USA > Ohio > History of the Western Reserve, Vol. II > Part 96
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107
ROBERT C. CAMPBELL is farming one of the historic old places of Portage county, a place which his father cleared and improved many years ago, and the son is continuing the work with the same ability and success manifested by his father in pioneer days. Born on the 20th of August, 1879, he is a son of Joel Cur- tis and Louisa A. (Allison) Campbell, the father from Charlestown, Ohio, and the mother from Pennsylvania. His grandparents on the paternal side, Homer and Prudence Campbell, came here from Massachusetts and became large land owners, Homer Campbell having owned farms in both Charlestown and Edin- burg townships. The son, Joel Curtis, how- ever, shifted for himself from the time he was a small boy, and as a youth of twenty-one he purchased his first farm of 190 acres, which is located along the old canal bed for a half mile. This farm is historic from the fact that here former President Garfield trod up and down the tow path during his early youth. One hundred and thirty acres of this original purchase yet remains in the Campbell name,
and in the years which have since come and gone, five mills, five store buildings, a black- smith shop and a carpenter shop have since been erected on the land, and the ruins of the old still yet lie in the creek bed. Joel C. Campbell cleared this place from its native growth of timber, and he lived and labored for the interests of his family and community for many years, and finally passed to his re- ward, rich in years of faithful service and duties well performed. Two children were born to Joel C. and Louisa Campbell-Robert C. and Richard T. Joel C. Campbell had mar- ried first, Harriet Long, by whom he had two children : Fred J., and Sylvia E., who was married to William Turnbull.
Robert C. Campbell remained at home with his parents during their lives, and after their death inherited his farm in Charlestown town- ship. His home is rich in relics of his ances- tors, and among these cherished possessions is the old family Bible issued in 1812. In poli- tics he upholds the principles of his family, the Democratic, and he is also upholding the hon- ored family name for good citizenship and worth of character.
HENRY JOHN HAHN was born in Amherst township, Lorain county, Ohio, April 20, 1868, a son of John and Mary ( Holtzhatter) Hahn. John Hahn was born in Kalkobst, Germany, and his wife was born in Hessen-Kassel, Ger- many. John Hahn's parents emigrated to America in 1838, coming. in a sailing vessel to New York; they settled in Amherst town- ship, where they bought timber land, which they cleared and cultivated.
John Hahn was born in 1837 and married in Amherst in 1864; his wife came to Amherst in 1862, when twenty-four years of age. They settled in Amherst, and he was employed in a stone quarry and was also a teamster. He purchased a farm in Elyria township, which he sold ten vears later and bought a farm in Amherst township. He was killed by falling from a load of hay on December 4, 1903, and his wife died in November, 1900. They had four children, namely: Mary, Mrs. C. C. Ste- venson, of Brownhelm township; Henry J .; Charles, of Wellington, Ohio; and Elizabeth, a teacher in Elyria, Ohio.
Henry J. Hahn received his education in the public schools and remained with his par- ents until fourteen years of age, and afterward was employed at farm work for eight years, except for four months when he attended the
1209
HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE
district school. He attended Oberlin Busi- ness College during the winter of 1892-3 and then worked about a year as clerk in a grocery store. For three years he was employed in various capacities, and then he established him- self in business in a general store at South Amherst, where he remained three years. At the end of that time he purchased fifty acres of the Sackett estate in the southern part of Amherst township; he has improved and re- modeled the buildings, and carries on general farming. Mr. Hahn is an enterprising, pro- gressive farmer, and has been markedly snc- cessful ; he raises some stock and keeps a dairy. He takes an active interest in local affairs, and politically is a Democrat. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Plato Lodge, No. 203, and of Hickory Tree Grange, of Amherst.
Mr. Hahn married, November 23, 1898, Angie Remington, born in Amherst township February 25, 1869; she was educated in the district school and spent one year at the high school of Geneva, Ohio. She is a daughter of John and Marie (Spencer) Remington, the former born in Amherst and his wife in La- grange township. His parents were Henry and Matilda (Williams) Remington, the for- mer a native of Connecticut and the latter of Massachusetts; they came to Pittsfield town- ship, Lorain county, Ohio, with two yoke of oxen and one horse, in 1822, starting in Febru- ary and arriving in March. John Remington's wife was a daughter of Eliel and Angeline (Rockwood) Spencer, the former born in Genesee county, New York, and the latter in Jefferson county, New York ; he was born in 1809 and came to Lagrange township in 1830, and she was born in 1814 and came to La- grange township in 1826. Mr. Hahn and his wife have been blessed with children as fol- lows: Harry John, born November 6, 1899; Fern Remington, May 20, 1903; Ralph Spen- cer. December 25, 1904; and Grace Louise, September 3, 1907.
J. M. PLAISTED is a native of Lake county, having been born at Kirtland, February 9, 1839; he is the son of Roger and Susan (An- drews) Plaisted, who were both residents of Maine, and were married in that state. Soon after their marriage they removed to the West- ern Reserve, settling at Kirtland in 1832. Roger Plaisted was a mason by trade, and in the years 1832-3-4 helped build the Mormon Temple, which was completed in 1834. Later
he purchased a farm near Kirtland, in the woods, on which he lived for forty years, working some at his trade. He was a good mechanic. In his later years he sold his farm and lived in the village of Kirtland. He did not care for public office, preferring to spend his time in the interest of his own business affairs. Upon coming to Lake county he was not unfavorable to the Mormons, but after liv- ing among them and observing their beliefs and practices, he became bitterly opposed to their faith; while he did not seek to annoy them in any way, when his indignation was aroused he fought against them. In the old Mormon Temple polygamy was preached, and this was very repugnant to many. He finally embraced the faith of spiritualism, and died in this belief. His death occurred in 1877, at the age of eighty-four, and his wife died in 1879, aged seventy-nine. They had three chil- dren, namely: Martha, became Mrs. Brooks, and resides in Kirtland ; Joseph M .; and Will- iam H., who was a farmer in Kirtland, and died in 1908, aged sixty-eight, leaving three children. His wife is also dead.
Joseph M. Plaisted lived on the farm at South Kirtland with his parents about six years, and from his father learned the trade of mason. He also learned the trade of car- penter. He spent thirteen months, from Au- gust, 1863, to September, 1864, in the United States navy, and he served in the United States gunboat Carondelet, on the Mississippi river, and took part in several engagements. He served in the expedition under General Banks. After his time had expired he was wounded while in retreat down the river, and this has left him with a permanent lameness. After his discharge he returned to South Kirt- land, where he again engaged in work at the mason's trade, which has since been his occu- pation. He is a contractor as well as mason, and erected the first large bank building at Willoughby, Ohio. However, he generally prefers working for other contractors. After the death of his parents he left his native town, and in March, 1889, settled in Painesville, which has since been his home.
Mr. Plaisted follows the opinions of his father in being bitterly opposed to the prac- tices of the Mormons. However, he can not embrace the faith of spiritualism, and is not a believer in the supernatural. He is well in- formed and a deep thinker, and his belief is that events come about through natural pro- cesses, that no great power is interfering with
1210
HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE
the natural course of nature and nature's laws. In political opinions he generally favors the Republican party, though he is able to see good in all parties, and prefers to do his own think- ing and form his own opinions. However, he does not care for public office. He is a Mason, having been for forty-four years a member of the blue lodge.
LEMUEL H. KIMBALL .- 'It may well be said that the patent of nobility which rested its honors and distinction in the person of the late Lemuel H. Kimball came from high au- thority, since it was based on fine character and marked ability. His life was marked by valuable and generous accomplishment along practical, productive lines, and his measure of success was large; but greater than this was the intrinsic loyalty to principle, the deep human sympathy and the broad intellectuality that designated the man as he was. His career as a business man and a citizen was such as to advance the welfare of others as well as him- self, and he had a high sense of his steward- ship, though at all times significantly free from ostentation. His was the reserve that indi- cates fine mental and moral fiber, and he wielded much influence in the community in which his entire life was passed, his death having occurred in his home in the village of Madison, Lake county, on the 23d of Novem- ber, 1909. In usefulness to the community he surpassed many another man who has attained to more publicity. Measured by the good he accomplished, his life was a benefaction, and its usefulness continues cumulative now that he has passed away, venerable in years and secure in the high regard of all who knew him.
Lemuel Hastings Kimball came of stanch New England Puritan stock and was a scion of a family founded in America in the early colonial era. The lineage is traced in a direct way to Richard Kimball, who came from Ips- wich, Suffolk county, England, and settled at Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1634. In 1636 he removed to Ipswich, Massachusetts, named in honor of his old home in England, and there he continued to reside until his death, which occurred on the 22d of June, 1675. Rec- ords extant bear evidence that he was a sturdy Puritan, devout in his religions views and ef- forts, well-to-do according to the standard of the locality and period, and prominent and in- fluential in the affairs of the new settlement.
Lemuel H. Kimball was born in the old homestead of the family in Madison village,
Lake county, Ohio, on the 20th of January, 1833, and was a representative of the third generation of the family in this favored sec- tion of the Western Reserve, with whose his- tory the name has been prominently and hon- orably linked for a consecutive period of nearly a century, implying that the family was among the earliest to make settlement in Lake county, whose development and upbuilding have been signally forwarded by the members of this well known family, as one generation has fol- lowed another on to the stage of life's activi- ties.
Abel Kimball, father of the subject of this memoir, was born in Rindge, New Hamp- shire, on the 18th of January, 1801, and about a decade later, in 1812, his parents removed from New England to the fine old Western Reserve of Ohio, settling in Madison town- ship, Lake county, with whose annals the name has been identified during the long intervening years. Here Abel Kimball was reared to man- hood amidst the conditions and influences of the pioneer epoch, receiving such educational advantages as the locality afforded, and early manifesting the most virile and generous at- "tributes of character. Here he lived and la- bored for nearly seventy years, devoting his attention largely to agricultural pursuits and becoming a man of much prominence and in- fluence in the community. His father, Lemuel Kimball, likewise had been a citizen of ster- ling character and marked influence, contribut- ing his quota to the material and social devel- opment of the section in which he continued to reside until his death, as did also his wife, whose maiden name was Polly Cutler. Gen- eral Abel Kimball, as he was familiarly known, was called upon to serve in many positions of public trust and responsibility and was well known throughout the Western Reserve as a man of distinctive ability and of impregnable integrity of character, so that he well merited the unqualified confidence and esteem in which he was uniformly held. In the early history of the Western Reserve much attention was here paid to military affairs, the interest in the same being heightened by the war of 1812, which so closely touched this section, and General Kimball early became prominent in connection with the state militia, to which the greater pro- portion of the young men of the day belonged, "training days" being events of marked popu- lar interest and local celebrity. As a young man General Kimball effected the organization of a militia company, of which he was chosen
1 H. Kimball.
I2II
HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE
commander, and through the regular grades of promotion he rose to the rank of brigadier general, which gave him the title by which he was known throughout the residue of his long and useful life. He served two terms as sher- iff of Lake county and he also represented the county for three terms in the state legislature. He also gave valuable service of more local order, having been incumbent of the offices of township trustee, real estate appraiser and jus- tice of the peace, in Madison township, and having served in the last mentioned capacity for several terms. He exerted much influence in connection with the promotion and carry- ing through of public and semi-public enter- prises that greatly conserved the progress of the Western Reserve. While a member of the legislature he obtained voluntarily, unso- licited by his constituents, the charter for the Cleveland, Painesville & Ashtabula Railroad, whose line is now a part of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern system. He designated the incorporators of the same and was actively identified with the organization of the com- pany, securing subscriptions to its capital stock and also the right of way for the road. He presided at the meeting, in Cleveland, at which the company was formally organized, and he thereafter continued to serve as treasurer of the corporation until the infirmities of advanc- ing years prompted his voluntary retirement from the office. General Kimball was a zeal- ous supporter of every local measure and un- dertaking tending to advance the best interests of the community, giving a specially active support to religions and educational objects. In the home of his father was organized the first church in Madison township and he him- self united with the second church in the town- ship on the Ist of March, 1834, this being the Central Congregational church. About 1855, as the result of an injury that seemed slight at the time but which developed into perma- nent spinal trouble, he lost the use of his legs, and he was confined to his chair during the last seventeen years of his life, bearing his affliction with fortitude and equanimity, born of a strong and faithful nature. He was sum- moned to the life eternal in July, 1880. On the 26th of September, 1830. General Kimball was united in marriage to Miss Philena Hast- ings, who was born at Greenfield, Massachu- setts, June 13, 1800. She died in 1887. Lem- uel H. Kimball was the first in order of birth and was the only child who grew to manhood. A brother, Addison Russell, died in infancy.
In view of the migratory tendency of the average American of the present day, there is special satisfaction in noting the more salient points in the career of one who found ample scope for the utilization of his powers and also eminent individual solace and gratification in remaining in the place of his birth continu- ously until he was called forward to the "land of the leal," nearly four score years later. This is true of Lemuel Hastings Kimball, to whom this sketch is dedicated and who was nearly seventy-seven years of age at the time of his demise. In his life and labors he set at naught all application of the scriptural aphorism that "a prophet is not without honor save in his own country," for he fully upheld the prestige of the honored name that he bore, marked the passing years with good works and generous accomplishment in connection with the prac- tical affairs of life, and ever commanded the unequivocal confidence and esteem of the com- munity in which he was born and reared and in which he was content to remain until he was summoned to his final reward.
In view of the conditions thus existing, it is most consistent, as well as gratifying, to be able to quote from an appreciative article pub- lished in a Madison paper at the time of his demise, as these words give in a measure the estimate placed upon the man by those to whom he was best known: "As a loyal and public-spirited citizen Mr. Kimball has fre- quently been honored with positions of trust and usefulness, and in many ways the com- munity has felt the impress of his ideas and character. At the organization of the Ex- change Bank of Madison, in 1875, he was elected its president, and he remained in that office continuously up to the time of his death. Thus for many years he has been closely iden- tified with the business interests of Madison, in which the integrity of his character and his spirit of fairness have been a power felt by all. "No estimate of Mr. Kimball's life would be complete that did not give large recognition of his relationship with the church. It was ever a matter of pride with him that the first church organized in Madison township was organized in the home of his grandfather, Lemuel Kimball, more than ninety-five years ago. This old homestead was the site of that in which he himself resided during the entire course of his life. Mr. Kimball united with the Central Congregational church on the Ist of April, 1855. and as clerk, trustee, Sunday- school superintendent and deacon he held some
I212
HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE
official position in this church during most of the fifty-four years of his membership. Surely no member could have been more loyal or had a deeper interest in the work and welfare of the church than did he.
"With his marriage, at Madison, Ohio, on the 18th of October, 1866, to Miss Caroline Nash, of Hinsdale, Massachusetts, there began a home life that through more than forty years, broken only by her death, was almost ideal in its mutual sympathies and perfect confi- dence, while the generous hospitality of the home made it a bright spot in the memories of many, far and near. The first great sorrow came to the home a little more than five years ago, when the oldest son, Homer Nash Kim- ball, loved and honored by all, was taken away. Just three years later came another and greater trial, when the beloved wife and mother was called to the other world. These heavy be- reavements were patiently and courageously borne, yet as time went on Mr. Kimball's heart was more and more reaching out to that other land, and when, after months of failing strength and constant pain, the summons came, it came to one who was asking to be taken home. Madison has lost in Mr. Kim- ball an upright business man, a public-spirited citizen, a sincere Christian gentleman, and a generous, helpful friend and neighbor."
It may be said, by way of reversion to the earlier life of Mr. Kimball, that he was reared under the influences of the farm and that he never withdrew his allegiance from the great basic industry of agriculture, having had large farming interests at the time of his death. His education in a preliminary way was that af- forded by the common schools, but this was broadened and amplified by wide reading and by active association with men and affairs. In politics Mr. Kimball was a stalwart sup- porter of the cause of the Republican party, and he served many years as a member of the board of education of Madison, taking a deep interest in popular education and in providing the best facilities available.
Mrs. Caroline (Naslı) Kimball, a woman of gentle and gracious personality, was a daugh- ter of Edward Taylor Nash and Charlotte (Frissell) Nash. Her father was a merchant at Hinsdale, Massachusetts, was a man of prominence and influence in his community, and continued his residence in Hinsdale until his death.
In conclusion is entered brief record con- cerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Kim-
ball, all having been born in the old family homestead in Madison : Homer Nash, who was born October II, 1867, died August 31, 1904, as has already been noted in a preceding para- graph; Abel was born December 19, 1869; Leila Helen was born March 16, 1873; Carl Russell was born July 3, 1876; and Elizabeth Seaton Kimball was born January 11, 1880. All of the children were educated at Oberlin College. Carl R. Kimball was married to Miss Ethel Felice Sutton, of Saugatuck, Mich- igan, on the 30th of July, 1903, and the other children are not married, continuing. to reside in the old homestead, endeared to them by the gracious memories and associations of the past. Abel and Carl R. are engaged in the hard- ware and plumbing business in Madison, under the firm name of Kimball Brothers, and are representative young business men of their native county. The two children of Carl R. and Ethel F. Kimball are: Warner Hastings Kimball, born June 24, 1904, and Caroline Elizabeth Kimball, born February 1, 1908.
PORTER O. CLARK .- An enterprising, prac- tical and progressive agriculturist of Medina county, Porter O. Clark is proprietor of one of the most attractive farms in the vicinity of Medina, and is here prosperously engaged in general farming and stock-raising, exercising great skill and good judgment in the manage- ment of his valuable property. A son of the late Cyrus E. Clark, he was born June 12, 1851, on the parental homestead, in Medina township, of pioneer stock.
The branch of the Clark family from which he is descended was first represented in the United States by one, William Clark, who emi- grated from England to this country, locating in Connecticut. In 1662, in company with twenty-seven young men from Hartford, Windsor and Wethersfield, Connecticut, he founded the town of Haddam, in Middlesex county, Connecticut, becoming one of its orig- inal householders. He died in 1681, in Had- dam, leaving four sons and five daughters, all of whom were born before his removal to Haddam. His property at his death was val- ued at £412. The line from the emigrant an- cestor to the present generation is thus traced : William Clark (I) : Sergeant John Clark (2) ; John Clark (3) : Deacon Ebenezer Clark (4) ; Ebenezer Clark (5): Ebenezer Clark (6), born December 4, 1786, married Sally San- ford, who was born in Litchfield. Connecticut, October 6, 1792, came in 1838 to Medina
1213
HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE
county, Ohio, settling on a farm, where they spent their remaining years, her death occur- ring in 1861, and his in 1867.
Cyrus E. Clark was born February 22, 1819, in Litchfield county, Connecticut, and came with his parents to Medina county, Ohio, in 1838, being the third son in a family of six children. He became a farmer from choice, and was quite prominent for many years in public affairs, and being widely known throughout the Western Reserve. He died at his residence in Medina in 1904, honored and respected as a man and a citizen. He mar- ried, May 31, 1847, Harriet A. Oviatt, who was born in Washington township, Litchfield county, Connecticut, a daughter of John A. and Caroline (Mason) Oviatt, and a grand- daughter of Elisha Mason, a soldier in the Revolutionary war, who drew a pension from the government for his brave services. Four children were born of their union, namely: Porter O., the subject of this brief sketch; Fanny R .; Arthur L., engaged in mercantile business in Winsted, Connecticut ; and Frank- lin J., living at home. Cyrus E. Clark was an active and successful farmer, living three miles northeast of Medina, his farm containing 180 acres of rich and arable land.
The eldest child of the parental household, Porter O. Clark attended first the district schools, afterwards pursuing his studies for three years in the Medina high school, and later studying in Painesville Academy for six months. Returning to the farm, he assisted his father for two years, and then formed a part- nership with him, which continued a number of years. Beginning life then for himself in- dividually, Mr. Clark bought seventy acres of land in Medina township and managed that, at the same time continuing to assist his father. In 1893 he bought the original Clark home- stead of sixty-five acres, and after the death of his father bought sixty acres more, and has since made other purchases, having now in his estate 195 acres of fertile land, well adapted for general farming. Mr. Clark is practical and progressive, and has made valuable im- provements on his place, having erected, in 1901, his large barn, forty feet by seventy- two feet, with twenty-feet posts, and a base- ment nine feet in height, used for protecting stock in winter. Mr. Clark is extensively en- gaged in mixed farming, keeping a large num- ber of work and carriage horses, cows and hogs, and each season raises abundant harvests of corn, hay and oats. He makes a specialty
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.