History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 186

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 186

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).

HENRY A. HOUSMAN, Superintendent Franklin Coal Mine, Clinton. He is the oldest son of Jacob Housman, who was married to Catharine Brougher. He was born in Franklin Township July 19, 1840. He worked on the farm until he was 20 years old. He was then employed as clerk in a store in Manchester, Ohio. In 1860, he went into business for him- self. This he carried on successfully until 1870, when he took charge of the Franklin Coal Mine. He came to Clinton in 1875, and has resided here since ; he also taught school here for one and one-half years. He was married in 1862, to Margaret Sisler, a native of Man- chester, Ohio. They have two children-Nellie and Fannie. He is at present Superintendent of the Franklin Coal Mine, an extensive and paying mine.

JAMES M. KERSTETTER, general store, Nimisila. Among the self-made business men of Manchester is the subject of this sketch ; he was born in Green Township, Summit Co., Ohio, March 17, 1851 ; his parents were old

settlers of the county ; he was the oldest of three children ; he was raised on the farm, and, when 11 years old, he went with his parents to Manchester ; his education was such as the common schools of the village afforded, and his business career was begun with a clerkship with Kerstetter & Housman. He went into business for himself in 1871 ; he is now keep- ing a general store, and all he has he obtained by his tact, industry and economy. He was married in 1868 to Isabel Benner, a native of Franklin Township ; they have one daughter- Olive M. His business career is one of remark- able snecess, he having comparatively nothing when he started.

DANIEL SMITH (deceased) ; was born in Pennsylvania April 10, 1811, and came here with his father's family during the construction of the canal. He married Eliza Diehl March 15, 1835 ; she was also a native of Pennsyl- vania, and came here with her parents about a year previous to her late husband, her father, Jacob Diehl, settled at Canton, Stark Co., when they came from Pennsylvania, then to Franklin Township. Soon after Mr. Smith was married, they repaired to the farm, where his widow and daughter now live, and, on June 7, 1861, he was called away, leaving a widow and large family to mourn his loss. They were parents of ten children, viz., Judson, Rachel, Amanda, Mary, Ransom, Louisa, Angeline, Carolina, Jo- sephus and Ida ; the last named resides with her aged mother. When their eldest boy, Jud- son, was about 4 years old, he met with a sad and fatal accident ; while he, with one of his sis- ters, were endeavoring to cross the mill-race on unsafe footing, he fell in, and, although his father was at work near by, the boy was drowned before it was possible to rescue him. In 1834, Mr. Smith and his father built a saw- mill, which Daniel owned and operated many years ; the mill property he had sold, but owing to non-payment by the purchaser, he (Mr. Smith) had to take it back, and the season preceding his death he had refitted the mill. Since his death, Mrs. Smith has managed the affairs of her business with more than ordinary executive ability, and reared her family, and yet lives to see them enjoy their own homes.

JOHN A. STUMF, farmer; P. O. Nimisila ; was born in Franklin Co., Penn., June 2, 1809 ; he is son of Michael and Mary (Ashway) Stumf. In 1819, they moved from Pennsylvania-par-

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ents and five children-and settled six miles west of Massillon, in Tuscarawas Township, Stark Co. They had in all seven children-Catharine, John A., Jacob, Elizabeth, Polly, Lydia and Nancy-the two last named were born after their parents came to this State. About nine years after their locating in Stark County, Mr. Stumf was assisting a neighbor in "raising " a log cabin ; during the progress of the work, some feeling of rivalry as to which party should have their end of the log first in position arose ; the result being that one end of a log was car- ried up much quicker than the other, causing a skid to break, and swinging the other out of place and in its descent struck Mr. Stumf on the head and killed him. This sad and fatal accident left the widow with her seven young children, in poor circumstances, in the new and sparsely settled country. Shortly after his father's death, John A. returned to his uncle's in Pennsylvania to learn the carpenter's trade, and remained there three years. In the mean- time he got married to Mary Grove in April 1832 ; and the following month came back with his wife to his mother's in Stark Co., Ohio, where they lived one year, and in 1833 he moved to Franklin Township and purchased 80 acres, which was partially improved. He worked at his trade for two years after coming here, and then turned his attention principally to farming, which has been his life work, except when he chose to do odd jobs of carpenter work or manfacture anything for his own use, as he was quite handy at any kind of wood- work. He owns a good farm on which he erected a commodious brick residence in 1845. They had five children-Lucinda (who died at 5 years old), Alpheus, Eliza (was wife of Eli Stout, who died in the army of the rebell- ion ; she is also deceased, leaving one child, Ida, and was reared by Mr. Stumf), Hiram and

Mary M. (deceased). Mrs. Stumf died in Sep- tember, 1872. His mother remained on the old homestead in Stark County, until a short time previous to her death, when she removed to Wayne County, when she died September, 1874, in the 92d year of her age. Besides John A., only Catharine (now widow of Sam Davis of Lucas County), and Lydia (now wife of Moses Hingley, of Richland County), survives.

A. SISLER, M. D., Nimisila ; he was born in Lycoming Co., Penn., Dec. 29, 1823. When 4 years old, he went to Erie Co., N. Y., with his parents ; here he remained until 1844, when he came to Nimisila, and has been there ever since. He read medicine with his brother, Dr. William Sisler, who was at that time in active practice there. He attended lectures in the Cleveland Medical College, and began practice in partnership with his brother, in the spring of 1848, and is at present practicing in Manches- ter. He was married in 1848 to Amanda E. Hoy, a native of Nimisila. Nine children are now living-Francis E., Charles E., Clara A., Caroline B., Lewis E., Everett B., John H., Jennie L. and William H. He is a member of the Disciples' Church.

EPHRAIM STUMF, farmer; Nimisila; is the son of Jacob and Catharine (Sorrick) Stumf, who came from Pennsylvania to Ohio when quite young. They settled in this town- ship, where Ephraim was born May 28, 1842. There were four other children born to Jacob and Catharine Stumf, viz. : Matilda, Nathaniel, Amos (deceased) and William. Ephraim lived with his parents until he was married, which event occurred Nov. 29, 1870, to Louisa Smith, daughter of Daniel Smith. They have two children-Bertha and Clarence. Mr. Stumf is a man of few pretentions, but an industrious citizen who attends to his own affairs in an un- assuming way.

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WILLIAM G. ADAMS (deceased) ; was the youngest in a family of eight children born to James and Hannah Adams. The names of these children are as follows : John, Alexander, James, Thomas, Charles, Cyrus, Caroline and William G. William was born June 17, 1819, and when quite young his parents moved from his native State-Pennsylvania-and came to Wayne Co., Ohio, where he remained with his parents until he was 26 years old, and then moved to Bath Township, and subsequently to Cuyahoga Co., Ohio. July 24, 1846, he mar- ried Catharine, daughter of James and Sarah Leonard, and to this union were born a family of six children-James L., born June 4, 1849 ; John, born Dec. 30, 1850 ; Melville, born Sept. 10, 1852 ; Charles, born Feb. 20, 1854 ; Pren- tiss, born June 14, 1857, and Sarah, born Sept. 2, 1860. Mrs. Adams was born Sept. 2, 1823. In the spring of 1860, Mr. and Mrs. Adams, with their family, left Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, and came to Copley Township, Summit Co., Ohio. It was here, on May 2, 1868, that Mr. Adams' death occurred, of pneumonia. In his younger days, Mr. Adams taught school to some extent, and his subsequent life was full of enterprise and usefulness.

ALFRED ADAIR, farmer ; P. O. Copley Center ; was born in Montgomery Township, Northampton Co., Mass., Feb. 6, 1807. He is a grandson of Andrew Adair, who was a native of Ireland, and a son of James L. and Bath- sheba (Griffin) Adair, to whom were born the following family : Theodosia, Sally, Alfred, Ursula, Anna, Elizabeth and Micah. At the age of 10 years, our subject, with his parents, removed to Genesee Co., N. Y., where they re- mained until 1824. when Alfred, who was then 17 years of age, went to Canada, where he re- mained but one year, at the end of which time his father died, and he returned home to his widowed mother and took charge of the home- stead, clearing it of a heavy debt then hanging over it. In December, 1835, he married Mar- tha P. Chamberlain, daughter of Moses Cham- berlain, and by her had eight children, viz., James L., who was born Sept. 24, 1837, and died July 11, 1842; Joseph L., born Nov. 28,

1839 ; Alfred A., born March 25, 1841 ; Mar- tha A., born April 19, 1843 ; Emily, who was born July 27, 1845, and died Ang. 24, 1848 ; Martha, who was born July 31, 1847, and died Jan. 24, 1881, and Newman and Newell, twins, born July 15, 1850. In 1840, Mr. Adair, fam- ily, and mother, came to Copley Township, Summit Co., Ohio, where the mother died, in January, 1855, and the wife, Jan. 29, 1880. These two had been married about forty-five years, and during that time were always kind and considerate toward each other, and her death leaves an aching void in his heart, as. in those of her relatives and friends. They took great pride in educating their two sons, J. L. and A. A., who valiantly served their country in its time of need, enlisting in the spring of 1862 in Co. A, 4th O. V. I, and serving faith- fully until the close of the war in 1865. Mr. Adair is an old and much respected resi- dent of Copley. He is a Republican, and is one of the township's ablest citizens.

DELOS BOSWORTH, farming ; P. O. Cop- ley Center ; was born in Copley Township, Summit Co., Ohio, Jan. 11, 1818. He is a son of Allen and Hannah (Harrington) Bosworth, who were parents of the following family : Polly, Sally, Delos, Norton, Norman and Leo- nard. Allen Bosworth was a native of Rhode Island, while his wife was born in Vermont. In 1815, Mr. and Mrs. Bosworth came to Sum- mit Co., Ohio (then Medina Co.), from Otsego Co., N. Y., locating at first in Tallmadge Town- ship, but the following year moved to North- ampton Township. In 1817, they moved to Copley Township, locating on Lot 22. This was the first settlement in Copley Township. At the time of his settlement in Copley, Mr. Bosworth's total possessions in money amount- ed to only $1.50. and this he gave for the erection of his log cabin. He purchased 150 aeres of land on credit, and then started out in the battle of life. Delos remained with his parents on the farm until he was 24 years of age, and March 16, 1841, married Christina Wagoner, and to this union were born three children-Millard, born Feb. 16, 1845 ; Nor- man, born Feb. 28, 1847, died Dec. 29, 1861,

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and Eleonora, born June 26, 1849. Mrs. Bos- worth died Sept. 3, 1855, and on the 8th of April, 1858, Mr. Bosworth married Abbey W. Whinery. and by her had one son-John C., born Dec. 27, 1860. Soon after Mr. Bosworth's first marriage, his father died, and Delos took charge of the family, and moved to the north- eastern part of the township, on Lot 14. He now owns 130 acres of fine farming and graz- ing land, which he has made by his own labors. His son Millard, in August, 1862, enlisted in Co. H, 42d O. V. I., and served gallantly through a number of battles, and during his service, lost his health, which he has never re- gained. Mr. Bosworth is a Republican in politics, and he and wife are members of the Universalist Church.

TRUMAN BOUGHTON, farmer ; P. O. Copley Center ; was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., Aug. 22, 1814. He was the fifth child in a family of six children born to John and Sally (Roat) Boughton, and their names, respectively, are Noble, H. W., S. L., Mary, Truman and Nathaniel. When in his 4th year, Truman's mother died, and soon afterward his father married Polly Stimpson, and by her had the following family : John, George, William, Mor- ris, Sophia, Elmer and Levi. In 1833, this family came to Bath Township, Summit Co., Ohio, where they lived until the father's death, which occurred in 1848. His widow afterward removed to Michigan, where she has since died. Truman lived with his father until he reached his majority, and then began for himself. In April, 1833, he was united in marriage with Flora Davis, daughter of William and Avis (Hopkins) Davis, and to this union were born five children, as follows : B. Franklin, E. D., H. G., Olive I. and M. H. Soon after his mar- riage, Mr. Boughton settled on Lot No. 27, about a mile east of Copley Center, and has resided there ever since. His family are all married, and are all living in Summit Co. B. F., the eldest son, enlisted in August, 1861, in Co. A, 2d O. V. C., and served all through the war in the same company, and was finally discharged in September, 1865. Mr. B. started in life with nothing but a stout heart and willing hands, and by the hardest labor has acquired a nice home and fortune. In politics he is a Republican, and is an energetic and enterprising gentleman.

BYRON CHAPMAN, M. D., Copley Center ; was born in the State of New York Jan. 8,

1822. He is a son of A. and P. (Lane) Chap- man, who were parents of this family : Orson, Sally, Lovina, Melissa, Orlin, Lucius, Cynthia, William, Harlow, Loretta, Almeron, Byron and Lucinda. In the fall of 1835, this family came to Copley Township, and settled one-half mile south of Copley Center, on 154 acres, of Lot No. 28. Byron remained here with his parents until 22 years of age, receiving a good common- school education. At that time, he commenced the study of medicine with his brother William, who was a practicing physician at Copley Center. He attended medical lectures at Cleve- land for two years, and graduated in March, 1847. At the time of his graduation, his brother William, the doctor, was taken ill and soon died. Byron took charge of his brother's practice immediately, and meeting with excel- lent success he has remained there ever since. Dec. 23, 1847, he was united in marriage with Matilda A. Dils, daughter of Abram Dils, and by her has two children-Willis D., born Oct. 3, 1848, and Fanny P., who is now the wife of Albert E. Hiestand. Willis married Ella A. Marriner ; he is a civil engineer in Leadville, Colo. Mrs. Chapman is in very poor health. Mr. Chapman is a Republican in politics, and does quite an extensive business in his profes- sion.

WILLIAM CASKEY, farmer ; P. O. Copley Center ; was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Oet. 13, 1832. He is a son of Benjamin and Margaret Caskey, and is one in the following family, all of whom are living : Margaret, Nancy, An- drew, John, James, Jane, Finley, William, Mary, Benjamin and Drusilla. The father of these came from Ireland when very small. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and in 1853, came to Bath Township. and from there to Copley in 1858. The father died from a stroke of palsy in February 1867. The mother is yet liv- ing in Copley at an advanced age. When about 21 years of age, William left his parents and went to Iowa, where he made his home seven years. During his stay there he married Louisa Dodt, and by her had two children- Angeline, who died in infancy, and Eldora, born Jan. 16, 1862. Mr. Caskey served three years in the late war in Co. B, 22d Iowa V. I., and while in the service his wife died. At the close of the war he returned to Copley Town- ship, and Dec. 25, 1868, married Caroline Fen- ner, by whom he has one son-Arthur F., born

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March 14, 1871. Mr. Caskey's farm is situated on Lot No. 35, Copley Township, Summit Co., Ohio.

S. DALES, farmer ; P. O. Montrose ; was born in Cartright Township, Delaware Co., N. Y., March 25, 1802. He is one in the follow- ing family, born to William and Susanna (Hunt) Dales, viz., Stephen, William, Peter, Samuel. James and Hannah, of whom but Stephen and James are living. In 1812, this family came to the neighborhood of Cuyahoga Falls, near which place the father rented a farm for his family, and then enlisted as teamster in the war of that year. Since their arrival in Summit County, the Dales have resided there. The father died an honored and respected citizen at the advanced age of 76. The date of the mother's death is Jan. 20, 1841. In De- cember, 1826, Stephen was married to Miss Marcia Richardson, daughter of Elkanah Rich- ardson, and to this union was born a family of seven children as follows : Olive, Alvira, Mary (deceased), George (deceased). George S., William and Angeline. After his marriage Mr. Dales removed to Bath Township where he and family remained two years, at the expiration of which time they moved to Copley Township, locating on Lot No. 4, where they have since made their home. For them life was filled with the privations and hard labor common to pioneers. The wife and mother died May 26, 1865, and for his second and present wife Mr. Dales married Mary Viall, widow of Sullivan Viall and daughter of George Freely. Mr. Dales has a fine home and property, which he and his family have earned by hard and honest labor.

HENRY FRANCISCO (deceased) ; he was born near Morristown, N. J., May 20, 1802 ; he was a son of John and Jane (Pier) Fran- cisco, and they were the parents of the fol- lowing family : Maria, David, Anna. Betsey, John, Henry, Caroline, Samuel and Barney. Our subject remained with his parents on the farm until he arrived at manhood. In July, 1823, he married Lovina Chapman, and by her had a family of nine children-Paulina, Mary A., Catharine, Maria, William J., A. C., John HI., Charles E. and Ellen J. He remained in New York until 1830, and then went to Chau- tauqua Co., same State, and kept a hotel there for two years ; in 1835, he came to the north part of Copley Township. Summit Co., Ohio,

and after a short time, moved to the southwest- ern part. At the time of his death, which oc- curred March 27, 1869, he was living on Lot 38, one mile south of the Center. He came to Copley with scarcely anything, but by hard labor left to his heirs over a hundred acres of good land. His sons William and John served faithfully in the late war in the defense of their country.

DAVID FRANK; Copley Center ; was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Nov. 14, 1828, and is a son of Peter and Nancy (Ball) Frank ; his father was of German and his mother of En- glish descent ; he is one in a family of eight children. When our subject was 3 years old, his parents removed to Stark Co., Ohio, where they remained seven years, and, at the end of that time, came to Copley Township, Summit Co., Ohio, where he remained. and where his parents afterward both died ; David received a good common-school education, and, on Oct. 15, 1857, was married to Melissa Witner, daughter of Daniel and Susan Witner, and by her had four children-Jennie, born Feb. 12, 1860 ; Grant H., born March 16, 1864; Zedel- lia Z., born Feb. 6, 1869 ; and F. F., born Dec. 10, 1871. At the time of his marriage. Mr. Frank located on a farm one mile west of Cop- ley Center. and he has remained there ever since ; he and his estimable wife have labored hard, and now, by their hard labor and self-de- nial, have a nice farm of 85 acres of excellent land. Mrs. Frank was born Feb. 3, 1838. Mr. Frank is a Republican in politics, and he and wife are members of the Reformed Church. of Copley Center.

SAMUEL FREDERICK, farmer ; P. O. Copley Center ; was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Feb. 27, 1831. He is a son of Jacob and Mar- garet (Razor) Frederick, who were parents of the following family : Samuel, Thomas, Henry, Eli, Benjamin F., William and Christopher C. In 1840, the subject of this sketch and his par- ents moved to Copley Township. At the age of 19, Samuel commenced learning the shoe- making trade in Wadsworth ; he has since fol- lowed the business seven years in Copley. Nov. 7. 1850, he married Sarah Fryman, daughter of Daniel Fryman, and by her had a family of eight children-Susan, Benjamin F .. John H .. Jacob. Eliza J .. Ella E., Daniel and George B. Since his marriage. Mr. Frederick has lived in different parts of Copley. His present place

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is situated on part of Lots Nos. 27 and 34, one mile east of the Center. To some extent since his marriage, Mr. Frederick has also followed the cooper's trade. For sixteen seasons, Mr. Frederick has followed threshing, but his pres- ent occupation is farming. He and wife are excellent citizens, and both are members of the Lutheran Church.

C. C. FREDERICK, school-teacher and farm- er ; P. O. Copley Center ; is a native of the township in which he resides, and was born Oct. 24, 1844. He is a son of Jacob and Mar- garet (Razor) Frederick, who were parents of seven sons, of whom all but our subject were born in Chippewa Township, Wayne Co., Ohio. At the age of 20, our subject began on his own responsibility, by farming summers and teach- ing winters, and this business he has followed up to the present time. His marriage with Miss Ella M. Taylor was solemnized Nov. 11, 1869. Mrs. Frederick is a daughter of Theo- dore and Matilda (Hoyt) Taylor, and was born March 26, 1853. To her union with Mr. Fred- erick there were born five children-Homer, born June 30, 1870, died May 23, 1876 ; Her- man E., born Jan. 12, 1872 ; Alena Bell, born March 5, 1874, died May 12, 1876 ; Aleta M., born Nov. 14, 1876 ; and Ernest L., born Aug. 24, 1879. Homer and Alena Bell were attacked with scarlet fever, and, after a short illness, were carried away from their home on earth to a happier one above. After his marriage, Mr. Frederick worked his father's farm for three years, and then moved to Copley Center, and taught school eighteen months. He then pur- chased and settled on the farm he now lives upon, which is located on Lot No. 24. Mr. Frederick has held different township offices. In politics, he is a radical Republican, and a member of the Lutheran Church of Norton.

A. C. FRANCISCO, Copley Center ; was born in the State of New York Aug. 12, 1836. He is a son of Henry and Lovina (Chapman) Francisco, who were the parents of nine chil- dren. When our subject was but a year old his parents came from New York to Summit Co., Ohio, locating in Copley Township, where our subject has lived up to the present time ; he remained with his parents on the farm until he reached his 20th year, and he then com- menced farming for himself. In September, 1860, he married Imogene Scudder, daughter of Walter and Catharine Scudder, and by her

had the following family : Carrie, Hattie, Arthur, Olive and Charles. In August, 1862, our subject enlisted in Co. H 104th O. V. I., and was discharged for disabilities in June, 1863. Mr. Francisco has never since regained his health ; he has, with the exception of one" or two years, always lived in Copley Township ; he is a Republican in politics and a good and enterprising citizen.

ANSEL S. GARDNER (deceased), was a native of Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, his birth occur- ring July 1, 1839. His parents were Warren and Caroline (Perry) Gardner, of Germanic de- scent, both being natives of the Empire State, and both coming to Ohio when the country was yet a wilderness, filled with various species of wild animals. He was one in a family of four children, and when 7 years of age his mother died, and his father married Harriet Avery, by whom he had one child. Ansel was reared on a farm, securing in the meantime a fair educa- tion from the common schools. After the age of 19, and previous to his marriage, he worked at farming during the summer months, and in the ship-yards at Cleveland during the winter months. On the 31st of December, 1861, his marriage with Miss Elisabeth Crosier was cele- brated. Her parents were Paul and Barbara (Husong) Crosier, of Euclid Township, Cuya- hoga Co., Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Gardner were born four children, as follows : Alice, born Sept. 14, 1863, died Sept. 21, 1864 ; Alfred E., Oct. 20, 1865 ; Hattie, April 4, 1868, died Dec. 9, 1870 ; Franklin J., Dec. 31, 1873. Mrs. Gardner's birth occurred March 9, 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner remained at Cleveland until the 28th of May, 1861, when they moved to Grand Traverse, Mich, settling on a tract of land devoid of clearing and with no neighbor nearer than a mile, and with a vast forest of pine stretching away for miles in all directions. Reservations of Indians were near, and many wild, fierce animals lurked in the heavy pine forests. Here they remained five years, during which time Mr. Gardner and three other men from Traverse City went by canoe down the bay to Northport, thirty miles distant, where they organized Leelenaw County. In July, 1866, Mr. Gardner and family returned to Ohio, making their home first in Portage Township, Summit Co. In December, 1872, they removed to Copley Center, where the family has since resided. Mr. Gardner worked industriously at

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History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 186

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