USA > Ohio > History of the Western Reserve, Vol. II > Part 42
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Loyal, progressive and public-spirited as a citizen, the subject of this memoir gave to his home city the generons benefits of his counsel and his earnest co-operation in every worthy movement. Though never permitting the use of his name in connection with candidacy for public office. he was a stanch advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party. He was a valued member of the Portage Coun- try Club and other social and fraternal organi- zations, and was a devoted and zealous mem- ber of the First Presbyterian church, of which he was a trustee for many years. He was an elder of the church at the time of his death. His life was guided and governed by the high- est principles of integrity and honor and his name merits an enduring place on the roll of the representative citizens and business men of Akron.
On the 18th of October, 1893, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Robinson to Miss Zeletta M. Smith, daughter of the late Daniel J. Smith, a prominent citizen of East Liver- pool, Ohio. Six children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, namely: Helen, Paul, William, Stuart, Ruth and Zelletta. The fam- ily home, one of the most beautiful mansions in Akron, is located at 715 East Market street, and has ever been a center of gracious and refined hospitality. Mrs. Robinson is promi- nently identified with the First Presbyterian church and has been a popular leader in the social activities of her home city.
HENRY PAINE was born in Painesville, Ohio, February 4, 1810, and was a son of Hendrick Ellsworth and Harriet ( Phelps) Paine, origi- nally from Windsor, Connecticut. The grand- father, Eleazer Paine, came to Painesville in June, 1803; his wife was Aurel Ellsworth. Edward Paine, the founder of Painesville, was an uncle of Eleazer Paine, and came to Ohio in 1799. Eleazer Paine was a merchant in Connecticut, and brought a wagon load of merchandise to be sold in Ohio. He died February 10, 1804, in his fortieth year.
Hendrick E. Paine was but fifteen years of age at his father's death, when he took charge of a family of five beside himself. He was born February 14, 1789, and his brothers and sisters were as follows: Franklin, Eleazer, Charles C., Mary Trumbell and Aurel. Aurel died in 1805 at the age of seven years, and Mary T. died in 1825, at the age of twenty- three. Franklin and Eleazer went to Chardon, Geauga county, and Eleazer became a rich merchant and died in the prime of life. He left three sons and one daughter, namely : Hal- bert E., George E. and James H. General Hal- bert E. removed to Wisconsin and was a mem- ber of Congress from Milwaukee; he intro- duced the first bill to establish signal service along the lakes. He became General Paine, going into the Civil war from Milwaukee, Wis- consin, as colonel and came out as general. George E. was a captain in the Civil war ; he died at Painesville and his family live in Ash- tabula, one of his sons being Tracy Paine. James H. Paine, now old and feeble, lives in Painesville.
Franklin Paine was associated with Eleazer in the store at Chardon. He was Lake county recorder during and after the war, and died in Painesville at the age of ninety-three years. Charles C. Paine was a merchant in Paines- ville. He was first president of the Lake
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County Bank, but lost his property and died in middle life.
Hendrick Paine married Harriet Phelps on his twentieth birthday, February 14, 1809, and removed to Parkman, Geauga county, where he spent four or five years. Samuel W. Phelps, who was not a relative, but from the same stock originally, employed Mr. Paine to erect a saw mill; he also erected a forge and fur- nace, in 1827, and the Paine furnace made both cast and bar iron, using scrap iron. He worked twenty years at the furnace, and later kept a government lighthouse at Fairport, his son, Henry Paine taking the iron works. Hendrick Paine removed to Monmouth, Illinois, where he died in 1881, at the age of ninety-one. His wife was born in Windsor, Connecticut, March 15, 1789, and came in 1808 to Painesville, where she taught school one year. They had children as follows: Henry, Eleazer A., Bar- ton Friend, Hendrick Ellsworth, Jr., and Eliz- abeth. Elizabeth married Janam Smith, re- moved to Monmouth, Illinois, and returned to Leroy, where she died in 1881. Eleazer gradu- ated from West Point, and was brigadier gen- eral in the Civil war. He removed to Mon- mouth, Illinois, became a lawyer, was an inti- mate friend of Lincoln, and spent his life in Illinois, where he married Charlotte Phelps. daughter of Samuel Phelps. Barton F. Paine removed to a farm near Monmouth, Illinois, and died in Nebraska. He married Hannah Proctor, of Thompson township, Lake county, Ohio. Hendrick E. Paine, Jr., also went to Illinois ; he was captain of the Fifty-ninth Illi- nois Infantry. He was afterward employed by the Union Pacific Railway at Omaha. Nebraska, where he died.
Henry Paine continued the iron industry after his father left it, using charcoal, but abandoned the business about 1859. He con- tinted to live at Paines Hollow until his death, October 31. 1868, being killed by falling acci- dentally from a wagon. He was county com- missioner twelve years before his death, and justice of the peace for years. From the time he was eighteen he had held a commission of one kind or another from the governor of Ohio, and was a major in the old militia. He was familiarly known as Squire Paine. He had the respect and confidence of the entire community, and took considerable interest in public affairs. He married, December 12, 1833. Harriet Newell Tuttle, named in honor of Harriet Newell. missionary to India, and daughter of Ira and Cherry ( Mills) Tuttle. She was born in Austinburg, Ashtabula
county, Ohio, November 30, 1814. her parents having come from Connecticut to Ohio in 1811. Her granddaughter, Mrs. Kewish, has an old hair trunk they brought from Connecticut in 18II. Ira Tuttle was a successful pioneer farmer near Austinburg, where he died in January, 1861. Mrs. Paine died January 17, 1880. Henry Paine and wife had ten children, namely: Elizabeth Ellsworth, who died in 1903; Aurel: Mary Direxa : Charlotte Irene : Hendrick Ellsworth, a general insurance man of Scranton, Pennsylvania: Ira Tuttle, of Grand Island, Nebraska, of the Paine Granite and Marble Works; Charrie Maria; Harriet Newell: Stella A., and Henry. All but the eldest survive, the oldest of those living being seventy and the youngest fifty-four years of age.
One daughter of Henry Paine, Mrs. L. L. Kewish, takes great interest in the early his- tory of the community and of her progenitors, and keeps with care a large number of relics. cliaries, heirlooms, etc. She is a well read and remarkably intelligent woman, and takes pleas- ure in learning the deeds of her ancestors. Three of her great-grandfathers, namely : Eleazer Paine, Clement Tuttle and Constantine Mills, were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. Job Ellsworth, father of Aurel Ellsworth, who married Eleazer Paine, was killed at Ticon- deroga, in the French and Indian war.
LEWIS BENTON BROCKETT .- A public-spir- ited and influential citizen of Saybrook town- ship, Lewis B. Brockett is a man of talent and education, and has devoted his time and ener- gies toward promoting and advancing the ag- ricultural and mercantile prosperity of this part of Ashtabula county, at the present time being one of the foremost general merchants of his community. A son of the late Hambrose Brockett, he was born May 7. 1828, in Greene county, New York, but was brought up in the Western Reserve.
Hambrose Brockett, born in 1800, spent his earlier years in the Empire state. Coming to Ohio with his family from Greene county, New York, in 1831, he settled in Ashtabula county, and from the tract of wild land that he pur- chased redeemed a comfortable homestead, on which he was engaged in tilling the soil until his death, in 1882. He married Cloe Fuller. who was born in 1804, and died on the home farm, in Ashtabula county, in 1800. Six chil- dren were born to them, as follows: Addison, T. Clark, Lewis Benton. A. Fletcher, Henry A., and Julia. Addison Brockett, born in 1825,
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was six years old when he came to Ohio. He married Mahala Miller, and in 1884 moved to Michigan, where he followed farming until his death, in 1907. T. Clark Brockett, born in 1827, was brought up from the age of four years in Ohio. In 1850 he married Belle Wil- kinson, and in 1879 moved to Kansas. A. Fletcher Brockett, born in Greene county, New York, in 1830, married Mary Walker, and was engaged in farming until his death, in 1855. Henry A. Brockett, born in Ashtabula county, married Mary Kellogg, and in 1879 removed with his family to Kansas. Julia Brockett, born in 1837, is the wife of Newton Webster, of Michigan.
Brought up on the parental homestead, Lewis B. Brockett received good educational advantages for his day, and for a number of years taught school during the winter terms. being very successful both as an instructor and as a disciplinarian. Beginning life for him- self, he worked by the month on the farm for three years, and was subsequently engaged in mercantile pursuits at Saybrook Corners for fifteen years, dealing in groceries and dry goods. Returning then to the old home farm. Mr. Brockett managed it successfully for a quarter of a century, keeping a dairy of 300 cows and making cheese for the neighborhood. Retiring from agricultural pursuits, he sold his farm, and opened his present general store in Saybrook township, where he has built up a large and remunerative business, handling groceries, coal and feed. He is a sound Demo- crat in politics, and for twelve years served as postmaster, while for two years he was township clerk. Religiously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
On November 10, 1852, Mr. Brockett mar- ried Lucy Fisk, who was born in 1824, a daughter of Zedekiah and Sarah Fisk. She raised five children, namely : Benton L., born in 1854, resides in Kansas; James, born in 1857, lives in Lincoln, Kansas ; Odessa, born in 1860, married Charles Parker, and formerly lived in Trenton, Missouri, but is now residing in Portland, Oregon : Amy, born in 1870, mar- ried, in 1892, Charles Simonds, and lives on the South Ridge road : and Ellen, born in 1873. who lives at home with her parents. Benton L. Brockett married first Daisy Denton, who died in 1891. He married second Margaret Shriver.
ALANSON WORK .- He who serves humanity is royal, and thus we cannot afford to hold in light esteem those who have lived nobly in
the past, nor fail to accord honor to those who have given an heritage of worthy thoughts and worthy deeds. Among those who have stood. as distinguished types of the world's noble army of workers, the subject of this memoir well merits a place of honor. He wrote his name large upon the pages of definite accomplish- ment and productive activities, and his life was characterized by signal nobility of purpose and a high sense of his stewardship. He made the most of his opportunities and worked his way upward to success and to all that is desirable and ennobling in life. He was numbered among the representative citizens of Akron, where his death occurred on the 29th of Octo- ber, 1881. He was at the time vice-president of the B. F. Goodrich Company, owning and operating the Akron Rubber Works.
Mr. Work was born at Quincy, Illinois, on the Ist of March, 1842, and was a son of Alanson Work Sr., who was a native of Con- necticut and a representative of a family founded in New England in the colonial era ; he removed from his native state to Illinois, but later returned to Connecticut, where both he and his wife passed the closing years of their lives. Alanson Work Sr. was a stanch advocate of the abolition of slavery long before the time of the Civil war, and his activities in aiding slaves to escape captivity led to his ar- rest and imprisonment in 1841. He was sen- tenced for a period of twelve years, but after being held about three years was granted a pardon.
When Alanson Work was three years of age his parents removed from Illinois to Mid- dletown, Connecticut, whence they later re- moved to Hartford, that state, in which city he attended the common schools until he had attained to the age of seventeen years, after which he was for one year a student in Trin- ity College. At the age of nineteen years he entered the employ of A. T. Stewart, the great merchant prince of New York City, and later he became an employe in the Metropolitan Bank of New York, with which institution he was identified for a period of seven years. In 1869 he removed to Vineland, New Jersey, and a year later he removed thence to the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he became one of the interested principals in the firm of Cham- berlain, Gibbs & Company, contractors. As a member of this firm he devoted two years to contracting for railroad construction and the building of railroad bridges, and he then went to Rhode Island, where he secured and completed the contract for the rebuilding of
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the bridges on the line of the Providence & Worcester Railroad. On this contract he erected fourteen double-track bridges in about one year. Thereafter he was superintendent of the Allen Fire Department Supply Com- pany, at Providence, Rhode Island, for five years, and within this period he took out sev- eral patents on fire-engine supplies, one of which is known as Work's patent coupling and which is in use by the United States govern- ment, which adopted the device many years ago. On the Ist of January, 1879, Mr. Work removed from Rhode Island to Akron, Ohio, where he became superintendent of the Akron Rubber Works. In the following years the business was incorporated under the title of the B. F. Goodrich Compaity, and he there- after held the office of vice-president of the corporation until his death, which occurred in the ensuing year. Though he was not long permitted to be identified with the industrial and civic activities of Akron, he made a defi- nite impress upon the business interests of the city and was one of its honored business men during the period of his residence. He con- tributed to the development of the enterprise with which he identified himself, as his execu- tive and administrative ability enabled him to suggest and bring into effective operation the proper policies and system. It is interest- ing to note that his eldest son is now presi- dent of the company. to whose upbuilding he devoted his splendid energies until he was summoned from the scene of life's mortal en- deavors. In politics Mr. Work was a stalwart supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and, as a broad-minded and loyal citizen. he took much interest in the questions and issues of the hour. He was a member of the Congregational church and was identified with various fraternal and civic organizations of representative character.
June 27, 1865, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Work to Miss Henrietta Lane, of Brooklyn, New York, and she still maintains her home in Akron, with whose social life she has been prominently concerned. Mr. and Mrs. Work became the parents of seven chil- dren, all of whom are living except Clarence, who met his death by drowning, when thirteen years of age. Alice is the wife of Professor Walter F. Willcox, member of the faculty of Cornell University. New York: Bertram G. is president of the B. F. Goodrich Company, of Akron; Dorothy W. is at home; Effie A. is the wife of W. C. Geer, chief chemist of the Goodrich Company ; Frederick W. is the senior
partner of the Akron Auto Supply Company : and Gerald S., department manager of the Goodrich Company. The last two are also with their mother in the family homestead on Perkins Hill, Akron.
CLARK W. HAINES .- During many years Clark W. Haines has been identified with the farming interests of Portage county, and he was born here on the 7th of January, 1855. Stacy L. Haines, his father, for many years one of the agriculturists of this community, will be remembered by the older residents as one of the pioneers of the Western Reserve of Ohio. He was born in New Jersey in 1800, and he married for his first wife Eliza Potts, while his second wife and the mother of his son Clark, bore the maiden name of Rebecca Armstrong and was a native of Goshen, born in 1802.
Clark W. Haines remained with his parents until his marriage, and by purchasing the in- terests of the other heirs to the homestead farm he has become the sole owner and has lived there these many years. The estate con- tains 140 acres of rich and well improved land, and he is extensively engaged in general farming and stock raising, while from his maple orchard of about 325 trees he generally produces about eighty gallons of syrup annu- ally.
On the 26th of February, 1884. Mr. Haines was married to Emaline Kibler, a daughter of Alexander and Mary ( Kimmel) Kibler, na- tives of Virginia and Mahoning county re- spectively, but residents of Portage county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Haines have three chil- dren. Nana, Erma and Hazel. The eldest daughter is now the wife of Joel Gause, and they have a son Russell. The family are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Haines, is an independent political voter.
MRS. OLIVE CRAIG is a member of a family whose name is associated with the history of Portage county and the Western Reserve of Ohio from the period of its earliest develop- ment to latter day progress and prosperity. and the members of this family have been espe- cially prominent in its agricultural life. She was born on the 9th of May. 1848. to George and Nancy (McNutt ) Webber, the father from Germany and the mother from Virginia. and together they came to Portage county dur- ing its early and formative period.
On the 2d of January, 1877. Olive Webber gave her hand in marriage to Chauncey Craig.
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and their union was blessed by the birth of four children, Bertha, George, Erwin and Clyde, all at home with their parents with the exception of the daughter Bertha, who is mar- ried. Mrs. Craig resides on the old home- stead in Deerfield township, the farm on which she spent the early years of her life and which is hers now through inheritance.
CHARLES W. SEARLS .- Standing as one of the representative citizens of Lake county, Charles W. Searls is the popular and efficient postmaster of the village of Madison, an of- fice of which he has been incumbent for more than a decade.
Mr. Searls was born in the province of On- tario, Canada, about twelve miles distant from Niagara Falls, on the 24th of April, 1855, and is a son of George T. and Harriet E. (Thorn- ton) Downer, of Salamanca, New York, who were visiting in Ontario at the time of his birth. Harriet E. Thornton was born in Eng- land of a noted family who were distinguished by holding, a coat of arms, of which fact Mr. Searls is very proud, as well as of his English blood. His parents came to Ohio when he was an infant, and when he was but four years of age his father died, in Painesville, the county seat of Lake county. Charles W. was then taken into the home of Grandison Searls, of Concord township, this county, and a few years later was formally adopted by Mr. Searls, whose family name he has since borne. Grandison Searls and his wife bestowed upon their adopted son all the solicitude and care that could have been accorded by the most de- voted parents, and he holds their memories in reverent regard, appreciative of their kindli- ness and beneficence.
Grandison Searls was born at Martinsburg, New York, on the Ioth of March, 1820, and died in the village of Madison, Ohio, on the 18th of August, 1902. His wife, whose maiden name was Abigail Brown, was born in Ston- ington, Connecticut, in 1818, and was about nineteen months older than himself. She was a daughter of Hosea Brown, who came from that place about 1821 and settled at Concord Hills, in Concord township, Lake county, where his was one of the first families to take up permanent abode. He and his wife there passed the residue of their lives, honored pio- neers of this section of the Western Reserve. The marriage of Grandison Searls and Abigail Brown was solemnized in Concord township. in 1842, and she preceded him to eternal rest by more than ten years, as her death occurred
on the 18th of February, 1881. Grandison Searls was a son of Stephen and Lucinda ( Sal- mans) Searls, the latter of whom died in the state of New York. After his second mar- riage Stephen Searls came to Ohio, in 1834, at which time Grandison was about fourteen years of age, and he settled in Hampden town- ship, Geauga county, where both he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives. He was seventy-four years of age at the time of . his death. He not only developed a good farm in that township, but also erected and operated a grist mill and saw mill, besides which he erected a mill in Big Creek Hollow, Concord township, Lake county.
Grandison Searls was reared to manhood in Geauga county, where his early educational privileges were confined to the pioneer schools. He assisted his father in his various business operations, and finally became the owner of the Levens mill, in Concord township, Lake county-the mill which had been erected by his father, as previously noted. This mill was owned and operated by Grandison Searls for more than forty years and was finally aban- doned by him after competition and improved facilities rendered the enterprise no longer profitable. There his devoted wife died, in 1881, and in the following year he removed to Madison township, where he purchased a farm, near Lake Erie. He gave his attention to the supervision of this place for the ensuing eight years, at the expiration of which he sold the property and took up his residence in the vil- lage of Madison, where he became associated with his foster-son, the subject of this review. in the purchase of a general merchandise store, which was thereafter conducted under the firm name of G. & C. W. Searls until about two years prior to his death, when the firm sold the business. Grandison Searls was a man of superior mentality and strong indi- viduality, and he was an influential factor in public affairs during the many years of his residence in Concord township. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party, and he served for a number of years as town- ship trustee. He was a member of the Bap- tist church from his boyhood, and was most zealous in the various departments of church work. He and his wife had no children of their own, but in their generosity and kindli- ness of heart they found it their pleasure to rear in their home seven children, of whom the subject of this review was the only one formally adopted. Concerning the other chil- dren the following is given by Charles W.
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Searls: Bradley Ayres, the first child taken, died at the age of eight years; Sophia Stock- ham, who entered the Searls home when four- teen years of age, became the wife of George Winchell and is now deceased: John Green was taken when twelve years of age and re- mained with the family about five years : Eva King, a niece, was nine years of age when she became a member of the family circle, and she is now the wife of Alfred Brown, a farmer of Concord township : and George W. Downer, brother of Charles W., of this sketch, was taken when a lad of ten years, remaining until he was fifteen : he is now engaged in the real estate business in the city of Cleveland.
Charles W. Searls was reared to manhood in Concord township, Lake county, and his educational training was secured in the public schools of that locality. He assisted his foster- father in the operation of the mill and farm until 1877, when, at the age of twenty-two years, he went to Burton, Geauga county. where he engaged in the retail lumber busi- ness in company with E. P. Branch and under the firm name of Branch & Searls. This alli- ance continued two years and in the mean- while, on the 21st of November, 1878, Mr. Searls was united in marriage to Miss Alta C. Abbey, who was born and reared in Leroy township. Lake county, a daughter of George and Colinda C. ( Blair) Abbey, both of whom continued to reside in that township until their death. After disposing of his interest in the lumber business Mr. Searls returned to Con- cord township, where he engaged in buying hardwood lumber for the firm of S. P. Gage & Company, of Cleveland. In 1882 he took up his residence in Madison township, being on the farm with his foster-father for the en- suing eight years, and then removing with the latter to the village of Madison, where they were engaged in the general merchandise busi- ness for two years, as already noted in this context.
In 1898, during the administration of Presi- dent McKinley, Mr. Searls was appointed post- master at Madison, and he has since held this office continuously, thus serving, under Presi- dents Mckinley, Roosevelt and Taft. In 1895 he was appointed county commissioner, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Raymond Freeman. During his tenure of this office the franchise was granted for the construction of the electric interurban road from Cleveland to Painesville. After the death of Mr. Freeman the other two members of the board of county commissioners represented the opposing sides
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