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BIOGRAPHIES
 Source:
1798
PIONEER and GENERAL HISTORY of
GEAUGA COUNTY
with
SKETCHES OF
some of the Pioneers and Prominent Men.
Published by
The Historical Society of Geauga County,
1880
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Burton -
GEORGE HENRY FORD.
This gentleman enjoys the
rare good fortune, as it is thought, of being usually spoken of by all
three of his names. The first and second he derives from, his
uncles, his senior partners. The first and second he derives from,
his uncles, his senior partners. The third he inherited from a man
to whom his native State is as much, or more indebted to any other of
her public men. He is third son of the late Governor Seabury
and Harriet Ford, born at Burton, Ohio; March 10, 1842, and now
(1879), thirty-seven years old.
Of such parentage, and reared in a town quite as New
Englandish, as any in the section of that name, deriving from his
parents, as he did, a vigorous and healthy frame, and a vigorous mind,
he grew through a vigorous healthy child and boyhood, to a vigorous and
healthy manhood, bodily, mentally and morally. I am not certain
but that the rather strait orthodoxy of his native atmosphere, may not,
in his case, have produced a natural recoil, resulting in views, if not
original with him, certainly not taught in the religious pale in which
he was reared.
Of the course of his early education, as, indeed, of
his whole life, the scanty data before mc, do not permit me to speak.
That it was largely the district school of Burton, is undoubtedly true.
That his facilities were ample, is shown by the fact that he entered
Western Reserve College at sixteen, where he graduated in 1862, at
twenty years of age. I have not a scrap of his college course.
During the late war, he served several months as a
volunteer in the 85th Ohio volunteer infantry. On his return from the
war, he became a law student in the office of Messrs.
Hitchcock & Estep, of Cleveland, where he remained for a
year, and then became one of the present firm of Boughton, Ford & Co.,
of Burton, where he has since resided, He afterward finished his legal
studies and was admitted to the bar. He was elected a justice of the
peace in 1864, and re-elected in 1867 and '70.
In 1871 he was elected by the Republicans to the old
seat of his father, in the Ohio house of representatives, and re-elected
in 1873. In the house he was at once recognized as one of the most
thoughtful, practical, useful and modest members of that body, seemingly
unambitious, and rather avoiding occasions which would bring him into
favorable notice, such as his talents would naturally command. Among the
measures advocated by him, was a bill which he introduced, for the
creation of the Ohio State University. This proposed to
consolidate the three weak State institutions, and produce one large,
strong, liberally endowed university. The scheme attracted the
favorable notice of liberal-minded educators, and had it been adopted,
would have placed Ohio by the side of Michigan, in this respect. Mr.
Ford has always been an enlightened
and most pronounced Republican, liberal, but not tolerant of those who
would work miracles by other than the true faith.
He has usually been on the committees of his county,
senatorial, and congressional committees, has been several times at
their respective heads, was a delegate in the national convention which
nominated President Hayes, and made himself felt in that
body. Frank and outspoken, he has left no doubt as to his estimate of
the president's course and policy. He has been more liberally
endowed by nature, than the majority of his fellows. Finely
formed, of manly symmetry, a large, well developed head, unusually good
eyes, large and lustrous, and well featured, he has manners and address,
especially wining, when he cares to please. He possesses a
singularly, well balanced mind, of large capacity, and well developed
faculties. Quick in perception, able and logical, a good speaker,
and he puts himself well on paper when he will. He never cares to
be showy. He is a man to be liked, and is largely, personally popular,
though he never seems to think it worth his while to care much how he
he stands. This very indifference may be one of the sources of
the general liking for him. It often wins with women when active court
fails. Of course, he has the full measure of the Ford personal
integrity.
There is something a little puzzling, not to say
exasperating, in Mr. Ford's career, to many of his
friends. With his ability, personal popularity, the prestige of his
name, and having opportunities, he appears quite indiffent to the
openings to a man's ambition, and instead of reaching forth his hand and
grasping what seems within his easy reach, he leaves them to others.
This younger generation of men may be wiser, and set less value upon the
ordinary objects of pursuit than their fathers. They may have less
faith, less self-sacrifice, do not care to pay the price in hard work
and self-devotion, which alone win, and are quite content to have it
thought that they could if they would. He is still quite a young
man, not yet at the maturity of his powers, stands well at the bar, in
the legislative halls, is becoming widely known and trusted in the
higher business circles. Is still laying, extending and solidifying his
foundation; has a long, useful and, if he wishes it, a conspicuous
career before him. That it will be full of individual honor and
integrity, is already assured.
In 1866, Mr. Ford was united in wedlock
with Corinne E., daughter, and only child, of Carlos
and Electa Williams, of Burton. On her mother's side,
the descendent of a race, the women of which, are distinguished for
their beauty of person, and possessing the qualities which go to form
excellence and perfection in the feminine character. This favored
woman fully sustains their high character in all those respects.
Of this fortunate union five children have been born —Seabury W.,
Helen R., Louis Jay, Carl Boughton, and George H. Seabury
W. died October 10, 1868, and George H. died August 4, 1879.
Their cottage home, in the village of Burton, is one of rare felicity;
was it less blessed, its master might be more actively ambitious.
A. G. R.
Source:
1798 Pioneer and General History of Geauga County with Sketches
of
some of the Pioneers and Prominent Men. -
Published by
The Historical Society of Geauga County, 1880 - Page 562 |
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HENRY
HINE FORD,
The youngest son of John and Easter
Ford, was born Feb. 27, 1814. His first recollection dates
back to the story of being rocked in a cradle made out of a hollow log,
in the old red house that stands southeast of his present home. It
is said that he was so good natured as to go to sleep without rocking,
and that trait of good feeling is strong at the age of 65. Neri
Wright - afterwards Judge - taught school in a log house just over
the line in Claridon, north of the brook, and his tact kept this boy
advancing in reading, spelling and arithmetic three winters.
Wright was justice of the peace, and left the school in charge of
his step-daughter, Adiresta, one day, while he went to hold court
at his house. Some big boys asked to go out. Full of
mischief, they beset a flock of geese, and caught a white gander.
One climbed the logs and stood on the roof by the big mud and stick
chimney, while the others handed up the gander, which was dropped down
the chimney, flapping the soot and ashes with his wings through the
room, and, "squawling" loudly terrifying the teacher and children, who
thought a ghost had come. His schooling was finished in the
academy under the instruction of Reuben Hitchcock and Mr.
Witter.
At the age of 14, a singular accident occured,
and even in the far away distance of years it brings the tinge of
sadness. It was so strange an event it should be recited here.
In the road south of the house, with a smooth-bore rifle, loaded with a
loose ball, he stood and aimed at a turkey in the garden east, shooting
its head off. The ball struck a frozen stump and glanced to the
left, on a quarter angle, and passed through two half-inch pannels of a
wagon box, grazing the felloe of the wheel, and struck Herman Truman,
a boy 13 years old, in the abdomen. He died from the effects
of the wound. It was a great sorrow to the young Ford.
Manifesting more interest in steers than
books, at the age of 16, he was put in charge of his father's farm, 160
acres, and also looked after the Griffith farm of 160 acres, over
the river, where Albert Tuttle now lives. Of this, 50 acres
were cleared. Here they kept about twenty head of cattle, and, in
the winter mornings, he would get up, put a string of sleigh-bells on
his horse, get into the saddle, and ride before light, awaking the
sleeping neighbors with the rattling feeding his cattle, and returning
"from over the river," to breakfast at home, at six o'clock. A
cheery nature, like his, made fun of the snow and storm. He had no
need of a soap-stone for his feet, nor a white bear robe to protect him
from the sharp frosts of 1830. This early care kept him, and after
he was 12 years old, he had but little schooling, except in winter.
IN the division of his father's property, lot 66 fell to him, and he
went on and cleared 100 acres, on the farm now occupied by Leander
Taylor. The frame house, with its two rooms, on the side hill,
where Thomas Brown now lives, was or more than ordinary interest
to him, and a mile by the wood-paths was very short, when, regularly, of
a Sunday night, he had jumped the logs by the way, and appeared at the
kitchen door, and the latch was lifted by a keen-eyed maiden, of 20
years, who smiled when he came. Pretty and charming, with a face
expressive of refinement, she had a power over the rolicksome ways of
his youth, but the heartiness of his laugh would get beyond her bounds
sometimes; nor has his ludicrous storying been quite controlled since.
The visiting was not always done by two in the kitchen, while the old
people slept. Frederick, a brother of the girl, used to
amuse, as well as annoy, then young couple, by sitting up, and talking
about steers, until 12 o'clock, when she was obliged to politely request
Henry to go, and not stay later. However, these
interruptions did not break the attraction, and a wedding took place, at
the residence of Rev. Dexter Witter, Feb. 2, 1836. Miss
Sarah Welton, youngest daughter of Johnson F. Welton, was the
bride. Charles Warren, with two horses and a sleigh,
accompanied them to Warren, and to Cleveland, on their wedding tour.
Having lived together two years, they were prepared to enjoy the
pleasures of a journey, and appreciate, in company with each other, the
ways of travel, and in the spring of 1838, started on a real wedding
visit, accompanied by Mrs. Welton, then 70 years of age, and
Esquire Merriam's oldest daughter, Mary, afterwards Mrs.
Thrasher. Going by Pittsburgh, they crossed the Alleghenies to
Harrisburg, and, by Easton, went on to New York, and Waterbury,
Connecticut; being three weeks on the way, going 600 miles. Their
conveyance was a light two-horse lumber wagon, with seats resting on
suspended poles for springs. The team and wagon were sold, east,
and they returned by stage, to Albany, taking the first railroad in the
United States from Albany to Schenectady. The cars, built like
stage coaches, ran on flat bar rails, spiked to stringers, and carried
twelve persons each. From there, by canal, they came to Buffalo;
thence, by lake, to Fairport, and home, a trip of nine days.
He was greatly interested in raising fine cattle.
The first Durham bull brought into Burton was bought by him and "Amy"
Beard, in 1835, of Bushnell, of Hartford, Trumbull county.
He weighed 2,200 pounds. From Blish's heard, of Mentor, the
Devons were added, and the choice red cattle so famous in Burton
were bred. The great bull, "Zack," was bought by him and Peter
Hitchcock, afterwards sold and went to Minnesota. Andrus
Durand, an old friend of Ford's living in that State, went a
hundred miles to see the animal. Oxen from this stock sold for
$225 and $275 a pair, and cows from $60 to $90 each.
He was elected lieutenant of the first company of
independent light infantry in the fall of 1833, and continued until
elected captain in 1835, at the age of 21. This company, uniformed
with red coats and white pants, was very showy, and their drill was
superior. He continued captain about six years. In 1844 he
was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the first light infantry
regiment, first brigade, and twenty-first division Ohio volunteer
militia. He kept account of men subject to military duty, and
reported to the adjutant-general at Columbus up to 1850. He was
then made captain of a squad of light artillery, and a cannon awakened
the people of the county, on public occasions, for years up to 1856.
In the winter of 1857-8, being the highest officer in command, he
received orders from Secretary Floyd, of treasonable memory, to
deliver up the arms in the county. The cannon was shipped to New
York, and went into the hands of the Confederates in their preparation
for rebellion. At the outbreak of the war in 1861, being familiar
with the tactics, he began drilling men in Newbury, Chardon, Middlefield
and Burton, finally organizing a company known by their uniform as
"Yellow jackets." This company was in three drill contests, and
won the prize each time. The prize sword, presented by the people
of Chardon, to the company, was accepted from the hand of Judge
Milton Canfield, the company made it a gift to Colonel Ford
and it is now in his possession. It is a bright reminder of those
war-preparing drills. In August, 1863, he was elected colonel of
the 2d Ohio militia, and that fall they went into camp on Willson
avenue, in Cleveland, eight days. His list of volunteers, and men
from Burton, is valuable in making up the history. All through the
war he was active in raising volunteers, and paid largely to save the
town form draft, and in genuine patriotism, he gave of his money and
time, all through those terrible years.
A worker for the public good, he, with Thomas M.
Bayard, of Chagrin Falls, secured the carrying of the mail, and, a
passenger hack, ran three times a week from Cleveland, via Burton and
Kinsman, to the Pennsylvania line. In 1864, with the aid of
Peter Hitchcock and S. C. Ford, a daily mail was established
from Chardon to Burton and Garrettsville, and he, with George
Boughton, put on the hack and teams from Burton, to connect with
passenger trains.
In 1871 the town was half destroyed by fire, in the
business part. With a spirit determined to re-build, he subscribed
$3,000, being one-eighth of the stock for the entire block of 7 stores.
In 1872 a partnership was formed with George Boughton, G. H. and
R. N. Ford, in the banking business, which is still continued.
When the Painesville & Youngstown railroad was being
built, competition along the line for depots caused anxiety, lest the
road, being laid so far east of Burton, should pass by and leave the
town without a depot. In the storms of that fall of 1873, he
mustered men and teams; they hauled all the timber for a building, and
some ties, and laid the first rails of the track in Burton. when
the building was finished he paid $1,000, and cleared it from debt -
leasing for 99 years the large spring of George Adams, to fill
the tank for the benefit of the company. When the track was laid,
his promise to President Wick was, that he would have a hack
there to meet the first train, or would be there himself with a cart and
four oxen. This rapid work, pushed through in sixty days, in much
bad weather, told upon his health. In 1875 the Carlton
grist-mill was burned, J. S. Cook being owner at the time.
Joining with George Boughton, they furnished about $8,000 in
money, and what is now known as the "Center mill," was built on the old
site.
He has been a religious member of the Masonic
fraternity for many years, and one of the first in paying to the
Congregational church, all his life, which, with his wife, he joined in
1865 - liberal, however, in his theology. He was one of the
founders of the Odd Fellows lodge in Burton. A man friendly to
everybody, kind in thought to the poor; a good neighbor, with his social
wife, makes the John Ford homestead, which he has always
occupied, a genial mansion to all visitors. It has been the home
of eight orphan children, who look back to it with memories of kindness.
They adopted a daughter, now Mrs. Edward Johnson, of Middlefield.
They had only one child, a daughter, Annette Virena, born Dec. 3,
1836, and died Feb. 19, 1838.
He looks after the farm, but is growing old, and,
in his own words, "Neither holds nor drives," and knows the first of
that old proverb of the plough: "He that would thrive." As a
public benefactor in the use of time and means for the benefit of his
town, he stands pre-eminent - has always aided those who needed help,
when called upon. Of him the Hon. A. G. Riddle, of
Washington, D. C., a life-long friend, writes:
On quite my first witnessing a regimental muster at
Burton, the old fashioned "general trainin," of that early time I was
struck by a small squad of boys, from 7 to 10 or 11 years of age; in
uniform, armed with neatly painted wooden guns, and to my militia eye
quite perfect in equipment and drill. At their head was a fine
spirited lad of the age of the seniors, in person, bearing, and action,
every inch a soldier and leader. I followed them about for two or
three hours, and while they were at ease approached and addressed the
captain, whom I found very accessible and pleasant. On inquiry I
found he was Captain H. H. Ford of light infantry. Several
years later, on a similar occasion, and when he was 17 or 18, I was him
again, then, with a bass drum in the drum corps, in a rifleman's
uniform, and as I think, belonging to Capt. Ira Hoadley's
company. Of this last I am less certain. In the spring of
1838, I began the study of law under the late Governor Ford, and
boarded at the Brooks', opposite Deacon Cook's, just below
the old homestead, and became acquainted with Cheshire Street.
Col. Ford was then married, a thriving and driving young farmer.
Charles Warren, a nephew of Mrs. Ford, worked with him
that summer, and he and I quite at once became warmly attached young
men, friends of the callow and plastic yeas of 21 and 22. I then,
for the first time, became acquainted with Mr. Ford, an
acquaintance that grew into a confirmed friendship to continue
unwaveringly to the end. For, among these years, when in Ohio, he
has been the standard and type of excellence used by me in the estimate
of other men I know, but few to be thus compared with him, of some I
have said, "He is a Col. Henry Ford, kind of a man," and esteem
this the best praise I can bestow. to me he always seemed
the frankest and most transparent, natured of men. A man about
whom no questions were ever asked, who never had to give references, who
never had to contradict or explain things, who never had to take
affidavits to support any statement of his own. In short, a man
through and through every hair and fiber, a man one does not have to
study to find out, nor to learn to like, but to be liked and trusted
offhand and forever.
Nature was kind to him in the uncommon gift of rare,
common sense, and in good measure. He might have enlarged its
scope by more study. It could hardly have been more vigorous or
more useful, a strong, tenacious, healthy natured man, who took hold of
life with an honest, vigorous grasp, wrought and moulded things to good
purposes, and applied them to good uses, who had an abiding faith in
God, human nature and in doing right. A sagacious man with
enterprise and courage, kindly, just and generous. It was summed
to me that he is a type of men never too numerous, who are growing
scarce and are passing away. The men of my years are apt to look
with distrust on those of the new generation - men of new thought, new
views and new methods. They will, doubtless, grow, develope and
meet all the requirements of their time and in their way. The
cities, the railroads and the new enterprises have robbed Geauga county
of some of the choicest of them. Of those who remain, how
many will reach the standard, fill the place and do the work of Col.
H. H. Ford?"
Source:
1798 Pioneer and General History of Geauga County with Sketches
of
some of the Pioneers and Prominent Men. -
Published by
The Historical Society of Geauga County, 1880 - Page 563 |
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Burton - 1827
JOHN L. FOWLER -
Came, with his
wife, to Willoughby, and rented Wert's ill; afterwards moved to
Mentor; thence to Burton, the year 1827, and located on the Ferris
farm, lot 84, on Oak hill, where he remained most of his life.
Their children were: Phebe Ann, Margaret, William, Eliza Jane, Andrew
L., Simeon, Cordelia, Jenette, and Wheeler. For many
years members of the Presbyterian church, they now both rest beneath the
hill.
Andrew L. - the second son, was born in
Willoughby, July 12, 1821. He was on the farm to the age of 20;
then, in March, 1841, when to Cleveland, where he learned the
wagon-maker's trade. In the Carltons' shops, on the corner,
he carried on the trade for several years, and was successful, doing at
one time quite an extensive business. Having a large interest in
the cheese factory at Andover, Ashtabula county, his time is now much
engaged there. His musical talent was utilized by the church
several years.
The grandfather of this Fowler family was
Andrew L., and he lived in affluence, on a large estate, at White
Plains, in the time of the Revolution. Washington's
headquarters was in this house. The general was at breakfast, when
the bugle sounded for the battle. He said to his officers:
"We are to have a hard fight to-day," and surely they did. The
Federals used everything in the house, emptying feather beds and taking
the ticks to use in dressing the wounded. The fight waged
fiercely. Mrs. Fowler went to close a door, when a cannon
ball struck the post, and carried it into the room, the ball falling
spent upon the floor. The farm was large, and the battle swept up
towards the house. The negro servants in charge of the
"Plantation," confiscated what the soldiers had left, and one, mounted
on Fowler's own horse, rode to the door, and, in a commanding manner,
inquired "If Andrew L. Fowler was at home?" The old man
leveled his rifle, but the darkey dashed off. The hogs, from a
large lot, were driven into the cellar, and were all killed for the
troops. His daughter had married a British officer, and while
Mr. Fowler was, in principle, with the Colonies, the relationship
caused him to stand neutral, and, between the Continentals and
red-coats,, his property was sacrificed.
Source:
1798 Pioneer and General History of Geauga County
with Sketches of
some of the Pioneers and Prominent Men. -
Published by
The Historical Society of Geauga County, 1880 - Page
572 |
NOTES:
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