History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 151

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 151

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JOHN DEACON, retired farmer ; P. O. Hud- son. One among the oldest living pioneers of this township is the above, who was born in Lancaster, Penn., Nov. 28, 1802, and came out with his father, Marmaduke. in 1805, and for three-quarters of a century has remained con- stantly on the farm his father located on. April 5, 1832, was wedded to Julia Ann E. Law- rence, who was born May 23, 1813, in Cin-

cinnati. Her parents were Martin C. and Sub- mit (Griffin) Lawrence. He was born in Dutch- ess Co., N. Y., March 20, 1793. He was a son of Chauncey and Sallie H. (Clark) Lawrence, who were born Sept. 25, 1767, and Sept. 19, 1769, respectively, and were blessed with fifteen children. Chauncey's father was Uriah, who was born Dec. 25, 1720 ; married Aug. 13, 1743, to Mary Clark, who was born Jan. 15, 1725. The Lawrence family trace their ancestry to one Robert Lawrence, of Lancastershire. En- gland, born in Rome. 1130. IIe was an officer attending his sovereign, Richard I, and for meritorious conduct was knighted Sir Robert Lawrence. There is an estate now of over $100 .- 000,000, consisting of real estate and money in the Bank of England. now awaiting the proof of title to ownership, of which Mrs. Deacon is an heir. John Lawrence (the great-great- grandfather of Mrs. Deacon) married Mary Townly, daughter of Lord Richard, whose wife was Mary Widrington. Both of the above had estates which were willed to their heirs, of which heirs are those of Mary (Townly) Law- rence. Mrs. Deacon came West to Ohio with her parents in 1818, who located in this town- ship. To Mr. and Mrs. Deacon have been born eleven children. ten living : Horace, John W., David, Emily, Cyrus B., Edmond W., Lucinda E .. Lewis, Frederick B., Louisa M., Caroline M., deceased. Mrs. Deacon has been a member of the church since 15 years of age. On account of the feeble health of Mr. Deacon, the care and management of the farm has fallen upon his wife, who conducts it successfully.

EDWIN DEWEY, retired farmer; P. O. lludson ; was the son of Stephen and Percy (Mosley) Dewey, of Westfield, Mass., where he was born Sept. 17, 1795 ; he moved into the State of New York, and, when about 22 years of age, he, with several others, moved to Ohio and settled in Portage Co., where he farmed for several years alone, then returned to Mas- sachusetts and brought his parents and several younger children along with him to Ohio. Hay- ing learned the shoemaker's trade in Massachu- chusetts, he applied himself to the same for several years in Portage Co., in connection with his- farming. He has been married three times -first, to Eva Haymaker, May 7, 1820 ; she died in April, 1825, leaving three children- Charles, Electa (wife of John Beckwith) and Eva (widow of A. Hackett) ; his second mar-

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riage was celebrated Sept. 11, 1826, with Ann Spears ; she died Jan. 3, 1868, leaving one child-Isaac ; his present wife was Eliza, a daughter of Elisha Perkins, formerly of New York, but moved to this county and settled in Northampton Township at an early date. Mr. Dewey removed from his farm in Portage Co. to Darrow Street in Hudson, in 1864, where he spends his advanced years in the enjoyment of a pleasant home.

JAMES DITTY, tinner and hardware mer- chant, Hudson ; was born in Toronto, Canada, Feb. 2, 1849 ; his parents were Sanderson and Ann (Foster) Ditty, who emigrated from the north of Ireland to Canada in 1841 ; his father died when James was about 5 years old, leav- ing a widow and a large family. When about 15 years of age, he was apprenticed to the tin- ner's trade, in Toronto, continuing for five years ; he worked at journey-work there for some time, and, in the spring of 1868, he came to Cleveland, where he worked two years ; in 1870, he came to Hudson and worked for J. L. Chapman two years, and afterward eight years for John N. Farrar ; in January, 1881, he pur- chased the tin and hardware stock of J. L. Chapman, and, from a business point of view, is beginning a new era in his affairs. He married Sarah A. Hussey, of Toronto, Canada, January, 1867 ; they have five children-Lillian, Walter, Annie M., Ralph and James S. Mr. Ditty is establishing a good trade, and carries an assort- ment of general hardware and stoves.

PHILLIP FILLIUS (deceased) ; was born in Bavaria, Germany, April 6, 1806. He emigrated to the United States in 1833, and located at Cleveland, where he remained four years. He married Anna Barbara Keis, in 1837, and soon after moved to a farm in Hudson Township. Summit Co. Here they resided, and reared a family of nine children, viz., Catharine, wife of James Corbett, of Missouri ; Lizzie, wife of John Thomas, of In- diana ; John, Phillip and Jacob are residing in Georgetown, Colo., the latter a member of the bar of that town, John, being interested in mines there. Josephine is wife of Alexander Nesbitt, of Northfield Township ; Ella, wife of Perry Sherman, of Michigan ; Charles, member of the bar at Cuyahoga Falls, and Ernest, who resides on the farm. Mrs. Fillius was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Aug. 15, 1817, and came here with her parents, who emigrated

early in April, 1831, and arrived in Cleveland in August of the same year, after four months' traveling, almost weary of life itself. Her fa- ther's name was Frederick Keis. There were of them six children, five girls and one boy. Mr. Fillius died on his farm, where he first lo- cated in Hudson, June 14, 1878. Ernest was born May 20, 1856. He married Irene Carson, daughter of David Carson, formerly of Penn- sylvania, now of Michigan, Aug. 17, 1880. They reside with his widowed mother, and is the only one of the family now with her.

PROF. E. S. GREGORY, retired, Hudson ; was born in Fleming, N. Y., April 20, 1828. His father, William Gregory, was a native of Connecticut, and was twice married. His first wife died, leaving four children, viz., William, Eben, Munson and Marie. In 1829, Mr. William Gregory walked to this State on a prospecting tour, traveling to Cleveland, which was then a mere hamlet ; thence to Hudson ; thence west- ward about seventy-five miles, where he pur- chased, of a settler, 204 acres of land, having some trifling improvements and a log cabin, for the sum of $1,100. He returned to New York for his family, which consisted of his four eldest children, second wife and two babies, E. S. and Lydia. They came by canal to Buffalo, thence by lake to Huron, thence by wagon to their new home in the almost unbroken forest, in 1830. Harmon, the youngest of the family, was born after they came to this State. Mr. Gregory prospered in his new home, and, by dint of in- dustry, made the forest give place to the fields of grain. Both himself and wife are now de- ceased, he dying in 1868, and she in 1879. Prof. E. S. Gregory was the eldest child of his father's second marriage, and was only about 2 years old when brought here by his parents. His early life was that customary to farmer boys, until he was about 16 years of age, when he began teaching school. A year later, he entered Baldwin University, near Cleveland, remaining for some time. He entered the Preparatory Department of the Western Reserve College in the spring and fall terms of 1847, and taught school during the winter months. He entered the Western Reserve College in 1848, remain- ing three years, when he entered Harvard Col- lege, where he graduated in 1852. He accepted the superintendency of the public schools of Monroeville for one year ; thence to the Western Reserve College at Hudson as Principal of

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Preparatory Department, which position he held seven years. He was appointed Assistant Pro- fessor of Latin, and served as such in the West- ern Reserve College from 1860 until he resigned six years later. He moved to Youngstown, and was appointed First Principal of the Payen High School, which position he retained for thirteen years. While there, he spent much labor and time in analytical chemistry, which has been his study for some time. He married Clara M. Baldwin, July 28, 1852, she being the only surviving daughter of Harvey Baldwin. They have two children-Hattie M. and Anna.

CHARLES G. GUILFORD, editor and pro- prietor of the Hudson Enterprise, was born in Lanesboro, Berkshire Co., Mass., in October, 1834. Served an apprenticeship to the print- ing business in the office of the Berkshire County Eagle, in Pittsfield, Mass., from 1848 to 1852. In the fall of the latter year eame to Ohio, and entered the employ of the Cleveland Herald. In 1854, went to Waterbury, Conn., where for six months was one of the publishers of the Naugatuck Valley Democrat (a semi-weekly paper.) Disposing ofhis interest in the Democrat, Mr. Guilford returned to Ohio and again entered the employ of the Cleveland Herald, remaining there in various capacities until the breaking-out of the war, when he enlisted in Battery B. 1st O. V. L. A., Capt. Stondart, serving during the entire war, at the close of which he resumed his position on the Herald. In April, 1875, he removed with his family to Hudson, and two years later, May 1, 1876, he purchased the Hudson Enterprise, at that time a little ama- teur sheet. unknown outside of the village where published. Entering with his whole heart into the work of building up the paper, Mr. Guilford has succeeded in making the En- terprise a journal suitable to Hudson and the county. He has a pleasant little farm of 20 acres about a mile east of the village where he resides. It is located on a ridge, said to be the highest point of land in the county, and from which can be obtained a view of four of the surrounding villages.

REV. HENRY B. HOSFORD, retired min- ister, Hudson ; was born in Williamstown, Mass., Dec. 17, 1817. He was the son of Stephen and Annie (Brown) Hosford, who were natives of Massachusetts. His father was a merchant and manufacturer in Williamstown. Our subjeet entered Williams College in 1839,

and graduated in 1843. When his collegiate course was finished, he taught in the Hopkins Academy for one year, and then returned to Williams College, where he taught four years. During these four years, he studied theology privately, and, in 1839, he was ordained a minis- ter of the Congregational Church, at Jordan, New York. He returned to Massachusetts in 1850, and had charge of the congregation at Sunderland until 1853; that summer he filled the place in Williams College left vacant by the Professor of Mathematics, who had taken a vacation. In January, 1854, he was appointed Professor of Intellectual Philosophy and Rhet- oric in the Western Reserve College at Hudson, which position he resigned six years afterward. He was engaged in the Sanitary Commission at Chattanooga and Nashville, Tenn., during the two last years of the war. On his return from the South, he resumed his ministerial labors in the neighboring churches which extended to Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Kent, Roots- town, Atwater, Twinsburg and Streetsboro ; and frequently preached at other places. He married Miss Mary E., daughter of Benjamin Plant, of New Hartford, N. Y., Sept. 3, 1850. Mrs. Hosford was born June 17, 1824. They have seven children viz., Sarah A., wife of Rev. John P. Jones, now a missionary in South India ; Frances J., Mary E., Harriet M., wife of Chas. W. Foote, of Akron ; Henry H., Helen P. and Daniel M. Mr. Hosford conducted the Female Seminary in Hudson during the school term of 1874-75. Since failing health has compelled his retirement from active life, he attends to insurance at his home, representing five substantial companies.

S. E. JUDD, real estate and insurance, Hud- son ; was born in Watertown, Conn., June 13, 1813. His ancestors were a people of remark- able longevity, and were early settlers of that State. ITis great-grandfather purchased from some Indians the title to some property in the early settlement of the colony, which is owned by representatives of the family to this day. His father's parents were the first settlers of Watertown, Conn., his grandmother being the first child baptized by the first resident minister, in 1739. She died at the advanced age of 100 years. Mr. S. E. Judd was the son of Eleazer and Lydia (Brownson) Judd. He was engaged extensively in the manufacture and sale of cloeks for several years. He was married

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April 6, 1836. to Mary L. Strong, who was born April 19, 1811, in Connecticut. In July, 1851, they emigrated to Hudson, Ohio, where he en- tered into the real estate and insurance busi- ness, and, although not an early pioneer of the place, he has been identified with some of its public improvements. He has been twice elect- ed Mayor of Hudson. In 1871, they removed to St. Paul, Minn., but returned to Hudson in 1873. Their only child. Jennie S., is the wife of Dr. F. Hodge. Mr. Judd visited his native town, and participated in the one hundredth an- niversary of its incorportion on June 17. 1880. The insurance companies represented by him are the Ætna, North American, Manhattan of New York, Niagara of New York, Watertown of Wa- tertown. N. Y., Lancashire Insurance Co. of England, Ashland County Mutual. of Ashland, Ohio, and the Etna Life of Hartford, Conn.

LUTHER F. KILBOURNE, farmer ; P. O. Hudson ; is the second son of Justin E. and Mary A. (Fitch) Kilbourne, and the only survi- vor of the family. He was born where he re- sides, March 20, 1842. His business has always been that of a farmer, except four years, when he was appointed Guard at the Ohio State Penitentiary. at Columbus. He returned to Hudson and took charge of the farm. He mar- ried Mary A. Briggaman July 2, 1873. They have two children living, Francis H. and Cor- nelia E. His grandfather, George Kilbourne, was born in Berlin, Conn., Nov. 19, 1769. When 26 years old, he married Almira Wilcox, of Simsbury. After residing in Farmington and Goshen for about ten years. he joined the emigrant party which was induced to come hither by David Hudson. Mr. Kilbourne traded his property in Goshen to Birdsey Norton, and in part payment took land in Hudson Town- ship. The party left Goshen, Conn., Sept. 1, 1801, their teams being all ox teams except one. Mr. Kilbourne was obliged to buy a horse by the way to assist his oxen, in consequence of the warm weather and hilly country. They proceeded nicely, their course being through Reading to Womelsdorf, thence via Lebanon, Harrisburg, Carlisle, Shippensburg and Stras- burg, where they came to the mountain called the " Three Brothers." a part of the Allghanies ; after three days hard work they got over ; but two days later they began climbing the hills again, when their horse tired out, and they sold him to a widow who lived there for one loaf of

bread. They pushed on with a single yoke of oxen until they were almost exhausted, when a stranger passed with an ox team which he offered for sale. Mr. Kilbourne bought them, paying in part some boots and shoes which was part of his load. They came on through Bed- ford, Somerset, and so on to Pittsburgh. They crossed the Ohio about ten miles below Beaver ; from there they proceeded to Griersburg, and so on until they struck the southeast township of the Western Reserve, where they found many old acquaintances from Connecticut who lent them a helping hand as they passed through. When they came to Ravenna, Mr. Kilbourne sold his wagon for a cow and some grain to support him through the winter, and on the sixtieth day of their journey they arrived in Hudson. Mr. Kilbourne stopped with Mr. Bishop until he got a cabin built. In the course of two years, Mr. Kilbourne had cleared about 25 or 30 acres of land, when, in the spring of 1803, unfortu- nately, he got his thigh broken by a piece of timber falling on him while assisting to raise a building. This together with ague disabled him from doing any farm work for two years. With the help of the oldest boy, who was 7 years old, his wife was obliged to cultivate the land and attend to domestic affairs as well. By her untiring energy, she succeed in supporting the family until 1805, when he found it neces- sary to sell the farm and resume his trade, which was tanning and shoemaking. To this end he moved to Newburg, it being an old settlement. Remained there three and a half years, when, by the persuasion of Rev. David Beacon. he moved to Tallmadge, where he re- sided nine years, cleared a farm, and was pre- pared to live comfortable during the remainder of his life. His son-in-law. Capt. Oviatt, in- duced him to return to Hudson, where he died March 14, 1865, in his 97th year. His noble wife had preceded him in death Dec. 19, 1859. in her 88th year. They reared six children- Sophia, Asahel, George, Timothy E., Eliza and Justin E. Justin E. married Mary Amanda, daughter of Col. Fitch. They were the parents of Luther L. Mrs. Justin Kilbourne died March 20, 1876, and he in Nov. 16, 1880.

M. A. LUSK, retired farmer ; P. O. Hudson ; born June 2, 1803, on Lot 77, in this township. having been a resident of the township well- nigh fourscore years, and is the oldest living resident. His father was Capt. Amos Lusk,

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who commanded a company during the war of 1812, and died the year following, May 24, 1813, aged 40 years. He came to this town- ship in 1801, when it was an unbroken wilder- ness. His wife was Mary Adams, who was born in Stockbridge, Conn., May 15, 1768, a daughter of John Adams, who was a cousin of John Quincy Adams, who graced the Presiden- tial chair. Mary (Adams) Lusk, the mother of our subject, died Jan. 20. 1843. She was the mother of nine children, among whom was Di- anthe, who was born June 12, 1801. June 21, 1820, she married John Brown, of Osawato- mie, Kansas, and Harper's Ferry fame, and by him had five children, viz., John, Jason, Ruth, Owen and Frederic. Our subject was left fatherless at the age of 10. Learning the hat- ter's trade, he followed this vocation for several years. At the age of 23. he married Dency Preston, born in Canton, Mass .; she died of con- sumption ; by her he had Henry, Loring, Charles, Lucy and Amos. Loring was killed by ears running over him-was a brakeman. March 31, 1843, married Mrs. Sallie Secoy, whose maiden name was Post. She was born Sept. 14, 1815, in Westbrook, Conn., daughter of Joshua and Mollie (Dee) Post, to whom were born thirteen children, Mrs. Lusk being the eleventh danghter. All of the children lived to be over 60 years of age, with one ex- ception. Mr. and Mrs. Lusk have one daughter only, Dency, who married Henry Pettengill. Mr. Lusk has an adopted daughter, Eva, who has lived with them since 2 years of age. Mrs. Lusk's first husband was Chester Seeoy, by whom she had four children-Lester, Julitte, Mary and Pickney. Charles served four years in the late war, member of 2d O. V. C. He had two horses killed under him. Amos and Charles Lusk also wore the "blue." Mr. Lusk has not been a member of a church since 1835. Mr. Lusk has for several years been retired from farming.

M. MESSER (retired) Hudson ; was born in Orwell, Vt., June 25, 1803. He was taught in youth the advantages of farm life, and, with a view to locating on Western land, he set out on a prospecting tour through Ohio, in May, 1828. He traveled over the territory now em- braced in Trumbull, Portage and Summit Cos .; thenee to Cleveland, which he remembers as a then mere hamlet with only about four two- story buildings in the place. He finally se-

lected and purchased 225 aeres on which there were some trifling improvements, a small por- tion being cleared, on which was built a log cabin. He returned to Vermont, thence to Nottingham, Mass., where he was married to Almira C. Bates, March 15, 1829, moving the same year to the farm, where they occupied the cabin, which was on the premises, for eight years, when they erected a comfortable resi- dence. Finding his health failing he sold his farm, and moved to Hudson in 1850. He was appointed Treasurer of the proposed Clinton Air-Line R. R., and having loaned the company about $16,000, he suffered a heavy pecuniary loss on account of the failure of the company. He was appointed Postmaster in 1861, and held the office for seventeen years. He has been identified in official capacity in the Presbyterian Church as Deacon upward of fifty years, and forty years of that time he has officiated as Treasurer. Their two children are Orelia, who was the wife of Mr. Marvin, of Atwater, and who died leaving four children, two of whom survive, and Adelle, wife of George W. Stowe, who has one child, Charles M. Mrs. Messer was born in Granville, Mass., Sept. 23, 1805.

EDWARD W. MORLEY, Professor in Western Reserve College ; P. O. Hudson ; was born in Newark, N. J., Jan. 29, 1838. He is the son of Rev. S. B. and Anna (. (Treat) Morley. The Rev. S. B. Morley was a native of Massachussetts ; he graduated at Williams College, and was a student of Yale Theological Seminary. Our subject, Prof. Edward W. Morley, began the study of chemistry when about 11 years of age. At the age of 18, he entered Williams College, and graduated in 1860. During the late war, he was appointed Agent for the Sanitary Committee at Ft. Mon- roe, in 1864 and 1865. At the close of the war, he returned and accepted a position as teacher in South Berkshire Institute, Massachusetts. In 1869, he was appointed Professor of Chem- istry in the Western Reserve College, at Hudson, and in 1873 he also accepted the Professorship of Toxicology in the Medical College of Cleve- land. He married Miss Isabella E. Birdsall, danghter of James Birdsall, Esq., of Hillsdale, Columbia Co., N. Y., on Dec. 24, 1868.

B. F. MELOY, blacksmith ; Hudson ; was born in Juniata Co., Penn, April 27, 1827. His father moved with his family to Portage Co., Ohio, in 1834; there the parents of Mr.

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Meloy died. In 1843, our subject went to Mid- diebury to learn the blacksmith's trade with the Belden Bros., where he served a year. At the expiration of his apprenticeship, he came to Darrow Street, in 1846, where he worked about a year, then purchased the business in- terest of William Darrow, Sr .- who had taken it from one Fifield-and here he has continued ever since. He married A. E. Canfield, of Litchfield. Medina Co., Ohio. April 15, 1847. She was born in Connecticut, and came with her parents to Ohio when quite young. They had no children, except one adopted daughter- Julia, now wife of Wm. Hartel.

S. E. OVIATT, manufacturer ; Hudson ;

was born in Richland Township. this county, Aug. 2, 1832. He is the son of Russell and Julia (Curtis) Oviatt. Russell was the son of Salmon Oviatt, who was one of three brothers (viz., Salmon, Heman and Nathaniel) who emigrated from Connecticut, and were among the first pioneers of this county. Rus- sell Oviatt was a well-to-do farmer ;. hence the first efforts of his son (S. E.) were also in that direction. Mr. S. E. Oviatt had charge of the farm when quite young, as his father sustained injuries from which he never recovered, caused by jumping from a buggy. Of their five chil- dren, three lived to maturity, viz., Mariam, S. E .. and Russelline ; Chloe and Adrian died in childhood. Mr. Oviatt received a good com- mon-school education. He attended the Rich- field Academy two terms, but his assistance being required at home, he was not afforded the opportunity of further advancement. He evi- dently conducted his agricultural pursuits with a thoroughness seldom attained by young men, as diplomas in his possession attest, which he received after entering in competition with quite a number of townships in Summit and adjoining counties, for the best acre of wheat, beans, oats and corn, in 1853 ; also, a diploma for the best three-year-old horse at the same time. Having a taste for mechanics, and being naturally an inventive genius, he has produced several valuable patents, viz .: "The Oviatt grain thresher "; also, the farm wagon known as the "Common-sense Wagon," said to be more convenient and more durable than the ordinary ones ; and a sled, known as the "Independent runner," Oviatt patent ; this latter improve- ment has experienced a large demand. He moved into the village of Richfield, purchased

and built a residence worth about $3,000, on part of what was his grandfather's old home- stead, reserving 7 acres, which he retains. Ile endeavored to build up manufacturing indns- tries at Richfield, and for a time was actively engaged with the Richfield Agricultural Works, which were operated by a "stock " company. He established a spoke factory, which he con- ducted for two years. when he closed ont. He moved to Akron in 1874, where he engaged in the agricultural implement trade for about three years, at the same time contemplating an es- tablishment for the manufacture of his special patents. He made an effort to organize a stock company in January, 1878, at Hudson, and, so far as the organization was concerned, his efforts were successful. It was on the co- operative plan, and the members were mechanics without means, but were men to whom Mr. Oviatt was willing to give an opportunity to progress with the enterprise ; four of the mem- bers became dissatisfied, and those remaining purchased the stock of the outgoing members. Although the business, for some time past. has not been in a thriving condition, the prospects of the institution at present are encouraging. It is known as the "Oviatt Manufacturing Co." Mr. Oviatt was married, Feb. 14, 1856. to Fan- nie E. Watkins, of Plainfield, Will Co., Ill. She was born in Wyoming, N. Y., May 24, 1836 ; her parents, with their family, moved from New York to Illinois when she was small. Mr. and Mrs. Oviatt are parents of five children, viz., Julia A., Russell L .. Edward P., Fannie E. and Maud.

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History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 151

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