USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Memorial record of the county of Cuyahoga and city of Cleveland, Ohio, Pt.1 > Part 49
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B T. BLAISDELL, a pioneer engineer on the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Lonis Railroad, was born in Lake Village, New Hampshire, December 8, 1829, a son of Eliphalet Blaisdell, a merchant in early life and afterward a farmer. He was born Sep- tember 25, 1797, and died at the age of ninety- two years and six months. His father was born in New Hampshire before the American Revo- Intion, of English ancestry, married a Miss Malone, and they had the following children: Hannah; John, a sailor; Betsey; IIngh, who served as a Captain in the war of 1812; Elipha- let; and Polly. The father was afterward mar- ried to a Mrs. Oliver. The maiden name of Mr. Blaisdell's mother was Sarah Robinson; her father was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill, Jannary 17, 1776. Mr. and Mrs. Eliphalet Blaisdell had three children, viz: P. O., conduc- tor on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, and died in Chicago; Jacob R., an en- gineer on the same road; and B. T., onr subject.
The latter left home at the age of seventeen years, after receiving only a limited education, went to Lowell, Massachusetts, and was em- ployed in a market one year, and for the follow- ing four years was engaged in teaming in Boston. Hle then decided to try his future in the West, and accordingly located in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1854. In April of the same year Mr. Blaisdell began work as a fireman on the Cleveland, Cin-
cinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, under Engineer Frank Libby, long since deceased. lle remained in that capacity until Christmas, 1861, was then promoted to be engineer, and for the following eight years served in the freight department. During that time an accident oc- curred which came near costing him his life. llis train was nearing Columbus, and while go- ing down the steep grade into town he whistled for brakes, but the brakeman discovered the train to be broken in two. He then lost his en- tire self-possession, and, being unable to render the engineer any assistance, the train went into the yard with such speed that it struek an engine standing on the turn table, sending it into the machine shop, also tore down brick walls, and wrecked things generally. Mr. Blaisdell re- mained with his engine and was nuhurt, but the fireman jumped on entering the roundhouse and was killed, as was a wiper under the engine standing on the turn table. Since 1869 Mr. Blaisdell has been in the passenger service, and has failed to respond to his regular call on very few oceasions, one having been during his visit to the World's Fair. In 1874, with the L. M. IInbby, No. 140, he pulled a Vanderbilt special from Cleveland to Cincinnati, a distance of 245 iniles, in 302 minutes.
Mr. Blaisdell was married in 1880, to Mrs. Singleton.
W ILFRID P. DITTOE, civil engineer for the New York, Chicago & St. Lonis Railroad, is a worthy representa- tive of one of the pioneer families of Perry connty, Ohio, where he was born at Somerset, December 25, 1855. In the spring of 1864 his parents removed to Vineland, New Jersey, where his father engaged in farming; three years later the family returned to the West, set- tling in Covington, Kentucky, some years after- ward removing to Newport, same State. Young Dittoe attended the district schools in New Jer- sey, and while residing in Covington was a pupil
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in the public and Catholie schools. When he had decided to devote his life to the profession of civil engineering he entered the office of Joseph Earnshaw, civil engineer and surveyor, Cincinnati, Ohio. Hle began his studies there April 1, 1872, applying himself diligently to mathematics, and also attending the night classes of MeMicken University and the Ohio Mechanics' Institute.
When the " Nickel Plate " railroad was being constructed Mr. Dittoe resigned his position with Mr. Earnshaw, and entered the service of the construction company as dranghtsman: April 1, 1881, J. A. Lateha was chief engineer with headquarters at Cleveland, Ohio. When the latter resigned in 1884 the position of chief engineer was abolished, and Mr. Dittoe was placed in charge of the office with the title of engineer. Ile had in his care the maps and rec- ords of the company, and designed some of the principal bridges and buildings. He still fills this position, where his ability and integrity have long been recognized and appreciated.
At Buffalo, New York, September 9, 1880, Mr. Dittoe was united in marriage to Isabella Bryans, daughter of Thomas and Jane (Graham) Bryans. Mr. Bryans was born at Glasgow, Scotland, April 1, 1829, and died at Buffalo, November 8, 1886. lle crossed the sea to America in 1846, settling in the village of Arthur, Wellington connty, Canada West, where Mrs. Dittoe was born September 30, 1859.
Jacob Dittoe, the great grandfather of Wilfrid P. Dittoe, was a prominent figure in the carly history of the Catholic Church in Ohio. He donated 320 acres of land near Somerset, Perry county, to Bishop Fenwick, for the purpose of establishing a Dominican convent: his son, Peter, superintended the building of a church thereon, being the first Catholic Church erected in the State. Jacob Dittoe was a son of Joseph Dittoe, who came from Alsace when that prov- inee belonged to Franee; the name was then spelled De Toe. Peter Dittoe, son of Jacob Dittoe, was born at Emmitsburg, Maryland, July 18, 1793, and died at Somerset, Ohio, July
30, 1868. He came to Ohio with his parents in 1802, and in 1812, when the United States called for troops to defend the northern frontier against the invasion of the British, he joined General Harrison's army and aided in giving the arms of the Crown their second American defeat. Ile married Ann Spark, the union be- ing consummated July 4, 1817; Mrs. Dittoc was a danghter of Peter Spark, of Chillicothe, Ohio. There were born to them a family of eight children: Elizabeth, Cecelia, Francis R., Lewis 11., George M., William T., Gertrude and Peter.
George M. Dittoe, l'ather of Wilfrid P., was born at Somerset, Ohio, May 21, 1830. Ile completed the literary course at St. Joseph's College, which was then in existence near Somerset, studied law, and was admitted to the bar, but never engaged in the practice of his profession. Drifting into journalism he became the proprietor and editor of the Democratic Union published at Somerset, and conducted this paper snecessfully until the spring of 1864. For a number of years he has been editor of the Kentucky State Journal, published at Newport. November 28, 1854, he wedded Martha V. Elder, danghter of Charles and Elizabeth Elder, of Somerset, Ohio. Seven children were born of this marriage: Wilfrid P .; Herman A., a resident of Piqua, Ohio; one child that died in infancy; Gussie C., wife of II. T. Bynum, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Ralph E., of Washington, District of Columbia; Lonis G. and Engene C., both citizens of Cincinnati. The mother of this family was born at Somerset, Ohio, July 26, 1834. Charles Elder, her father, was born at Emmitsburg, Maryland, in January, 1793, and died at Lancaster, Ohio, December 8, 1870. Ilis ancestors were among the first Catholic families to settle on Maryland soil, having come over as members of Lord Baltimore's colony in 1634. Mr. Elder removed to Ohio in 1814, but did not settle at Somerset nntil 1823; there he married Elizabeth Lynch, daughter of John and Eliza- beth (Ledwidge) Lynch, of Zanesville, Ohio. . The maternal great-grandparents of our subjeet
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were James and Ann (Hughes) Elder; Ann IInghes was a relative of Archbishop Hughes, and was of Irish descent.
Wilfrid P. Dittoe and his wife, Isabella, are the parents of a family of seven children: Ger- trude; Florence, deceased; Wilfrid, Howard G., Isabella., Gerald C. and Ralph. Mr. Dittoe belongs to the Civil Engineers' Club of Cleve- land, and is one of the leading members of the profession in the State.
C GIBBS, a prominent business man of North Royalton, was born February 6, 1825, in Milford, Massachusetts, a son of Benjamin Gibbs, who was born in the same town, was a cabinet-maker by trade and married Miss Pedee Thayer, and had two children: Cla- rinda, who married Elihm Veber, and Clark, the subject of this sketch. In the autumn of 1825, the father moved with his family to what is now Wyoming county, New York, where the following children were born: Charles, who died at the age of twenty-one years, unmarried, in Royalton township; Leonard, who died in Me- dina county, this State, aged twenty-five years, married; Hiram, who died in Galesburg, Illi- nois, at the age of forty years; and Farnham, now a Disciple minister. In New York State Mr. Benjamin Gibbs owned and managed a nice Farm of 188 acres, and worked at his trade of cabinet-making, and also built and ran a saw- mill. To seenre water-power for the mill he excavated an extensive ditch, in which work his health was greatly impaired. In 1835 he moved to Hamden township, Geauga county, Ohio. Ile sold his farm in New York State, taking mortgages pon it, but, failing to realize upon them, he made a special arrangement, in 1838, with Joseph Post, a real-estate dealer in Ganga county, and secured 106 acres of land in Royalton township, Cuyahoga county, and in the spring of that year moved npon it. At his home here one more son was born, named Alex- ander, who is now a farmer of Brunswick town-
ship, Medina county, Ohio. His health Failing again, after moving to Ohio, Mr. Gibbs aban- doned his trade and turned his attention exeln- sively to farming, which he continued to the time of his death, in Jannary, 1851. His wife survived until 1876, and they are both buried in the Center cemetery. They were both sincere members of the Free will Baptist Church, and he was a zealons Whig in his political views.
Mr. Clark Gibbs, whose name heads this sketch, at the age of eighteen began to learn the trade of wagon-making, under the instructions of a man named Case, at Brighton village, and later at various other places, until he became a thorough master of the art, and he followed this trade in subsequent life. In 1847 he bought a mill privilege, with an old mill. In 1848 he built a small dwelling-house and his wagon shop; then sawed all his own Inmber and re- built the mill in 1849. Soon afterward he put in a turning lathe, buzz saw, jig saw and a grindstone, all rim by water.
In August, 1861, he enlisted in the Second Ohio Cavalry, which was sent to Fort Scott, Kansas, to do duty in guarding and scouting. Next it was ordered to Monticello, Kentucky, where it had its first engagement. It followed the raider Morgan for a short distance, returned to Crab Orchard, relitted, and went to Knox- ville, Tennessee, under the command of Burn- side, and was part of the command that took Cumberland Gap, the last time it was captured from the Confederates, after chasing them back toward Virginia. The regiment was theu brought back to assist Grant at Chattanooga. Mr. Gibbs served with his company continuously until June 25, 1865, except that he was in the hospital from December 24, 1861. He was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio.
Returning home he found his mill " sadly demoralized." The dam was washed out and . the machinery mud-bound. He himself was not able to work, and labor was very high. But within two years he got the mill again under headway, with a coru grinder added. In the fall of 1893 he put in one of the largest water-
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wheels in the county, -seventeen feet in diam- eter and with a shaft twenty-nine inches in diameter,-and he has been engaged in milling to the present time. lle is a " natural-born" mechanic, exhibiting marked skill and origin- ality. Ile is unassuming in his manners, does not seek notoriety, and is a marked example among successful men. He is well preserved and strong in his physical frame, and he has a pleasant home. Is a member of the Disciple Church, in which he is now Elder, and he has been Deacon for many years. In his political sympathies he was originally a Whig, and since the dissolution of that party he has been a de- eided Republican, but he will not have office.
April 2, 1848, is the date of his marriage to Miss Almira Kent, who was born in Brecks- ville, June 16, 1823, a daughter of Ilollis and Catharine (Oaks) Kent. Her parents, natives of Massachusetts, located in Brecksville, Cuya- hoga county, Ohio, after their marriage. Mr. (ibbs' children are: Eugene B., a farmer of ILinekley, Medina county; and Emily, who mar- ried D. J. Cook, and died February 10, 1891, and was buried in Royalton Center cemetery.
Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs still make their residence on the place purchased in in 1849,-the pleas- est place in the world to them.
J W. BURNETT, proprietor of the Chagrin Falls Livery, Feed and Sale Stables, was born at Russell, Geanga county, Ohio, March 1, 1857, as a son of Joshua and Annette (Smith) Burnett. His father was born at New- barry, Ohio, a son of Henry Burnett, a native of Massachusetts, who was one of the early set- tlers of Newburry.
Joshua and Annette Burnett had six children, ยท five of whom are now living, namely: Mary MeFarland, of Bainbridge, Ohio; Henry II., of Bainbridge; J. W., our subject; Drusilla, wife of W. S. Wait, of Newburry, and C. R., of Russell, Ohio. The father died at Russell, Jan- nary 13, 1883, and the mother is still living.
J. W. was reared at Russell, and for some years was engaged in farming in that place, but later embarked in the livery business at Chagrin Falls, which he abandoned after eighteen months to engage in brick manufacturing in the same place. October 4, 1893, he again took up the livery business. Mr. Burnett thoroughly understands his line of work, having well ar- ranged stables, stocked with horses both speedy and safe. In his spacions carriage-house bng- gies and carriages, both single and double, are to be found; everything is of the best quality, and patrons are so served as to make the place popular.
Mr. Burnett was married in Russell, in the year 1879, to Jenny Mclaughlin, a native of the town, daughter of Alexander MeLaughlin, born in Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Burnett have two children, -Myron A. and Harry.
Mr. Burnett is a Republican in political prin- ciples. Fraternally he is a member of the I. O. O. F., Chagrin Falls Lodge, No. 290.
W ILLIAM C. POLLNER, Cleveland's popular and efficient Director of Police, was born in Calbe, province of Saxony, Germany, March 7, 1854. His father, William Pollner, was by occupation a manufacturer of woodenware. Young William's life until sev- enteen was passed in the usnal manner,-attend- ing schools and performing those little odds and ends devolving on a boy about a well regu- lated home. At the age mentioned he sailed for America, landing at New York and loeating first in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, and en- gaging in marble entting and polishing. In 1873 or 1874, in response to a desire to see more of our country, he visited the States along the Missonri river and crossing he explored Texas, Kansas, Indian Territory, etc., and find- ing no place suitable for a permanent location he returned east and reached Cleveland in 1878. Ilere he engaged in the cigar business, and con- dneted it as a manufacturer and dealer nine years.
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Mr. Pollner early evinced a taste for politics, identifying himself with the party of Jefferson and Jackson, and contributing to its cause in overy succeeding campaign. As a reward for his services he was appointed in 1887 Ganger for the Eighteenth District of Ohio by Presi- dent Cleveland. On retiring from office in 1890 he was made agent of the L. Schlather Brewing Company, and in April, 1892, was elected manager of the Columbia Brewing Com- pany's plant of Cleveland, terminating his ser- vices with them April 10, 1893, by accepting his present position tendered by Mayor Blee. He was a member of the Public Library Board for five or six years, term expiring in 1892.
In discharging his official duties Mr. Polluer's aim is to give the city the best possible service with the means at his command and to seenre to persons and property that protection guaranteed them by law.
D O. CASWELL, a prominent real-estate dealer of Cleveland, and Conneilman from the Sixth District, was born in Medina county, Ohio, April 17, 1857. He se- enred a liberal English education at the Normal College of Lodi, Ohio. At eighteen he entered a drug store at Lodi, Ohio, for the purpose of becoming a pharmacist. There he studied dili- gently for three years, at the end of which time he received an offer from Dr. N. II. Ambler, a consin, to assist that well known gentleman in handling his large real estate interests and in developing " Blue Rock " Springs in the East End, which Mr. Caswell named. Upon the death of Dr. Ambler Mr. Caswell was the proper person to administer on his large realty and other interests, and was so appointed. While engaged in this capacity he has developed into the real-estate business as a general buyer and seller for holders in real property.
Mr. Caswell is prominent in politics locally. Hle was nominated for Councilman first in 1892, and elected, and reflected in 1893, by a majority
exceeding that of any other on the ticket. lle is chairman of the Committee on Lighting and a member of the Committees on Ordinances and Judiciary.
Mr. Caswell is a son of Charles Caswell, born in Brattleboro, Vermont, September 9, 1808. He was a stock-raiser and one of the first set- tlers of Medina county, going there in 1831 from Huntington, Vermont. His earthly pos- sessions at that time were an ax and twenty-live cents in change,-two scarce and indispensable articles at that time. December 31, 1833, he married Sarah A. Landon, a daughter of John R. Landon, a farmer, who came to Ohio in 1815 from Sweden, New York, but born in Massa- chusetts in 1794. He married Ruth P. Stick- ney, a danghter of Renben Stickney, who ear- ried a Major's commission in the Colonial army during the Revolutionary war and served through that famous struggle. One of his sons, James Stickney, was a soldier of the war of 1812. Reuben Stickney's wife, nee Sarah Cleveland, was a niece of Moses Cleaveland, the founder of the metropolis of Lake Erie. Onr subject's great-great grandmother was a Payne, a first consin of Thomas Paine, and her unele fonnded Painesville Ohio. The Landons and the Caswells are of English origin. Charles Caswell died November 26, 1859, and his wife February 19, 1877. Their children are: Cla- rinda, wife of W. W. Gray, of Medina, Ohio; Mary A., widow of 11. 11. Doan; Ruth, wife of C. L. Seeley, of Westerville, Ohio; II. A. Cas- well, at Medina; and D. O. Caswell.
Mr. Caswell is Adjutant of the Cleveland Gattling Gun Battery.
UCIAN J. LITTLE, a representative citi- zen of Solon township, Cuyahoga county, = Ohio, was born in Aurora, Portage county, this State, July 8, 1811. His grandfather, War- ren Little, one of the first settlers of Aurora. came to Ohio from Becket, Massachusetts, and in Aurora Amasa Little, the father of our sub-
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jeet, was born. The latter died in Solon town- ship, Cuyahoga county, in 1864. By ocenpa- tion he was a farmer; in politics a Republican; in religion a Disciple, and was chorister of the church and a deacon. The mother of L. J. Little was, before her marriage, Miss Lneretia Jewett, her father being James Jewett. She died in 1890. Amasa Little had six children who reached maturity, four of whom are still living, viz .: 1 .. J., whose name heads this arti- cle; and Alice Stevenson, Frank, and Nelly Boynton, of Cleveland. Those deceased are Adelia and Ana Cloes.
1 .. J. Little lived in Anrora and Youngstown previous to his coming to Solon, which was when he was five years old. Here he was reared. lle received his education in the dis- triet schools of this county and at Hiram. Farming has been his life occupation. He owns 118 acres of excellent land, well improved with good buildings, etc., and in connection with his farming he is also engaged in the dairy business.
Mr. Little was married, May 21, 1868, at Warrensville, Ohio, to Miss Maria Conkey, who was before her marriage a successful and popn- lar teacher. Her parents, Pliny and Sylvia (Hanchett) Conkey, were natives of Vermont, Father of Rutland and mother of Vergennes. Both are deceased. Her father died at sea, while on his way to California in 1851, aged fifty-four years; and her mother died at the age of sixty-nine. They had eight children, namely: Sabinna, Fandaey, Aleda, Andrew, Lafayette, George, Charles and Maria. Mr. and Mrs. Little have three children: Fred, a graduate of the Chagrin Falls high school with the class of 1889, is now in a surveyor's office in Cleveland; and Sylvia L. and Nellie E., both attending high school at Chagrin Falls. In the social eireles of their community, Mr. Little and his family are prominent factors. They are all members of the Disciple Church. Mr. Little has been and is a prominent and active member of the Diseiple Church, holding many offices in the same: is now Deacon, Treasurer and
Trustee, and for abont twenty-five years was chorister. His danghter Sylvia is now organ- ist for the church choir and Treasurer of the Sunday-school. Mrs. Little is a member of the W. C. T. U., and is an active worker in it as well as in the church. Politically, Mr. Little is a Republican, and in regard to temperance is strictly a Prohibitionist.
C HARLES A. MAPES is one of the in- telligent and well-informed men of Solon township, Cuyahoga county, Ohio. He is a descendant of prominent carly settlers of the eonnty. Of his life we make record as follows:
His grandparents, John D. and Henriette Mapes, came here from Massachusetts, being among the first settlers of Orange township, and took a prominent part in shaping its early alfairs. He passed away some years ago. She is still living, having attained her eighty-first year. Notwithstanding they reared their family on the frontier, they gave their children the best educational advantages the country afforded. Their son Edwin, the father of our subject, and the late lamented Garfield attended the district school together. Edwin Mapes died in 1884. lle and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Thorp and who was a daughter of Ferris Thorp, had a family of seven children, six of whom are living, viz .: Perry, of Orange; John, also of Orange; Charles A .; Hortense, wife of Clarence Straight, of Michigan; Gertrude, wife of Ben- jamin Jenks, of Bainbridge, Ohio; and Fred, at home. Their father owned a farm of 154 aeres, was ranked with the prosperous and well-to-do men of the vicinity, and in public affairs took an active part. Hle affiliated with the Republi- can party, served as Township Trustee several terms, also served as Clerk, and for twelve years was a Justice of the Peace. ITe was a member of the Free-will Baptist Church.
Charles A. Mapes was reared on his father's farm, and was edueated in the district schools
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and at Anstinburg, Ohio. When he was eighteen he began teaching school. He has tanght seven- teen terms. It was in 1883 that he located on his present farm, and here he has since resided, carrying on his farming operations in summer and teaching school during the winter. His farm comprises seventy-two acres and is nicely improved with good house and bank barn.
Mr. Mapes was married October 18, 1881, to Eva Younker, a native of Solon township, Cuya- hoga county, Ohio, and a daughter of A. D. and Jane (Morrison) Younker. Mr. and Mrs. Mapes are the parents of six children, viz .: Alice J., Charles Ed, Bessie, Herman A., Florence J. and Clarence E.
Mr. Mapes is like his father in both politics and religion. He has served as Superintendent of the Sunday-school, and in all matters of re- ligion, education and temperance is an active and efficient worker.
B OARDMAN PEARSE, to whom belongs the distinction of being the oldest resi- dent of Newburg township, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, December 31, 1814, son of Jonathan Pearse. Jonathan Pearse was born in Rhode Island, spent the first sixteen years of his life there, and then removed with his father to Rut- land, Vermont, where he remained imtil after his marriage. In 1817 he removed from St. Lawrence county, New York, whence he had gone. from Vermont, to Cleveland, Ohio, and located at the place where the subject of this sketch now lives. Ohio was then a frontier State and in many portions of it there were no improvements whatever. At the time Mr. Pearse built his log cabin on this land there was no road in this part of the township and the set- tlers here were few and far apart. Here he spent the rest of his life, and died in the sixty- third year of his age. The Pearses are of Welsh descent. Richard Pearse, the Father of Jonathan, was a native of Rhode Island, was a
soldier in the Revolutionary war, and by trade was a hatter. Further than this their history cannot be traced. Iney Scovil was the maiden name of Boardman Pearse's mother. She was of English descent, was a daughter of Thomas Scovil, and was a native of Massachusetts. Massachusetts was also her father's native State. She, however, was reared in Vermont. Jona- than Pearse and his wife were the parents of eiglit children, one of whom died early. The others all grew up to ocenpy honorable and use- ful positions in life.
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