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 76
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Ever since he played first base on his high school base- ball team, he has been interested in sports. He was a member of the Kent Bowling League for a number of years and also a "near golfer" for several years.
Mr. Warner owns his home on East Summit St. where he has had his residence since 1918.
Marygeorge Watkins
Marygeorge Watkins, a native of Salem, Virginia, is the daughter of John William Anderson and Georgiana (Perry) Anderson, both of Virginia, and will be remembered as a
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woman prominent in civic, church, and poltical circles in both county and state.
She received her education in the public and private schools of Salem, Jeter's Seminary, Salem, and attended Fishburne Art School, Roanoke, Virginia.
She married David Howell Watkins of Goochland County, Virginia, and to them were born four children-Margaret E., Seldon H., David H. and John R., the latter two serving in the military forces of World War II.
Coming to Ohio in 1919, the Watkins family lived at "Highland Home" in Edinburg Township, where Mrs. Watkins helped to organize the Com- munity Church and was elected to the board of education and served until moving to Kent in 1926, where she was twice elected councilman-at-large.
An active club woman in Kent, she served as president of the Woman's Club, president of the Traveler's Club, or- ganized the Junior Woman's Club in 1938 and has served continuously as sponsor of the group. At the present writing, she is president of the Past President's Club, historian of the Woman's Club, and affiliated with the League of Women Voters, Order of Eastern Star, and Daughters of the Con- federacy.
She served as president of the Child Welfare Board of Portage County for five years and as a member of the Pre- ventorium Board of Portage County.
A member of Christ Church Episcopal, she was appointed a member of Bishop Tucker's Committee of Christian-Social Relations, Diocese of Ohio.
A leader in Democratic politics, Mrs. Watkins has been vice chairman of the county executive committee, member of the state executive committee, delegate to a number of state conventions, and three times an alternate-delegate to the Democratic National Con- ventions. She organized the Federated Democratic Women of Portage County in 1932 and served twelve years as its president; organized the South End Democratic Club of Kent, and the Young Democratic Club of Portage County; and is a past president and honorary life member of the Federated Democratic Women of Ohio.
At present, Mrs. Watkins is chairman of the speaker's bureau of the Federated Demo- cratic Women of Ohio, parliamentarian of the Federated Democratic Women of Portage County, and president of the Kent Democratic Club.
Mrs. Charlotte Weaver
Mrs. Charlotte C. (Morton) Weaver, Historian, Civic Leader and Good Neighbor, was born October 1, 1847, on a farm, when the flavor of the pioneer days was still strong across the township of Brimfield.
Ae descendent of a pioneer Western Reserve family, Mrs. Weaver saw the stage coach, the canal, the railroads, and nearly every public improvement, which came to the county.
Her grandfather, Joseph Morton, came from Connecticut, bought government land at $1.25 an acre, north of Mogadore, and settled there. Her father, Anson Morton, was five years old then. In 1834, Anson married Mary Atkinson, to whom were born three daughters, Martha, Cordelia and Charlotte.
Anson died in 1847. Shortly after, the mother and the three girls moved to Franklin Township, where Mrs. Weaver lived the rest of her life.
Mrs. Weaver received her early education in the historic old brick school in the "Upper Village." During a part of this period she resided at the famous "Cuyahoga House."
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She later attended the Franklin Academy, then held in the well known "Town Hall."
On October 5, 1865, Charlotte Morton married Adam Weaver at a double ceremony with Adam's brother, Jonathan, and Harriet Nidey. Adam Weaver was a soldier who fought in a "Boy regiment" for the North during the civil war.
After many years of living on Morris Road, they decided to move closer to town. Her home, at 129 East College Avenue, then became a mecca for old Civil War soldiers and widows, who needed pension aid. To these old friends she was affectionately called "Aunt Charlotte."
The crowning achievement of nearly a life time of her effort, and as treasurer of the Woman's Relief Corps, was the dedication, on May 30, 1928, of the beautiful and imposing monument, in Standing Rock Cemetery. This memorial bearing the names of 308 Civil War Veterans, stands as a tribute to their honor and glory.
Mrs. Weaver possessed a recognized talent of recalling the strenuous days and deeds involved in settling the Frank- lin Township district. Thus she was in demand as a speaker, especially on the 4th of July and at Memorial Day services.
Because of her early records and historical research, Karl H. Grismer, author of the "History of Kent" found a firm foundation upon which to build his story.
Until her death in 1939, she was the oldest living mem- ber of the Kent Methodist church, having been active in church work until her declining years forced her into retire- ment. She joined the church when she came to Kent, at the age of six.
Called by some writers "the sorceress of the rockin' chair," a part of her writing and historical scrapbooks have become a basis for some of the material which appears in this book.
Glendale L. White
Glendale Livingston White was a native of Ravenna, having been born there on Jan. 9, 1919. He was the son of Delbert Earl and Elizabeth (Spade) White.
He attended schools in Ravenna and graduated from the high school there in 1936. After that he attended Ohio State University for two years. He then entered the employe of the Hunkin-Conkey Construction Co. as payroll superin- tendent in its work in constructing the Ravenna Arsenal, re- maining there until June 1941, when he entered U. S. Mil- itary service. He was stationed mainly at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, and was line instructor of infantry. He was discharged from army service in January, 1943. Shortly after that he was employed by the Goodyear Aircraft Co. as senior cost accountant, remaining there until 1946.
In that year he purchased the Permanent Awning bus- iness of the Ohio Ventilated Awning Co. on Marvin Ave., Kent, and is sole owner. The plant manufactures permanent awnings of redwood and aluminum.
On Nov. 7, 1942, Mr. White was married to Mary Louise Moore, daughter of Willard and Marie (Kirvan) Moore. Two children were born to them. They are Beverly Elizabeth, born Nov. 29, 1943; and Stephen Michael, born Sept. 5, 1949.
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Mr. White is a member of the Kent Rotary Club and Mrs. White belongs to the Kent Women's Club and various church circles.
Fred H. Whittlesey
Fred H. Whittlesey was born in Atwater, Ohio, on Dec. 21, 1921, being the son of Royal and Alice (Harrison) Whittlesey. When he was five years old the Whittlesey moved to Strasburg, Ohio, and later to Akron, Ohio, where he attended grade school. In 1935 the family came to Kent, Ohio, where he attended Kent State High school, graduating in 1939. After high school he was a clerk and produce buyer for the Longcoy Market.
In November of 1942 he entered the army and was in communications work as a radio operator. He served over- seas in the European theater of war for seventeen months, seeing action in the Battle of the Bulge and Rhine crossing. He was discharged from service in January of 1946.
In February, 1947, Mr. Whittlesey and John L. Dreese opened the "Short Stop" drive-in restaurant in Kent-a new type of business for Portage County-which met with im- mediate success. Mr. Dreese was later recalled to the air force in the Korean war and was killed in action. Mr. Whittlesey is now sole owner of the "Short Stop."
On February 14, 1948, he was married to Bertl Ilona Von Bleyle. They met while he was in Germany after World War II and she came to this country as a war bride.
Mr. Whittlesey is a member of the Kent Methodist church, the Kent Kiwanis Club and the Kent Chamber of Commerce.
Robert G. Wilbur
Robert G. Wilbur is a native of Painesville, Ohio, having been born there December 8, 1925. He was the son of Roy and Jessie (Haldane) Wilbur. The family soon moved to Thompson, Geauga County, where he attended grade and high school.
When the United States entered World War II Mr. Wilbur, in 1944, joined the U. S. Infantry and saw service in the Pacific theater of action, being in the Philippine Is- lands. He remained in the army until 1946.
From 1947 to 1950 he attended Kent State University. In January of the latter year he established the Bob Wilbur Co. real estate brokerage firm after two years apprenticeship with Harper-Marsh, Realtors, of Akron.
In November, 1947, Mr. Wilbur was married to Miss Mary F. McDivitt of Youngstown, daughter of Walter and Elsie (Bradford) McDivitt. They have four children-Robert Michael, now eight; Dianne Lee, six; Bennie Jean, five; and Susan, two.
Mr. Wilbur is a member of the Kent Congregational Church, Rockton Lodge, F.&A. M., the Elks and Lions Clubs.
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Charles Austin Williams
Charles Austin Williams was born November 28, 1859, on a farm about a mile north of Kent, the son of Austin and Adaline (Knowlton) Williams, one of the pioneer settlers of Franklin Township. He was the grandson of Dudley Williams, one of the pioneer settlers of the township who brought his family here from Massachussetts in a covered wagon drawn by oxen soon after the end of the War of 1812.
Mr. Williams was educated in the Kent public schools and the Western Reserve Academy at Hudson, Ohio. Late in 1879 he joined with his brother, S. T. Williams, in establishing the Williams Bros. Mill. The project was based on the idea that the soft winter wheat grown in this locality should be particularly well suit- ed for cracker flour. When the mill was placed in operation early in 1881, the brothers proceeded to develop a cracker flour which proved to be superior to any on the market. The result was that an industry was established which still is in active operation.
He was married November 20, 1888, to Mary L. Emery, the daughter of W. R. and Sarah Emery of Kent. They had three children: Austin, who died when three years old; Dud- ley A., born Dec. 27, 1894; and Marian A., born June 7, 1897. Mrs. Williams died May 3, 1946.
Mr. Williams gave his support to countless civic projects. He was a member of the Rotary Club, the Twin Lakes Golf Club, the Knights of Pythias and the Congregational Church.
The major part of Mr. Williams life was devoted to the development of the flour milling business. His chief avocation was world travel. His death came Oct., 1935.
Dudley A. Williams
Dudley A. Williams was born in Kent, December 27, 1894. He was the son of Charles A. and Mary (Emery) Wil- liams. He attended the Kent city grade schools and later at- tended The Hill School, Pottstown, Pa., where he graduated.
He then attended Yale University from which he received the A. B. degree. During the first World War he served as lieutenant.
Mr. Williams married Katharine Moller of New York City in 1921. They had two sons-Charles A. Williams II, an officer in the Williams Bros. Co .; and Joseph A. Williams, a lawyer practicing in Dayton, Ohio.
Mr. Williams has spent his entire life in the milling business established by his father, the late Charles A. Wil- liams, whom he succeeded as president of the Williams Bros. Co. Since 1934 he has also served as director and officer of the Kent City Bank.
Mrs. Williams died May 19, 1956.
John A. Williams
John Alton Williams was born May 4, 1922, in Barre, Vermont, the son of Albert G. and Evelyn (Mathieson) Williams. His mother was a direct descendent of the Beckley's
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who were among the original settlers of Barre in 1801.
John received most of his elementary education in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and grad- uated from Pittsburgh's Taylor-Allderdice High School in 1940. After one year at the University of Pittsburgh, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy, served 13 months in the South Pacific, and received an honorable discharge in December, 1945. He continued his college education at Kent State University, graduating with a B.A. de- gree. He then entered Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, received his L.L.B. degree in January, 1950 and was admitted to the Ohio State Bar in April, 1950. In May, 1950 he entered into the private practice of law in Kent. He became associated with Frank C. Hull, attorney, in December, 1950, later forming the law partnership of Hull & Williams. Mr. Williams is a member of the Portage County Bar Associa- tion, the Ohio State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.
Mr. Williams was married in 1943 to Miss Carolyn Eck, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Eck of Kent. They had a son, David Eric, in October, 1949 and a daughter, Beverly Lynn, in May, 1951.
Mr. Williams is a member of the Kent Methodist Church, Kent Lions Club, Franklin Local Board of Education, Twin Lakes Country Club, a director of the Kent Community Chest and Welfare Association, and is presently serving as Vice-President of the Kent Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Williams served as Clerk of Kent City Council from 1950 through 1953 and was elected Kent City Solicitor on the Republican ticket for 1954-1955.
Francis W. Wise
Francis William Wise, more familiarly known as F. W. (Bill) Wise, was born in Suf- field township, April 19, 1909. He was the son of Emmet M. and Dorothea Hunt Wise. His education was in the Suffield district schools and in the St. Joseph parochial school. Later, he went to high school at Suffield.
Mr. Wise worked on his father's farm until he was 20, when he became a salesman for the City Baking Co. of Akron. In 1935 he came to Kent and purchased the Kent Triangle Service Station which he operated for five years. In 1940, he bought the Shell distribut- ing franchise from H. W. Vanouse and operated that until 1952.
On Jan. 8, 1942, he was married to Miss Margaret Palfi of Kent. To them, two children were born. They are Sally Ann, born Oct. 1, 1946; and William Jeffrey, born Aug. 18, 1949.
In July, 1942, Mr. Wise entered U. S. Army service. After training he saw active service in the 97th Field Army Battalion of the 87th Infantry Division, in the European Theater of War. This division participated in six engage- ments and was in six major campaigns. He was discharged from service in September, 1945.
In September, 1952, he merged his business with the Gulf Refining Co. with a complete franchise as distributor in Portage County for all Gulf products.
Mr. Wise is a member of St. Patrick's church, Kent, the Knights of Columbus and the Twin Lakes Country Club.
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George C. Wise
George C. Wise was born Jan. 16, 1882 in Randolph, Ohio, the son of John and Louise (Shook) Wise. He attended parochial school at St. Joseph's in Randolph. In his youth he was employed several years at farming. Then, for a period of seven years he was employed by Dr. J. H. Krape in Kent.
In 1909, he purchased the Roy Shanafelt livery stable and hack line, continuing in this until 1918. During this period he ran a hack line to the W.&L.E. and B.&O. depots and also carried the mail for nine years. During the summer months he operated the village sprinkling wagon, thus solving the dust problem to some extent. He was the first person in Kent to operate an auto livery, also making long trips as far away as Niagara Falls. He then for several years conducted a pool room and soft drink stand on South Water St. which is now Wise's Cafe.
On Jan. 20, 1904, he was married to Miss Anna Frances Gannon. To them were born five children. These are Helen C., now Mrs. Randal T. Schiets; Joseph E .; Winnifred E., now Mrs. Jas. L. Smith; Edward L and Robert G.
Mr. Wise died Nov. 12, 1944.
Mr. and Mrs. William C. Wise
William C. Wise was born on Cuyahoga St., Kent, January 12, 1910. He was the son of John A. and Veronica May Wise, who were natives of Suffield. Mr. Wise was one of a family of four sons.
His early education was received at St. Patrick's parochial school, Kent. At the age of fifteen he started to learn the electrician's trade, first working for the Standard Electric Co. of Kent, for a period of ten years. Following this was a period of ten years service for the Siefer Electric Co., of Kent. During World War II he was employed by the C. L. Gougler Machine Co. of Kent, having charge of main- tenance of all electric work in the plant. In 1945 he organized his own business known as Wise Elec- tric Co. which continues to this date, doing all kinds of electrical work-commercial, industrial and residential.
Mr. and Mrs. William C. Wise
On June 28, 1946, he married Margaret C. Miller of Kent. To
them were born two children-William A., Aug. 19, 1947; and John C., Jan. 4, 1950. Mr. Wise is a member of the F.O.E., Eagles and St. Patrick's church.
His hobby is boating. He belongs to the Kent Boat Club and enjoys boating on the river and nearby lakes.
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Oliver and Dorothy Wolcott
Oliver Wolcott was born in Brandywine, Summit county, Ohio, on Jan. 14, 1900, the first of three sons of Arthur L. and Stella E. Wolcott, whose ancestors settled in the Western Reserve in the early 1800s.
A direct descendent of Oliver Wolcott, one of the signers of the Declaration of In- dependence, Mr. Wolcott has been a member of the Society of the Descendents of Henry Wolcott, of Mayflower fame.
Mr. Wolcott moved to Kent from Tallmadge in 1907. He attended Kent public schools and Kent State University. He entered the U. S. Postal service in 1925 and was promoted to Assistant Postmaster on July 1, 1954. Upon the death of Leo A. Bietz, he was named Acting Post- master and was subsequently given his Postmaster's Commis- sion on April 16, 1956 when the United States Senate confirmed his appointment.
Oliver and Dorothy Wolcott
During the time he was affiliat- ed with the Post-Office he has served as sports editor of the Courier-Tribune. He was the or- ganizer and first president of the Portage County Amateur Baseball association and has served as an officer since that time.
He served for eight years as President of the Ohio Amateur Baseball Association and a na-
tional director of the American Amateur Baseball Congress since 1938. He has also been President of the Kent Booster club as well as a director.
Mr. Wolcott is a member of Christ Church Episcopal of Kent, Delta Upsilon Fraternity, National Association of Postmasters, Martin L. Davey chapter of the Izaak Walton League, and the National Outdoor Writers Association.
He was married to Dorothy A. Stoddard, of East Liverpool on Jan. 14, 1924. They have two children: John O. Wolcott, Kent and Lt. Jeane M. Wolcott, WAC. There are three grandchildren, Michael, Diane and Jeffrey Wolcott.
Dorothy Stoddard was born in East Liverpool, April 10, 1901, daughter of John N. and Flora (Hall) Stoddard. She was educated in East Liverpool schools and received her teaching diploma from Kent State University in 1922. She taught school in East Liverpool and Youngstown before her marriage to Oliver A. Wolcott.
A past president of the DePeyster P.T.A. and Kent Council of Parents and Teachers, Mrs. Wolcott was also one of the organizers of the Kent Mothersingers. She is an honorary member of the Women's Club of Kent, member Kent Alumni Chapter, Alpha Phi Sorority, and Theta Sigma Phi, national woman's journalism fraternity. A newspaper reporter since 1926, Mrs. Wolcott was news writer for the Courier-Tribune during World War II and society until March, 1957. She was also Record-Courier church editor and Roasting Pan columnist.
Chester E. Wood
Chester Earl Wood was born in Dayton, Ohio, June 20, 1895. He was the son of Robert and Elizabeth Wood, both of Dayton. He attended the local schools and when he was still a
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boy the family moved to Columbus where he finished his education.
In September, 1914 he was married to Miss Marie Christina Buck, daughter of Henry and Margaret (McGinn) Buck of Columbus. To them two children were born. These were Chester E., Jr., and Margaret, now Mrs. Omar Stein.
In 1913 Mr. Wood was a member of the Ohio National Guard and saw service at that time in Dayton during the disastrous flood of 1913. In 1915 he moved to Cleveland where he worked in various laundries and thus acquired a thorough knowledge of the business.
In October, 1929, he and his wife moved to Kent where they purchased the laundry from C. J. Horning and as the Kent Laundry & Dry Cleaning Co. it has been conducted since that time.
Mr. Wood's principal hobby was fishing and he had fished in a number of states. In more recent years both Mr.
and Mrs. Wood spent their winters in Florida. He was a member of the B. P. O. Elks, his death occuring December 15, 1955.
Larry Wooddell
Larry Wooddell, prominently identified with conservation activities in Ohio for many years, was born on a farm near Wakefield, Ohio, June 1, 1894, one of a family of eight children born to Isaac Sikes and Margaret B. Woodell. His ancestors migrated to Pike County soon after the Revolutionary War, from Massachusetts and Virginia, where they had been among the earliest settlers.
He grew up on his father's farm in Seal Township, Pike County, and received his educa- tion in the rural school, the high school at Piketon and Ohio University. His father was a public school teacher, farmer and county office holder.
Mr. Wooddell has been employed at Kent State Uni- versity since 1940. Previously he served as teacher and principal in the public schools of Piketon, Norwalk and Ravenna.
He enlisted in the Coast Artillery Corps at the beginning of World War I, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant upon graduation from the Coast Guard Artillery school at Fortress Monroe.
He worked in the personnel department of the B. F. Goodrich company and served as manager of the Club House and recreation director for the Bay de Noquet Lumber Co. of Nahma, Michigan.
Governor Martin L. Davey appointed him as Commis- sioner of the Ohio Division of Conservation. He served in this capacity for four years.
July 3, 1922, he married Alice A. Armstrong, who was born at Canton, Ohio, where her father, Charles A. Armstrong, was principal of Central and North High schools. Mrs. Wooddell is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan university and Lakeside hospital. They have three children: Margaret Alice (Peggy); Elizabeth Ann (Betsy); and Jack.
He has served as member of the Democratic State Executive Committee; chairman of
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the state Ferguson for Senator committee, and chairman of the Kent Mayoralty Campaign committee, 1955 and 1957.
Organizations with which he has been identified include: Boy Scouts (Scoutmaster); Izaak Walton League (founder of Martin L. Davey chapter); American Legion (past com- mander of Portage Post 496); League of Ohio Sportsmen (director); Portage County Fish and Game association (past president); Ohio Conservation Congress; Outdoor Writers of Amer- ica; American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboretums; Men's Garden club; Rotary club; Ohio and American Forestry associations; and B. P. O. Elks.
The Wooddells live at 142 North Pearl street, Kent.
Paul Yacavona
Paul Yacavona was born on a farm in Pietro Abbondante, Province of Campobasso, Italy, March 26, 1896. He was the son of Nunzio and Vittorio (Zarenga) Yacavona. Paul attended the local schools and worked on his father's farm and at the age of fifteen came to America, landing at New York in the summer of 1911. From there he came to Wooster, Ohio, where he had rela- tives.
In the fall of 1911 he came to Kent and secured employ- ment as laborer in the Erie shops, working for the first year at ten cents per hour. He then worked as steel car repairman, doing piece work. Later he was in the machine shop under the late Harry Stark as foreman. In 1917 he became a crane operator on the Erie Railroad. He worked there until May 27, 1918, when he entered army service for his adopted country. He was discharged from service Oct. 23, 1918. He was again employed on the Erie wrecking crew and in 1923 was promoted to engineer on the wrecking derrick.
On Dec. 27, 1927, he was married to Mina L. Grazer who died May 17, 1940.
Mr. Yacavona was naturalized in Cleveland April 20, 1920. In 1933 he was elected to the Kent City Council from Ward 2, serving 22 years continuously from that date and taking part in some of the city's most important legislation.
He is a member of the F.O.E., American Legion, Christopher Columbus Society and St. Patrick's church.
Dr. Victor B. Yahner
Victor Bede Yahner was born at Heilwood, Pennsylvania, October 21, 1911. He was the son of Edward Michael and Anna (Cassidy) Yahner.
The family moved to Akron, Ohio, in 1914, and there Mr. Yahner obtained his early education. He attended St. Vincent's grade and high school, graduating in 1929. He then attended John Carroll University, Cleveland, receiving his Ph.B. degree in 1934. Following this he attended Western Reserve University Dental School, graduating in 1938 with a D.D.S. degree. Kent was selected as a field for practice and he opened an office in the Getz building in 1939.
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