USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Memorial record of the county of Cuyahoga and city of Cleveland, Ohio, Pt.1 > Part 60
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CUYAHOGA COUNTY.
Wesley Chamberlain spent his boyhood and youth in aiding his father in the hard labor of the frontier farm. He attended the common schools of the neighborhood, making the most of the meager opportunities afforded him for acquiring an education. Leaving the parental roof he settled on a tract of fifty-two acres, known as the Asel Beeman farm; to this he has made additions until he now owns 200 acres, all of which is in an advanced state of cultivation. The improvements are all of the most substan- tial character, reflecting much credit upon the proprietor. A dairy of twenty-five cows pre- sents some excellent specimens of the bovine species.
Mr. Chamberlain was married February 28, 1861, to Maria A. Kenedy, a danghter of Mil- drim and Clarisa (Wheeler) Kenedy. Mrs. Chamberlain was born at Aurora, Ohio, but was reared and educated at Solon. She was a woman of many admirable traits, and her death, which occurred June 11, 1891, was deeply la- mented by her family and a wide circle of friends. Mr. Chamberlain has been uniformly successful in all business operations and has accumulated a competence. Employing ouly the most correct methods he has gained the con- fidence of all with whom he has had dealings, and has the respect of the entire community. Politically he supports the principles of the Republican party.
W ILLIAM STEFFEN, division suporin- tendent of the Cleveland Electric Rail- way Company, was born in Mecklen- burg, Germany, November 21, 1846. His father, Fred Steffen, brought his family to Cleveland in 1866, and young William secured work in a candle factory, next in Comstock's packing-house, later was teamster for Thomas & Butts, Immber dealers, and two years later entered the service of the East Cleveland Rail- way Company as hostler. Afterward ho was employed as driver, conductor and night
watchman, and he was the first man as starter on Superior street. His next promotion was to the rank of foreman of Willson and Euclid avenne lines, remaining eighteen years, or until the late consolidation, when he was made di- vision superintendent, having charge of Enclid, Wade Park and Cedar avenne lines. Mr. Stefl'en is a natural street railway man. He is competent, and is a favorite of the men under his charge.
Fred Steffen married Miss Ebert, who bore him William; John; Fred Henry; Minnie, wife of Charles Koerek, near Hillsdale, Michi- gan; and Mary, single. The father died in 1880, aged fifty-eight years, and the mother is still living. William Steffen married Decem- ber 2, 1870, in this city, Sophia Milling, of German birth. Their children are Georgio and Arthur.
M ELVIN P. EDGERTON, a farmer of Cuyahoga county, was born in Royalton township, this county, March 31, 1844, a son of Iliram Edgerton, who was born in Massachusetts in 1819. The latter drove from his native State to Ohio in an early day, purchased a tract of wooded land in Royalton township, Cuyahoga county, and was engaged in lumbering and farming. He followed the former occupation during the winter seasons, having hauled his Imaber to the Ohio canal. At the time of his death he owned 135 acres of land. Mr. Edgerton was married in Royalton township, to Wealthy Perry, a daughter of Caleb Perry, and they had two children, -Mel- vin P., our subject; and Adelaide, now Mrs. John Coats, of Brooklyn. The wife and mother died in 1875, and was buried in the Center cemetery. Mr. Edgerton afterward married a sister of his former wife. His death occurred March 31, 1883, and his widow still resides at Center. In political matters, Mr. Edgerton was an active worker in the Republican party.
Melvin P., the subject of this sketch, at- tended the schools of his district, and was carly
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innred to farm labor. , In the spring of 1873 he located near where he now lives, and in 1874 came to his present place of 150 acres, where he is engaged in general farming and dairying. Ile has erected all his farm buildings, and the place is now under a fine state of enltivation ..
Mr. Edgerton was married May 11, 1872, to Salenda Raymond, who was born in Royalton township, Cuyahoga county, May 11, 1847, a daughter of Joshua and Harriet ( Francis) Ray- mond, who came from Massachusetts to this State, and were among the pioneer families. Mr. and Mrs. Raymond had three children: Marshall, of Royalton township; Salenda, wife of our snuject; and Lettie, now Mrs. Addison Tibbals, of Center, this township. Mr. and Mrs. Edgerton also have three children: How- ard L., who graduated at the Brecksville high school before seventeen years of age, and is now a clerk in that city; Arthur P., attending school; and Harley G., at home. Mr. Edger- ton affiliates with the Republican party, and both he and his wife are members of the Disei- ple Churel.
H ENRY COVERT, a resident of Wil- son's Mills, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, is a representative of one of the early pioncer families of Mayfield township, this coun- ty, the Coverts being one of the first two families that settled here.
James Covert, the father of our subjeet, was born in New York, and it was in the spring of 1807 that he came to Cuyahoga county and took claim to a traet of Government land in Mayfield township. This land he developed into a fine farm and on it he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring at the ripe old age of ninety-eight years and six months. James Covert's father, Thomas Covert, was a native of New York, and in that State passed the whole of his life. For his wife James Covert married Phobe Sherman, a native of Massachusetts, who had come to Cuyahoga county when she
was a little girl. She died at about the age of fifty years. They were the parents of seven children, four sons and three daughters.
Henry Covert is the oldest of the above named family. He was born in Mayfield town- ship, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, March 30, 1839, and here he was reared and educated. His whole life has been spent in general farming and raising of line stock, also as an exten- sive dealer, and in connection with the latter occupation he has also done some shipping. Ilis farm comprises 500 acres of land, all in one body, and is the largest and finest farm in the comity.
Mr. Covert was first married to Miss Sarah Willson, a native of this township, who died some years later. She was the mother of five children,-William II., James B., Martin, Martha and Andrew J. The last named died at the age of two years and a half. For his second wife Mr. Covert wedded Rosa Goodman, also a na- tive of Ohio. She died without issne. For his third wife he married Henrietta Arndt, who was born and reared in Germany. They have one son, Ilarry.
In national politics Mr. Covert has all his life affiliated with the Democratic party, but in local politics he has been somewhat independ- ent. He served two terms as Township Trus- tee, has been Jndge of Election, and has filled various other minor offices. Fraternally, he has been identified with the Masonic fraternity for a number of years, having his membership in Willoughby Lodge, No. 302, Chagrin Falls, and in the Chapter.
N ORVIL MCAFEE, one of the trusted employees of the Pittsburg & Cleveland Railway Company, has held the position of telegraph operator at Bedford since 1880. He has been connected with railroad business during the past thirteen years and has won the confidence and esteem of all the officials of the company.
Henry Covert.
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CUYAHOGA COUNTY.
Ile is a native of the Buckeye State, born near Hudson, Smumit county, June 30, 1858. Daniel MeAfec, his father, emigrated to the United States from the Emerald Isle, and was united in marriage with Mary Huddleston. To them were born four children: Thomas, a resi- dent of Gagetown, Michigan; W. J., a con- tractor living in Cleveland; J. D., a physician in Cleveland; and Norvil. The parents reside at Solon, Cuyahoga county. Mr. MeAfce is a blacksmith by trade, but he also gives some at- tention to agricultural pursuits. During the late war he was in the service four years. In polities he supports the principles of the Demo- cratie party, and he is a consistent member of the Disciple church. Norvil MeAlee was reared at Solon and there received his elementary edu- cation; he pursued his studies further in the academy at Austinburg, and afterward engaged in teaching, meeting with gratifying success in this profession .
December 25, 1884, Mr. McAfee wedded Miss Eliza Dunbar, a danghter of Alexander and Mary (Trail) Dunbar, natives of Scotland; the father died in 1880, but the mother still survives, and resides at Bedford. Mrs. McAlee was born, reared and educated at Bedford. Our subject and wife are the parents of two children: Ethel Marie and Florence May. Mr. MeAfee is a zealous worker in the ranks of the Demo- eratie party: since 1888 he has been a member of the City Council, where his service has been most efficient. He is an honored member of the Royal Areanmm, No. 1067.
J M. GASSER, who resides on Lake avenne, West Cleveland, has been a resident of the Forest City during nearly his entire life and at the present time he is identified with her business interests and has attained to a position of no inconsiderable prominence. He is a native of Switzerland, having been born in 1842, the son of Nicholas and Catherine Gasser, and one of the six children born to
them. Of the children four are living at the present time. When our subjeet was yet a mere child his parents emigrated to the United States, locating in Cleveland in the year 1854, and here passing the remainder of their days. The father was a contractor by profession; his death ocenrred in 1882, and that of his wife in 1884.
Our subject received a good common-school education, and after completing his studies he entered at once into active business. He was employed in the Cleveland post office for a period of eight years. I 1872 he made his first business venture on his own responsibility, opening an establishment for the sale of stationery and confections and conducting the same successfully until 1878, when he com- menced operations in that line of enterprise to which he now devotes his attention, -that of florienlture. The undertaking on the start was one of modest order, but by careful methods and perseverance the business has been de- veloped and the range of operations extended until the enterprise is one of the most extensive of the sort in the State, Mr. Gasser holding distinction as one of the leading and most popular florists in the Forest City. His con- servatories consistently take rank with the best in the State, being finely equipped and pro- vided with all modern accessories for the she- cessial propagation of all kinds of flowering plants.
Mr. Gasser served loyally in the late war of the Rebellion, enlisting, in 1861, as a member of Company B, Seventh Ohio Vohmteer In- fantry, and serving in the ranks until 1861, when he received his honorable discharge, at Cleveland. He participated in many of the principal battles, prominent among which were those of Antietam and Cedar Mountain. Hle was wounded in the left arm and side, March 23, 1862, at Winchester, being thereby in- capacitated for active service for some time.
Mr. Gasser was married, in 1867, to Miss Catherine Fox, a daughter of Andrew Fox, one of the carly settlers and prominent residents of
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Cleveland. Our subject and his wife have one child, Rose B., who is now the wife of Riblet D. Knisloy, who is an official in the Marine Bank.
In his political adherency Mr. Gasser is identified with the Republican party, and fraternally is a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias, in which order he has taken all the degrees.
W ILLIAM B. BOLTON, an attorney of recognized ability and occupying con- spicnous official positions with certain of the most important enterprises of Cleveland, is the only child of John and Martha ( MeCune) Bolton, and was born January 7, 1853, being a native of the State of Pennsylvania.
John Bolton, who is now well advanced in years, has devoted a long and useful life to the profession of school teaching, and is at the pros- ent time a teacher in the West high school of Cleveland. He has been ever zealous and de- voted to his work, and has kept pace with the rapid strides made in the science of pedagogy, not content, as is true in the average ease, to fall into any conservative rut and to finally be quite out of touch with the methods and progress of the lator years. Professor Bolton is a man who is held in the highest esteem, not only by those who come under his influence as students, but by all who are permitted to gain recognition of his ability and culture with an appreciation of his genial and sympathetic character. He was for some time superintend- ent of the public schools at Portsmouth, Ohio, and after removing to Cleveland was retained as a teacher in the Central high school of the city. He has been a resident of the Forest City since 1872, and in his labors here has gained a high popularity and esteem. In his lineage he is of English extraction. Ilis father served as a naval officer in the war of 1812.
William B. Bolton was educated in the com- mo schools and graduated from the high
school at Portsmouth in 1871, and entered the office of A. C. Thompson, ex-Judge of the Court of Common Pleas and Congressman for that distriet, and under such able direction began the study of law. In 1873 he removed to Cleveland and later continued his studies in the office of Ingersoll & Williamson and was admitted to the bar in 1881. Ile is general counsel of The Brush Electric Company, of which corporation he is also a director. IIe holds a similar preferment with the Short Electric Railway Company and is local counsel for the General Electric Company, of New York. Ile was appointed assistant solicitor of the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railway Company in 1882, and upon the re-organization of that company, in 1887, he was appointed assistant general counsel, discharging the duties incidental thereto with much ability and dis- cerment. The executive preferments which he has held are ample testimony of this acumen as a lawyer. His office is maintained at room 526, Cuyahoga Building.
In his political adherency Mr. Bolton has ever been strongly arrayed with the Republican party and has taken an active interest in furthering the principles which that organiza- tion maintains.
The marriage of our subject occurred in June, 1883, when he was united to Mrs. Lilyon Beamer, a daughter of Mr. George Beckett, of Cincinnati. To Mr. and Mrs. Bolton one child has been born, a son, whose name is John Donald.
G EORGE CARTWRIGHT, a successful farmer of Cuyahoga county, was born in Royalton township, this county, July 24, 1839. Ilis father, Richard Cartwright, was born in Berkshire, England, April 8, 1815, was roared on a farm, and after reaching a suit- able age engaged in herding sheep. In 1836 he came to the United States, being seven weeks and three days in crossing the ocean, and he was obliged to borrow money to pay for his passage.
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CUYAHOGA COUNTY.
After landing in New York he came to Royal- ton township, where he immediately secured work as a farm hand. He was soon afterward married to Harriet Pembrook, also a native of England, who came to this country on the same steamer as her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Cart- wright had the following children: George, whose name heads this sketch; Henry, a farmer in Royalton township; Edward, deceased at the age of two years; Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Mareus Warner; Edwin, who died in infancy; Elizabeth, wife of Wayland Edgerton, of Royalton township; and William, a farmer of Cuyahoga county. After his marriage Mr. Cartwright rented land for a time, and then purchased a part of the farm on which George still resides. He added to his original purchase until, at the time of his death, November 25, 1557, he owned ninety acres. Ile was a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and held many township ollices. Mrs. Cartwright sur- vived until May 20, 1892, a member of the Baptist Church.
George Cartwright, of this sketch, was early innred to farm labor, and after following that occupation l'or a time was engaged in butcher- ing. In partnership with his brother Henry, he now owns 336 acres of fine farming land in Royalton township. They are industrions and successful farmers, as well as quiet, nobtrusive citizens. Mr. Cartwright made a home for his mother after her husband's death, and also cared for the younger children until they reached years of maturity. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, having east his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. In religion his sympathies are rather with the Baptist Church.
OSEPIL SMITH, one of the representative citizens of Royalton township, was born at this place, September 24, 1819, a son of John and Lney (Sprague) Smith, natives of Vermont, the former born in 1792, and the latter in 1798. One child, Amanda, was born
in this family in that State. When the daugh- ter was six months old they came with ox teams to Ohio, where Mrs. Smith's father, Knight Sprague, had previously located. They named Royalton township in honor of their home in Vermont. Mr. Smith located on a part of his father-in-law's land, remaining there until death, June 19, 1824, which was caused by a falling tree while assisting in entting the Anglin Road from Royalton to Bennett's Corners. Three children were born in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Smith in Ohio, namely; Joseph, our sub- jeet; Eliza, deceased at the age of four years; and Sally, who died at the age of forty years, was the wife of Nelson Ferris. After her hus- band's death, Mrs. Smith married Luther B. Bosworth, and she departed this life in 1859, at the age of sixty years.
Joseph Smith, the subject proper of this no- tice, received a limited education, having at- tended school only about seven weeks in the year. At the age of twenty-five years he sus- tained an injury of the right knee, which made him a cripple for life. Thus compelled to aban don agricultural pursuits, Mr. Smith learned the shoemaker's trade, and followed that ocen - pation until 1872. In that year he purchased a small farm in Royalton township, remaining there about sixteen years, and now lives a re- tired life at Royalton Center. Politically, he was formerly a Whig, his first presidential vote having been cast for William HI. Harrison, and has been a Republican since the formation of that party. Hle resigned the office of Justice of the Peace after forty-two years, and held the office of Clerk eighteen years. He was also Postmaster eight years.
Hle was married September 21, 1813, to Lonisa Gordan, who was born in Royalton township, March 20, 1821, a daughter of O. C. and Polly (Howe) Gordan, and they have had the following children: Mariah, now Mrs. Dins- more; Bratton, a resident of Elkhart county, Indiana; Mary Il., wife of d. N. Webber, of Royalton Center; Orrin, deceased in infancy; John, a resident of Cleveland, Ohio; Sarah R.,
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wife of Ora N. Porter, of Parma township, Cuyahoga county; Dayton W., of Elyria; and Fred C., a resident of Collinwood, this State. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Disciple Church. Mr. Smith is one of the highly respected pio- neer citizens of Royalton township, and is widely and favorably known.
A BRAM COOK, a farmer of Cuyahoga county, was born in Monmonth county, New Jersey, December, 14, 1828, a son of John Cook, also a native of that State. While in his native State the latter was engaged as a fisherman during the winter sea- sons, and in the summer worked at farm labor. Hle was married in New Jersey, to Eliza Jones, and they had two children in that State, Abram, our subject; and Deborah A., widow of Joseph Rumbaugh, and a resident of Brook- lyn village, this county. In 1831, via the Erie canal and lake Erie, the family came to Ohio, having been accompanied by three other families.
Mr. Cook spent the first winter in Strong's- ville township, where he was engaged in chop- ping wood, receiving two shillings per cord. In the spring of 1832 he purchased 100 acres of land in Parma township, paying $2 per acre, but was able to pay only a small amount down. His later payments for the place were made at Elyria. Mr. Cook found employment in a brick-yard at Brooklyn village during the summer seasons, and was engaged in clearing his farm during the winters. In that way he soon satisfied all claims against his place, put the same under a good state of cultivation, and erected a brick residence, the brick having been manufactured on his farm. He subsequently sold that farm, and in 1815 bought 100 acres of land in Royalton township, to which he after- ward added sixty aeres. In addition to his gen- eral farming, Mr. Cook bought and sold large quantities of fruit. In early life he was iden- tified with the Democratic party, but afterward
became a stanch Republican. He attended the Free-will Baptist Church. Mr. Cook departed this life in 1871, and his wife survived him a number of years, dying in 1881, and both now sleep in the Royalton Center Cemetery. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Cook in Ohio are as follows: Alva D., deceased in infancy; Delos, a lawyer of Cleveland; Sarah, wife of Thomas Meacher, of Royalton township; and David, a retired policeman of Brooklyn village.
During the residence of the family on their farm in Parma township, Abram and his sister Deba went into the woods one warm afternoon to gather mandrakes ( May-apples), and on their return home they saw a bird at the edge of a corn-field, and Abram, as he picked up a stone to throw at it, saw two huge rattlesnakes, one black-spotted and the other yellow and white. Hle ran to the nearest house for help, and two men came and killed them. One measured five feet in length and the other six feet; one was three inches in diameter and the other four, and one had twelve rattles and the other fourteen.
Abram Cook, the subject of this sketch, re- ceived a limited education, and was carly in- pred to farm labor. Before reaching his twen- ty-first year he found employment at the old- fashioned mud-brick yard, in which his father had been so long engaged, afterward served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade under his brother-in-law, Joseph Rumbangh, and then followed his trade at Cleveland. Some time after his marriage Mr. Cook located in Royal- ton township, Cuyahoga county, where he has ever since continued to reside, with the excep- tion of one year spent near New Lisbon, Wis- consin. In the fall of 1862 he located on his present farm, where he has erected all his farm buildings, and has put the place under a fine state of cultivation. Ife followed the carpen- ter's trade for many years after locating in this county, but is now giving his attention princi- pally to his farm. In political matters, Mr. Cook is a stanch Republican.
Ile was married in the fall of 1852, at Cleve- land, Ohio, to Eliza MeRunnolds, a native of
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Ireland, who came to the United States when young. They had one child, George A., now a contractor and builder of Brooklyn village. The wife and mother died July 6, 1856. Mr. Cook was afterward united in marriage, at Indepen- dence, with Mary J. MeClelland, who was born April 29, 1839. Her parents were natives of the north of Ireland, of Scotch ancestry, and while emigrating to the United States a storm at sea drove them northward. Their vessel foundered off the coast of Newfoundland, and while thus shipwrecked Mrs. Cook first saw light. being one of six infants born on that ves- sel. She was given the title of "The Good Baby " by the crew, from the fact of her seeming inability to ery, which faculty the other five seemed to possess to a wonderful degree. She was brought to Ohio at the age of thirteen, raised by her mele and aunt, Thomas and Jane MeGrath. Mrs. Cook is a member of the Dis- ciple Church of Royalton Center.
S HARON P. INMAN, a prominent citi- zen of Brecksville township, was born May 9, 1847, in Parkman township, Geauga county, Ohio. His father, Henry In- man, was born March 6, 1814, in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, a son of Samuel Inman, a native of Scotland. The last mentioned was an early settler of Beaver county, and in 1816 came to Geauga county, locating in Parkman township, on a farm in the deep woods. Henry completed his school days at a select school kept by Rev. Ezekiel De Wolfe, a graduate of Yale College, who was once talked of as a can- didate for vice-president on the ticket with James Buchanan. In later years he was Post- master at, San Francisco, California, under Buchanan's administration. At that school Mr. Inman made great advancement, where he was associated with Daniel R. Tilden, now of Cleve- land, and David Tod, afterward governor of the State. For some years afterward he taught school at. Parkman village.
Ile was married in Bundysburg, January 23, 1838, to Miss Margaret Porter, who was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 16, 1815, a daughter of John and Eliz- abeth (Glenn) Porter, who was born in Fort Ligonier, Pennsylvania, while her parents were taking refuge in that fort from Indians, who were then raiding that territory during the Revolutionary war. She received a good edn- cation and was an intelligent woman. Some years after his coming to Ohio Sammel Imnan died, in Parkman township, and afterward his widow married Captain Henry White, one of the first settlers in Trinbull conty, Ohio. After his marriage Mr. Henry Inman located on the old homestead, buying out the heirs, and remained there till the spring of 1860, when he removed to Mesopotamia township, Trumbull county, and one year afterward he came to Brecksville township and purchased a farm of fifty acres, which forms a part of the present farm of Mr. Inman, our subject. In 1855 Mr. Henry Inman had become surety for a brother-in-law, who died soon afterward and Mr. Iminan had to lose the whole amount he secured. Although this crippled him finan- cially, he took heart and started in anew in life's precarious battle. He died after remov- ing to Brecksville township, February 3, 1864, after a short illness contracted by waiting on the sick where putrid erysipelas prevailed, and he was buried at the Center cemetery. His wife died May 23, 1867, and was buried by his side. Mr. Imman was a proficient biblical scholar and a Master Mason of Western Phenix Lodge at Parkman, Ohio, for sixteen years, and attended several meetings of the Grand Lodge, which met at Columbus, this State. He was a Democrat of the Jacksonian type, and in former years contributed many articles, etc., to the Cleveland Plaindealer. He was well read in literature and general science and of powerful argumentative ability. In person he was six Feet tall and of perfect build.
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