History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 149

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Ohio > Summit County > History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio > Part 149

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C. M. SMITH, farmer ; P. O. Akron ; was born in Lake Township, Stark Co., Ohio, Nov. 14, 1818, of a family of seven children born to James and Sarah (Houser) Smith. James was born in Pennsylvania Jan. 16, 1790 ; son of John, who was a native of New Jersey, and had born to him five sons and three daughters. James Smith married Sarah Houser, who was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Jan. 11, 1792. She was a daughter of Peter, who was a son of John Honser, a native of Germany ; his wife was Mary Fisher, by whom he had thirteen children. Of those who grew up were Mary, Catharine, Margaret, Amelia, Julia, Margaret, 2d, Peter, Tunis and William. The parents of our subject were married in Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Stark Co. about the year 1813. They entered 160 acres in Lake Township ; in 1823, he moved to Springfield, remaining there

until his death, Nov. 15, 1858. To this couple were born Peter, now in Michigan ; John, in Elkhart, Ind .; C. M., Catharine, now Mrs. M. Hagenbaugh, in Tallmadge ; James, died at the age of 50, in this county ; Housel, in Bath Township ; Amelia, Mrs. Hiram Allen, in Ne- braska. C. M. left home at 20, learned the cabinet-maker's trade, and worked at the same thirteen years. He was first married to Re- becca Monroe, who died one year afterward, leaving one child, since deceased. His second wife was Catharine Fulkerson, who died two years afterward, leaving one child, Sylvester. On Jan. 28, 1849, he married Grazella Ruckel, who was born in Pennsylvania, April 18, 1826 ; daughter of Peter and Mary (Hagenbaugh) Ruckel. Mr. Ruckel came to this country about 1832, and settled in Sharon Township, Medina Co. His wife died when Mrs. Smith was 1 year old. Mr. Smith moved to his farm April, 1858, bought 111 acres of unimproved land, and cleared it up ; he is a self-made man. He has had four children, three living-Eliza- beth, Mrs. Joseph M. Byerley ; Allen J. and Sarah. Mr. Smith has the best of farm build- ings, and is a successful farmer.

EPHRAIM SHERBONDY, farmer; P. O. Akron ; one of the earliest settlers of Portage Township, born in East Huntington Township, Westmoreland Co., Penn., Jan. 25, 1612; the eldest son of John and Rosannah (Ritchey) Sherbondy, who settled in Portage Township, with their family, in the spring of 1817. George, a brother of John, came at the same time with his family, and they traveled from Pennsylvania with only one large wagon for the two house- holds. At that time, there were only nine other families living in the township these were Avery Spicer, Paul Williams, Samuel Newton, - Phelps, John Hawkins, Ayres, Samuel Nash, - King and George Sholls. Of these nine families only three per- sons are now living, Avery Spicer, his wife and Enos, son of John Hawkins. Several years afterward, Melkiah Sherbondy, father of John and George, moved to Portage and his son Peter also settled in Summit Co., with his family at an early day. From these families were descended numerous offspring, who are at the present time occupying most of the land originally purchased by their ancestors. John Sherbondy was elected Trustee of Portage Township fifteen years in succession ; he was

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also Assessor for many years ; he died March 22, 1866, at the age of 76; Rosannah his wife died Aug. 12, 1852; they were the parents of fourteen children, six died before maturity, eight raised families as follows : Ephraim, Uriah and Levi, now of Portage Township ; Sarah. now Mrs. Jacob Smith, of Copley ; Reu- ben and John, now of Portage Township; Ann, now Mrs. Smith Bunker, of Portage ; Homer, now of Nebraska. Ephraim, subject of this sketch received a very meager educa- tion in his youth. He worked on his father's farm until 20; then at the carpenter's trade for fifteen years, during which time he was em- ployed repairing the canal for the State. He was married Aug. 10, 1846, to Miss Elizabeth Edwards, who was born in Logan County, De- cember 29, 1824 ; she is the daughter of Justus and Margaret (Smith) Edwards; Justus died in October, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Sherbondy are the parents of nine children, as follows : Amanda, now Mrs. Thomas Farell, of Cleve- land ; Wallace, of Copley Township and mar- ried to Maggie Porter; Justus died aged 10 months ; Ada, now Mrs. Benjamin Frederick, of Copley ; Eunice, now at home ; Rosa, died aged 13 in June, 1873 ; John, Giney and Lydia at home. Mr. Sherbondy owns at the present time some 24 acres of land, and has been a farmer since he left the Ohio Canal.

A. A. TINKHAM, farmer ; P. O. Akron ; was born in Windsor Co., Vt., Jan. 24, 1824, the only son born to his parents, Allen and Mary Ann Tinkham. Mary Ann was a daughter of Robert Cain, who came from England and settled in Dedham, Mass., where his children Esther, Harriet, Mary Ann and Robert were born. Amos was 4 years of age when his father died ; his mother afterward married Mr. Washburn. The family came West in 1832, first to Wayne Co., Canaan Township, where they lived until 1837, when they moved to Wooster, remaining one year ; then to Seville in Medina Co., and remained there until 1839. Amos remained with his step-father until he was 13 years of age, and, subsequently, hired out to Philo Chamberlain, in Akron, to drive team, and do general outside work until the spring of 1842, when he entered the mill and learned the miller's art, following the same un- til 1849 ; then engaged in the livery business at Franklin, now Kent, remaining nearly one year, then returned to Akron, and continued in

the business until 1862, when he went into the army, and served two years in the Quarter- master's Department ; returning home, lived one year in the city ; then moved to the farm where he has since lived ; his farm consists of of 150 acres. May 1, 1853, he married Mary Bangs, born May 24, 1828, in Richfield Town- ship, daughter of E. N. Bangs, who was born April 10, 1800, in Stanstead, Lower Canada ; his father was James, who moved some four months previous from Hampshire Co., Mass., to that place, in 1819, with his entire family, which consisted of Hortensia, Theodore, Har- riet, Elisha, Martha, Samuel, Clarissa, Henry, Mary Ann and James. The family moved to Norwalk, Ohio, 1821, where he was married to Abigail Wallace, of Petersham, Mass., by whom he had two sons and four daughters- Henry, Adeline A. Barnard, of Chicago; Mary Tinkham, of Akron ; Louise Simmons, of Chi- cago ; Celestia, Mrs. P. J. Moersch, of Akron. In 1821, Mr. Bangs moved to Milan, Ohio ; in 1825, removed to Richfield, Summit Co .; in 1836, to Akron, where he lived until his death, Nov. 17, 1878. Abigail Wallace was a daughter of Daniel, whose children were Abigail, Simeon, Lewis, Miranda, Harriet (deceased), Sarah L. (deceased), and Adeline. Mr. Tinkham has two children-Clara, Mrs. I. R. Miller, of this township, and Fred at home.

A. TEEPLE, farmer; P. O. Akron; was born in December, 1841. in Franklin Township ; son of John and Dorothe (Miller) Teeple. He was born Oct. 5, 1795, in New Jersey ; son of Andrew Teeple, who came from Holland. He had three sons-Andrew, George and John. The Teeple family came West to Ohio, settling first in Jefferson Co., at Steubenville, where An- drew died in 1810. To him were born Jacob, George, William, Pitney, John, Mary, Sophia and Ann. At the age of 18, John Teeple, the father of the above, came to Canton, where he hired out as a common laborer. Being indus- trious and economical, he succeeded in saving means to enable him to engage in business for himself. He worked for some time at contract- ing. He made his first purchase of land in Franklin, where he cleared up a farm of 160 acres, which cost at first $3 per acre. Upon this farm he died Sept. 13, 1864 ; wife Nov. 26, 1866. She was a member of the Disciples' Church. He believed in Universal salvation. Their children were Catharine, George, Isaac

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PORTAGE TOWNSHIP.

who was killed in the late war at Champion Hills, May 16, 1863 ; member of Co. A, 42d O. V. I. ; Simon, David, Aaron and John P. Aaron was raised to farming, receiving the ad- vantages of the common district schools, and finally attended two years at Hiram College, having James A. Garfield as preceptor. At the age of 19, enlisted in September, 1861, in Co. A, 42d O. V. I., and served three years, partici- pating in the principal battles in which the regi- ment was engaged. In the fall of 1865, he was married to Rachel Hiser, born Dec. 16, 1843, in Sandusky Co., daughter of Daniel and Elisabeth (Richard) Hiser, who had the numerous family of sixteen children, twelve grew up. Mr. Teeple moved to this township in 1869, and has 100 acres of good land. He has two children - John Frank and Nellie E. Mr. and Mrs. Teeple are members of the Disciples' Church.

SAMUEL UNDERHILL, farmer ; P. O. Akron ; was born April 9, 1804, in Hyde Park, Dutchess Co., N. Y .; son of James and Clara (Quinby) Underhill, both of whom were born in Westchester Co., N. Y .; he in 1870 ; his wife two years later. The Underhills were of Quaker belief. James Underhill was a son of Nathan- iel, whose ancestors came from England. Clara Quinby was a daughter of Samuel, whose wife was a Powell. To them were born seven children -Moses, Obadiah, Edward, Mary, Jane Catha- rine, Ann and Clara. The children of Nathan- iel were James and Clara. Nathaniel was a lover of horses, and during the time of the Revolution purchased horses for the army. The children of James were Nathaniel, Samuel, Mary, Abram, Philo, Abel, James, Ann, Sarah and Catharine. In 1810, James Underhill moved to Coxsackie, N. Y., where he lived until 1813, when he died of pneumonia. Our subject was early in life left without a home. At the age of 20, he began the study of medicine, re- ceived his first diploma at Saratoga, N. Y .; afterward took lectures at New York City, and then came west to Ohio, first locating in Stark Co., in 1830, and began the practice of medi- cine. Although educated an allopath, he after- ward changed to hydropathy. After becoming well-read in phrenology and studying scientific works, his views in regard to religion became changed, and has since been a Spiritualist. He has practiced medicine thirty years, also having two brothers, Abram and Abel, who have been engaged in the practice of medicine. He came

to this township in 1863. In June, 1868, he married Electa Sanford, who was born in Hud- ton Township, daughter of Garry and Emily (Richardson) Sanford, who were early settlers. The former died in 1843; the latter in 1873 ; they had ten children. Since the Doctor's loca- tion here, he has been engaged mostly in farm- ing. He has one son.

DANIEL B. WASHBURN, farmer; P. O. Ak- ron ; born at Kingston, Plymouth Co., Mass., Dec. 15, 1818 ; the son of Abiel and Rebecca (Adams) Washburn ; when about thirteen years of age his parents removed to Summit Co., after stopping one winter in New York State ; and for some two years Abiel followed the shoemaker's trade until he died, Aug. 25, 1834. A short time previous he purchased from Sam- uel Nash, one of the early settlers of Summit County, 122 acres of land, and most of this is still owned by his decendants. When the Washburn family removed to this land, there were only two log houses and a frame building between their farm and Akron ; what is now Wooster avenue was laid out but not fenced. Abiel and Rebecca Washburn were professors of the Swedenborgian faith ; she died Aug. 9, 1865 ; they were the parents of six children- Cornelia G., now Mrs. Albert G. Mallison, of Akron ; Lorinda, a resident of Sacramento, Cal .; Leander, of Galesburg, Ill .; Keziah, mar- ried Charles Mallison, and died about seven years since ; Rebecca, now Mrs. John Wilbur, of California ; Daniel B., of Portage Township, subject of this sketch, who has resided upon his present farm since 1834; he received a knowledge of the common branches in the schools of Massachusetts and "York" State, and finally "graduated" at a log cabin school- house in Portage Township. He was married December 10, 1849, to Mrs. Anna M. Adams, daughter of Robert and Betsey (Viers) Adams. She was born Sept. 15, 1818, in Richmond, Va .; her parents died when she was young and she removed to Massachusetts and was mar- ried to Daniel Adams, and by him had four children-Louisa Q., now Mrs. William T. Babcock, of Akron; Delia J., now Mrs. Thomas Thomas, of Sonoma Co., Cal .; Helen F., now Mrs. George Bunker, of Portage Township ; Francis B., now of Akron, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel B. Washburn are the parents of five children-Winslow, now at home; Alice, now Mrs. Lycurgus

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Force, of Middlebury ; Julia, now Mrs. Frank Sherbondy, of Portage Township; Addie A. and Anna A., now at home. Mr. Washburn has always voted the Republican ticket since the formation of that party, previous to that time he was a Whig, casting his vote for Will- iam Henry Harrison in 1840.

GEORGE H. WISE (deceased); born Nov. 10, 1800, in Longstown, Union Co., Penn., a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Seibald) Wise, whose children were John, Jacob, Henry, Will- iam, George, Christopher, Daniel, Mary and Abram. Henry Wise came West about the year 1812 ; John, his son, served in the war of 1812 ; Henry Wise settled in Lake Township when the country was new, remaining upon the place of his settlement until his death, which took place in 1839. George H. was raised a farmer ; about the year 1820, was married to Catharine Wise, who was born May 11, about the year 1803, daughter of David and Catharine (Denious) Wise ; he was a son of Frederick and Catharine, who came from Germany and were sold to pay their passage. The parents of Mrs. Wise came West when she was but 9 years of age, settling in Stark Co., where they remained until their death. To them were born Betsy, Polly, Catharine, Barbara, John, Sarah, Nancy and David ; of those living are David, John and Mrs. Wise. For a time after the marriage of Mr. Wise, he located in Green- town, where he kept tavern and carried on the butchering business ; was a carpenter by trade at which he worked in the early part of his life. In 1860, came to the township and pur- chased 349 acres of land, upon which he lived until his death which occurred Ang. 22, 1880 ; was father of thirteen children who were Jacob, Elizabeth, Sarah, Harriet, Lydia, Eliza, Wash- ington, Jefferson, Wesley, Emma J., Melissa J., Washington and Nettie D. Wesley was born Nov. 1, 1838, died Dec. 25, 1862 ; married Cla- rissa Pryor, born in October, 1843. in North- ampton, daughter of Samuel S., and Anra Everet. The Pryors were from Vermont, and

the Everets from Germany. Mr. Wise has three children-Mary. Addie and Freddie ; there are 312 acres in the estate.

WILLIAM ZELLER, farmer; P. O. Akron ; was born in Lake Township, Stark Co., Ohio, Nov. 4, 1824; son of Adam and Elizabeth (Hoover) Zeller ; Adam was born about the year 1789, in Union Co .. Penn. The Zeller fam- ily came West to Stark Co. about the year 1815, and settled in Lake Township ; he first bought 80 acres, upon which he settled ; he then moved to a place adjoining, and, finally. located in Greentown, where he died in 1853; he was highly esteemed in the community, a good Democrat and a quiet citizen ; his wife survived him but four days. Twelve children were born to them-Polly, Joseph, Daniel, Benjamin, Sarah, Anna, Betsey, Susan, William, Aaron. Robert and Jeremiah-ten of whom came to maturity ; those living are Daniel, in Brimfield Township, Portage Co .: William, in this town- ship ; Benjamin, in Cass Co., Mich ; Elizabeth, married Absalom Shubert ; Jeremiah, in same county and State. Our subject remained at home until 1842 ; he learned the harness- maker's trade, at which he worked about ten years. On Sept 2, 1847, he married Sarah Wise, who was born May 16. 1825, in Stark Co., daughter of George H. Wise, who was an early resident of Stark Co; after Mr. Zeller was mar- ried, he lived several years in Greentown, after- ward removing to Uniontown, where he carried on his trade and was engaged in butchering ; in 1855, he moved to the country, where he farmed five years ; in 1860, he moved to Portage Town- ship and located where he now resides, pur- chasing 70 acres of land (but 6 acres improved), paying $50 per acre ; he has since cleared up his farm and has excellent buildings thereon ; his farm is situated in close proximity to the city of Akron. They have three children-Al- mira (Mrs. B. F. Huffman), Joseph H. and George. Mr. Zeller is a Republican in senti- ment. His brother Aaron served as a soldier in the late war. doing his duty manfully.

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HUDSON TOWNSHIP.

JOHN BUSS (deceased) ; was born in Smar- den, Kent Co., England, Sept. 28, 1811. His father's family emigrated to the United States in 1825, and settled in Sherman, N. Y. Mr. Buss resided with his parents until his 18th year, when he entered the Mayville Academy, afterward "attending school at Dunkirk, N. Y. In 1833, he came to Hudson, intending to take a full college course, with the object of prepar- ing himself for the ministry. He remained in the preparatory department for two years, and entered the Freshman class, but was finally compelled to abandon his studies on account of failing health. In July, 1836, he entered the store of Kent & Brewster as clerk, remaining with them until November, 1839, when he went to Columbia, Mo., and engaged as private tutor in the family of a Mr. Allen for about one year, thence to Lake Providence, La., where he taught school until May, 1841, when he returned to Hudson, Ohio. In September of that year, he formed a partnership with E. B. Ellsworth, in the dry goods business, in which he continued about three years, when he retired, and entered into partnership with T. M. Bond, in the store now occupied by his son. About three years afterward, Mr. Bond retired, the business being continued by Mr. Buss, until the stock was bought by Morrell & Ingersoll, in 1856. They were in business about two years. when Mr. Buss necessarily resumed control of the busi- ness again, and continued until 1867. Mr. Buss has served the people of Hudson in almost their every office. He held the office of Mayor two terms. being elected in 1858, and again in 1871. He was Corporation Treasurer four terms ; was member of the Council and Trustee for many years, and served as Justice of the Peace twelve years. He was married to Miss Eliza Goodman, Jan. 1, 1845. They had eight children, four of whom survive-Charles H. and Mary J., who reside here ; Mrs. C. R. Seymour, of Winchester, Mass., and Fred B., of Chicago, Ill. Mr. Buss enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens, which was won by his strict honesty and unswerving integrity. His remains were laid in "God's acre," on Dec. 1, 1880. On the

evening of his death, a meeting of citizens adopted resolutions expressive of the esteem in which Mr. Buss was held, and their sorrow at his demise. All places of public business were closed as the funeral procession passed through the village. Charles H. Buss became familiar with mercantile business by assisting in his father's store. He attended school at Western Reserve College, not completing a full college course. In 1876, he and Sebastian Miller pur- chased, in partnership, the stock of his father (John Buss), and conducted the business under the firm name of Buss & Miller. Subsequently, Mr. Miller withdrew, and Mr. Buss has since been conducting the business alone. He was married to Miss Mary Squire, Jan. 1, 1872. They have two children, viz., Augusta M. and John C. Mr. Buss was elected Corporation Treasurer, which office he has held two years.

HARVEY BALDWIN, deceased, son of Ste- phen Baldwin, was born in Goshen, Conn., Sept. 17, 1798. He came here from the old home when 16 years of age, in 1814, and accepted a clerkship in the store of his brother, where he remained about three years. On Oct. 6, 1817, he married Miss Anne Mary Hudson, daughter of David Hudson, who is frequently mentioned elsewhere in the history. Mrs. Baldwin was born Oct. 28, 1800, and was the first white child born within the limits of Summit Co. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin turned their attention to farming and preparing for themselves a home, and to that end they moved to a farm some few miles from the site of Hudson, where they remained about three years. Mr. Hudson was desirous to have them reside near him, and therefore he made preparations to have them move, which they did, coming to the farm where Mrs. Bald- win now resides. Of their four children, the wife of Prof. Edwin S. Gregory is the only sur- vivor ; those deceased are Anna N., who died when about 7 years old ; Harriet M., and Lucy S., the youngest, who died at 17. Mr. Baldwin was identified with the general improvement of the vicinity from the time he began to do bnsi- ness. He was one of the Trustees of the Western Reserve College for over forty years.

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He remained in full possession of his faculties to the last, and passed away peacefully June 12, 1880. Mrs. Baldwin resides on the old home- stead, in probably the oldest residence in the county ; it was built by her father in 1806. She is possessed of extraordinary vitality for one of her age, and, although she is in her 81st year, she is as attentive to the duties of house- keeping as ever. She is the only survivor of a family of seven sons and two daughters.

F. W. BUNNELL (deceased) ; was born in Waterbury, Conn., July 6, 1820. He learned the carpenter's trade in his native place, and when about 21 years of age, he came to Ohio, locating at Hudson, where he established himself in the business of contracting and building. Among the buildings erected under his direction may be mentioned the Pentagon, the M. E. Church, and some of the best resi- dences in this place, two churches in Twins- burg, and one church at Ravenna. These, in addition to many good residences throughout the country, are monuments of his workman- ship. He married Marie Mansur Jan. 12, 1845. She was born in Hudson March 9, 1825, and the only daughter of Perley and Phylene (Bearss) Mansur. Mr. Bunnell died here April 24, 1875, leaving a widow, but no children. Mrs. Bunnell's father, Perley Mansur, was born in New Hampshire, in 1800. He learned the blacksmith's trade in Boston, Mass., and, in 1823, he came to Ohio and stopped with his brother who had located in Delaware, Ohio. On account of malarial affections, which were then prevalent in Delaware and vicinity, Mr. Mansur disliked the locality, and he and his wife started with a horse and wagon for the North, hoping to find a more desirable location. On their way they stopped overnight at Hud- son with David Hudson, who, on learning that Mr. Mansur was a mechanic, insisted upon his making this his future home, as there was much demand for the labor in which he was skilled in the then growing town. The citizens, being in- terested, were anxious for him to remain here, and, to assure him of their zeal in the matter, they set to work and built him a shop on Main street, near where Mr. Wadsworth's present shop is located. He worked at his trade about nine years, when he moved to a farm which he had purchased in this township. He engaged extensively in buying and selling cattle. This business he followed about twenty years, when

he retired from business, and moved to Hud- son, where he died, in 1858, in his 58th year. His widow survived him until 1880, when she died at this place in her 78th year. They had two sons-George, of Cumberland Co., Ill., and James, in the real-estate business at Cleveland.

THOMAS BLACKBURN, farmer ; P. O. Hudson ; was born in Lincolnshire, England, Oct. 9, 1833. When about 25 years of age, he emigrated to the United States, and came direct to Summit Co., Ohio; he resided in Pennsyl- vania about three years. He enlisted in the 1st Ohio Light Artillery Sept. 10, 1861, and served almost four years. At various engage- ments he had two horses shot on which he was riding, and three others wounded, but fortu- nately escaped without being injured in the least. With the exception of two weeks, he was never off of duty during almost four years of continuous service. The regiment in which he was, opened the fight and closed it in the battle of Murfreesboro, which lasted seven days, and participated two days in the contest at Chickamauga ; also at Shiloh, Franklin, second battle of Nashville and Perryville, Tenn. In the latter, their regiment lost heavily -18 men killed, 42 wounded, 68 horses were killed, and 7 guns were taken by the rebels. He returned to Summit County after his dis- charge, and April 10, 1866, he married Han- nah Cowley, daughter of Joseph Cowley, of Tallmadge. They have three children, viz., Florence J., Henry J. and Lottie H. Mrs. Blackburn was born in England and came to the United States with her parents when she was 4 years old. Mr. Blackburn's father died in England ; since then his mother emigrated to this country, and is now passing her deelin- ing years under the filial care of her son's family. She is in her 90th year and is very feeble.

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History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 149

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848- Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1104