History of the Western Reserve, Vol. II, Part 23

Author: Upton, Harriet Taylor; Cutler, Harry Gardner, 1856-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago ; New York : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 886

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JAMES P. CADWELL .- The patent of nobility which rested its honors and distinction in the person of the late Judge James Putnam Cad- well came from high authority, since it was based upon exalted character and marked abil- ity. His life was one of generous accomplish- ment as one of the representative jurists and legists of his native state, but greater than this was the intrinsic loyalty to principle, the deep human sympathy and the broad intellec-

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tuality which designated the man as he was. His was a fine mental and moral fiber, and his life, though unostentatious, was a public benefaction and one of cumulative usefulness. He died in the sanitarium at Battle Creek, Michigan, on the 12th of November, 1902, and his home city and county mourned the loss of one of their most popular and honored citizens.

James Putnam Cadwell was a scion of stanch English ancestry and the family was founded in New England, that cradle of much . of our national history, in the colonial days. The first representative in Ohio came hither from the state of -, and the par- ents of Judge Cadwell were numbered among the sterling pioneers of the Western Reserve. They settled in Ashtabula county and his father was for many years one of the representative business men of Andover, this county, where both he and his wife continued to reside until their death. Judge Cadwell was born in the village of Andover, on the 26th of October, 1853, and was a son of Starr and Jane (Put- nam) Cadwell. His early educational disci- pline was received in the public schools of his native village, and in later years he ever con- tinued a close and appreciative student, not alone along professional and academic lines but also in appreciative devotion to the best in classical. and current literature. After attain- ing to years of maturity he put his scholastic attainments to practical utilization by drafting himself in the pedagogic service, and he made an excellent record as a successful and popu- lar teacher in the schools of Andover and Jef- ferson, in his home county. It was while he was thus employed in the schools of Jefferson, the county-seat of Ashtabula county, that he formulated definite plans for his future career and took up the line of preparatory work through which he so admirably equipped him- self for the profession in which he was des- tined to attain so much of precedence and dis- tinction. He here began reading law under the able preceptorship of the firm of Simonds & Cadwell, at that time one of the leading law firms of the county, and he made rapid and substantial progress in the accumulation and assimilation of legal lore, so that at the end of the prescribed course he was admitted to the bar of Ohio, upon examination before the con- stituted authorities in his native county. He forthwith established himself in the active work of his profession in Jefferson, where his powers and personal character soon won for him a representative clientage and enabled him to

build up a successful practice. In 1883 he was elected to the office of prosecuting attorney, and during his six years' incumbency of this position he made a splendid record as a public prosecutor, appearing in and bringing to suc- cessful issue many important cases. In 1890, shortly after his retirement from the office of prosecutor, Judge Cadwell was elected judge of the probate court of Ashtabula county, to which position he was thereafter twice re- elected. He presided with marked ability on the probate bench for a period of nearly nine years, and resigned near the close of his third term to accept appointment to the bench of the common pleas court, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge William P. How- ard, who died on the 14th of January, 1900. At the general election in the same year, Judge Cadwell was elected to the office for the short term, and in November, 1901, he was elected for the long term, of five years, so that he was incumbent of the office at the time when he was called from the scene of life's mortal en- deavors.

As judge of the court of common pleas Judge Cadwell showed most clearly the judicial bent of his mind and the wide and exact knowl- edge of law and precedent which made his rulings ever just and equitable. On the bench he had a most deep appreciation of his steward- ship, and his decisions were invariably based on law and evidence, but with a sense of the proportionate values of equity and mercy. Con- cerning him the following. pertinent words were offered in the leading newspaper of Jef- ferson at the time of his demise: "Until stricken with the malady which finally resulted in his death, Judge Cadwell was daily among us, and always with a hearty hand clasp of greeting and a cheery word for everybody. Long before he became prominent in public positions he was known as a big-hearted, gen- erous and manly man, and of him it may be said that no appeal to him for help was ever made in vain. On the bench he was ever a just and upright judge, unflinching in the discharge of his duty, yet tempering the sometimes ap- parent hard lines of justice with mercy. Every- body knew and loved him, and we who knew him best at the home town he honored with his residence, loved him most. In court, at his lodge or club, he was uniformly kind and cour- teous to his associates, and at the home fire- side he was a loving, husband and father,- and what higher praise can be bestowed upon any American citizen."

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In politics Judge Cadwell gave an uncom- promising allegiance to the Republican party, but he never held public office save those in direct line with the training and work of his chosen profession. He was an enthusiastic member of the time-honored Masonic frater- nity, in which he was affiliated with Tuscan Lodge, No. 341, Free and Accepted Masons ; Jefferson Chapter, No. 141, Royal Arch Ma- sons ; Conneaut Council, No. 40, Royal and Select Masters; Cache Commandery, No. 29, Knights Templar; and the Consistory of the Valley of Cleveland in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, in which he had attained to the thirty-second degree. He also held member- ship in the adjunct organization, the Ancient . Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in which he was affiliated with Al Koran Temple, in Cleveland. He also held membership in various professional and civic organizations.

On the 23d of December, 1885, was solem- nized the marriage of Judge Cadwell to Miss Ida Baldwin, who survives him, as do also two daughters, Dorothy and Susie. Mrs. Cadwell is a native of Ashtabula county, Ohio, and is a daughter of James and Nancy (Dodge) Baldwin. She is prominently identified with social affairs in the village of Jefferson, where she has ever shared in the popular esteem ac- corded to her honored husband, and where, since his death, she finds a measure of com- pensation and solace in the gracious associa- tions of the past and in the memory of his noble, kindly and useful life.

ALONZO H. TIDBALL, M. D .- Through his many years of active practice of medicine, A. H. Tidball, M. D., has gained experience, wisdom and skill in his chosen profession, and is eminently deserving of the position which he has won, not only as a physician, but as one of the most highly respected and esteemed citizens of Garrettsville, where he has been located for nearly forty years. A son of Joseph Tidball, he was born, October 2, 1831, in Millersburg, Holmes county. Ohio.

Joseph Tidball, a native of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, came to Ohio at an early day with three of his brothers, and all four of them settled in Holmes county. He there followed the trade of a hatter during his active career, residing in Millersburg until his death, in the ninety-seventh year of his age. He was of Welsh descent, and inherited in a large meas-

ure the substantial virtues of his forefathers. He married Eliza K. Linn, who was born in New Jersey, where her parents located on coming from Ireland to this country. She sur- vived him, passing away at the advanced age of eighty-four years. Eleven children blessed their union, ten of whom grew to years of maturity, and of these five are still living, Dr. Tidball being the seventh child in succession of birth, and the fifth son.

Alonzo H. Tidball received his rudimentary education in the common schools of his native county, and began the study of medicine in Mansfield, Richland county, with Drs. Cant- well and Chandler. He subsequently entered the Cleveland Medical College, now the West- ern Reserve University, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. The fol- lowing. two years Dr. Tidball was located as a physician at Freedom, Ohio, after which he was similarly employed for two years in Noble county, Indiana. Going in 1858 to California, he was engaged in the practice of his profes- sion at Santa Cruz for two years. Returning then to Ohio, the doctor established himself at Mesopotamia, Trumbull county, where he re- mained until 1870, being quite successful in his work. Coming from there to Garrettsville in 1871, Dr. Tidball has since continued his prac- tice here, having in the meantime won the confidence and esteem of the people to a marked extent, and gained a large and lucra- tive patronage. He is widely known through- out this part of the county, and has the dis- tinction of being one of the oldest practicing physicians in the Western Reserve.

Dr. Tidball married, in 1854, Eliza Jane Webb, daughter of Dr. James Webb, of Free- dom, Portage county. The doctor and Mrs. Tidball have three children, namely: Frank W., of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Dr. Fred L., a dentist in Garrettsville; and Dr. L. A., a well known dentist of Ravenna, Ohio. The doctor stands high in professional circles, belonging to both the American and the Portage County Medical associations, and to two medical socie- ties in Cleveland. He takes genuine interest in political matters, and was at one time the Democratic nominee for Congress, and was also a candidate on the Democratic ticket for representative from Portage county. The doc- tor is a prominent member of the Masonic Order, belonging to lodge, chapter, com- mandery and consistory, having a life member -. ship in the latter, and heing a life member of

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the Masonic Home, in Springfield, Ohio. He also belongs to the Garrettsville Chapter, O. E. S.

IRVIN R. MANTON .- The potteries of Akron and other industries founded on the clay prod- ucts of Summit county have a high reputation throughout the United States for honest and artistic workmanship, and anyone who is a local leader in that field is therefore one of the experts of the country. Without a doubt, Irvin R. Manton, superintendent of factory No. 3 of the Robinson Clay Product Com- pany, one of the important corporations in this line, is in the front rank of his associate man- agers in the industry and trade. Mr. Manton was born in Akron, on the 24th of January, 1874, and is a son of James B. Manton, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this publication. After completing the public school course, for three years he was a student at Saltsburg, Pennsylvania. Soon afterward he identified himself with the interests of the Robinson Clay Product Company at Akron, and his fidelity and practical efficiency won him constant ad- vancement to his present responsible position. He is not only well known in his chosen field of industrial art, but has acquired decided standing. as a breeder of fine horses, of which he is now the owner of about fifteen. In this specialty, or "side issue," he finds both profit and pleasure, for he is an appreciative and sin- cere lover of the noble animal, aside from any financial consideration.

On the 5th of April, 1898, Mr. Manton was united in marriage with Miss Fredericka Wickdal Hurxthal, representative of one of the old and honored families of Canton, Ohio, where she was born and reared. The child of this union is Laona. The father is not only a progressive citizen of the younger genera- tion, but one of the most popular of its native sons. He is a man of substantial character and is also most companionable, being an especially earnest advocate of outdoor relaxa- tions as evidenced by his active membership in such organizations as the Portage Country and Canton Country clubs and the Gentlemen's Driving Club of Akron. Both he and his wife are identified with the First Presbyterian church of their home city, and none stand higher within it and in the general community.

NORMAN WEBSTER. - Conspicuous among the earlier settlers of the Western Reserve was Norman Webster, a man of strong individual-

ity, clear headed and farsighted, who became prominent and influential in developing and advancing the agricultural interests of that part of Ashtabula county now included within the limits of Geneva township. He was de- scribed as a man of fine physique, with a head similar in its proportions to that of his cele- brated kinsman, Daniel Webster, their emi- grant ancestor having been identical. Coming from noteworthy New England ancestry, he was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, a son of Timothy and Mabel (Biddle) Webster, who removed from Connecticut to New York when their children were young, settling in Durham.

Norman Webster grew to manhood in New York, and in the early part of the last century came to the Reserve on a prospecting tour, and , secured a solid tract of timber. In 1811 he came here with his family, consisting of his second wife, whose maiden name was Ruth Norton, and his children. He had three brothers and one sister, but he was the only one of the parental household to come to Ohio, although his uncle, Michael Webster, lived a long time in Jefferson, Ohio, dying there at the remarkable age of one hundred and three years. Norman Webster became one of the largest land owners in the county, acquiring title to several thousand acres, extending from Cole's creek to Saybrook plains, a distance of two and one-half miles, on the south side of the North Ridge road. He made his home on a farm lying on the north side of the road, at Myers Corners. He first erected a log house for himself and family, and began the clearing of a homestead. He subsequently erected the present residence, building it in 1824. and sub- stantial farm buildings, and there resided until his death, at the good old age of ninety and more years, his body being laid to rest in the Evergreen Cemetery, in Geneva. He was a noted pedestrian, preferring always to walk rather than ride, and after he had passed his ninetieth birthday walked to Ashtabula, a dis- tance of eight miles, and from there back to the home of his son Nelson, which was within two miles of his own home. He was a Whig in his earlier life, and afterwards a Republican. He never cared for public office, but delighted in a political discussion. He was a great reader, especially fond of poetry, which he could quote by the hour. He was the father of eight children, as follows: Sally, who mar- ried Leonard Stephens, lived to the age of ninety-three years ; Lucy married David Kel- ley, and died when thirty-three years old;

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Nelson, deceased, lived at Saybrook, Ashta- bula county ; Dennis, deceased; Louisa mar- ried Samuel W. Peck, a carpenter in Geneva, who died at the age of eighty-three years, and she is living, being now eighty-seven years old ; Horace, who died at the age of seventy-three years, succeeded to the ownership of the old home farm, which his widow, now living in Geneva, sold; Newton, for many years a resi- dent of Michigan, died at the age of three score and ten years; and William, living in Richmond, Lake county. The reservation al- lotted to Standing Stone, an old Indian ban- ished from his tribe for killing his squaw, was included in the homestead of Norman Webster. He used to make wooden ladles, which he would exchange with the white settlers for provisions. He was finally killed by a French- man, La Motte, in revenge for the death of a son murdered by the savages years before. Norman Webster divided his land before his death, giving each child a farm or its equiva- lent, keeping three hundred acres in the home- stead property.

Dennis Webster, born November 17, 1820, born in Geneva township, in the log cabin erected by his father, died October 6, 1884. He studied dentistry, and spent several years in Georgia, being, specially employed on a large plantation. Subsequently going to California, he practiced his profession among the miners and Indians, receiving large prices for his dental work, accumulating a goodly sum of money. Returning then to Ashtabula county. he purchased his brother Newton's portion of the old homestead estate, and in addition to superintending the management of his farm practiced dentistry until well advanced in years. He had several students, among whom was Jesse Kelley, who became prominent as a dentist. He was somewhat of an inventive genius.

Dr. Webster married, December 9, 1857, in Saybrook, Mary A. C. Sampson, who was born at Port Huron, Michigan, June 10, 1834, where her parents, Shubal and Asenath (Comstock) Sampson, lived for a few years. When she was about two years old, her parents returned to their early home, in Strafford, Orange county, Vermont, where she was educated. When she was about twenty-one years old, she came with relatives to Ashtabula county, and was immediately engaged to teach her first term of school at Kelloggsville. She subse- quently taught in the South Ridge School, Squire Simmonds' district, and there met the

doctor's father, who conceived a great admira- tion for her, and, when the doctor returned from California, the father introduced the young teacher to him. She resided on the farm for a number of years after the death of her husband, taking up her residence in Geneva in 1900.

Dr. and Mrs. Webster reared four children, namely: George N., born August 21, 1858, died August 2, 1899; Julia A .; Mary S .; and Harriet W. George N., an attorney by profes- sion, was drowned at the mouth of one of the branches of the Orinoco river, in South Amer- ica, while on a mining expedition. Julia A. married W. F. Bentley, director of music at Knox Conservatory, in Galesburg, Illinois. Mary S. Webster, now living with her mother in Geneva, was educated at Smith College, in Northampton, Massachusetts, was for eight years assistant principal in the Bay City (Michigan) High School, afterwards being teacher of English in the Geneva High School for eight years. Harriet W. Webster, now a teacher of music at Knox Conservatory, being at the head of the piano department, was graduated from that conservatory, after which she studied music in Chicago, Boston, and in Leipsic, Germany.

WILLIAM R. CRARY .- A representative of one of the oldest and most honored pioneer families of Lake county, William R. Crary has well upheld the prestige of the name which he bears, and is one of the popular citizens and successful farmers and fruit-growers of Kirtland township, where he is the owner of a well improved landed estate of one hundred and twenty-five acres. He was born on the farm adjoining his present homestead, and the date of his nativity was October 22, 1855.

Christopher Gore Crary, father of him whose name initiates this review, was a man whose memory is held in appreciative regard in Kirtland township, where his circle of friends was coincident with that of his ac- quaintances, and where he contributed his full quota to civic and industrial development. He was born in Becket, Massachusetts, on the 22d of January, 1805, and was a son of Christo- pher and Polly (Witter), Crary, members of families founded in New England in the early colonial epoch. His father was a sailor in the American navy during the war of the Revolution and was for some time held in captivity on an old British prison ship, where smallpox added to the sufferings of the ma-

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jority of the captives. In 1811 this Revo- lutionary veteran came with his family to the wilds of the Western Reserve and esta- lished his home in Kirtland township, Lake county. He erected a primitive log house at the point later designated as Peck's Corners, where, with the aid of his sons he instituted the reclamation of a farm in the forest wilds. One of his sons finally established a home in Darby township, Union county, Ohio, and there the venerable parents passed their de- clining days. Christopher Crary was eighty- nine years of age at the time of his death, and his wife lived to be more than ninety years of age. Their son, Erastus, who had married prior to the removal from Massa- chusetts to Ohio, settled near his father and here passed the residue of his life as a farmer. He was ninety years of age at the time of his demise, and the first interment in the cemetery at Peck's Corners was that of one of his children. Oliver and Ebenezer, two other sons, established homes in other sections of the Union.

Christopher Gore Crary, familiarly known as Christopher G. Crary, was about five years of age at the time of the family removal to Ohio, and he was reared to manhood on the old homestead farm at Peck's Corners. He aided in the reclaiming of much land in this section and witnessed the development of the Western Reserve from the status of a virtual wilderness to that of one of the most attract- ive and opulent sections of our great national domain. Though his early educational ad- vantages were, necessarily limited, owing to the conditions and exigencies of time and place, he effectually overcame this handicap by well directed self-discipline, through read- ing and study and active association with men and affairs. He was possessed of a singu- larly alert mentality and receptive memory, and his reminiscences in regard to the pioneer days were a source of great pleasure to those with whom he came in social contact in the later years of his life. He eventually became the owner of a farm of two hundred acres, in Kirtland township, while still a young man, and after reclaiming a portion of the same he sold it to one of the Mormons then a mem- ber of the numerous colony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Lake county. He had spent a number of years of his early life in Kentucky, where he was en- gaged in sellings goods, and when he sold his farm he moved to Union county, Ohio. When

the Mormons left this section, in 1838, he was compelled to take back his farm-the one on which his son William R., of this sketch, was horn-and he devoted the remainder of his active career to agricultural pursuits, in connection with which his energy, discrimina- tion and progressive policy brought to him a large measure of success. He continued to reside on his old homestead until 1876, when he sold the property and invested in a large tract of farm land near Marshalltown, Iowa. For the ensuing eighteen years he passed a portion of each year in lowa and the remain- der in Ohio, and he died at his home in Mar- shalltown, Iowa, March 1I, 1895, at the pa- triarchal age of eighty-nine years and ten months. Some years prior to his demise Mr. Crary wrote and published a small book, enti- tled "Pioneer and Personal Reminiscences," and the same is a valuable contribution to the pioneer history of the Western Reserve, as it is a faithful and graphic record of the life and times in the pioneer epoch of Lake county, with special reference to the Mormon strong- hold here maintained.

Christopher Gore Crary was one of the ' prominent and influential citizens of Kirtland township for many years, and his broad men- tal ken and generous attributes of character made him a beneficent force in the community life. He served many years as county com- missioner and held various township offices. including that of trustee. He showed a deep interest in the cause of popular education and was for many years a school trustee of his township. He was also active in the support of the Kirtland Seminary at Kirtland, which was a noted educational institution of its day. In politics he was originally an old-line Whig, but he transferred his allegiance to the Re- publican party at the time of its inception, and ever afterward continued a stanch and effective advocate of its principles and policies. He was a member of the Congregational church and was zealous in the support of the various departments of its work. His was a generous, benevolent and kindly nature, and he won to himself loyal friends in all classes. He was of fine physique, dignified in demeanor, but always affable and companionable, enjoy- ing the society of his friends, and being spe- cially graceful as a raconteur. He cujoyed greatly giving reminiscences of the early days. and it is to be considered most fortunate that he perpetuated a portion of his large fund of such knowledge through the interesting little

A. E. French

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publication mentioned in the preceding para- graph. He was a man of fine intellectuality and mature judgment and had he cared to enter public life he would have proved him- self eligible for offices of high trust and re- sponsibility. He left the priceless heritage of a good name, as no blot or stain can be found on any portion of the fair escutcheon denoting his life and services.

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History of the Western Reserve, Vol. II, Part 23

Author: Upton, Harriet Taylor; Cutler, Harry Gardner, 1856- Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago ; New York : The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 886

Author: Upton, Harriet Taylor; Cutler, Harry Gardner, 1856-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago ; New York : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 886