. and served as Drin Major, and died ere the close of the war; he had but two children -John and Frederick. When a lad of 9, our subject walked out to this county: came in company with his uncle, Adam Shilling, who moved his family by wagou, and settled in Tuscarawas Tp., where our subject remained until 1827, living, in the meantime, with different parties : one year with his aunt ; two years with John Saylor and over three years with Samuel Mock. In 1827, he came to Kendall, and remained ten years in the employ of Skinner & Duncan: since that time, he has been a constant resident of this city ; afterward engaged in business for himself, running a dray, and doing general transporta- tion work; he worked in a mill one year: elerked one year for Humberger & Cummings; for some time was employed on the railroad. During the palmy days of boating on the Ohio Canal, he owned and ran two boats, the Her- cules and Giraffe, which he ran in the interest of the coal trade; he has been a life-long Democrat: voted, however, for Lincoln-his last election: he has filled various offices of trust and responsibility, such as Township Clerk, Treasurer and Constable, and from 1859 to 1562, as Deputy Sheriff; also, as Deputy United States Marshal, for two years; as Postmaster, under Pierce's administration; was elected, and served two years as Coroner;

once as City Marshal, during the early his tory of the city, and had charge of the poor: for several years was engaged in the hat trade with George A. Killenger, under the firm name of Killenger & Co., which began in 1817 and terminated in IS51. He has been thrice married; first. July 10, 1834, to Elizabeth Sprague, daughter of John Sprague, a native of Vermont; she died in 1813, leaving no issue: was married, the second time, to Susan Kellenberger, born Feb. 1, 1817. in Lancaster Co., Penn., daughter of Peter, whose wife was a Rudy: she died Aug. 11, 1845, leaving one child, George A.

FREDERICK H. SNYDER, machinist, Massillon: was born Nov. 17, 1839. in the town of Massillon, and is the eldest of a family of eight children, who grow to maturity, born to Frederick and Anna Snyder. Our subject re mained with his parents and attended school until his 17th year, when he went to learn the machinist's trade, first in Rochester, and afterward in Wooster. He worked as jour- neyman until July. 1874. mostly in Massillon. conducting business, under the firm name of F. H. Snyder & Bros., Jacob F. and Charles F. being his partners; since, has been en- gaged in the manufacture of iron and brass castings, ete. Jacob F. is a practical work- man, and Charles has charge of the foundry, They are the founders of this business here, and by diligence and application, have in creased their productions steadily and very materially: they employ, usually, about fif toen men. Frederick was married, in 1963, to Barbara Moure, a native of Germany. whose parents died when she was quite young. They have four children Frank. Albert, Ed ward and Hattie. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder are members of the German Lutheran Church: he is a Ropublican.

F. C. STEVENS, physician, Massillon; is one of the youngest practitioners of materin medien in Stark County: he is a native of Marlborough Tp., where he was born. in September. 1859: has spent the greater por- tion of his life in school; at an early age, he entered the Baldwin University, at Berea. where he graduated with honors; prior to his graduation. he began reading medicine with Dr. Clark, his uncle, at that place: afterward.

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with Dr. Procter Thayer. of Cleveland, where he attended two courses of lectures, and finally graduated. in Columbus, Ohio, at the Starling Medical College, in February, 1881: came to Massillon in May, same year, to prac- tice his profession. His parents are H. R. Stevens and Theresa Clark. H. R. Stevens was born in Rensselaer Co., N. Y., in 1826; son of Ebenezer Stevens, who came to Ohio, with his family, in 1843, locating in Akron, H. R. being at this time but 17 years of age; he worked on the Ohio Canal: afterward in merchandising and farming. He married Theresa Clark, who was born in Pennsylvania. daughter of John Clark, who was born in lre- land, son of William Clark. The head of the family for four generations were physicians. The children of Ebenezer Stevens were John, Ebenezer, Edwin. H. R., Angeline, Mary, Elizabeth and Emily. H. R. Stevens has two children William H. and F. C. William H. is now engaged in farming, at Garnett, Kan. The parents of our subject are residents of Berea.

GEORGE SNYDER, boots and shoes, Massillon: was born in the town of Massil- lon in 1843. the third son of a family of eight children born to Frederick H. and Anna C. (Schriver) Snyder, both natives of Germany. The former was from the kingdom of Bavaria. his father's name being George M. Snyder. his mother's maiden name also being Snyder. Frederick H. was a carpenter and contractor, having learned his trade in Massillon, which he followed for twenty-four years: he died Nov. 25. ISDS: his wife is still living. The following members of the family grew to maturity: Fred H., Maria, George M., Jacob, Henry, Charles F., John B. and Benjamin F .: Anna died, aged 2 years. George served an apprenticeship to a shoe-maker, three years with Sansser & Wert, with Louis Schworm as foreman. then worked at journeyman work one year, and at the age of 19, began business for himself, on Erie street. He bought out the man he worked for; he paid $176 for stock, and borrowed $175 of his uncle to start with, continuing there one year, where the opera house now stands, working six months alone. afterward hiring one man. April 1, 1864, he moved on Main street, where John

Dangler now keeps, in the Welker building, buying out George Young, for $350 cash. Here he employed four men, and after being here one year, moved back on Erie street, where Joseph Colman now does business, when he bought a stock worth $400, of East- ern goods; he then had seven men, and the second year had nine, remaining there three years; the second year he was there he pur- chased the lot where his building now stands, to which he moved April 1, 1868, and to which he built an addition of thirty-five feet, in 1875, and has since continued in business there; when he left the Colman place, his stock invoiced $3,500: he worked seven mon until 1875, and since has had four. He en- listed, in 1864, in Company A, 1624 O. N. G., and served full time, although only 20 years of age. He married, May, 1865, Ma- linda Waggoner, born in Massillon in 1846, daughter of Christian W., who was from Pennsylvania. They have six children, viz .: Anna C., Nellie I., Harmon H., Otto P., Dan- iel W. and Eva V .; two died in infancy- George C. and Thomas H. Mr. Snyder is a member of the German Lutheran Church, and is a Republican in politics.

J. M. SCHUCKERS, drug store, Massil- lon; was born in Wooster, Wayne Co., July 2. 1846; son of Jacob W. and Elizabeth (Kirkpatrick) Schuckers, he born in Lancaster Co., Penn., and she in England; they had three children, those living being J. M. and a brother; he, J. W., the father of our subject, engaged in business in Wooster, and there died; he was, for several years, editor of the Wayne County Republican; also ran the queens and stone ware business. Our subject came to this town when 23 years oldl; he received the advantages afforded by the com- mon schools; first engaged with the Massillon Coal Company, but now keeps the books and has charge of the Warmington mine; also keeps the books of three other mines; he also runs a drug store, keeping a practical drug- gist for that purpose.

JOHN SILK, paper-mill, Massillon; was born May 2, 1839, in Germany; son of John and Maria (Schussler) Silk, who had three children. our subject being the second of the number: he came, with his parents, to Cleve-

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land, in IS51, being 12 years of age, and learned the manufacture of paper, continuing there until 1861; then went to Canton, and commenced the paper manufacturing business with Ernest Bachert and L. Hundredmark, under the firm name of Bachert, Silk & Co .. N. W. Taylor, of Cleveland, afterward taking the place of "Co." In 1870, Mr. Silk came to this city, and engaged in the same business under the corporate name of Massillon Paper Company, an account of which will be found in the history of Massillon. Mr. Silk still retains his interest in the mannfactory at Can- ton. He was married, in 1869, to Adaline Richards, born in Stark County, C'anton Tp .. about 1849, daughter of Benjamin and Mar- garet (Simmons) Richards, both of whom were natives of this county. Three children have blessed the union of Mr. Silk and wife Frank B., Charles B. and Jennie R. He is a member of the United Brethren Church: also of the A. O. U. W .: is a Republican. Two brothers of our subject, Henry and Conrad, served terms in the late war and came ont safely. The father died when Mr. Silk was but 3 years of age, and his mother mar- ried Henry Slack, by whom she had three children Conrad, Augusta and Valentine; one brother and sister-Barbara and Henry.

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History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 122

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1060

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1060