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FRED L. ALLEN, druggist, Kent. This gentleman, who is proprietor of a well-conducted establishment for the sale of medicines and the compounding of prescriptions, has been engaged in this special branch in Kent since 1872, and has won the confidence and esteem of the citizens by his uniform courtesy and strict attention to their wants. He has a carefully selected stock of pure and fresh drugs and proprietary medicines of standard reputation, and an excellent assortment of toilet perquisites and perfumery, besides carrying a large stock of paints, oils, dye-stuffs, etc. His attractive store is situated in the Carver Block, in the business center of the town, and hakha depth of sixty-five feet with a width of twenty-four. The compounding of physicians' prescriptions and family recipes is a feature in which Mr. Allen takes special aim to excel, and the stock is bought only from reliable houses. Mr. Allen was born in Akron, Ohio, July 10, 1848, a son of Asa S. and Elects (Arms) Allen. His father is a native of Martha's Vineyard, Mass., and is now a practicing physician in Berea, Ohio. Our subject was educated in the Berea schools. During the late war of the Rebellion he served two years in the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regiments Ohio Volunteer Infantry, receiving an honorable discharge at the expiration of service. In 1866 he located in Kent, Ohio, and served an apprenticeship of three years in the drug business, when he became a partner in the.business with Dr. J. W. Shively, with whom he was connected for two years. He then embarked in the trade for himself and has been very successful. He is a member of the G. A. R. and is a F. & A. M.
ADAM BAES, retail liquor dealer, Kent, was born in Port Washington, Tuscarawas Co. Ohio, June 8, 1857. He was reared and educated in his native town, and worked at the baker's trade from fourteen to sixteen years of age' in New Philadelphia. He served in liquor stores of that place and Kent (where he came in 1b73) up to 1882, in which year he embarked in the liquor business on his own account, and has had a successful trade. He was married, August 17, 1879, to Catherine, daughter of George and Catherine Ginther, of Stow, Summit Co., Ohio, by whom he had one child—Minnie. Mr. Bees is a thorough business man. In politics he is a Democrat.
NELSON L. BARBER, farmer, P. O. Kent, was born in Brimfield Township, this county, June 3, 1825, son of Lyman and Julia (Landon) Barber, natives of Goshen, Litchfield Co., Conn. Lyman Barber first came to Ohio about 1819 and located at Cuyahoga Falls, then a part of this county. He was a carpenter by trade and worked there for a Mr. Griswold, building oil mills, remaining about a year. In 1820 he returned to Connecticut and married, and with an ox team and horse ahead, made the journey back to Ohio, settling in Brimfield Township, this county, on the place now known as the
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Cogswell farm, where he lived two years. He then sold out, bought in the northeast part of the township and there lived until within a few years of his death. He worked at his trade in early days and had his clearing done, paying for the same in carpenter work. He had four children: Emily (deceased), Myron, Nelson L., and an infant daughter (deceased). Lyman Barber was a worthy citizen, and by his industry and perseverance accumulated a large property. He died in 1864 at the age of sixty-nine years. The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm in Brimfield Township, this county, and is still the owner of the old family homestead. His early education was received in the district school and when twenty years of age he attended a select school in Kent (taught by Rev. Mr. Bates) one term, after which he passed an examination and taught school three months the following winter in Brimfield at $12 per month, and, as was customary in those days, " boarded round." He then attended school another term in Kent, under the instruction of Frank B. Pond (author of the Ohio Pond Bill), and the winter following taught school in the Hart District at $14 per month. He afterward attended the Twinsburg Academy under the instruction of Deacon Bissell one term. He has taught school in all fourteen terms, but during the most of his life he has followed his present occupation, that of farming. On March 15, 1851, Mr. Barber closed his school and returned home, cut timber for a house 16x22 and hauled the timber to building site, raised his house and finished it off ready to be occupied. On April 21, same year, he was married, and on day following (Friday), he moved, and the next Monday he commenced plowing for his spring crops. Our subject did all the work with his own hands, except a half day's help from his neighbors at " raising." The partner of his choice - was Sarah, daughter of John and Margaret (Metiers) Berkheimer, of Franklin, this county, whose father was one of the company who started the first glass works in Franklin Mills. The issue of this union was four children: Emmet N., John L. (deceased), George M. and Jessie. Mr. Barber was a resident of Brimfield Township up to 1869, when he removed to the farm in Franklin Township where he now resides. His wife died in September, 1881, at the age of forty-eight. Mr. Barber is now serving his fourth term as Justice of the Peace. In politics he was formerly a Democrat, but since the breaking out of the Rebellion has been one of the stanch supporters of the Republican
party.
CHARLES H. BARBER, Postmaster, Kent, was born in East Windsor, Conn., August 9, 1839, son of Henry and Emily T. (Osborn) Barber, and was reared in his native town, where he received a common school education. He was a soldier in the late war of the Rebellion, enlisting August, 1862, in Company G, Twenty-fifth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, and was in the battle of Irish Bend, La. was wounded at the siege of Port Hudson, June 14, 1863, when he lost his left arm, and was honorably discharged August 26, 1863. He then returned home, where he remained until January, 1865, when he located in Kent and engaged with Day, Williams & Co. as traveling salesman, for whom he acted thirteen and one-half years. In 1879 he was engaged as time-keeper in the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad shops, which position he held up to November, 1883. In October, 1883, he was appointed Postmaster of Kent. by President Arthur, taking possession of the office November 11. He was married in July, 1867, to Clementine, daughter of Edward and Clementine (Janes) Parsons, of Brimfield Township, this county, by whom he has had six children : William H. Edward P.,Charles N. (deceased), Clementine J., Frank W. and Arthur 0. H., and Mrs. Barber are members
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of the Congregational Church. He is an active member of the G. A. R. In politics he is a Republican.
GEORGE BARNETT, miller, Kent, was born in the County of Sussex, England, July 7, 1821; son of John and Susan (Roberts) Barnett. He was reared and educated and learned the miller's trade in his native county, where he served an apprenticeship of three and a half years, after which he worked as a journeyman in Epsom, Barnstead, Banbury and Elhialsham. In 1851 he came to America, locating at Cuyahoga Falls, where he worked in Van Tine's mill for nearly a year. He then settled in Kent and worked in the Kent Flouring Mills up to 1865, when he rented the mills, and with the exception of three years, has been proprietor up to the present time. This mill was built by Marvin Kent, and is one of the best and most substantial in the State having four run of stone with a capacity of 1,500 barrels of flour per week. Mr. Barnett was married, February 25, 1866, to Lucina, daughter of Jonathan Thorngate, of Stowe Township, Summit Co., Ohio, by whom he has two children: Fanny and Clara Belle. He has served two terms as member of the Council of Kent; is one of the directors of the co-operative store; in politics a Democrat.
WILLIAM BASSETT, JR., farmer, P. O. Kent, was born in Ravenna Township, this county, May 22, 1829; son of William and Eloisa (Welton) Bassett, natives of Oxford, New Haven Co., Conn., former born September 18, 1794, latter August 4, 1798. They came to this county in 1817 and located in Rootstown Township where they lived about eight months, then moved to Franklin Township and settled on the place known as the Pritchard farm. They afterward exchanged the farm for the property now occupied by the mother of our subject, which was then considered the poorest portion of the township. The farm comprises 263 acres of land, 200 of which are under cultivation. William Bassett, Sr., was a veteran of the war of 1812, Captain of the militia in Franklin Township in early times, and generally known as Capt. Bassett. After his settlement in Franklin Township he taught a night school for two months, said to be the first school in the township. He had four children: William, Jr., Harriet (deceased), Edward W., in Ravenna, and Horace P., in Warren. He was a thorough-going, pushing business man and at the time of the building of the Ohio Canal he contracted to furnish the stone for the locks. He died October 21, 1878, at the age of eighty-four; his widow, aged eighty-six, still resides on the old homestead. Our subject was reared in Franklin Township, this county, where he received a common school education and has always followed farming as an occupation. He was married, May 9, 1854, to Esther A., daughter of Deacon Barber Clark, of Franklin Township, this county, who died May 8, 1879, at the age of forty-eight years. Mr. Bassett is a member of the Congregational Church, with which he has been identified since 1859. He is a F. & A. M.; in politics a Republican.
JOSEPH BETHEL, dealer in stoves, tinware, etc., Kent, was born in England, February 23, 1827; son of Joseph and Sarah (Paylin) Bethel, who immigrated to America in 1828 and located in the State of New York but subsequently removed to Summit County, Ohio, where they lived and died. They had seven children: Joseph; Ann (Mrs. Alexander Ritchie);Mary (Mrs. Perry Prentiss); Cummings; Elizabeth (Mrs. Nighman); Julia (Mrs. Call), and Frederick. The subject of this sketch located in Franklin Mills (now Kentl in 1850, and embarked in the stove and house-furnishing business with L. C. Dodge & Co., of Ravenna. This partnership continued up to 1857, when they.
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retired, Mr. Bethel succeeding to the business, in which he has continued up to thee present time. He was married, May 22, 1850, to Clara Mills, of Cuyahoga Falls, by whom he has three children living: Louie P., Carrie (Mrs. Preston Spaulding) and Harry. Mr. Bethel is one of the live business men of Kent, and has served as a member of the Council two terms with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the people. In politics he is a Republican.
BUEL BLAKE (deceased) was born in Cornwall, Conn., in September, 1810; son of James and Dorcas (Buel) Blake. He was reared on a farm in his native town, where he received a common school education, and was married, in May, 1841, to Sally E., daughter of William and Polly (Lewis) Tuttle of Milton, Litchfield Co., Conn. By this union there were four children Lewis J., Cicero, Julia C. and William. Mr. Blake came to Portage County, Ohio, in 1857, and located in Franklin Township, where he engaged in farming and here he resided until his death, which was caused by his falling from his barn, June 25, 1867. He was one of the representative farmers and citizens of Franklin. He was a Republican in politics. He never held nor sought office.
CHRISTIAN BOETTLER, farmer P. 0. Kent, was born in Greene Township, Summit Co., Ohio, March 14, 1836; son of Frederick and Margaretta (Zimmerman) Boettler, natives of Germany, who settled in Greene Township, Summit Co., Ohio., in 1834, and who were the parents of nine children: Jacob; Mary A., wife of. F. Krumroy; Margretta, wife of George Humbert; Diana, wife of Adam Fulmer; Elizabeth, wife of Peter C. Frisch; Catherine, wife of Adam Kroehley; Fredericki Christian and Daniel. Frederick Boettler died in 1849, his widow in May, 1883. Our subject was reared in his native township, where he resided until he was twenty-four years of age, when he located in Greene Township, Summit Co., Ohio, for four years, after that in Brimfield, Portage Co., Ohio, and there lived eight years. He then resided in Canton, Ohio, one year, and returned to Brimfield Township, this county, where he resided until 1870, when he located in Franklin Township, and has here resided ever since. Mr. Boettler has always been engaged in farming and is owner of the well-known Arvin Olin farm, but resides in one of the finest sub-urban residences of Kent. He was married, December 14, 1860, to Ann M., daughter of Peter and Catherine (Essick) Pontius, of Stark County, Ohio, by whom he has one child—Charley A. Boettler. Mr. and Mrs. Boettler are members of the German Reformed Church. In politics he is a Democrat.
PHILIP BOOSINGER, of Kent, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, November 21, 1814, son of John and Barbara (Willyard) Boosinger. His father was born in eastern Virginia, March 17, 1785, son of Conrad Boosinger, a native of Germany, who settled in Ravenna Township, Portage Co., Ohio, in 1800, where he cleared and improved a farm. In 1809 he removed to Tallmadge, Summit County, where he resided until his death. He had twelve children, four sons and eight daughters. John Boosinger was married in 1813, and settled in Tuscarawas County; Ohio, where he resided three years. In June, 1816, he settled in Brimfield Township, one and a half miles west of Brimfield Center, the first permanent settler in the township, where he resided until his death at the advanced age of ninety years. He had eight children, five sons and three daughters. The subject of this sketch, who was reared in Brimfield Township, receiving a limited education in the common schools, is a wheelwright, carriage and-wagon-maker by trade. On reaching maturity he worked for four years as a journeyman in Pennsylvania and Wayne County, Ohio. In 1843 he returned to Brimfield, embarked in business for himself, and there married in October of the same year Miss Mary A.,
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daughter of Conrad Neff. The issue of this union was five children, two of whom are now living: Ellis A. and Rhoda A. (Mrs, Joseph Whitehead.), Mr. Boosinger worked at his trade in Brimfield until 1862, when he removed to Rent and embarked in the boot and shoe business, in which he was engaged about seven years. In politics he was formerly a Democrat, but at the breaking out of-the Rebellion joined the Republican party, with which he has since acted.
GEORGE BRADLEY, retired farmer, P. O. Kent, was born in Lee, Berkshire Co., Mass., February 20, 1815, son of Stephen and Lybia (Cook) Bradley. He was reared and educated in his native town, and came to Hudson, Ohio, in 1834, where he worked on a farm, by the month, for one year. In 1835 he settled in the southwestern part of Streetsboro Township, clearing and improving a farm on which he resided up to 1877, when he removed to Kent, where he now resides. He has been twice married, his first wife being Paulina, daughter of Rufus and Sally (Hall) Peck, who settled in Streetsboro, this county, in 1836, and the issue of this union was seven children: Charles; Emily, wife of George Nyman; Clara, wife of Samuel Foster; Paulina (deceased); Susan, wife of James Olin; Clarinda, wife of E. V. Chamberlain; William (deceased). Mr. Bradley was married, January 20, 1878, to his present wife, Almira, widow of Buell Whitney, and daughter of Joseph B. and Ruth (Olin) Stratton, who settled in Franklin Township, in 1837. During his residence in Streetsboro Township, our subject served as Township Trustee two terms. In politics he is a Democrat. Mrs. Bradley is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
WARREN BURT, farmer, P. O. Kent, was born in Southampton, Mass., August 6, 1806, son of Martin and Philomela (Robinson) Burt, who settled in Franklin Township, this county, in 1821, locating in the vicinity of Brady's Lake, where they lived and died. They had six children: Warren, Martin, Horace (deceased), Dorcas C. (Mrs. Rodney Wing), Philomela (Mrs. Ormsby) and Electa (Mrs. Samuel Wales.) Our subject received a limited common school education, and in 1828 settled on the farm now owned by Alonzo Johnson, where he lived until 1863, when he removed to his present place. He was married, November 30, 1829, to Lydia, daughter of Selah and Pruanna (Phillips) Shirtliff, who came from Hampden County, Mass., to Franklin Township, this county, in 1819. By this union there are two children: Louisa A. (Mrs. T. M. Sawyer), of Akron, and Selah W. Mr. and Mrs. Burt are members of the Disciples Church, With which they have been identified upward of sixty years. In politics Mr. Burt is a Republican.
SELAH W. BURT, farmer, P. O. Kent, was born in Franklin Township, this county, June 15, 1835; son of Warren and Lydia (Shurtliff) Burt. His paternal grandparents, Martin and Philamela (Robinson) Burt, formerly of Hampshire County, Mass. settled in Franklin Township in 1821, and his maternal grandparents, Selah and Pruanna (Phillips) Shurtliff, formerly of Hampden, Mass., settled in Franklin Township in 1819. Our subject was reared in Franklin Township, and was educated in the common schools and Hiram College. He has been twice married. His first wife was Sarah Stowe, of Franklin Township, this county. May 24, 1863, he married his present wife, Susan, daughter of Joseph B. and Ruth (Olin) Stratton, of Franklin. The issue of this union is one child —Cora M. Mr. Burt is now serving his eleventh term as Trustee of Franklin Township. He is a F. & A. M.; in politics a Republican.
CHRISTIAN C. CACKLER, farmer, Kent, was born in Franklin Township, this county, August 17, 1836, son of Christian and Theresa (Nighman) Cackler, who settled here in 1816. His father was born June 27, 1791, in
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Washington County, Penn., seventh child and second son of Christian and Julia Ann Cackler, and came to Hudson, Ohio, with his parents in 1804, and in 1807 was bound out until he was twenty-one, to help provide for the family. The war of 1812 breaking out about the time he finished his servitude, he volunteered, serving two years, and was in Perry's victorious engagement September 10, 1813. He was married August 10, 1814, to Theresa Nighman, a
native of York County, Penn., born November 23, 1791, daughter of Adam and Betsey Nighman, who settled in Franklin Township, this county, about 1809. The issue of this union was twelve children: George, Almon (deceased), Polly, Elizabeth (deceased), Harriet (deceased), Edward and Edwin (twins, the former deceased), Caroline (deceased), Jacob, Julian, Delanah and C. Christian Cr. Christian Cackler settled on the farm now occupied by our subject January 1, 1816. He ran in debt for fifty acres of land at $3.50 per acre, and did not get his deed for seventeen years. He began to clear his land by cutting out the small timber which, together with the old logs, he burned, after which he girdled the standing timber, and split his rails. Having no teams, be carried them on his back to the line of his fences. Having cleared and fenced his farm, he hired a man to do his plowing, planted his corn, and worked it entirely with a hoe. He died July 5, 1878; his wife, April 23, 1869. Christian C. Cackler, our subject, resides on the old family homestead, where he was born and reared. He was married August 10, 1862, to Lizzie Bentley, born in New York City, January 29, 1843, a daughter of John and guy (Lindsey) Bentley, the father a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, the mother 'of London, England, and who have been residents of Kent, this county, since 1857. To this union were born four children (two deceased), two now living: John and Lula. Mr. Cackler is one of the representative citizens and farmers of Franklin Township. In politics he is a Democrat.
W. I. CARIS, dentist, Kent, was born in Rootstown Township, this county, September 4, 1852, son of Samuel and Rachel (Ward) Canis, natives of Rootstown. His paternal grandfather, John Canis, a native of Cumberland County, Penn., and who, with his brother Frederick, settled in Rootstown Township, this county, in 1802, was a wheelwright by trade, though in the latter part of his life he was engaged in farming. He cleared and improved two farms in Rootstown Township. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving as First Lieutenant of his company, and was taken prisoner at Hull's surrender, but escaped the same day. He was the first Justice of the Peace of Rootstown, which office lie held about fifteen years. He had eight children: George, deceased; Frederick; Michael; Susan, Mrs. Wilson Fallon; Samuel; Lycurgus V. • Mary (Mrs. James Likens), and Henry. The maternal grandfather, Mr. V. was also an early settler of Rootstown Township, where he lived and died. Samuel Canis, father of our subject, was reared in Rootstown Township, where he always resided, engaged in farming. He had two children: Belle E., Mrs. I. L. Herriff, and William 1. Our subject was reared in Rootstown Township, and educated in the common schools. When twenty years of age he located in Kent, where he studied dentistry two years with G. A. Case. In 1873 he went to Huntington, W. Va., where he practiced his profession for one year, but in the fall of 1874 returned to Kent and opened an office, where he has been in active practice to the present time. In 1874 he became a member of the Ohio State Dental Association, and is still an active member. He was married, March 25, 1876, to Boxy S., daughter of Luther H. and Tama (Ingersoll) Parmelee, of Kent, Ohio. Dr. Canis is a member of the I. 0. 0. F., K. of P., of Kent, of the Akron Encampment, and Temple No. 5, of Akron, Ohio. He was elected Clerk of Franklin Township and the
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corporation of Kent, in 1878, which position he filled for six consecutive years. He was appointed Mayor of Kent, Ohio, November 6, 1883, and in the spring of 1884 was re-elected. In politics he is independent.
F. F. CARLILE, timer and plumber, Kent, was born at Newton Falls, Trumbull Co., Ohio, January 31, 1854, son of Freeman and Caroline (DeForest) Carlile. His paternal grandfather was Henry Carlile, a native of Pennsylvania, who settled at Newton Falls in 1832. His maternal grandfather was Curtis DeForest,. a native of Connecticut, who came to Franklin Mills (now Kent), this county, in 1851, where he carried on farming until 1877, when he retired, and now lives in Kent at the age of eighty-two. Our subject was reared and educated in Newton Falls, served an apprenticeship of four years at the tinner's trade in that place, and in 1875 embarked in business for himself in Kent. In 1881 he engaged in business with Myron A. Thorp, which continued nine months. In April, 1882, he became associated with C. R. Reed, under firm name of Carlile & Reed, and in 1878 plumbing, steam and gas-fitting were added to the business. Mr. Carlile was married, March 12, 1873, to Abbie E. Selby of Newton Falls, by whom he has six children: Darwin D., Willie R., Lewis K., Nathaniel W., Artie and Freddie. Mr. Carlile is a member of the I. 0. 0. F. and R. A. In politics he is a Democrat.
WILLIAM R. CARVER, P. 0. Chicago, Ill., was born in Brandon, Vt., October 15, 1830; son of Jonathan P. and Betsey K. (Knowlton) Caiver, who were the parents of nine children, six now living: Emma E., wife of Harry Cooley; William R.; Charles P.; Henry C.; Ann E., wife of Thomas E. Metlin; Mary P., wife of C. T. Williams. They settled in Franklin Mills (now Kent) in 1843, where Mr. Carver kept the Franklin (now Continental) Hotel for about eighteen months, when he retired from business and resided in Kent' until his death, May 31, 1871, in his seventy-ninth year. His widow has reached the ripe age of seventy-nine and now resides in Kent. The paternal grandfather of our subject was!Rufus Carver, a native of Deerfield, Vt., a shoe-maker by trade and a son of the famous traveler, Capt. Jonathan Carver, who in 176668 explored the vast country„ along the Upper Mississippi and received in recognition of his influence and services a grant of territory from the Indians, of which the following is a copy:
" To JONATHAN CARVER,
" A chief under the most mighty and potent George the Third, King of the English and other nations, the fame of whose courageous warriors has reached our ears, and has been more fully told to us by our good brother Jonathan aforesaid, whom we rejoice to see come among us, and bring us good news from his country.
" We, chiefs of the Naudowissies, who have hereto set our seals, do by these presents, for ourselves and heirs forever, in return for the many presents and other good services done by the said Jonathan to ourselves and allies, give, grant, and convey to him the said Jonathan, and to his heirs and assigns for ever, the whole of a certain tract or territory of land, bounded as follows, viz. From the Fall of St. Anthony, running on the east bank of the. Mississippi nearly southeast, as far as the south end of Lake Pepin, where the Chipeway River joins the Mississippi, and from thence eastward five days travel, account: ing twenty English miles per day, and from thence north six days travel, at twenty English miles per day, and from thence again to the Fall of St Anthony, on a direct straight line. We do for ourselves, heirs, and assigni for ever, give unto the said Jonathan, his heirs and assigns for ever, all the said
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lands, with all the trees, rocks, and rivers therein; reserving for ourselves and heirs the sole liberty of hunting and fishing on land not planted and improved by the said Jonathan, his heirs and assigns. To which we have affixed our respective seals, at the Great Cave, May the first, one thousand seven hundred and sixty-seven.
HAWNOPAWJATIN, his mark.
OTONTONGOOMLISHEAW, his mark.
" The foregoing,with the signets from two Indian chiefs of the Naudowissie tribes near the Fall of St. Anthony, on the RiverVississippi, to Capt. Jonathan Carver, dated at the Great Cave on May first, one thousand seven hundred and sixty-seven, is a true copy of an original deed, compared according to the testimonies of the Rev. Dr. Samuel Peters and Dr. John Coakley Lettsom,
W. D. as stated in a petition to Congress by Samuel Harrison, on behalf of the heirs of Capt. Jonathan Carver, praying for a recognition of the same as on file in the Senate Office of the Secretary of the Senate of the United States Examined this 23d day of April, one thousand eight hundred and six, at the capitol in the city of Washington.
" Attest, SAMUEL A. OTIS,
Secretary of the Senate of the United States.
" Signed in presence of Samuel Eliot, Junr.
" The above is certified under the seal of the Secretary of State for James Madison.”
This original deed on parchment has been carefully treasured in the family as an " heirloom," but was unfortunately destroyed in the " great fire," Chicago, October, 1871.
The "Great Cave," in which the treaty with Capt. Carver was held and the deed executed, is located on the bank of the Mississippi at St. Paul, and is well known as " Carver's Cave," and is visited by thousands of tourists annually. One of the most thrifty counties and towns of Minnesota also bears the name of the great traveler. His maternal grandfather, William Knowlton, a native of Beverly, Mass., settled in Franklin about 1835. Our subject was thirteen years Of age when his parents came to this township. He was educated in the high schools of Kent and started in life as a clerk at Ravenna, in the store of Cyrus Prentiss, in 1847, with whom he remained six years. He afterward located at Cleveland, St. Louis and St. Paul, and has been engaged in various branches of business in different sections of the country. In 1872 he purchased the Continental Hotel in Kent, a building five stories high with five stores attached, on which be has expended several thousand dollars in repairing and improvements. He is also owner of other valuable property in Kent. Mr. Carver is a
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gentleman of public spirit and enterprise, always interested in anything that tends toward the improvement and public welfare of Kent.
SELAH CLAPP, a pioneer of Portage County, Ohio, was born June 7, 1775, in the town of South Hampton, Hampshire Co., Mass., and was a son of Selah Clapp, a lineal descendant of Sir Roger Clapp, who came from England, his native country, to America in 1630, and settled in the colony of Massachusetts. June 28, 1820, the subject of this sketch, being then married, started from his native town with his wife and family of six children for Ohio. Their means of conveyance was by horse team, which he drove the entire distance, arriving at Franklin Township, Portage Co., Ohio, August 8, 1820. In this township on Lot 23 he bought a farm of 163 acres, and moved with his family into a log house then standing on the land, 16x18 feet in size, which stood about 100 rods southwest of his son's, S. S. Clapp's, present residence. About the same time he purchased 250 acres of land in Avon Township, Lorain Co., Ohio. Mr. Clapp was a man of sterling worth, and soon began taking an active and prominent part in the affairs of the community where he had established his new home. He was a Whig in politics, and served his township in various public capacities, being Trustee for several terms. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a liberal supporter of the religious and educational interests of the township. He was married in Montgomery Township, Hampden Co., Mass., March 1, 1804, to Diana Sheldon, who bore him eight children, all in Massachusetts except the youngest, as follows: Silas W., born December 24, 1804; Susan, born October 13, 1807, now deceased; Spencer, born December 21, 1809; Selah S., born January 9, 1812; Samuel, born November 1, 1814, now deceased; Achsah, born March 16,1817, now deceased; Diana, born January 5, 1820; Delana, born November 13, 1822, now deceased. The father of this family died June 4, 1840, and the mother August 29, 1850. Their remains rest in the cemetery at Kent.
SELAH S. CLAPP, son of Selah and Diana (Sheldon) Clapp, was born in Montgomery Township, Hampden Co., Mass. January 9, 1812, and was brought by his parents to Franklin Township in 1820. He was reared to the life of a farmer, in the meantime receiving a limited education in the schools of his day. At his father's death he purchased the old homestead, eighty acres of which he still owns and occupies, thus making him a continuous resident on this farm for sixty-five years. He was married at Ravenna, Ohio,, March 10, 1835, to Mary Brown, who was born in his native town, and a daughter of Nicholas and Fanny (Phillips) Brown. Her parents having died in Massachusetts, she came to Portage County, Ohio, with her uncle, Benja- min Phillips, who settled in Franklin Township in 1832. To the union of our subject and his wife were born four children: Fanny Eliza, born July 7, 1836, and died January 1, 1855; Mary Adelia, born November 17, 1837; Will iam Henry, born February 16, 1842, married Mary Richardson, and now resides in Franklin Township; Lucy Florilla, born September 2, 1845. Mary A. and Lucy F. both reside at the homestead with their father. The wife of Mr. Clapp died January 27, 1875, aged fifty-eight years, and lies buried in Standing Rock Cemetery at Kent. Mr. Clapp is one of Franklin Township's oldest as well as one of its most substantial citizens. He is at present the owner of 238 acres of valuable land, besides other property. He is a Repub lican in politics, and although not an office seeker has been elected to and has served his township in various local offices, and once as Trustee. For the past forty-four years be has been a member of the Church of the Disciples, the first four years serving as Deacon and for the past forty years as Overseer, and Church Trustee thirty years. Mrs. Clapp was also a member of this church
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for many years. At the erection of the stone church building in Kent for this denomination, Mr. Clapp contributed. $1,000. He also assisted in the erection of the Presbyterian Church of Kent.
CHARLES K. CLAPP, Cashier Kent National Bank, Kent, was born in Ravenna, Ohio, January 15, 1838, son of Charles and Harriet (Kent) Clapp. His father was a native of Turin, N. Y., a son of Ezra Clapp, born January 2, 1807, and settled in Ravenna, this county, in an early day. There he embarked in mercantile trade, which, he followed for several years, after Which he located in Franklin Mills (now Kent), this county, and engaged in the same business, and later still in Akron, Ohio. He is now a resident of Warren County, Ohio. He was married in Ravenna, Ohio, September 1, 1831, to Harriet, daughter of Zones and Pamelia (Lewis) Kent, by whom he had six ehildien: Harriet L. (deceased), Charles H. (deceased), Charles K., Ella M. (Mrs. John C. Southwick), in New York City; George A., in New York City, and Edward L., in San Francisco. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native county, where he attended the common schools, thence went to the Leicester Academy, Mass., where he remained two years, which comprised his educational advantages. Leaving there at the age of sixteen, he went to New York City, and for twelve years was employed in the wholesale grocery house of Kent & Co. (the last four years a partner in the house), after which he removed to Minneapolis, Minn., where he resided twelve years, being engaged six years in the manufacture of woolen goods, and the balance of the time in the agricultural implement business. In the fall of 1877 he returned to Kent, and in January, 1878, accepted the position of Cashier of the Kent National Bank, which he has satisfactorily filled to the present. He was married, November 26, 1872, to Mary E. Wood, of Mankato, Minn., by whom he has four children: Charles W., Frank S., Leon K, and Harold M.
ALBERT D. CLARK, real estate, insurance and Notary Public, Kent, was born in Kent, April 21, 1842, son of John F. and Eliza (Dunning) Clark. His paternal grandparents were George W. and Martha (Laird) Clark, natives of Pennsylvania, who located in Stark County at an early day, where the father of our subject was horn January 13, 1814. George W. was Associate Judge of Stark and Portage Counties at an early day, also one of the first surveyors in this part of Ohio, and laid out the stage road between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. His children were William L., the first Sheriff of Summit County; Robert; James H.; George W., a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a professor at Allegheny College, Meadville, for twenty years; John F. ; Jane; Juliette; Martha. John F., the father of our subject, was educated in the academies of Tallmadge and Randolph, and at the age of sixteen went to Hudson and served an apprenticeship of four years at the carpenter's trade, which occupation he has followed all his life. He married in 1839 Eliza Dunning, formerly of New Milford, Conn., by whom he had five children: George F., Albert D., Amelia (Mrs. Lorenzo Fessenden), Almira (Mrs. Anson Pritchard, deceased), and Hattie (Mrs. Charles Coyle). He located in Kent in 1838, where he has resided ever since. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Ambrosia Dunning, one of the first settlers of Ravenna Township. Our subject was reared and educated in Kent. He enlisted April 24, 1861, in Company F, Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and after serving three months as Corporal was honorably discharged. He re-enlisted August 13, 1861, and served as Sergeant in Company A, First Regiment Ohio Light Artillery, and was Acting Orderly over two years, and commanded the Second Section of artilleries over a year. He was in the battles of Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga (he was recommended for promotion for bravery on the battle-
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field of Chickamauga by Maj. Wilbur F. Goodspeed), and was in many other engagements, and honorably discharged at Chattanooga, Tenn., September 12, 1864, paying a flying visit to friends in Ohio. He then went into the Quartermaster's Department, at Johnsonville, Tenn., serving eighteen months as Assistant Superintendent of laborers of that place, also in the vicinity of Nashville. When Johnsonville, Tenn., was evacuated by the Union forces he went to Nashville, thence to Franklin and Duck River; returning to Nashville took passage on the transport "New York" for Eastport, Miss. On the steamer's arrival at her destination he accepted and filled the position of Chief Receiving Clerk under Lieut. Samuel W. Treat, commanding river and railroad transportation. On resigning this position he returned to Ohio. He then went West and engaged in railroading, visiting all the principal cities of the West. In 1869 he returned to Kent, and accepted a position as foreman in the brass foundry of the A. & G. W. R. R., which he held until 1883, when he embarked in his present business. He was married August 18, 1870, to Sarah J., daughter of Harvey C. and Flora B. Newberry, of Kent. The issue of this union was four children: Lenah, Scottie O., Lewis C. and Ezzie L., of whom two are now living: Lewis C. and Ezzie L. Mr. Clark is a member of the K. of H., and has filled all the chairs of that order. He now holds the office, to which he was appointed by S. S. Bloom, Grand Dictator, K. of H., of Ohio, of District Deputy Grand Dictator in and for the Twenty-fifth District of Qhio, comprising the following counties, to-wit: Ashtabula, Geauga, Portage, Lake and Trumbull. He is C. C. Commander of the K. of P., and a member of the G. A. R. He has served the village of Kent as Councilman two terms. In 1877 he was the Greenback candidate for Representative of Portage County, and ran ahead of his ticket. He was also candidate for Mayor of Kent in the Republican caucus in the spring of 1884. In politics he is independent.
JAMES CRANE, hotel proprietor, Kent, was born in Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, August 6, 1830; son of Ira R. and Lucy B. (Rawdon) Crane, natives of Connecticut. His father settled in Warren in 1824, where he embarked in the boot and she trade, which he carried on there for twenty years. He then located in ,West Farmington, and continued in the same business until his death.. He died September 17, 1884, at the age of eighty-two. Our subject was reared in his native town and in West Farmington, and was educated in the schools of the latter place, and clerked for his father for many years. In 1852 he embarked in the dry goods trade in West Farmington, in which he engaged up to 1857, when he removed to Illinois, where he resided three years. In April, 1861, he enlisted in the three months' service, in the late war of the Rebellion, being the first man to enlist in Geauga County, Ohio, He was Orderly Sergeant of Company E, Nineteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. and served his time. He re-enlisted March 12, 1862, and was appointed Captain of Battery E, Fifth New York Artillery. He participated in both battles of Winchester, Va., Fishers Hill, Va., at the evacuation of Harper's Ferry, and in the battle of Cedar Creek, where he was captured October 19, 1864, and taken to Libby, and from there to Danville Prison. He was paroled March 12, 1865, and was honorably discharged from the service the same date at Annapolis, Md. He then returned to West Farmington and re-entered the dry goods business, in which he was engaged up to 1879, when he located in Kent, and with his brother-in-law, F. K. Lewis, Esq., rented the "Continental Hotel," the principal hotel of the place, which, under the excellent management, of Crane & Lewis, has become widely known throughout the State. Mr. Crane married Amelia E., daughter of Leonard and Mary (Smith) Lewis, of West Farmington, by whom he has two children: Minnie and Jay. Capt. Crane is
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one of the live, enterprising citizens of Kent. He is a F. & A. M., a member of the K. of P. and G. A. R. In politics he is a stanch Republican.
JOHN CROSS, foreman New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad wood-machine shops, Kent, was born in the city of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England May 1, 1835, son of John and Elizabeth (Norman) Cross. He was reared and educated in his native place, where he learned the trade of brick mason, serving an apprenticeship of seven years. He landed in New York City April 1, 1860, where he remained until the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, when he enlisted, May 1,1861, in Company E, Sixty-seventh New York Infantry, serving until January 1, 1863, at which date he was discharged at Lincoln Hospital, Washington, D. C., by reason of being appointed Hospital Steward in the United States Army. He re-enlisted January 23, 1863, for five years, and served as Hospital Steward up to August 22, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. He was married, December 17, 1856, to Sarah B., daughter of Joseph and Mary A. (Watkinson) Pearson, of Ely, England, by whom he Dad two children: Alexander and Sarah. Mr. Cross located in Kent, this County, in October, 1865, and entered the employ of the Atlantic & Great Western, now New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad Company, with whom has been engaged to the present time, and since 1871 he has held his present position as foreman of the wood-machinery shops of the company. He and i is wife are members of the Universalist Church. Mr. Cross was elected to the Council of Kent in the spring of 1883. He is a F. & A. M., and a member of the G. A. R. In politics he is a Democrat.
GEORGE W. DEAN, nurseryman, Kent, was born in Wayne Township, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, August 20, 1820, son of Horatio G. and Rebecca (Forbes) Dean, natives of Massachusetts, the former coming to Ashtabula County, Ohio, about 1816, the latterin 1806. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Abiather Dean, of Massachusetts, and his maternal grandfather was Nathan Forbes, who settled in Wayne Township, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, in 1806. Our subject was reared in his native township, and educated in the common schools and the academy at Farmington, Ohio. His father being a shoe-maker, our subject engaged in that trade in his native town and in Auburn, Ohio, until thirty-five years of age. In the winter of 1855 he embarked, in Troy, Geauga 0o., Ohio, in the nursery business, which he carried on there for eight years. In 1864 he removed to Franklin Township, this county, where he has been engaged to the present time keeping a general nursery stock, and up to 1874 he carried a florists' stock. Besides horticulture Mr. Dean has of late interested himself in several branches of natural science, and has collections in Archteology, Paleontology, Mineralogy and Conchology, and his collection in connection with the last-named science numbers 1,350 distinct species of marine, fresh water and land shells, carefully selected and systematically classified and arranged. Mr. Dean was married September 1, 1852, to Maria, daughter of Col. Drayton Jones, of Wayne Township, formerly of Connectient, and has one daughter—Lillian. Mr. Dean is an active member of the County Horticultural Society, of which he was 'Vice-President for several years. In politics he is a Republican.
GEORGE DEWEY, farmer, P. 0. Kent, was born in Chester, Mass.,September 10, 1801, son of Stephen and Persus (Morgan) Dewey, who settled in this county in 1824, locating in Franklin Township on land now owned by our subject and Samuel Beckwith, and where Stephen Dewey died in 1831. He had nine children: Morgan, Edwin Electa, Almena, Julia, Editha, George, Roland and Alonzo, all now deceased except George and Roland. The subject of this sketch has lived on the farm where he now resides sixty years, and
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made all the improvements himself. He was married, April '7, 1830, to Mary, daughter of Chauncey Mosley, of Westfield, Mass. By this union there were nine children, four now living: Margaret (Mrs. Dr. I. S. King, of Montcalm County, Mich.), George, Jr., Mary and Hattie (Mrs. Orlando Stewart, of Montcalm. County, Mich.). The deceased are Jane, Clinton, Elizabeth, Lucy and Sarah. Of these Clinton died in hospital at Nashville, Tenn., during the late war of the Rebellion, leaving one child—Estelle (Mrs. Ralph Dibble, who has one child—Mary). Our subject is a member of the Portage County Pioneer Society, and has held various offices in the gift of the township. In politics he is a Republican.
FRED L. DUNNING, painter, Kent, was born in Brimfield Township, this county, May 23, 1833, son of Samuel L. and Susan H. (Bostwick) Dunning. His paternal grandfather was Squire Dunning, formerly of New England, who settled in Ravenna Township, this county, about 1824, where he lived and died. He had four children: Almon S., Samuel L. (deceased), Almira (Mrs. E. Moulton) and, Eliza (deceased). The maternal grandfather of our subject was Ashbel Bostwick, also from New England, who came to Ravenna Township about 1827, where he is said to have built the first frame house. Samuel L. Dunning, the father of our subject, was married December 25, 1830, and the same year settled in Brimfield Township, this county. He was a carpenter by trade, though interested in farming, and always owned a farm until a short time before his death. In 1842 he located in Franklin Mills (now Kent), this county, and manufactured plows, being chiefly engaged in that business for many years. He died January 31, 1858, in his fiftieth year, and his widow September 30, 1880, at the age of sixty-five. They had six children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the only one now living. He received a limited education in the common schools, and when fourteen years of age entered his father's foundry, where he worked until 1862. He served three years in the late war of the Rebellion, enlisting August 2, 1862, in Company F, Forty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered into the service as Corporal, but was promoted to Second Lieutenant, then First Lieutenant, and finally Captain. He was at the siege of Knoxville, Tenn., twenty-two days, under the command of Gem Burnside, and surrounded by Longstreet's army, in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, Tenn., and in all the engagements in which his regiment participated. For a time his regiment was mounted and detailed as the advance scouts of Burnside's army, with orders to never lose sight of the Rebels, and were sometimes twenty miles ahead of the army. He was with Sherman at Atlanta, Ga., then under Gem Thomas till the close of the war, and was honorably discharged at Camp Harker, Tenn., August 12, 1865, when he returned to Kent, since which time he has followed painting as an occupation in the car shops of that city. His first wife was Ann M. Fessenden, of Kent, by whom he had two children: Ella M. (Mrs. Arthur Olin), and Cora (deceased). His second wife was Clara Fowler, and his present wife is Ellen, daughter of Hiram and Clarissa (Meacham) Spencer, of Suffield, this county. In politics Capt. Dunning is a stanch Repub- lican. He is an active member of the K. of H. and the G. A. R.
JOHN G. EVANS, merchant tailor, Kent, was born in Cardiganshire, South Wales, December 25, 1845; son of John and Eleanor (Evans) Evans. He was reared and educated in his native land, where he served an apprenticeship of three years to the tailor's trade. In 1866 he came to America and located in Pittsburgh, Penn., where he worked as a journeyman tailor for seven years. From there he went to Butler, Penn., as cutter with D. L. Byerer, whioh position he held five years. He then embarked in the merchant tailoring busi-
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ness for himself, in company with Daniel Davis, doing business there for two years when they removed to Akron, Ohio, and remained six months, divided their stock, and in September, 1880, our subject located in Kent. He was married September 13, 1868, to Annie Mortimer, of Pittsburgh, by whom he has three children living: Rebecca, John G., Jr., and Dennison M. Mr. and Mrs. Evans are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject is a member of the K. of P. and the I. 0. 0. F.; he is a F. & A. M.; in politics, a Republican.
JOHN A. FELT. machinist and manufacturer of the Acme Paint Burner, Kent, was born in Peterboro, Hillsborough Co., N. H., May 8, 1837, son of Stephen and Mary K. (Ames) Felt. He was reared and learned his trade in Peterboro. In 1855 he came to Ohio, locating in Norwalk, and working, in the Lake Shore Railroad Shops for eleven years; then he moved to Fairfield, Huron County, where he remained one year, and in 1867 located in Kent, where he has been employed as a machinist in the railroad shops to the present time. On October 3, 1882, he received a patent on the Acme Paint Burner, designed to remove old paint from railroad cars, vehicles, furniture, etc., and has since been engaged in the manufacture of the same. Mr. Felt was married, August 1, 1860, to Emma A. Willey, of Norwalk, Ohio, by whom he has two children: Cora A. and Elmer J. He is an active member of the I. 0. 0. F. In politics a Republican.
BYRON FERREY, farmer, P. 0. Kent, was born in Franklin Township, this county, September 7, 1846; son of Aaron and Mary (Dickinson) Ferrey, natives of Massachusetts. Aaron Ferrey was twice married, and by his first Wife, Elizabeth (Goodrich) Ferrey, he had eleven children, and by his second marriage (with Mary Dickinson) he had two children—Eliza, wife of Henry A. Swan, and Byron. He settled in Franklin Township, this county, about 1832, locating on the farm now owned by Harley Judson, where he lived about twenty years, when he removed to Kent and resided there until his death. He died in 1860, at the age of seventy-eight. Our subject has always lived in his native township, where he was reared and educated. He was married, September 5, 1870, to Hannah, daughter of Harley and Chloe (Loomis) Judson, of Franklin Township, this county, by whom he has three children: Minnie, Charlie J. and Georgia M. Mr. FelTeyis a representative farmer of Franklin Township; in politics he is a Democrat.
FREDERICK FOOTE, grocer, Kent, was born in Wood County, Ohio, November 14, 1835; son of Epaphroditus and Charlotte M. (Smith) .Foote, former of whom settled in Wood County in 1827, and there lived until his death. Our subject was reared on his father's farm and educated in the common schools. He farmed in his native county up to 1863, after which he served as a clerk in a general store till 1.872, when he located in Kent and engaged in mercantile business with E. A. Parsons. November 1, 1873, he became manager of the Sent co-operative store, but in January, 1882, he embarked in the grocery business with C. F. Sawyer. October 1, 1883, Robert Reed became associated with him under the firm name of Foote & Reed, one of the leading grocery firms of Kent. Mr. Foote married, September 2, 1872, Alice, daughter of Freeman and Mercy A. (Lincoln) Underwood, of Brimfield, by whom he has had three children: Ernest N. (deceased), Mary L. and Carl F. He is a member of the R. A. and is a F. & A. M.; has been Treasurer of he Township Corporation and a member of the School Board. In politics he is a Democrat.
GEORGE A. FURRY, grocer, Kent, was born in Brimfield Township, this county, December 16, 1838, son of William and Martha L. (Russell)
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Furry. His paternal grandfather was John Furry, a native of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., who settled in Brimfield Township, this county, in 1816, where he lived and died, and whose wife was Julia A. Harris, a native of Philadelphia, by whom he had eight children: Joseph (deceased), William (deceased), Mooney (deceased), Ann (Mrs. Edward Russell), Henry T., Lucy J. (deceased), Mary J. (Mrs. George Ogle), and an infant son (deceased). The maternal grandfather of our subject was Edward Russell, an early settler of Brimfield Township, this county. The children of William Furry were George A., Helen E. (Mrs. David Tucker, of Kent), Lucy (Mrs. Theodore Campbell, of Kent), and Wallace W., of Cleveland. Our subject, after he became of age, farmed until April, 1861, when he enlisted in Company G, Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was in the battles of Cross Lane, Winchester, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Cedar Mountain, Lookout Mountain, Ringgold, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, and many other engagements, and was honorably discharged June 9,1864. In that year he went to Poughkeepsie, N. Y.. where he attended the Eastman Business College for six months, thence went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he served as Clerk in the distributing department in the postoffice in that city; then returned to this county and served as Clerk in Streetaboro. In 1873 he embarked in the grocery business in Kent, with George L. Stauffer, Esq. in which he has since been successully engaged. He was married, May 19, 1876, to Lucy, daughter of James and Maria (Hopkins) Woodard, of Kent, by whom he has one child —Mattie M. Mr. Furry is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the G. A. R., and R. A. In politics he is a stanch Republican.
WILLIAM R. GARDNER, baker, Kent, was born in Brimfield Township, this county, December 30; 1819; son of John V. and Sarah A. (Spear) Gardner, natives of Massachusetts, who settled in Brimfield Township in 1817, where they lived until February, 1838, when Mrs. Sarah A. Gardner died. John V. Gardner then, in 1839, removed to Franklin Mills (now Kent), where he embarked in mercantile business, in which he was engaged for several years. He died April 7, 1878, in his ninety-first year. He served as Justice of the Peace of Brimfield for fifteen years, also in Franklin about the same length of time. He was married first to Sarah A. Spear, by whom he had nine children, seven of whom grew to manhood and womanhood: John V. R., Eliza and Julia Ann E. (deceased), William R., Reuben F. (deceased), Reuben F., Abigail L. (Mrs. John Morris), Caroline A. (Mrs. O. C. Holden), Sarah F. (Mrs. Nourse). Then, in March, 1839, J. V. Gardner was married to Margaret Beatty, nee Haymaker, by whom he had three children: George D., Mary (Mrs. George Stauffer) and Estella (Mrs. Mark Chase). The subject of this sketch was reared in Brimfield Township, and in 1839 came to Kent with his parents and entered his father's store. He was with D. P. Rhodes, of Cleveland, for several years, and embarked in his present business in 1876. He was married, in 1851, to Sarah E. De Moss, of Coshocton, Ohio, by whom he has two children: John V. and Lewis D. Mr. Gardner is one of the substantial business men of Kent. In politics he is a Republican.
CHARLES A. GARRISON, veterinary surgeon, Kent, was born in Stowe Township, Summit Co., Ohio, August 18, 1842; son of James and Hannah (Walker) Garrison, who settled in Stowe Township about 1828-30, where they cleared and improved a couple of farms. They had six children: William, who died in the service of the Union, during the late war of the Rebellion; Charles A.; Alice, wife of William Grubb; Fannie, wife of Henry Minnich; Maxwell; and Edward (deceased). The paternal grandfather of our subject was Joseph Garrison, a native of Pennsylvania, and an early settler of Deer-
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field Township, this county. His maternal grandfather, William Walker, a native of Virginia, was one of the first settlers of Stowe Township. Our subject was reared in his native township, and educated in the Kent High School, and at Twinsburg Institute. In 1875 he went to Seville, Ohio, and studied veterinary surgery with Dr. Miller, of that place, with whom he remained three years, and in 1878 entered the Ontario Veterinary College, Toronto, Canada, where he took a two-years' course of instruction. In 1880 he commenced the practice of his profession in Kent, where he has done a successful business to the present time. He was married August 18, 1864, to Mattie, daughter of William and Margaret Reese, of Franklin Township, this county, by whorq he has three children living: Frank, Max and Minnie. Mr. Garrison and wife are members of the Disciples Church. In politics he is a Democrat.
SENECA GREEN, farmer, P. 0. Kent, was born in Hampshire County, Mass., October 3, 1808; son of Clark and Submit (Hastings) Green, natives of Massachusetts. He was reared on a farm until fourteen years of age, and then served an apprenticeship of six years at the shoe-makers' trade, afterward working in North Lee, Mass., as a journeyman one year; then embarked in business for himself in South Lee, where he was engaged up to 1836. In the fall of the same year he came to Ohio, and in February, 1837, bought the farm where he now resides. There was a plank cabin and a small barn on the place when he purchased it. In 1842 he erected a good barn, and in 1844 built his present residence. Mr. Green has been twice married, his first wife being Sarah Spellman, of Monterey, Mass., to whom he was married October 3, 1832. She died May 6, 1834. February 29, 1836, Mr. Green next married Mary A. Holt, of Austerlitz, N. Y., and the issue of this union was six children: Sarah (Mrs. H. L. Russell); Stephen; Spellman; Ann (Mrs. G. H. Taylor), in Lansing, Mich.; Mary (Mrs. A. A. Ross) in Mount Vernon, Ohio., and George B., residing at home, who was married October 21, 1874, to Clara, daughter of James D. and Mary R. (Olin) Haymaker, of Franklin, and by her he has two children—Mabel A. and James S. Our subject lost his second wife June 6, 1876, in her sixty-fifth year. Mr. Green is one of the representative farmers of Franklin Township. In politics he was formerly a Whig, but has been a stanch Republican since the organization of the party.
WILLIAM GRIDLEY, carpenter and machinist, Kent, was born in Hampden County, Mass., August 12, 1807; son of Oliver and Mary (Bradley) Gridley. His educational advantages were limited, as he was bound out on a farm in New Haven County, Conn., until he was twenty-one years old. When nineteen years of age he ran away, and arriving in Hampden County, Mass., he served an apprenticeship of two years at the millwright trade; worked in the cotton-mills at Chicopee Falls, Mass., fourteen months as a journeyman mechanic, after which he engaged as a master mechanic in the mill of A. Dens- low, at Windsor, Conn., where he remained about three years. He made, but did not ,invent, the first machine that made cotton batting out of waste; then went to work on the Boston & Albany Railroad as a mechanic and inspector of lumber, and in August, 1844, he came to Ohio. locating in 1845 in Kent, where he has worked at his trade of millwright, carpenter, etc., up to the present time. Mr. Gridley was married in December, 1832, to Clara, daughter of Calvin and Lydia (Grinnell) Bedortha, of Hampden County, Mass., by whom he has had five children: Talbot, William (killed at the battle of Get tysburg, in July, 1863), Benjamin (killed at the battle of Cedar Mountain), Laura (Mrs. 0. S. Nichols) and Clara (deceased). Our subject's first wife dying March, 1853, he next married Mary Chatman, daughter of John and Martha Twitchell, by whom he had one child, Lilian (Mrs. Dr. R. F. Hamb-
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lin). His son Talbot served in the late war in the Seventh Regt. O. V. I., and was wounded in the shoulder at the battle of Winchester; his son William was a member of the Eighth Regt. O. V. I., and Benjamin was a member of the Seventh O. V. I. Mr. Gridley is a member of the Episcopal Church; the I. O. O. F. In politics he is a Republican.
SAMUEL B. HALL, merchant, Kent, was born in Brimfield Township, this county, July 29, 1831; son of Henry and Elizabeth (Breck) Hall, natives of Vermont. His father was a son of Benjamin Hall, who settled in Brimfield Township, this county, in 1818, and taught the first district school in the township; his mother was a daughter of Daniel Breck, of Hartland, Vt. They had four children: Porter B., Caroline (deceased), Samuel B. (first, deceased), and Samuel B. (second). Henry Hall was a carpenter by trade, but after his settlement in Brimfield Township was principally engaged in farming. In 1850 the family removed to Franklin Mills (now Kent), where Mrs. Hall died in 1852, Mr. Hall then married for his second wife Mrs. Sophia Kilborn, of Hudson, whither he afterward removed, and there resided until his death in 1876; he died at the age of seventy-eight. He was a member of the Congregational Church, in which he was a Deacon for many years. Samuel B., the subject of this sketch, was educated in the common schools and Kent Academy. Owing to ill health, in 1853, he went to California, remaining there three years, when he returned to Kent and engaged in farming for several years. After that he embarked in mercantile trade; then was in the drug business for a time, and in 1876 engaged in the boot and shoe trade, in which he has continued to the present time Mr. Hall has been twice married, first in September, 1858, to Sarah, daughter of Guy and Sarah Doolittle, of Brimfield. this county. The issue of this union was one child—Cora (Mrs. Charles Reed). Mr. Hall was married to his present wife, Jane Barton, of Kent, Ohio, in September, 1866, and by her has three children: Henry, Porter and Herbert. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are members of the Congregational Church. In politics he is a Republican; an active F. & A.'M.
JAMES P. HALL, shop clerk, New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad Shops, Kent, was born in Brimfield Township, this county, September 12, 1832, son of William and Maria (Law) Hall. His paternal grandparents were Benjamin and Sarah (Brown) Hall, of Windsor, Vt., who settled in Brimfield Township in 1819, where they lived and died. They had six children: Henry (deceased), Betsey (deceased), Charles (deceased), Mary A. (deceased), William, Susan S. (Mrs. Henry Sawyer). By his second wife Mr. Hall had one child— Sarah (Mrs. Sylvester Wolcott). The father of our subject lived on the old homestead till 1867, when he removed to Kent, where he still resides. He was twice married, first to Maria, daughter of Jonathan and Mary Law, of Brimfield, by whom he had four children: James P., Durand C., Mary E., Lucy M. (Mrs. I. P. Griswold); and second to Berthia Palmer, of Brimfield, by whom he had three children: Newton H., Helen M. (Mrs. Henry Wilcox) and Anna (Mrs. B. F. Shewart). Our subject was reared in Brimfield Township, engaged in farming until twenty-eight years of age, then removed to Kent and embarked in the grocery trade, in which he was occupied two years. Since then, with the exception of four years, he has been in the employ of the Atlantic & Great Western and New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad Companies to the present time. He was married September 27, 1854, to Myra T., daughter of Harmon and Harriet (Bishop) Bradley, of Brimfield, by whom he had four children: Will H., Charles E., Fred P. and Georgie D. (deceased). Mr. Hall and wife are members of the Congregational Church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and K. of H. ; has held the office of Township and Corporation Clerk one term. In politics he is a stanch Republican.
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NEWTON H. HALL, lumberman, P. 0. Kent, was born in Brimfield Township, this county, August 4, 1842, son of William and Bethiah (Palmer) Hall. His paternal grandfather, Benjamin Hall, a native of Vermont, settled in Brimfield Township, this county, in 1819, and his maternal grandfather, John Palmer, was a native of Connecticut, a soldier of the Revolution. Our subject was reared in his native township and was educated in the common schools. He was in the late war of the Rebellion, enlisting August 4, 1862, in Company I, One Hundred and Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He participated fn the Tennessee campaign, under Burnside; the Atlanta campaign, under Sherman, and the Nashville campaign, under Thomas; was in all the engagements of his regiment, and at Franklin, Tenn.' November 30, 1864, he cap- tured a flag from Gen. P. Clayburn's division of the Rebel Army, for which act he received a medal from Congress in January, 1865. He was honorably discharged in June, 1865, when he returned to Brimfield Township and engaged in farming there up to 1881, and then removed to Kent, Ohio. The same year he embarked in business at Boardman, Ohio, where he is still interested in a planing-mill and lumber trade. He was married April 15, 1874, to Stella, daughter of James and Maria (Hopkins) Woodard, of Kent, this county, by whom he has two children: Anna and Helen. Mr. Hall is a F. & A. M. In politics he is a Republican.
JAMES D. HAYMAKER, farmer, P. 0. Earlville, was born September 2, 1809, a short distance from the spot where Brady made his famous leap across the Cuyahoga River, in Franklin Township, this county, son of Frederick and Rachel (Davis) Haymaker. His father, who was a native of Allegheny County, Penn., came from that State to Ohio in 1806, and located at Franklin Mills February 18, that year, in that part of Kent now known as the Upper Village. Se was thrice married. His first wife was Eleanor Robinson, by whom he had seven children, all now deceased. His second wife was Rachel Davis, who died in this county, by whom he had one child—James D., the subject of this sketch. By his third wife, Polly Swan, he had twelve children, of whom six are now living, none residing in this county. Mr. Haymaker was a resident of Franklin off and on up to 1836, when he removed to Trumbull County, Ohio, where he died in 1852. His remains and those of his third wife are interred in Warren, Ohio. He was Private Secretary to Aaron Burr, while on the expedition for which he was tried for treason in 1807. Jacob Haymaker, the father of Frederick and grandfather of our subject, settled at Franklin Mills (now Kent) in 1805, and built the first gristmill ever operated in the township; it was on the site now occupied by " Kent's Mill." He was a carpenter and millwright by trade; he died at Kent, as did also his wife. Our subject received only a limited education, and never saw a schoolhouse until ten years of age. In his youth he became thoroughly acquainted in his father's factory with the woolen manufacturing business. This factory was located at Franklin Mills (now Kent). At the age of twenty-one he engaged for two years in the manufacture of wooden pails in the same towni .the next two years he had charge of a hotel at Fairport, on Lake Erie; then returning to Franklin he engaged in farming, to which occupation he has ever since devoted his time. November 29, 1835, he was married to Mary R. Olin, who was born February 22, 1820, in Genesee County, N. Y., and a daughter of Arvin Olin, who came to Ohio in 1834 and settled in Franklin, where he passed the remainder of his life. , By this union were born the following children: Franklin, born December 16, 1836, and died April 30, 1851; Oscar F., born May 21, 1838; Rachel D., born May 18, 1840; Ann Maria, born May 17, 1842; Arvin 0., born April 5, 1844; Mary R., born April 15, 1846,, died July 27,
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1866; James A., born June 21, 1848; Clara L., born August 30, 1850; Almira E., born January 27, 1854; Martha A., born May 20, 1856; Cora E., born May 5, 1858, died February 2, 1859; William J., born February 2, 1860, and Abbie M., born November 27, 1863. J. D. Haymaker has always been an ardent Republican and during the darkest days of the civil war was firm in his support of the administration in aid of the Union cause, contributing liberally of his means, and invariably exerting his influence to the end that the Union should be preserved. One of his sons, James A., enlisted in the One Hundred and Ninety-third Regiment, Company I, and served in the Union Army during the civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Haymaker are admirable types of the pioneers who first settled in Portage County, and possess in a large degree those traits which have become traditionary among us as ascribed to the pioneers, the sterling qualities, good, strong, well balanced minds, athletic and healthy physique, unimpeachable integrity and a desire to do unto others as they would be done by—qualities, too, which they have transmitted to their large family of children, in an eminent degree. During their long lives they have cheerfully given to the needy and in support of the religious and educational interests of the community. They are now living in the midst of their friends, possessed of an ample competence to make their coming years comfortable, and in the enjoyment of that content which comes from reflecting on a life well and worthily spent. Mr. Haymaker has served his township in various official capacities. He was Trustee for several years, Justice of the Peace for several terms and a School Director many times.
OSCAR F. HAYMAKER, farmer, P. 0. Earlville, was born in Franklin Township, this county, May 21, 1838; son of James D. and Mary R. (Olin) Haymaker. He was reared in his native township and educated in its common and select schools. He remained on the old homestead with his father until twenty-four years of age when, in partnership with his brother-in-law, S. H. Green, he bought a farm in Franklin Township, this county, which was carried on for four years and then sold. Our subject then worked his father's farm for three years and in 1879 purchased of D. P. Hopkins his present farm, where he has resided ever since. He was married, May 21, 1862, to Mary S., daughter of Dr. J. M. and Mary (Ferris) Burlingame, of Newbury, Geauga Co., Ohio. By this union he has three children: Ida A., wife of F. A. Merrill, Cora M. and Lillie E. Mr. and Mrs. Haymaker are members of the Universalist Church of Kent. Our subject is serving his fourth term as School Examiner of Portage County. He is a F. & A. M.; in politics a Republican.
ARVIN 0. HAYMAKER, farmer, P. 0. Earlville, was born in Franklin Township, this county, April 5, 1844; son of James D. and Mary R. (Olin) Haymaker. His paternal grandfather, Frederick Haymaker, settled in Franklin in 1806. His maternal grandfather, Arvin Olin, settled in Franklin Township, this county, in 1834. Our subject was reared in Franklin Township and educated in the common schools, and in connection with his farming interests, has taught school for twenty consecutive winters. He has been twice married, on first occasion, April 5, 1866, to Hattie E, daughter of Joseph and Jeannette (Graham) Norton, of Brimfield Township, this county. By this union there were two children: Charles A. and Hattie E. May 26, 1870, Mr. Haymaker married his present wife, Hattie, daughter of William and Catherine (Burgei) Powell, of Homeworth, Columbiana Co., Ohio. The issue of this union has been three children: Homer A., Debbie J. and Frank P. Mr. and Mrs. Haymaker are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church; in politics he is a Republican.
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JOSEPH HEIGHTON, farmer, P. O. Kent, was born in Hargrave, Northamptonshire, England, February 4, 1827; son of Thomas and Sarah (Goodea) Heighton, who, in 1832, settled in Edinburg, Portage Co., Ohio, where they cleared and improved the farm on which they lived and died. Their children were William (deceased), Thomas, Sarah (deceased), Elizabeth (deceased), Ann (deceased), John, Joseph, Hannah (deceased) and an infant (deceased). Thomas Heighton, Sr., was a blacksmith by trade, and the first one to follow this bussiness as an occupation in that part of the county where he settled. He was a man of peculiar ideas, a thorough American in feeling, a lover of the Republican form of government (which was his main reason for coming to America) and was one of the first men in Portage County to advocate the antislavery doctrine. He was a prominent member of the Baptist Church. He died at the age of fifty-two years, honored by all who knew him. Our subject was reared in Edinburg, this county, and received his education in the common schools. He was married July 19, 1848, to Olive Cornelia, daua,hter of Ariel Lewis and Minerva (Colton) Case, of Rootstown, and born April 8, 1829, in Rootstown. She had the advantages of a common school education and taught school at one time. Her father was born July 31, 1804, in Coventry, Tolland Co., Conn. Her mother was born May 20, 1805, in Tolland, Tolland Co., Conn. Her paternal grandfather, Ariel Case, a native of Tolland County, Conn., and a soldier of the war of 1812, settled in Rootstown Township, this county, in 1809. Her maternal grandfather, Stephen Colton, a native of Vermont, settled in Rootstown, Ohio, in 1805. Mr. Heighton and wife have four children: Marius H.; Ann, wi fe of N. E. Olin; Parker H. and Lloyd B. After coming of age, Mr. Heighton, with his brother, John, purchased the old homestead, where he resided until the fall of 1862 and in the spring of 1863 he located in Franklin Township, this county, on the farm now owned and occupied by his son Marius, where he remained till 1879, when he moved to his present property east of Kent. He has always been a temperate man, never having used tobacco, spirits, tea or coffee. He is a member of the Pioneer Association; one of the representative citizens of Franklin Township; in politics he is a Republican.
MARIUS HEIGHTON, farmer, P. O. Kent, was born in Edinburg Township, this county, June 14, 1849, and is a son of Joseph and Olive C. (Case) Heighton (see sketch of Joseph Heighton). Our subject was reared on the farm and as an occupation has always followed agricultural pursuits. He came to Franklin Township, this county, with his parents in 1863 and has since resided here. He. was united in marriage January 1, 1879, with Ida, daughter of John H. and Rebecca (Bergin) Hubbard, of Kent, this county, by whom he has one child—Marius Hubert. In politics Mr. Heighton is a Republican.
IRA L. HERRIFF, furniture dealer, Rent, was born in Rootstown, November 19, 1846, son of Samuel and Lydia (Hartlerhode) Herriff. His paternal grandfather was John Herriff, a native of Pennsylvania and among the early settlers of Rootstown. His maternal grandmother was Elizabeth Hartlerhode, who with seven children—Lawrence, John, Samuel, Christian, Kate, Mary and Ludia—settled in Rootstown in an early day. She afterward married Samuel Hartle, of Rootstown. Samuel Herriff, the father of our subject, is a farmer and resident of Rootstown. His children were six in number: Ira L., Ezra, Everett, Cecelia (deceased), Emma (deceased) and John (deceased). The subject of 'this sketch was reared on his father's farm and educated in the common schools, When twenty-one years of age he located in Kent and embarked in the manufacture of brick, in which he was engaged
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for seven years. In 1881 he entered the furniture business with L. C. Reed, which partnership is existing at present. He was married December 1, 1869, to Belle E., daughter of Samuel and Rachel (Ward) Canis, of Rootstown, by whom he has one child—Amy I. Mr. Herriff enlisted in 1865 in Company H, One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. He is an active member of the I. 0. 0. F. and G. A. R. In politics he is a Democrat.
GEORGE HILDERHOF, retail liquor dealer, Kent, was born in Baden, Germany, April 23, 1839, son of George and Mary (Hardie) Hilderhof, who came to America in 1854 and located in Randolph Township, this county, where they lived until 1860, then removed to Ravenna. George Hilderhof, Sr., was a gardener, an occupation he followed until his death. They had seven children: Margaret, deceased; Lena; Henry (first), deceased; George; Henry (second); Susan, and Katy, deceased. Our subject when fifteen years of age learned the tanner's trade, which he followed up to 1874, when he embarked in the liquor business in Ravenna, and in 1879 located in Kent, where he has been similarly engaged up to the present time. He was married June 3, 1862, to Mary Dawson, of Ravenna, by whom he has eight children: George, Henry, Nelly, Walter, Mary, Alexander B., Augusta and Minnie. Mr. Hilderhof is a member of the German Reformed Church; is a member of the I. 0. 0. F. In politics he is a stanch Democrat.
ALONZO JOHNSON, farmer and butcher, Kent, was born in Shalersville Township, this county, May 25, 1835, son of Ebenezer and Annis (Stoddard) Johnson, natives of Vermont and New Hampshire respectively, the latter born April 8,1811. His paternal grandfather, Sylvester Johnson, was a farmer of Rutland, Vt., and his maternal grandfather, Stoddard, a native of New Hampshire, settled in Freedom Township in 1834, afterward removed to Iowa and died there. The parents of our subject settled in Stowe Township in 1834, and in 1835 located in Shalersville Township, this county, where they purchased an eighty. acre tract of heavily timbered land which they cleared and. improved, and where they lived until the death of the father in 1850, in his forty-second year. They had seven children: Alonzo, Lucinda (deceased), Emeline (Mrs. Willard Seward), Sylvester, Leander, Silas (died in the army during the late war) and Eben. The mother next married Rufus Newton, of Franklin Township, this county, in 1857. He died in 1862 and she moved to Daviess County, Mo., in 1869, and subsequently married William Hughes, who died in 1879, and his widow returned to Ohio in 1880, and is now residing in Kent. Our subject was reared in Shalersville Township, this county, and was educated in the common schools. He resided in Shalersville Township until 1863, when he removed to Kent, Ohio, and embarked in the grocery business, in which he was engaged two years. He then built the hotel known as the " Collins House," which he conducted for three years, and during that time opened a meat market, which he carried on from 1866 to March 30, 1885, when he retired from that business. He is also engaged in farming, now owning three farms in Franklin Township, this county, in company with his two eldest sons, living on the farm formerly occupied by Warren Burt. Mr. Johnson was married in November, 1855, to Mary J., daughter of William and Lavine Cook, of Franklin Township, this county, by whom he had twelve .children, nine now living: Willard, Perry, Emma (Mrs. Henry Barker), Albert, Ora, Nella, Clayton, Cora and Selah. Mr. Johnson is a representative citizen of the township. In politics he is a Democrat.
HARLEY JUDSON, farmer, P. 0. Kent, was corn in Mantua Township, this county, February 28, 1815; son of Samuel and Lucy (Moss) Judson. His
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father, with two brothers, Gersham and Enoch, came to Mantua from Hartford, Conn., about 1800, and here cleared and improved a farm. In a few years Gersham and Enoch sold out and went West, while Samuel remained. The latter was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Atwater, sister of Judge Atwater, early settlers of Mantua Township, by whom he had five children: Alma (Mrs. Enos Ford), Alvin (deceased), Elly (deceased), Elijah (deceased) and Cyrus (deceased). His second wife was Lucy Moss, of Hartford, Conn., by whom he had four children: Harley, Sally (Mrs. T. Vaughn), Lucy (Mrs. James McElroy) and Mary (deceased). Samuel Judson resided in Mantua Township until 1821, then removed to Hiram Township, where he
lived until his death. The subject of this sketch was reared in Mantua and Hiram Townships, his education being received in the district schools. After he became of age he worked on a farm by the month for two years, then on his father's farm for seven years, after which he purchased a farm of sixty acres, which he kept only one year. In 1848 he purchased the farm in Franklin Township where he now resides. Mr. Judson's first wife was Chloe, daughter of Horace lLoomis, of Charlestown Township, by whom he had three children: Julia (Mrs. Darwin Furry), Hannah (Mrs. Byron Ferry) and Henry D. His present wife is Almira, daughter of Noah and Hannah (Shaw) Lemoin, of Stowe, Summit Co., Ohio, by whom he has two children: Samuel E. and Barton H. Mr. Judson is a representative farmer of Franklin Township. In politics he is a Democrat.
ZENAS KENT was born in Middletown, Conn., July 12, 1786. He came of good old Puritan stock, a nobility of descent which rests its claim upon a robust manhood and hardy virtue. His father was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and carried a musket in the war for American independence.
When Zenas Kent was a boy, even New England had made but a beginning in the development of the common school system, and though he made the best of his opportunities—exhausting the facilities of the country school of that time and place—his early advantages were very limited, as compared to the common-school privileges enjoyed by the youth of to-day. Mr. Kent has left at least one monument of the methodical perseverance with which he addressed himself to every task. A copy of Adam's Arithmetic, published in 1802, which Mr. Kent used at school, is now in possession of his son Marvin. It is a well-thumbed book, now yellow with age, and a plodding student has left his impress on every page; indeed, he has left considerable additions to the original text.. The publisher had had the forethought to bind numerous blank pages with his letter-press, to stand the pupil instead of the slate, and to remain a record' of his industry. On these leaves young Kent carefully worked out and proved every example in the book. Here was a combination of excellent traits—application, method, thoroughness—in which the boy well foreshadowed the man. He entered his work on the leaves of the book of his life, and he left not a blank page in it all. In selecting a pursuit in life Zenas Kent chose the trade 'of his father and to make himself master of it.
By the time he reached his twenty-fifth year young Zenas Kent was united in marriage with Pamelia Lewis, a native of Farmington, Conn., a young woman of most excellent traits, and withal a fitting helpmeet for him. Her father, like the elder Kent, was a veteran of 1776, and a carpenter and joiner by vocation. The two young people joined their honest hands and humble fortunes for the battle with the world. In 1812 Zenas accompanied his father's family to the far West. The family located in Mantua, Ohio, where the elder Kent died at an advanced age. Zenas had left his young wife in Connecticut while he went prospecting in the Western wilds, and as soon as he had chosen
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a place for his home he returned for his wife. Together they set out for he tedious journey to the West, and arriving in Ohio, settled in Hudson, then a township of Portage County. This was a fortunate selection for Mr. Kent. Here he met Capt. Heman Oviatt, to whose friendship it was his pleasure to acknowledge himself indebted for many kind offices. Here he built a tannery for Owen Brown, father of John Brown, of Ossawatomie fame. Mr. Kent taught school in the winter while he remained in Hudson. His friend, Capt. Oviatt, impressed by Mr. Kent's upright walk and industrious habits, was disposed to do him a good turn, and help him to start fairly in the world. Conferences led to conclusions, and in the summer of 1815 the firm of Oviatt & Kent was formed, to conduct a typical pioneer store, in Ravenna. Thither Mr. Kent went to erect a building before the firm would begin business. The site chosen was that upon which the Second National Bank now stands. With his saw and plane and hammer Mr. Kent helped to put up the wooden building which was to serve for store and dwelling. This building was subsequently moved to the south side of Main Street, in Little's Block. After the firm of Oviatt & Kent had been in successful operation for several years Mr. Kent was able to refund the money advanced by Mr. Oviatt, and the firm dissolved, leaving the junior partner in sole control of the business.
In 1826, while managing his growing business, Mr. Kent entered into a contract to erect the court house, which still stands in Ravenna, one of the most substantial buildings of its kind in the State. In its early days it was looked upon as a wonder in architectural art. From 1831 to 1850 Mr. Kent was senior partner in the firm of Kent & Brewster, which did a profitable trade in Hudson. In the meantime Mr. Kent was accumulating a store of the world's goods, and making investments where there was fair prospect of good returns. In 1832 he joined David Ladd in the purchase of a tract of land, embracing between 500 and 600 acres, in the township of Franklin, now the village of Kent. This tract embraced the water-power of the Cuyahoga River at that place. The connection of Mr. Ladd with this property was short, Mr. Kent soon becoming sole proprietor. In the year of the purchase he erected Kent's Flouring Mill, the product of which has been held in high repute for more than the third of a century. The mill produced the first flour shipped from northern Ohio to Cleveland, going by way of the Ohio Canal.
Having dissolved business connections with Mr. Ladd, Mr. Kent made arrangements with John Brown to carry on the tanning business in an establishment already under way. In 1836 he sold his large tract to the Franklin Land Company, which afterward became the Franklin Silk Company. In 1849 the Franklin Bank, of. Portage County, was established, and Mr. Kent was chosen its President. This important post he held until 1864, when the Franklin Bank gave place to the Kent National Bank, of which he was also made President, holding the position at the time of his death.
In 1850 he began the erection of a cotton factory and a private residence in Franklin, where his interests had centered. Thither he removed, on the completion of his dwelling-house, in 1851. In the spring of 1853 he was elected Treasurer of the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad Company, filling the position efficiently for one year. In April, 1860, he moved into an elegant mansion which he had built on Euclid Avenue, Cleveland. While on a visit to Kent on the 21st of October, 1864, death took from him the partner of his early toils and of his years of ease. Thus bereft, he longed for quiet and repose, and in the following month he returned to Franklin (the name of which had been changed to Kent) to pass the remainder of his days.
Mr. Kent's business career was that of an industrious plodder, who gained
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success by deserving it. He was possessed of a great fund of solid common sense, to which it had pleased God to add an indomitable will, native business tact, energy that never flagged, and, above all, an unyielding integrity, which gained him the confidence of all with whom he had relations. He was a cautious, methodical business man, not given to speculation, watchful of little things, and thrifty. An instance will show how dearly he held his integrity and the good opinion of his fellows. While President of the banking department of the Franklin Silk Company he required to be placed in his hands the means to redeem the company's issues, remarking that he would put his name upon no paper without the power to protect it from dishonor. The arrange- *lent was effected. Notwithstanding the disastrous termination of the silk company, thanks to Mr. Kent's honor and forethought, its paper was all redeemed at face value.
His life-record was made up of deeds that reflect luster on his memory, and mark him as one of the pioneer noblemen of the West. In personal appearance Zenas Kent was tall of stature, erect and graceful of carriage, dignified of mien. Little given to society, he was, nevertheless, affable and agreeable in all of his relations. Though fair and equitable dealing made him popular as a tradesman, his retiring nature forbade many intimate friendships. While malice did not enter into his heart, the very firmness of his character made him quick to resent an abuse of his confidence. Beneath a dignified exterior, bordering at times upon austerity, he wore a warm and sympathetic heart. He held a kind act in tender remembrance, and the few friendships he formed remained unbroken to the end of his days. His tastes were simple and his habits the most correct. He never used tobacco or stimulants of any kind, and for thirty years did not have an hour's sickness.
Mr. Kent was blessed with a family of thirteen children, nine of whom survive him. These he lived to see arrive at maturity, all occupying positions of prominence and influence in their respective homes. The surviving children are Mrs. Harriet Clapp, of New York City; Henry A., Edward and George L., of Brooklyn, N. Y.; Marvin, Charles H. and Mrs. Amelia L. Shively, of Kent, Ohio; Mrs. Frances E. Wells, of Brownsville, Penn., and Mrs. Emily K., wife of R. B. Dennis, Esq., of Cleveland, Ohio. Of the four children deceased, Mrs. Eliza A. Poag died in Brooklyn July 4, 1864; three— Louisa, Amelia and an unnamed infant—lie in Ravenna Cemetery. Zenas Kent died suddenly, at his residence in Kent, October 4, 1865, in the eightieth year of his age. His remains were interred in. Woodland Cemetery, Cleveland's beautiful city of the dead. In a lovely spot, removed from the hurly-burly of a busy world, under the shade of the cypress and willow, by the side of the wife of his bosom, sleeps all that is left to earth of a man who fought the battle of life bravely, and left a good name—the best of all heirlooms.
MARVIN KENT, projector and ex-President of the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad (now New York, Pennsylvania, & Ohio Railroad), was born at Ravenna, Portage Co., Ohio, September 21, 1816. His father, Zenas Kent, was a joiner and carpenter by trade, who, when a young man, made the acquaintance of Capt. Heman Oviatt. He discovered in Mr. Kent business qualifications of a very high order, and in 1815 he induced him to engage in mercantile business at Ravenna. The executive and financial ability which Mr. Kent displayed, coupled with enterprise and methodical management of his affairs, soon placed him in the front rank among the reputable and successful business men of northern Ohio.
It was in his father's store that young Marvin Kent received his first and
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most valuable instruction in correct business methods and habits. Up to the age of nineteen his time was divided between his father's store and the schoolroom wherein he combined, in the acquirement of a knowledge of books, a practical knowledge of business and dealings with men. He received such education as was afforded at Tallmadge Academy, under the instruction of E. T. Sturtevant, A. M., Principal, and Claridon Academy, under the instruction of Rev. Sherman B. Canfield. In his nineteenth year his father entrusted him with the purchase of his spring stock of goods, and for this purpose he visited Philadelphia and New YOrk, with special instructions to buy on his own judgment, and to disregard the advice tendered by others, relative to the investments had in contemplation. His father was pleased with his purchases and the business sagacity displayed by his son. The year following his becoming of age, Marvin became associated with his father in mercantile business, at Franklin Mills, Ohio (now Kent), but he soon relinquished this, by reason of the precarious condition of his health, and assumed the management of a tannery, in a building erected by his father and Capt. John Brown (of Harper's Ferry notoriety). While thus engaged he was married to Maria, daughter of the late Col. William Stewart. He conducted the tannery for some time, with success, and in 1844 returned to mercantile pursuits, becoming, at the same time, largely interested in the manufacture of flour. In the latter business he continued without interruption, for about twenty years.
In 1850 in company with others he engaged in the manufacture of window-glass, at Franklin Mills, and erected and placed in successful operation extensive works, It was during the same year that he entered upon the most important enterprise of his life, and which secured to him a business reputation coextensive with the inauguration and completion of a great public transportation route between the East and the West. He devised, planned and projected, in 1850, the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad, designed to connect the Erie with the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, thus forming a grand trunk line, with uniform gauge throughout, from New York to St. Louis. In 1851 the necessary legislation was procured, but in order to secure the charter he was obliged to subscribe for the full amount of stock required by law for the organization of the company, as well as to indemnify some of the first Board of Directors for the payment of one share subscribed by each to render them eligible for election, which fact furnishes a significant illustration of the want of faith in the success of an undertaking of that magnitude at that time. The organization of the new company was completed, and Mr. Kent made its first President. The position he filled with a success characteristic of his great business tact, energy, and ability, until the final completion of the road• in 1864, save an interval of three years. On the 21st of June, of that year, he had the proud satisfaction of looking back over many years of unremitting labor and anxiety at last crowned with success, and also of driving home the last spike in the last rail. In his maiden speech on that occasion, he referred to the fact that on the fourth day of July, A. D. 1853, he broke ground for the new road, by removing the first shovelful of earth with his own hands. There were none then to withhold from Mr. Kent a most generous compliment for the completion of this road, which, uniting the Erie and Ohio & Mississippi Railways, formed a grand continental line from New York to St. Louis. The construction of this road encountered, perhaps, more obstacles and greater opposition than any other in the country. Yet Mr. Bent showed himself equal to any and every emergency, and with heroic faith and one purpose, he made success. possible and victory a verity. The Portage County Democrat, of June 3, 1863, contained this truthful tribute:
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"The location of the shops at Franklin Mills is doubtless due to the position and influence of Marvin Kent, Esq. , the President of the road, who resides at that point. If any man ought to be gratified and benefitted by the location of the shops it is President Kent. He was not only the early friend of the road, but if we are correctly informed, he originated the idea of its construction. In carrying forward this great improvement to its completion, he has toiled and struggled for over twelve years amid doubt and disCouragement, amid jeers and sneers and
obloquy. While others hesitated, he stood fast; when the faint-hearted turned aside, he persevered with unfaltering nerve and courage; when timid friends forsook, he succeeded in raising up other friends, and in attracting capital to this great work; and thus, with a patience, a courage, an assiduity, and unswerving fidelity to a single aim that reaches the point of real heroism, has
he held on his way through twelve laborious years of fluctuations, vicissitudes, and uncertainties, neglecting or abandoning his private business, pledging or imperiling, or at least casting into the hazard of success, his large private fortune, for the benefit of his cherished enterprise. And yet he has labored all this time without general appreciation, the select few more intimately associated
in official relations with him only knowing and appreciating his trials and his toils. But it is time the man to whom more than to any other the country is indebted for its great and leading road should be understood and appreciated, for every man and every community benefitted by the construction of this road, owes to Marvin Kent a debt of gratitude. He is to be congratulated on success which the intelligence, the ability, and the fixed and resolute purpose which he has brought to bear on the enterprise, have accomplished. Who, under these circumstances, can grudge to Mr. Kent the location of the extensive machine-shops in the place of his residence. Who more than he, and what community than the one favored by his residence among them can be more entitled to the benefit?"
Upon the successful completion of this road, Mr. Kent substantially retired from active business, to the enjoyment of private life. Upon the death of his father in 1865, he became his successor as President of the Kent National Bank, which position he has held ever since. In October, 1875, he was elected State Senator from the Twenty-sixth District of Ohio, and he served his constituents with credit and ability. Mr. Kent is a gentleman of varied experience and of varied business qualifications—equally capable as an engineer or as financial manager to conduct a great public work. He has remarkable tenacity of purpose, and once resolved as to the value of an enterprise, no ordinary obstacle can prevent him from carrying it out. He is a man of liberal views and generous impulses, and has in a great variety of ways aided in advancing the material welfare of those among whom he lives. He has been a generous promoter of every business enterprise in the city of Kent, which hears his name. There are enduring monuments of his public spirit on every hand in the community in which he lives, such as public and private edifices, business blocks, mills and factories, and about them all there is an evidence of permanency and durability, of exactness in details, and adaptability to the uses designed.
As an evidence that Mr. Kent has been disposed to serve himself last, be has just completed one of the most elegant and palatial private residences in northern Ohio. Within and without there are evidences of a cultured taste in art and adornment, but never at the expense of utility and the every-day uses of domestic life. Mr. Kent has in every respect been a successful man, and prominent among the secrets of that success are untiring energy, methodical methods of work, and strict integrity.
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CHARLES H. KENT, merchant, Kent, was born in Ravenna, this county, August 12, 1818, son of Zenas and Pamelia (Lewis) Kent. He was reared in Ravenna until eighteen years of age, when he received a common school education, after which he attended the Canandaigua Academy, at Canandaigua, N. Y., for two years. In 1839 he embarked in mercantile business at Franklin Mills (now Kent), with Clapp & Spellman, under firm name of Clapp, Spellman & Kent. In 1841 the firm divided up their stock, and our subject succeeded to the business. In 1845 Mr. Kent and his brother Marvin were associated in business in Franklin, at the same time they purchased the goods of their father, Zenas Kent, at Ravenna, and continued the business there. 'In 1850 Mr. Kent, in connection with two others, built a factory for the manufacture of window glass, with which he was identified for several years. Previous to 1860 he was connected in business with Kent, Wells & Co., and Kent, Grinnell & Co. In 1860 he embarked in dry goods business, in which he has been engaged to the present time. Mr. Kent was married, January 14, 1841, to Mary E., daughter of Rev. Stephen W. Burrett, of Franklin, by whom 'he has one child—Charles B. Mr. Kent is the oldest established merchant in Kent, and one of its representative business men. In politics be is a Republican. He has served as Mayor of Kent for four years.
WILLIAM A. LEE, proprietor of restaurant, and dealer in wines, liquors, etc., Kent, was born in Ithaca, N. Y., March 29, 1829; a son of Daniel and Mary (Davenport) Lee, who settled in Peru, Huron Co., Ohio, in 1834; former a wagon-maker by trade, at which he worked in Peru until his death. Our subject was reared in Huron County from five years of age. He was married, April 6, 1855, to Martha, daughter of William Moore, of Plymouth, Richland Co., Ohio, by whom he has four children: Ida, wife of Henry Struckradi Flora, wife of J. Otis Smith; Hattie, and Bertie, wife of F. M. Townsend. Mr. Lee learned the machinist's trade in New Haven, where he remained until 1861, and was then employed in the railroad shops at Norwalk until 1865. He then came to Kent, this county, and worked in the railroad shops for two years, when he opened a billiard room, which he conducted for one year, after which he moved to Warren, and engaged in the same business for four years. He subsequently returned to kent and embarked in the restaurant and saloon business, which he has continued in to the present time. On November 1, 1884, he supplied a long-felt want by opening a first-class restaurant in the Carver Block, which is conducted in the metropolitan style. He is a pushing, energetic man, and his experience in the business, taken in connection with his natural fitness for this pursuit, will no doubt prove his new venture a success. In politics he is a Democrat.
BYRON A. LONGCOY, farmer, P. 0. Kent, was born in Franklin Township, this county, June 5, 1854, son of David and Abby (Woodard) Longcoy. His father, a native of New York, born May 30, 1808, son of Anthony and Ann (Thompson) Longcoy, settled in Franklin Township, this county, in 1830, and worked in David L. Ladd's linseed oil-mills for several years. He afterward manufactured brick, and furnished this material for the construction of the Earl Block, and a large portion of those used in what is now knOwn as the Carver Block. He was married, May 4, 1834, to Abby, daughter of Joshua and Rebecca (Woodin) Woodard, early settlers of Ravenna Township, this county, and later of Kent, by whom he had nine children: Anna (deceased), Victoria (deceased), Nettie (wife of Samuel Putnam), Marotta, Francis and Frank (twins), Miraett, Ralph (deceased) and Byron A. In 1853 David Long- coy located on the farm now occupied by our subject, where he resided until his death, August 5, 1873. During the last eight years of his life he was
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engaged in butchering and had a market in Kent. Our subject was married, April 15, 1875, to Dolly A., daughter of Dr. J. S. and Delia (Rockwell) Sweeny, of Kent, this county, by whom he has two children: Bertha and David. Mr. Longcoy is a member of the Congregational Church, Mrs. Longcoy of the Episcopal denomination. In politics he is a Prohibitionist.
CORNELIUS C. MEACHAM, farmer, P. 0. Kent, was born in Litchfield, Litchfield Co., Conn., January 29, 1814, son of Seth and Sally (Weston) Meacham, who settled in Tallmadge (now Summit County) in 1816, where they lived for many years. Mrs. Seth Meacham died in 1872 in her eightieth year, and in the spring of 1874 Seth Meacham removed to Franklin Township, this county, where he died in 1876, at the age of eighty-four. They had ten children: Fanny (deceased), Cornelius C., Esther (deceased), Cordelia (deceased), Esther second (Mrs. James McCormick), Samuel; Flora (deceased), Sally (deceased), Lois (deceased) and Seth. Our subject was reared in Tallmadge, where he lived until twenty-five years of age. He was married, February 1, 1839, to Rebecca D., daughter of James McCormick, of Armstrong County, Penn., by whom he had two children: Clara and Sarah, both deceased. In 1841 Mr. Meacham settled in Brimfield Township, this county, where he lived seven years, then removed to Suffield Township, and resided there seven years. In 1855 he located in Franklin Township, and for the past fifteen years has been a resident of Kent. In politics Mr. Meacham is a Republican.
HIRAM MERRELL, retired, Kent, was born in what is now Wyoming County, N. Y., May 29, 1818, son of Noah and Clara (Pearson) Merrell, who settled in Franklin Township, this county, in 1837, renting a house of Joseph Stratton, on which they lived two years, then buying a farm of ten acres in the north part of the township, where they lived and died. Noah Merrell Was a native of Connecticut, his wife of Holland. They reared a family of ten children: Althea (deceased), Norman, Oral (deceased), Hiram, Louisa (Mrs. Darius Davis), Freedom, Roxy, Noah, Cass and Jane (deceased). The subject of this sketch when twenty years of age worked on a farm by the month one yammer, and the following year he engaged in the manufacture of brooms, which business he followed for eight years, acquiring a farm of eighty acres, now owned by A. 0. Haymaker, a part of which he cleared and improved, and where he resided ten years. In 1853 he purchased a large farm in Rootstown TOWnship, where he resided one year, when he returned to Franklin, and since then he has owned several farms, having speculated considerably in farm property, and has accumulated a competency. Mr. Merrell was married, February 24, 1842, to Sarah, daughter of Frederick Williard, an early settler of Franklin Township, this county, by whom he has had seven children, four of whom are now living: Angeline (Mrs. Byron Fessenden), Wallace, Earl and Frederick. Our subject moved to Kent in 1868, where he has since resided, one of its representative citizens. In politics he is a Republican.
N. J. A. MINICH, editor and proprietor of Kent Saturday Bulletin, was born in Columbia, Lancaster Co., Penn., October 2, 1849; son of Henry G. and Ann C. (Albright) Minich. His father was a stock-dealer and son of Jacob Minich, a distiller of Landisville, Penn., of German descent. His maternal grandfather was Anthony Albright, a native of Philadelphia, and the publisher of the Lancasterian at Lancaster, Penn., son of John Albright, who published the first paper in the city of Lancaster. Our subject was reared in Columbia up to twenty-three years of age, and is a graduate of the Columbia Classical Institute. In 1868 he entered the office of the Columbia Spy, where he served an apprenticeship of three years at the case. In 1872 he went to Akron, Ohio, and worked in the job department of the Akron Daily Beacon as
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a journeyman, and was for some time connected with the editorial department of the same paper. In 1874 he with others organized the Argus Printing Company, of which he was President, and founded the Akron Daily Argus, with which he was connected up to May, 1876, when he removed to Kent and purchased the Kent Bulletin, which at the time of his purchase had suspended publication for five weeks. At that time it was a six-column folio, but has since been enlarged to a six-column quarto. By the management of Mr. Minich it has been made a grand success, and with one exception has the largest circulation in this county. Since locating in Kent, Mr. Minich has been identified with nearly every enterprise of a public nature that tended toward the improvement of the city, many of which originated in the columns of the Bulletin. He was married August 3, 1875, to Lottie E., daughter of Henry and Emily (Hodges) McMasters, of Akron, Ohio, by whom he has one child—Henry S. In politics Mr. Minich is a Republican. His paper is inde- pendent in all things.
VALORUS NEEDHAM, retired farmer, Kent, was born in what is now Wales, Hampden Co., Mass., March 29, 180d; son of Alvin and Abigail (Walbridge) Needham, who were the parents of five children: Alfred, Erasmus (deceased), Valorus, Minerva (deceased) and Rebecca (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Needham settled in Brimfield Township, this county, in 1837; located on the farm, a part of which they improved, now owned and occupied by I. G. Wise, and there lived and died. Our subject settled in Brimfield in the fall of 1837. He was a carpenter by trade, at which he worked up to 1844, when he settled on the farm (now occupied by his son-in-law, S. B. Cuthbert,) which he improved and lived on until 1865, when he, moved to Kent, where he still resides. He has been twice married; on first occasion, in 1843, to Mary L., dafighter of Henry and Chloe (Chapman) Smith, of Chenango County, N. Y. The issue of this union was six children: Henry (deceased), Hamar (deceased), Minerva (wife of S. B. Cuthbert), Ellen (deceased), Ann (wife of L. M. Tracy) and Chloe (deceased). October 19, 1862, Mr. Needham married Mrs. Lucia M. Earle, daughter of Abel and Prudence (Lyon) Burt, who came from Brimfield, Mass, to Brimfield, this county, in March, 1823. Mr. Needham is a representative citizen of 'Kent. In politics he is a Republican.
HARVEY C. NEWBERRY (deceased) was born in Rootstown Township, this county, January 21, 1812; son of Chauncey and Fanny (Coe) Newberry. His father was a native of East Windsor, Conn., and his mother of Granville, Mass. They settled in Rootstown Township, this county, about 1810, where they lived until 1823, when they removed to Franklin Township and there died. They had nine children: Harvey C. (deceased), Cynthia (deceased), Frederick (deceased), Oliver H., Stoddard (deceased), Lura, Mary, Oscar (died in the late war of the Rebellion) and George (deceased). The subject of this sketch was reared in Rootstown Township, this, county, until ten years of age, when his parents removed to Franklin Township, and here he afterward resided. He was first married November 24, 1838, to Sarah Slaughter, of Franklin Township, this county, and had two children: William and Thomas. April 10, 1846, Mr. Newberry married Flora Raver, also of Franklin Township, a native of Germany, and by her he had four children: Fanny (deceased), Jane (Mrs. A. D. Clark), Byron C. and Frederick. Our subject died very suddenly while in conversation with some friends, in Kent, Ohioi March 19, 1885. He was elected to the office of County Treasurer in 18 serving one term, and was, previous to his death, Treasurer of the corporati of Kent. In politics he was independent.
FREDERICK NIGHMAN, farmer, P. O. Kent, was born in York Co., Penn., September 5, 1809; son of Adam and Betsey Nighman, who settled
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Franklin Township, this county, about 1806, locating on the farm now owned by Mr. Kindice, which they cleared and improved. They had twelve children: George (deceased), Clarissa (deceased), Catherine (deceased). John (deceased), Margaret (deceased), Henry, Polly (deceased), William (deceased), Emily, Frederick, Eliza and David (deceased). Our subject remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age, and then bought a farm of fifty acres in Streetsboro, this county, where he lived four years. He then bought a farm of 100 acres in the same township, which he lived on till 1863, then removed to the north part of Franklin Township, in 1878 locating on the farm where he now resides. He has been twice married. By his first wife, Parraelia Van, of Franklin Township, he had seven children: Perry, George (deceased), Orrin, Alvin (deceased), Almond, Electa (Mrs. Jesse Nelson) and Laura. Alvin died in the service of his country during the late war of the Rebellion. Mr. Nighman's present wife (nee Sally Stewart) was born in Stowe Township, Portage (now Summit) Co., Ohio. Mr. Nighman has been a resident of this county seventy-eight years, and is one of its representative citizens. In politics he is a Democrat, always having voted the Democratic ticket.
McKENDREE D. NORTON, farmer, P. 0. Earlville, was born in Wadsworth, Medina Co., Ohio, November 6, 1836; son of Joseph and Jeannette (Graham) Norton, who were the parents of six children, of whom four are now living: McK. D.; Charles S.; Angeline, wife of A. J. Powell, and Maxwell G. Joseph Norton, a native of Milford, Conn., came to this county in 1834, and located in Brimfield Township, where he worked at shoe-making for several years. He afterward went to Edinburg and from there to Franklin, where he now resides. The subject of this sketch was in the late war of the Rebellion, enlisting in the Ninth Ohio Independent Battery. He served as a private, Corporal and Sergeant, and participated in all the engagements of the battery. January 19, 1862, they had their first engagement, at Fishing Creek, Ky., and March 22, 1862, they were under fire seven hours, and threw 200 shells; August, 1862, they were shut in the Cumberland Gap by the enemy for one month, without communication and short of rations. The battery participated in many engagements, in which they were always victorious. Since the war Mr. Norton has been engaged in farming and has resided on his present farm since 1874. He was married, August 20, 1868, to Rachel D., daughter of James D. and Mary R. (Olin) Haymaker, of Franklin, "by whom he had one child—Nettie (deceased). Mrs. Norton is a member of the Universalist Church. Mr. ,Norton is a Democrat in politics; a member of the G. A. R.
PARMELEE FAMILY. The annals of this family heretofore published trace their lineage back to the year 1447, to an ancient and noble Belgian family. This noble house flourished for several centuries in a parish of the same name located three leagues south of the city of Liege when Belgium was under the dominion of Spain. They were reformers in religious matters and to escape persecution fled to 'Holland and afterward settled in England. In this volume space will only permit of a record dating back to one, John Parmelee, a native of Guildford, England, who with his family and twenty-four other men, presumably also with families, set sail for America in 1639. While on shipboard, a few days' sail from Boston, the company entered into the following covenant or agreement: "We, whose names are hereunder written, intending by God's gracious permission to plant ourselves in New England, and if it may be in the southern part about Quinnipisack (or New Haven) we do faithfully promise each to each for ourselves and families and those that belong to us, that we will, the Lord assisting us, set down and join ourselves
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together in one entire plantation, and be helpful each to the other in any common work, according to every man's ability and as need shall require, and we promise not to desert or leave each other on the plantation but with the consent of the rest of the greater part of the company who have entered into this engagement, as for our gathering together in a church way, and the choice of officers and members to be joined together in that way we do refer ourselves until such time as it please God to settle us in our plantation, in witness whereof we do subscribe our hands this 1st day of June, A. D. 1639.—Robert Rickell, John Bishop, Francis Bushnell, William Crittenden, William Leete, Thomas Joans, John Jurden, Wm. Stone, John Hoadley, John Stone, William Plam, Richd. Suttridge, John Housinger, William Dudley, John Parmelee, John Mepham, Thomas Norton, Abraham Crittenden, Francis Chatfield, William Noble, Thomas Naish, Henry Kingston, Henry Doude, Thomas Cook, Henry Whitfield." They were Presbyterians and the last-named was their Minister. This company located at Guilford, Conn. The generations of the Parmelee family may be named shortly as follows: Luther H., now a resident of Kent, Portage Co., Ohio, was the son of Elisha, the son of Theodore, the son of Abram, the son of Abraham, the son of Isaac, the son of John, Jr., the son of John Parmelee, who settled at Guilford, Conn., in 1639. John and John, Jr., were born in Guildford, England; Isaac was born at Guilford, Conn., November 21, 1665; Abraham was born at Guilford, Conn., May 18, 1692; Abram was born at Guilford, Conn., April 28, 1717, and was a warm and earnest patriot during the Revolutionary war; Theodore was born April 3, 1751, and served in the same war for about four years as Captain of a company of horse on the patriot side, and though he took part in many desperate engagements was never wounded. He was a man of extraordinary resolution and courage, and once in a hand-to-hand encounter, when completely surrounded by the enemy, and ordered to surrender, he cut his way through and escaped. This same Theodore Parmelee, in company with his brother-in-law, David Hudson, Birdseye, Norton and two others, bought the entire township of Hudson in Summit County, Ohio, in 1797 or 1798. Elisha Parmelee was born at Goshen, Conn., February 16, 1785. In 1807 he made his first trip to Ohio to look after a one-half section of land in Hudson Township, which his father had given him. He soon afterward returned to Connecticut, where he was married, November 9, 1809, to Rosa Stanley, a daughter of Deacon Jesse and Eunice (Bailey) Stanley. The following year he moved to Mt. Morris, N. Y. At this place his wife died, January 31, 1813, leaving two children: Myron N., born at Goshen, Conn., September 19, 1810 (since deceased) and Luther H., born at Mt. Morris, N. Y., August 31, 1812. He was married a second time at Mt. Morris, N. Y., October 20, 1813, to Elizabeth M. Satterlee, and to this union were born Elisha H., July 21, 1814, died in infancy (August 23, 1815); Roza S., born May 27, 1816; Emily E., born July 26, 1819; John F., born June, 1821; Mary H., born May 1, 1824. About 1817 he moved to Warsaw, N. Y., where he was a merchant, and in 1824 moved to Batavia, N. Y., and kept a hotel. In 1832 he came to Ohio and bought a farm in Hudson Township, Summit County, where he remained for twelve years, and in 1844 went to Louisville, Ky., but returned the following year to this county and located at Franklin Mills (now Kent), where he was a successful merchant for many years. He sold out in 1858 and retired from active business. He died September 4, 1865, at Kinsman, Trumbull Co., Ohio, at the home of his son- in-law, Rev. Thomas Corlett, and was buried in the Kent Cemetery. His widow died March 25, 1867, and was interred by his side. Elisha Parmelee was a man of marked ability, thoroughly enterprising, and universally
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respedted. During the war of 1812 he served as Paymaster in the United States Army.
LUTHER H. PARMELEE, retired merchant, Kent, was born in Mt. Morris, Livingston Co., N. Y., August 31, 1812, son of Elisha and Roxa (Stanley) Parmelee, natives of Goshen, Litchfield Co.' Conn. He was educated in Batavia, N. Y., and came to Hudson, Summit Co., Ohio, with his parents in February, 1832. He worked on his father's farm two years and taught school winters, after which he was employed three years as clerk in a store at Copley, Ohio. In 1838 he embarked in mercantile trade in Copley, which he continued there up to 1845, when he removed to Akron, Ohio, and there resided ten years. In 1855 he came to Franklin Mills (now Kent), this county, and has since been chiefly engaged in farming. He owns a fine farm of 170 acres in Franklin Township. Mr. Parmelee was married, May 14, 1838, to Tamma, daughter of Noah and Mary (Stickler) Ingersoll, of Copley, Ohio. By this union there were seven children: Helen E., wife of George 0. Rice; Walter M., Caroline G., wife of A. L. Ewell; Luther H., deceased; Mary H., wife of Henry A. Rea; Frank H., and Roxa S., wife of W. L Caris. Mr. Parmelee is one of the representative citizens of Kent. He has satisfactorily discharged the offices of Coroner and Commissioner of Portage County; has been Justice of the Peace, and has filled minor official positions in Franklin Township. He was Cashier of the Kent Savings and Loan Association from 1874 to 1879. In politics our subject is a stanch Republican.
EDWARD A. PARSONS, Kent, Secretary and Treasurer Railway Speed Recorder Company, was born in Northampton, Mass., January 25, 1829, son of Edward and Clementine (Janes) Parsons, who settled in Brimfield Township, this county, in 1831, where they lived until 1868, when they removed to Kent, and here the father died, April 4, 1874, aged seventy-seven years. The mother, now eighty-two years old, resides with her son-in-law, C. H. Barber. (Her father’s name was Peleg C. Janes). Their children were six in number; Edward A., Timothy G., Harriet J. (deceased), Martha K. (Mrs. George W. Crouse, in Akron), William C., in Akron, and Clementine (Mrs. C. H. Barber). Edward Parsons (the father) was a native of Northampton, Mass., son of Moses Parsons, and Clementine, his wife, was a native of Brimfield, Mass. Our subject was reared on his father's farm in Brimfield Township, this may, county, and educated in the common schools. He farmed up to 1863, when he removed to Kent and embarked in the lumber business. In 1871 he sold his business to his brother and engaged in the produce and shipping interest. In 1876 the Railway Speed Recorder Company was formed, of which he has since been Secretary and Treasurer. He was married September 25, 1853, to Mary J., daughter of Freeman and Mercy A. (Lincoln) Underwood, formerly of Massachusetts, who settled in Brimfield Township in 1818. They have no children, but an adopted daughter--Effie S. P. (Mrs. J. B. Miller.) Mr. Parsons has held several offices in Franklin Township, this county. He served as County Commissioner from 1874 to 1878, and was the main projector in building the fine arch stone bridge over the Cuyahoga River at Kent. In politics Mr. Parsons is a Republican. He is a representative business man and worthy citizen.
TIMOTHY G. PARSONS, lumberman, Kent, was born in Brimfield Township, this county,
September 17, 1832, son of Edward and Clementine (Janes) Parsons, who settled in Brimfield Township in 1831 (see sketch of E. A. Parsons). Our subject was reared on his father's farm, educated in the common schools and Twinsbury Academy. In January, 1853, he went to California, where he was engaged in mining and farming up to November, 1859, when he
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returned to Brimfield. He served in the late war of the Rebellion, enlisting in September, 1861, in Company A, Forty-second Ohio Vounteer Infantry, Garfield's regiment; served twenty-six months, and received an honorable discharge. He was then employed as a clerk in the Quartermaster's Department, holding that position till the war closed. In September, 1865, he located in Kent, and engaged in the lumber business with his brother E. A. Parsons up to 1870, when he purchased his brother's interest, and carries on the business himself. In addition to this, he runs a large planing-mill, the only establish. ment of the kind in the place. Mr. Parsons was married, December 12, 1866, to Eleanor M., daughter of Henry and Susan (Hall) Sawyer, of