USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Strongsville > History of Strongsville, Cuyahoga County, Ohio ; with illustrations > Part 8
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cock, also a talented Methodist preacher, but she died young. Perlina, daughter of Philander, married Rev. O. W. White, who was pastor of the Free Congregational Church of Strongsville for seven years. In the Civil War, Thomas Harlan, who has all his life lived on the farm in Strongsville, where he was born, and Stanley served three years or more. They were in many hard-fought battles, but escaped uninjured. Charles H., with the exception of a few years in Ottawa, Ohio, where he was engaged in the mercantile business, has spent the greater part of his life in his native town. Wesley, son of Ansel, was a successful physi- cian in Richfield, Ohio, who maintained a high rank in his profession.
Geo. Stanley became a Congregational preacher and has given the best of his life to the work of educating the Freedmen and the mountain Whites of the South. Considering the strong Anti-Slavery sentiments of the family, it seems quite a coincidence that his first work in the South should have been at Montgomery, the first capital of the South- ern Confederacy; and his first school taught in the old slave mart. For ten years he was president of Tougaloo University in Mississippi, the most important Industrial School for the Freedmen, under the auspices of the American Missionary Association. For several years he had the oversight of the Congregational Church work on the Cumberland Pla- teau, Tenn., among the mountain Whites, organizing churches, building school houses and places of worship. The same scccess marked his work here as in his school work further south. It was here that one of the secretaries of the A. M. A. characterized him as "The Man of Iron, who rested not, night nor day, in his zeal for the churches." And now at the age of 61 years, the period of life when most men of his calling withdraw from active service, he is still pushing Home-Missionary work on the frontier, having within the past year built a new church at Ged- des, South Dakota, and having regularly kept up church service at two outposts, one of them twenty miles distant.
JAMES PRESTON, a well known and prosperous farmer, emi- grated from Armagh, Ireland, in 1855. He worked in the Berea Stone quarries one month, since which time his home has been in Strongsville.
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He worked two years for M. B. Kelley. In 1857 he married Sylvia C. (Kelley), Meacham, widow of Stephen Meacham, shortly after purchas- ing from the Meacham heirs the farm on which he has ever since lived. He and Mrs. Preston have one son, Francis J. Preston, who lives at Strongsville center. Mr. Preston has always taken a keen interest in local affairs, and was for several years township trustee.
EDWARD HITCHINS REED, son of Thomas and Mary Hitch- ins Reed, was born in St. Agnes, Cornwall, England, October, 22, 1823. He was the sixth of a family of thirteen children. The father, although in comfortable circumstances, looked with some concern upon his large family, and his seven growing boys, and resolved to emigrate to the New World, and he and one son reached America in the year 1837. The following year the mother with eleven children, (the eldest son remain- ing in England), undertook the then long and uncomfortable sea voyage. They were accompanied by Mrs. Reed's brother, Edward Hitchins, who also had a family of twelve children. On reaching Cleveland, Edward, a boy of fourteen, hired himself out to a farmer near Newburg for $4 a month, but after a few months began to long for the mother and the home. The lumbering old stagecoach would have carried him to his des- tination, but it seemed to him unwise to spend his hard-earned dollars in any such way, so the sturdy lad walked. Reaching Strongsville, he found the family settled upon one of the river farms, near what is now known as the East Mills, and he soon found plenty to do. From that time un- til his death-a period of over 60 years-Strongsville was his home. At the age of twenty, in company with John Watson, he opened a general store in the then flourishing young city of Albion, but soon abandoned that, to find his true avocation as an ideal farmer, a calling in which he took much pride, and which he successfully followed until the close of his life. But little record is left of the education he received. I' must necessarily have been slight, but was supplemented by careful reading and a habit of thinking for himself, which in after years resulted in a good stock of general information, and sound judgment in business matters.
EBENEZER STONE
M. E. STONE
MRS. M. E. STONE
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E. TOMPKINS
MRS. E. TOMPKINS
MRS. NATHAN FOSTER
MISS H. A. FOSTER
NATHAN FOSTER
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REV. D. C. BLOOD
REV. O. W. WHITE
REV. D. C. BLOOD
REV. O. W. WHITE
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In the year 1847, he was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Cole, who died in 1851, leaving one daughter, Florence, now the wife of H. K. W. Stebbins of Youngstown. In 1853 he was married the second time to Miss Emeline Snow. Another daughter, Ella, was born in 1856, but died at the age of four, and was soon followed by her mother, who died in 1861. In 1862, he was again married to Mrs. Harriet Strong, a wo- man of rare sweetness and strength of character, with whom he lived for nearly twenty years.
Mr. Reed was one of the few men, who, in any community, are the loved and honored of all. In public life he was always active, having served as township trustee and treasurer at different times. He was in- fluential ir securing proper railroad facilities for the town, also, among others, in the construction of the brick road, and many other improve- ments. He served as trustee in the Congregational church, and gave liberally to its support, was always deeply interested in its work and put the same sound judgment and substantial help into it which were so characteristic of his life. In his private life he was a man strongly at- tached to his home and his family, and ever most loyal and generous to his friends. Although not a member of any church, he held in his heart a deep abiding reverence for the Creator of all, a love for all things good and pure, not perhaps fully realized, except by those who were his intimate friends. He died December 2, 1900, at the home of his daugh- ter, after a short illness.
Harriet E. Strong, daughter of Retire Grove Strong, was born in Strongsville, April 3, 1832, and was married to J. Chipman Strong, Dec- ember 1853. He died with consumption in 1862, and wichin a year she was married to Mr. E. H. Reed, with whom she lived until her death which occurred Nov. 27, 1880. She was an earnest christian worker in the church and community, and her death was lamented by all.
JOHN REED, son of Thomas and Mary Hitchens Reed, was born in Cornwall, England, March 27, 1816, and came to Strongsville, with the family in 1837, in which township he lived the greater part of his life. He was married four times, having two children by the first mar- riage, and five by a later one; four of whom are now living. Of these
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Wheeler is living in Hinckley, Medina county, Ohio; Joseph resides in Royalton, Cuyahoga county, and John and Edith live in the West. John Reed was a man of strong convictions, especially on the subjects of to- bacco and temperance. He was a good neighbor. He died in Fon- tanelle, Iowa, February 23, 1897. Although a resident of that place but a short time, his death was regretted by a large circle of friends.
TAMAR LYMAN REED, one of the earliest pioneers of Strongs- ville, was born June 27th, 1818. She was the eighth child of Elijah and Irene Lyman and was the third child born in the township. Being left an orphan while quite young she made her home with her sister, Mrs. Thatcher Avery. When sixteen years of age she united with the First Congregational Church, at which time thirty six others became members, this being the largest number that ever united at one time with the Church Miss Lyman taught school during the years 1837 and 1838. For her first term of teaching she received seventy-five cents per week, later one dollar, and during her last year her salary was two dollars per week, the limit paid at that time to any in the town- ship. Much of the time she rode horseback to her school, enduring many hardships and trials.
On April 3rd, 1843, she was married to Mr. Joseph Reed who came to this country from England in 1838 with his parents and brothers. The result of this union was nine children: Francis E., deceased; Joseph L., of Ridgeville, O .; John H., of Fields, O .; Sophia L., Mrs. Nichols, of Berea; Mary I., Mrs. Osborn, of North Eaton, O .; Frederick N., who died in infancy; Frederick N., of Cleveland; Julia A., deceased; and Charles T. of Cleveland. In 1846 or 1847 Mr. Reed moved his family to Colum- bia where he lived on a farm until his death, August 14, 1880. After going to Columbia Mrs. Reed united with the Wesleyan Methodist Church at West View, of which church she was an active member up to the time of her death, which occurred November 20, 1897. Her whole ca- reer was marked for her earnest christian character and for her kind, lovable disposition.
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WM. RICHARDS came to Strongsville in 1836 from Letcombe, Berkshire, England, where he was born October 21, 1810. He hired out to Mr. Warner Strong for some years, and was married December 25, 1839 to Miss Ann Pembroke. He purchased his farm, on which his son, Wm, now lives, of Mr. Lyman Strong, for which he was to pay $500. Mr. Strong favored him by giving him the opportunity of paying for it as he could, and by perseverance and industry he succeeded in making his last payment in less than five years, having made as small a payment as $5 at a time. Mr. Richards afterwards bought land until he owned a farm of 260 acres. He helped clear over 300 acres of land, chopped and sold 3 foot wood at $1.25 a cord, and took his pay in shoemaking. He supplied Mr. Tupper with his wood for shoemaking.
Mr. and Mrs. Richards lived together over forty years, and to them were born twelve children, nine of whom reached adult, age, namely: Harriet B. (Mrs. Crawford, now Mrs. James Date of Berea); Charles; George A .; Nancy M. (Mrs. Bowman, afterward Mrs. John Morley); Alice, (Mrs. C. J. Fish of Columbia); John P .; Wm. N .: Addie ( wrs. E. I. Gif- ford); and Lulu, (Mrs. Frank Squires).
H. W. SABIN came from Brattleboro, Vt., to Strongsville in 1820 settling in the south part of the township. He was a successful farmer, and an influential citizen, holding the office of Clerk of the First Con- gregational Church for a number of years, and also township offices. Mrs. Sabin was a woman of refinement and education. She performed all her household duties, cared for her nine children, with the help of her sister, Elizabeth Church, and taught, in one room of her log house, one of the first private schools in town. It was largely through her efforts that her children received a college education. Early in the fif- ties the family moved to Hudson, O., in order to give the children edu- cational advantages. The next year after moving there Mrs. Sabin died, and in 1871 Mr. Sabin followed at the age of seventy-five years. Mr. Sabin often spoke of his Strongsville home, of his choice fruit trees, of his wood lot and his farm.
Of the children, Levi was a minister of the Gospel; Myron became a lawyer at Madison, Wis .; Henry is a successful farmer near Madison;
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Maria Louisa Cochran is in Springfield, Ill .: Mary Ann, who died recently, was the wife of Emerson E. White, A. M., LL D., who has a state and national reputation as an educator; and Sophia, who married, and died some years afterward.
SANDERSON FAMILY .- The Sandersons are direct descend- ants of the Pilgrims. Eri Sanderson was born in Whately, Mass., Nov- 6, 1797, and in 1819, married Miss Amy Waite. In Grand Isle, Vermont, were born to them six children, viz .: Samuel, Aretas, Betsey, Lovina, Delight W., and Jeremiah Burton. In 1837, the family started for Ohio in search of a new home, and after twenty-seven days of hard travel, they reached Cleveland, from which place they came to Strongsville, settling in the south-eastern part of the township. Mr. Sanderson bought a farm with a large creek running through it, and, being a mechanic, he built a large factory, the power of which was supplied by the old fashioned overshot water wheel. This mill was known far and wide for its great variety of work, supplying most of the needs of the farmers in that lo- cality in those pioneer days. By diligent work, he and his sons built up a large trade, from which they made themselves comfortable homes.
All of their children grew up in the township. Only two, however, are living at the present time: Samuel, whose home is in Seattle, Wash., and Juliet, who was born after the arrival of the family in the township, and who still resides in Strongsville. She married Mr. D. K. Drake and for years has been an invalid.
J. Burton Sanderson, son of Eri and Amy Sanderson, was born June 19, 1830. All of his life was passed in Strongsville, where, aside frem agricultural pursuits, he found time to follow the promptings of an ingenious man at the forge. He had a genial disposition, which won him many friends.
He was married December 31, 1855 to Miss Helen Southam, who died May 27. 1871, leaving five children: Martha, who married Mr. J. E. Clement, and J. Wesley, both of Strongsville; Wallace and Ellsworth of Cleveland; and Carlos C. of Berea, Ohio. Mr. Sanderson then married Mrs. Clara Dunham Sanderson, widow of his brother, Aretas Sinderson,
HON. M. S. HAYNES
MRS. M. S. HAYNES
GOV. HARVEY
MRS. GOV. HARVEY
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who had two children: Florence, wife of Mr. A. L. Bedford of Strongs- ville, and Allison L. of Strongsville. The children of Mr. Sanderson's second marriage are Harlan A. and Archie F., both of Cleveland, and Hel- en of Strongsville. Mr. Sanderson died of heart disease, January 21st, 1889.
JARED SARTWELL, one of the pioneers of Strongsville, mar- ried Theodosia Haynes and for many years lived on his farm, one and one-half miles northwest of the Center. He was a very ingenious man and had a factory, where he made chairs, spinning wheels and wheels for spinning flax He died in the prime of manhood, leaving a large family: Willis, who was a noted blacksmith and edge tool maker, built the shop north of the store at the Center. Mary, (Mrs. G. Watson); Mar- tha, (Mrs. Eugene Gilchrist); Daniel, who died at Ridgeville; Lura, (Mrs. Martin Hilliard); Matilda and Phoebe, (Mrs. Greenway), were the remain- ing children.
REV. LUCIUS SMITH was born at Keene, New Hampshire, Dec. 2, 1811, and died Jan. 12, 1893 at Washington, D. C. His early life until his 20th year was spent at home working with his father in summer, and teaching school winters beginning when 17 years of age. He commenced his advanced studies at Oneida institute, continued them at Lane Seminary and completed them with a theological course at Oberlin, graduating in 1841 in the same class with Presidents James and Henry Fairchild. His first pastorate was in central New York. The most of his ministe ial work was in northern Ohio, commencing in Wellington in 1845 and closing in Strongsville, in 1872. He was also pastor of Churches in Brecksville, Akron, North Fairfield, New Phila- delphia and Dover. He never was satisfied with laboring with one Church but always did a large amount of work in neighboring school districts or towns. His most important work, perhaps, was in connec- tion with the Congregational Church in Berea which was nearly extinct, but largely through his labors (while preaching at Strongsville) the Church was revived, large numbers added to its membership and the present church edifice commenced. While never engaged as an evan-
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gelist his work was largely of this character, and many revivals were enjoyed by Churches in his charge.
Mr. Smith was married immediately after his graduation to Miss Harriet N. Hovey, who was a true helper in his labors, and with whom he lived nearly 52 years. Mrs. Smith died in 1901 at the home of W. W. Smith, at Litchfield, Ohio, having survived her husband over 8 years. Four children were born to them: George H. Smith, Carl- ton Center, Mich .; W. W. Smith, Litchfield, Ohio; Mrs. Alice A. Lee, Washington, D. C .; and Fanny L. Smith who died in the 4th year of her age. The whole family, during their long residence in Strongsville, were prominently connected with the best interests of the town. W. W. and G. H. were for years in the milling business
APOLLOS SOUTHWORTH, SR .- Among the earliest pic- neers, who came to subdue the primeval forests of Strongsville, was Apollos Southworth, Sr., who came from Stoughton, Mass., in 1818. Mr. Southworth was a descendant of Constant Southworth, a pilgrim from Leyden to Plymouth, in 1628. The name "Southworth" is also found with those of Miles Standish and Samuel Nash in the record of a land purchase from Massasoit.
Miss Deborah Fisher of Newburg, Ohio, originally from Canton, Mass., became the wife of Apollos Southworth, Sr., in 1820, and six children were born to them: Deborah, who married Samuel Sanderson; Sarah, wife of Philip Trautmen of Nichols, Iowa; Jedediah; Marcus, who died when a young man; Apollos, Jr., who lived on a part of the origi- nal farm until his death in 1896; Albert, a graduate of the Homeopath- ic College in Cleveland, O., who is now a resident of Los Angeles, Cal.
Jedediah Southworth, son of A. Southworth, Sr., has been a res- pected citizen of Strongsville township for many years, He is a well read man, actively interested in all literary work and especially fond of participating in debates at debating societies. He married Miss Fran- ces Wyman, who died recently. Mr. Southworth still lives on the an- cestral farm.
NOAH N. SPAFFORD, son of Noah Spafford, Sr., was born
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Nov. 3, 1828, at Copley, Ohio, and received a good education for those days. While a young man he employed his winters in teaching school and spent his summers on a farm, until the time of the gold fever, when he went across the Plains to the Gold Fields of California, being absent 18 months. Sept. 12th, 1853, he married Miss Electa A. Beckwith. In 1860, they moved to the northeastern part of Strongsville township, where February 9th, 1861, Mrs. Spafford died, leaving four children: Jennie, (Mrs. George M. Derr,) of South Dakota; Lora L., of Strongs- ville, who is the widow of Charles J. Graves; Martin M., of Mich .; and Alice E., wife of Edgar B. Gardner, of Lansing, Mich.
August 3d, 1862, Mr. Spafford married Miss Olive Irving. Nine children were the result of this union: Cora, (Mrs. P. J. Alcox); P. D .; K. D .; J. D .; Bon; Olive, (Mrs. P. B. McNeily) of Wayne; Ebbie K., (Mrs. George Chambers) of Austinburg; Luette, (Mrs. W. Webber); and Hal, of Cherry Valley, O. Mr. Spafford owned several farms at differ- ent times, and for a number of years lived on what was known as the Chipman Strong place. His last residence was one and one-fourth miles west of the Center, when, in April, 1891, he moved to Cherry Valley, Ohio, where he now resides.
H. W. STEBBINS came to Strongsville in 1841, and engaged in trade, bringing a cargo of shoes from the east every year, and return- ing with a barter of butter and eggs. Afterward he established him- self in Strongsville as a shoemaker. Those were the days when shoe factories were unknown, and everyone came with a foot to be measured, and shoes were all made to order. Mr. Stebbins married, first Miss Abigail Hoyt; his second wife was her sister, Miss Gratia Hoyt.
EBENEZER STONE was born May 8, 1771, at Stonington, Ct. He removed to Vermont when a comparatively young man. He used to tell of visiting the latter place in the antumn of the year, when a snow storm overtook him. Clothed in tow pants, he shivered in the keen cold and traveled homeward over snow banks, but soon after remov- ed to Hinesburg, Vermont. From thence, in 1823, he started for Ohio, with two sons, Harmon and Marvin; another son, Curtis, having preced- ed him. He was married to Anah Ferry. The latter was a woman of
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spare form, gentle manners and pure life. Ebenezer Stone was below the middle size; a man of good judgment, quiet temperament and indus- trious habits. He was a devout member of the Episcopal Church, in whose communion he died. He settled in Strongsville by the forests of great trees, and did sturdy work in making a clearing for his family. He was a man of unimpeachable integrity, upright with his fellow men, and a genial and kindly neighbor. He died at Albion village in Strongs- ville, February 11, 1860.
MARVIN EBENEZER STONE was born at Hinesburgh, Vt, August 6, 1804. His father, Ebenezer Stone, removed with his family to Ohio in the year 1823. In 1834 he married Miss Hannah West. Nine children were the fruits of this union, two of whom preceeded Mr. Stone in death. These were John C. Stone, who died at Dayton, O., in 1874, and Mrs. Rosa C. Ingersoll, who died Nov. 16, 1878. The eldest son, Rev. Geo. M. Stone, is at present pastor of the Asylum Ave. Baptist church, Hartford, Conn. The next survivor in age, K. H. Stone, is at present in business in New York City. N. O. Stone, the next son, is the well known boot and shoe dealer in Cleveland, O .; Mary C. Stone resides at home in Berea, O .; Mrs. Martba A. Webster, twin sister to the for- mer, is settled in Chicago, Ill , and Mrs. Louisa J. Sage is also in Chica- go, Ill. Sidney O. Stone, the youngest son, is in business in Chicago, Ill Mr. Stone was a man of few words, and careful that those should be words of wisdom and charity. His aversion to all sham and insincerity was habitual and decided. His business intercourse with men was mark- ed by the strictest integrity; indeed he was more afraid of inflicting an injury upon others, than he was of being defrauded himself. Mr. Stone was instantly killed October 14, 1879, at Strongsville Center.
Mrs. Hannah West Stone was born in Ludlow, Mass., September 3, 1816, and died at Berea, O, November 19, 1893. She was a woman of rare gifts, and most definite and interesting personality. She inherited a cheerful and courageous spirit, which had been disciplined by trial, united to a clear christian faith, which did not falter in times of dark- ness. Her hospitality was a characteristic recognized by all who knew
HON. GEORGE H. FOSTER
JOSHUA HUDSON
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her. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stone were honored and faithful members of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
MONTRAVILLE STONE was born at Hinesburg, Vermont, May 9th, 1810, and died at Oberlin, Ohio, October 30, 1888. By dint of great perseverance, and without meterial assistance, he acquired an ex- cellent education in the English branches, as well as a fair knowledge of Latin and Greek, at the Hinesburg Academy. In 1832, Mr. Stone came to Strongsville, and his first winter was spent in teaching at the Academy, and for ten years he taught school at Strongsville, Bath, or vicinity, while the summer time was devoted to farm employment, which in those days consisted in no small degree, in clearing the land of for- ests. In 1843, he married Miss Mary E. Smith of Bath, Ohio, a woman who gave one the highest impression of Christian meekness and stead- fastness. Of this union, four children were born: Adrian C., of Wil- mington, Ohio; Judge C. M. Stone, of Cleveland, Ohio; Alice, (Mrs. Ver- non Rood), of Jeanesville, Pa ; and H. M. Stone, of Kankakee, Illinois. From 1843 to 1868, Mr. Stone devoted his time to farming and stock- raising, with unremitting care and labor, and with more than ordinary success. In the latter year he moved to Oberlin and there resided un- til his decease. During his residence in Oberlin, he was for several years Mayor of the village, and was president of the Citizens National Bank. Mr. Stone was a close student of history, and few had a more extended knowledge of men and events than he. Especially was he appreciated for his sterling integrity and upright character.
VALERIUS CORVUS STONE was born in Hinesburg, Vt., March 2, 1820. In 1833 he came with his father, Joshua Stone, his mo- ther, and an older brother and sister to Strongsville. January 25, 1855, Mr. Stone married Miss Huldah Haynes of Strongsville. Here they made their home until 1883 when they moved to Berea, where he died July 5, 1897. By this union there were six children, two of whom died in infancy. The remaining four are Miss Clara E. Stone of Berea, F. V. Stone of Strongsville, Mrs. Saida Gallup, of Cleveland, and Mrs. Bertha Campbell of Berea. Mr. Stone was a successful farmer in his day. He loved the labor of the fields, worked hard and was economical. He was
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a man of no bad habits and always attended very faithfully to business.
Huldah Haynes Stone was born in Strongsville, January 20, 1835. At the age of fifteen she took up the work of a school teacher in the district schools of her native town. At that time teachers received small pay for their labor. Schools were large and not under the good management of the present time; therefore the business of a teacher meant hard work. Their wants were few, however, so that ten shillings per week and board were enough and to spare. At the age of twenty she married Mr. V. C. Stone. She is now living in Berea.
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