USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Memorial record of the county of Cuyahoga and city of Cleveland, Ohio, pt 2 > Part 9
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In 1855 Mr. Clark was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Lancaster, a daughter of William Lancaster, of Cleveland. They have had seven children, viz .: William E., who mar- ried a Miss Foljambe and resides in this city; Charles A., a resident of Elyria, married Miss Landon: James II., of Cleveland, married a Miss Clark, but no relative; Wallace N., of this city, has just returned from Germany, where he was pursuing a course in chemistry; and Hattie and Jennie, twins, the former the wife of Dr. Foljambe, of this city, and the latter the wife of G. W. Gender. The wife and mother died in March, 1892, at the age of sixty years.
E LI FAY .- The grandfather of Ely Fay was the late Benajah Fay, who came from
J Lewis county, New York, with his fam- ily, to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in 1816, and settled in Parma township, where he died when about eighty-five years old. The father of Eli Fay was Benajah Fay, Jr., who was born in " York State" in 1806, and consequently was ten years old when he came with his father and the family to Cuyahoga county. His youth was spent in Parma township, and here he was mar- ried to Miss Lois Hodgman, who was born in Boardman, Lincoln county,a Mine, in 1808. They first settled in Parma township, where they lived for some time and then removed to Brooklyn township, where they resided till their death. The father died with the cholera in 1849. The mother lived until November 27, 1877. They had a family of four sons and one danghter.
Our subject was the eldest of the family. Ile was born in Parma township, April 22, 1828.
Otm. S. Jones,
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He was quite young when his parents moved to Brooklyn township, where he grew to manhood and remained till he came to Middleburg town- ship. He was married in Middleburg township to Mrs. Huldah Taylor. She died in Middle- burg township in 1865. Mr. Fay was married to his second wife, Miss Betsey E. Dunham, April 1, 1566, in Rockport township, this county. She was born in Middleburg township April 2, 1512, as a danghter of Almond and Eunice (Corbin) Dunham. Mr. Dunham died in Middleburg township May 20, 1892. Ilis wile died in Rockport township, November 24, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Fay have one son, Ira E., who married Ida West.
Mr. Fay has not been an office socker. In 1847 he went to Cleveland and learned the blacksmith's trade, which he has followed in connection with farming. He owns fifty-six and a half aeres, which he has improved, and whereon he has erected good buildings. Mrs. Fay is a lady of education and intelligence, a member of the Congregational Church.
C APTAIN WILLIAM G. JONES, whose name is inseparably associated with those brave and stalwart masters who have sailed through the storms and calms of the Great Lakes for more than three decades, is a native of the State of New York, born at Or- leans, Jefferson county, May 15, 1828. His parents, Gardner and Eunice (Thompson) JJones, were natives of Massachusetts and New Hamp- shire respectively; the maternal grandfather was William Thompson. After his marriage Mr. Jones removed to New York State, where he followed agricultural pursuits and carpentry. Here he died at an advanced age; his wife sur- vived him, passing away March 11, 1894, in her ninety-ninth year. William G. Jones is one of a family of seven children, six of whom are living. Hle spent his boyhood and youth ou the old homestead, taking advantage of the op- portunities that were offered him for acquiring an education.
At the age of eighteen years his career as a sailor began on Lake Ontario. He was a sailor before the mast on the schooner E. G. Mulich, with a eargo of merchandise from Oswego, the first vessel that ever entered Milwaukee harbor, and was in the same schooner at Chicago when there was but one hotel there, the Lake House, on the north side of the river. They had to wait three weeks for 1,500 bushels of wheat to be hauled in by the farmers. Showing great reliability and steadfastness of character, he was promoted from time to time until he was made master of a vessel, the brig Powhatan, on Lake Erie: he afterwards commanded the brig Ram- sey ('rooks, the schooner Whitney, the brig MeBride, the steamer Diamond, the Grace Greenwood, the brig General Worth, the schooner George Washington, the schooner S. G. Andrews, the schooner Wild Rover, the C. II. Johnson, and the bark Vanguard. During a period of thirty-five years he sustained with- out wavering a reputation for fidelity and eour- age that will ever be a source of pride to pos- terity.
In 1876 Captain Jones left the water and came to Glenville, where he embarked in mer- cantile pursuits. Ile has conducted a very sne- cessful trade in groceries, flour and feed, adding materially to the competence he accumulated as a seaman.
lle was united in marriage in 1846 to Miss Chloe Gore, of Cape Vincent, New York, and of this union one child was born, Mrs. Isabelle C. Winter, wile of John P. Winter. Mrs. Jones died in June, 1889, and since that time the Captain has made his home with his danghter.
In politics our worthy subjeet gives his alle- giance to the Republican party; for six years he has been a member of the Town Council, and for two years filled the office of Mayor, dis- charging his duties with a promptitude that has won the confidence of all classes of citizens. In 1818 he became a member of Erie Lodge, No. 27, 1. O. O. F., and afterward one of the char- ter members of Mayflower Lodge, No. 679. Ile
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and his wife have been associated with the Christian Church for many years: they donated the lot on which the church is built, and con- tributed liberally to its construction.
OIIN W. SPENCER, a prominent member of the Board of Trustees of Rocky River Hamlet, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and one of the representative farmers of that section of the State, was born in Roekport township, June 30, 1841. His parents were John P. and Electa M. (Beach) Speneer, the former of whom was born in Brookfield, Madison county, New York, May 21, 1805, and the latter in Norfolk, Liteh- field county, Connectient, May 21, 1811. The father came to Cuyahoga county about the year 1829, and the mother had come to Lorain county with her parents when she was but a child, her father, the late .Junia Beach, having been one of the pioneer settlers of Lorain county. The mar- riage of John P. Spencer and Electa M. Beach was consummated in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, March 13, 1832. They settled in what is now known as Rocky River Hamlet, and there passed the residne of their lives, her death occurring February 24, 1890, and that of her venerable husband only a few months later, August 12, of the same year. They had six children, four sons and two daughters, of whom we make record as follows: Henry B .; Mary R., who was the wife of James A. Potter, died in Rocky River Hamlet, November 7, 1890; Ilannah is the wife of Frank W. Mastick, of whom personal mention is made elsewhere in this volume; Amos B .; John W. and Frank J.
.
Our subjeet was born and reared on his fath- er's farm, and remained at home until the ont- break of the late civil war, when he was moved with patriotism and determined to take up arms in defense of his country's cause. Accordingly, on the 22d of January, 1861, he enlisted in the Fifteenth Ohio Independent Battery, with which he served three years and five months. After serving for two years he re-enlisted as a veteran
and as such retained his active connection with the Union forces until the close of the war. lle then returned to the parental home and once more became concerned with the peaceful pur. suits of the farm. He continued his residence at the old homestead until the time of his mar- riage. This important event was celebrated December 21, 1866, in Hinckley, Medina county, Ohio, when our subject wedded Miss Deborah Goldwood, who was born in Coeymans, Albany county, New York, November 25, 18-10, the daughter of John and Julia A. (Brown) Goldwood. The parents emigrated from their home in the State of New York and settled in Medina county, Ohio, where they passed the re- mainder of their lives. The mother died in April, 1842, and the father July 12, 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer have one child, Charles II., who married Sophia A. Whitmore, of Cleveland, December 16, 1890.
Prior to 1872 Mr. Spencer was engaged ex- elusively in farming, but in the year noted ho entered quite extensively in the manufacture of tile and briek, which enterprise he still continues very successfully in connection with his farm- ing operations.
lle was elected as one of the Trustees of the hamlet iu the spring of 1892, and has proved a most discriminating and capable oflieial, discharging the incidental duties to the satisfac- tion of all.
In the line of fraternal associations Mr. Spen- eer is one of the active and prominent members of Ohnsted Post, No. 634, Grand Army of the Republie.
G EORGE GOODING, who is engaged in gardening in Glenville, Ohio, and is one of the prosperous and substantial men of the town, was born in England, March 14, 1841, and when seven years of age eame to Cleveland, Ohio, with his parents, Esau and Mary Gooding, both natives of England. Esan Gooding was by trade an engineer, and while in
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the old country had charge of a stationary en- gine. After coming to America he first worked at boiler making and later was employed by the King Bridge Company, superintending the erection of bridges, and being with that com- pany for a number of years. Ile served one term as Councilman of Glenville, and for many years was identified with the Methodist Episeo- pal Chureb, in which he was a Trustee and Class Leader. ITis religious life was well rounded, never demonstrative, but constant and firm; and all who knew him valued him for his sterling character. He died March 5, 1888, in his sixty-ninth year. His wife had died when onr subjeet was twelve years old. They had four children, namely: George; Sarah, wife of Henry Boncham; Martha; and Charles, who married Fanny Hicox.
George Gooding early in life turned his at- tention to gardening, and in this business he has been engaged ever since. lle first began on Wilson avenue, Cleveland, with Mr. G. Il. Lodge, and after working there for three sea- sons came to Glenville, where he has remained since 1863. At one time he cultivated as much as fifteen acres, but at this writing his garden covers only seven and a half acres. He raises a great variety of garden produce and some fruits, all of which are of the best quality and bring the highest market priees. His home is beau- tifully sitnated and is indeed one of the most delightful places in Glenville, its surroundings giving every evidence of taste and refinement.
Mr. Gooding was first married, in Glenville, in 1870, to Miss Marietta Ladd, daughter of Ezekiel II. Ladd. She died November 29, 1874, and in 1883 he married Miss Victoria Shotwell, a native of Ilarrison county, Ohio, and daughter of Arrison and Mary ( Dickerson) Shotwell, of Glenville. IIer Father died June 26, 1893, aged eighty-one years. She is one of a family of six children, namely: Lizzie; Vietoria; A. J., a resident of Colorado; J. T., of Deadwood, South Dakota; Austin, of Boulder, Colorado; and Fremont, of Glenville. Mrs. Goo ling was reared in the Baptist faith, her parents being
members of that church, but she and Mr. Gooding belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, he being Trustee, Steward and Treas- urer of the same. Politieally, he is a Prohibi- tionist.
(OHIN H. TONSING, whose name is prom- inent among the agriculturists of his eom- munity, was born in Independence town- ship, Cuyhoga county, Ohio, January 4, 1855. llis father was Frederick Tonsing, one of the early settlers of this county: he was a native of llan- over, Germany, and was a youth of sixteen years when he bade farewell to his Fatherland and crossed the seas to America. Ile married Elea- nor Bochning, also a Hanoverian by birth, who was a lass of fourteen when she came to this country. He was a shoemaker by trade and followed this occupation several years in Cleve- land. When he had saved sufficient means he invested in land and turned his attention to farming. He had a tract of 126 acres under ex- eellent cultivation and all the surroundings in- dieated the thrift and prosperity of the proprie- tor. Mr. and Mrs. Tonsing had thirteen ehil- dren, four of whom are now living: Frederick, who remains npon the old homestead: John II., the subject of this notice; Anna, who is the wife of John Meilander; Marie, who married Mi- chael Manke; Ilenry, a popular teacher edneated at Oberlin College, who died at the age of twenty-seven years; Louis, who died at the age of twenty-seven; William, who died at the age of nineteen; Martin, who was sixteen years of age when the Pale Visitant again entered the household; the other children died in infancy. The father passed away at the age of sixty-one years, in November, 1886. He was a most ae- tive member of the Lutheran Church, to which he gave a liberal support. In polities he ad- hered to the Democratie party. Mrs. Tonsing survives her husband, and still resides at the Tarm.
John II. Tonsing passed an uneventful youth, attending the common schools of the township
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and assisting in the work of the farm. At the age of twenty-four years he married Elizabeth Schreiber, a daughter of Carl Schreiber, who was also born, reared and educated in Now burg township. Mr. and Mrs. Tonsing are the parents of six children: Arthur, Laura, Rose, Walter and May, twins, and Viola.
The farm on which Mr Tonsing resides with his family is well improved, the buildings being of modern style and conveniently arranged. Ile is one of the most reliable men of the township, and employing only the most correct methods in all his business operations commands the con- fidence and respect of all with whom he has any dealings.
Politically he gives his allegiance to the Republican party. He is an active member of the Lutheran Church, being one of the Dea- cons.
ARNUM R. GRAY, one of the most highly respected citizens of Middleburg township, was born in this township, Sep- tember 10, 1845, where he passed the early years of his life. His father was Hosea Morgan Gray, who was born in Enelid. this county. His mother, Helen Gray, died about 1850. The father of Hosen Morgan Gray, was William Gray, who was born in Jamestown, Virginia, and removed from Kentucky to Ohio, settling in Cuyahoga county, first in Euclid, then in Rockport, and finally in Middleburg township. lle died in Berea early in the '70s, at an advanced age. Ile was a direct descendant of the "F. F. Vs."(First. Families of Virginia), as their ancestor, it is said, came over from England with Captain John Smith, settling Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent settlement in America.
llosea Morgan Gray spent his early life in Euelid, and for ten years followed the lakes; he then purchased a farm in Middleburg township, where he erected a sawmill, which he operated in connection with his farm until the most val- uable part of the timber on his land was ex- hausted. He then gave his attention to farming
until his death, which occurred in Middleburg township in June, 1889. Hosea Morgan Gray was the father of two children by his first wife: a daughter, who died when five years old, and the subject of this sketch.
At the breaking out of the war, Varnum R. Gray, although young, enlisted, in May, 1861, in the Twenty-third Ohio Regiment, but served only a short time when he was discharged on ac- count of sickness. In July, 1862, he again en- listed, in Battery A, First Ohio Light Artillery,
and served till Angust, 1565, when he was mus- tered out of service. At Lawrenceburg, Ken- tueky, he was taken prisoner, but was soon after- ward paroled. Ile was engaged in nineteen bat- tles and skirmishes. Somewhat broken in health, he now resides with his family near the farm where he was born. On leaving the army he returned to Middleburg township, and soon after- ward was employed by the Lake Shore Railroad Company for about one year. He then pur- chased a farm in Lenawee county, Michigan, where he lived for nearly fourteen years, when he returned to Middleburg towship, where he has since resided.
lle was married in Middleburg township, Ju- ly 7, 1868, to Miss Emna Pilgrim, danghter of the late Robert Pilgrim, an old resident of this township. Her mother was Hannah (Rider) Pilgrim, who survives. These parents were na- tives of England. The father died June 4, 1893. They had nine children, four of whom are living. Mrs. Gray is the second of the family, and was born in Attleboro, Norfolk county, England, January 3, 1848. Robert Pilgrim was born in Besthorpe, Norfolk county, England, December 17, 1820, was married October 23, 1845, came to America in June, 1855, lived in Rockport till 1858, and finally moved to .Middleburg town- ship, where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are the parents of five children: Florence G., wife of John Wooldridge; Morgan J., Robert V., Hannah E. and Helen Blanche.
Mr. Gray takes an active part in local affairs: is a Trustee of his township, and in 1890 was Census Enumerator for the district where he
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lives. In politics Mr. Gray has taken a promi- nent part, as a Republican. Both himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Berea. Fraternally Mr. Gray is amem- ber of the G. A. R., Post No. 513, of Berea; the . Knights of Pythias, Berea Lodge, No. 276; the Good Templars, Berea Lodge, No. 73, and the Ohio, No. 3105, P. of 1. lle is a Past Chancel- lor Commander in the Knights of Pythias, and has filled several of the offices in the G. A. R. Hle has filled many positions of trust both in military and eivil life, and in all, it can be truth- fully said that he has endeavored to do his duty.
E DWARD KING BRECK, deceased, for many years a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Brecksville, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, was born in Huntsburg, Geauga county, this State, in 1834, son of Dr. Edward and Clarissa (King) Breck, natives of North- ampton, Massachusetts. Ilis parents came to Ohio at an early day and were among the pio- neer settlers of Geauga county. Dr. Breek was for some years a prominent physician of Hunts- burg, later of Detroit, Michigan, and still later of Brecksville, Ohio, the last town having been named in honor of our subject's grandfather, John Breck, who, with his three sons, one of whom was the Doctor, came to Ohio at an early day. The other two were Theodore and John Adams. Theodore did the most work for the town and is still living there. After a useful and active life, Dr. Breek passed away in 1866.
Edward K., the subject of this article, spent his whole life in the country, and gave much of his attention to the stock business, making a specialty of horses and cattle. llis operations were for the most part attended with success.
Ile married Miss Mary Lonisa Oakes, daugh- ter of Francis and Lois (Church) Oakes, na- tives of Massachusetts. Her father emme with his parents, Cary Oakes and wife, to Ohio when he was three months old, and was reared on a farm in the vicinity of Brecksville, where
he died in 1887, aged sixty-five years. Ilis wife died in 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Breck be- came the parents of two children, Theo Jore and Alice. The latter died November 6, 1866, aged seven years. Theodore was born December 1, 1867; is a graduate of Amherst College, Massa- chusetts, class of 1891, and also of the medical department of Wooster University, Cleveland, Ohio, class of 1891, and is now practicing at Brecksville.
Edward K. Breck died August 15, 1876, at the age of forty-two years, and his wife passed away October 8, 1876, aged thirty-three. His life was one characterized by honesty and in- dustry. Ile had a wide acquaintance not only in the vicinity where he lived but also through- out many different localities, and by all who knew him he was held in high esteem. Politi- cally, he was a Republican, as also is his son.
F RANK P. BELLE, one of the oldest market gardeners of Cuyahoga county, was born in Bavaria, Gormany, near the river Rhein, December 14, 1836. Peter and Barbara Belle, bis parents, emigrated to the United States in 1816, arriving in the city of Cleveland on the Sth of August of that year; they were accompanied by four sous and one daughter. Mr. Bell purchased a tract of land in Independence township, consisting of fifty- six acres which he placed under excellent culti- vation. lle had crossed the sea to a strange country and a strange people hoping to make life an easier thing to himself and children, and in this ambition he was wholly successful. lle and his wife are members of the Roman Catho- lie Church. His father was a Roman Catholic while his mother was a Protestant; they had three sons and three daughters; the sous em- braced the religion of their father, the daugh- ters that of the mother, all living in peace and harmony. Each accorded the privilege he asked, the right of choice in his faith. Peter Belle died in 1879 at the age of seventy-seven
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years; his wife died in 1837, aged fifty-two years. They were the parents of five children: Adam, who died soon after coming to America, Frank P., Peter, deceased, John, and Elizabeth, wife of Paulus Keek.
Mr. Belle came to East Cleveland township in 1861, and for thirty-three years has been en- gaged in market-gardening, raising all fruits that grow in this latitude and many varieties of vegetables. Ile has served four terms as a member of the village council, devoted to the highest interests of the citizens and good goverment. Possessing many admirable quali- ties of both head and heart, he has won the highest regard of his fellow-townsmen.
Ile was married the 26th day of May, 1863, to Miss Sophia Murman, a daughter of Jonas and Mary Ann Murman. They have had born to them three daughters and three sons: John and Frank P'., Jr., deceased; Elizabeth, wife of .l. N. Wagner, is the mother of four children,- Frank, Matthias, Joseph and Irene; Rosa, John F., and Anna. The family are devout members of the Roman Catholic Church.
Jonas Murman emigrated to America in 1859. Ile is the father of six children: Mar- garet, a Sister of Charity; Mrs. Belle; August; Rosa, wife of Frank Andrus; Michael; and Josephine, wife of Louis Tinger of Cleveland.
R ODNEY J. HATHAWAY, one of the substantial and highly respected citizens of Bedford, was born in Independence township, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, April 30, 1836. Silas Alden Hathaway, his father, was a native of Vermont and a son of Zeph- aniah Ilathaway, a native of Taunton, Mass- achusetts, of English descent. The grandfather emigrated from New England to Independ- ence township at a very carly day, and here passed his life, which closed at the end of ninety- four years. Silas A. Hathaway was but a boy when he came to the new home on the western frontier; here he grew to manhood, receiving
only that education which came to him by be- coming inured to the heavy labor incident to placing wild land under cultivation. At the age of twenty-seven years he was united in marriage to Anna Varney, a untive of Ver- mont. To them were born five children: La Fayette, deceased; William, a resident of Inde- pendence township; Annette, wife of L. D. Benedict, of Cleveland; R. J., the subject of this biography; and Edwin, deceased, a mem- ber of the Sixty-seventh Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. The father died at the age of sixty-one years, and the mother survived to the age of seventy-one. Mr. Hathaway was a consistent member of the Disciple Church, of which he was an official. Politically he was an Aboli- tionist, and later affiliated with the Republican party.
Rodney J. Hathaway passed his boyhood in Cuyahoga county, but enjoyed educational ad- vantages superior to those afforded his father, beginning in a log schoolhouse. In 1855 he en- tered the Michigan State University and was graduated at that well known institution with the class of 1859. This course finished, he en- gaged in teaching, but when the war broke out he sacrificed his personal ambitions, enlisted in the Sixty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Com- pany G, and in September, 1861, went to the front. He continued in the service three years, participating in many of the noted engagements of the war. July 19, 1863, he received a Lieu- tenant's commission, and afterward was made Adjutant of his regiment, a well deserved honor. Ile was slightly wounded in the service, but was never disabled. When the war was closed and peace was declared, Mr. Hathaway turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, giving especial attention to the culture of fruit. lle has one of the finest orchards in northern Ohio, consisting of twenty-one acres in apples with one thousand bearing trees; eight acres in pears, two aeres in peaches and one in plums. One season he harvested 7,000 bushels of apples.
October 4, 1865, Mr. Hathaway was united in marriage to Miss Albina D. Danham, a
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