USA > Ohio > Portage County > Portage heritage; a history of Portage County, Ohio; its towns and townships and the men and women who have developed them; its life, institutions and biographies, facts and lore > Part 72
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The people of Kent hold Mr. Parsons' wide memory and knowledge of business and finance in deep respect. His advice is often sought in financial matters. He is a thor- oughly worthy and estimable citizen.
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Edward S. Parsons
Edward Sawyer Parsons (E.S.) was born in Kent on September 25, 1867, the eldest son of Timothy G. and Eleanor (Sawyer) Parsons.
After graduation from Central High School in 1884 he attended Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, graduating in the class of 1886. This was the famous class which held its 50th reunion in 1936, with every member of the class living and actively engaged in work.
On February 12, 1891, he married Miss Jennie Wolcott of Kent, daughter of S. P. and Mary (Brewster) Wolcott. They had three children, Dorothy, Helen, and Edward. Dorothy has taught French and English at Roosevelt High School for many years; Helen is the wife of Dr. L. L. Frick of Canton; and Edward is a physician who has practiced medicine in Cleveland for many years.
Mr. Parsons associated with his father in the T. G. Parsons Lumber Company, holding the office of secretary, and, first in company with his father and later with his brother Dwight, serving as manager.
: He was much interested in the welfare of the com- munity, held several local offices, and served as mayor in the years 1903 and 1904. He was a devoted member of the Rotary Club from the time he joined the club in 1921 to the day of his death. He was a Royal Arch Mason, and served as master of Rockton Lodge for two years. By ties of deep interest he was bound to the Congregational Church.
Mr. Parsons died on November 26, 1936, after a short illness.
His associates will long remember his love of fun and jokes and the twinkle of his blue eyes. And it was the simplicity and sterling worth of his character, the depth of his understanding, his quiet generosity, his friendliness, his loyal devotion to his home, his business, his friends, and his community that marked the real Ed Parsons.
T. G. Parsons
Timothy Graves Parsons (T.G.) was born in Brimfield, Ohio, on September 17, 1832, the second son of Edward and Clementina (Janes) Parsons, who had come from Brimfield, Mass., in 1830.
After district school he attended academies in Twins- burg and in Kent. At nineteen he set out for the gold fields in California, going to the Isthmus at Panama, cross- ing by foot, and embarking again on the other side. He stayed seven years at Columbia, California, and then re- turned home by way of New Orleans. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War he signed up in the 42nd Ohio Volunteers, Army of the Cumberland. His war years took him to Ken- tucky, Tennessee and Mississippi where he participated in the Battle of Vicksburg. In 1864 he was discharged for physical disability and returned home. Soon after, in 1866, he and his brother Edward founded a lumber business. This business has become the T. G. Parsons Lumber Com- pany and is the oldest business in Kent under the owner- ship and management of the original family owners.
In 1865 Mr. Parsons married Miss Eleanor Sawyer of
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Brimfield, Ohio. They were parents of Edward, John, Susie, who died in childhood, and Dwight.
Mr. Parsons took a deep interest in his home and family, his business and his com- munity. He was a member of the Board of Education. He was active in the affairs of the Grand Army of the Republic. A quiet man, he enjoyed the respect of his business and social acquaintances, all of whom felt a deep admiration for his integrity and solid worth.
Mr. Parsons died at nearly ninety-one in 1923.
Emma B. Patton
Emma B. Patton was a native of Portage County, born near Kent in 1859. She came to Kent with her parents, the late W. W. and Harriet Beecher Patton, when she was a child. The family lived for a time at the corner of S. Mantua and West Main Sts., moving from there to N. Mantua St., where they lived until they went to a new home on West Main, corner of Prospect.
Miss Patton graduated from the Kent schools, of which Mr. Patton was one time superintendent. She then attended Lake Erie College at Painesville and Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Later she studied at Boston Conservancy of Music and also with Sherwood at Chautauqua. Back in Kent she directed musical productions and gave piano lessons, being active in music, even in advancing years. She was a member of the Kent Coterie, the Kent Women's Club, Traveler's Club, Kent Recital Club and Olive Chapter of the Eastern Star. She was also a member of the Congregational Church.
Being much interested in the work of the D.A.R., she first belonged to Old Northwest Chapter in Ravenna, but later transferred to Aaron Olmsted Chapter, Kent.
Miss Patton will best be remembered and honored for her gift of the Patton Home on West Main St., Kent, to the Kent Coterie, to use as a club house for that organization and as a meeting place for various women's literary clubs of the city, especially those to which she belonged. The house is now known as the Patton Memorial Home.
Miss Patton loved to travel and her death came suddenly on Feb. 5, 1939, while she was in Los Angeles, Calif.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Paulus
Charles Eugene Paulus was born March 17, 1908, the son of William Floyd and Mary Alice Russell Paulus. He attended the Kent Schools and was graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1925. After graduation from high school he attended Witten- berg College and Kent State University from which he received his B.S. in Education and M.A. degrees. From 1929 to 1943 Mr. Paulus taught school in East Palestine, Ohio; since 1943 in Kent where he is Director of Guidance at his Alma Mater. His experience in teaching covers 28 years.
On September 12, 1932 Mr. Paulus was married to Ruth Virginia Stuller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Stuller of Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Three children were born to this union: Gail Kathleen, Linda Ann and Charles William.
Mr. Paulus is a member of the Masonic Lodge and Chapter, the Valley of Canton 32nd degree Scottish Rite and Akron Tadmore Temple of the Shrine. He is also a charter member of the Kent Lions Club, B.P.O. Elks 1377, Exalted Ruler 1954-1955.
He is associated with the Cub Scout Pack as a council member. In professional
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associations he holds a life mem- bership in the National Education Association, member of the Amer- ican Personnel and Guidance As- sociations. Mr. Paulus was the first president of the Kent City Teachers Association after organi- zation.
In 1955 Mr. Paulus was elected to a two year term as President of the Kent City Council and re- elected to the same position in 1957.
As to hobbies, Mr. Paulus is interested in Amateur Productions and singing. He appeared in local Minstrel Shows for 14 years and was a member of the Elks Quar- Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Paulus tette as Ohio State Champions in 1948 in which year they also won third place in national competition at Cleveland. Mr. Paulus is known for his participation in many other shows in Portage County. In 1956 he was chosen president of the Sesquicentennial Corporation.
Mrs. Paulus was graduated from Mt. Vernon High School. She is a member of the Order of Eastern Star and the Kent Emblem Club. For the past five years Mrs. Paulus has been associated with the Northeastern Ohio Agency, Inc. as the manager of the Portage County Credit Bureau.
Mr. and Mrs. Paulus and family are members of the Trinity Lutheran Church where Mr. Paulus is a member of the church choir.
Mr. and Mrs. William F. Paulus
Mr. and Mrs. William F. Paulus
to Kent and worked as steel car foreman until 1930.
William Floyd Paulus was born in Suffield township, Portage County, Oct. 10, 1885. He was the son of Thomas J. and Celestia (Pew) Paulus. He attended Suf- field schools until the age of eleven, when the family came to Kent and he attended South school.
At the age of fourteen he went to work in the Kent Erie R. R. shops, remaining there until 1903, when he went to the B. & O. R. R., working there three years. He then returned to the Erie shops, remaining there until 1914, when he removed to Urbana, Ohio, to work for the Illinois Car Co. as car foreman. In 1918 he returned
When the Erie shops were closed he opened a service station at Water and Williams
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streets, selling Mobile products and tires, as well as a grocery, which he still operates.
On March 25, 1907, he was married to Miss Alice Mary Russell of Robertsville, Ohio. She was born May 21, 1886.
The couple have two children-Charles Eugene, born March 17, 1908; and Gordon P., born Jan. 29, 1910.
Mr. and Mrs. Paulus are members of Trinity Lutheran church of Kent.
John G. Paxton
John G. Paxton was born at Houston, Penna., January 27, 1872. His mother died when he was three weeks old but relatives cared for him in the Paxton home. When his father remarried, an aunt raised him in her own home. When he was six years old his aunt moved to Guernsey County, Ohio, and when he was twelve she re-married and they moved to New Concord. Here he attended school and soon began to do odd jobs in the weekly newspaper office, the Enterprise. He learned the printer's trade and did writing and at the age of fourteen once got out the paper alone.
In 1891, when he was 19, he came to Kent as a re- porter on the Courier, then owned by W. S. Kent. He was soon made editor and remained with the Courier for over 24 years.
When the Courier was sold in 1915, he started the weekly Kent Tribune in company with S. W. Baker. The new paper was a success and after Baker retired, a half interest was taken by J. B. Holm in 1923. When the two Kent papers were merged by M. L. Davey in 1929, Mr. Paxton again started a newspaper of his own. This was soon taken over by the Courier-Tribune and he worked for a time for the combined papers. But shortly after that he became editor of the Medina Sentinel, returning to Kent in two years to again be connected with the Courier-Tribune.
Mr. Paxton was married in 1896 to Miss Amy Geissinger of Kent. Her death occurred on May 31, 1932. Both were members of the Kent Congregational Church. Mr. Paxton was a Rotarian and served as Franklin Township clerk for 22 years.
In 1935 he married Miss Eva Phillips. His death occurred in 1937.
Though without much formal education, Mr. Paxton was essentially a self-made man. He had what newspaper men called instinct for news and his friendly nature was long remembered.
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Perkowski
Michael Perkowski was born in Kent, Ohio, August 23, 1910. He was the son of Peter and Amelia (Kaliszewski) Perkowski, who came from Warsaw, Poland, and were married here.
Mike attended South, Depeyster and Central schools in Kent and worked in muck lands until he was sixteen years old. He was then employed at the A. & P. grocery store one year and at D. H. Green, Inc. for another year. He then went to work for the C. L. Gougler Machine Co. in 1927.
He remained with Gougler's until 1944 when he started his own business, known as the Kent Mold & Manufacturing Co., and prospered from the start. This was during
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Mr. and Mrs. Michael Perkowski
World War II years.
In 1932 Mr. Perkowski was married to Miss Millie May Pfabe, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Pfabe of Atwater. They have three children-Thomas Eugene, born Sept. 25, 1934; Rosemarie, now Mrs. Donald Burke, born in February, 1936; and Brenda May, born in July, 1949. Rosemarie won a queenship at the military dance, Kent State University. She was also Greater Akron Sports Festival Queen, making four per- sonal appearances on television. Thomas Eugene is a jet air flight instructor, now located at Green- ville, Miss.
He is a member of St. Patrick's Church, Kent, of which he is a councilman; Elks Club and Knights of Columbus.
Mr. Perkowski particularly enjoys hunting and fishing. In 1954 he built his own cabin on Middle Bass Island, Lake Erie, and delights in spending week ends and vacations there.
Royal R. Pierce
Royal R. Pierce was born in Shalersville, Ohio, April 30, 1909. He was the son of Nelson Ray and Corda (Coit) Pierce. Mr. Pierce received his education in the Portage County public schools and Ohio State University.
He was married June 4, 1933, to Mary Lucille Corbett. At that time he was employed at Williams Bros. flour mill in Kent. In 1934 he entered the employ of Raymond H. Swartz, owner of Quality Feed Store. Ten years later he bought the business from Mr. Swartz.
In 1951 Mr. Pierce pioneered the use of anhydrous ammonia as a source of nitrogen fertilizer in northeastern Ohio.
At the present time, along with the feed business, he is a partner of the Sellman & Pierce Oil Company.
Mr. Pierce is a member of the Kent Kiwanis Club, the Streetsboro Methodist Church, the Franklin Board of Edu- cation and is a member and past president of the Portage Farmers Club.
Mr. and Mrs. Pierce are the parents of three children: Edwin Lee, a graduate of Eastman School of Music; Gladys Jane, graduate of Kent State High School and Glen, who is in the sixth grade at Franklin Township School.
Ross M. Plum
Ross M. Plum was born in Aurora township, April 26, 1891, being the son of Eugene and Flora (Mantle) Plum. His education was received in the Aurora elementary
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school and the Streetsboro high school.
Mr. Plum was married September 1, 1915, to Miss Ruth Elliman, daughter of Edward H. and Carrie (Judd) Elliman of Aurora.
To them were born two children. They are Arden E., born Sept. 29, 1916, now of Canton, Ohio; and Norma L., August 26, 1918, now Mrs. Triggs, living in Akron.
For many years Mr. Plum followed farming in Streets- boro township, but retired from this calling in 1930. On May 5 of that year he started work in the Standing Rock Cemetery, Kent, under Edward Sapp, then the superin- tendent. He continued in this capacity until January 1, 1945, when he was appointed superintendent of the cemetery, which position he still holds.
Mr. Plum is a member of the Kent Methodist church, the Knights of Malta lodge and belongs to the Mahoning Valley Superintendents and Cemetery Officials Association. Worthy of note is the fact that his father, Eugene Plum, died in Streetsboro in November 1957, at that time thought to be the oldest resident of the county.
Chester A. Purcell
Chester Arthur Purcell was born in Shippensville, Clarion County, Penna., May 12, 1908. He was the son of Elery Thomas and Kittie Blanch (Kiser) Purcell. He attended local schools but moved with his parents to Cleveland where he graduated from John Adams High School in 1925.
He was then employed by the Union Trust Co. for a period of three years, leaving there to go to the William Taylor Co. until 1933. He then was employed by Sears, Roebuck & Co. where he remained until 1944 when he came to Kent. Here he established a men's and boys' wear store on South Water St., operating successfully until November, 1953, when he moved to larger quarters, 113 West Main St. In 1953 he also opened a children's store in the old South Water St. location. In June, 1957, this store was moved to 119 W. Main St., the two stores being operated together.
On Oct. 26, 1931 Mr. Purcell married Martha Helen Louis, daughter of Joseph Henry and Adelaide (Browne) Louis of Cleveland. Two children were born to them. They are Jeanne, now Mrs. Richard Hastings Collette; and James Arthur.
Mr. Purcell is a member and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Kent; the Boosters Club and past president; Rockton Lodge F. & A. M .; Tadmore and Temple Shrines; and Twin Lakes Country Club. Mrs. Purcell belongs to the Kent Sorosis and both Mr. and Mrs. Purcell are members of the Kent Methodist Church.
Glen H. Reed
Glen H. Reed was born in Kent, Dec. 27, 1893, son of William W. and Minnie (Musser) Reed. He was educated in the Kent public schools, graduating from Central
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High in 1911. He then attended Ohio Wesleyan University for one year.
In 1912 he was appointed as postal clerk at the Kent postoffice and after a year's service took a position as bookkeeper for the Kent Water & Light Co.
On June 24, 1916, he enlisted in the army for Mexican border service. Two days later he married Miss Harriet R. Tuttle, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. I. D. Tuttle of Kent. He served in the army until March 22, 1917, when he received an honorable discharge. He then entered the insurance busi- ness with his father, under the name of W. W. Reed & Son.
Mr. Reed organized the First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Kent in October, 1934. He started actual operation of the loan company Jan. 1, 1935, with less than $10,000 capital.
Once an undeveloped farm land area and now one of the most beautiful and best improved residential districts in Portage County, the University Heights Allotment stands as a monument to his foresight.
He was a member of the Twin Lakes Country Club, Kent Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Elks Club, the Congregational Church and the Masonic lodge.
Besides his wife, Mr. Reed is survived by a daughter, now Mrs. Frances R. Wiland; and two grandchildren, Ann and Dexter Wiland.
William W. Reed
William Wilson Reed was born in Kent Nov. 21, 1867, the son of Levi and Clara C. (Stratton) Reed. His ancestors came here from Vermont with the use of ox teams in 1815, settling on land near the present Akron Water Works plant.
Mr. Reed received his education in the local schools, graduating from old Central High School. Deciding on dentistry as his profession, he entered the Cincinnati College of Dental Surgery, receiving his diploma March 2, 1887, after which he opened an office in Kent March 7 of that year. He continued his dental office over a period of 20 years. On Jan. 20, 1905, he sold his practice and was appointed postmaster of Kent. He con- tinued in this position until October 1, 1913. He then entered the general insurance business and his son, Glen, later joined him. This agency has developed into a large and well known insurance business.
On July 18, 1922, Mr. Reed was again appointed post- master of Kent, a position which he held until 1934.
On October 24, 1888, he married Minnie A. Musser of West Salem, Ohio. Three children were born to them. They are Hattie, now Mrs. Elson C. Yarger; Glen H., now deceased; and Helen L., now Mrs. Ross Strimple.
He was interested in politics and public affairs and in 1917 he was appointed city clerk and elected without opposition in 1919 and 1921, con- tinuing until he became postmaster.
Other civic duties included service as secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, of which he was later president seven years. He was very active in the work of locating the State Normal School here.
Mr. Reed was a member of the Masonic order and the Akron Commandery, Knights
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Templar. He was a charter member and past president of the Kent Rotary Club and was a member of the city board of education and clerk for several years.
He died April 30, 1939.
Joseph N. Renouf
Joseph Norval Renouf was born in Beaver Falls, Penna., August 8, 1883, being the son of Charles D. and Nancy J. (Beamer) Renouf.
His early education was received in the Beaver Falls public schools and in Geneva College in the same city. He came to Kent Sept. 1, 1901, and entered Western Reserve Dental College, Cleveland. During this time he commuted back and forth daily, leaving at 6 a.m. on the W.&L.E. rail- road, now the Nickel Plate, and returning in the evening. He graduated in dentistry June 16, 1904, being the youngest graduate of his school. He then started the practice of his profession in Kent, August 8, 1904, and has continued with it until the present time, a total of 52 years. Dr. Renouf in- stalled and used the first electric engine and first fountain cuspidor in Kent, in his office.
In September, 1905, he married Lois H. Newton and to that union there were born two children-Florence, now Mrs. Robert Garrett; and Charles, deceased Oct. 17, 1937. Mrs. Renouf died in April, 1921. On Sept. 2, 1925, he married Frances E. Allen.
Dr. Renouf's hobbies have been tennis and skeet shooting. In the latter he was tied for first place in the state contests. He has also traveled extensively, his travels including such places as Alaska, South and Central America, Hawaii, Europe and Africa, as well as every state in the Union and the provinces of Canada and Mexico.
He is a member of the Christian Church, the Elks Club and Men's Garden Club. Ad- ditional interests are flowers and extensive hunting and fishing trips.
Richard M. Richards
Richard Mann (Dick) Richards was born in Newlyn, Cornwall, England on July 9th, 1888, to James and Phyllis Cattran Richards. He had three brothers and two sisters. A brother and sister reside in Akron, Ohio, and two brothers and one sister in London, England.
He came to America in 1910 at the age of 21 and resided in Akron, Ohio, working on the private estate of Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Raymond. He met and married Anna M. Tschantz in August, 1913. In 1918 they moved to Brimfield where he grew flowers for the wholesale market. In 1921 he purchased the greenhouse property of Mr. and Mrs. George Braybon. There he operated a Floral business until his death Oct. 27, 1943. He got his naturalization papers in Ravenna, Ohio in 1941.
They have a daughter, Gladys Durlin, residing in Petoskey, Michigan, and two sons, James A. and Richard H. who are continuing the Floral business.
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Mr. Richards was president of the Kent Rotary Club in 1928, also a member of the Knights of Pythias and Eagles Lodge. His greatest pleasures were singing and fishing.
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert R. Rick
Herbert R. (Herb) Rick was born in Caledonia, Marion County, Ohio, July 29, 1900. He was the son of Henry L. and Clara R. (Myers) Rick.
He attended school in Galion and graduated from Galion High School in June 1918. After that he was employed by the Erie Railroad Company in the stores department at Galion but was transferred to Kent as Chief Clerk to Storekeeper Harry Ackworth, re- maining there until 1925. In July of that year he left the railroad and established his own wholesale business jobbing caskets and funeral supplies.
In 1931 Mr. Rick invented and patented a flexible metal guard rail for use along the highways now used extensively in all of the 48 states.
On October 18, 1924 Mr. Rick was married to Miss Marilla Charlotte McSherry of Kent. To them three children were born. They are Helen Roberta, now Mrs. Donald E. Vann of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Phyllis Joan, now Mrs. Luis M. Gonzalez of San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Herbert Ralph, 2nd., of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Mrs. Rick passed away January 19, 1956 in Fort Lauderdale and is buried there. Mr. Rick is now semi-retired and a large portion of his time is spent in Florida, returning to Kent from time to time to look after his interests.
Mr. Rick is a member of the First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a thirty second degree Mason and a member of the Shrine, Grotto and B. P. O. Elks.
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. J. Rogers
William J. Rogers was born in Streetsboro, Portage County, Ohio, October 22, 1875. He was the son of Robert C. and Agnes (Porter) Rogers, who came to the United States from Ireland.
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. J. Rogers
He was educated in the Streets- boro schools after which he turn- ed to farming. Mr. Rogers was married to Minnie Clark, March 6, 1901. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Clark of Brimfield and was educated in the Brimfield schools. Mr. Clark was born in England and came to America when still a small child. The family first lived in Michigan, later coming to Ohio.
Mr. Rogers followed farming most of his life, being located in Streetsboro, where both took part in civic activities. They were mem- bers of the Streetsboro Church and of the Grange. When they later moved to Kent they became
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affiliated with the Kent Methodist Church and the Kent Grange. In Kent Mr. Rogers did considerable carpenter work and was responsible for the building of several houses. He died July 5, 1951.
Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rogers. They were Ralph Clark Rogers, Lorain, Ohio; Lois Delight, now Mrs. Leo Gless of Shalersville, Ohio; and Raymond Glen Rogers, Stow, Ohio. An adopted daughter, now Mrs. Lola Mary Brenneman, lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Theodore S. Rowe
Theodore Spurling Rowe was born in Brewer, Maine, February 22, 1902, the son of Herbert and Blanche (Spurling) Rowe, of English ancestry. He was educated in the Brewer Public Schools and graduated from the University of Maine in 1926 with a B. S. Degree in Physics. In both high school and college he participated in extra curricular activities such as management of the athletic teams, editorial work and business management of school year books, newspapers, etc.
Upon leaving college he was employed by the Atlantic Precision Instrument Company of Boston, became a Sales Engineer for them and within a year was promoted to the position of Akron District Manager where he was responsible for the sale and servicing of the electronic measuring in- struments made by this company.
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