History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 154

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 154

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L. W. LOOMIS, dealer in stoves, tin, glass and wooden ware, etc., Cuyahoga Falls. Among the prominent business men of this place, in which the varied industries have drawn together a large number, none, perhaps, exercise more tact or display better judgment in the management of their business than this gentleman, who conducts one of the leading houses of Northern Ohio. He was born in Madison Co., N. Y., Jan. 11, 1836, and is a son of William and Emeline (Thomas) Loomis. His early life was passed on his father's farm, and, when of age, he commenced the battle of life, with no capital save his natural business qualifications and a determination to succeed. For four years he was a "tin peddler" for Smith & Herrington, of Waterloo, N . Y., and then entered the service of his country as a private soldier in Co. G, 13th New York V. I. At the expiration of his enlistment, which

was for two years, he once more entered the service of his old employers, and, in February, 1864, accompanied by his brother, H. E. Loomis, he came to Cuyahoga Falls and founded the present business, Smith & Herr- ington, owning a half interest. In March, 1865, he bought out his brother, and, in 1867, became sole proprietor. He has a large num- ber of wagons on the road, that are supplied with wares manufactured at his shop, and by this means he is enabled to do an immense business. He has also a large branch store at Canton, Ohio. Mr. Loomis is associated with Mr. H. E. Parks in the proprietorship of the "High Bridge Glens and Caves,"one of the most picturesque and lovely resorts in North- ern Ohio, the scenery being undoubtedly the finest in the State. It is annually visited by thousands of pleasure-seekers, and Mr. Loomis can justly be proud of his connection with the enterprise. He was married, June 3, 1863, to Jane Curtiss, of Canandaigua. N. Y. This " union has been blessed with five children - Lilian M., Byron H., Irving L., Melvin C. and Arthur N. Arthur died Oct. 30, and Melvin Nov. 4, 1880.

JAMES J. MOORE, Superintendent of the Falls Wire Manufacturing Company, Cuya- hoga Falls; was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., Feb. 14, 1830, and is a son of William and Margaret Moore. About the year 1835, they moved to Cuyahoga Falls, where they lived some fifteen years, and then went to Williams Co., Ohio. James clerked in a store for awhile, and then secured a position on the railroad as express and mail agent. In 1861, he entered the service of the Government, in the Paymaster's Department, and was thus em- ployed until the close of the war. In 1870, he entered the employ of Camp, Cooke & Co., with whom he remained until the organization of the Falls Wire Company, when he became its Secretary, and, at the re-organization in 1879, under the name of the Falls Wire Man- ufacturing Company, he was retained as Superintendent. Mr. Moore is a genial gen- tleman, and spends much of his time in trav- eling in the interests of his firm.

GEORGE PAUL, civil engineer, Cuyahoga Falls; is one of the prominent and widely known citizens of this county, in which he has

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always lived, being born at Cuyahoga Falls Sept. 8, 1887. His father, Hosea Paul, was born at Braintree. Vt .. and reared at Danville. He passed the early part of his life in a drug store, and studied surveying and engineering. He married a lady by the name of Ellen Gam- ble, who came to America from County Down, Ireland, when in her youth. In 1834, he moved to Olio, and for one year lived at Wadsworth, in Medina Co., when he came to Cuyahoga Falls, where he passed the rest of his life. He first engaged in the flouring business, in which he was unfortunate, and then followed engineering and surveying, be- ing Surveyor of Summit Co. from 1857 until his death, in May, 1870. George is the eld- est but one of a family of seven children, and learned surveying and engineering in the best of all schools-experience. In 1857, he went to the machinist's trade and served three years at this place. and has the honor of plan- ning the first steam canal-boat that plied on the Ohio Canal. In 1860, he went East, and for two years was employed in various shops. Passing the required examination for an en- gineer in 1862, he entered the regular service of the United States Navy, being under Admiral Dupont, of the South Atlantic Squad- ron, three years, and then returned to his sur- veying and engineering, which he has since followed, with the exception of a short time he owned a machine-shop at this place, buying it in 1867. In 1878, he was elected member of the State Board of Public Works, an office he lias filled with credit to himself and State. He was married, May 10, 1871, to Olive A., daughter of Austin and Eliza (Taylor) Bab- cock. She was born May 21, 1842, at Cuyhoga Falls, Ohio, her parents coming here from Massachusetts. Mrs. Paul is a member of the Congregational Church. Politically, Mr. Paul is a Republican.

E. C. RUGGLES, attorney, Cuyahoga Falls; was born at Canfield, Ohio, May 14, 1840, and is a son of Charles and Lucy (Peck) Ruggles. His father adopted the legal profession in early life, and has always resided at Canfield, where he is now passing a retired and quiet life. He has been an energetic and enter- prising man, and is held in high estimation by the members of the bar, with whom he has

been associated for many years. The subject of this sketch did not enjoy the usual facili- ties for acquiring an education, and for some time performed light duties about the court house. In the spring of 1863, he was ap- pointed Recorder of Claims against the Gov- ernment, with headquarters at Nashville, Tenn., and filled that office until the close of the war. He then passed two years in Illi- nois, and returned to Canfield and commenced the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1869, and, in the summer of 1873, came to Cuyahoga Falls from Kent, where he had located some two years previous. He now en- joys a lucrative and growing practice, and finds this a pleasant place for one of his pro- fession. He was married in April, 1859, to Catharine, daughter of William and Amanda (Mygatt) McFarlane. This happy union has been blessed with one child-Ellen M. Mrs. Ruggles and daughter are members of the Congregational Church. He is a Republican.

DR. C. W. RICE (deceased); was born at Middlefield, Otsego Co., N. Y., April 15, 1803, and was a son of William and Sarah (Bel- knap) Rice, he being the third of a family of ten children. He passed his early life on a farm, and, when 17 years old, went to the trade of book-binder, which he worked at until he was 25, and then commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Ariel Spaford, of Coopers- town, N. Y. He remained with him about three years as a student, and graduated from Fairfield College, Herkimer Co., N. Y., in January, 1829. He practiced with his old preceptor for one year, and then came to Cuy- ahoga Falls, Ohio, where he soon had a large practice. He stood the acknowledged head of the profession for many years, and died Oct. 7, 1861, leaving many friends to mourn his loss. He was married, Nov. 6, 1834, to Lucy W. Wetmore, daughter of Josiah and Nancy (Willard) Wetmore. She was born in Mid- dletown, Conn., July 13, 1812, and accompa- nied her parents to Ohio in 1818. They se- cured a farm in what is now Summit Co., Stow Township. Dr. Rice was throughout life a man of integrity, and bore an upright character in every department of life. He united with the Episcopal Church soon after coming to this place, and was an upright and

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consistent Christian, devoting much of his time to objects of charity. His marriage was blessed with three children-Sarah F., Will- iam C. and George W.

WILLIAM SOUTHMAYD, insurance, Cuy- ahoga Falls; was born May 16, 1830; he is a son of Erastus and Clarissa (Rice) South- mayd, who were parents of four sons-Walter, William, and Horace and Henry (twins). William is the only one living of this family. William's father, Erastus, was born in Mid- dletown, Conn., March 29, 1847. When a young man, he left home and went to New York City to take charge of a mercantile busi- ness there for his brother. His brother failed, and, in the fall of 1818, Mr. Southmayd came to Ashtabula Co., Ohio, and that winter taught school there. In the spring of 1819, he came to Stow Township, Summit Co., Ohio. He taught school in that county, the winters of 1819 and 1820, and then went back to Con- necticut, where he remained but one year, when he again came to Stow Township, and, April 18, 1822, married Anna, daughter of Caleb Wetmore. By her he had three chil- dren-Lucy, Charles and Leonard. Lucy is now dead. Charles was born Feb. 4, 1825. He married Helen A. Wilson, an adopted daughter of Darius Wilson, and is now a resi- dent of Stow Township. A biographical sketch of Leonard will be found in another part of this work. Mr. Southmayd's wife died Dec. 19, 1826, and, March 21, 1827, he married Clar- issa Rice, the mother of the subject of this sketch. Clarissa Rice was born Feb. 6, 1805, and was the second white child born in Stow Township. To this union were born four children, as stated above. Mr. Southmayd died Oct. 10, 1866, and his second wife March 14, 1879. William Southmayd was reared on the old homestead in Stow. He was married Nov. 4, 1852, to Martha, daughter of Darius Wilson. This union was blessed with two children-Lucy, born May 13, 1855, married Charles N. Gaylord, and resides at Monroe Falls; George M., born Jan. 12, 1863. Mrs. Southmayd was born Dec. 27, 1831, and is one in a family of seven. Mr. Southmayd started in life with scarcely anything. He now owns the old homestead in Stow -- 48 acres-which has been in the Southmayd fam-

ily fifty-three years. He owns a house and lot in Cuyahoga Falls, where he resides. Mr Southmayd represents the Citizens' Mutual Relief Association, one of the best and most reliable insurance firms in the State of Ohio. After his marriage, Mr. Southmayd taught school considerably. He is a teacher of ten winters' experience. He and wife have been members of the Church of Christ thirty-one years, in which he has held positions of honor and trust. He is a Republican in politics, and has been Township Clerk of Stow twenty years. In October, 1879, he was elected to fill a vacancy as one of the Directors of the County Infirmary, and re-elected in 1880, for three years. Horace Southmayd, brother of the subject of this sketch, was in the 42d O. V. I., under Col. (now President) Garfield, and was in the engagement at Middle Creek, Ky., where the Union forces met the rebels under Humphrey Marshall, and, as it was said, "let daylight shine for the first time in Kentucky." Horace was wounded here, but did not leave the service until he was afterward taken ill. His folks went after him and brought him home, where he died in May, 1862.

P. H. STANDISH, chain works, Cuyahoga Falls; was born at Sing Sing, N. Y., May 5, 1835, and is a son of John and Relief (Hay- den) Standish. His father was a native of the State of Rhode Island, and comes of a family who were noted for their ingenuity and mechanical skill. He was connected with one of the first cotton-mills in that State, and his whole life was one continued round of enterprise and industry. He conducted dif- ferent kinds of business during his life-time, and resided in various parts of the Union. In 1850. he came to Cuyahoga Falls, where he remained some seven years, and then went to California, where he passed the rest of his life. When the subject of this sketch was of age, he crossed the mountains to the Golden State, where his ingenuity and mechanical skill were in ready demand, and there he engaged in business. The manufacture of agricultural implements received his attention, and he in- vented the celebrated Standish Steam Plow, that is covered by, letters patent in several countries of Europe, as well as in the United States. He was also quite largely interested

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

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in the milling industry. He returned to- Missouri in 1871, and resided in that State until 1878, for two years being master me- chanic in the penitentiary at Jefferson City. He was engaged in manufacturing in St. Louis quite extensively, and then came to Cuya- hoga Falls, where he is conducting a large business, that adds materially to the growth and prosperity of the town. He was married, in 1857, to Marie Gorham, of California, Wisconsin being the place of hier birth. This union has been blessed with one child, a daughter, named Almira.

GEORGE SACKETT, farmer; P. O. Cuy- ahoga Falls; is a son of Aaron and Huldah (Tanner) Sackett, both of whom were natives of Litchfield Co., Conn .. and was born Jan. 6, 1821, in that county. His father was a farmer by pursuit, and in 1838, moved to what is now Summit Co., Ohio, and secured a farm in Tallmadge Township. His companion died in April, 1855, and he in June, 1873, at the residence of a son in Copley Township, where he had been living a few years. George was reared to farming, and, by industry and econ- omy, at length secured a tract of land in the township of Cuyahoga Falls. It was all for- est, and was cleared mostly by himself, and has since been partly laid out and sold as town lots. Mr. Sackett was married, in Sep- tember, 1848, to Helen Williams; she died in 1851, and he was then united to Fanny V. Grant, on the 9th day of February, 1854. This union has been blessed with one child- Mary P. Mr. Sackett has a pleasant and re- fined home, and can now enjoy the fruits of his early labors with the satisfaction of know- ing that industry and integrity are sure to have their reward. He has held different offices, at the solicitation of the citizens of the county, and, in 1880, was Real Estate Ap- praiser of the township of Cuyahoga Falls. The same year, he was chosen a member of the State Board of Equalization, to represent the counties of Summit and Portage. Both he and wife are members of the Congrega- tional Church. He is a Republican.

E. N. SILL, bank, Cuyahoga Falls; was born in Windsor, Conn., Jan. 6, 1801, and is a son of Elisha N. and Chloe (Allyn) Sill. His father was a physician, and devoted the active

part of his life to the practice of his profes- sion in the State of Connecticut. The subject of this sketch is the third of a family of nine children, and graduated from Yale College in 1820. For several years he engaged in teach- ing, and, in 1829, came to Cuyahoga Falls, where he has since resided. For a short time he was engaged in manufacturing, and, having been instrumental in the organization of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Portage Co., was chosen Secretary-an office he held until the expiration of its charter. The Sum- mit Co. Branch of the Ohio State Bank was located at this point, and Mr. Sill became its President soon after. He has ever since held that position in the bank at Cuyahoga Falls- first, in the National Bank, which he organized, and at present in the Inter-National Bank. He has also been Director in the First National Bank since its organization. Mr. Sill served one term as State Senator, and, for the seven years following that service, was Fund Com- missioner of the State. He is a member of the Congregational Church and a well-known and highly respected citizen of the town of Cuyahoga Falls.

R. J. THOMAS, manufacturer of stone- ware, Cuyahoga Falls; was born in Wales, Aug. 24, 1831, and is a son of John and Anna (Rees) Thomas. His father was a blacksmith by trade, and, in 1835, emigrated to the United States and settled in Palmyra Town- ship, Portage Co., Ohio, where he ever after lived. Here he secured a farm, and, although he worked at his trade some at first, he may be said to have been a farmer after coming to America. Five children accompanied the par- ents to this country, and four were born to them after their arrival. Both Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were consistent members of the Uni- tarian Church, and their industrious habits crowned them with a competency before their death. She died in February, 1867, and he in December, 1868. The subject of this sketch received a good education, and for sev- eral years taught school during the winter sea- son. In the spring of 1857, he entered the employ of William H. Harris, of this county, who owned and operated a large coal-mine, and, in July, 1859, he leased the mines and conducted them until the spring of 1867, with

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the exception of two years that he passed in Trumbull Co. He engaged in the manufact- ure of stoneware at that time, and has a younger brother for a partner. Their busi- ness is conducted on an extensive scale, but fails to meet the demands of their numerous patrons, and they therefore buy largely from other manufacturers. Mr. Thomas was mar- ried, March 31, 1860, to Ann, a daughter of David S. and Hannah Davis. She was born in Wales in February, 1838, and accompanied her parents to Portage Co., Ohio, when in lier childhood. Their union has been fruitful of six children, four of whom are living, viz .: Edwin D., Irving Seward, Hattie and Franklin W. Mr. Thomas and wife are members of the First Congregational Church.

GRANT B. TURNER, Variety Iron Works, Cuyahoga Falls; is a son of William and Rosanna (Owen) Turner, and was born Oct. 17. 1810, in Blooming Grove, Orange Co., N. Y. His father was a cooper by trade, and, in 1818, moved to Trumbull Co., Ohio, where he remained ten years, and then came to Cuya- hoga Falls, where he passed the rest of his life. Grant B. is the eldest of a family of four children, and, when 19 years old, went to the printer's trade, in the office of the Western Intelligencer, at Hudson, Ohio. After five years application, he left the business, and has since devoted his attention to other pursuits. For four years, he was Deputy Sheriff of Portage Co. He studied law, and, after his admission to the bar, practiced the profession for sev- eral years. In 1856, he, in company with sev- eral other gentlemen, founded the Variety Iron Works, the firm being Turner, Parks & Co Mr. Turner is the only one of the original firm connected with the business at the present time, his partners being Messrs. J. A. Vaughn and W. A. Taylor, two well-known business men. Their facilities for manufacturing are excellent, and their reputation, earned by years of careful attention to the wants of their patrons, places them in an enviable position in the business world. Among the many things manufactured at their shops are steam engines, grain-cleaning machinery, mill gearing, wire-working machinery, and clay- grinding machines-a part of which are cov- ered by patents taken out by this firm. The

demand for their products is not confined to the United States, but includes considerable trade with several European countries. Mr. Turner was married, April 30, 1835, to Ada Morley, of Canandaigua, N. Y. They have three children -Augusta, Hattie and Alice, all of whom are married.

D. J. THOMAS, manufacturer of stoneware, Cuyahoga Falls; is a son of John and Anna (Rees) Thomas, and was born in Palmyra Town- ship, Portage Co., Ohio, April 14, 1841. When 19 years old, he came to Tallmadge Township, in Summit Co., and went to work in the coal- banks. Aug. 24, 1862, he was married to Maria Thomas, of Portage Co., where she was born April 15, 1841. Two days after this union, Mr. Thomas went into camp at Massil- lon, having enlisted, previous to his marriage, in Co. C, 115th O. V. I. He served three years, and was captured at Laverne, Tenn., but escaped ten days later, while at Columbia, being then on his way to the prison pens of the South. He returned to Cuyahoga Falls, and engaged in the grocery and provision business with John I. Jones, with whom he remained about one year, when he withdrew and engaged in his present business. His companion died May 31, 1863, and he was again united in the bonds of marriage the 13th day of July, 1867, Ruth Williams, of Tall- madge, becoming his wife. This union has been fruitful of six children, viz .: Ella D., Delbert J. (deceased), Lizzie A., Walter (deceased), Sarah Josephine, and Mabel Carrie (deceased). Mrs. Thomas is a member of the Congregational Church.

MAJ. CHARLES WRIGHT WETMORE (deceased), was born in St. Albans, Vt., Sept. 8, 1803, where he passed his boyhood and early manhood. He was married to Miss Hazeltine in 1825. They, with their three children, moved to Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1830, where Mr. Wetmore established himself in business. In 1832, they removed to Cuya- hoga Falls, where the remaining years of Mr. and Mrs. Wtemore's life were spent. During these years, Mr. Wetmore has repeatedly oc- cupied high public trusts at the solicitation of his fellow-citizens. He held the office of Mayor several successive terms, and was so generally popular throughout the Reserve that,

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had he aspired to political honors, he would undoubtedly have received the highest offices within the gift of the people of the State. His domestic tastes, however, induced him to seek a more quiet life, and the circle of his usefulness and civil duties were circumscribed by his own choice. Mr. Wetmore was one of, and for, the people; distinguished for his sym- pathy and benevolence. It was his delight, during his active life, to assist young men starting out in their career-professional or business. For a number of years previous to his death, Mr. Wetmore was quite infirm, but, throughout the time, a cheerful, uncomplain- ing invalid, always glad to see the friends who remembered the Major with affection. His life work ended Sept. 29, 1880. Funeral serv- ices were conducted at the house by the Rev. E. V. H. Danner, and at the grave by the Masonic fraternity, of which the deceased had been a member during the greater part of his life. His wife was born in the year 1800; she was, on her mother's side, a descendant of the Worcesters, who were early settlers at Worcester, Mass., and from whom it is said the town took its name. For some time pre- vious to their marriage, Mrs. Wetmore had been living with her sister, Mrs. Judge Bridges, in St. Albans, Vt., and had enjoyed the privilege of a good education and intelligent society; it was hard for her to think of locating in a Western hamlet, without schools, churches or anything which makes society worth living for. Cuyahoga Falls, at that time, had a store, a hotel, a few dwellings, several mills, and a schoolhouse; in the latter, religious services were held once in two weeks. Full of the spirit of enterprise, added to earnest religious zeal, Mrs. Wetmore determined to awaken interest, if possible, in the formation of a Sabbath school. She met with many discour- agements, but finally the influential family of Mrs. H. Newberry pledged their assistance, and the work progressed without opposition. Mrs. Wetmore, with the aid of the Misses Mary and Fanny Newberry, founded the first Sabbath school in Cuyahoga Falls in the spring of 1833, and continued one of its teachers until advancing years and growing cares caused her to retire. So remarkable was her modesty, and so unmindful was she of her

charitable deeds, that not till within the past few years did she relate to her family the early history of the school, and her relation to it. She was one of the few who were instru- mental in organizing the first Foreign Mis- sionary Society of the town. The Maternal Association, which was organized a few years later, she was a leading member of. It was a society composed of praying mothers, who often met to consult in regard to the religious training of their children. Mrs. Wetmore was one of the few who composed the Congre- gational Church at its organization. She was ever a consistent and devoted member of that church, her position being aggressive against anything that tended to lower its orthodoxy or to enfeeble its spirituality. She was pledged to its benevolent enterprises. Her highest ambition for her children was that they might be intelligent and Christian laborers in the church so dear to her. Her cheerful disposi- tion added to her faith in the wisdom of the providences of God, enabled her to rise above sorrow, and ever minister to those of less faith and fortitude. She was a generous friend to the home missionary. One of these, in acknowledging the receipt of a religious news- paper, on which she annually paid the sub- scription for him, begged the privilege of call- ing her "mother." A lady in Boston writes: "She was the only mother I ever knew." And many others, especially orphans, or those whose circumstances would place them in reach of her care or benevolence, think they also have the right to claim her as a "mother" indeed. She possessed an inexhaustible fund of knowledge, from which she could draw with adaptability, as occasion demanded. Much of the Bible she could repeat; one had only to commence a verse, when she would continue to repeat, from memory, the rest of the chapter. Her mind was a storehouse of history, both sacred and profane. Possessing rare execu- tive ability, excellent judgment, and that val- nable gift, common sense, we can justly say she was a person of uncommon character and endowments; and at her demise-which oc- curred Christmas night, 1877, aged 77 years and 8 months- - the loss was severely felt in many directions, but fell especially severe on her own family. The self-sacrificing mother

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History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 154

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