FAMILY OF
ABRAHAM TEACHOUT, SEN.

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ABRAHAM TEACHOUT, JR.

     Abraham Teachout, Jr., was born in the township of Manchester, Ontario County, New York, Aug. 17, 1817.  His father, Abraham Teachout, Sr., with three brothers, John, James and William, one sister, Lovina, and their parents, Jacob Teachout and wife, removed from Herkimer County, same state, about the seventh year of the nineteenth century.  The family is of Dutch ancestry.
     Early in the sixteenth century two brothers, John and Jacob Teachout, emigrated from Holland to America and settled in the Mohawk valley, from them have descended all people bearing their name in this country.
     Western New York, at the beginning of the century, was vast wilderness, broken here and there by a small settlement.  The opportunities for acquiring an education were so meager that one was regarded fairly prepared for active life if he could read, write, cipher and spell creditably; and such were the acquirements of this pioneer family.  They all became devoted members of the Baptist church, and James entered the ministry in middle life.  The father died when the children were young, and the widow and orphans were obliged to provide for themselves without much of this world's goods to start with.  They cleared their farm, claiming eight or ten acres each year, and gathered the ashes, of which they made black salts, about the only thing that could be sold for money.

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     In the fall of 1811, Abraham Teachout, Sr., married Clarissa Throop, a daughter of Benjamin Throop, Sr. who was a farmer and keeper of a country tavern.  The family came from Connecticut and settled in New York about the same time the Teachout family arrived.  They were all large of stature and vigorous.  The father lived to the age of eighty-nine years, while his wife, who was a well educated and exceedingly intelligent woman, lived to be ninety-four years old.  Her maiden name was Rachel Brown, and her family founded the Brown University in Rhode Island.  Mr. Throop was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and during his absence his wife performed the necessary labor on the farm.  They had four sons and four daughters - Benjamin, Jr., Samuel, Jesse and Azel, Eunice, Martha, Clarissa and Lydia.  Benjamin went to sea; circumnavigated the glove several times, and then retired to Palmyra, New York, where he died.  Samuel sailed the lakes and in early manhood was swept overboard in a storm.  He had two sons, Horatio and Washington, both of whom were sailors on the lakes.  Captain Horatio Throop was one of the oldest and best known captains that navigated Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence Steamboat Company, which position he was holding at the time of his death in 1885.  The family are held in the highest esteem in Ontario and surrounding counties.
     Soon after his marriage, Abraham Teachout enlisted in the war of 1812, and served until the close of that contest.  In the autumn of 1822, the family removed to Niagara County, New York, making the journey with an ox team.

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On the way they passed the hillside where the "prophet' Joseph Smith claimed to have dug out the plates of the Mormon Bible.  At that time the family consisted of four sons and two daughters - Albert, Charles, Joseph, Abraham, Jr., Susan and Eunice.  The mother died in 1824, leaving an infant that died soon afterward.  Few can realize the struggle of the father to provide for his family in the wild new country, but the children were too young to recognize any occasion for anxiety.  Mr. Teachout was firm in his convictions, expressed his sentiments fearlessly, and vehemently denounced deception and dishonesty.  He was held in high respect by all his neighbor.  In regard to politics he was a Whig from 1826 to 1830.  During the excitement caused by the disappearance of Morgan, he was na anti-Mason, that issue being the principal one in public estimation.  He was once held a witness for several weeks in the celebrated Morgan trial in Orleans County.  Possessing a fair education, he took an active part in local politics; was an orator of some merit, and was generally employed as pettifogger in the lawsuits of his neighborhood.  His regular fee was fifty cents for a half day, or seventy-five cents for the entire day.  He was never a member of any secret society.  In the fall of 1837, the family removed to Ohio and settled in North Royalton, Cuyahoga County.  Mr. Teachout finally died at Liverpool, Medina County, Ohio, at the age of sixty-eight years.  His remains were interred at Royalton.
     Abraham Teachout, Jr., born of age Aug. 17, 1838.  He soon afterward went to Cleveland to seek employment,

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supposed in those days to make men strong , "to keep off the heat in the summer , and the cold out in the winter."  The frame went up and no one was “hurt.”  Then came an abundance of provisions, which were devoured with a relish, and cheers were given for the "cold water" raising.  After several games of ball the men went to their homes happy and sober to tell their wives and children how strange a thing had happened at the raising of the steam sawmill.  The structure was completed and put in operation Nov. 10, 1845.
     Mr. Teachout embarked in mercantile trade at Madison, Lake County, which he conducted in connection with his milling interests.  In 1857 he sold out and purchased the mill privilege at Painesville, Ohio, where he built the flouring mill now owned and operated by Mr. Bigler.  In 1862 he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he followed extensively until the close of the Rebellion.  In 1869 he went South and engaged in the lumber trade and the sale of doors, sash and blinds at Chattanooga, Tennessee.  There are foundation of his present business in Cleveland was laid, although it was not in active operation until 1873.  In partnership with his son, Albert R., then twenty-one years of age, the firm of A. Teachout & Company was organized.  Their patronage extends over several states, and their trade amounts to half a million dollars annually.  Albert R. Teachout is the manager of the business here.
     Mrs. Teachout died Oct. 16, 1880; her maiden name was Julia Ann Towsley, and her marriage to Mr. Teachout occurred Feb. 22, 1842.  Mr. Teachout's second marriage was to Mrs. Laura E. Hathaway of Painesville, the Rev. A. B. Green, who officiated at his first marriage, performing the ceremony.  He is now in his seventy-seventh year, is still vigorous and strong, and goes every day to and from business. 
     Mr. Teachout was converted to Christianity through the preaching of Alexander Campbell, Walter Scott, A. B. Green and the Haydens.  He was baptized at Royalton in June, 1851, by Elder William Hayden, at the anual Disciples' meeting, and united with the church at that place.  In 1859 he removed to Lake County and transferred his membership to Painesville, where he served as an elder until 1873, when he and his wife and son obtained letters to unite with the Franklin Circle Church in Cleveland.  He was elected a member of the board of elders soon afterward, and still holds that office.
     He has always taken an active interest in educational affairs.  In Madison he served on the Board of Education four years, and filled the same office in Painesville for nine years  He has been one of the trustees of Hiram College for thirty years, and for six years was president of the board.  He was chairman of the building committee for the new building, and superintended the construction of the boys' hall.  He was intimately acquainted with James A. Garfield, who he held in the highest esteem.  He cast his first presidential vote for William Henry Harrison, and was a Republican until 1882, when he transferred his allegiance to the Prohibition party.  He has twice been the candidate

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of this party for Mayor, once for the State legislature, and once for Congress.  He has been elected to numerous local offices of trust, and has had the settlement of several important estates.  He has prepared several addresses which have been sought for publication, and has "dabbled" in poetry, as he himself expresses it.  His first production in verse was entitled "Your Father's Growing Old," and was addressed to his son.  In this he pays a beautiful tribute to the devoted wife and mother.  "This Beautiful World," bringing to mind the strange mixture of good and evil in the world; "Fast Falls the Eventide," and one poem upon the death of President Garfield are among his best efforts.
     We append a copy of Mr. Treachout's poem entitled

THIS BEAUTIFUL WORLD.

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     During the few years she has been connected with the family she has endeared herself to the hearts of all its members.
     The past year Mr. Teachout has spent much time in superintending the erection of an Observatory and Library building at Hiram, O., which will be completed and turned over to the College, June, 1901.  The building is 30 x 70 feet.  The Observatory tower is fifty feet high, aside from the dome, which rises sixteen feet above the tower.  Rev. Lathrop Cooley, a lifelong friend of Mr. Teachout, contributes the telescope, which is to be a nine inch lens.  Including the Observatory, Mr. Teachout has given in all about $20,000 to the College.                                   J. E. S.

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ALBERT R. TEACHOUT.

     Albert R. Teachout³, (s. Abraham², Abraham Teachout¹,) the junior member of the firm of A. Teachout & Company, was born in Royalton, Ohio, July 12, 1852, the son of Abraham Teachout, Jr., whose history is given in this volume, and Julia Ann Tousley.  He received his education at Hiram College and in 1873 entered into partnership with his father.  They have a large and flourishing business, of which he is manager, and in connection with the establishment at Cleveland they have a branch at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, also another at Columbus, Ohio, where they transact a large busines annually.

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     Mr. Teachout was united in marriage in 1873 to Miss Sarah Parmely, daughter of David Parmely, a resident of Lake County, Ohio.  Mr. and Mrs. Teachout are active members of the Christian Church, and contribute liberally of their time and means to its support.  Mr. Teachout is one of the directors of the Y. M. C. A., and is a trustee of Franklin Circle Church.  His wife has been prominently identified with the work of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.  They are both earnest, progressive and conscientious, and are highly esteemed by a wide circle of acquaintances.

CHILDREN.

     The daughter, Kate, was educated at Hiram College.  The two boys are now in Central High School, Cleveland.

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CHARLES TEACHOUT, SR.

     Charles Teachout², (s. Abraham¹,) was born in Manchester, Ontario County, New York, in 1814.  His mother died when he was at the tender age of ten years.  When sixteen years old he began teaching school winters, and with his elder brother, Albert, followed the carpenter and joiners' trade summers.  In 1837 he came to Ohio, and in 1839 married Marinda Field, who was also from the state.

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of New York.  After that he continued teaching school winters for nine years and worked at his trade summers.  He then went into the mercantile business in Liverpool, Medina County, where he remained nine years.  From there he went to Madison, then to Painesville.  In 1868 he moved to McMinnville, Tenn., and in 1874 to Nawaygo County, Mich.  While there was elected Township Clerk, Justice of the Peace and School Inspector.  In 1894, moved to Cleveland, where he is living a retired life.
     Five years after marriage, Mr. Teachout was converted and with his wife, who was a Christian before, has ever lived a consistent Christian life, and now, at the age of 86 and his wife 78, who have lived a well rounded life together of 61 years says:  I feel we are like the sailor who, when interviewed, said:  "We are rounding the point, and hope to drop our anchor within the harbor."
     The above was contributed by Mrs. Helen Corkhill.

CHILDREN: