BIOGRAPHIES *

  Source
1798
History of Ashtabula County, Ohio
with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches
of its
Pioneers and Most Prominent Men.
by Publ. Philadelphia - Williams Brothers -
1878
(Transcribed by Sharon Wick)

< CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO 1878 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX >
< CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO LIST OF BIOGRAPHICAL INDEXES >

	Morgan Twp. - VICTORIAN D. LATIMER.  The subject of the following sketch was born in the township where he now resides, on the third day of September, 1843.  He is the fifth child of William and Corresta Reed Latimer, the former of whom was born in Otis, Massachusetts, and the latter in Granby, Connecticut.  The family came to Ohio in 1818.  The mother still resides there, the father having died in 1870.  Victorian D. received a fair academic education.  He was a member of the Eighty-seventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteers, and was taken prisoner by the southern Confederacy at Harper's Ferry, on Sept. 18, 1862.  Returning after the expiration of his term of service, he engaged in the mercantile business.  In the year 1875 he erected the fine brick block where he now carries on the drug and hardware trade.      He was united in marriage on Oct. 4, 1864, to Esther, daughter of Baldwin and Harriet Fitzgerald Morris.  From this marriage have been born two children; these are Lenah, born May 8, 1866, and Frank O., whose birth occurred Apr. 16, 1868.  Source: 1798 History of Ashtabula County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Pioneers and Most Prominent Men by Publ. Philadelphia - Williams Brothers - 1878 - Page 198
Ferdinand Lee	FERDINAND LEE.      In the group of editors of leading newspapers in Ashtabula County will be found a fine portrait of this gentleman, who presides over the destinies of the Jefferson Gazette, and is the youngest editor in the county.  He was born Normandale, Ontario, on the 1st day of October, in the year 1852, and is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Lee, who are both of Canadian nativity.  The father was in early days a seafaring man; was at one time the owner of the schooner “Queen,” and was for a time engaged in the coasting trade on Lake Erie.  Among the peregrinations of Daniel Lee and family we find that their first move was to Georgian bay, in the north part of Canada West, where he was for a time engaged in the fishing trade, whence he removed to Wyandotte, Michigan, and thence to Miami, seven miles west of Toledo.  Their residence at this point was located on the site of the old Fort Miami.  Here Mr. Lee obtained, at district school, a rudimentary education.  Their next halt was made in Weston township, Wood county.  Here they remained some six years, Ferdinand in the mean time dividing his time between farm labor and the district school.  In the year 1866 removed to North Madison, Lake county, in which township the family still reside.  Here was finished the education of the gentleman under consideration.  This was consummated at Madison seminary, under the respective administrations of Professors J. P. Ellenwood and W. N. Wight.  During his attendance at this school he began the publication of an amateur paper, a monthly sheet, entitled the North Madison Star, and it was here that he first obtained a taste for the “art preservative.”  This paper was issued regularly for one year, when he removed to Madison village, procured the necessary outfit, and on Jan. 3, 1872, issued the first number of the Independent Press, a weekly issue.  This sheet was afterwards merged into the Dairy Gazette as an adjunct in promoting that interest, which proving financially a failure, the title was changed to the Madison Gazette, under which name it was published until Sept. 6, 1876.  Shortly afterwards the office was removed to Jefferson, and on Nov. 3, 1876, the first number of the Jefferson Gazette was issued.  This paper has, under his able management, acquired a large circulation, and is steadily increasing.  On the 16th day of September, 1874, Mr. Lee was united in marriage to Miss Effie A., daughter of Salmon G. and Lucy A. Mack, of Madison, Ohio. Politically Mr. Lee is unreservedly Republican. He is also a member of the fraternity of Masons, and is at this time affiliated with Lake Shore lodge, No. 307, Free and Accepted Masons, Madison, Lake county, Ohio. Source: 1798 History of Ashtabula County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Pioneers and Most Prominent Men by Publ. Philadelphia - Williams Brothers - 1878 - Page 123
E. B. Leonard (Pros. Atty.)	EMERSON B. LEONARD, PROSECUTING ATTORNEY a fine portrait of whom appears with the group of officials, is the seventh of a family of ten.  His parents, Anson and Elizabeth (Baker) Leonard, were originally from Massachusetts, settled in Pierpont, this county, at an early date, and were among the pioneers of that township.  The education of Emerson B. was acquired at the common school and the Kingsville academy.  He early decided to make the practice of the law his profession, and to this end read several elementary law-books prior to beginning a regular course.  In April, 1870, he entered the law-office of Hon. W. P. Howland, and read until September, 1871, when he was admitted to the bar at Cleveland.  The spring following began the practice, and met with good success.  At the age of twenty-six, fall of 1875, his friends put him in nomination for the office of prosecuting attorney, and he was elected, and in 1877 was re-elected; this position he at present occupies, and performs the many and arduous duties incident thereto ably and well.  The election to this important position of one so young was truly a compliment to his ability.  He was united in marriage in July, 1876, to Miss Amanda, daughter of David C. and Mary Lewis, of Mount Vernon, Ohio.  It is perhaps needless to state that Mr. Leonard is, politically, a Republican.  He is a fluent and forcible speaker, energetic and zealous in his profession, and is one of the rising young men of the county. Source: 1798 History of Ashtabula County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Pioneers and Most Prominent Men by Publ. Philadelphia - Williams Brothers - 1878 - Page 125
Res. of Horace Lindsley, Cherry Valley, Ashtabula Co., O	Cherry Valley Twp. - HORACE LINDSLEY.     The parents of the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch were Abraham and Molly Bidwell Lindsley of Litchfield, Connecticut.  Their ancestors were of English origin.  Removed to Paris, Oneida county, N. Y., where Horace was born on the 7th day of July, 1811.  His father died at this point, and in 1818 his mother was married again, to John Fenn, and soon after removed to Ohio, coming via the lakes, and after a long and tedious voyage, not devoid of danger, arrived at the mouth of Ashtabula creek.  At this time there was at this place one log cabin and a partially-constructed building intended for a warehouse.  They first went to Madison, Lake county; only remained a short time, however, and then removed to No. 9 of the second range (now known as Cherry Valley); here they effected a permanent settlement in the wilderness.  There was but one other family at this time in the township, their neighbors being principally the wild beasts of the forest.  At night they were lulled to sleep by the soothing howl of wolves and the hootings of the owls.  Mrs. Lindsley Fenn died Sept. 27, 1842.  The education of the gentleman under consideration was acquired at common school, and his first occupation was the felling of the huge forest-trees surrounding his home.  In his youth he taught school in winter seasons for a time, but his life-work has been that of farming.  On Dec. 26, 1842, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth A. J., daughter of Joseph and Esther Giddings Warren, of Williamsfield.  Eight children were born of this marriage.  These are John Quincy Adams; Joseph Warren, married Elma C. Sweesy; Mary E., married George H. Burnell; Lucretia Weston, married E. H. Greene; Lucretia M. (died); Matthew Hale (died); Frank Hildreth, and Wendell Phillips.  Their political position is shown by the names of their children.  They were ever warm friends of the colored man, and many a slave had reason to thank them for food, clothing, and shelter while en route for that freedom in a foreign country which was then denied him here.  John Brown and his sons were intimate friends, and the last home of the unfortunate Aaron D. Stevens, who was one of the victims of the Harper's Ferry affair, and was executed at Charlestown, Virginia, was at one time with Mr. and Mrs. Lindsley. Source: 1798 History of Ashtabula County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Pioneers and Most Prominent Men by Publ. Philadelphia - Williams Brothers - 1878 - Page 238

NOTES: