Memorial record of the county of Cuyahoga and city of Cleveland, Ohio, Pt.1, Part 38

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. 1n
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 994


USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Memorial record of the county of Cuyahoga and city of Cleveland, Ohio, Pt.1 > Part 38


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Both he and his wife, nee Alice Beck, mar- ried in 1880, are communicants of the First Baptist Church of Cleveland, and they are numbered among the leading families of the eity.


Mr. Newman was born in Cleveland in 1859, a son of James Newman, who was born in England and came to Cleveland abont 1851. He was an engineer by trade, and on coming to Cleveland accepted a position as an engineer.


H ORACE R. SANBORN, the genial cashier of the State National Bank of Cleveland, became identified with the banking interests of this eity August 29, 1872, when he accepted a position as collector for the Ohio National Bank. After acceptable service in this capacity for a time he was given a set of books, which he kept until he was ap- pointed teller in 1887. In 1890 he became as- sistant eashier, and January 1, 1893, cashier.


Mr. Sanborn was born in this city, June 29, 1854, graduated at the old central high school on Euclid avenue in 1872, and entered the bank immediately after that event. His father, William Sanborn, was a native of the old Bay State, born in Salem, in 1819, and came to Cleveland in 1842, where he was for many years engaged in the grocery business, at the number where the W. P. Southworth Co. is now located. His last years were spent in retirement, having ill health, and he died April 26, 1887. Ilis wife, a Massachusetts lady whose name before marriage was Hannah S. Prine, was highly es- teemed for her religious and charitable work in Cleveland. She was a member of the Church of the Unity, and was one of the founders of the Dorcas Society, of which she was vice presi- dent for a long time. Upon her death, which occurred August 18, 1893, the society passed most appropriate and feeling resolutions con- cerning their loss.


b. M. Sorter.


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Mr. and Mrs. Sanborn's children were: Mrs. Robert B. Wilkinson, who died December 30, 1889; F. W .; and H. R.


The subject of this sketch was married in this city, March 29, 1882, to Miss Rose M. Horne, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Ilorne, natives of England. The children by this marriage are: Grace A., aged ten years; and Ralph W., six.


Mr. Sanborn is a member of the order of Royal Arcanum, Knights of Maccabees and Knights of Pythias, to the last mentioned of which he has devoted the most of his attention. Ile joined it in May, 1877, and has successively filled the various offices within the gift of the lodge (Criterion, No. 68), being their delegate on several occasions to the Grand Lodge. IIe is also a member of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce.


C N. SORTER, a retired farmer and one of the venerable pioneers of northern Ohio, now living at Mayfield, dates his birth in Ovid township, Cayuga (now Seneca) county, New York, April 10, 1812.


Elijah Sorter, the father of C. N., a native of Somerset county, New Jersey, went from that State to Seneca county, New York, when he was abont nineteen years of age, and there for some years was engaged in farming. Subse- quently he started a distillery, which he ran for several years. In 1831 he came to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and here he bought land from the Mormons, paying $4 per acre for the same. On this farm he and his family settled, and on it he spent the residue of his life, dying at the advanced ago of eighty-eight years. Having briefly referred to the father of our subject, we turn back for a glimpse at his grandparents. His grandfather, Henry Sorter, better known as " Unelo Hank," was of Dateh descont, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Grand-


mother Sorter was also of Dutch descent. In her early life she was on one occasion captured by the Indians. At another time one of the other members of the family was captured by the red men, but the release of this one was purchased by twenty-two pounds of tobacco. Grandmother Sorter lived to an advanced age. Indeed, the Sorter family have been noted for longevity. The mother of Mr. C. N. Sorter also reached the ripe old age of eighty-eight years. Her maiden name was Margaret Mid- daugh, and she, too, was a native of Sussex county, New Jersey, her ancestors being English and Dutch.


C. N. Sorter was the first born in a family of ten children, and was nineteen years of age when he came with his parents to Cuyahoga county, Ohio. Early in life he was inured to hard work. He remained on the farm, assist- ing his father, until he was twenty-two years old, and then started ont to make his own way in the world. IIis whole life has been charac- terized by honest industry. In 1836 we find him at work in Cleveland. He helped to make the brick that were used in the construction of the old " American" in that city. For many years he was engaged in general farming in Mayfield township, up to 1883, since which time he has been retired and has lived in May- field. At one time he owned 210 acres of land, but afterward disposed of a portion of it and now retains 125 acres. This land he has rented.


In his political relations Mr. Sorter has been identified with the Republican party ever since its organization. He has filled most of the township offices; was Justice of the Peace and Township Treasurer for eleven years, and for a number of years Trustee. Ile has long been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Mayfield. When the Methodists built their house of worship at Mayfield he was a member of its building committee, and ever since the church was organized here he has been one of its Trustees. He has also beon a member of the Old Settlers' Association of Cleveland since it was organized.


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Mr. Sorter was first married in 1838, to Miss Almira Worrallo, who died some years later, leaving three children, namely: Pearson, who was killed at the battle of Franklin, Tennessee, while in the service of the Union; Dr. Henry Sorter, of Goshen, Indiana; and Wilber, a prominent citizen of Mayfield township, this county. October 18, 1855, Mr. Sorter married Wealthy Warner. She also died and left three children, a record of whom is as follows: Ella, wife of Alfred Willis, died February 21, 1883, leaving two sons, Clare and Harry; Anna D., at home; and Charles, deceased.


Such is an epitome of the life of one of May- field's honored men.


S W. KNAPP, who is ranked with the old settlers of Mayfield township, Cuya- hoga county, Ohio, dates his birth in the town of Bristol, Ontario county, New York August 22, 1826.


The Knapps are of Holland descent. Eben- ezer Knapp, the grandfather of our subjeet, was born in New York State in 1772. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and during that war his wife made coats for the soldiers. It is said of her that she made one hundred eoats in one hundred days, receiving $1 a piece for them. Russell D. Knapp, a son of Ebenezer, and the father of S. W. Knapp, was born twenty-five miles east of Albany, New York, the date of his birth being January 28, 1803. IIe died in Macomb county, Michigan, at the age of fifty-three years. By trade he was a wheelwright. The mother of our subject was before her marriage Miss Freelove Livermore. She was born in Vermont in 1807, went to New York when she was four years old with her father, Benjamin Livermore, and in 1825 was married to Mr. Knapp. After their mar- riage they located in Richmond, New York. They became the parents of nine children, all of whom grew up to occupy honorable and use- ful positions in life. A record of these chil-


dren is as follows: Selaeh W., the oldest, is the subject of this article; Emo Jane, deceased; Freelove, deceased; Ebenezer, a resident of Woodstock, Illinois; Harry, Fowlerville, Michi- gan; Mary Ann, Ionia, Michigan; Dorr R., Fowlerville, Michigan; William B., Oak Grove, Michigan; and Grata C., Fowlerville, Michigan. S. W. Knapp spent the first eighteen years of his life at his native place, and there learned the trade of wood turner. November 5, 1844, he landed in Cleveland, Ohio, on that same day came to Gates' Mills in Mayfield township, and here he has since resided. Until 1850 he worked for a Mr. Humphrey, who was engaged in the manufacture of rakes. Then he engaged in the wagon business on his own ac- count, which he continued for twenty years. Subsequently he resumed the manufacture of rakes, and continued the same for eighteen years longer. At this writing he is engaged in the manufacture of overshot water wheels.


Mr. Knapp was married, September 18, 1849, to Maria Gates, who was born near where they now reside, the date of her birth being Deeem- ber 31, 1820. Her parents were Halsey and Lucy Ann (Bralley) Gates. Her father was born in East Hampton, Connecticut, January 1, 1799, and eame to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in 1826. He built the mills here known as Gates' Mills, and ran the same for many years. He bonght his land of the Connecticut Land Company in its wild state, and was one of the very first settlers. Ile helped to survey thie first road from Gates' Mills to Cleveland, estab- lished the first mail ronte between those places, and carried it one year at his own expense. IIe built the first Methodist church at Gates' Mills, and always gave liberally to all religions and charitable institutions, and also remembered the poor. He died October 31, 1865. ITis father Nathanel Gates, was a native of Connectient and a descendant of Puritan ancestors. Mrs. Knapp's mother was born in Delaware connty, New York. She died December 10, 1875. In their family of ton children, eight reached ma- turity, Mrs. Knapp being the second child and


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the oldest daughter.` Mr. and Mrs. Knapp have had a family of children as follows: Hattie E., born December 2, 1850, is the wife of Charles Hoege; George W., born May 1, 1852, was killed June 8, 1872: Russell D., born May, 9, 1854; Halsey G., born March 5, 1857; James E., born September 12, 1858; Charles W., born April 9, 1860, died Angust 8, 1862; Will- iam II., born December 1, 1862; Selie W., born November 28, 1864; Emma L .. born April 10, 1867, is the wife of Thomas Phillips; and Cora A., born July 1, 1869, is the wife of Ernest H. Hunscher.


All these years Mr. Knapp has occupied a prominent place in the town in which he has lived. IIe has served as a Justice of the Peace for nine years and Postmaster for thirteen years. For thirty-seven years he has been identified with the Masonic fraternity, now having his membership with the lodge at Cha- grin Falls.


F FREDERICK A. WYMAN holds the re- sponsible position of auditor of passenger receipts of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway Company. He was born in Syraense, New York, August 20, 1851. Ilis father, John F. Wyman, was for many years a prominent business man and was one of the founders, and a long time editor, of the Syra- cuse Standard. Ilis mother was a daughter of Judge Sylvanus Tousley, of Manlius, Onondaga county, New York.


From the early age of eight Mr. Wyman has lived in Cleveland, and was long a pupil in the old Rockwell school. In the summer of 1869 he secured a clerkship in the wholesale grocery store of Gordon & McMillen; after remaining in their employ two years he was engaged as book-keeper for Vincent, Sturm & Co., who con- dneted on Water street in this city one of the largest furniture stores in the West. From this employment he entered the service of the Lake


Shore & Michigan Sonthern Railway as a clerk in the office of Auditor Leland. By faithful attention to business and a peculiar aptitude for the duties of his work, he rose by successive promotions until, in November, 1888, he was appointed to his present position. Hle is a member of the Association of American Rail- way Accounting Officers.


Mr. Wyman is the youngest of live brothers, three of whom survive. He was married, in June, 1876, to Clara B., daughter of David and Elizabeth Patton. Their only child, Lawrence A., was born January 27, 1883.


C P. HODGES, a passenger conductor on the Valley Railroad, came to Cleveland in his boyhood from Rochester, New York, in 1855: he was born in that city in 1853. Ile obtained his education in the public schools of Cleveland, Fremont and University Heights, and at Humiston Institute, now defunct. May 1, 1867, he began on the railroad as a messenger boy in the telegraph oflico of the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad in Cleveland. When thus employed he learned telegraphy, and when able to take a key he was given a position at Youngstown, Ohio. Becoming dissatisfied with this work, he seeured a transfer to Cleveland as yard clerk under Yardmaster M. D. Francisco; next he was employed in the freight office of the same company; next he found himself in Cincinnati, and some months later he secured a job as fireman on the Ohio & Mississippi Rail- road between Cincinnati and Seymour, Indiana. The next year he returned to Cleveland and be- came a fireman on the Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling Railroad, and in 1874 went to work on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern road, as a yard clerk; again was he a yard brakeman and yard conductor, and finally yard master, in the Collinwood yard. In 1883 he went to East St. Louis, Illinois, where he was employed as yard master on the Indianapolis & St. Louis, for a year; then in November, 1884, he came


16


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to Cleveland and engaged with the Valley Com- pany as yard master at Akron, Ohio; in 1887 he was given a passenger train as conductor, where he has since served most acceptably.


Onr subject is a son of Perry Hodges, de- ceased, who was a locomotive engineer, born near Rochester, New York, and before coming to Cleveland was an employee of the New York Central Railroad, and here he was an engineer on the Cleveland & Pittsburg line. He was killed March 31, 1858, at Mingo Jimetion, by accident, when he was thirty-five years of age. For his wife he had married Caroline Harring- ton, who is still living, at the age of fifty-nine years, and married to Joseph Miller. She is the mother of two children: C. P. Hodges and Luella Miller: the latter married W. J. Hannon of Missoula, Montana. Mr. C. P. Hodges mar- ried first in 1873, Miss Emma Long, who died in March, next year; and May 30, 1878, Mr. Hodges. married Miss Harriet A. Drake, a daughter of James N. Drake, a farmer of North- field, Summit county, where he early settled from New York State. IIe married Emeline Cranny, and died in 1889, aged sixty-seven years. Ilis children were: Mrs. Hodges, and W. O. Drake, of IIngh avenue, Cleveland. Mr. and Mrs. Hodges have two children: Ollie, born in February, 1879; and Charles O., No- vember 1, 1882.


Mr. Hodges is a prominent member of the Order of Railway Conductors, of which he was Chief Condnetor for five years. He is now en- tering upon his third year as Secretary and Treasurer. He is also a member of Thateher Chapter and the Forest City Commandry of the Masonie order.


H ENRY W. RUSSELL, who is engaged in farming in Mayfield township; Cnya- hoga county, Ohio, is a native of this place, born September 9, 1840.


Lyman Russell, his father, came from Massa- chusetts, of which State he was a native, and was one of the very earliest settlers of north-


eastern Ohio, he having located at Mentor abont 1804. From there he came to Cuyahoga county in 1838, and settled on the farm on which the subject of our sketch now lives. Here Lyman Russell passed the residne of his life and died, his death oeenrring when he was eighty-one years of age. His father, Abel Russell, was a native of Massachusetts, was of English de- scent, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. The mother of Henry W. Russell was before her marriage Miss Fidelia Taggart. Her birth- place was Blandford, Massachusetts. She died in October, 1893, on the sixty-third anniversary of her wedding.


The subject of onr sketch was the third son and third born in a family of five sons and one daughter. In his native township he was reared and edneated, and for some time was en- gaged in teaching school in this township and in other parts of the county. In 1862 he en- listed in Company D, One Hundred and Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a private, and was in the service until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. The war over, Mr. Russell returned to his home in Mayfield township, his health greatly impaired, and as soon as he had sufficiently recovered he engaged in farming, which occupation has since claimed his attention.


He was married, October 20, 1869, to Miss Ida Pinney, who was born in this township September 5, 1844. Her father, Amherst Pinney, a native of Ohio, located on his present farm in Cuyahoga county in 1842. All the buildings and improvements ou his farm have been placed there by him. Mrs. Russell's mother, nee Jennetta Skinner, also a native of Ohio, died in 1861. Mrs. Russell is the oldest of their five children, four daughters and one son. Mr. Russell and his wife have two ehil- dren, a son and danghter: Merton II., who is now in Buffalo, New York, and May F., at home.


After his marriage Mr. Russell located in Mentor, where he spent four years, and from there in 1874 came to his present farm. Ilere


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he owns fifty acres of choice land and carries on general farming. In local affairs he has ever taken an active and commendable interest. Ile served as Township Clerk eight years, as a member of the School Board four terms, and as Township Assessor three terms, and in 1893 was elected a Justice of the Peace. He votes with the Republican party. For twenty-three years he has been a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and during twenty successive years of that time served as Sunday- school Superintendent.


OHIN WILHELM, chief clerk for the general baggage agent of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad and a member of the City Council from the Ninth District of Cleveland, was born on the river Rhine, in Germany, in the year 1859. When ten years of age he came to the United States with an aunt, his parents being then dead. Two or more of his first years in Cleveland Mr. Wil- helm spent in school, learning our language and making other preparation necessary to entering business. His first employer was J. P. Hoff, an uncle, a leading grocer of Cleveland, with whom he remained five years, going thence to Adams & Goodwillie, wholesale clothiers. With this firm Mr. Wilhelm had a position so long as it existed. ITis interest in the welfare of the concern and his ambition to give the best ser- vice at his disposal to his new employers at once became evident to them, and an unusual attachment sprang up between them; and when the firm began reducing its working force pro- paratory to discontinuing business, Mr. Wil- helm was the last to go. Before he did leave them his present position was seenred for him by the kindness of the firm. In his presont position Mr. Wilhelm is now completing his twelfth year,-a fact which speaks more con- vincingly than eloquence as to his ability and efficiency.


Mr. Wilhelm identified himself with the Democratic party on arriving at mature age, and has been known for some years as a molder of sentiment in his ward. In 1891 he was nominated by his party to make the race for Councilman from the new Ninth District under the " Federal " plan. In this he was successful and was again elected in 1893, the second time receiving a majority of 456 votes. Ilis official duties are performed fearlessly and from a con- viction of right. The interests of his constitu- ents are learned and served by voice and vote, and no man can challenge him as possessing an embarrassing record.


November 8, 1881, Mr. Wilhelmn married, in Rockford, Maggie M. Baetz. Their children numbered four, but Edward G. alone is living.


Mr. Wilhelm for some years past has mani- fested a great interest in the fraternal order, the Knights of St. John. Of this order he is serving his second term as Supreme President, being re-elected unanimously at Pittsburg in 1893. At their meeting in Chicago he was elected to a membership on the Supreme Board, and was re-elected in Cincinnati. IIe has served St. George Commandry as Captain since its or- ganization by him, and was at different times, for a half dozen years, its President. He has also been General Secretary of the First Bat- talion Life Insurance Association of the Knights of St. John of Cleveland for several terms, and he is also Financial Secretary of the C. M. B. A.


A C. BALDWIN, a locomotive engineer on the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad, was born in Solon, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, January 25, 1862, a son of II. Baldwin, who was born in Aurora, this State, in 1825. He has been a life-long farmer, and now resides at Newburg, Ohio. His father, Eliakim Baldwin, was a native of New Hamp- shire, but became a resident of Ohio in early day. The mother of Mr. Baldwin, nec Mahala Mcclintock, was a daughter of Samuel MeClin-


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tock, a native of New Hampshire who became a pioneer of Ohio.


A. C. Baldwin, the youngest in order of birth of three children, received such educational ad- vantages as were extended to children of par- ents in moderate ciremmstances. At the age of fourteen years he located in Cleveland, where he was employed as clerk in the store of George Smith, on St. Clair street, two years; clerked for A. M. lyler, of Geneva, Ashtabula county, the same length of time; and in 1880 returned to Cleveland. Mr. Baldwin then began firing on a locomotive on the Erie Railroad, his first engineers being R. M. Shane and D. W. Fleet. After five years spent at that occupation, he was promoted to the position of engineer. In his social relations, Mr. Baldwin is a member of the B. of L. E., of the Grievance Committee for the Erie Road, of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Riverside Council, Royal Arcanum.


October 17, 1880, in Saybrook, Ashtabula connty, Ohio, he was united in marriage with Etta V., only child of William and Sylvina (Russell) Andrews. Mr. Andrews, a farmer by occupation, was at one time a resident of Erie, Pennsylvania. He died on January 22, 1891, at the age of sixty years. Mr. and Mrs. Bald- win have two children living-Eva Ethel, born February 4, 1884; and Harrold, born September 18, 1890; and one deceased, Gracie, born Sep- tember 8, 1881, and died January 2, 1883.


W D. HERRINGTON, yard master for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company, and one of their trusted employees, is a child of the road, for the reason that on it he took his first lesson in railroading and with it he has remained ever since. IIe entered the company's service in 1871 as switch tender at Rockport, whiel posi- tion he filled, together with acting as agent, until promoted yard conductor. In dne time he was transferred to Whisky Island as assist- ant night yard master, returning to Rockport


in 1888 as day yard master and remaining till June 14, 1893, when he was transferred to his present location.


Mr. Herrington is a member of a pioneer Cuyahoga county family. His paternal grand- father, David B. Herrington, came to Cleveland in 1822, settled in the region of Rockport and spent his life in agricultural pursuits. Ho mar- ried Almay Cord, who bore him seven children, only four of whom are now living. L. B., Junior, father of our subject, was the first born. Ile is now a Rockport farmer, aged sixty-nine. The mother of W. D. Herrington, nce Harriet L. Thorp, is the daughter of Warren Thorp, who was born in Cleveland when there were not more than three log huts in the place. Mr. Thorp was from New England, probably Ver- mont. L. B. Herrington is the father of five children: Clara J., widow of George Hardy, at Laporte; Ellis, at Dover, Ohio; W. D .; Alphens J .; and Hanna A., deceased. October 23, 1874, W. D. Herrington was married, in Parma, Ohio, to Maria J., a daughter of Thomas Biddulph, of English birth. He married Hanna Dutton, and they became the parents of eleven children, three of whom are deceased. The living are: Tillie, who married William Langrell; Ella, wife of Ilyram Goodale; Lina, wife of Levi Meacham, County Clerk; Belle, who married Joseph Sarver; and Mary, widow of Thomas Heffron; and Mrs. Herrington; and Thomas Biddulph married Rebecca Numan; Joseph is single. Camilla B., aged three years, is the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Herrington.


Mr. Herrington is a thirty-second-degree Mason, belonging to Lake Erie Consistory, Forest City Commandery, Thatcher Chapter and Brooklyn (blue) Lodge.


C H. CRALL, passenger conductor on the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Lonis Railroad, was born in Richland county, Ohio, March 22, 1839, a son of George Crall, who was born and reared in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. In 1832 he came to Richland


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county, Ohio, where he improved a farm, and remained there until his death, in February, 1888, at the age of eighty years. He married Maria Woods, and they had seven children, viz .: C. W., deceased, was a gradnate of a Cleveland Homeopathic College; John J., who died in the spring of 1863; C. 11., the subject of this sketch; Sarah, wife of James Pittinger, of Shiloh, Ohio; Susannah and Mary, both deceased in 1864; and Frank S., freight conductor on the Big Four Road. John Crall, grandfather of C. H., was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and his death occurred in Richland connty, Ohio, in 1847, when he was aged eighty-one years. Ile married Sarah Fackler, and they had eight children,-John, Simon, George, Jacob, Mary, Elizabeth, Sarah and Susannah. The great- grandfather of John Crall was born in Alsace, France, and was the founder of the family in this country. The name was originally spelled Krall.




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