History of the Western Reserve, Vol. II, Part 54

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 54

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In the midst of these varied activities of an intellectual and official nature, Mr. Ward also was training himself as a practical surveyor, and in that capacity acted for the syndicate which built the C. P. and E. and the C. P. and A. electric lines. He has retained this connec- tion with the construction company and is also serving as county surveyor, to which the Re- publicans elected him in 1899. Mr. Ward re- sides in a comfortable home on Washington street, Painesville, and is not only highly hon- ored for his practical services to the county, but for his intellectual abilities.

OZRO A. HOSKIN .- Long numbered among the representative business men and honored citizens of the village of Madison, Lake coun- ty, the subject of this memoir was a native son of this county and a scion of one of its sterling pioneer families. He was a man of marked mental vigor, of excellent business acumen and of sterling integrity of character, and he ever commanded the unqualified confidence and

esteem of those with whom he came in con- tact in the various relations of life. He was a worthy representative of that sturdy line of in- telligent pioneers who played so well their part in connection with the development of the nat- ural resources and the upbuilding of the social structure of the Western Reserve, and he is eminently entitled to a tribute of honor in this work, whose province is the due consideration of the history of the Western Reserve and its people.

Mr. Hoskin was born in Lake county, Ohio, on October 5, 1837, and was a son of William and Saphronia (Young) Hoskin. The father continued to be actively identified with agri- cultural pursuits until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he tendered his services in defense of the Union, though then a man past the prime of life. His was the record of a valiant and loyal soldier of the republic, and he passed the closing years of his life in the national soldiers' home in the city of Washington, D. C. His widow followed some of her children to the west and died, either in Kansas or Nebraska, at an exceedingly venerable age. Of the chil- dren Ozro A., of this memoir, was the only one who remained in Lake county.

Ozro A. Hoskin was reared to manhood on the home farm, and for his early educational advantages was indebted to the primitive schools of the middle-pioneer epoch. He con- tinued to be identified with the agricultural in- dustry for some time after his school days were ended, and later was employed as clerk in a drug store in Madison. Thereafter he was engaged as a commercial traveling salesman for several years, and later he engaged in the grocery and bakery business in Madison, where he maintained a well equipped establishment and catered to a representative and apprecia- tive patronage. He continued this enterprise until his death, which occurred on August 6, 1901. He was one of the representative busi- ness men of this village and as a citizen held a secure place in the confidence and regard of the people of the community. His course was ever guided on a plane of lofty integrity and honor, he was generous and tolerant in his association with his fellow men, and he left the heritage of a good name and of good deeds unostentatiously performed.

In politics Mr. Hoskin gave an unfaltering allegiance to the Republican party, and he took an intelligent interest in the questions and issues of the hour. He served two terms as mayor of Madison, and had previously been the

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capable incumbent of the responsible office of county treasurer, during his retention of which position he resided in Painesville, the county seat. He was reared in the faith of the Baptist church, but later became a member of the Con- gregational church, with whose various de- partments of activity he was thereafter identi- fied until his death ; his wife also was a devoted member of this church. In the Masonic fra- ternity he had attained the chivalric degrees and was affiliated with the commandery, Knights Templar, of Painesville, under whose auspices and ritual his funeral was held. His local affiliations were with the Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and the Chapter, Royal Arch Masons.

In the year 1875 was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Hoskin to Miss Ruby Flower, who was born in the northern part of Madison township, on February 20, 1849, and whose father was one of the representative farmers of that section. Mrs. Hoskin was summoned to the life eternal on July 17, 1904, secure in the affectionate regard of all who came within the sphere of her gracious influence. One child was born to this union, Marion, who still resides in the family homestead and who is bookkeeper for A. N. Benjamin, one of the leading business men of Madison. She is prominently identified with the local chapter is secretary at the time of this writing, in 1909. of the Order of the Eastern Star, of which she She is a devoted member of the Congrega- tional church, and is most popular in the social circles of her native village.

ALEXANDER SHILLIDAY, of Edinburg town- ship, has a valuable farm of more than 100 acres, and has long been honored both for the integrity of his private character and for the faithful service he has rendered the town- ship in his public capacity. He is in that sub- stantial class of Irish-American citizens who have demonstrated by the careful and wise management of their own affairs that they form the best material from which to create public servants.

Mr. Shilliday was born in Ireland, December 18, 1830, and is a son of Hugh and Ellen (Willson) Shilliday, also natives of the mother land. They emigrated to the United States in 1854, landing at New York October 14, and soon afterward going to Philadelphia; thence to Canfield and later to Portage county, Ohio. The son was then about twenty years of age and made his advent into that county on foot

from Salem. His first purchase was forty acres of land in Atwater township. Alexander lived with his parents until he was twenty-six years of age and then entered the employ of Mr. Holcomb at Canfield, on a yearly contract. He married in 1856 and afterward, for several years, was connected with the Williams farm. Mr. Shilliday then rented that place for five years, and at the expiration of his contract bought forty acres of timber land. After clearing and improving this tract he sold the property and subsequently purchased his pres- ent homestead of 107 acres in Edinburg town- ship. He erected a comfortable residence for his family, set out a fine orchard and is now enjoying not only the fruits of his trees but of the many years of his industrious and intel- ligently-directed career. He is one of the old- timers in the support of the Republican party ; has served as supervisor at various times, and is widely esteemed both as a hard worker and a sound adviser. The same may be said of his connection with the Congregational church, of which he is a trustee.

On December 5, 1856, Mr. Shilliday mar- ried Miss Mary Bingham, who died seven years afterward. He took as his second wife, October 6, 1864, Miss Jane Crory-a native of Ireland, born September 21, 1842, who was brought by her parents to the United States in 1848. Mr. Shilliday has nine children- John, James, Robert, George, William C., Ed- ward, Marv J. Corbett, Annie Russell and Elgie Shilliday, the first four named children being by the first marriage.

FRED RIEDINGER, who is one of the leading stock raisers and dealers in Portage county and owns a well appointed farm of 200 acres in Randolph township, is the son of George P. and Susan (Markel) Riedinger, and he has certainly good reason to be proud of his indus- trious, faithful, sturdy and successful parents of the German fatherland. They landed on American shores in July, 1840, the young hus- band then possessing, as he often remarked in after years with a smile, "about fifty cents and a wife." When the couple located in Ran- dolph township they settled on a ten-acre tract, which they shared with one of the husband's friends, and remained thereon for two years, obtaining a living and placing themselves in such shape that forty acres of land was then purchased. George P. Riedinger was a shoe- maker as well as a farmer, and the neighbors patronized his little shop to such an extent

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that, between his bench and his field, he placed himself and his family in comfortable circum- stances within a decade from the time of his landing in New York with only fifty cents- but an invaluable wife. In 1855 he bought the farm of 325 acres on which he died October 28, 1864.

Fred Riedinger, of this sketch, was born November 16, 1840, about four months after the arrival of his parents in the United States and their coming to the little farm in Ran- dolph township. This locality was the scene of his education and rearing, his departure from home being delayed until his marriage to Miss Louisa Ackerman, on November 12, 1863. After that event, which has certainly proved a happy one in his life, he branched out as an independent farmer on a tract of seventy-two acres. With his father's pertinac- ity and good judgment, he steadily progressed in his live stock operations and in the amassing of land, until he is now recognized as a leader in the branch of agriculture which he has chosen. Mr. Riedinger is also influential in matters of wider scope and of greater con- cern to the community. In politics he has steadily adhered to Republicanism, ever since he cast his first presidential ballot for Abra- ham Lincoln, and has given the township much valuable public service. He is also an active Mason, belonging to Unity Lodge, No. 12, at Ravenna, and his religious affiliations are with the Reformed church. In his domestic rela- tions, Mr. Riedinger has been not only happy but fortunate, since four of the five children born to him are living, Oscar A. being the la- mented deceased. George T. is a resident of Alliance, Ohio; Mary L. lives at Manistee, Michigan; Henry W. is at home, and Hattie is of Newton Falls, Ohio.

DAVID SIMISON, who has been connected with the agricultural interests of Randolph township, Portage county, for nearly half a century, and is one of its most respected citi- zens, is a native of the Empire state. He was born June 15, 1830, and is a son of Robert and Sarah (Rogers) Simison, natives re- spectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio. It was from the former state that the father served in the war of 1812, after which he moved to New York and followed his trade as a hatter. The son David resided with his parents until he was sixteen years of age, after which he was employed in various forms of agriculture until he was twenty-eight years of age. At

the age of twenty he went to California and spent three years in prospecting and digging for gold.

Upon Mr. Simison's return to civilization and the states, he decided to move into the fertile reserve of the "west," in Ohio, and to seek a surer method than the California way of wresting prosperity from the soil. The re- sult was that in 1861 he located in Randolph township and has since been faithfully wedded to farming pursuits. After his marriage in 1868 his operations in that line were conducted on a fine farm of 320 acres. His success as an agriculturist has been accompanied by ac- tivity and useful service in the public affairs of the township, the entire list of whose offices he has filled with credit. In politics, as in most of the other concerns of life, he is inde- pendent. His fraternal connections are with Masonry, as a member of Unity Lodge, No. 12, of Ravenna.

Mr. Simison's marriage to Miss Marriet Gorby occurred February 1, 1868, and two children were born to them-Gorby, who is now a farmer of Randolph township, and Belle, who is living at home.

THOMAS C. PICKTON, a successful farmer of Hartsgrove township, Ashtabula county, was born June II, 1845, on the island of Jamaica, where his father was stationed as missionary. He is a son of Thomas B. and Martha W. (Jones) Pickton. For fourteen years Mr. rickton lived in Albion, Orleans county, New York, and then moved to Akron, Ohio, where he lived until 1873. He spent three years in North Carolina and Virginia, and then return- ing to Summit county, Ohio, spent seven years there. He worked three years in a machine shop and ran a dairy several years. He then located in New Lyme township, Ashtabula county, Ohio, and there spent ten years. For the past twelve years Mr. Pickton has been a resident of Hartsgrove township, where he has become a prominent citizen. He and his wife are charter members of Hartsgrove Grange, No. 1,684, of which he is now treasurer. He owns 300 acres of land, which he carries on with great success, having a fine dairy. He is a Republican in politics, and has for the last ten years served as justice of the peace. He and his wife are earnest members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, of which he is now trustee, treasurer and steward.

In 1875 Mr. Pickton married Mary Fill- man, of Reidsville, North Carolina, born

John Fi. Byers

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March 26, 1853, and they have become par- ents of children as follows: Mary L., born November 3, 1876, is a graduate nurse in a hospital at Akron, Ohio; Grace E., March 23, 1879, lives at home ; Britton, born October II, 1882, is a farmer and lives in Ohio; Walter L., March 28, 1884, lives in Scenic, South Da- kota, a farmer on a ranch; Scott E., March 10, 1887, lives at home ; Raleigh, February 2, 1890, is a farmer in South Dakota; Theodore, April 29, 1892, is attending school; and Har- low, born December 12, 1895, and attending school.

JOHN FREDERICK BYERS was born in Milton township, Mahoning county, Ohio, November 13, 1844, a son of Frederick and Anna M. (Reichard) Byers, who were from Pennsyl- vania. His paternal grandfather, Frederick Byers, was a son of Frederick Byers, Sr., who was born in Germany. Frederick Byers, the father of John Frederick, came to Mahoning county, Ohio, about the year 1839, as a horse drover traveling across the mountains from eastern Pennsylvania. He raised and sold many fine breed horses. In 1859 he sold his farm in Mahoning county, and coming to Ravenna township located just south of the city of that name, and during the early years of his pro- prietorship he utilized his farm for putting horses in a marketable condition for selling. He died on March 4, 1869, and his wife survived until May of 1887. Their children were: Mary, who became the wife of Aaron Williard and is now deceased; John F., also deceased ; George R., an agriculturist in Ravenna town- ship; C. C., of the same township ; and Hattie, the wife of A. S. Trowbridge, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

John F. Byers during the early years of his life assisted his father with the work of the. home farm, and After the latter's death he bought the interests of the other heirs in the property, built a small shop on his land and followed his natural bent as an inventor, and among the many other useful articles which he patented was an oat meal cutter which he sold for $5,000 to a cereal company. After a time he erected a shop in Ravenna, but he moved frequently to larger shops as the volume of his business increased, and in 1890 he formed a stock company for the manufacture of hoisting machines, derricks and small engines. He was the inventor of most of the articles manufac- tured by that company, and he was its first

president and general superintendent. He died on September 17, 1905, and thus ended the life of one of the most useful and best known resi- dents of Portage county.

Mr. Byers married on August 7, 1890, Cath- erine Palm, who was born in Rootstown town- ship, Portage county, November 28, 1861, a daughter of John A. and Eva Elizabeth (Bousch) Palm, the father born in Prussia and the mother in Baden, Germany. She is a grand- daughter on the maternal side of Michael and a Miss Reiterman Bousch. The following chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Byers: Fred- erick C., who was born on May 19, 1891 ; Anna C., who was born July 10, 1892, and died Sep- tember 6, 1906; John Reichard, born Septem- ber 29, 1894; and Eva Irene, born March 17, 1896. Mr. Byers was an independent political voter, and he was a member of the fraternal order of Odd Fellows.

JAMES L. PARMLY, who died at his home in Painesville, Lake county, on the 31st of Janu- ary, 1908, was a native son of this county, a member of one of its distinguished pioneer families, and he himself passed the major por- tion of his life in this county, where for many years he was actively identified with the agri- cultural industry, besides which he was for some time before his death engaged in the hardware business in Painesville. His life was one of signal usefulness and honor, and he well upheld the prestige of the honored name which he bore.

Mr. Parmly was born in Perry township, Lake county, Ohio, on the 23d of August, 1832, and was a son of Jehiel and Eliza A. (Pleasants) Parmly. Jehiel Parmly was the sixth in order of birth of the ten children of Eleazer and Hannah (Spear) Parmly, and was born at Braintree, Vermont, July 14, 1799. He died in Painesville, Ohio, on the 23d of May, 1873. Eleazer Parmly came to Perry township, Lake county, Ohio, in the year 1816, for the purpose of visiting his daughter, Han- nah, who had come here with her husband, Samuel Burridge, in 1814. The father was so impressed with the attractions of this locality, even in that early pioneer period, that in the spring of 1817 he brought his family to Lake county. He purchased a tract of land near Lake Erie, and to secure the same he made the trip on foot to Canandaigua, New York, to confer with Captain Granger, who owned the land which he desired. He and his wife

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passed the residue of their lives in this county and their names merit an enduring place on the roll of its sterling pioneers.

Jehiel Parmly was reared to maturity on the pioneer farm of his father, in Perry township, and was afforded the best educational advan- tages available under the conditions of time and place. Upon attaining to years of ma- turity he determined to adopt the profession of dentistry as a vocation. One of his elder brothers, Levi, had already become a success- ful practitioner, and together they went to the city of London, England, where they passed two years in the study of their profession and where they became experts in the same, ac- cording to the standards and systems of the times. After his return to America Dr. Jehiel Parmly opened an office in the city of Wash- ington, D. C., where he built up an excellent practice, and later he was engaged in the work of his profession at Charleston, South Caro- lina, and Augusta, Georgia. In the latter place, in 1826, was solemnized his marriage to Miss Eliza A. Pleasants. Finally Dr. Parmly was called to the old homestead in Perry township, Lake county, Ohio, on ac- count of the death of his father, who was killed in an accident, and on this fine old place the doctor continued to make his home for more than thirty years, though he customarily passed the winters in the south, where he followed the practice of his profession during these in- tervals. One of his brothers, David, contin- ned to be engaged in farming in Perry town- ship until his death, and three other brothers, Samuel, Eleazer and Levi, became prominent as dental practitioners. Samuel and Eleazer were among the first widely known dentists of New York City, and Eleazer especially made such advances in certain details of the work of his profession as to become a recog- nized authority as a dental surgeon. He in- vented new methods and processes and was one of the leaders in the early stages of ad- vancement to the present high standard of the profession. He ever retained a deep inter- est in the old home in Lake county, Ohio, and he it was who erected in Painesville the fine Parmly hotel, which still bears his name and which at the time of its building was one of the best in this section of the state. Dr. Sam- uel Parmly, who held a large and valuable landed estate in Lake county, gained a fortune through his well ordered labors and opera- tions, and had extensive interests of a capi-

talistic order in New York City. Dr. Levi Parmly was long engaged in the practice of his profession in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dr. Jehiel and Eliza A. (Pleasants) Parmly be- came the parents of seven sons, namely : Jehiel, a representative farmer of Perry township, Lake county; James L., the immediate sub- ject of this memoir ; Leo, residing near Paines- ville ; and Henry C., Samuel P., and David. Dr. Jehiel Parmly and his wife both died on the old family homestead in Perry township, and they were held in the highest esteem by all who knew them, being notable for their gracious re- finement and having long been prominent in connection with the social activities of the county.

James Lownes Parmly, to whom this me- moir is dedicated, passed the major portion of his boyhood and youth on the old homestead farm in Perry township, and during the win- ter seasons he was with his parents in the south. He was afforded good educational ad- vantages, and was a man of strong individu- ality and sterling character, ever commanding the confidence and regard of all with whom he came in contact in the various relations of life. At the time of the Civil war he went forth as a valiant soldier of the Union. and thereafter he returned to his farm in Perry township, where he was for many years ac- tively identified with general agricultural pur- suits and stock-raising, in connection with which he attained to a high degree of success, as he was a man of much discrimination and business acumen. For several years he was engaged in the hardware business in Paines- ville, but he continued in the ownership of his fine farm until his death. He passed the clos- ing years of his life in retirement, in Paines- ville, where he lived for nearly forty years, while he still gave his general supervision to his farming interests. He erected the resi- dence in Painesville, and it is one of the most commodious and attractive of the many beau- tiful homes in this thriving little city. He had various capitalistic interests in his native county, and gave his support to all measures and enterprises which tended to advance the general welfare of the community. He or- dered his life upon the highest plane of integ- rity and honor, was genial and courteous in the social relations, and was kindly and toler- ant in his judgment of others. Mr. Parmly held a secure place in the regard and esteem of the community in which the major portion

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of his life was passed, and he will long be remembered as one who made his life count for good in all its relations.

Though never desirous of public office and having no wish to enter the turbulent stream of "practical politics," Mr. Parmly was ever arrayed as a stanch supporter of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor, and in local affairs he gave his support and influence to men and measures meeting the approval of his judgment, with- out special regard to absolute partisan lines. He was an appreciative and valued member of the Painesville post of the Grand Army of the Republic, was also affiliated with the Ma- sonic fraternity, and his religious faith was signified by his membership in the Christian, or Disciples church, with whose work he was actively identified and to whose support he contributed with much liberality.

As a young man Mr. Parmly was united in marriage to Miss Marian A. Woods, of Perry township, and she died in 1899, leaving no children. On the 3d of January, 1901, was solemnized his marriage to Miss Mary E. Bar- rett, who was born and reared in Lake county and who is a daughter of F. E. and Ruth (Stephens) Barrett, who now maintain their residence in Painesville. Mr. and Mrs. Parmly became the parents of two children-Henry B. and Ruth Eliza, and Mrs. Parmly still main- tains her home in the fine old residence erected by her late and honored husband. She has been prominent in connection with the relig- ious and social life of Painesville and is a de- voted member of the Disciples church in this village.

HERBERT O. HUTSON is one of the intelligent and prosperous citizens of Randolph town- ship, Portage county, who, after enjoying a business success of many years in his home community, returned to the old paternal farm, doubled it in area and made it into a modern and valuable country place. His parents, Or- ville and Marie (Clark) Hutson, were both natives of the Western Reserve, who, early in their married life, located in Edinburg town- ship, their homestead comprising 160 acres of land. In 1848 they moved to Michigan, where Herbert O. was born on the 19th of March, 1851. The family remained in the Wolverine state until 1861, returning to Ohio in May, 1863. At the latter date a home was again established on a farm of ninety-five acres, in Randolph township-this original tract being

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History of the Western Reserve, Vol. II, Part 54

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