USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Strongsville > History of Strongsville, Cuyahoga County, Ohio ; with illustrations > Part 10
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Betsey Ann Brainard attended the school in the log house on the present site of Riverside Cemetery. She married Franklin Strong in 1833 and settled on the farm where she lived for fifty-three years. Aug. 3, 1834, Mrs Strong and thirty-six others united with the Congregation- al Church. Before her death, in 1887, her flowers and Bible were her chief comforts.
GEORGE BRAINARD STRONG, son of Franklin Strong, was born September 2, 1835, in a log house at the foot of Stone Hill. During the following year, the stone house was built at the top of the hill. At the age of ten years, he went to live with his grandfather, John S. Strong, at the Center, where he remained for five years. While there he attended, for a number of terms, the private school kept by Miss Gil- bert, and afterward went to the public school taught by Miss Sutherland, afterwards Mrs. M. E. Gallup. When he was out of school, he helped his grandfather drive sheep from one farm to another, in different parts of the township. When fifteen years of age his grandfather bought for him a yoke of oxen, and George returned to the old home farm on Stone hi !!. He used oxen for years, for farm work, and was one of the last men in town to give them up. September 2, 1857, he married Miss Lot-
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tie Pitkin of Brunswick, Ohio, and in 1860 their only daughter, Ida May, now Mrs. D. B. Freese, of Brunswick, was born. In 1865, Mr. Strong purchased the farm opposite the old home farm, and on it he still re- sides. Here he set out fruit orchards, having three apple orchards from which he gathered, in 1895, 11,000 bushels of apples. For a number of years Mr. and Mrs. Strong labored as evangelists in different parts of Ohio, and in Indiana. Mrs. Strong died in April, 1895, and two years afterward Mr. Strong married Miss Hattie Aylard of Brunswick.
LORENZO STRONG was born in Strongsville, May 29, 1842 and received his education at the district school, attending several terms taught by Rev. Harvey Lyon, followed by two terms at the Academy and a term at Baldwin University During the Civil War, Mr. Strong served as a musician and as a private in Company K, 86th regiment O. V. I., Ar- my of Virginia, and in Company C, 150th O. V. I, Army of the Potomac. He received a commission as Ist Lieutenant in Co. F, 8th regiment Ohio State Militia and was afterward promoted to Captain. Mr. Strong has filled important offices in both church and township. He has gathered a large collection of Indian and mound-builder's relics. He was married to Miss Lois Austin, May 9, 1867, and the following are the names of their children: Franklin, Charles J., Fred A., Mabel M., Harlan L. and Celia L. Fred is in Cleveland and Mabel is a school teacher in Strongs- ville. Mr Strong now occupies the farm cleared by his father in 1832, be- ing the only one of J. S. Strong's numerous descendants now living on the original farm.
CLARK R. STRONG, son of John S. Strong, Sr., was born in Vermont, December 20, 1808. When he was nine years of age his par- ents moved to Strongsville, Ohio. June 6, 1832 he was united in mar- riage to Miss Lydia Stephens of Brunswick, Ohio. They had nine child- ren, five boys and four girls, of whom but two are now living, Dewey W. and Wm. S. In 1835 they moved to Lenewee Co., Mich., remaining there one year. then returning to Strongsville. At various times he own- ed four different farms in Strongsville; also a farm in Eaton, Lorain Co., but he occupied only two of them, one at the Center, and another one- half mile south of the Center. In 1853 he moved tu Kankakee, Ill. Sell-
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ing his Strongsville farm to Mr. Pomeroy, and taking part payment in sheep, he drove a flock of 500 through to Illinois. At Kankakee he kept a general store, besides managing a 400 acre farm. He also dealt in live stock for the Chicago market. The first year after settling in Kan- kakee his wife died, January 4, 1854, and on January 12, 1855 he was married to Sylvia Marsh, with whom he lived but a short time, as his death occurred August 3, 1856. He was a man of great energy and ex- ecutive ability, and was upright and honest in all his dealings. He was one of the founders of the Congregational Church in Kankakee City.
Wm. S. Strong will be remembered as living on the Chipman Strong farm in the sixties, and is now engaged in stock raising and farming at Genoa, Ill., and Dewey W., wh › years ago taught classes in penmanship in Strongsville, is now a prosperous merchant at Brighton, Colorado.
JOHN CHIPMAN STRONG, son of John S. Strong, Sr., owned a fine farm, adjoining the Publi: Square at the Center on the southeast, and was a good farmer and stock raiser. He was married first to Miss Harriet White of Albion, Michigan; she died in 1853, aged thirty-six. The children of the union were: Sarah, Orlando, Charles, Harlan and Lewis. Mr. Strong's second wife was Miss Harriet E. Strong, daughter of R. G. Strong. None of the family are living.
LYMAN WHITNEY STRONG, son of John S. Strong, Sr., was born in Marlboro, Vermont, March 17th, 1817, and the year follow- ing came to Strongsville. When fifteen years of age he united with the Church. He studied at Western Reserve College. In 1840 he moved to Seville, Ohio, and for about twenty years was engaged extensively in the mercantile business. On account of failing health, he engaged in stock-raising on a farm near, still keeping his residence in Seville. Mr. Strong was married December 7, 1843, to Ruth Maria Dix, and to them were born six children: Arthur, who, while only 16, enlisted under Col., afterward President, Garfield, and who died in the hospital at Ashland, Ky., February 28, 1862; Lyman Whitney, Jr., a farmer at Seville; Timo- thy Dowd, a merchant at Pemberville, Ohio; Sarah Elizabeth, who mar- ried Adelbert L Spitzer, a banker at Toledo, O .; Charles Sumner, a bank-
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er at Prairie Depot, O .; and Sidney Dix, a Congregational minister at Chicago, Ill.
At the time of Mrs. Strong's death Sept. 7th 1865 Mr. Strong was left with the care of four small children, but, unaided, he brought them up to manhood's estate. Mr. Strong was noted for his sterling honesty and simplicity. He was a leader in the Congregational Church at Seville, and in the educational affairs of the town. He was a foe to intemper- ance and slavery and gave liberally to these and missionary causes. His death occurred December 5th, 1881.
JOHN STOUGHTON STRONG, JR., son of John Stoughton and Tamar Whitney Strong was born at Strongsville, Ohio, June 29th, 1820,-the youngest of thirteen children. After attending the district school, he commenced a higher course of study under the instruction of Mr. Perly Bills. He graduated in 1843 at Western Reserve. After leav- ing college he spent some time in Seville, O., in the employ of his broth- er, L. W. Strong. He soon after entered the law office of Mr. Lattimer of Norwalk, remaining there until 1846, when he went to Tecumseh, Mich. Here he married Miss Delia Alden Baldwin, and here they lived for a year when they came to Strongsville, and remained one year, re- turning again to Tecumseh. After engaging in the hardware and nur- sery businesses, Mr. Strong spent some time in Nashville, Tenn., and in Huntsville, Ala. After his return from the south he engaged in the hardware business with Mr. L. Drew. Later he established an agency at Coldwater, Mich., for the Branch Co. Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Co. Returning to Tecumseh he accepted the agency of the Conn. Mutu- al Life Insurance Co. He was one of the organizers of a bank at Bay City, Mich. In 1864 he was obliged to return to Tecumseh, because of the failing health of Dr. Baldwin. Here he became senior partner in the clothing house of Strong & McNair, in which business he remained for twenty-five years. Mr. Strong has been, for the past forty years, a di- rector and stock holder in the Lilley State Bank, and has been active in church work, having been superintendent and elder of the Presbyterian Church, and having served as chorister for fifty years collectively. He has been identified with the business and musical interests of Tecumseh, in
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which he has spared neither time, strength nor money. Mr. and Mrs. Strong are doubtless the oldest persons living who remember Strongs- ville in the days of "Auld Lang Syne." Mr. and Mrs. Strong are the par- ents of one child, Harriet Baldwin Strong, born September 29th, 1848, who married Benj. Franklin Snyder, D. D. S., May 14th, 1885.
Mrs. John Stoughton Strong, Jr .- Delia Alden Baldwin, the second child and only daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Wm. Baldwin, was born at Strongsville, January 9th, 182). When very young she attended school at the Cherry Valley Academy, N. Y., and received many advantages, which, at that early day, were unusual for a young girl to acquire. In 1840 she joined her parents in Tecumseh, Mich., living with them, with exception of one year at Ashland Academy, until her marriage to Mr. Strong. In Tecumseh, for many years she was an active member in the church and in society. She was the leading soprano in the Presbyterian choir, which she entered at the age of twelve years. Mrs. Strong has been more or less of an invalid for some years, and is looking forward to that rest from sorrow and pain which shall be eternal.
EDMUNDTOMPKINS and Elizabeth Sayell were born in Buck- inghamshire, England, and soon after their marriage they emigrated to America. In 1853, they bought a farm in the western part of Strongs- ville township, where they lived most of the time until the death of Mrs. Tompkins in 1893, at the age of 79 years. Mr. Tompkins then lived with his daughter until his death in 1900, at the age of 84 years. Of their six children, two died in infancy. The remaining four are Mrs. I. G. Lewis of Beebetown, Ohio; Rev. E S. Tompkins, Sycamore, Ohio; C. L. Tompkins, Rocky River, Ohio; and T. S. Tompkins, Columbia, O.
CHARLES TUPPER was born April 15tb, 1797, at Barnard, Vt. He was of the 17th generation of the descendants of Thomas Tupper, whose name appears among the original proprietors of Sandwich of the Colony of New Plymouth. He enlisted in the war of 1812, and served until its close. Mr Tupper married Julia H. Briggs in Vermont and when they came to Ohio, they brought three children, Adaline, Caroline and Charles Edwin. Five other children were born to them,-Lacy M.,
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Tullius C. Elivia A., Julia H. and Albert H., all of whom grew to man- hood and womanhood in Strongsville. Mr. Tupper died in 1864.
Adaline married Dr. Pixley of Wooster, Ohio, and they are now liv- ing at Akron, O. They have two sons, Chelius and Wilson.
Caroline married Mr. Wesley Beatty of Sandusky, O. The names of their two sons are Charles and James.
Charles Edwin studied medicine with Dr. Pixley, graduated from Cleveland Medical College, and became a physician and skilled surgeon. He was surgeon in the Civil War, and died January 1894 at the age of 65, in Ottawa, O., where for many years he had successfully practised his profession. He married Mary A. Gallup of Strongsville, and of their five children, Charles G., who became a physician is now dead; Helen married W. H. Kinder, living at Findlay, O .; Mary Viletta is the wife of H. A. Scriver, of Minneapolis, Minn .; Edwin G. lives in northern Minne- sota, and Eugene L., a physician, is living at the old home place in Ot- tawa.
Lucy married Gen. John Beatty, of Columbus. They had seven chil- dren, five of whom are living.
Tullius C. married Miss Anna Hall of Royalton, Ohio; he entered the army as a young man during the Civil War, and was promoted to a Cap- taincy. At the close of the Rebellion, he entered the Regular Army where he served as a Col. in the 6th Cavalry until the age of retirement. Col. Tupper died in Cleveland in 1898. Of their two daughters, Mary married a Lieut. in the regular army, and died in Wisconsin; and Mar- guerite lives with her aunt, Miss Hall of Cleveland.
Elivia married Rev. Shaw of Elmira, N. Y. After becoming a wid- ow, she served as matron at the Fisk University, afterwards in the same capacity in Macon, Ga. From there she went out under the Mis- sionary Board to Beyrout, Syria, and the following year died at Syria,- at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George Doolittle. Her other daugh- ter is the wife of Dr. Lee, a Professor at the Medical Department at Minneapolis, Minn.
Julia married first, L. E Marks, afterwards J. F. Mund, a druggist, and resides in Cleveland. Her only daughter, May, is married and lives
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in Chicago.
Albert H. served during the War of the Rebellion, and afterwards became a shoe merchant in Cleveland. After marrying Martha Slausson of Ottawa, O., went west and is now living in Mich., his daughter, Kath- erine with him. His son is living in California.
REV. JOSIAH WOLCOTT TURNER, son of Rev. Nathaniel Turner was born in Salisbury, Conn. 1810; graduated from Williams col- lege Williamstown, Mass., in 1836, and married the same year to Almena W. Grant of East Winsor Hill, Conn. He was ordained minister of the Cangregational church and became pastor of the First Cong. church of Great Barrington, Mass., where he preached from 1836 to 1851. From Great Barrington he moved to Andover, Mass, where he acted as Secretary of Board of Home Missions for a number of years; afterwards going to Waverly near Cambridge in 1865. Here he organized and built the only Cong. church there and remained pastor over that church until 1875; coming in that year to Cleveland, Ohio, and thence in the fall of 1876 to Strongsville, where he preached until death ended his work for the Master, August 1885. Mr Turner was a worthy descend- ant of a worthy ancestry, both father and grandfather having been min- isters of the Congregational Church, and both graduates of Williams College. As man and minister, during a long and useful life, he was no- ted for an unswerving integrity of character, faithfulness in all relations to men, and earnestness in zeal for his Master's work. None who knew him could call in question his fitness for his chosen calling.
JOSEPH WELLS was descended from James Wells, one of the original proprietors and settlers of Haddam, Conn., where he was born April 2, 1794. He learned the craft of mill-wrighting and set out, in 1818, to "New Connecticut," in Ohio, stopping at Perry, Ohio, but in the latter part of 1820, moved his family to Strongsville. He soon began operations for building a grist-mill on the east branch of Rocky river, 1} miles east of the center of the town, but before the completion of the mill it came into the possession of Mr. John S. Strong who finished it. Before July, 1822, the family moved to Brooklyn, that part now included
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in Cleveland, and here their other ten children were born. Mr. Wells was a man of great energy and remarkable ability in his vocation. His business operations for the times were large, extending even in the ear- ly thirties to Michigan, to Kentucky and as far south as Alabama. Be- sides a large number of mills of various kinds, and a vessel, the "Essex" to sail on Lake Erie, he built the City Furnace, one of the first foundry and machine shops erected in Cleveland. The iron work for the Wed- dell House was cast at this foundry. Of sterling integrity and great force of character, Mr. Wells was sympathetic, and was easily affected by the appeals of distress, while shams and display he detested. Mr. Wells died in 1850 in Penfield, Lorain Co., Ohio, whither he had moved his family a few years before. Mrs. Wells' death occurred in 1880, and a life of rare affection, disinterestedness and self-devotion came to its close on earth.
GUILFORD WHITNEY and family emigrated from Marlbo- rough, Vt., to Strongsville in 1816, where he remained until his death. He left a family of six children, namely: Hollis, Bernicey, Vina, Flavel, Jubal and Betsy. The eldest son, Hollis, married Miss Charlotte Wallace; Bernicey was married to Mr. John Hilliard, before their removal from Vt. Mr. and Mrs. Hilliard had five children, namely: Eliza, Philander, Frank- lin, Martin and Matilda. At the age of sixteen Vina, the second daugh- ter married Retire Grove Strong. The youngest son, Jubal, was first married to Abigal Gilbert. They had one child which died in infancy. For his second wife he wedded Mrs. Betsy Gurley. Betsy, their young- est child was married to Mr. Williard Wilkinson and spent the remain- der of her life in Strongsville.
Flavel, the second son of Guilford and Anna Whitney, was born in Vermont, September 30, 1804. He was 12 years of age at the time his parents settled in Strongsville. On February 2nd, 1828, he married Miss Clarinda Tuttle, who died February 15, 1830. On November 14th of the same year he married Electa Harvy, whose death occurred Octo- ber 6, 1831. On the 4th of November, 1832 he married Miss Aurelia
E. H. REED
MRS E. H. REED
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Allen, who was born in Norwich, Connecticut, September 16, 1812, and by whom he had four children who reached maturity, namely: Watson H., Henry M., John F., and Electa W. The mother of these children departed this life August 22, 1843. For his fourth wife he wedded Mrs. Catharine Barnes, on March 28, 1844, and she died December 31, 1852. Mr. Whitney's last wife was Miss Lucy A. Cole, who was born in Coles- ville, N. Y., November 13, 1808, and died in November, 1889, having survived her husband several years. Flavel Whitney was for a number of years Deacon of the Presbyterian Church of Strongsville. He was a man of sterling Christian character, and was honored and beloved by all who knew him. His death occurred October 29. 1877.
Watson H. Whitney, the eldest son of Flavel and Aurelia Whitney, was born in Strongsville, October 6, 1833. He married Miss Susan Nokes. They spent their first years of wedded life upon a farm in Strongsville, but afterward moved to Berea, where Mr. Whitney was en- gaged in the grocery business. One daughter, (who died in infancy), was born to them. Mr. Whitney died December 15, 1896. His widow still survives him and resides in Berea.
Henry M, Whitney was born in this township, December 2, 1835, and here, with the exception of one year, which was spent in Wisconsin, he has ever since resided. Farming has been his chief occupation. - Mr. Whitney was married in Strongsville, May 29, 1862, to Sarah J. Haynes, daughter of Deacon Abial Haynes. Mrs. Whitney departed this life September 10, 1864, leaving an only child, Gertrude S., now wife of Mr. James T. Yule, of Berea, O. His second marriage occurred in Litch- field, Medina county, Ohio, April 18, 1866, to Miss Mary Cole, who was born in Bethel, Connecticut, November 17, 1836, a daughter of Rev. Erastus Cole. To this union were born two children: Williston O., and Edith M. Mrs. Whitney died May 26, 1900. Home was her sphere, and to minister with unselfish and loving devotion to the interests of her family, was ever her chief aim.
John F. Whitney, youngest son of Flavel Whitney, was born in Strongsville, February 1, 1838. Nearly his whole life has been spent as a railroad engineer, having lived the greater part of his life in the west-
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ern and southern states. He was married to Maria Otis of Iowa. Three children were born to them, but they all died while very young. Their names were Roswell, Maude and Harry. Mrs. Whitney died some years ago. Mr. Whitney resides at Birmingham, Alabama.
Electa, the only daughter of Flavel Whitney, was born July 3, 1841, and was married to Mr. William Humiston, May 30, 1861. They had four children: Fannie, Mrs. Evans, who is now matron of the Old Ladies' Home, Kennard street, Cleveland; and William, Ida, and Nellie, who have passed to the Beyond. Mr. and Mrs. Humiston have spent the greater part of their life in Berea, where Mr. Humiston, until a few years ago, was engaged in the grocery and meat business Several years ago, they moved to the old Whitney homestead, where, with their little adopted daughter, Ruth, they now reside.
DEACON JONAS WHITNEY was born June 14, 1751. at Shrewesbury, Massachusetts, and was a prominent man in Marlboro, Vermont, being Justice of the Peace, deacon and chorister in the Con- gregational Church, and a tavern-keeper. He moved to Strongsville, from Marlboro, Vt, at the age of 86 years, in order that he might be with his daughters, who had married and settled there. Of his five daughters, Sarah married, in 1790, Joseph Olds; Lucinda married Na- than Brittan; Tamar married John S. Strong; Irene was the wife of Eli- jah Lyman, Sr, and the remaining daughter became the wife of Rev. Gamaliel Olds. Mr. Whitney's name appears on the poll-book, where he voted for a Justice of the Peace, in June, 1841. He died in Strongs- ville, April 28, 1842.
EBENEZER WILKINSON was born in Dedham, Mass, and married Miss Nancy Bacon, also a native of Dedham. Four children were born to them there: Edwin, William, Willard and Nancy, (Mrs. Lane, afterwards Mrs. Webster.) Later they lived four or five years in Brattleboro, Vermont, then started for Ohio, with an ox-team, one horse and a sled. In a few days they were obliged to trade their sled for a wagon. After 41 days' traveling, they reached Cleveland, where they remained only a few days. While there, their horse was stolen from
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them. They crossed Cuyahoga river on a sandbar that had formed at its mouth, and were two days in getting from Cleveland to Strongsville, . where they arrived in May, 1821. They settled on a farm a mile east of the Center. Mr. Wilkinson was a blacksmith by trade. He shod the farmers' oxen, and mended their log-chains. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson in Strongsville: Almira, Caroline. (Mrs. Cul- ver), and Harriet. Only two of these, Harriet, (Mrs. Conger), and Al- mina, (Mrs. Tompkins), are living. Their homes are in Los Angeles, Cal. Mr. Wilkinson died in 1834; Mrs. Wilkinson lived to a good old age, passing away in 1870
Willard Wilkinson married Miss Betsey Whitney, and they had three children: Bela, a farmer in Strongsville; Emily, who married Mr. Ezra Wing and died in the west; and Jane, who was the wife of Mr. Laban Heazlit. Willard was a great hunter, almost a sure marksman. When the ground and trees were covered with snow, he would throw a white garment over his clothes, and, thus unnoticed by the animals, would go out and kill a deer or turkey any time. He died in Strongsville, at the age of 83 years.
MR. WILLIAM A. WING was born in Alburgh, St. Lawrence Co, N. Y , Aug. 12, 1809. He came to Cleveland in 1834 and to Strongs- ville in May, 1843. For several years he operated a brick yard on what is known as the Mister farm, now owned by Mr. Hildebrand, situated northwest of Albion. Being a good judge of live stock, Mr. Wing bought and sold cattle and sheep for many years both for himself and for Mr. Alanson Pomeroy. He died Jan. 16, 1883.
Mrs. Wing, nee Hannah Babcock, was born in Alburgh, N. Y., March 11, 1814. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Wing were six in num- ber: Alzina, who married Bela Wilkinson; Ezra, now of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Edwin, who died in Cleveland; George William, who lost his life in the Civil War; Angelia and Della, (Mrs. Tompkins,) who died in Strongsville. Mrs. Wing died Aug. 26, 1883.
REV. SIMEON WOODRUFF was born in Litchfield, South-farm, Conn., July 26, 1728. He prepared for college under the direction of
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Prof. Morris; graduated at Yale in 1809, and afterward spent three years in the seminary at Andover. He was ordained as an evangelist April 21, 1813, and on May 10, set out on horseback for Ohio. He was 20 days on his journey and preached his first sermon in Ohio at Austin- burg. After a pastorate of nine years at Tallmadge, Ohio, he was in- stalled as pastor of the First Congregational Church at Strongsville, Jan. 2, 1825, where he preached nine years. He gave to the Church Society the land upon which the old White church was built. Through his influ- ence an academy was built in Strongsville. He was one of the instruct- ors for a time, and was one of the Board of Examiners for granting cer- tificates to teachers. In 1834, he became pastor of the Church at Bain- bridge, Mich., remaining there until his death, which occurred the follow- ing year.
REV. ORRIN W. WHITE for seven years, from 1856 to 1863, pastor of the Free Congregational Church of Strongsville, was a native of Winsted, Conn. In 1842 at 21 years of age, he came to Oberlin, O., to obtain an education. Upon reaching Oberlin, he had only 25 cents in money; yet by his unaided exertions, first at manual labor, and after- ward at teaching school, he supported himself and paid his college ex- penses, graduating with honor from the classical course in 1848. After spending several years in teaching, he returned to Oberlin and graduat- ed from the Theological Seminary with the class of 1854, and in Decem- ber of that year he was ordained a minister of the gospel, at Olmsted Falls, Ohio. Shortly after coming to Strongsville, his first wife died. Subsequently he married Perlina Lucy, only daughter of Philander Pope, and established the home where his widow now resides with her son, Charles S. White. An adopted son, Dr. W. W White, is now a success- ful physician of Ravenna, O. In 1863, Rev. O. W. White accepted a call to the Congregational Church, of Unionville, Ohio, where he remain- ed three years. Returning to Strongsville he actively engaged in gener- al farming, at the same time doing home missionary work in the way of supplying weak and pastorless churches. In this manner he regularly supplied the Congregational Church of Rockport, Ohio, for a period of four years. In 1873, he moved with his family to Weymouth, Ohio,
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