History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 176

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 176

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

WILLIAM H. LAHR, farmer; P. O. Nor- ton Center; is an interesting and prominent young man of Norton Center, and son of John and Mary Margaret (Miller) Lahr, natives of Pennsylvania, and was born April 16, 1850. The first twenty years of his life were spent in attending school and assisting his father in agricultural pursuits. He was married, Dec. 1, 1870, to Sarah J. Lerch, who was born in Copley Township, and daughter of Peter and Rebecca (Schweitzer) Lerch, natives of North-' ampton Co., Penn. Mrs. Sarah Lahr was born April 15, 1850, there being one day's difference in the ages of husband and wife. They have two children-Charles Horner, born April 13, 1873; and Aletta Pearl, Jan. 21, 1880. Mr. Lahr served a term of three years as member of the School Board of the Norton Center Village School, and was re- elected in the spring of 1880; he shows a great interest in the improvement of the schools and the advancement of the educa- tional interests of his township. He is a Re- publican politically, and, with his estimable wife, members of the church. His father, John Lahr, was born June 19, 1823; his fa- ther was John, grandfather Jacob, all natives of Pennsylvania; his great-grandfather Lahr came from Germany early in 1700; his mother, Susan Knecht, her father, Leonard Knecht, her mother, Maria Steckchel, natives of Penn- sylvania. John learned the carpenter's trade at a very early age, with his father, at which he worked for thirty-five years, in connection with agricultural pursuits. He was married, Jan. 8, 1845, to a Miss Miller, daughter of

John and Susan (Bower) Miller, Keystoneites, by whom he had three children-Lucinda Elizabeth, William H. and his twin brother, Jonas Franklin; all are deceased except the subject of our sketch. John has been a resi- dent of Norton Center since the spring of 1844, and closely identified with the interests of the township, the improvement of its industries, and the affairs of church.

JOHN LOUTZENHISER, farmer; P. O. Sherman; is a native of Northampton Town- ship, Westmoreland Co., Penn., and son of David and Catharine (Long) Loutzenhiser, who were also natives of Pennsylvania. He was born May 23, 1802; he received but a very meager education, attending subscrip- tion school two or three miles distant, and completing his education in about seven months, the remainder of the time being spent in assisting his father with the farm work. In September, 1829, he, with his fa- ther and family, came to Norton Township, and, on the 23d of November, 1830, he was married to Miss Lydia Baughman, whose parents lived on the farm known now as the Dr. Simmons' place, in Wadsworth Township, Medina Co. His wife was born in Trumbull Co., Ohio, Aug. 4, 1812, daughter of Law- rence and Anne Maria (Creitz) Baughman, whose parents were Simon and Anne Maria Creitz, natives of Northampton Co., Penn. John, after marriage, more than fifty years ago, moved to the farm on which they now live, it being then a perfect wilderness, but, by their industry, good management and fru- gal habits, have made for themselves a beau- tiful home, raised and educated a large fam- ily, and saved a surplus for their old age. They have had fifteen children, eleven of whom are living-Lawrence, born Dec. 30, 1832; John B., Feb. 26, 1835; Jonas W., Sept. 19, 1839; Anna M., Jan. 22, 1837; Paul G., April 8, 1841; Moses, Feb. 15, 1843; Rachel, Dec. 2, 1844: Susan, Aug. 16, 1848; Lydia, July 25, 1850; Florinda, Sept. 23, 1852; Katie, March 25, 1854. The family are members of the German Reformed Church in Wayne Co., and give liberally to the sup- port of religious institutions and schools; also lend a helping hand toward the advancement of the people of their community. They have

971

NORTON TOWNSHIP.

four children married-Jonas, to Susan C. Bauer, and working at the mason's trade and farming in Summit Co .; John, to Jane E. Keppel, is a farmer, and resides in Seneca Co., Ohio; Rachel, to George W. Braden, a farmer in Morrow Co., Ohio; Susan, to Fred Schneider, a shoe-maker in Hametown, Ohio.

ALEXANDER MENTZER, farmer; P. O. Loyal Oak; was born in Canton Township, Stark Co., Ohio, Nov. 2, 1835, to John Ment- zer, born Feb. 2, 1800, he of George William, natives of the State of Maryland. They moved to Lancaster Co., Penn., thence to Columbiana Co., Ohio, where they settled in 1812. About fifty-one years ago, they settled in Stark Co., where the subject of this sketch was born, as stated above. His mother's peo- ple came from Somerset Co., Penn., to Stark Co., in 1814. Her maiden name was Mary Ann Smith, daughter of Jacob, who died in 1864, in his 83d year, and Elizabeth (Rhoades) Smith. Alexander, with the re- maining children-two older sisters-received a limited education, but afterward taught their parents to read and write, and assisted them with farm work. They moved to the farm on which Mr. Mentzer now lives in 1853, and where he was married, Feb. 24, 1864, to Amelia Blocker (see sketch of Norman Blocker). They have had five children-John Frederick, born Sept. 7, 1865; Charles Oscar, Nov. 22, 1867; Sarah E., Sept. 2, 1870; Har- vey Allen, Nov. 17, 1872; Frank Elmer, Feb. 20, 1876. Mr. Mentzer has held the office of Township Trustee, and has been prominently engaged in the enterprises of the township. He is a liberal giver to the support of churches and the promotion of educational advantages; is engaged in a mixed industry- stock and grain raising.

STEPHEN D. MILLER, farmer; P. O. Sherman; is a son of Jolin Miller, born the 15th of November, 1802, in Northampton Co., Penn. ; he a son of Jacob, born in April, 1777, died Jan. 12, 1836; he of David, born in 1756, died 1831; he of Walter, born in 1716, died in 1808; he came from Germany; John is in possession of a fine old leather pocket-book, brought from Germany by the last-named ancestor nearly 150 years ago; also, an old- fashioned clock, which is still keeping time

faithfully, brought by a branch of his mother's family by the name of Bair. His mother was Margaret Serfass, her father William Serfass. They have followed farming throughout their lives. John was married, Oct. 14, 1823, to Susannah Bauer, sister of Daniel Bauer, whose history appears in another place in this work. They had twelve children, eight of whom are living; they were among the early settlers of Norton Township, coming in with the large number who came from Pennsylva- nia in 1843. Stephen was born July 19, 1827, in Nazareth Township, near Easton, North- ampton Co., Penn, where he resided, attending school and assisting on farm, until in 1843, when he came to Ohio with his parents, with whom he remained until 24 years of age, when he was married, Nov 6, 1851, to Mary Ann Musser, born Sept 15, 1831, in Trumbull Co., where her parents settled about the year 1812, and resided until 1840, when they moved to the farm on which Stephen now lives; she is a daughter of David and Mary Ann (Read) Mus- ser, natives of Pennsylvania. They have six children-Sarah Jane, born July 1, 1852; Albert, May 21, 1859; Norman F., Oct. 26, 1861; Harriet O., March 13, 1863; Charles O., Nov. 11, 1866; Mary Susannah, Aug. 23, 1870. Sarah Jane, a Mrs. Columbus Seiber- ling, whose sketch appears in another place in this work. Mr. Miller, at the beginning of the war, held for two years the position of Deputy Revenue Assessor for a part of the 18th Congressional District; he has also held the most responsible township offices, and, for about eight years, acted as agent. on his own account, for the Doylestown Machine Com- pany, then traveled seven years longer as gen- eral agent throughout the different States, for same company. He is a man having at heart the improvement of all the affairs pertaining to the good of his community, and with his family are members of the Lutheran Church.

AMOS W. MILLER, merchant. and Post- master at the village or cross-roads known as Johnson's Corners; was born Nov. 3. 1850. at Norton Center, in a well-preserved house be- longing to the Aaron Hartzell farm; his par- ents, Joseph B. and Caroline (Steckel) Miller. were natives of the State of Pennsylvania, but located in Norton Township in the spring of

972

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

1847; his grandfather Miller was Daniel; his grandfather Steckel, Daniel, he of Solomon, who lived more than one hundred years. Amos assisted with the work on the farm and attended to the very limited education he re- ceived until 16 years of age, when he began clerking in a general store kept by E. P. Hol- loway at Loyal Oak, where he remained a few months, then engaged with J. E. Wesener, a dry goods merchant of Akron, with whom he remained but a few months, then traveled through different parts of the West, where he engaged in farming; returning, subsequently, to the dry goods business in the city of Akron, with Sabin & Rudesill, was sent by them to Canal Fulton to take charge of a branch store; in 1871, he, under the firm name of A. W. Miller & Co., purchased the branch store at that place, where they continued with success until the fall of 1879, when the firm dissolved partnership, Mr. Miller retiring. In the spring of 1880, he started the general store where he is at present located and doing a good business. Was married, May 21, 1874, to Emma Walzer, daughter of Louis and Cath- arine (Ehrett) Walzer, who were natives of Alsace, France, now a portion of Germany. They have three children-Inza, born Feb. 17, 1875; Roland, June 9, 1877; Bertha, Oct. 5, 1879.

JACOB J. MILLER, farmer; P. O. Loyal Oak; was the only child of Joseph and Julia Ann (Hahn) Miller, daughter of Peter and Margaret (Kostenbader) Hahn, who were natives of Northampton Co., Penn. Joseph was the first of the large Miller family to migrate to the West, where he died after about one year's residence in Wadsworth Township, where they made their settlement, the mother returning to her native State after his death, and a few years later married a Mr. John Knecht, with whom she lived until his death, she then returning to Norton Town- ship, where she is now living, in the village of Loyal Oak. Jacob received a very limited education, leaving home at 15 years of age, and coming to Ohio, where he engaged in farm work until in his 23d year, when he was married, March 19, 1861, to Theresa Resh, born May 11, 1843, and daughter of John and Rebecca (Hartzell) Resh, who were all natives

of Pennsylvania. They have had four chil- dren-Edgar M., born July 18, 1862, in Nor- ton Township; Cora A., April 19, 1865, in Wadsworth Township; Eugene L., July 11, 1871, in Copley Township; Gertrude O., at Johnson's Corners, May 28, 1878. Mr. Mil- ler is one of the enterprising men of his town- ship, and one of the foremost stock men, hav-

ing brought from Canada his French stallion, " Montreal Lion;" is also breeding Durham cattle and Cotswold sheep. He and wife are members of the Summit Co. Society of Patrons of Husbandry, members of the Lutheran Church, and earnest advocates of the cause of temperance and improvement of society.

JONAS FRANKLIN MILLER, farmer; P. O. Loyal Oak; is a son of " Uncle John Miller," whose history appears in another place in this work; was born Nov. 3, 1832. His education was limited, the principal part of it being practical, such as could be acquired by spending most of his time clearing in the woods and in general farm work upon the place where he now lives, and upon which his father settled in 1844. He was married, Jan. 17, 1856, to Marietta Schlabach, daughter of George and Esther Ann (Lichtenwalner) Schlabach; her father is still living, in his 82d year, he a son of Jacob Schlabach, who came from Germany about 1799, and settled in Northampton Co., Penn. Her grandpar- ents on her mother's side were Peter and Susan (Oswold) Lichtenwalner, residents of Northampton Co. There have been nine children born unto them-Uriah A., born Jan. 7, 1857; Alice M., April 17, 1858; Milton Henry, Dec. 4, 1860; Ida M., died in 6th year; Harry E., Jan. 21, 1868; John G., July 29, 1870; Ella S., Sept. 17, 1873; Freddie Allen, died in infancy; Lizzie Catharine, Feb. 8, 1877. Uriah A. was married, June 5, 1877, to Addie Koplin, by whom he has two children. He is engaged in farming in northern part of Norton; Alice M., now the wife of Harvey A. Myers, a farmer in Copley Township. Mr. Miller has been Trustee of his township, and held other offices of trust. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church. He is one of the prominent stock men of the township, dealing in graded and thoroughbreds, as well as being engaged in general farming.

973

NORTON TOWNSHIP.

DANIEL MILLER, farmer; P. O. Loyal Oak; son of David, who was born June 17, 1796, and died in 1856; he also of David; his mother was Mary, daughter of Jacob and Gertrude (Schodt) Bauer. Daniel came from near Nazareth, Northampton Co., where he was born Dec. 30, 1821, to Norton Township in the spring of 1843, with Daniel Bauer and family, with whom he had lived since 14 years of age. When about 18 years of age, he began learning the carpenter and joiner's trade, at which he worked for about ten years in this township, then engaged in the butcher business about eight years longer, since which time he has followed farming, being very suc- cessful, in consequence of his industrious and frugal habits. He was married, Aug. 24, 1852. to Amelia Boerstler, born Feb. 20, 1833, daughter of John and Mary (Esch) Boerstler, who were natives of Northampton Co., Penn., but came to this State in 1846, with a family of five children, Amelia being the oldest daughter, and by whom Daniel has had one child-Franklin Harrison, born March 30, 1856, and has followed farming with his fa- ther, where he is now living with his family, having married Sarah Ann Moser in May, 1876, by whom he has two children-Mattie May, born Jan. 14, 1878; and Elsie Pearl, Feb. 7, 1880. They devote their time to the improvement of stock and the best method of agriculture. He and family are members of the Lutheran Church, and highly respected by the people of his community.

PARMELEE FAMILY, New Portage. The history of this family, in a very complete form, can be found in the possession of Eliza A. Parmelee, from whom this sketch was obtained, and who is very careful in the preservation of the old family record, which is too volumi- nous for publication; therefore, only the differ- ent heads of the family will be mentioned in this work. John Parmelee landed in this country June 1, 1639, from Guilford, En- gland, and, with twenty-four other families making up a church, they were the first set- tlers of Guilford, Conn., which place they named after their former home. After arriv- ing in this country, they all signed a covenant never to depart from one another, etc. John Parmelee, first, born in England, date of birth

not given; John, Jr., second, date of birth not given, but very probably in England; Isaac, third generation, born in Guilford Nov. 21, 1665; Abraham, fourth, in Guilford, May 18, 1692; Abraham, Jr., fifth, in Guilford, April 28, 1717; Theodore, sixth, born April 3, 1751; Theodore Hudson, seventh, Jan. 25, 1792, and came to this State in November, 1812, settling on the farm now known as the Swartz place, returning to his native place to teach school during the winter; in the fall, Nov. 3, 1813, was married, and started, on the morn- ing of the 4th, to their home in the wilder- ness, where they endured every hardship of an early pioneer life; they had nine children, six of whom are living-Mrs. Caroline K. Earl, born Oct. 30, 1814, of the eighth generation; Maria, Eleza A., Mrs. Clarinda Chapman; Charles, living in Tallmadge Township; and Martha, a Mrs. Rose, her husband an ex-Mayor of Cleveland; Theodore H. Earl, of the ninth generation, eldest son of Mrs. Caroline H. Earl, born April 18, 1836, in Newton Falls. Trumbull Co., Ohio; his child, Leafy, of the tenth generation, born Oct. 29, 1868, in New London, Wis .; the father of the eighth gener- ation was a man of great ability, holding many of the prominent positions in the county, a man of sterling integrity and honor, a mem- ber of the church during the greater part of his life. Eliza began attending Oberlin Col- lege in 1842, and graduated in 1844, being one of five of the family who graduated from that college, Charles taking the collegiate course, and six of the family attended the same institution; she taught for more than thirteen years in different academies in the State of Pennsylvania; during the college years of 1856 and 1857, she held the position of Professor of Natural Sciences in the col- lege at Iberia, Morrow Co., Ohio; this posi- tion she resigned, and returned home to take care of her mother and grandmother who were aged and feeble; she is now superintending her farm of more than 100 acres of choice land, in the eastern part of Norton Township.

DR. W. T. PARMELE, physician, New Portage: was born in Southington, Conn., Feb. 19, 1830, to N. L. and Eximena (Horton) Parmele; his father, who was also a physi- cian, removed to Delhi Co., N. Y., where he

974

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

resided three years; then to Baker, Brown Co .; then, in 1851, he moved to Binghamp- ton, where he died March 4, 1880, after a practice of about fifty years. W. T. received a common-school education, and, after study- ing with his father until about 22 years of age, attended lectures at Geneva, N. Y. He has practiced medicine for about twenty-nine years, in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Ohio; also on board the Government ships as Assistant Physician for five years, from Norfolk, Va., to Palestine, and in Summit Co. for the last seven years, now located at New Portage; was married, Oct. 14, 1851, to Sarah Slaight, a native of York State, and daughter of David and Catharine Slaight, by whom he had one child-Gertrude, born Oct. 3, 1854, now the wife of William Creque, residing at Trumansburg, N. Y .; his first wife died in the year 1861; his second marriage, to Mary Jane Porter, daughter of William C. and Mary Jane (Graves) Porter. The Doctor is a stanch Republican, a member of the I. O. O. F. and Sons of Temperance, in which cause he is an earnest worker. He was Independent Assist- ant Physician at the battle of Gettysburg; is a member of the Evangelical Association, Superintendent of two Sabbath schools for two years, and teacher of Bible-class for four years.

M. LOUIS SHOOK, painter, Norton Center. The subject of this sketch was born in Chatham Township, Medina Co., Ohio, his father, a prominent farmer, residing on the old homestead. Louis received a common- school education, attending, after his 9th year, in winters only, his services being re- quired upon the farm during the summer sea- son; he, however, being an apt scholar, soon mastered all that was then taught in the com- mon schools, and, at the age of 17 years, hav- ing overcome great opposition, received the benefit of one term at a select school at Chatham Center; the second winter follow- ing, he taught a district school in his native township with good success; the autumn fol- lowing, he again attended school at Chatham Center; the next winter, he taught school in Homer Township, where he continued during the winter seasons until his 23d year; prior to this time, however, he had turned his atten-

tion to painting, which he ultimately adopted as a profession, after attaining his majority. During his early career as a teacher, he be- came acquainted with the lady who afterward became his wife-Miss Minnie Messinger; they were married Oct. 17, 1875, since which time he has resided at his present location. In the summer of 1876, he engaged to teach the Center District School for nine months in succession; this so impaired his health that he abandoned teaching and engaged in the mercantile business with Adam G. Seas, at Norton Center, during which time his father- in-law died, May, 1878; subsequently, on ac- count of light trade, they closed out the busi- ness, and he again, in 1879, resumed the brush, which he has continued with success until the present time. During the course of his mercantile career, he was instrumental in restoring the post office at Norton Center, at which place he is Postmaster, also holding the position of Township Clerk by appointment. Of his ancestry, one branch can be traced to Germany, his great-great-grandfather, Ack- erman by name, emigrating from that coun- try to Philadelphia near the time of the Rev- olution, and from that city to Bucks Co .; he had a family of six sons, viz .: John, Jacob, Daniel, George, Henry and Abraham; from Bucks Co. they moved to Lower Mt. Bethel Township, Northampton Co., Penn., where they purchased a large tract of land on the Little Martin's Creek, where he soon erected a saw and grist mill; at the death of the elder Ackerman, his son Jacob, who is the direct ancestry of the Shook family, became the mil- ler; the property was divided among the sons, who, having settled upon different parts of the estate, formed quite a settlement, which was called Ackermanville, and now known by that name. In 1823 or 1824, Jacob rebuilt the mill, which he owned until his death. He was married to Rebecca Kulb, by whom he had three sons and eight daughters, respect- ively: John, Isaac, Catharine, Elizabeth, Bar- bara, Rebecca, Mary, Susan, Magdaline, Lydia and Jacob, who fell heir to the mill property, and who is still living on the old homestead. Henry Shook, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in 1799, in Plainfield Township, Northampton Co., Penn .; he mar-

975

NORTON TOWNSHIP.

ried Catharine Ackerman in the year 1820, and worked his father's farm for about seven- teen years; from there he moved to Tunkhan- nock, Wyoming Co., Penn., in the year 1837; he was the father of nine children, as follows: Jacob, George, Rebecca, Susan, Isaac, John E., Catharine, Aaron and Helen; their eldest son, Jacob, was born in Plainfield Township, Northampton Co., July 18, 1821; he lived with his parents until their removal to Wy- oming Co., when he returned to his uncle at Ackermanville to learn the miller's trade, at which he worked until in the winter of 1843; he was married, in the fall of 1842, to Rebecca Berkey, who was born Aug. 11, 1818, near Ban- gor, Penn .; in the spring of 1843, he mi- grated to Ohio with his father-in-law, Chris- tian Berkey; they came in wagons, making the trip in twenty-four days, landing in Ches- ter Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, on the 16th day of May, 1843; here he remained working in several different mills for a few years, finally renting a mill near Ashland, Ohio, where he remained until the year 1851, when, on account of ill health, he abandoned his trade and purchased a farm of 56 acres in Chatham Township, Medina Co., where he moved on the 2d of April of that year; a few years later, 40 acres more were added to their home, where they are now surrounded with every comfort necessary for the enjoyment of life. They have been blessed with four chil- dren-Mary A., born in Chester Township, Wayne Co., June 20, 1843, was married in January, 1864, to John Hange; Susan was born near Ashland, June 7, 1846; married Irwin Reimel in October, 1869; resides in Upper Mt. Bethel Township, Northampton Co., Penn .; M. Louis, born June 1, 1853; Katie, Dec. 25, 1857, in Chatham, the young- est still remaining at home. Of the mother's family, the great-grandfather, Christian Berkey, was born in 1759; he was a native of Pennsylvania, and was married to Gertrude Kulp; they had ten children. Christian Berkey, Sr., died in 1829; his wife, in 1840. Their home was in Lower Mt. Bethel Town- ship, Northampton Co., where their son Chris- tian was born, and married Barbara Shaum in 1817. Mrs. Minnie Shook, wife of our sub- ject, was a daughter of Jacob Messinger, who

was from Forks Township, Northampton Co., where his brothers and sisters still reside; he came to Ohio about 1854, and was married to Mrs. Mary A. Johnson, by whom he had two children-Minnie and La Fayette, the latter dying when about 4 years of age, and the fa- ther May 8, 1878.

THE SEIBERLING-MILLER COMPANY, Doylestown, Wayne Co., Ohio. This company, in the year 1861, began business at their pres- ent location, under the firm name of Cline, Seib- erling & Hower, in the manufacture of the now famous Excelsior Mower and Reaper, then an entirely new machine, invented by John F. Seiberling, a young farmer of Norton Town- ship, who has, by his numerous inventions, been of great service to the agricultural inter- ests of the United States; a more complete history of his various enterprises will be found under the head of the City of Akron, where he has been engaged in the extensive manufacture of machinery since 1865, still re- taining one-third interest in the Doylestown company, with his brother, James H. Seiber- ling, and S. H. Miller, a brother-in-law, super- seding the other three partners, J. H. and J. J. Hower, and Peter Cline. The firm have rapidly increased their business from the manufacture of twenty-five machines in the year 1861, to about 1,500 the past year, at their shops in Doylestown. This energetic firm, though not being able to supply the de- mand for their now popular machines, have greatly increased their machinery and facility for work, so that they are now able to manu- facture, with the same work, from three to four hundred more machines than formerly. In connection with the Excelsior, which they be- gan manufacturing more than twenty years ago, with all the different improvements and attachments which time and expense could suggest to an inventive mind, they are also constructing the Empire Mower and Reaper, an invention of Mr. Seiberling's about six years ago; and, in 1880, he brought out the new single-wheel reaper, which was thor- oughly tested, and will be quite extensively manufactured this year. They are building the following different machines: Two styles of sweep-rake, table-rake, dropper, self-binder, single-wheel reaper, etc. James H. Seiber-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 176

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