USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Memorial record of the county of Cuyahoga and city of Cleveland, Ohio, pt 2 > Part 15
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Ile has six children, viz .: Charles E., who is now preparing for college; Melvin L., also attending school; Luella M., Orlin T., Lottie W. and Francis M.
Mr. Battles, a strong Republican, has held several township offices: was president of the School Board in 1888 '89. He is a member of Erie Lodge, No. 121, K. of P., and of the Methodist Episcopal Church. All the fore- going facts, taken together, indicate that Mr. Battles is a prosperous farmer and a good citizen,
E RNST J. SILLER, one of the well-known and representative citizens of Cleveland, Ohio, is the treasurer of the Weideman Company, one of the leading wholesale grocery and liquor houses in the State of Ohio. Ile is a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, born in 1847, and was educated in the Fatherland, at- tending school until he was fourteen years of age. He then entered a mercantile establish- ment as clerk, where he remained until 1866, when he emigrated to the United States. Land- ing in New York city in July, he continued his journey to Tuscarawas county, Ohio, where he had relatives. Here he seenred a position as clerk in a grocery store in New Philadelphia, where he remained eighteen months. On the first day of the year 1868 he came to Cleveland and took the position of porter with the Weide- man Company, which was then known by the firm name of Weideman, Teidman & Kent; with- in six months' time he had advanced to an office position, and after a few months his ability was acknowledged and his industry rewarded by promotion to the place of bookkeeper and cashier to the firm. He continued with the honse under its various names and different managements until January 1, 1874, when he was admitted a member of the firm then known as Weideman, Kent & Company. As the co- partnerships were renewed from time to time he increased his interest in the business, and in
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1886, when Messrs. Kent and Hasbrook with- drew, Mr. Weideman, Jr., J. C. Weideman, Christian Narten and Mr. Siller became the sole owners. In 1889 the firm was incorporated as The Weideman Company.
In reviewing the life of this adopted son of our Nation, one cannot fail to be impressed with the fact that industry, energy and perse- verance claim their reward. Coming to this country without means or friends, ho grappled manfully with the obstacles that presented them- selves to him, and raised himself to his present enviable position unaided, owing no fealty to any man, a debtor only to his own unflinching courage and steadfastness of purpose.
S AMUEL W. BURROWS, a hardware merchant at No. 1222 Euelid avenne, Cleveland, was born in Deposit, Dela- ware county, New York, in 1840. His father, Palmer L. Burrows, was born in that town in 1812, and is still engaged in farming in Dela- ware county. He was Captain of a militia com- pany in New York, which was called out to quell the disturbance arising from rent collec- tions in that State in the '30s. Ile was also cleeted Captain of the One Hundred and Forty- fourth Regiment, of New York Volunteer In- fantry during the late war, but after eight months of service was injured by jumping a ditch, and was discharged. Since that time he has been engaged at his farm duties. Mr. Bur- rows' father, Peris Burrows, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, as was also his grand- father. The latter was killed at the battle of Stonington, Connecticut, and his name appears on the monument at that place, which contains the names of the heroes who fell at that battle. Peris Burrows' father was a farmer of Connect- ient. The mother of our subject, nee Sophronia Shaw, is a daughter of Ansel Shaw, a native of Bennington, Vermont. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, afterward resided at Delhi, New York, and his death occurred at the age of
eighty-six years. Ansel Shaw married Lavina Phillips, a daughter of General Phillips, of Revolutionary fame. He was a descendant of Baron Steuben, after whom Steuben county, New York, is named. Palmer L. Burrows, father of our subject, was one of ten children, all of whom grew to mature years, and eight lived to raise families. Palmer L. and Sophro- nia Burrows had six children: Charlotte L., wife of John Sumner, of Arrat, Pennsylvania; Sammel W., our subject; Lymus P .; Oceanna A., wife of Earl Smith, of Deposit, New York; James F., a resident of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Orin P., of Washington. Mrs. Burrows is still living.
Samnel W., the subject of this sketch, at- tended the publie schools of his native place, and afterward entered the Deposit Seminary. While there the Civil war burst upon the country. July 9, 1861, at Elmira, he entered the Twenty-seventh New York Volunteer In- fantry, under Colonel Slocum. The regiment was immediately sent to Washington, District of Columbia, and on the 21st of the same month took part in the battle of Bull Run. Mr. Bur- rows' first heroie adventure in that engagement was the saving of the life of Henry O. Wheeler, a former schoolmate and friend, who enlisted at the same time as our subject. lle carried the wounded man some distance, when he discovered an artillery horse tied to a rail. Placing the wounded man on the horse, they embarked for Washington, arriving at that city at seven o'clock on the following morning, and thirty years afterward they held a reunion at the old homestead at Deposit. It is needless to say that Mr. Wheeler has ever kept a warm place in his heart for the memory of his old comrade, who came to his rescue on that terrible battle field.
The regiment returned to Washington, where they were drilled until the winter of 1862, and the army was then reorganized by General Me- Clellan. February 22, of that year, they moved to Manassas Junction. While in Mcclellan's army, Mr. Burrows took part in the battles of Yorktown, Gaines' Mills, Charles City Cross
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Roads and Malvern Hill; under General Burn- side, was in the battle of Fredericksburg; under General Pope, the second battle of Bull Run; again under Mcclellan, the battles of Compton Pass and Antietam; under General Hooker, Chancellorsville. Mr. Burrows was honorably discharged in July, 1863.
After returning home he assisted in raising a company of cavalry, afterward known as Company II, First Veteran New York Cavalry, under Colonel J. F. Taylor. They were mus- tered into service in September, 1863, and were stationed in the Shenandoah valley, under Gen- erals Sigel, Hunter and Sheridan. As a cavalryman, Mr. Burrows took part in the bat- les of New Market, Cedar Creek and Piedmont. lle was taken prisoner at the latter place, and during his eight months of confinement was in the following prisons: Danville, Salisbury, Macon, Savannah, Charleston and Columbia. With twenty-one others he made his escape from the latter place, and in twenty-seven days covered a distance of 300 miles. They received provisions from farmers and negroes sufficient to last them over the Smoky mountains. In the attempt to get through the mountains the guide employed lost his trail on account of snow, and they wandered about for three days without provisions. When within one-half day's walk of the Federal lines they came to a pass in the mountains which was guarded by by Southern soldiers. They were casily cap- tured, taken to Danville prison, afterward to Libby prison, and from there, on February 22, they were exchanged. Mr. Burrows returned home on a leave of absence of one month, and in April, 1865, joined his regiment in West Virginia. IIe was mustered out of service in June, of the same year.
After returning home our subject was en- gaged in different capacities with the Wheeler- Dusenbury Lumber Company, of Pennsylvania, for nine years. In 1874 he came to Cleveland and entered the employ of A. Teachant & Com- pany, for one year; for the following seven years was a member of the hardware firm of
Burrows & Moore, after which Mr. Moore sold his interest to Mr. N. C. Bosworth. The com- pany's name then was Burrows & Bosworth. In March, 1889, it was incorporated under the firm name of the Burrows-Bosworth Hardware Company, with our subject as president. The business was first carried on in a small frame building, and they now occupy two floors in a beautiful and commodious block. They carry a general line of hardware, stoves, ranges and furnaces.
In May, 1570, Mr. Burrows was united in mar- riage with Miss Jennie M. Rhodes, a native of Akron, Ohio. She is a daughter of Jacob Rhodes, and a sister of J. HI. Rhodes, now de- ceased, at one time President of Hiram College. Our subject and wife have had five children: Fred R., Louie W., Mary S., Harry G. (deceased), and Carl P. Mr. and Mrs. Burrows are members of the First Baptist Church of Cleveland, in which the former holds the office of Deacon. Socially, he is a member of the G. A. R., and the Loyal Legion, and politically, is a stanch Republican.
N EWTON WILLIAM TAYLOR, a native of Madison county, New York, was born July 12, 1823, the son of George T. and Mary (Hubbard) Taylor, and was the eldest of a family of four children. Of Eng- lish descent, he traces his paternal ancestry back through many generations of sturdy Eng- lish yeomanry. For more than 300 years suc- cessively some of his ancestors have occupied " Little Baddow Hall" in Essex county, Eng- land. His paternal grandmother was a direct descendant of the Earl of Mar, a Scotch noble- man. llis grandfather, Thomas Taylor, emi- grated from England in 1795, landing on the 6th of July at Marblehead, Massachusetts, whence he soon afterward went to Windsor, Connecticut, and in 1812 settled at Madison, New York.
Our subject's father, George T. Taylor, was born at Windsor, Connectient. He was a farmer
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in early life, but in after years became a pros- perons wool merchant. He was a man of con- siderable local prominence in his community, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. Ile was for several teris a member of the New York General Assembly, and also hell the office of Town Supervisor. lle was a Presbyterian in his religious faith, and was prominent in re- ligious and benevolent work, and was widely and familiarly known as " Deacon Taylor." lle became a resident of Cleveland in 1855, and died there in 1870, at the age of seventy-two years. Our subject's mother was a native of Massachusetts, and died about 1828. Of his brothers, Albert HI. Taylor, who went to Cali- fornia during the wgold fever" of 1849, died there, at the age of twenty-seven: Horace Tay- lor died at Cleveland, aged about thirty years. llis only sister is Mrs. Henry W. Whittlesey, of Cleveland.
Newton passed his boyhood on the old home- stead in Madison county, attending the district school and assisting in the farm work. At the age of fourteen he became a clerk in the village store, and after five years of service in that capacity he was made a partner in the business. He was a young man of clear foresight in busi- ness affairs, of sound judgment and trust- worthy, and when but eighteen years old was sent to New York city to purchase goods for the firm. That copartnership continued some three years, and then young Taylor removed to Buffalo and for a short time engaged in the produce business on his own account, after which he was associated with his father a few months in Ohio, in the purchase of wool for eastern manufacturers.
During this last employment his business called him to Cleveland. The favorable busi- ness outlook there so impressed him that he at once resolved to make it his future home. That was in 1849. He first engaged as a dry-goods clerk for A. D. Cutter, and at the expiration of six months became a partner in the business, a relation which he sustained until the deccase of Mr. Cutter, in 1851. The business was after-
ward continued under the name of Taylor, Griswold & Company till 1855, when Mr. Tay- lor withdrew from the firm as an active part- ner, though still retaining an interest in its affairs. His careful management had enabled him to amass capital sufficient for larger enter- prises, and, in connection with other Eastern capitalists, be purchased a largo tract of timber land in lonia county, Michigan, and there erected sawmills, flouring-mills and other build- ings necessary for the conduct of the lumber trade. That was the beginning of the now prosperous town of Hubbardston. With a view to furnishing a market place for the products of these mills, Mr. Taylor, during the same year, opened a lumber yard at Chicago, and re- mained there in charge of it for one year, until the enterprise was firmly established, and then, retaining his interest in the business, re- linquished its active management to his part- ners.
Returning to Cleveland in the fall of 1856, he organized The Lake Erie Paper Company, which built and equipped a large plant at Cha- grin Falls, that was successfully operated until it was burned in 1857. The company then transferred its operations to Cleveland, erecting the paper-mill on Forest street, and conducted it until in 1859, when the business of Messrs. Younglove & lloyt was purchased, and the company reorganized under the name of The Cleveland Paper Company. Four years later, in 1863, the company bought the Monroe Falls Paper- Mill, in Summit county. In all these vast enterprises Mr. Taylor was the guiding spirit, and he at the same time was a stock- holder in and president of the Massillon Paper Company, and owned a large interest in the paper-mill at Canton; also, he was the princi- pal stockholder in the New Philadelphia (Ohio) Paper Company. The Cleveland Paper Com- pany have had extensive warehouses in both Cleveland and Chicago since 1866. Ile was also president of the Forest City Insurance Company from its organization, for fifteen years, when its business was transferred to the
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Factory " Mutual of New England. In 1880 Mr. Taylor built the only wood-pulp mill in Ohio, and also erected a third mill for the manufacture of paper. At the present time (1894) he is the principal stockholder in the ' Eastern Paper-Bag Manufacturing Company of Boston, controlling numerous and valuable patents for making paper bags and flour sacks, and also owns large interests in the Indiana Paper Company of Indianapolis, with mills at South Bend and Mishawaka. He was also a director of the paper mills at New Castle, Penn- sylvania, and president of the Cleveland Win- dow-Shade Company.
As a business man Mr. Taylor is prompt, far- sighted, energetic and reliable. Comprehensive in his plans, he has executive and financial ability of a high order, and seldom, if ever, fails in the realization of the highest and best results. lle is publie-spirited, decidedly a man of affairs, and from his abundant means liberally supports all worthy enterprises. Ite has traveled exten- sively, visiting the principal places of interest in foreign lands, and from his constant reading and study of men and affairs keeps himself in toneh with current events. He is a Republi- can in political sentiment, and during the Civil war made large donations to the support of the Union canse. Though often solicited to accept public office, he has uniformly declined, owing to the demands of his extensive business affairs. Ilis broad sympathies prompt him to many benefactions and bring him into the most friendly relations with all who come in range of his influence. This is especially true of his numerous employes, for whom he has a deep solicitude and almost paternal care.
In December, 1849, Mr. Taylor married Miss Mary Thompson, of New York city, and by her has one son and one danghter. With his fam- ily he attends the services of the Episcopal Church. Mrs. Taylor's grandfather, Nehemiah Thompson, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and had six sons and three daughters. He was one of the first settlers of Madison county, New York, was a pions man and one of the
founders of the Congregational Church in Madi- son. Ilis second son, Charles, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was the father of Mrs. Taylor. He was born in Stratford, Connecticut, emigrated to New York when twenty-one years of age, and died there in 1812.
F J. BARTLETT, proprietor of the Cedar Mills at Cedar Point, North Olinsted, has been engaged in the milling business since 1887. He was an infant when he was brought to Cleveland by his parents in 1836, from New York city, where he had been born in 1832. Ilis father, F. R. Bartlett, was a native of Devonshire, England, and his mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Brown, was a native of London, same country. They were married in 1831, and came direct to New York eity, in 1836 to Cleveland, and in 1840 to Liverpool, Medina county, this State, settling upon a farm. In 1846 they removed to a farm near Strongsville, where Mr. Bartlett died in 1862, and Mrs. Bartlett in 1882. Of their six children four are yet living, namely: F. J., the subject of this sketch; William, married and residing in Strongsville; Edward, who enlisted in 1862, in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three years, and died at Nashville, Tennessee, of wounds he had received at Chattanooga, in 1864; John enlisted in the same regiment, and died at Franklin, Tennessee, in 1863; Elizabeth, who is the widow of Simeon Kenniff, and is Postmistress at Strongsville; James, Jr., is married and lives at Strongsville.
Mr. Bartlett, whose name introduces this sketch, resided in Liverpool six years, and six years also in Brunswick, Medina county, this State. He completed his school life at Berea College, attending there three terms, next fol- lowed teaching for several years, and then en- listed in the army for the Union, in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty fourth Ohio Vol unteer Infantry, at Strongsville, and was
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assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. At first his company was stationed near Franklin, Tennessee. In 1861 he was promoted to the position of First Lieutenant, then to that of Captain of Company D, Twenty seventh Regi- ment of United States Colored Troops, and served to the end of the war; was in General Grant's command from Washington to Rich- mond, and was mustered out of service at Wil- mington, North Carolina, and honorably dis- charged in October, 1865, at Columbus, Ohio.
Returning to Strongsville, he engaged in farming and shoemaking. He now owns the old homestead of fifty-four aeres at Strongsville. In polities he is a Republican and takes an active interest in national questions. For twelve years he was Justice of the Peace in Strongs- ville, and he has now been Justice in Olmsted township two years. He is a member of Olm- sted Falls Post, No. 634, G. A. R., and has been Commander of the post; is also a member of Rocky River Lodge, I. O. O. F. Both him. self and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Ohnsted Falls, and he is one of the Stewards of the society there.
Ile was married in 1854, at Berea, to Miss Jane T. Foster, a daughter of Nathan and Betsy (Hulet) Foster, now residents of Berea. Her father was a native of Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett have three children, as fol- lows: Myrten M., wife of Stonesbury MeKee, and residing in Olmsted township; Mina A., now Mrs. Charles Ashlin, of Brooklyn, who is an official of the Treasury Department; and Hallie, at home.
S HERLOCK S. GREGORY, one of the pioneers of Middleburg township, Cuya- hoga county, Ohio, was the son of Uriah and Lneretina ( Ely) Gregory, of Sandlake, Rens- selaer county, New York. He was born in Albany, January 19, 1802, and spent his early life at home with six brothers and three sisters. llis parents were of English Puritan ancestry,
his mother a daughter of Colonel John Ely, an officer in the Revolution. The mother of S. G. Goodrich (Peter Parley) was another daughter, and Mr. Goodrich in his " Recollections of a Life Time," mentions the Gregory family.
Mr. Gregory's father was a physician in ex- tensive practice; he had also a farm, a store, the post office and a trading sloop on the Ilnd- son. Thus, without having inherited wealth, ho was able to bring up his numerous family in comfort and refinement, and give all his chil- dren a good education, and several of his sons a college education. Ile was a man of stanch in- tegrity and uprightness.
Sherlock S., who was the fifth in the family, assisted his father in the store and on the farm; emigrated to Ohio about 1845, and purchased a small farm in Middleburg township, Cuyahoga county, Ohio. He took much interest and pleasure in raising choice fruit and vegetables, He remained on this little farm until his death, September 25, 1885. He lived to see many changes around him. The beautifully cultivated farm of 300 acres of J. B. Perkins, adjoining his was, when he first came, mostly woodland, with clearings here and there occupied by eight or ten families of poor people, many of them negroes.
S. S. Gregory was a very conscientious man. Ile " set the Lord always before him " in all he did. Ilis daily work was done nnto the Lord, and he considered it his duty to work some and rest some every day of the week, endeavoring to live to the Savior, and look upon Him as the rest -the true Sabbath of the Christian. He never sought wealth, but was careful to provide so as to be independent, and was serupulously careful never to remain in debt a day. His dis- position was retiring, and he was very careful in conversation, and avoided saying anything about a person in his absence that he would not say if he were present. He never voted, be- lieving a Christian could not take part in a government that depended on the support of war. lle took much interest in the aborigines of this country, and found much to convince
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him that they were the descendants of the " Ten Tribes of Israel." He spent many years in collecting hundreds of proofs in support of this theory, and left a work of valuable com- pilations on this subjeet, but did not get it pub- . lished.
In his youth, he visited Europe, and was in England and Portugal, in California about 1851, but, finding his health fail there, he only re- mained a short time, and went thence to the Sandwich islands. He spent some time there, and enjoyed his visit there very much, so that in after years he often spoke of wishing to go there to live. Ile made the trip to California and back in sailing vessels, around Cape Horn.
lle had suffered much from ill health in his youth, but a temperate and self-denying life enabled him to reach okl age in comparative comfort.
lle was married to Hannah Yarna! Meredith, of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, whose ancestors were mostly English Friends, among the first settlers of Pennsylvania. Ile leaves one son, Dr. William Meredith Gregory, of Berea, Ohio.
J F. HARPER, treasurer of the Chagrin Falls Banking Company, is one of the well known men of Chagrin Falls and has been connected with the bank for several years, first being a member of the banking firm of Rodgers & Ilarper, which was organized in 1885, and did a good business. Its stoek was sold to the Chagrin Falls Banking Company in 1893. Mr. Harper's experience and ability and extensive acquaintance makes his conection with the bank of great value and importance.
The subject of this sketch was born in Orange township, October 10, 1858, as a son of Hector and Margaret Harper. The father was a well known and respected citizen of Orange town- ship, where he lived many years. lle died No- vember 30, 1881.
The youth of J. F. Harper was spent on his father's farm and he received his education at
Baldwin University, Berea, Cuyahoga county, Ohio. He was married at the age of thirty, in Bainbridge township, Ohio, to Miss Jessie B. Kent, a daughter of G. Il. Kent, of Bainbridge, a respected citizen of that place. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs: Harper, -- Win- ifred and Lawrenec.
In politics Mr. Harper is a Democrat. He is a member of the town Conneil and has been Treasurer of the town. Fraternally Mr. Harper is a member of the Golden Gate Lodge, No. 245, Chagrin Falls Chapter, and Oriental Com- mandry of Cleveland, No. 12, F. & A. M. Though but a young man Mr. Harper has gained an enviable position in the town, both socially and financially.
UTHIER BRAINERD, a well-known farmer and highly respected citizen of Brooklyn township, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, was born in this township, February 6, 1820. ITis father, Demas Brainerd, a native of Connecticut, came out West to Ohio in 1815, coming with his father, Amos Brainerd, also a native of Connecticut, and settling in Cuyahoga county. A few years after his arrival here, Demas Brainerd was married to Naney Brain- ard, their marriage occurring in Newburg town- ship, this county. Mrs. Brainerd, too, was a native of Connecticut, and had come ont here with her parents not long after the other family of Brainerds had located in this county. After their marriage they settled on a farm in Brooklyn township, which they cleared up and improved, and on which they spent the rest of their lives. She died at the age of sixty-six and he died in his ninety-first year. They were the parents of l'our children, three daughters and one son, the subject of our sketch being the oldest.
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