History of the Western Reserve, Vol. II, Part 37

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 37

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Samuel and Betsy (Lapham) Duncan be- came the parents of thirteen children, of whom six are living at the time of this writing, in 1909. Jane, the eldest of the children, was born in Fairport township, Lake county, Ohio, on the opposite side of Grand river from the well known Skinner homestead, and the date of her nativity was Christmas day, 1827. She was reared to maturity in Lake county, where she had the advantages of the pioneer schools, and at the age of eighteen years she was united in marriage to Louis M. Wilson, who was a tailor by trade and vocation and who had come from the east and settled in Painesville. He and his wife finally removed to Unionville, Madison township, Lake county, where he died. His widow later became the wife of Miron Canfield, and she survives him also, having maintained her home in Unionville for nearly forty consecutive years, and being now one of the venerable pioneer women of that locality, where she is held in affectionate re- gard by all who know her. Of her nine chil- dren, seven were born of the first and two of the second marriage, and of the number four daughters are now living, namely: Mary, who is the wife of Frederick Holden, a passenger conductor on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, residing in Collinwood. Ohio; Laura, who is the wife of Albert J. White, of whom individual mention is made on other pages of this publication; Anna, who is the wife of Charles Hancock, manager of the homestead farm of his mother-in-law, at Unionville; and Victoria A., who is the wife of Edward Green, of Clear Lake, a favored summer resort in Iowa, where he has a large boat livery. In the community which has so long represented her home Mrs. Jane Can- field has been popular in social activities, hold-

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ing precedence at the present time as being one of the most venerable of the native daugh- ters still resident in Lake county.

CHARLES WALKER .- A skillful and practical agriculturist of Saybrook township, Ashtabula county, Charles Walker has spent his long and useful life on the farm which he now owns and occupies, and in its management has met with marked success. He comes of New Eng- land stock, his father, Elisha Walker, having been born and bred in Massachusetts, among the Berkshire hills. His paternal grandfather, Charles Walker, migrated from Western Mas- sachusetts to the Western Reserve in 1822. bringing with him his wife and children, his family including four sons, as follows : Elisha ; Ora A., then a lad of fifteen years, who later married and settled permanently in Illinois ; Smith, thirteen years old when he came here, married Susan McBain, a fair Scotch lassie, and lived in Ohio until his death, in 1884; and Alden, a little boy of six years when he came here. Alden Walker was ordained to the min- istry, and preached in the Methodist denomi- nation for a number of years, later becoming station agent at Saybrook. He married Cyn- thia Kelley.

Elisha Walker was twenty years old when he came with the family to Ohio. Subsequently buying a tract of wooded land in what is now Saybrook township, he began the arduous task of reclaiming a farm from the wilderness. Hopeful and courageous, he endured the toils and privations of border life, and in course of time cleared a portion of his land and estab- lished his family in a comfortable home. He was twice married. He married first, about 1826, Harriet Sabin, who died a few years later, leaving two children-Charles, with whom this sketch is chiefly concerned, and Phebe Harriett. He married second, Julia A. Blackington, and their only child, Harriet M. Walker, became the wife of ex-Senator W. S. Harris, of whom a brief sketch may be found elsewhere in this volume.

Charles Walker was born on the parental homestead, December 21, 1827, and has here been engaged in agricultural pursuits during his entire life. As a general farmer he lias met with much success, and very few discour- agements, each year raising the crops common to this region, and keeping a fine dairy. He is a man of good financial and executive ability, and since the organization, twelve years ago, of the First National Bank of Ashtabula has

served as its president. He is ever interested in advancing the welfare of his community. and, though not an office seeker, was justice of the peace a number of years.

Mr. Walker married first, in 1852, Elizabeth Gillette, who died in 1863. She bore him four children, namely: George E., born in 1854. married, in 1882, Mary P. Simonds, and died in 1905; Ruth, born in 1856, married, in 1879, Henry S. Kelley, of whom a brief sketch ap- pears on another page of this work ; Helen died at the age of four years; and Mabel, born in 1861, lives with her sister, Mrs. Kelley. Mr. Walker married second, in 1885, Mary Eliza- beth Hubbard, who was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, in 1834, coming from pioneer stock.

In 1849 Mr. Walker made a trip by water and stage to Illinois. At that time the only railroad between here and Chicago was a rail- road running to Toledo and extending thirty miles west of there. On this road many of the passengers got off and walked to keep warm, and all could get off and on when they pleased. Chicago at that time was only a little hamlet and thirty minutes' walk would cover it all. Illinois was all government land at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. Many of Mr. Walker's neighbors and relations had moved to Illinois on account of the heavy timber of Ohio, and Mr. Walker visited them ; but, finding the ague very prevalent, he did not stay, but staged it back, the journey taking a week.

CAPTAIN GEORGE BILLOW is one of the rep- resentative business men and highly esteemed citizens of Akron, where he has maintained his home for many years and where he is the head of the undertaking firm of Billow & Sons. He is a veteran of the Civil war, in which he rendered valiant service in defense of the in- tegrity of his adopted country, and his entire life has been characterized by the same loyalty which thus prompted him to go forth in the service of the Union. He is one of the promi- nent representatives of his line of business in the state, and is one of the progressive and public-spirited citizens of Akron, where he commands the high regard of all who know him. He is prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, and is at the present time president of the Akron Masonic Temple Com- pany.

Captain George Billow was born in the vi- cinity of the historic old city of Worms, in

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Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, on the 2d of April, 1833, and his earliest recollections touch that beautiful section of the famous Rhine country. In the schools of his native land he received his rudimentary education, and he was about eleven years of age when, in 1844, his parents, John and Elizabeth ( Milius) Billow, immigrated to America. The family settled near Fremont, Sandusky county, Ohio, where the father secured a tract of land and devel- oped a productive farm. . On this homestead the parents passed the remainder of their lives. honored by all who knew them. Both were devout members of the Reformed church. They became the parents of nine children, of whom three are now living.

Captain Billow continued to assist in the work of the home farm until he had attained to the age of sixteen years, when he entered upon an apprenticeship at the trade of carriage and wagon-making in Fremont, and he con- tinued in the work of his trade, at Cleveland, Ohio, and Tallmadge and Akron, Summit county, until July, 1862, when he answered the call of higher duty and tendered his services in defense of the Union. He enlisted as a pri- vate in Company I, One Hundred and Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which became a part of the command of General Franz Sigel. He manifested true soldierly qualities from the be- ginning of his active service and eventually rose through the various grades of promotion to the captaincy of his company. He had the respect and confidence of the men in his com- mand and was an efficient and popular officer. He was assigned to duty as brigade and post commissary at Fernandina, Florida, and as local provost marshal at Jacksonville, that state. He continued in service until the close of the war, having participated in many of the important engagements in which the Army of the Potomac and the Department of the South were involved, and he received his honorable discharge at Charleston, South Carolina, on the Ioth of July, 1865. He was mustered out of the service in the city of Cleveland, Ohio, on the 26th of the same month.

After the termination of his long, and faith- ful service as a soldier of the republic. Captain Billow returned to Akron, where he engaged in the grocery business, with which line of enterprise he was here identified about three years, at the expiration of which he became a traveling salesman for a stoneware house. He was thus engaged about eighteen months, and about this time he made investments in Ala-

bama, to which state he removed. His inter- ests there proved unprofitable, and in April. 1875, he returned to Akron, where he shortly afterward engaged in the undertaking business, with which line of enterprise he has since been continuously identified-a period of nearly thirty-five years. He is now one of the oldest business men in point of consecutive record to be found in Akron, and his career has been such as to retain to him the unqualified esteem of all with whom he has come in contact in the various relations of life. He conducted his undertaking business individually for a num- ber of years, and then admitted his sons to partnership, whereupon the present firm name was adopted. The headquarters of the busi- ness are located at the corner of Mill and Ash streets, and the establishment is thoroughly modern in appointments, equipment and facili- ties. In connection with the regular under- taking department an effective ambulance and invalid-carriage service is maintained by the firm. Captain Billow is a charter member of the National Funeral Directors' Association, which was organized in 1880, and is also sec- retary and treasurer of the Ohio state board of embalming examiners, before which body all applicants for licenses as embalmers are com- pelled to appear for examination. He was among the first to suggest and assist in the organization of an association of the funeral directors of Ohio, and he is widely known to those engaged in this line of enterprise throughout the state.

Captain Billow is essentially progressive and public-spirited, but has never been a seeker of public office. He gives his support to the cause of the Republican party, and he is a member of the Episcopal church. He is a valued and appreciative member of the Grand Army of the Republic and has attained to the thirty-third degree in Scottish Rite Masonry- a distinction which well indicates the high re- gard in which he is held in this time-honored fraternity. He is identified with the various York Rite bodies in Akron, and his consistory affiliations are maintained in the city of Cleve- land. He is also identified with the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, is president of the Akron Masonic Temple Company, as already noted in this sketch, and is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

On the 19th of September. 1854, was solem- nized the marriage of Captain Billow to Miss Mary Fink, daughter of Conrad and Charlotte

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(Flemisch) Fink, of Akron, and she was sum- moned to the life eternal on the 10th of June, 1905, after a most gracious and happy married life of a half century. The great loss and be- reavement in the life of Captain Billow was that caused when his cherished and devoted companion was thus called from his side, but there remains to him the measure of compen- sation and reconciliation which memory and appreciation ever bear. Captain and Mrs. Bil- low became the parents of twelve children, eight of whom are living-Anna, George W., Charles Fernando, Ida, Albert C., Jacob R., Edwin L. and Claire. The attractive family home is located at IIO Beck avenue, and is notable for its generous hospitality.

EDMUND H. TRYON, one of the prominent business men of Willoughby, was born July 21, 1857. He spent his boyhood on a farm, and received a common school education. At the age of twenty-two years he began his busi- ness career in the employ of I. S. Ellen & Com- pany, of Willoughby, where he remained five years. He spent some time in the grocery trade at Warren, Ohio, and in 1890 established a grocery store at Willoughby, which he car- ried on thirteen years. In April, 1896, Mr. Tryon entered into partnership with Sidney S. Wilson, and purchased the hotel of which Mr. Tryon has since acted as landlord. The hotel bears the name of the "Kingsley," in honor of the maiden name of Mr. Tryon's wife, and most of the time he has been sole proprietor and manager. He has made many improve- ments in the building and its arrangements, and has met with success in the undertaking. Mr. Tryon takes a commendable interest in public affairs and progress, and is an adherent of the Republican party. He has the confi- dence and esteem of his fellow townsmen, and has a large circle of friends.

March 30, 1880, Mr. Tryon married Ida C. Kingsley, daughter of Elias and Amelia Kings- ley, of Willoughby ; she was born in Kirtland and died January 26, 1908, leaving no children.

NATHAN D. KLUMPH .- Familiarly known to the residents of Geneva township as one of the prosperous and practical farmers of this part of Ashtabula county, Nathan D. Klumph has here established for himself a reputation as a thoroughly honest man and a good citizen. A son of Jacob Klumph, he was born in September, 1840, in Ashtabula Har- bor, where he was bred and educated. Mi- grating when young from New York state to

Ohio, Jacob Klumph settled in Ashtabula, and there married Harriet Bugbee, who came to Ohio with her parents when a girl. They reared five children, all sons, who all grew to maturity.

Leaving school at the age of fifteen years, Nathan D. Klumph began life for himself on the lake, and was for many years engaged in nautical pursuits. He sailed on schooners of all kinds, and served in all capacities, from cook to captain, sailing at the last as mate on a steel freighter. Giving up a sailor's life, Mr. Klumph moved onto his present farm in 1872, which he cleared from the timber. It contains fifty-nine acres of good land, which he devotes to general farming, in its management being exceedingly prosperous.

At the age of twenty-five years, in 1865, Mr. Klumph married Lydia D. Boomhower, a young maiden seven years his junior, and into their household three children have been born. namely: Guy A., Almon P. and Perry R., all of whom are in the employ of the Conneaut Dock Company. Fraternally Mr. Klumph is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and he also belongs to the local Grange. Both he and his wife are liberal in their religious views, and though not a member of any church contribute toward the support of churches. In politics Mr. Klumph is a Democrat.

JAMES H. FORD, the business manager of Ford Seed Company, of Ravenna, was born in this city on the 30th of April, 1864, a son of Frank and Mary (Torrey) Ford, well re- membered residents of Ravenna. The father, born in Rowe, Massachusetts, in 1832, was a son of James Ford, and the mother, born in Northampton, Massachusetts, was a daughter of Ripley and Lucy (Bascomb) Torrey, also from Massachusetts. Frank Ford came to Ravenna as early as the year of 1853, and for some years he conducted the first photographic studio of the town. Selling out his interest in that business to J. H. Oakley, he embarked in the nursery business, and in 1881 he issued his first catalogue. In the spring of 1883 he admitted his son James into the business, and in 1885 they enlarged their interests to include a complete line of seeds, and the mail order department is now one of the principal fea- tures of the industry. The business also in- cludes a full and complete line of garden. flower and field seeds. The founder and senior member of this firm died on the 6th of April, 1897, and thus ended the life of one of Ra-

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venna's pioneer residents and leading business men. After his death his widow continued on in the business until she joined her husband in the home beyond on the 21st of April, 1907, and since then the son has continued to man- age the business.

On the 4th of November, 1885, James H. Ford married Edie Simons, who was born in Berrien Springs, Michigan, a daughter of Gip- son V. and Jane W. (Olmstead) Simons, who were from Ohio. As a supporter of Prohi- bition principles, Mr. Ford was nominated by his party in the fall of 1908 for state treasurer. He is a member of Unity Lodge No. 12, F. and A. M., of Ravenna Grange, No. 32, and of the Portage County Pomona Grange. He is a member of the Church of Christ, and since 1894 has served as an elder.

MI. OTIS HOWER, a native son of Ohio, has marked by distinctive personal accomplishment a place of his own in connection with economic, industrial and civic affairs in the city of Akron, one of the most progressive and attractive cities of the Western Reserve, where he is known as a representative business man and as one with large capacity for the handling of affairs of wide scope and importance.

Milton Otis Hower was born at Doylestown, Wayne county, Ohio, on the 25th of Novem- ber, 1859, and is a son of John H. and Susan (Younker ) Hower, natives of Doylestown, Ohio, and representatives of stanch German families early founded in America. John H. Hower became a successful business man in Akron and was a citizen who ever commanded unqualified esteem in the community, for his life was guided and governed by the highest principles of integrity and honor, and as a citizen he did all in his power to further the general welfare of the city in which he long maintained his home.

In 1866, when M. Otis Hower was about nine years of age, his parents removed from Doylestown to Akron, where he was afforded the advantages of the public schools and also those of Buchtel College, in which institution he directed his studies with special reference to fortifying himself for a business career. In 1884 he became associated with his father and two brothers in the organization of the Hower Company, of which he became secretary. This company built up a large and successful busi- ness in the manufacture of oat meal. Under the original title the enterprise was continued until June, 1891, when the company merged its business into the American Cereal Com-

pany, of which M. Otis Hower became a direc- tor at that time. Later he became vice-presi- dent of the great corporation and chairman of the executive committee. He is still a stock- holder and officer of this company. His career in the domain of practical business has been conspicuous for the extent and variety of achievement, and his co-operation and execu- tive powers have been enlisted in many impor- tant enterprises in Akron and elsewhere. He is president and general manager of the Akron- Selle Company and the Akron Wood Work- ing Company ; is vice-president of the Central Savings & Trust Company, of Akron; presi- dent of the Lombard & Replogle Engineering Company; president of the Jahant Heating Company, and also of the Bannock Coal Com- pany, the Hower Building Company, and the Akron Skating Rink Company. He is also a member of the directorate of each the Akron Gas Company, Commercial Savings Bank and the Home Savings Company, and is ever to be found ready to give his aid and influence in the furtherance of those enterprises and meas- ures which inure to the progress and pros- perity of his home city, where both his capi- talistic and social interests center. He is es- sentially loyal and public-spirited, and is fully appreciative of his responsibilities and duties as a citizen. In politics he is a firm advocate of the generic principles of the Republican party, but in local affairs he maintains inde- pendence of strict partisan lines and gives his support to the men and measures meeting the approval of his judgment. He is an implaca- ble adversary of graft and corruption in any political organization, and has never failed to manifest the courage of his conviction as to matters of public policy or business contingen- cies. He is president of the Akron Automobile Club, is identified with various fraternal and social organizations in Akron and elsewhere. and both he and his wife hold membership in the Lutheran church.

On the 16th of November, 1880, was re- corded the marriage of Mr. Hower to Miss Blanche Eugenia Bruot, daughter of James F. and Rosalie (Gressard) Bruot, of Akron. The two children of this union are Grace Susan Rosalie and John Bruot. Mr. Hower resides in the beautiful old Hower homestead, at 60 Fir street, and the spacious old mansion is one in which is dispensed a most gracious hospi- tality, indicative of the unqualified popularity enjoyed by Mr. and Mrs. Hower in the city which has represented their home during prac- tically their entire lives.

Vol. 11-13

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ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH .- Among the many beautiful church edifices in Ashtabula that of St. Joseph is one of the finest and most attractive, and is, without doubt, the church home of a larger number of people than any building of the kind in the city. This church was founded by Rev. Charles Coquerelle in the latter part of the fifties as a mission, he coming here as an at- tendant from Painesville, and in 1860 erecting a small frame church building. In 1861 and 1862 Very Rev. Alexis Carm, V. G., who was in very poor health, visited Rev. Father Co- querelle in Painesville, and while his guest at- tended this parish, while thus employed greatly advancing its interests.

In the fall of 1862 Rev. James Elwood be- came the first resident pastor, and in July, 1863, was succeeded by Rev. John Tracy, who accomplished a notable work while here, finish- ing the interior of the church, building a parish residence, and in September, 1865, opening a parochial school. He left the society, in Octo- ber, 1869, free from debt of any kind. Rev. Edward J. Conway, his successor, added, in 1872, thirty-five feet to the length of the church building, and in 1877 erected, at a cost of $2,300 a brick school building, and con- verted the original school building into a resi- dence for the Sisters of Humility of Mary, who had charge of the school. In 1880 Father Conway secured five acres of ground for a Catholic cemetery. In August, 1887, Rev. Thomas M. Smyth succeeded Father Conway, and remained in Ashtabula until December, 1893, from October, 1890, attending Ash Har- bor as a mission. In December, 1893, Father Tracy returned to Ashtabula, and in 1894 en- larged and remodeled the residence, and the school, which was at first under the charge of the Sisters of St. Joseph, but for many years has been controlled by the Sisters of Humility of Mary, was greatly increased in numbers, and in value, having now 150 pupils who com- plete the eighth grade studies. Retiring from the pastorate in 1902, Father Tracy was a resi- dent of Ash Harbor until his death, in 1908. Rev. James H. Halligan, the next priest, was succeeded, June 27, 1903, by Rev. Matthew O'Brien, a modest, unassuming man, of middle age, who labors earnestly, and without osten- tation, and is very successful in his achieve- ments. On November 11, 1906, the present brick church building was dedicated, and at the same time the present handsome parish residence was completed, the two costing the

round sum of $52,000. The church is a very handsome building, with a seating ca- pacity of 600 people. The interior finish is exceptionally fine, with plain tinted walls, and among the decorations being fourteen pieces of statuary representing scenes in the life of Christ. The magnificent altar of marble is artistic in design, and there are life size statues of Christ and the Virgin, while the beautiful stained glass windows are embellished with biblical scenes, and, with the soft lights, pre- sent a classical effect. In the choral loft is a grand pipe organ, the music from which adds to the beauty, solemnity and impressiveness of the services. There is no spire on the exterior of the church, but on each corner is a belfry to accommodate the chimes which will be in- stalled at no very distant day.

Rev. Father O'Brien is a man of earnest purpose, a conscientious church worker, and is recognized by the people in general, regard- less of religious affiliations, as one of Ash- tabula's most esteemed and progressive citi- zens.

HENRY S. KELLEY .- A man of excellent business capacities, provided with a good fund of general information, Henry S. Kelley stands conspicuous among the leading agriculturists of Saybrook township, and is considered an authority on all questions relating to general farming, more especially those connected with stock breeding and raising. A son of David H. Kelley, an early pioneer of Ashtabula county, he was born in New Hampshire in 1810, coming from substantial New England ancestry.

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History of the Western Reserve, Vol. II, Part 37

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