USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Memorial record of the county of Cuyahoga and city of Cleveland, Ohio, Pt.1 > Part 65
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H ARRIS BRAINARD, deccased, who was for nearly two decades an honored resident of Parma township, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, was born in Middletown, Connecticut, January 2, 1801. In his native State he spent the first ten years of his life. Then his parents removed with their family to Massachusetts, from whence a year later they came out to Ohio. After residing in Cleveland one year they settled in Brooklyn township, Cuyahoga county, and in this county spent the rest of their lives. Subsequently, however, they made two moves, going from Brooklyn township to Strongsville and from there to Roy- alton township. At the latter place Warren Brainard, the father of our subject, died somo time in the '50s. His wife, Sally Brainard, survived him until January 1, 1875, when her death occurred in Michigan.
Harris Brainard continued to reside with his parents, with the exception of a period of three years, until the time of his marriage, which
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event occurred in Brooklyn township, April 26, 1832, the lady of his choice being Hester Ann Storer. She was born in Maine, March 14, 1811. After their marriage they settled on a farm in Brooklyn township, where they contin- ned to live until the spring of 1842. At that time they removed to the northwestern part of Parma township and here they spent the residue of their lives. His death occurred December 15, 1860, and his good wife passed away Septem- ber 26, 1889. They had a family of ten chil- dren, of whom we make record as follows: Ab- igail, who died at about the ageof fifteen years; Webster S .; Edward P .; Sarah, widow of Sim- con Byrum; George W .; Anna E .; Franklin, who lived only a year and a half; Dwight, who died at the age of thirty-four years; William; and Charlotte.
Both Mr. Brainard and his wife were active members of the Congregational Church, and for many years he was a Deacon. His whole life was devoted to agricultural pursuits. Honora- ble and upright in all the walks of life, his many estimable traits of character won for him the confidence and esteem of all who knew him.
A NDREW PIKE, a farmer of Solon town- ship, Cuyahoga county, was born in Orange township, this county, May 27, 1850, a son of Elias and Elizabeth (Barnes) Pike, pioneer settlers of Orange town- ship. They have three living children: An- drew, our subject; Evelyn, of this county; and George W., a resident of Cleveland.
Andrew Pike was reared on the old home- stead, and received his education in the public schools. In January, 1881, he was appointed United States mail clerk, under President Gar- field, from Syracuse, New York, to Cleveland, and served in that position six years. In 1882 he located on his present place of forty-one acres in Solon township, then known as the Dan Morse farm, and sitnated two and a hall miles from Randall.
January 25, 1870, Mr. Pike was united in marriage with Sarah Harper, a daughter of James and Sarah (Lee) Harper. To this union have been born two sons: Archer Elias, a com- mercial traveler of Cleveland; and Wilson S., also of that city. In his social relations Mr. Pike is a member of Bedford Lodge, No. 375, F. & A. M.
C HARLES J. SWIFT, who has been a resident of Cleveland since December, 1892, and who has seenred recognition as among the more progressive and enterprising of the younger business men of the city, is a native of the old Keystone State, having been born at Corry, Erie county, in December, 1866.
Ilis father, Charles J. Swift, was a well- known and prominent merchant of that Penn- sylvania town, having there been engaged in the hardware business for many years. In polities he was a thorough-going Republican, and was more or less conspienons in the coun- cils and work of his party, having held local official preferments of importance. He was identified with the Masonic order, having been a Sir Knight, and both he and his wife were devoted members and communicants of the Protestant Episcopal Church, to whose cause they lent their most active support. The death of the father ocenrred in 1886 and that of the mother in 1868.
As already noted, the subject of this sketch came to Cleveland in 1893, the change of resi. dence being made in order that he might as- sume charge as business manager for the Ford- Washburn Store Electro Company, an office for which he was particularly qualified by reason of his advanced business methods and executive ability. Ile had prior to that been engaged in the shipping of coal, salt and builders' supplies, and had carried the enterprise successfully for- ward. The Store Electro Company failed in Jannary, 1894, and since then Mr. Swift has been engaged in the insurance business. Ile
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was once also secretary and general manager of the Duplox Electro Company, Limited. Ile had been thoroughly equipped for an intelli- gent directing of any enterprise with which he might become identified, his practical business training having been antedated by the careful theoretical education seenred at college.
Supporting the principles advanced by the Republican party, Mr. Swift had occupied a position of no little prominence in a political way at his old home in Pennsylvania. In his fraternal affiliations he is identified with the Knights of Pythias. Though yet a young man he has proved his extraordinary qualifications as a business man, is of pleasing address, an interesting conversationalist, and one who has gained an unmistakable popularity during the time of his residence in the Forest City.
Mr. Swift took unto himself a wife in the year 1888, being then united to Miss Mand 1 .. Hammond, a danghter of Thomas Benton Ham- mond, a well-known resident of Pennsylvania. They are the parents of one child, Alice, who was born in 1859.
Our subject and his wife are communicants in the Protestant Episcopal Church, and are earnest and devoted in their support of the same.
0 WEN PAYSON SNOW, a highly es- teemed citizen of the farming commun- ity of Brecksville township, was born September 15, 1823, in Piscataquis county, Mainc.
Ilis father, Russ Snow, was born in New Hampshire, May 21, 1789, and was reared on a farm; and his father was Benjamin, a graduate of Dartmouth College, who taught school and was an officer in the Revolutionary war. After the death of his father, Russ Snow moved to Maine, with his widowed mother. In New Hampshire, August 12, 1792, he married Ruth Hibbard, and while living in that State they had two danghters: Charlotte L .; who married Alexander J. Snow and lives in Carroll county,
Illinois; and Jane E., who died at the age of eigliteen years. In Piscataquis county, Maine, Mr. Snow located on a piece of new land and built a house and barn, and followed farming, and while a resident there had the following children: Owen P., our subject; Henry HI., a farmer of Brecksville; and Orpha P., who died at the age of thirty-three years, unmarried.
In the spring of 1835 Mr. Russ Snow came to Cleveland on his way to Indiana; but, find- ing an old acquaintance in Brecksville township, he purchased 240 acres of land in the southeast corner of the township, at 85 an aere, and dur- ing the ensuing autmnn his family came on, ar- riving after a six weeks' journey, including a week's visit at the old home in New Hamp- shire. Coming on the State road, they found their way to their destination, a mile and a half distant, by the aid of blazed trees. Their first residence in Ohio was a log house, that had been erected by the former owner of the place, who had also cut down the trees on five acres around it. In 1845 the old log house gave place to a good brick residence, which still stands. During those times their milling was done at Boston, Summit county. On that farm Mr. Snow continued to reside until his death, Jannary 8, 1875, when he was making his home with his son, our subject. flis wife had died some years before, that is, April 30, 1858, and they are both buried in Richfield township. In person Mr. Snow was six feet tall and weighed 190 pounds, and was proportionally strong and enduring. In his younger days he received an academic education and tanght school some. and on arriving here he went in debt for his land; but his energy and good judgment en- abled him to " come out all right " and prove himself to be a successful man among life's vicissitudes. In polities he was a Whig, then Republican, and finally Prohibitionist; he was a prohibitionist from principle from the begin- ning. For a period he was Trustee of his township. In Maine he was Captain of militia. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was twelve years old when he came to Ohio.
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As he grew up he attended the academy at Richfield, Ohio, for a term, and has always been a farmer, and in former years also conducted a dairy. After his marriage he first located upon the old homestead, where he has since resided. lle now has 180 acres of good farm land, and raises horses and sheep and some other live stock. In politics he is a Republican, but no office-holder or oflice-seeker.
October 22, 1852, he married Miss Frances C. Fay, who was born August 18, 1835, in Geddes (now Syracuse), New York, a daughter of Horace and Rosana (Eaton) Fay, who came to Ohio in 1836. Mrs. Snow was but fonr months old when her mother died, and she was taken care of by an unele, Origen Eaton, who had been a soldier in the war of 1812 aud lost an arm at the battle of Endy's Lane. Hle owned a farm in the northern part of Brecks- ville township. Mrs. Snow taught school before she was sixteen years of age. Their children are: Emma R., now Mrs. C. O. Bartlett, of Brooklyn village; Edwin F., who died when two years and nine months old; Charles A., who died when nine months old (these two children died within three days of each other, and are buried in the same grave); Fannie E., who married Dr. Knowlton, of Cleveland; Karl F., a machinist and millwright, of Brooklyn vil- lage; Minnie B., an educated young lady who attended school at Oberlin, Ohio, and Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is now teaching physical enl- ture in Mansfield, Ohio; Ned P., a farmer of Brecksville township; and Frank K., attending school.
ITUS N. BRAINARD, a retired farmer of Cuyahoga county, Ohio, was born at the place where he now resides, 1640 Pearl street, Cleveland, July 15, 1825. His parents, Marvin and Betsey (Brainard) Brainard, were both natives of Connectient, and although they bore the same name they were not relatives. They were married in Brooklyn, Ohio. Marvin Brainard came to this
county in 1814, when this part of the country was new and its chief inhabitants wild animals, and here he spent his whole life in agricultural pursuits. He was born February 9, 1799, and died in 1853. He and his wife had five chil- dren, namely: Mary, born September 11, 1822; Titus N., the subject of this article; Betsey Adelia, born May 27, 1828; Jeptha O., born Jannary 2, 1831; and Marvin B., born Sep- tember 6, 1833.
Titus N. Brainard is the only one of the family. now living. His life, like his father's, has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, and his whole career has been characterized by honesty and industry. The brick building which he has remodeled and which he occupies was built by his father and grandfather. He has never been an office-seeker, nor would he ever accept official position. On one occasion he was elected Supervisor, but paid his fine and declined to serve.
Mr. Brainard was married in 1857 to Miss Clarissa Thompson, a native of Canada and a daughter of Francis and Hannah (Ford) Thomp- son, her father a native of New York State and her mother of Canada. They came to Cleve- land about 1839. Of their nine children, only four are now living, viz .: Mary, wife of Will- iam Bly, Cleveland; Mrs. Brainard; Dr. F. L. Thompson, Cleveland; and William L. Mr. and Mrs. Brainard have had five children, as follows: Ella, widow of Mansfield Mower, re- sides with her father, her two children being Hazel B. and Jennie C .; Marvin A., a young man of twenty-two years, who was accidentally shot October 19, 1882, his death resulting in- stantly; Bettie C., wife of Harry Farnsworth, Cleveland; Jennie D., wife of G. S. Barnett, died in 1886, aged twenty-two years, leaving an only child, Harley B .; Frank J., teller in the Brooklyn Savings & Loan Association. Mrs. Brainard is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church: also her five children and grandson, Harley B. Barnett.
During his long life in the vicinity of Cleve- land Mr. Brainard has seen the wilderness
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cleared away and has marked the growth of a beautiful city; and he has not only been a wit- ness to this growth and development but he has also done his part toward bringing about the change. Titus avenne in Brooklyn Village was named in honor of him.
A A. JEROME, ex-County Commissioner and a prominent farmer of Cuyahoga county, Ohio, dates his birth in Orange township, this county, August 16, 1842. His father, Asahiel Jerome, a native of New York, came to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in 1835, and located in Orange township, where he passed the residue of his life and died, be- ing seventy-eight years of age at the time of his death. Ile was a man of many sterling qualities and ocenpied a prominent place in the pioneer community in which he lived. Many of the township offices, including that of Justice of the Peace, he filled with credit to himself and to the people who elected. During the latter part of his life he was identified with the Republican party. Hle was a deeply pions man and for a number of years was a worthy mem- ber and ollicer of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Ilis father was of French descent and had died when Asahel was fourteen years of age. The mother of A. A. Jerome was before her marriage Miss Lavina C. Sabin. She was born and reared in Connecticut, and lived to be seventy-two years of age. They were the par- ents of four children, two sons and two daugh - ters, all of whom reached adult years. A. A. is the older son and third child, the othors being as follows: Eliza A., deceased; Olive L., de- ceased; and Horace F., of Huntsburg, Geauga county, Ohio.
In his native township A. A. Jerome spent the first eighteen years of his life. When the war came on he enlisted, in April, 1861, in Company A, Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, as a private; was promoted as Sergeant; and was in the service four years and two
months. His service was under MeClellan and Sheridan. Twice he was wounded, -first by a piece of shell at New Berne Bridge, secondly by a ball at the battle of Winchester. This last wonnd was in the cheek bone and resulted in the loss of his eye. lle remained in the ranks until the war was over, when he was honorably discharged, June 5, 1865, at Cleve- land.
After his return from the army, Mr. Jerome settled down to farming, and in this ocenpation he has been engaged ever since. He now owns over a hundred acres of fine land in Mayfield township, and is regarded as one of the promin- ent and prosperous farmers of the county. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, and he has held most of the township offices. In 1885 he was elected County Com- missioner, which office he filled satisfactorily for a term of six years. A veteran of the war, he is, of course, a member of the G. A. R., his membership being with the L. N. Norice Post, No. 141.
Mr. Jerome was first married in 1866, to Miss Hattie Henderson, a native of Orange township, this county, who died a few years later, Icaving one daughter, Blanche, who is now the wife of Silas Cathen, of Newburg, Ohio. In 1872 Mr. Jerome married Ida E. Law, a native of Cuyahoga county, and they have three daughters-Hattie E., Henrietta L. and Florence E.
N. VEBER, a merchant of Royalton Cen- ter, is a son of Elihn Veber, who was born July 12, 1822, in the township of Buck- lin, Massachusetts. The latter was a son of John Veber, of the same State, who died in 1832. After that event the home was sold. Then Elihn Veber, with an older brother and guardian, Rensselaer (married), removed to St. Lawrence county, New York, where Rensselaer lost his wife by death, and in 1834 moved to Ohio, settling in Royalton township, Cuyahoga county. Here they purchased a tract of new
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land and cleared a portion of it, and then ex- changed it for a place farther north, which they divided, Elihn taking his widowed mother to support, at the age of eighteen years, and his . guardian giving him his tine. After his mother's death he made his home at his brother's.
February 22, 1811, he married Miss Clarinda Gibbs, who was born March 15, 1822, in Mil- ford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, a dangh- ter of Benjamin and Peedee (Thayer) Gibbs, who settled in Geauga county, Ohio, in 1834, and in 1838 in Royalton. After marriage Elihn located near where his widow now lives. Hle assisted in entting out the first road south of where he afterward lived toward Hinckley, Medina county. He followed agricultural pur- suits many years, and at length became a car- . penter, and still later a stone contractor, and built many stone entverts for the county. His health finally began to fail, and after several years of suffering died, September 6, 1856, and was buried in Royalton Center cemetery. Politi- cally he was a Republican, and he held town- ship offices, as Trustee, Assessor for six years. and Real-estate Assessor one year. He was a well known, highly respected, determined, thor- onghgoing, persevering man. Since his death his widow has resided at the old homestead. She is a member of the Disciple Church. Their children are: James N., the subject of this sketch; Ellen, now Mrs. Eugene Riley, of Medina county, Ohio; Charles, a farmer of this township; and Juliet, now Mrs. Fred Ellsworth, of Royalton township.
Mr. J. N. Veber, whose name heads this sketch, was born February 18, 1847. In Feb- rary, 1865, he enlisted in Company B, Second Ohio Cavalry, which was first ordered to Colum- bus and thence to Harper's Ferry, and after- ward was stationed in and around Washington for a tine. Next it was sent to Springfield, Missouri, and to St. Louis, same State, where it was mustered ont, and Mr. Veber was honor- ably discharged September 11, 1865.
Returning home he opened out in the butch- ering business and sold meat to a wholesale
market in Cleveland for some time, making his headquarters at his father's home. After his marriage, in 1870, he located in the southern part of Royalton township, and in 1872 settled at the Center, engaging in mercantile trade, in which he still continues, moving his goods into the present building in 1882. He is a success- ful business man, of uniformly fair dealing and strict uprightness of character. He owns a nice little farm of sixty-five acres. He is a de- cided Republican, and has been township Treasurer for nine years. He attends the Moth- odist Episcopal Church.
February 22, 1870, is the date of his mar- riage to Miss Mary II. Smith, who was born January 19, 1846, in Royalton Center, a dangh- ter of Joseph and Louisa (Gordon) Smith. Their children are: Daisy L., a school-teacher; Lelia R .; and Bert W.
0 TTO DOEIIN was born in the city of Cleveland in 1868, a son of II. W. and Charlotte (Kohlman) Dochn, and both parents are residents of Cleveland. The father was born in Germany, town of Mecklenburg, and there was reared and educated. He en- tered the German army, and for a number of years served as an officer in the same. Ile early in life turned his attention to painting, frescoing and decorating. Perfecting himself in this line of art he then came to America, locating in Cleveland in 1865, direct from the fatherland. Ile married in this city and be- came the father of two children, the subject of this sketch, and a sister, whose name is Alma.
In the public schools of Cleveland young Otto seenred a liberal connon-school educa- tion. Under his father he served an appren- ticeship of two years, after which he entered the drug business, in which he remained four years. Then he became interested in photog- raphy, and after learning the business embarked in the same for himself. He is now condnet- ing a very important and paying business in
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his profession, in which he is thoroughly well up and informed. He keeps apace with all the later improvements for doing work in his pro- fession, and owns one of the best equipped galleries in the city. Ilere in the studio are executed the finest of photographs and portraits of all kinds. From the alpha to the omega of his profession Mr. Doehm has passed, having gained a practical knowledge as well as theoreti- cal, and to the operating department in his studio he gives his individual attention.
Ile is a Christian gentleman, being a mem- ber of the Young Men's Christian Association, and has been upon its reception committee for the last three years. He is a member of the Cleveland Vocal Society, one of the prominent musical societies of the city, which had the honor of an invitation by the World's Fair Musical Department to furnish musie upon the Exposition grounds. He is also a member of the Singers' Club. Much of his spare time is given to eloention and music. From boyhood days has been interested in elocution, and in the last year and a half has been studying inder Prof. A. T. Saunders, and at present is a pupil of Prof. J. G. Scorer. Mr. Dochn is also a member of the " Eloentionists' Club," which is comprised of the best talent of this city. Ile is also a member of the Chantauqua Circle, of the Young Men's Congress, of the Cleveland Art Club, and of the National Photographers' Association. He is a member of the Willson Avenne Presbyterian Church, being founder and president of its choir.
H HOLLAND SNOW, an influential farmer of Brecksville township, was born March 31, 1827, in Piscataquis county, Maine, and was eight years of age when he came to Ohio. (For sketch of his ancestry see in this volume the account of Owen Payson Snow.) In his school education, besides attend- ing the common district schools, he attended one term at Brooklyn village, when Professor
Churchill, now of Oberlin College, was at the head, and afterward he taught school in Brecks- ville and Richfield townships. He married, October 22, 1851, Mary J. Lockert, who was born June 2, 1835, in Richfield township, Sum- mit county, a daughter of James Lockert, a Farmer. Mr. Snow remained an inmate of the parental home until 1864, when he located where he now resides, which was a portion of the home farm. Ile now has about 200 acres of excellent farm land, and he is still a farmer, prospering in his vocation, and is an influential citizen. Politically he first voted for the Free- Soil candidates, then was a Republican until Horace Greeley ran for the office of President, since which date he has been independent. IIe has been a Trustee of his township nine years.
Ilis children are: Ida M., born August 15, 1851, and is at her paternal home; Jessie F., born June 5, 1857, is now Mrs. F. N. Wilcox, of Cleveland; Amanda J., born June 29, 1859, is now Mrs. Elwin Carter, of Royalton town- ship; Harry W., born September 25, 1862, is a farmer of Brecksville; and Charlie C., born Angust 29, 1864, is a clerk in the City Au- ditor's office; besides a son who died in infancy.
M S. RUDGERS .- William S. Rodgers, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born March 24, 1804, in Newburg township, Orange county, New York, a son of Daniel Rodgers, Jr., who was a son of Daniel Rudgers, Sr., who died before the birth of the son mentioned, his widow afterward mar- rying John Case. Daniel, Jr., was a tanner and enrrier by trade, but in later years was a farmer. Ile married Nancy Purdy, who was born in Orange county, and their children were: Mary, Sarah, Nancy, Mehitabel, Jane, Elizabeth, Esther, William S., Charles, Daniel, Isaac C., Thomas and John. Of these Isaac C., William S., John, Elizabeth and Esther aro yet living.
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William S. Ridgers, the father of the sub- ject of this sketeli, was brought up to the tan- ner's trade until the age of sixteen years, when he found work on the farm. February 23, 1826, he married Miss Maria Corser, who was born July 27, 1808, in Vermont, a daughter of Thomas and Mercy (Bennett) Corser, who located in Genesee county, New York, where Mrs. Rodgers was brought up. At the time of his marriage Mr. Rudgers had "only the coat on his back " as the totality of his worldly possessions. The first season he worked on shares, and later he took up a piece of wild land in Genesce (now Wyoming) county, and lived there three and a half years, when he moved to Chantanqua county, same State, and resided there four years.
In 1831 he visited Cuyahoga connty and looked over the land, and February, 1835, when sleighing was good, he moved his family here, which then comprised a wife and four children. They first settled in Royalton town- ship, and Mr. Rodgers afterward purchased land in Brecksville township, -seventy-five acres, at $10 an acre, --- where he now resides with his son. For the land he had to go in debt, which required much labor to disehage. When he first settled here there was a log cabin on the place and a few improvements com- menced. Wild gante and dangerous animals were plentiful. All the clearing and other im- provements now seen npon the farm have been accomplished by him. He has always been a farmer, and snceessful in his calling. He was at first a Jackson Democrat, then a Whig and Republican, and he has faithfully attended the elections, missing but one Presidential election since he became a voter. Ile has never been a politician or office-seeker. In religion he was once a Methodist local preacher, being a mem- ber of that denomination for forty years; but he is not a member now.
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