History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 183

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 183

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H. C. SEARLES, Postmaster and merchant, West Richfield ; is a prominent merchant and an enterprising citizen ; he is a son of Daniel Searles, an early settler of Hinckley Township, where he still resides. The subject of this sketch was born in Hinckley Township in 1841, and passed his carly life up to the age of 16 upon the farm. His education commenced in the district schools ; he then went to Hiram College, where he continued his studies until the breaking-out of the war, when he enlisted in Battery A, Ist Ohio, and served for two years, but was forced to leave the service on account of injuries. Returning to his home, he then engaged in the mercantile business as clerk for B. H. Wood, of West Richfield, with whom he continued for eight years. He then, in 1873, commenced in trade for himself, in which he has been actively engaged up to the

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present time. In 1878, the store in which he was doing business was burned ; he then crected the large and commodious building where he is at present located ; his stock consists of a large line of general merchandise, and he purchases all kinds of country produce. Mr. Searles has served as Postmaster since 1873, and in matters of public importance has always taken an active interest. He has served the township as Treas- urer for the past fifteen years, and as a member of the School Board for six years. He was mar- ried, in 1863, to Miss Elizabeth Parker, a daughter of Rev. Sanford Parker, a Methodist minister ; he was killed while a resident of Hinckley ; she was born in Hinckley Township in 1844. They have three children-Harry I., at present attending Hiram College, Lizzie A. and George DeForest.

DANIEL T. SHELDEN, farmer ; P. O.West Richfield ; is a son of Jonathan and Abiah (Northrop) Shelden. His father was a native of Rhode Island. When he was 4 years of age, his parents removed to Massachusetts, where he resided until he was married. They then removed to Schoharie Co., N. Y., where they re- sided about twenty-five years. In 1822, they removed to Ohio, locating in Richfield Town- ship, where they resided for the remainder of their days. Daniel was born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., in 1806, and came with his parents to Richfield when they removed there, where he has since been a resident, and by occupation a farmer. He was married, in March, 1836, to Miss Martha Robinson, who died in 1837. In October, 1838, he was married to a sister of his first wife, Miss Mary Robinson. They have four children-William II. (who is a resident of California), Martha A., Dustin and Charles R., living in Richfield Township, and Miss Mary E., at home. Mr. Shelden is living upon the old homestead, about one and a half miles south of the Center, where he has lived over half a century ; he has devoted his time exclusively to the cultivation of his land, which is in a high state of cultivation and well improved. He is a well known and respected citizen in the town- ship where he has lived for so many years.

M. LEE SPRANKLE, farmer ; P. O. West Richfield ; is a son of John and Susannah (Keck) Sprankle ; his father was a native of Pennsyl- vania, where he was born in 1802 ; his mother, a native of Ohio, Columbiana Co., where she was born in 1816 ; she is still living with her son,

M. Lee, in Richfield ; his father first located in Columbiana Co., where he resided about three years, and then removed to Wayne Co., where he remained about nine years, and then, in the spring of 1850, removed to Richfield Township, locating in the southern part of the township, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1854, aged 52 years. Our subject was born in Wayne Co., in 1839; at the death of his father, he started out in life for himself, work- ing by the month about twelve years, and then purchasing from the heirs the old homestead, where he has since resided. He has 96 acres of improved land, with good buildings, and in a high state of cultivation. He was married, in September, 1872, to Miss Lilla Kirk, a daughter of George Kirk, of Bath ; they have three children-Gertrude, Jessie and Birdie. Mr. Sprankle has served the township as As- sessor, and is a member of Meridian Sun Lodge, No. 266, A., F. & A. M. He has three brothers and two sisters living-Jeremiah, liv- ing in Michigan ; Daniel, a resident of Mon- tana ; David W., a minister in the United Brethren Church, living in Portage Co .; Lydia Dunn, in Michigan, and Sarah Harris, living in Copley Township ; a brother, William H., was killed by lightning in Richfield Township, in 1867.

NATHAN SWIGART, farmer ; P. O. West Richfield ; was born in Stark Co., Ohio, in 1831 ; his parents, John and Elizabeth (Halliwill) Swigart, were pioneers in Stark Co. In 1832, his father came to Richfield Township and pur- chased a tract of land, located where Nathan now resides, but before he perfected his arrange- ments for removal from Stark Co. he was striken down by death ; his mother subse- quently removed to Richfield and settled upon the farm, bringing with her a daughter, Louisa, and Nathan, our subject. She was afterward married to Oliver Taylor, by whom she had four children ; she continued a resident of the farm until her death, aged 63 years. Nathan has been a resident of the old farm since their first location there, and is now in possession of it ; he has 109 acres, about 40 of which is tim- bered ; he is making quite a specialty in dairy- ing, having very fine facilities for butter-mak- ing, there being upon his farm fine springs of running water, of even temperature the whole year. He was married in 1860 to Miss Harriet J. Willey, whose parents were old settlers of

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Medina Co. They have ten children-John, Herbert, Louis, Ada J., Lura A., Otho T., Clara, Samuel G., Clarence and Garfield. Mr. Swigart is a prosperous farmer and respected neighbor ; he has taken an active interest in schools, and is a member of Osborn Corner Grange.

FAYETTE VIALL, proprietor hotel, Rich- field ; is a son of Burrill and Sarah Viall, who were early settlers in Northampton Township ; they have four children now living in Summit Co .- Burrill, a prominent farmer, of Boston Township ; Mary, the wife of Dr. Pope, of West Richfield ; William, now a resident of North- ampton Township ; and Fayette, the subject of

this sketch. He was born in Northampton Township in 1845 ; he accompanied his parents to Iowa in 1850, where he remained until 1863, when he enlisted in the 24th Iowa V. I., and was in the service until the close of the war. He then returned to Iowa, where he re- mained about a year, and then came to Boston Township, where he resided for several years with his brother. In November, 1872, he was married to Miss Emma Gilbert, a daughter of Chancey and Sophrona (Carter) Gilbert ; since his marriage he has been a resident of Rich- field Township, where he has been engaged in farming and also in the hotel business, which occupation he resumed in April, 1881, in Richfield Center, where he owns a hotel prop- erty. Mr. and Mrs. Viall have two children -Raymond and Willie.

HENRY C. WADHAMS, retired farmer ; P. O. West Richfield ; was born in Litchfield Co., Goshen, Conn., Jan. 15, 1802. His par- ents, Seth and Lucy (Davis) Wadhams, were both natives of Connecticut ; his father was a merchant in Goshen, and died in 1808; his mother departed this life the year previous (1807). After the death of his parents, Henry went to live with an uncle, with whom he re- mained until he attained his majority, working upon a farm. He then started for Ohio, com- ing with Frederick Baldwin, in a one-horse wagon ; they reached Hudson, where Baldwin stopped, and our subject came on to Richfield, where his brother, William S., and many old Connecticut acquaintances were located. He reached Richfield in 1823, and bought a farm, upon which he lived until 1844, when he sold out to Schuyler Oviatt, and moved to West Richfield and engaged in the mercantile busi-

ness with H. B. Pomeroy, with whom he con- tinued one year. In 1850, he went to Califor- nia, where he remained five years, engaged in mining and keeping a public house. He then returned to West Richfield, where he has since resided, retired from active life. He was mar- ried, March 23, 1825, to Miss Eunice Layton ; she was a daughter of John and Eunice Layton, natives of New York, and residents of Ontario Co. ; she was born in Ontario Co., May 5, 1805. Their children are as follows : Louisa Bigelow, living in Michigan ; Mandana M. Mansur, died in Hudson ; Destine A., was educated at Mt. Holyoke, Mass., and died while teaching at Knoxville, Ill. ; Clarentine, died at the age of 8 years ; Eunice Carr, living in Cleveland ; Henry P., a resident of Cleveland-he is the senior partner in the firm of H. P. Wadhams & Co., engaged in investments, securities, and brokers in stocks, grain, provisions, etc. Mr. Wadhams, while a resident of Richfield Town- ship, has served as Constable about seventeen years, and as Deputy Treasurer for twenty-five years. He has been identified in mauy acts for the improvement of the township, and is a respected and progressive citizen.

WILLIAM WHEATLEY, farmer ; P. O. West Richfield ; is an extensive land-owner and one of the prominent citizens of Richfield Township. His parents, Joseph and Jane (Teal) Wheatley, were natives of England. They emigrated to America in 1832, and lo- cated in Richfield Township; they purchased 100 acres of land of Samuel Snow, who went to Canada and joined in the insurrection, where he was captured and sent to Van Dieman's Land. Mr. and Mrs. Wheatley brought with them eight children from England, only three of whom are now living-Sarah, the widow of Uriah Oviatt, residing in Richfield ; F. J., a son, for many years a prominent citizen of Granger Town- ship, Medina Co., now living in Danville, Va., where he has a large plantation. The mother died in March, 1857, and the father in Decem- ber, 1858. William was born in England, in 1825, and since the removal of his parents to Richfield, has been a resident of the Township and of the old homestead. In 1852, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Lawrence. She is also a native of England, where she was born in 1823. They have five children-Martha C., William L., Emma J., George and Charles. Mr. Wheatley has added to the original farm

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until he has, at the present time, 420 acres, about 75 of which is timber, and the rest finely improved. This property is located about one mile south of the Center. He is an enterpris- ing and progressive farmer, to which he devotes his time exclusively ; he makes quite a specialty of fine Durham stock, and in superior breeds of sheep. For a number of years he was promi- nently interested in the Agricultural Associa- tion of the county, but of late the cultivation of his land engages his whole time and atten- tion.

DR. JEREMIAH CULLEN WILCOX (de- ceased) ; was born in Hartford Co., Conn., Dec. 6, 1790. His father, Dr. Jeremiah Wil- cox, having become owner of the "Wilcox Tract," consisting of 16,000 acres on the Western Reserve, resolved to become an emigrant him- self, so, with his family, he removed to Vernon, Trumbull Co., which was then a wilderness, and there they located and lived for the remainder of their lives. "Cullen," as he was familiarly known, performed the labors incident to a pio- neer life for a few years, and then resumed his studies, which he had commenced in Connecti- cut, and entered Jefferson College, where he graduated in 1813, in the same class with Thomas H. Benton, who was for so many years the celebrated United States Senator. Having prepared himself for the medical profession, mainly under the instructions of his father, he commenced to practice in the town of Hartford, where he continued for twenty years. He mar- ried, in 1816, Miss Lorena Bushnell, who died in 1831, leaving five children, only two of whom are now living-Jeremiah B., living in Deer Lodge, Montana Territory, and Mrs. Gen. Stur- ges, of Louisville, Ky. His health having be- come impaired, he gave up his practice, and for better educational advantages, removed to Hud- son, where he engaged in business, and in 1839 removed to Richfield Township, where he owned a large tract of land, and became one of its most honored and respected citizens. He was a devoted and consistent member of the Congregational Church. In 1839, he was mar- ried to Mrs. Julia A. Pettee ; her maiden name was Wilder ; she was born in Johnstown, N. Y., Sept. 19, 1814 ; she was married in New York York State and left a widow when 20 years of age. At the time of her marriage with Dr. Wilcox, she was a teacher in the schools of Ra- venna. She is now living at Glenville, Cuya-

hoga Co. Dr. Wilcox died Jan. 26, 1873. Their children are as follows : Amelia ; Henry C., living in Kansas ; Cullen, now attending Yale College, fitting himself for the ministry ; Frank A. and Stella H., with their mother at Glenville.

BAXTER WOOD, retired merchant, West Richfield ; is an old and respected citizen, and at one time a prominent merchant. He was born in Wooster Co., Mass., Jan. 2, 1797. His father, Williard Wood, was a farmer, and upon the farm the first twenty years of his life was passed. He received a good education, and put it to a practical use by teaching school for four- teen winters. He was engaged in the hotel business in Massachusetts for six years, and in Connecticut for three years. He then removed to Indiana, where he remained only one year, engaged in the same business. In 1838, he re- moved to Richfield and first engaged in the hotel business, there continuing six years. He then entered the mercantile business in West Richfield, under the firm name of B. Wood & Son, and for twenty-five years was in active trade. He is now retired from business, and living upon a small farm located between the two Centers. He was married, while living in Massa- chusetts, Nov. 19, 1822, to Miss Eliza Fair- banks. She was born in Hampden Co., Mass., Sept. 24, 1797. They have three children who are a pride and comfort to them-Mrs. Pauline Sheppard, the wife of O. C. Sheppard, of Me- dina ; Baxter H., one of Medina's most promi- nent business men, and Charles W., one of the old and prominent business men of West Rich- field. He was born in Thompson, Conn., in 1835. He commenced his business life at the age of 18, as assistant in his father's store, and has been the mercantile trade ever since. He was for a number of years in partnership with his father, but for the past eight years has been alone. His stock consists of a general line of merchandise, in which he does a leading busi- ness. Ile was married in November, 1862, to Miss Elizabeth Okes. She was born in Cuyahoga Co., in 1838. They have six children-Frank O., Stella, Weldon C., Edith C., Harry and Ar- thur. He is Secretary and Treasurer of the Ohio Telegraph Co., a short line between Penin- sula and West Richfield, and a member of Mer- idian Sun Lodge, No. 266, A., F. & A. M.

DEXTER WOOD (deceased) ; was a native of Massachusetts, where he was born in

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1801. He was one of the early settlers of Richfield Township, where he located in 1834, in the southern portion of the township, and where he remained a respected citizen for the remainder of his life. He died in March, 1846. His wife is still living upon the old homestead ; her maiden name was Mary Reid ; she was born in New York State, in 1815 ; her father, Elias Reid, was an early set- tler of Richfield, coming there about 1833. He died in the township in 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Wood were married Nov. 26, 1835. Three children are now living-Willard, born in

November, 1836. He was married in 1861, to Miss Lora Hurlbut ; she died June 21, 1878. Willard now resides upon the old homestead. Dexter, born in November, 1838. He is living on the farm ; he was married in 1861, to Miss Sarah J. Moore. They have five children- Adelpha, Belle, Rosa, Emma and Edward ; and Mary E., born Sept. 24, 1843. The home- stead consists of 94 acres, the most of which is well improved. It is conveniently located about two and one-half miles from the Center. The family are intelligent and enterprising, and are respected citizens of the township.

BATH TOWNSHIP.

JARED BARKER, Bath. Mr. Barker is one of the leading agriculturists and live-stock dealers of Summit Co. He was born in Mon- roe Co., N. Y., Sept. 10, 1819. He is the son of Lanson and Betsey (Phelps) Barker, both of whom were natives of Connecticut. They were married in Pittsford, Monroe Co., N. Y. In 1827, Mr. Barker came to Ohio and pur- chased a tract of land in Holmes Co., and the year following came West with his family and stopped for a few weeks at Massillon, Ohio, and then moved to Granger, Medina Co., Ohio. He lived in Medina Co. some years, and then purchased a place in Royalton, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, upon which he resided for most part the remainder of his days. In his family were the following children, viz .: Roxie A., William, Jared, John, Lyman, Mary and Frances. He departed this life in 1855, and his wife in 1847. They were intelligent, Christian people, and had the respect of all who knew them. Jared Barker lived at home and assisted in the farm duties until 27 years of age. He was united in marriage to Miss Eleanor Munson Dec. 16, 1847. She was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Nov. 25, 1827. By this union there were two chil- dren, viz .: Mary E. and William. Mrs. Barker died Sept. 9, 1856. Soon after his marriage Mr. Barker came to Bath Township, and the year following purchased 300 acres of land, going in debt for nearly the entire amount. By hard work and economy he paid for this land, and has added to it, until he now owns over 500 acres. Upon his farm are five large barns

which are very conveniently arranged, and afford shelter to a large number of live stock. Mr. Barker has made a specialty of wool-grow- ing, and is one of the most successful and practical stock-growers in the county. He now has upon his place about eighty head of short-horn cattle. A number of these are thoroughbred, and the rest good grade cattle. He also has upon his place some fine Clydes- dale and English coach horses. Perhaps there is not a man in Summit Co. who owns more good stock of all kinds than Mr. Barker. He began as a poor boy, and is in the fullest sense of the word a self-made man. He is of a retiring disposition, and does not meddle much in political affairs, yet he is decided in his opinions which he never fails to express at the ballot-box. llis donations for educational, religious and other charitable purposes have been very considerable ; nor have they been confined to Bath Township alone. Many of them are yet unknown in the community in which he resides.

CONRAD CARVER ; P. O. Buckeye ; was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, Nov. 10, 1810 ; he is the son of John and Margaret (Miller) Carver, who were natives of Germany, and the parents of four sons and two daughters. Con- rad Carver remained at home and attended school until he was 14 years of age ; he then began working for a man at $8 per year ; he continued working in his native country until about 26 years of age, never receiving more than $12 per year for his services ; he had dur-

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ing this time saved some money, and he now determined to try his fortunes in the New World, so, bidding farewell to home and father- land, he started in 1836 for the new El Dorado, landing in New York in September of the same year ; he at once started for Cincinnati, but, on his arrival at Cleveland, he was compelled to stop, as his means were exhausted; after some time, mainly spent in trying to find em- ployment, he took passage on a canal boat, and, on its arrival at Peninsula, he was asked by a farmer of that place if he did not want to work; Mr. Carver told him that he did, and soon bargained to work for him during the win- ter ; he worked for this man six months ; at the expiration of that time and when they came to settle, the man could not pay him, and Mr. Carver never received one farthing from him ; his clothes were nearly worn out, and, in the early spring, he found employment helping to clear the canal ; he worked on the canal some four years in different capacities, and during that time, by strict economy, he had saved suf- ficient means to purchase 30 acres of land in Bath Township, paying $6 per acre for it. Perhaps there is not a man in Bath Township who has done more hard work than Mr. Carver ; many and many a time, after working all day for some of his neighbors, he would return home and spend a great portion of the night clearing up his own farm. His untiring en- ergy has been crowned with success, as he is to-day one of the wealthiest farmers of Bath Township ; his farm of 195 acres is well improved and nicely situated in the eastern part of the township. He was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Lutz Oct. 14, 1838; she was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., Dec. 2, 1820 ; from this union there were nine children, viz., La vina, Mary A., Eliza, Simon P. and Alfred liv- ing ; John, Margaret, Rose A. and Polly de- ceased. Mr. Carver is a Republican and a member of the Evangelical Association. He has been ably seconded in all his undertakings in life by his good wife. It can truly be said of them that there are no better or more re- spected people in the township than they.

J. W. CLAPPER, Ghent. This gentleman was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Feb. 12, 1845. He is the son of John and Lydia A. (Biers) Clapper, the former a native of Wayne Co., Ohio. and the latter of Orange Co., N. J. They were the parents of two children -- our subject

and his sister Sarah. She is the wife of R. Y. Robinson, Esq., and resides in Bath Township. John Clapper died when he was but 27 years of age. He was a promising young man, noted for his energy and straight business habits. His widow married again and is still a resident of Wayne Co. J. W. Clapper began life as a poor boy, and, when yet quite young, began for himself as a farmer. He served his country in the late war in Co. I, 5th O. V. V. C. He was . united in marriage to Miss Mary M. Huston Oct. 23, 1867. She was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Dec. 12, 1847, and is the daughter of William and Sarah (Van Kirk) Huston, both natives of the Keystone State, and early settlers of Wayne Co. Mr. and Mrs. Clapper are the parents of four children, viz., Emma L., John W., Sadie and Jacob R. Mr. Clapper is a stanch Republican in politics, and interests himself in publie improvements of all kinds. He owns 102 acres of land, which is well stocked, and which he farms in a very credit- able manner.

MRS. CHARLOTTE DOOLITTLE, Bath. Among the old and honored pioneer women of Bath Township, none is more worthy of espe- cial mention than Mrs. Charlotte Doolittle, who was born Feb. 28, 1809, in Bristol, Ontario Co., N. Y. She is the daughter of Stoten and Lydia (Allen) Hale, both of whom were natives of the Empire State, and the parents of five children. Mr. Hale was a wheelwright by trade. He was a soldier during the war of 1812, and served his country with distinction. Both he and wife died when our subject was a small girl. She was united in marriage to Mr. Samuel Shaw in 1827. He was born in Bristol, Ontario Co., N. Y., in 1804. From this union there were six children, viz., Samuel A., Samuel H., Charlotte C., Lorenzo, Dency L. and Richmond. In 1829, Mr. and Mrs. Shaw left their native State for Bath Township, this county. They had pur- chased 145 acres of land, which, on their arrival at Cleveland, they payed for which left them about $60 to begin improvements with. They arrived in Bath Township on Tuesday, and the following Friday they had a building erected, into which they moved. It was a rude struct- ure indeed, and built on a side hill with the fire-place in the lower end, and only a rude puncheon floor in a portion of it. When it rained, the water would run in from the upper side and come coursing down through the room

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and put out the fire. This served them as a dwelling by being " patched up " for some time, when they added an upper story to their dwell- ing. This was an unusual proceeding, and the people of the neighborhood thought they were " putting on airs." Mr. Shaw was a carpenter by trade, and a man of energy and great physical powers. His good wife and companion would go with him into the woods and help him get out timbers for buildings. She would take one end of the cross-cut saw and saw with her husband all day long, only stopping long enough to get their meals. They worked on in this way until the death of Mr. Shaw, which occurred in 1836. They had in this time built a large two-story, frame house, had a nice, young, bearing orchard, their place well stocked, and many other comforts and conveniences. Mrs. Shaw was married, in 1837, to Mr. Lyman Doolittle, a native of Ontario Co., N. Y., where he was born in 1801. This gentleman died in 1862. By this second marriage there were five children, viz., Liza M., Lucy M., Orpha O., Irving and Genevieve. Mrs. Doolittle lives upon the old homestead, surrounded by the comforts and conveniences of a well-earned competency. She is a lady of more than ordi- nary powers of mind and executive ability, and is respected by all who know her.

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History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 183

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