USA > Ohio > History of the Western Reserve, Vol. II > Part 12
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107
On February 22, 1855, Judge Smith mar- ried Miss Marmony G. Stocking, daughter of Dennis W. Stocking. Mr. Stocking was one of the most popular hotel men of Chardon and built the first public house of the town. This hostelry was famous in the early times for its dancing parties. Later Mr. Stocking erected the largest summer hotel on Little Mountain. He lived a long life, having nearly attained his hundredth year. He was one of the best known and most interesting characters in the Western Reserve. Judge and Mrs. Smith lived fifty-four years of happy married life, when Mrs. Smith passed away, April II, 1909. Her popularity as a woman was based upon her sweetness as a friend and neighbor, her vir- tues as a wife and mother and the general no- bility of her character. The two sons of this union are Stuart S. Smith, who has been cash- ier of the First National Bank of Chardon since he was seventeen years of age, and Halbert D. Smith, a member of the Cleveland law firm of Hamilton & Smith and owner of the old homestead at Chardon.
769
HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE
EDWARD A. PARSONS, of Kent, Portage county, who has retired from active business at a comparatively recent date, is now in his eighty-first year, and is honored as not only one of the founders of the prosperous place in which he has resided for over forty-six years, but as one of its most persistent and successful promoters. This is true of him, whether the business and industrial interests of the community are considered or its prog- ress in public improvements and civic affairs. Mr. Parsons is a native of Northampton, Massachusetts, born on the 25th of January, 1829, and is a son of Edward and Clementine (Janes) Parsons, and grandson of Moses and Esther (Kingsley) Parsons, of that state. His father was also a native of Northampton, where he was born March 14, 1797, and spent his youth and early manhood as a carpenter and joiner. In 1830, after his marriage, he removed to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, his family joining him some months later, but in the following year he located at Brimfield, Port- age county. There he purchased a tract of timber land, whose building improvements consisted of a log cabin, cleared it, cultivated it and erected suitable buildings for a residence and farming operations. In the summer of 1838, however, ill health forced him to sell his property and move to the town of Brim- field, and later he settled at Kent, where he died in 1874. He married Clementine, daugh- ter of Peleg C. and Sally (Coy) Janes, who was born in Brimfield, Massachusetts, July 24, 1802, and died April 14, 1892, mother of the following: Edward A., of this sketch; Tim- othy G., a resident of Kent; Harriet J., who married S. M. Blake and died October 2, 1876; Martha K., who became Mrs. G. W. Crouse and passed away February 20, 1905; William C., who lives in New Hartford, Con- necticut ; and Clementine, widow of C. H. Bar- ber, of Kent.
Edward A. Parsons received a public school education, and, although offered the oppor- tunity of pursuing a college course, preferred to engage in farming. After reaching his ma- jority he spent a number of years in working land owned by his father, later purchasing 105 acres of this tract and, at the time of his mar- riage, adding to it twenty-five acres, which embraced a residence. Mr. Parsons lived on this farm in Brimfield township for nine years, and in 1863 located at Franklin Mills (now Kent), where he became a pioneer in the lum- ber business. After a short time he associated
himself with Porter B. Hall and they built the first planing mill in the place. In the fall of 1865 Mr. Hall sold his interest to Mr. Par- sons' brother Timothy, and the brothers con- tinued in partnership until 1870, when Ed- ward A. withdrew to engage in the produce business. He was thus engaged for about five years alone, and for the succeeding five years was in the same line in partnership with George Q. Rice and Frederick Foote. He then conducted the business as sole proprietor for two years and soon after disposing of it was elected secretary and treasurer of the Railway Speed Recorder Company. As the Kent Manufacturing Company the business was removed to Franklin, Pennsylvania, in 1907, the style of the corporation then being changed to the Venango Manufacturing Com- pany. In 1887, on account of ill health, Mr. Parsons resigned the office of secretary and treasurer of this concern, but three years later resumed his duties as treasurer, which he re- tained until his retirement from active busi- ness in 1905. He is still a director in the concern, in whose management his sound judg- ment is often referred to as conservative and wise.
In line with the energy and ability which Mr. Parsons has displayed for so many years in business and industrial matters, his public services have been almost continuously ren- dered and are highly appreciated. He has served two years as clerk of Brimfield town- ship, two years as assessor, some time as jus- tice of the peace, four years as treasurer of Franklin township during the Civil war, seven- teen years as a member of the school board, two terms as county commissioner and many years as city councilman of Kent. He was one of the petitioners for the incorporation of the village; was a member of the first council as well as of several subsequent ones, and while in that body was largely instrumental in procuring the present water works system, in- stalling the electric lights, laying stone side- walks and in advancing other improvements for the benefit of the village generally. His service on the board of county commissioners commenced in 1874 and during his second term was one of the most active promoters in the building of the stone-arch bridge at Kent. He is an old Mason, still in good standing, being a member of Lodge No. 316, and his upright, charitable and helpful character makes him a natural, as well as an actual worker in the fra- ternity. On September 25, 1853, Mr. Parsons
770
HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE
married Miss Mary J. Underwood, daughter of Freeman and Mercy Amelia (Lincoln) Un- derwood, born in Brimfield township, Ohio, December 18, 1832. Her father is the son of Alpheus Underwood and her mother was the daughter of Doctor and Mary (Thorndike) Lincoln, of Massachusetts. Mrs. Parsons died September 1, 1905, and although she left no children of her own, her adopted daughter, Effie, had given both of her foster parents her deepest affection. The latter is now the wife of J. B. Miller, a resident of Kent, with whom Mr. Parsons has made his home since the death of his wife.
CLINTON YOUNG .- The reminiscences of the pioneer are ever instructive and diverting, for the past bears its lesson and incentive, whether considered in relation to the remote cycles of time or from the standpoint of those of the present day who are venerable in years. In a relative way the Western Reserve is an old section of the middle west, and few localities excel it in historic interest and picturesque charm of annals. Precious and hallowed are the memories and associations which cluster about the fine old homestead in which Clinton Young maintained his abode, in the village of Hiram, Portage county, for in this house he was born and here he maintained his home during all the changes which marked the more than four score years of his life-a life con- secrated to good works and kindly deeds and one prolific in usefulness, since he was one of the world's noble army of workers. No name was more prominent in the history of Port- age county than that which he bore, save that of his maternal grandfather, who was one of the original Connecticut Land Company and who became the owner of great tracts of land in the wilderness of Portage county in the formative period of its history.
Clinton Young was ushered into the world on the 19th of February, 1826. He was a son of Thomas F. Young, who was born at Lebanon, Connecticut, where he was reared and educated and whence he came to the Western Reserve in 1812. He secured land in Hiram township, Portage county, and on this land is now located the old homestead. Thomas F. Young provided for his original domicile a log cabin of the type common to the pioneer days, and then set himself vali- antly to the task of reclaiming a farm in the midst of the forest primeval. He was one of the first settlers of Portage county, and when
he took up his residence in Hiram township there were not more than twelve other families established within its borders. He in time reclaimed much of his land to cultivation and became independent and prosperous as an agri- culturist, to which great basic vocation he gave his attention until the close of his long and useful life. In 1816 he was appointed postmaster at Hiram, and he continued in- cumbent of this office until his death, which occurred in November, 1852. He was a Whig in politics.
In Connecticut was solemnized the marriage of Thomas F. Young to Miss Lydia Tilden, who was born in Lebanon, that state, in 1787. She accompanied him on the long and weary journey to the Western Reserve and they made the trip with a two-horse wagon, in which was transported their little stock of household necessities. The journey consumed six weeks, and they lived up to the full ten- sion of the pioneer life, sustained and com- forted by mutual devotion and helpfulness. The loved wife and mother passed to the life eternal in 1859. Of the three children the eldest was Cornelia; Thomas passed the clos- ing years of his life in Hiram, where he died; and Clinton, subject of this review, was the youngest of the children. £ Lydia (Tilden) Young was a daughter of Daniel Tilden, who served with distinction as a Continental sol- dier during the war of the Revolution, in which he was an officer, being commonly known as Colonel Tilden throughout his sub- sequent life. He was one of the original Con- necticut land owners in the Western Reserve of his native state, and at one time he held in his possession 2,000 acres of land in Hiram township, Portage county. He came to the Reserve about 1818 and was a prominent figure in its early history, having been in- fluential in public affairs and in forwarding the development of this favored section of Ohio.
Clinton Young resided in Hiram from the time of his birth and was identified with buisiness and civic activities as a broad-minded and progressive citizen, the while he did all in his power to further the upbuilding of the section which he recalled in memory as hav- ing been but little more than an untrammeled wilderness in his boyhood days. He assisted in clearing the home farm and his early scholastic discipline was received in the pioneer log school house, equipped with puncheon floor, slab benches, yawning fireplace, etc.,
771
HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE
and he was thereafter enabled to attend a local academy for one term. With the fine public schools and the many institutions for higher education in this section at the present time it seems almost impossible that these great changes have been wrought within the lifetime of one man. Mr. Young served as justice of the peace for nine years, and in 1852 he succeeded his father in the office of postmaster, in which he continued until 1861. Many years later, during the second adminis- tration of President Cleveland, he was again made incumbent of the position of postmas- ter at Hiram, where he thus served from 1894 to 1898, inclusive. He was for a number of years a successful and popular teacher in the schools of his native county, and for thirty years held the office of notary public. He de- voted considerable time and attention to the study of law, and for a number of years handled not a little law practice of a minor order. For the past several years he lived retired, enjoying the dignified repose which should ever accompany old age. He was at the time of his death, March 23, 1909, one of the oldest native sons of the Western Re- serve to be found within its borders, and his reminiscences of the pioneer days were specially graphic and interesting. He con- tributed not a little to the archives of local history. He was a stanch Democrat in poli- tics. His wife is a member of the Congrega- tional church.
In 1875 Mr. Young was united in marriage to Miss Seraph A. Mason, who was born in Canal Winchester, Ohio, and they have one son, Clinton M., who is now professor of min- ing engineering in the State University of Kansas. He is a graduate of Hiram College and also of the Case School of Applied Sci- ences, in Cleveland, and has been very suc- cessful in the field of educational work.
JAMES B. MANTON was a man of sterling integrity and resolute purpose, and it was given him to attain through his own efforts a large measure of success in connection with the productive activities of life, as well as to leave a record unsullied by any act of wrong or injustice. He played a large part in the business life of the city of Akron for many years, and was one of those valiant spirits who contributed to the development of her manufacturing interests and thus to the sub- stantial progress of the community. He held the esteem of all who knew him and he con-
tinued to be actively identified with the busi- ness interests of Akron until his death, which occurred on the 7th of June, 1884.
Mr. Manton was born at St. James, Lin- colnshire, England, April 24, 1834, and in the schools of his native place he gained his early educational training. After leaving school he there followed various lines of occupation un- til he had attained to the age of eighteen years, when, in 1852, he severed the ties which bound him to home and native land and set forth to make for himself a home and a secure position in the United States. He came to America without the fortuitous influence of financial reinforcement and as a stranger to the customs and institutions of the country, but he was not lacking in ambition and cour- age nor in the power of assimilation and ab- sorption, so that he pushed steadily forward until he attained to a success of no insig- nificant order. After disembarking in the port
of the national metropolis of the United States Mr. Manton made his way to Albion, New York, where he found employment by the month at farm work and where he remained about one year. He then came to the Western Reserve and located in Akron, which was then a small village. Here he was employed at farming for four years. At the expiration of this period he removed to Middlebury, where he conducted a meat market for the ensuing three years. Returning to Akron, Mr. Manton then bought an interest in the business of the firm of Whitmore & Robinson, manufacturers of a crockery product known as rock and yellow ware. He assumed the active management of the office details of the enterprise, and through his able administration as an executive the business was rapidly ex- panded in scope and importance. Its func- tions were finally made to include also the manufacturing of stoneware, and when the enterprise was reorganized under the title of the Robinson Clay Product Company he be- came one of the interested principals in the new corporation, in which he was associated with Thomas, William and Henry Robinson, brothers of his wife. With this concern, now one of the most important of its kind in the Union, he continued to be actively identified until his death, and he gave of the best of his powers and talents to the upbuilding of the successful industry, which has had important influence in furthering the commercial prestige of Akron. The company now operates about ten factories in Ohio and other states, and its
772
HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE
business is more extensive than that of any similar concern in the Union.
Mr. Manton was a man of alert mentality and marked business acumen ; he was progres- sive and public spirited as a citizen, and as a business man he ever commanded unqualified confidence and esteem. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party, but he had naught of ambition for the honors of pub- lic office, though he consented, from a sense. of civic duty, to serve as a member of the city council, in which body his conservative busi- ness policy and broad views tended to bring about a wise and effective municipal adminis- tration. He was identified with no fraternal orders or social organizations, but was a man of deep religious convictions and was a zealous member of the First Presbyterian church of Akron, with which Mrs. Manton and the other members of the family are likewise identified. Mr. Manton guided his life according to the dictates of a singular acute conscience, and his entire career was marked by impregnable in- tegrity of purpose. He was tolerant in his judgment and was kindly and generous in his association with his fellow men. Mrs. Manton still resides in the old residence which has long been the family home.
On the 13th of April, 1859, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Manton to Miss Harriet R. Robinson, who was born in Staffordshire, England, on the 12th of September, 1839, and who was a child at the time when her parents immigrated to the United States. She is a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Fair- banks) Robinson, who came to America in 1848 and settled in East Liverpool, Ohio, whence they removed to Akron in 1858. Here the father became one of the prominent and influential business men of his day and here he and his wife continued to reside until their death, secure in the esteem of all who knew them. Mr. and Mrs. Manton became the par- ents of three children,-Henry B., who is now president of the Robinson Clay Product Com- pany ; Irvin R., who is superintendent of the company factory No. 3, in Akron ; and De- borah, who died in infancy.
ROBERT EUGENE HARPER .- Ranking high among the foremost citizens of Jefferson. Ashtabula county, is Robert Eugene Harper, who has filled various offices of trust and re- sponsibility, in each position showing himself eminently worthy of the respect and confi- dence of his fellow-citizens. He was born,
November 3, 1856, in Orwell township, Ashta- bula county, but spent a few years of his boy- hood in Portage county, living there during the Civil war. Leaving home at the age of fifteen he lived in Windsor, this county, until attaining his majority.
While living in Orwell, Mr. Harper had at- tended the academy, and afterwards completed his studies at the Grand River Institute, under the instruction of Professor Tuckerman. His first employment in Windsor was as a team- ster for Edwin Rawdon, a cheese-box manu- facturer, who supplied twenty-two cheese fac- tories with boxes. At the age of seventeen Mr. Harper began teaching school, and taught three winter terms, meeting with success in his pedagogical career. For three years after becoming of age he clerked in a Windsor store, and then located at Hartsgrove, Ashta- bula county, where for seven years he was a wholesale dealer of pumps, representing two Cleveland firms, F. E. Myers & Brother, Ash- land, Ohio, and Dakin Brothers, his territory covering the eastern section of eastern Ohio, where he built up an extensive trade, meeting with unbounded success as an agent.
Subsequently being appointed jailer, Mr. Harper served four years in Jefferson, under Sheriff J. E. Allen, and was afterwards dep- uty treasurer eight years, serving four years under E. J. Graves and four years under A. O. Hoskins. Being elected county treasurer in the fall of 1901, he served from 1902 until 1904, when he was re-elected to the same office, which he filled acceptably until 1906, giving his personal attention to the duties de- volving upon him in this capacity. Since that time, Mr. Harper has continued his residence in Jefferson, but he considers himself a farmer, his estate of seventy acres, lying one mile north of the village, being one of the best and most desirable pieces of property in the vicinity.
Mr. Harper married, at the age of twenty- four years, Julia Griswold, of Hartsgrove, and they are the parents of two children, namely: Calla, a teacher in the state of Wash- ington; and Bradford, living at home. Mr. Harper is identified with many fraternal or- ganizations, having been a member of the Odd Fellows since twenty-one years old. He belongs to Lodge No. 222, F. & A. M., of Jefferson; to Jefferson Chapter, No. 141, R. A. M., of Jefferson; to Cache Command- ery, No. 27, K. T., of Conneaut; to the Con- sistory at Cleveland, Ohio, and to the Al
Alvan D. Licey
773
HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE
Koran Shrine, as a Mason having taken the thirty-second degree. He is also a member of Ashtabula Lodge, No. 208, B. P. O. E., of Ashtabula.
HON. ALVAN D. LICEY .- A man of acknowl- edged legal ability and skill, Hon. Alvan D. Licey, of Guilford township, is numbered among the foremost attorneys of Medina county and as an important factor in the ad- ministration of public affairs. A son of the late John Licey, he was born September 13, 1832, in Hilltown 'township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, being a descendant several generations removed from one Mr. Licey who emigrated from Alsace, Germany, to this coun- try and settled in Pennsylvania on land that he bought direct from William Penn.
John Licey was born, likewise, in Hilltown township, Pennsylvania, his birth occurring September 20, 1798. In 1849, when past the prime of life, he came with his family to Ohio, locating in Medina county, where he spent his remaining years, dying November 3, 1880. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Dirstine, was born February 28, 1810, in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and died Decem- ber 12, 1874, in Medina county, Ohio. They were the parents of eight children, namely : Alvan D., the subject of this brief sketch; Levi, deceased; Elizabeth, wife of Jasuay Waltz; Catherine, married Noah H. Kindig, now deceased; Margaret, wife of Joseph Kreible, of Union City, Michigan ; Mrs. Maria Stevens, of Scranton, Pennsylvania ; Amanda, wife of F. H. Lyons, of Montville township, Medina county ; and Sophia J., wife of Frank Walling, of Toledo, Ohio.
Receiving but limited educational advan- tages as a boy, Alvan D. Licey left school when but twelve years old, and for a number of years thereafter was employed as a clerk in a general store, while thus engaged becoming familiar with the details of business. When ready to begin the battle of life on his own account, he opened a store at River Styx, Medina county (previously spending four years at Akron, Ohio, in mercantile trade), and as a merchant met with eminent success. In April, 1857, Mr. Licey was elected to the office of justice of the peace for Guilford township, and, recognizing his need of a more extended legal knowledge, he devoted his leisure time to the study of law, and on retiring from mer- cantile pursuits, Mr. Licey, whose ability as an attorney had been previously recognized,
began the practice of the profession in which he became a leader. For eighteen consecutive years he served as justice of the peace, his decisions being uniformly just, and in 1870 was one of the thirty-seven men chosen as the State Board of Equalization. He became prominent in town and county affairs, and in 1879 received the Republican nomination for representative to the Ohio legislature and was elected by the strongest majority ever given a candidate in the county up to that time.
On' October 19, 1858, Mr. Licey married Martha Wilson, a daughter of John and Eliza- beth (Sweet) Wilson. Her father, an early settler of Medina county, was for eighteen years justice of the peace in Guilford town- ship. He died November 30, 1861, an honored and respected citizen. He was the first man to make matches in Ohio. Mrs. Licey was born in Medina county, Ohio, February 17, 1829, and has here spent her entire life. She was a woman of much worth, highly esteemed, and a valued member of the Disciples' church. She died September 10, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Licey have five children, namely: Caroline, the wife of H. L. Walding ; Desdemona L., wife of W. S. Rowley, M. D., of Cleveland; Ilzaide D., wife of Morton Shantz, of Akron; John O., engaged in the practice of law at Wadsworth; and Kathryn L., now Mrs. Lester Beeman, her husband being the youngest son of the great gum manufacturer. Fraternally, Mr. Licey is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
S. D. SHANKLAND .- A man of strong per-' sonality, talented and cultured, S. D. Shank- land holds a conspicuous and influential posi- tion in the educational circles of Lake county, and, as superintendent since 1896 of the Wil- loughby schools, has distinctively placed his mark on the educational progress of this part of the Western Reserve. Putting himself, in this capacity, in close touch with both teacher and pupil, great improvements in the system of teaching have been made, his keen mind grasping the best of all new methods offered by educators throughout the country, and, whenever practicable, put into effect in his own schools.
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.