HENRY W. HART, - son of Adams and Isabella (Gangawer) Hart, was born in Akron Sept. 19, 1852, his father doing faithful service in both the Mexican war and the war of the rebellion.  Mr. Hart was educated in the Middlebury public schools; at 16 apprenticing himself to the potter's trade, at which he worked 17 years, in 1882 embarking in that business for himself in partnership with Mr. Frank W. Rockwell, under the firm name of F. W. Rockwell & Co., the arrangement continuing seven years;  Feb. 19, 1891, became one of the incorporators of the Akron Paving Brick Company, elsewhere noticed, of which he is superintendent and manager.  In 1888 Mr. Hart was elected a member of the Akron City Council from the Sixth Ward, and re-elected in 1890, becoming the president of that body on its reorganization in April, 1891.  June 15, 1882, Mr. Hart was married to Miss Hattie Johnson, daughter of the late Thomas Johnson, of the Sixth Ward, who has borne him four children, all living - Bessie, born Jan. 8, 1884; Flossie, born June 1, 1885; Isabella, born Nov. 15, 1888, and Henry Johnson, born Dec. 29, 1890.
Source: Fifty Years and Over of Akron and Summit County, by Ex-Sheriff Samuel A. Lane.  Publ. Akron, Ohio: Beacon Job Department - 1892 - Page 307

COL. JOHN C. HART, - born in Cornwall, Connecticut, Apr. 17, 1798; at four years of age removed with parents to Genesee county, New York, and in May, 1815, to Middlebury, Ohio; at 15 enlisted in a cavalry company, at Rochester, and was in the battles at Chippewa and Lundy's Lane and at the burning of Buffalo, in the War of 1812; afterwards raised a regiment of cavalry in and about Middlebury of which he was made colonel; bred a farmer, with but limited education; at 21 went South, rafting on Ohio river and working in saw-mill and brick yard near St. Louis; on return home purchased farm south of Middlebury, which he cleared and successfully cultivated for many years, later largely engaging in buying and selling stock, dealing in real estate, loaning money, etc.  Feb. 24, 1831, Col. Hart was married to Miss Margaret A. Sterling, who bore him six children - George W., retired farmer, Cuyahoga Falls, born July 12, 1832; John S., farmer, Akron, born Nov. 5, 1833; Charles S., insurance agent, Akron, born Dec. 23, 1835; Esther Elizabeth, born Feb. 13, 1838, died Mar. 15, 1841; Hiram Johnson, born May 5, 1840, died Sept. 11, 1869, from disease contracted in army as member of 19th O. V. I.; and Frances Augusta, now Mrs. Clinton Ruckel, of Portage township.  Mrs. Hart dying May 17, 1869, Mr. H. was again married, to Mrs. Mary Sterling, Dec. 25, 1870, who still survives, Mr. Hart dying Aug. 20, 1880, aged 82 years, 4 months and 3 days.Source: Fifty Years and Over of Akron and Summit County, by Ex-Sheriff Samuel A. Lane.  Publ. Akron, Ohio: Beacon Job Department - 1892 - Page 983

HOWER - See also the following:  The HOWER OATMEAL MILLS - and - AMERICAN CEREAL COMPANY

CHARLES H. HOWER - third son of John H. and Susan (Youngker) Hower, was born in Akron Aug. 31, 1866; was educated in Akron public schools and at Oberlin College; at 17 commenced traveling for the oatmeal firm of Hower & Co., which, though probably the youngest "drummer" upon the road, he successfully followed until the incorporation of the Hower Company, in January, 1888, in which company he was a stockholder, director and treasurer until the transfer of the plant to the American Cereal Company, in June 1891, in which company he is also a stockholder; was one of the incorporators of The Akron Reed and Rattan Company, elsewhere written of, and its secretary and treasurer.  Sept. 27, 1887, Mr. Hower was married to Miss Nellie E. Long, daughter of Mr. Elias Long, (late of Akron, now of Tacoma, Wash.,) who was born in Copley Dec. 6, 1868.  Mr. and Mrs. Hower have one child - Helen M., born July 23, 1888.
Source:  Fifty Years and Over of Akron and Summit County, by Ex-Sheriff Samuel A. Lane - Akron, Ohio: Beacon Job Department - 1892 - Page 506

 HARVEY Y. HOWER - eldest son of John H. and Susan (Youngker) Hower, was born in Doylestown, Wayne county, Oct. 16, 1855 educated in Doylestown and Akron public schools, and at Smithville Normal Academy; on completion of studies worked in shop and field for J. F. Seiberling & Co., of the old Excelsior Works, and two years in the Buckeye Works of Aultman, Miller & Co.; in spring of 1879, with other members of family, took an interest in the oatmeal business of Robert & Turner & Co., in 1881 buying out Mr. Turner, and with his father and two brothers, Otis M. and Charles H., organizing the firm of Hower & Co., incorporated as "The Hower Company," January, 1888, with Harvey Y. Hower as its vice president, and is now a stockholder in the American Cereal Company, in which the Hower Company was merged in June, 1891, and its local manager of the Hower Mill; is also a stockholder of the Akron Reed and Rattan Co.  November 29, 1877, Mr. Hower was married to Miss Helen M. Stone, sister of City Marshal S. M. Stone, born in Lock Haven, Pa., June 25, 1856.  They have four children - John Frederick, born Oct. 21, 1879; Harvey Burt, born June 2, 1881; Lloyd Kenneth, born Mar. 30, 1863; Louie Stone, born Oct. 12, 1885.
Source:  Fifty Years and Over of Akron and Summit County, by Ex-Sheriff Samuel A. Lane - Akron, Ohio: Beacon Job Department - 1892 - Page 505

JOHN H. HOWER - born in Stark county, Feb. 22, 1822; educated in common schools; from 18 to 30 working on farm summers and teaching winters; five years in trade and two years in pottery business in Doylestown, Wayne county; original member of Excelsior mower and reaper firm at Doylestown, retaining his interest therein until 1875; one of the organizers and vice-president of the J. F. Seiberling Company, of Akron, in 1865; in 1879 bought an interest in the Turner Oat Meal Mill, purchasing Mr. Turner's interest in 1881, and, with his three sons, forming the Hower Company, (fully described elsewhere), officered as follows:  John H. Hower, president Harvey Y. Hower, vice-president;  M. Otis Hower, treasurer.  Mr. Hower is also one of the corporators and president of the newly organized Reed and Rattan Company, and also largely interested in several of the other leading industries of the city.  Married, in 1852, to Miss Susan Youngker, of Doylestown, three children, only, as above, having been born to them.  In early manhood a Democrat in politics, Mr. H. has been an ardent Republican since the organization of that party, the family being zealous members of the English Lutheran Church, of Akron, of which Mr. H. has officiated as trustee for many years.
Source:  Fifty Years and Over of Akron and Summit County, by Ex-Sheriff Samuel A. Lane - Akron, Ohio: Beacon Job Department - 1892 - Page 457

 MILTON OTIS HOWER - second son of John H. and Susan (Youngker) Hower, was born in Doylestown, Wayne county, Ohio, Nov. 25, 1858; removed with parents to Akron in1866; educated in Doylestown and Akron public schools; one of the incorporators of The Hower Company, oatmeal manufacturers, corner Cherry and Canal streets, and secretary of same from its organization, until merged in The American Cereal Company, in June, 1891, of which company he is a stockholder; is also a stockholder in the Akron Reed and Rattan Company; member of Akron Board of Trade; director of Akron Light, Heat and Power Company, and active in the promotion of all private and public enterprises.  Mr. Hower was married Nov. 16, 1880, to Miss Eugenia Bruot, daughter of James F. and Rosalie (Gressard) Bruot, of Akron.  They have one child, Grace, born Sept. 23, 1881.  Family residence, 204 South Forge street.
Source:  Fifty Years and Over of Akron and Summit County, by Ex-Sheriff Samuel A. Lane - Akron, Ohio: Beacon Job Department - 1892 - Page 505

HOWER OATMEAL HILLS - What was formerly the Pearl Mill, corner of Canal and Cherry streets, was converted into an oatmeal mill, in the latter seventies, by Mr. Robert Turner, a practical miller, the present proprietors, the Hower Company, succeeding to the business in 1880.  The officers of this corporation are:  John H. Hower, president; Harvey Y. Hower, vice-president; M. Otis Hower, secretary, and Charles H. Hower, treasurer, the three latter being sons of the former.  Large additions have been made to the works, increasing the capacity from about 2,000 pounds, in 1880, to nearly 30,000 pounds of bulk and package cereal goods, in 1888, for which a rapidly increasing sale is being found in every portion of the United States.
Source:  Fifty Years and Over of Akron and Summit County, by Ex-Sheriff Samuel A. Lane - Akron, Ohio: Beacon Job Department - 1892 - Page 457

 JUDGE NOAH M. HUMPHREY, - born in Goshen, Connecticut, June 18, 1810; educated as farmer's boy during minority; in September, 1833, came to Ohio, entering law office of Humphrey & Hall in Hudson, studying three yeas, teaching school winters; admitted to bar, in Medina, Sept. 5, 1836; began practice with Van R. Humprey and Harvey Whedon, under firm name of Humphrey, Humphrey & Whedon, charged a year later (on appointment of Van R. Humphrey to president judgeship), to Humphrey & Whedon.  September 24, 1840, was married to Miss Velina Hannum, of Brecksville, settling in Richfield in addition to legal work, teaching, farming, dealing in stock, etc.; in 1852, '53, represented Summit county in State Legislature; in 1854 elected probate judge, removing to Akron in Spring of 1855; re-elected in 1857, serving six years.  Mrs. Humphrey dying Sept. 24, 1855, on Jan. 12, 1859, Judge Humphrey was again married, to Mrs. Elizabeth Young, daughter of the late David Allen, of Akron; in Fall of 1862, removed to Taylor's Falls, Chisago county, Minnesota, where he has since continuously resided, and where he has received many honors,  both from the people and the government, being now postmaster of that city.  Of the two children of Judge Humphrey, Laura M., born Jan. 31, 1842, is now Mrs. D. A. Caneday, and Marcus F. C. born Aug. 23, 1844, died at his home, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, Apr. 18, 1885.
Source: Fifty Years and Over of Akron and Summit County, by Ex-Sheriff Samuel A. Lane - Akron, Ohio: Beacon Job Department - 1892 ~Page 945

VAN R. HUMPHREY was one of the old time judges and lawyers.  He was presiding judge and held court in Ravenna, Akron being then a part of that jurisdiction.  He was a very portly man, affable and genial.  He was skilled in the old common law practice, and when the civil code went into effect in 1851. all those old common law forms were abolished and Judge Humphrey never could reconcile himself to the new modes of practice and constantly made war upon the new proceeding.  He was a very able lawyer and continued in practice up to the date of his death, which occurred at Hudson, in Summit County.  He was effective, both before the court upon questions of law and in arguing cases to the jury.
Source: Fifty Years and Over of Akron and Summit County, by Ex-Sheriff Samuel A. Lane - Akron, Ohio: Beacon Job Department - 1892 ~Page 831

The HUMPHREY TURBINE COMPANY - South Broadway, manufacturers of hydraulic and power transmitting machinery, etc.; incorporated June 15, 1889; capital, $50,000; officers: John Humphrey, president; Oscar H. Coolidge, vice president and treasurer; George L. Humphrey, secretary; Arthur G. Humphrey, business manager; hands employed, 15.
Source: Fifty Years and Over of Akron and Summit County, by Ex-Sheriff Samuel A. Lane - Akron, Ohio: Beacon Job Department - 1892 ~Page 505