History of the Western Reserve, Vol. II, Part 33

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

USA > Ohio > History of the Western Reserve, Vol. II > Part 33

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).

(b) Anna L. Payne, born March 14, 1871, married Fred Amidon, June 17, 1898, and their daughter, Elizabeth, was born February 8, 1904.

(c) Adelbert C. Payne, born January 16, 1874, married Florence Chapin, July 3, 1900, and they are the parents of two daughters- Lydia, born April 25, 1903, and Isabelle, who was born May 9, 1904, and died September 24, 1904.

(d) Stephen Wayland Payne, born Septem- ber 12, 1879, married Theressie Johnson, De- cember 4, 1901, and their son, Corwin Newton Payne, was born March 12, 1903. All of the children and grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. Corwin N. Payne now reside at Conneaut, Ohio.

HENRY SCHULTZ, a prominent business man in Ravenna, is a member of one of the first families to seek a home in Randolph township of Portage county. During the early and formative period of 1833 Adam Schultz, his father, made his way to this township and purchased a little tract of eight acres in the dense woods, and so dense was the timber on his little farm that he had to cut away a space sufficiently large to erect the primitive log cabin. Both he and his father labored earnestly and faithfully in the upbuilding and improve- ment of the township, and they are numbered among its founders and benefactors. It was in this township also that Adam Schultz was united in marriage to Elizabeth Beissel, from his own native Baden, Germany, and here they lived and labored for many years and here they were finally laid to rest. There were seven children in the family of this pioneer couple, namely: Peter, who died at Nashville, Tennessee, while serving his country in the Civil war; Eva, the widow of Jacob Ginter and a resident of Akron, Ohio; Adam, whose home is also in that city; Elizabeth, the wife of Jacob Lanbert, of Randolph township; Henry, who is mentioned below; William, whose home is in Ravenna; and Albert, a twin of William, who died in the year of 1906.

Henry Schultz was born in Randolph town- ship on May 4. 1855, and when he had at- tained the age of twenty-two years he went to Akron, Ohio, and for four and three-quar- ter years was engaged in the butchering busi- ness there. Selling his interests there to a brother he engaged in the tin, iron and slate roofing business in Suffield township, and in the fall of 1889 he moved this business to Ravenna. With the passing years he has en- larged his interests until now he is one of the city's leading business men and a large property owner, his holdings including a splendid residence and a fine business block. In 1898 he established business in Kent, but in 1905 he sold his interests there and has since given his entire attention to his exten- sive interests in Ravenna. During the sum-

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mer months he gives employment on an aver- age to fourteen workmen and during the win- ter months he furnishes employment to about six workmen.

Mr. Schultz married in June, 1879, Ida A. Moatz, who was born in Suffield township, Portage county, Ohio, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Agney) Moatz, from Germany. The children of this union are: Edith, of Cleveland, Ohio; Anetta, who became the wife of Harry Walter and died at East Can- ton, Pennsylvania, in 1906, leaving a son, Joseph Walter; Floyd, whose home is in Ra- venna; and Clinton, who is studying to be- come a chemist. Mr. Schultz is a worthy member of and since 1907 has served as a deacon in the Congregational church at Ra- venna. He also has membership relations with both the Odd Fellows order and the Encampment at Ravenna.

FRANK W. BARBER .- Among the native- born citizens of Kent, Portage county, F. W. Barber occupies a position of note, being well known as an insurance agent, and popular in both business and social circles. The son of Charles H. Barber, he was born, December 7, 1882, in Kent, coming from thrifty and honored New England ancestry.

Charles H. Barber was born and reared in East Windsor, Connecticut. Soon after the breaking out of the Civil war he enlisted in the Twenty-fifth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, was made corporal of his company, and with his comrades went to the front in defense of his country. He participated in many engage- ments of importance, and in 1864, at the siege of Port Hudson, lost an arm. Soon after receiving his honorable discharge from the service, he came to Portage county, locating, in 1865, in Kent, where he subsequently re- sided until his death, in 1904. He was held in high respect as a man of ability and honor, and served most acceptably for four years as postmaster. He belonged to A. H. Day Post, G. A. R., and was active ,in the management of its affairs. Religiously he was a member of the Congregational church. He married Clementine Parsons, who was born in Brim- field township, Portage county, a daughter of Edward Parsons. A native of Northampton, Massachusetts, Mr. Parsons came to the West- ern Reserve about 1830, and after living a short time in Cleveland located permanently in Brimfield township, Portage county, where he bought land, and in addition to following

his trade of a carpenter was engaged in gen- eral farming for many years. He was prom- inent in public affairs, and in 1835 was one of the founders of the Episcopal parish of Kent, and for thirty years served as senior warden of the church of that denomination. He was also, for a time, postmaster at Brim- field. He married Clementine Janes, and their family of three sons and three daughters, with the exception of the oldest child, were all born in the Western Reserve. Three of the children settled in Kent, and here reared their families, while two located in Akron, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Barber became the parents of six children, one daughter and five sons, and of these two of the sons have passed to the life beyond. One son, William H., resides in Cleveland ; the son Edward lives in Merida, Yucatan; the daughter, Clementine Barber, married Harry R. Hall, who was born in Portage county, Ohio, but now resides with his family in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania. One son, Arthur O. Barber, entered the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, and was drowned while in bathing. The third son in succession of birth, Charles, died when four years of age.

The fifth child of the parental household, and the only member of the family residing in Kent, F. W. Barber was graduated from the Kent high school, after which he was book-keeper for one and one-half years in the Kent National Bank, and then served in the same capacity, for an equal length of time, with the Williams Brothers Milling Company. In 1905 Mr. Barber bought ont the Smith Insurance Agency, and has since carried on a substantial business as an agent for fire, life, and accident insurance, and in addition to this handles coal to some extent.

Mr. Barber married, in June, 1907, Blanche Walker, daughter of Osker J. and Martha A. Walker, of Kent. Politically Mr. Barber is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and religiously he is a con- sistent member of the Episcopal church.

HOMER J. MYERS .- The name of Homer J. Myers is prominently associated with monn- mental work in Ravenna, and he is now the president of the Ravenna Monumental Works. He was but a boy of nineteen when he became associated with his line of business, working first for a company at Akron, Ohio, with whom he remained for three years. Entering then the employ of the Goodrich Rubber Company

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he was associated with that corporation until coming to Ravenna in May of 1904, and enter- ing into a partnership with I. J. Baylor in monumental work. After two years Mr. Myers bought his partner's interest, and then with H. V. Kauffman the business was carried on until formed into a stock company in June, 1908, under the name of the Ravenna Monu- mental Works. The officers of the company are Homer J. Myers, president ; E. P. Fouse, the vice-president ; and H. C. Kauffman, the secretary and treasurer.

Mr. Myers was born in Greene township. Summit county, Ohio, September 17, 1877. His father, John S. Myers, was born in Ham- burg, Germany, and in 1857 he came with his parents to the United States. His father, Ernest Myers, a tanner, died at Akron, Ohio,. where the family had first located on coming to this country. about the year of 1893. His son John was reared in that city, and there he learned and followed the tanner's trade for some years. But being obliged to give up that occupation he turned his attention to farming, and was thus engaged until moving to Myersville, this state, his present home, in 1895. He has been a second time married, for his first wife, the mother of Homer J. Myers, died on April 15, 1907. She hore the maiden name of Lucinda Kreighbaum, and was born in Greene township, Summit county, Ohio, a daughter of Jacob Kreighbaum. For his second wife Mr. Myers married Levina Hall.

Homer J. Myers, the seventh born of his parents eight children, three sons and five daughters, was but thirteen years of age when he started out in life for himself, having in the meantime attended the public and high schools, and he has since supplemented this training by a course at the correspondence school at Scranton, Pennsylvania. The first five years of his business life were spent at farm labor, and his time since then has been principally devoted to his present line of work. On March 22, 1889, he was united in mar- riage to Ounoy May Fouse, of Akron, Ohio, a daughter of E. P. and Mary ( Rose) Fousc, who were from Summit county, this state. She is a granddaughter on the paternal side of Frederick and Elizabeth ( Gardy) Fouse. and on the maternal of John and Sarah ( Gar- ble) Rose, both families coming from Penn- sylvania. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Myers: Thelma L., who was born on February 8, 1902; Beulah May, on

August 13, 1903 ; Leland Kenneth, on February 13, 1906; and Fern Elizabeth, born May 3, 1909. The family are members of the Con- gregational church at Ravenna, of which Mr. Myers is the assistant superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is also a member of the fraternal Order of Odd Fellows at Ravenna, Lodge No. 65.

HERBERT C. ECKERT .- When the voters of the thriving little city of Kent, Portage county, elected Herbert C. Eckert to the office of mayor and at the expiration of his term chose him as his own successor, they certified fully the estimate placed upon this popular citizen in the community and in his native county, where he is a scion in the third gener- ation of one of the honored pioneer families . of the Western Reserve. He is engaged in the livery business in Kent and is known as a progressive and public-spirited citizen,-one in whose hands were safely entrusted the duties of chief executive of the municipal gov- ernment.

Herbert C. Eckert was born in Ravenna township, Portage county, Ohio, on March 2, 1862, and is a son of Abram and Olive ( Reed) Eckert, of whose children he was the third in order of hirth and the eldest son. His par- ents are now deceased and are survived by one son and two daughters. Abram Eckert was born in Pennsylvania, of stanch German lineage, and when he was a child his parents came to the Western Reserve and numbered themselves among the pioneer settlers of Ravenna township, Portage county, where his father reclaimed a farm from what was essen- tially a wilderness. He in time became one of the representative farmers of the same town- ship, where he lived a life of productive energy and inflexible integrity and where he ever held a secure place in the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. He was essentially loyal to the duties of citizenship and took an intelli- gent interest in the issues and questions of the day. In politics he gave his support to the Democratic party and both he and his wife held membership in the Disciple church. Mrs. Eckert was born in Portage county and was a daughter of James and Fersy (Scran- ton) Reed, who were early settlers of this county, where they continued to reside until their death. It will thus be seen that the sub- ject of this review is of pioneer stock in both the paternal and maternal lines.

Being reared to manhcod on the old home-

DAVID D GIST

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stead farm, Herbert C. Eckert was afforded the advantages of the public schools of the locality and period. He continued to be associated in the work and management of the old homestead until he had attained to the age of twenty years, when, in 1882, he took up his residence in the village of Kent, where he made his first independent venture by en- gaging in the draying business, in which his original equipment consisted of one horse and a light dray. He was successful in his efforts and continued in this line of enterprise about four years, after which he was here engaged in the milk business for one year. In 1886 he engaged in the livery business, in which he has since continued with uninterrupted suc- cess. He now has large and well equipped stables and controls a large and representative business, based upon correct methods and efficient service. He is also a stockholder in the Kent Machine Company and is the owner of the old homestead farm on which he was born and reared. The same is well improved and comprises one hundred and six acres, the major portion of which is under effective cul- tivation. He gives a general supervision to the work on the farm and finds satisfaction in retaining the old place in his possession, as with it are linked many of the most pleasing and gracious associations of his life.

Mr. Eckert has taken an active interest in public affairs from the time of attaining his legal majority and has done effective service in behalf of the cause of the Democratic party in his home county. He was elected a member of the city council of Kent in 1903 and served two years. In 1905 he was elected mayor, for the regular term of two years, and in 1907 was re-elected, his second term expiring in Decem- ber, 1909. He gave a most business-like and progressive administration and his course was such as to gain to him unqualified approval in his home city, to whose progress he has contributed by every means at his command. In 1904 he was the nominee of his party for the office of sheriff of Portage county and though unable to overcome the large and nor- mal Republican majority he received the larg- est vote ever accorded to any Democratic candidate for this office in the county. In a fraternal way he is identified with the Kent Lodge of Knights of Pythias. He is a man of genial personality and has a host of friends in the county which has represented his home from the time of his birth.

In 1883 Mr. Eckert was united in marriage

to Miss Eliza Ayliffe, daughter of Charles and Amelia Ayliffe, of Ravenna, and the' three children of this union are Olive Amelia, Harry Clifton, and Ruth A., all of whom re- main at the parental home.

DAVID DOUGLASS GIST, M. D .- For more than a quarter of a century one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Jefferson, Ashta- bula county, David Douglass Gist, M. D., gave much time and thought to the study of disease and the processes of alleviating suffering. Gaining wisdom and skill through his large experience, he met with eminent success in his profession, becoming. especially known for his successful treatment of cancers, removing as many as 150 of those malignant growths. He was born November 10, 1810, in Loudoun county, Virginia, a son of Thomas and Eliza- beth Gist, who settled in Guernsey county .. Ohio, in 1822.

Deciding in 1836 to enter a professional ca- reer, David D. Gist began reading medicine, and at the same time taught school for two years. Forming a partnership, in 1838, with Dr. Jonathan Williams, of Harpersfield, Ash- tabula county, he continued with him until the death of Dr. Williams, in 1846. In 1848 Dr. Gist, always a student, keeping up with the times in everything relating to his chosen work, began a systematic investigation of the cause and treatment of cancers, and in his subsequent practice performed some noteworthy cures. Locating in Jefferson in 1865, the doctor here built up a large and remunerative practice, his recognized skill and ability winning him the confidence and esteem of the entire community. In 1870 he further prepared himself for his profession by completing the course of study at the Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati. Dr. Gist purchased the Jones family homestead on coming to Jefferson. It stands next to the Ben Wade homestead, and is one of the oldest homes in the place, at the time that it was built having been a mansion for the village, com- paratively speaking. Here the doctor lived a happy, prosperous and contented life until his death, January 23, 1892.

On January 1, 1833, Dr. Gist married for his first wife Susan Newell, a daughter of Samuel and Polly Newell, of Guernsey county, Ohio. She died June 7. 1836, leaving one child, Martha Jane, deceased, who married the late Frederick Pangburn, of Harpersfield, Ohio. Dr. Gist married second, August 27. 1845, Sarah A. Pangburn, a sister of the late

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Frederick Pangburn. She was born in Paines- ville, Lake county, Ohio, January 10, 1826, and as a child lived a short time in Geneva, but at the age of eight years removing with her parents to a farm in Harpersfield. Ashta- bula county. Her father, George Pangburn, married Eliza Webb, and both spent their last years on the Harpersfield farm, his death oc- curring at the age of seventy-one years, and hers at the age of eighty-six years. They were the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters, of whom Mrs. Gist is the eld- est child. Frederick, a son, passed away at seventy-two years, while the youngest daugh- ter, Martha, wife of Elbridge Prentice, died August 2, 1909. Three daughters and three sons survive, namely: Mrs. Gist; Nancy E., widow of the late Dr. L. L. Bennett, living with Mrs. Gist ; Mary E., wife of Clinton Will- iams, of Harpersfield; Henry S. Pangburn, living on the parental homestead, in Harpers- field ; Rufus, a bachelor, who served as a sol- dier throughout the Civil war, now makes his home with Mrs. Gist; and Horace Pangburn, of Harpersfield. Three children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Gist, namely: Laura, who died in infancy ; Mary Eliza, wife of E. J. Pinney, a well-known attorney of Cleveland ; and Tunie A., who has remained with her mother.

LIONEL L. BENNETT, M. D., late of Harpers- field, Ashtabula county, was for many years successfully engaged in the practice of medi- cine, as a physician and surgeon having an extensive and remunerative patronage. The eldest son of Lionel and Sarah Bennett, he was born September 10, 1816, in Homer, Cortland county, New York.

But four years of age when his parents re- moved to Madison, Lake county, Ohio, he grew to manhood among pioneer scenes, and being studiously inclined improved every opportunity afforded for adding to his store of knowledge, and when ready to decide upon his future ca- reer chose that of a physician. Locating per- manently in Harpersfield in 1849, Dr. Bennett was here actively and successfully engaged in the practice of his chosen profession until his death, of paralysis, September 17, 1899. The doctor was a man of unblemished character, genial, affable and courteous, and was held in high esteem and respect throughout the com- munity in which so many of his active years were passed.

Dr. Bennett took great interest in local af-

fairs, and served his fellow-townsmen as town- ship treasurer, and for a number of terms was justice of the peace. Uniting with the Meth- odist Episcopal church in 1869, he was subse- quently one of its most faithful and valued members, and a devoted worker in the organi- zation, the last Sunday of his life attending divine worship, and teaching a class in the Sunday school.

Dr. Bennett was twice married. He mar- ried first, in 1837, Sophrona Fowler, who died in 1872, leaving three children, namely: Dr. A. L. Bennett, of Greensburg, Kansas; Mrs. A. A. Belding, of Harpersfield; and Mrs. J. H. SeCheverell, of Jefferson. One son died in early manhood. The doctor married second, in 1875. Nancy E. Pangburn, who survives him, and is now living with her sister, Mrs. Gist, in Jefferson.

Fraternally Dr. Bennett was a charter mem- ber of Grand River Lodge, F. and A. M., which was organized in Harpersfield in 1837, and when it was disbanded he was transferred to Geneva Lodge, No. 334, F. and A. M., with which he was connected until his death. At the doctor's funeral, which was held in the Methodist Episcopal church, his brother Ma- sons took charge of the final exercises, with their solemn and impressive burial service lay- ing his body to rest in the rural cemetery.

JAMES CHARLES YEEND .- During the many years of his residence in Portage county James C. Yeend has become well known to its resi- dents, and his long connection with its milling interests has made his name a familiar one in its business circles. He was born at Clari- don in Geauga county, Ohio, August 19. 1856, a son of John R. and Mary (Swan) Yeend, who were born in the mother country of Eng- land. John R. Yeend was a coal dealer in his native land until coming to the United States, and locating at Burton in Geauga county, Ohio, he lived there for a short period and then bought a farm near Claridon. There he maintained his home for many years, but finally in 1889 he sold his farm there and from that time until their deaths he and his wife lived with their son James C. in Ravenna.

James C. Yeend was sixteen years of age when he left the parental home to begin the battle of life for himself, and during the first six months he worked at farm labor for others. At the close of that period he entered upon his long and successful connection with

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saw mill interests. But in 1872 he left the saw and planing mill in which he had been em- ployed to return home and resume his studies, and on again leaving school he went to Shalersville township and worked on the farm of his brother-in-law, S. B. Smith, for six months. In association with J. N. Work and S. B. Smith he then purchased a saw mill in that township, but after two years the part- nership was dissolved, Mr. Yeend and Mr. Work purchasing the business, and they con- tinued together for eight more years. Then in 1882 Mr. Yeend moved to Charlestown township, one year later to Ravenna township. and in 1885 he came to this city and engaged in the sale of lumber, sash, doors, etc., but after a short time his interests drifted into the hardwood business and on March 22, 1905, he bought Mr. Work's interest in the mill and has since been alone in the business. He is extensively engaged in buying standing hardwood timber, and this he saws at his mills in Ravenna and at other points, furnishing employment on an average to twenty men and employing about ten teams. His mill at Ra- venna is equipped with a thirty horse-power engine, and at the present time he also has a portable saw mill at work in Atwater town- ship. He has at different times purchased large timber tracts, which he has cleared and converted into cultivated farms and then sold. He is now the owner of two valuable farms, one of forty acres and the other of 100 acres.

Mr. Yeend married on August 13, 1884, Clara Stewart, who was born in Franklin township, Portage county, a daughter of Thomas and Adeline (Hart) Stewart, who were born in Vermont. She died on March 9, 1900, leaving the following children: John S., who is a bookkeeper for his father, and Julia O., Marion, Robert N. and Clara, all at home. On October 15, 1904, Mr. Yeend was married to Elizabeth Widdecomb, of Kent, this state, and a native of England, a daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Davey) Widde- comb, also from that country, the father born in Cornwall and the mother in Exeter. The one child of this union is Elizabeth, born Au- gust 3, 1906. Mr. Yeend is a Republican in his political affiliations, and he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Unity Lodge No. 12, and of the Universalist church.

BRITTON S. JOHNSON .- It is a matter of marked satisfaction to the editors and pub- lishers of this historical work to be able to

incorporate within its pages so many personal records concerning native sons of the Western Reserve who have here remained to direct their energies successfully along normal lines of professional and business activity and to attain to success and prestige in their chosen vocations. Such a representative is Mr. John- son, who is engaged in the practice of law in the city of Kent and who is one of the able members of the bar of the county which has been his home from the time of his birth and with whose annals the family name has been identified since the pioneer days.

Britton S. Johnson was born in Franklin township, Portage county, Ohio, on October 14, 1879, and is a son of Perry WV. and Carrie M. (Luce) Johnson, who now reside in Kent. The father was likewise born in Portage coun- ty and is a son of Alonzo Johnson, who, so far as authentic data determine, was born at Shalersville, this county, a son of Ebenezer Johnson, who came to the Western Reserve from the state of Vermont and became one of the early settlers of Portage county, where he reclaimed a farm from the wilderness and where he passed the residue of his life. Alonzo Johnson became one of the successful farmers and influential citizens of Franklin township. where he was the owner of a well improved farm at the time of his death. In that town- ship also his son, Perry W., father of Britton S. of this review, was long identified with agricultural pursuits, in connection with which he was most successful, becoming the owner of a fine landed estate, which he still retains in his possession, though he is now living virtually retired in the city of Kent. He has ever been known as a loyal and public-spirited citizen and is held in unqualified esteem in his native county. His wife was born in Franklin township, this county, and is a daughter of Elihue Luce, who was born and reared in the state of New York, whence he came to Portage county about 1836, locating at Franklin Mills, the original name of the present city of Kent. He became a success- ful farmer in Franklin township, where he continued to reside until his death. Perry W. and Carrie M. (Luce) Johnson became the parents of two sons and three daughters, all of whom are living and of whom the eldest is Britton S. The mother holds membership in the Universalist church and the father is a Democrat in his political allegiance.

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History of the Western Reserve, Vol. II, Part 33

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