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BIOGRAPHIES
 Source:
Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio -
Publ. Chicago - The Lewis Publishing Co.,
1893
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HON. LESTER TAYLOR,
the oldest living resident of northeastern, Ohio, was born at Hartland,
Hartford county, Connecticut, Aug. 5, 1798, a son of Childs Taylor,
a native of Connecticut; Prince Taylor, the grandfather of
Lester Taylor, who also born in Connecticut, a son of Prince
Taylor, Sr. who emigrated from Taylor's Wells, county Kent,
England, to America. Childs Taylor was a soldier in the
Revolutionary war, stationed at Ticonderoga, New York, and Montreal,
Canada; he was also in the service in the South, participating in the
engagements at Princeton and Germantown. He married Rhoda Bates,
daughter of Captain Oliver Bates of Durham, Connecticut, whose
ancestors were of Walsh descent, tracing their lineage to Colonel
Hinsdale, for whom the town of Hinsdale, New Hampshire, is named.
Lester Taylor received an ordinary education, as his
father was unable to send him to an academy. It was the hope and
ambition of his youth to gain a superior education, but his aid was
needed on the farm, and after he was ten years of age he did not attend
the summer sessions of school. At the age of seventeen he began to
teach, and two years later he joined his brother Horace in
Claridon township, Geauga county, Ohio. Although of slight build
physically, the gigantic task of subduing the wild land, felling the
timbers and establishing a home in the wilderness did not appall him.
He built a cabin under the shadow of the towering trees, planted rose
bushes about it and made it as attractive as possible for the bride who
was to occupy it. He returned to Connecticut in 1821, and was
there married to Miss Mary L. Wilder May 2, same year. They
came to their home in the West on their wedding journey and began the
toils and struggles of life that have ended in honor and victory.
His home farm of 105 acres, which he cleared, was, at
the time he settled thereon, somewhat isolated, there being no neighbors
to the north within a distance of three miles. In 1832 he erected
the house which he now occupies.
During the winter season Judge Taylor
taught school, and a few years ago the surviving pupils of the session
taught in Mentor in 1819 held a re-union, which was a notable gathering.
The Fourth of July, 1821, he delivered the first address in Claridon
celebrating our Independence Day. At an early day he organized a
literary and debating society in Claridon, which continued for many
years, and doubtless had a wide influence in the development and
expression of thought upon the leading topics of the time.
Having chosen farming as his vocation in life, he
determined to conduct his business with intelligence, and became a
subscriber to the New England Farmer and later to other agricultural
periodicals as they appeared. As his means permitted and
opportunity came, he bought books, and has collected as fine a library
as there is in the county. He has always taken a deep interest in
the founding and support of the public-school system, wisely judging
that in this field lies the mission of the American educator and
reformer. He was one of the first school examiners appointed by
the courts. He was appointed, in 1830, Adjutant of Colonel C.
C. Paine’s regiment, and soon after was elected commander by the
commissioned officers, quickly winning popularity, the title thus
acquired yielding only to that of Judge. In 1830 he was appointed
Land Appraiser for the tract granted by the Govern merit to the
Western Reserve for school purposes, sixty thousand acres in all, lying
in Tuscarawas and adjoining counties. In 1832 he was elected
Representative of Geauga county to the General Assembly of Ohio, and was
reelected in 1834. In 1835 he was present at the special session
called by Governor Lucas on account of the threatened war
between
Ohio and Michigan over the boundary line of the States, and was largely
instrumental in holding Ohio quiet during the excitement.
In 1846 he was elected one of the Associate edges of
the Court of Common Pleas with Judge Aiken and Judge
Converse. He had, in his younger days, often appeared in
the magistrates’ courts, and has presided as Justice of the Peace.
Possessed of quick and discerning comprehension and a keen sense of
justice, he made an excellent officer.
He filled the place of Associate Judge until the change under the
constitution of 1851. He was then, in politics, a Whig, of the
Giddings and Wade school; he became a Free-soiler in 1848. In 1854
he was again elected a member of the House of Representatives, and with
the admirable record of the past at once took a high position. He
was
the candidate of the Free-soil and Whig parties for Speaker, hut
Democrats, being in the majority, elected Le Bland. He was elected
to the Senate in 1855, representing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga
and Lake. Tom Ford was then Lieutenant Governor,
and, as he was seldom in the chair, Judge Taylor was elected
President of the Senate
pro tem., and presided over the Senate chamber in the fine new State
house. The first winter Ford was out of the State settling up an
estate; the next winter he was unable to attend to official duties on
account of illness. He was regarded as one of the most able and
efficient presiding officers during his term, and was highly esteemed
throughout the State as a faithful and conscientious legislator.
Reared with a profound respect for New England
orthodoxy, he joined the Congregational Church early in life, and was
Moderator of the Geauga and Lake county Church conferences for twenty
years. He was chosen a Representative at the first National
Council of the church, held in Boston in 1865, and also at the National
Council at Detroit in 1877. He was an energetic and enthusiastic
leader in the organization of the Geauga Historical Society, and was
elected its President, and- has continued at its head since. He
has devoted much time to securing competent persons to write the early
history of the county; and the large volume published in 1880, recording
the settlement of the county, owes much to his efforts. He has
been active in the organization of farmers’ clubs, and has been
prominent in all of the associations of this section having for their
object the forwarding of the interests of humanity.
Judge Taylor is an orator of no mean
ability; he has an easy flow of language and a logical mind that grasps
all points of a situation in their proper relationship. He is
just, liberal and pure in spirit, and has led a blameless life. Mrs.
Taylor was born Aug. 7, 1800, and died May 5, 1870, a rare
example of true womanliness. She was the mother of seven children,
and was deeply attached to her home. Of the children, we offer the
following brief record: Robert DeWitt; Laroyal;
Mary J.; Lester De Witt; Lucy W., who was married to
Clinton Goodwin; Jane, who married William
Brigland; Susan, who became the wife of Ozro
Newcomb; Robert, Lester and Jane are deceased;
Mary remains at home, devoting herself to the care of her father.
An extraordinary and most interesting occurrence was
that which took place in 1882, when Judge Taylor visited
Columbus to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of his taking his seat in
the Legislature. To the members of the House the Judge was
introduced, in eulogistic terms, by Hon. I. N. Hathaway, then
Speaker pro tem. The venerable ex-member of the body then
delivered a very interesting speech, which called forth frequent
applause; and the circumstance of his appearance, after the lapse of so
many years, was a source of great satisfaction, both to
him and to those who listened to him. On the day following his
visit to the House of Representatives, Judge Taylor
entered the Senate chamber, where a like ovation was tendered him.
The incident above referred to was exceptional in its
privileges; but that the patriarchal Judge should have been able to
repeat the visit subsequently, and after the lapse of a full decade,
seems almost incredible. True it was, however, that, at the
session of 1892, Judge Taylor, then in his ninety-fifth
year, again made his appearance in the Legislative halls, and was
accorded a reception which gave due recognition to his extreme age,
wonderful preservation of faculties and honored career. Honorable
E. J. Clapp, Representative from Geauga and Lake, called the
attention of the House to the presence of Judge Taylor,
and introduced him with many appropriate and complimentary remarks.
The rules were suspended and a committee of two appointed by the Speaker
to wait upon him and escort him to the Speaker’s chair, which he had
occupied sixty years before. The Speaker then formally introduced
him to the house, and, in response to the general call for a speech, he
arose and addressed the Assembly, his voice full and resonant,
penetrating to the farthest recesses of the chamber. It is
assuredly befitting that space be given to a reproduction of his address
in this connection, and we accordingly append the same.
“Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: I
thank yon kindly for your courtesy in unanimously adopting the motion of
my friend from Geauga, to suspend the rules, that we might have the
opportunity of making a mutual acquaintance. Time, age and past
official duties may give increased interest in this interview.
Born in the last century, 1798, I became an adopted citizen of Ohio in
1819, a member of the popular branch of the General Assembly in 1882,
and now am permitted to address you in the ninety-fifth year of my age,
it is generally understood that I am the only surviving member of the
Legislature of 1882. When I took my oath of office sixty years
ago. I realized the great responsibility resting on me to
discharge my duty with fidelity to the State, but when contrast the
present improvements in Ohio, in a goodly measure the results of wise
and liberal legislation, in the increase of population, wealth, general
education, rapid transit in travel for exportation of the productions of
the State to the markets of the world, the discoveries in the arts and
sciences, and their application to industrial pursuits, the development
of such mental, moral and material progress as constitutes the glory of
any State, are so much greater than anticipated that the dignity and
responsibility of legislators are greatly heightened. Should any
of you gentlemen live and return to your present seat of legislation, is
it probable that you will find as great improvements, as valuable
discoveries, as have characterized the past sixty years? Let us not
limit the power which Infinite Wisdom can bestow upon His created
intelligence upon earth, that the coming century may equal, if not
surpass, the present in universal blessings bestowed and happiness
enjoyed. In early legislation as well as in later, there were
those who were not so advanced with the spirit of the times, and
consequently opposed to liberal appropriations, fearing repudiations or
bankruptcy might follow. Even our benevolent institutions, which
virtually give eye to the blind, ears to the deaf, understanding to the
imbecile, normal control of the mind to the lunatic with great
opposition; hut the majority portrayed their sympathy in laying the
foundation with suitable asylum buildings, and suitable instruction to
the extent which has given Ohio eminence if not pre-eminence in her
charitable institutions. Schools, roads, internal improvements
have shown grand results, aided by the financial ability which has kept
the credit of the State in the highest repute.
“With the present facilities for travel, members
present can hardly conceive the difficulty of reaching the capital in
the early sessions of our legislative history. I have made the
journey on horseback much out of my direct course on account of high
waters to the location of some bridge or ford less dangerous than the
direct route. On account of an exceedingly wet fall and deep mud,
supplemented by a very deep snow, I had to take a circuitous route from
my home thirty miles east of Cleveland. I went by the way of
Warren, Trumbull county, with two horses and a hired man to accompany
me, each carrying my trunk alternately a mile or so before us on the
pommel of the saddle. I was in company with Judge Peter
Hitchcock, then Senator of this district. From Warren we took
the stage to Wellsville on the Ohio river, thence by boat down the river
to Wheeling, Virginia; from Wheeling we took the national pike to
Licking county, then by stage, with six horses, to Columbus, en route
from Monday morning till Saturday. I can now leave my home in the
morning, if making suitable connections, and take my dinner at the
capital.
“Such were then the difficulties and slowness of
travel. There were no adjournments to visit home, continuing the
public labor to the close of the week and commencing at the usual time
Monday morning. The members of the early legislatures possessed
good physical systems, and, like the early settlers, naturally strong
mental powers, although they might not have been as well cultivated, not
having such good facilities as their descendants. Through the
instrumentality of our public schools and liberally endowed institutions
of learning, and the general dissemination of literature through the
press, and the genius of our institutions, have been the motor power in
producing statesmen of such high repute, and so much appreciated by
their countrymen, that she is rightly claimed the ‘mother of
presidents.’ In this survey of the appearance of the Assembly, with
their intellectual mien, and businesslike habits, together with that
numerous class of men in the honorable professions and occupations of
life, who have gained a national reputation so that the different
political parties possess such good material that selections for future
national executives may continue to give a laudable State pride of
‘mother of presidents’ for this and future generations, with the fond
hope that you may be so guided by wisdom that our citizens may be
protected in all their inalienable rights and such future developments,
followed by wise enactments, may promote the future welfare and
happiness of the people of the Buckeye State.
“Again I thank you for your kindness and attention.
To you, Mr. Speaker, thanks for your friendly and courteous
introduction.” Then followed a personal introduction to the
members and officials of the House.
In passing into the Senate Chamber, Senator
Lampson courteously informed the Senate that Judge Taylor
was present, and by his motion, after a complimentary notice of his
being present, similar ceremonies and respects were paid as had been in
the House. In response to their call, he made a speech much the
same in sentiment, adding a detailed account of his having presided, by
virtue of his being president pro tem., when the new State house was
finished, in opening the session for legislative purposes for the first
time in the then new State house.
At Columbus, in 1888, Judge Taylor was
one of the orators of the day at the Ohio centennial celebration.
He was one of the members of the National Congregational convention,
which met at Minneapolis, Minnesota, in October, 1892, and enjoyed the
proud distinction of being the oldest delegate in attendance, much
interest being manifested in him on the occasion. He frequently
addresses large gatherings, and recently spoke before the Cuyahoga
County Pioneer Association at Cleveland. Vigorous in mind and
body, he is a worthy type of manhood, reflecting the image of his Maker.
Source:
Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio - Publ. Chicago - The Lewis
Publishing Co., 1893 - Page 803 |
JOHN O. TEED, the popular
landlord of the Chardon House, is a native of Chardon, where he was born
Jan. 28, 1832, and is the son of John B. and Sarah C. (Mastick) Teed,
who were natives of New York and Vermont, respectively, the former born
May 11, 1792, and the latter Mar. 6, 1798. They came at an early
day to Geauga county, where they were married.
Mr. Teed came alone, but his wife, Sarah,
came with her family, who located at East Claridon. By trade he
was a cabinet-maker, and as there was not much of this work to do here
at that day, he gave his attention to carpentering and building.
He died at Chardon, Nov. 15, 1877; his wife died Feb. 22, 1864.
They were the parents of six children, four of whom are now living. Julian
C., born Mar. 7, 1827; Sarah A.*, born Feb. 29, 1830; the
subject of this sketch; and Ellen J., born Mar. 22, 1835, now the
wife of George E. Day, of Baldwinville, Massachusetts.
Young John Teed’s early life was spent in
about the same way as that of most of the boys of that day in a new
country; when old enough lie made himself useful at home and attended
the common schools. At the age of sixteen years he left the parental
roof and going to Rainesville, Ohio, secured a position as a clerk in a
hotel, which position he held for one year, when he made a change,
becoming a clerk for the owner of a livery stable. At the age of
nineteen he returned to Chardon and began with Calvin Knowles an
apprenticeship at the harness trade, which he completed at the end of
two years. He then was made foreman of the business, which
position he held for eleven years, when he bought out the proprietor.
He carried on the business with success until December, 1892, when he
sold out and leased the Chardon House, which he is now conducting.
Mr. Teed was united in marriage at
Painesville, Ohio, Jan. 4, 1857, to Eliza, the fair daughter of
Norman J., and Chloe (Moore) Fitch, who were
New York people. They died at Concord, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Teed had one child, Robbie J.,
who was born Mar. 21, 1867, and died Mar. 11, 1868. Mrs.
Teed is a woman of tine social qualities, generous and openhearted
and very popular among acquaintances. Mr. Teed is a
member of the Masonic order, and in politics is a stalwart Republican.
In 1885, he was elected as a member of the Council, and upon the
expiration of his term was re-elected, serving continuously for six
years. He is also a member of the park committee, a position which
he has held for tour years. He is a man of a genial, social
nature, a natural-born landlord, and under his skillful management the
Chardon House has become a noted hostelry and one of the most popular
places in northeastern Ohio, he looks constantly to the wants of his
guests, and every attention is given them that they may feel at home.
It is with pleasure tint they come beneath his roof and with regret that
they depart. Mr. Teed has spent nearly his whole
life in Chardon, and is known as an upright, honest, public-spirited and
worthy citizen.
Source:
Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio - Publ. Chicago - The Lewis
Publishing Co., 1893 - Page 792 |
BENJAMIN F. THOMPSON,
Superintendent of the Geauga county infirmary, was born in this county
in Middlefield Township, Mar. 16, 1832, a son of William Thompson
a Pennsylvanian by birth and grandson of Isaac Thompson, also a
native of Pennsylvania. The grandfather settled in Middlefield
township in 1800, and was one of the first permanent white residents.
He bought land at $1.25 an acre, built a log house and kept tavern.
The Indians were his neighbors, until after the war of 1812, and his
table was supplied with wild meat and game which abounded.
William Thompson was a child of twelve years when his parents came
to the county, where he grew to manhood. He owned and developed a
farm of 108 acres in Middlefield township, and served as Treasurer of
the township for a number of years. He died at the age of
eighty-four years. In politics he associated with the Whig party,
and later voted the Republican ticket. He married Lucinda
Waldon a native of Connecticut, who came to Ohio when a young girl
and settled in Trumbull county. She was the first school teacher
in Huntsburg township. She reared a family of nine children,
Clarissa, Isaac, Justis C., William A., Augustus, Silas R., Elisha
by the fall of a tree when he was twelve years old. The mother
lived to the age of eighty-five years. She was a consistent member
of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and a woman of excellent traits of
character. B. F. Thompson is the seventh son and
eighth-born of the family of nine children. He was reared to the
life of a farmer, and acquired his education in the district schools of
Middlefield township. At the age of twenty-one years he began life
for himself, and bought all his father's personal property, giving his
notes for payment. He then engaged in the cultivation of the
homestead farm, and kept his parents the most of their lives.
Lydia Thompson, the youngest sister of his father, was the
first white child born in Middlefield township.
Mr. Thompson was married Sept. 5, 1858,
to Miss Anna Bosley who was born in Claridon township, Geauga
county. They have two children: Robert W., who was born in
September, 1863, and Charlie, born in December, 1880.
Mr. Thompson was a member of the State militia, and was called into
the United States service May 2, 1864. He was sent to Johnson’s
island, where he did guard duty, and was also stationed at Cincinnati
and Cleveland. He was mustered out at Cleveland Aug. 20, 1864.
He traded his farm for a hotel at Burton, which he kept
four years. Subsequently he was proprietor of the Cataract House
at Cleveland for a year, and then went to Andover, where he kept the
Morley House for three years, when he became the proprietor of the
Austin House at Warren, retaining the same for three years. At the
end of this time he returned to his father’s farm, and finally bought a
tract of eighty acres in Claridon township, which he farmed until he
took charge of the county infirmary, Jan. 1, 1888. The county farm
consists of 258 acres, all of which is under cultivation. There
are fifty inmates, as many as can be accommodated in the buildings.
Mr. Thompson has made a very efficient Superintendent, and
has been very ably assisted in the management of affairs by his wife,
who is possessed of considerable executive ability.
Politically, our subject adheres to the principles of
the Republican party; he has served as Justice of the Peace five years
in Claridon township, and was Treasurer of Middlefield township when a
resident there. He is a member of the G. A. R., at Burton, and
belongs to the Masonic order.
Mr. Thompson has made a speciality
of maple sugar and syrup, owning a grove of 800 trees. He sent to
the Columbian Exposition in 1893 a bottle of syrup that was made in
1863.
Source:
Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio - Publ. Chicago - The Lewis
Publishing Co., 1893 - Page 753 |
PHILANDER T. THOMPSON,
who has been for many years identified with some of the leading
industries of Middlefield, was born in Geauga county, Ohio, Mar. 3,
1820. His father, James Thompson, was born in Juniata
county, Pennsylvania, in 1778; and the grandfather, Isaac Thompson,
was a native of the same place, being of Scotch-Welsh descent. The
latter removed to Charleston, Virginia, where he lived a few years, and
in 1797 emigrated to Lake county (then Geauga county), Ohio. After
a year he came to Middlefield township, which was then a wilderness, and
erected one of the first cabins for a dwelling. This was then a
favorite hunting-ground of the Indians, and the family were on very
friendly terms with the savages, although they never lost a fear of
their treachery. Isaac Thompson was a soldier in the war of
the Revolution, having run away from home in his youth to join the army.
He was disabled after about a year's service and on this account he came
home, but later on he raised a company at his own expense, and was
elected Captain of the same. For a time he served as a member of
Washington's body-guard and was with him in his marches and other
military movements. He was also in the expedition against Quebec,
and after the close of the Revolutionary war he located in Juniata
county, Pennsylvania, where he remained a few years, and then, on
account of the unhealthful character of the section, he removed to
Ohio., His wife was an eventful one and he died, at the age of
seventy-three years, at the place where he located in Ohio. It is
a noteworthy fact that there is still on the farm an apple tree, which
was set out by him and which still continues to yield its fruit in
season. He died at the age of seventy-three years. James
Thompson, his son, was a youth of eighteen yeas when he came to
Geauga county. He was called out in the State militia in the war
of 1812, and served as Captain of a company placed in defense of
Cleveland when that post was attacked by the British. He was an
expert marksman, and brought down many a deer, wolf and bear, supplying
the table with wild meat. Domestic animals could not be raised in
those days on account of the danger from attacks by their more ferocious
relatives. Pittsburg was the nearest trading point, and their
first grinding was done in a mortar burned in the top of a stump; later
a mill was built on the branch of a stream, which Mr. Thompson
had to swim with a bushel of grain on his back. He was twice
married, having six children by his first wife and eight by the second.
The children of the second marriage were as follows: Philander
T., our subject; Mary E., deceased; Clarinda, now
Mrs. Talls; Delia now Mrs. Noah Page; Susan, now Mrs.
David Squibb, has one child; Eugenia, now Mrs. Henry
Thompson; Maria, who married J. T. Elliott and who is now
deceased; Paulina, who married Warren Bishop and is now
deceased; and Robert, deceased. He placed 300 acres of land
under cultivation, and lived to the ripe old age of ninety-eight years.
The mother of our subject was a native of New York State, and her
maiden name was Mercy Tracy; she came to the West with her
brother in 1816, and died at the age of sixty-six years. She and
her husband were members of the Episcopal Church, and politically he
adhered to the principles of the Whig party. He served as County
Commissioner and was well known throughout this section of country as a
man of sterling worth.
P. T. Thompson is the oldest of a family of
eight children, and grew to manhood surrounded by the wild scenes of
pioneer life, experiencing all the hardships and privations incident
thereto. At the age of twenty-one years he began life for himself,
although he has never left the home place and has never been married. He
is now the owner of the old homestead, 150 acres of which remain in farm
land, some of it having been sold for village lots. In connection
with general farming he keeps a dairy, and for the past six years has
managed the brick and tile factory at Middlefield, the same having an
annual capacity of 100,000 brick and 125,000 tile. A man of
unusual business ability, he has made a success of every undertaking; he
has been a leader in many enterprises having for their object the
development of the community, and gave liberally of his means to bring
the railroad to this point. Politically he votes the Republican
ticket, but is strongly in favor of the prohibition movement.
Source:
Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio - Publ. Chicago - The Lewis
Publishing Co., 1893 - Page 927 |
DeWITT
CLINTON TILDEN, whose name is found among those of hte foremost
of the influential men of Troy township, Geauga county, Ohio, was born
in Warren, Herkimer county, New York, Sept. 25, 1825.
His ancestors came from England in the seventeenth
century, and took an active part in the colonization of this country.
His grandfather, Colonel Daniel Tilden, served seven years in the
Revolutionary war, and was a member of General Washington's staff
when he crossed the Delaware. He was half-brother of the father of
the late Hon. Samuel J. Tilden.
Colonel Tilden was a resident of Connecticut, and a
member of the State Senate for thirty years.
While he was a member of the legislature the boundaries
of the Western Reserve were established, and he went thither to follow
his occupation of Surveyor.
He owned thousands of acres of land in Portage and
adjoining counties. He died in Hiram at the age of ninety-three.
He and his wife reared three sons and seven daughters.
His son, Josiah Tilden, emigrated to New York at
the age of thirty and engaged in farming in Herkimer county the
remainder of his life. He died in 1862, aged seventy-two years.
He too a prominent and active part in political
affairs, serving as Justice of the Peace and also as County Sheriff.
His wife, nee Mary Williams, a native of
Connecticut, died at the age of sixty-five years. Her ancestors
were also active in the struggle for independence.
Joseph and Mary Tilden were the parents of
eleven children. DeWitt C. was the second born, and is one
of the seven now living. He was reared on his father's farm, and
received a district school and academic education. AT the age of
twenty-four he went to Canada, where he engaged in the lumber business.
In 1850 Mr. Tilden married Catherine Vrooman,
of Herkimer county, New York. Her ancestors came from Holland
in the seventeenth century, and played an important part in the early
settlement of New York.
After his marriage, Mr. Tilden located at Hiram,
Ohio, where he bought the farm on which his grandfather died. Here
he engaged in agricultural pursuits and also soon after turned his
attention to tanning - owning and operating a tannery at Rock Creek,
Ashtabula county, for twenty years. While running this tannery, he
purchased, near Rock creek, 200 acres of hemlock land, the bark from
which timber he used in his tannery.
Previous to engaging in the tanning business he had
bought the farm on which he now resides, and rented it for several years
before he moved upon it. He took up his residence on this farm in
1865.
He has made many improvements on this farm in the way
of buildings, and to-day the place is one of the best improved in the
township.
Mr. Tilden began life a poor young man and by
honest and earnest toil and good management has worked his way up to his
present prosperity.
He is the owner of 350 acres of land in Troy township,
sixty-fi8ve acres in Portage county, and 200 acres in Herkimer county,
New York.
Mr. Tilden has been prominently identified with
local and State affairs. Of a generous nature, he has contributed
liberally toward the advancement of all such measures as he deemed for
the best interests of his community.
During the war he was Captain of a company of home
guards.
He is a prominent Democrat; and in 1876 when Samuel
J. Tilden was a candidate for the presidency, he was one of the
presidential electors.
He and the late President Garfield were
intimately acquainted. Indeed, they were partners in business for
some time, owning oil land in Trumbull county and buying and leasing
land. This was early in the '60s just before the Civil war.
Mr. and Mrs. Tilden are very generous hospital
people, and have a pleasant home, from which three children, two
daughters and a son, have gone out to establish homes of their own.
Source:
Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio - Publ. Chicago - The Lewis
Publishing Co., 1893 - Page 724 |
H. O. TRUMAN, Esq., a
prominent farmer and influential man of Troy township, Geauga Co., Ohio,
was born here Mar. 11, 1839, son of Lyman and Sallie (Pratt) Truman
He received a common-school education and for a short time was a student
at Hiram College, being there while Garfield was its president.
He remained a member of the home circle until after he reached his
majority. In the fall of 1861 he went to Minnesota and that winter
taught school near Rochester. The following fall he joined the
First Regiment of Minnesota Mounted Rangers and assisted in quelling the
Indian outbreak. In the winter of 1862-'63 he helped to take 1,400
Indian prisoners to Fort Snelling, and the following spring was one of
the soldiers who escorted them out of the State. He was a Corporal
and was in the service one year. In the spring of 1864 he crossed
the plains to Idaho. There were several Indian outbreaks that
year, but the train with which he traveled was fortunate in escaping
them. Mr. Truman spent five years in the vicinity of
Idaho City, engaged in gold mining, returning in 1869 via the Union
Pacific Railroad, which had just been completed. It was on
Christmas Day he reached home. Since then he has lived on the old
homestead. Here he has 130 acres of fine land and makes a
specialty of dairying.
In 1871 Mr. Truman married Amelia
Houghton, who was born in Troy township, this county, daughter of
Chester and Caroline Houghton, who were among the early settlers of
this township. Her parents came here from New York State and for
many years her father was engaged in farming. Both parents passed
away at a ripe old age. Mrs. Truman was one of six
children. She received her education at Hiram College, and before
her marriage was engaged in teaching for several years. They have
four children, Roy, Vern, Lulu and Frank.
Mr. Truman is a Republican. He has
served as Township Trustee, and is now serv-(omitted remainder of word)
his third term as Justice of the Peace. He is a member of the G.
A. R. Mrs. Truman is a Methodist. Both are held in
high esteem by all who know them. Indeed, few people in this
vicinity have a larger circle of friends then Mr. and Mrs. Truman.
Source:
Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio - Publ. Chicago - The Lewis
Publishing Co., 1893 - Page 564 |
DANIEL H. TRUMAN,
ex-Commissioner of Geauga county, is one of the most intelligent
citizens of Troy township, and is entitled to more than passing mention
in this history. He was born in Troy township, Geauga county,
Ohio, Oct. 13, 1829, a son of Lyman Truman a native of New York
State. The grandfather, Josiah Truman, was a native
of England, and emigrated to America, taking up his residence in New
York, where he followed agricultural pursuits; he afterward removed to
Ohio, locating at Burton, Geauga county, in 1818, and going thence to
Hillsdale, Michigan, where he passed the remainder of his days. He
was accompanied to the United States by three brothers. Lyman
Truman was one of a family of nine children that were born of his
father’s first marriage. He came to Ohio about the year 1816, and
located at Burton. He lived in the family of Colonel Henry Ford
for about five years, and then took up land in Troy township, where he
built a log house and began clearing his farm. He enjoyed the spor__
bunting and brought down many a deer, and after the game disappeared
from Ohio he went frequently to Michigan to hunt. He died in
January, 1871, at the age of sixty-six years. A man of honor and
integrity, he was called to represent the people of his township in the
offices of Justice of the Peace and Trustee. He married Sallie
Pratt, of Massachusetts, whose parents came to the West early in
the ’20s; she died at the age of seventy-four years.
Daniel H. Truman is the eldest of their seven
children, four boys and three girls, and was born in their humble cabin
on the frontier. He attended the school in District No. 1, Troy
township, and during the summer helped his father in clearing two farms;
he received a thorough training in agricultural pursuits, and chose
farming as his avocation. He settled on his present farm in 1854.
Mr. Truman was married Jan. 2, 1854, to
Fidelia Luce, who was born in Chautauqua county, New York, a
daughter of Henry and Eliza B. Luce, also New Yorkers by birth;
they removed to Ohio in 1833, and first settled at Rome, Ashtabula
county; they came to Geauga county in 1847, and settled in Troy
township. Mr. Luce died at the age of sixty-six years, and
his wife at sixty-nine; they had a family of nine children, six of whom
survive at the present time. Mr. and Mrs. Truman are the
parents of four children: Frank, Della and Gena are
deceased; they had reached maturity, and were all talented musicians;
Grant, the fourth child, has received a good common-school
education, graduated in a commercial course, and is well qualified to
transact the ordinary business of life. Politically, Mr.
Truman adheres to the principles of the Republican party. He
was elected County Commissioner in 1879, and served six years,
discharging his duties to the entire satisfaction of the public and
displaying a decided aptitude for the management of public affairs.
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in his religious faith he
is known as a liberal thinker; he and his wife are spiritualists and are
familiar with the advanced thought of the age.
Source:
Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio - Publ. Chicago - The Lewis
Publishing Co., 1893 - Page 755 |
EDWIN TUTTLE, a well-known
character in the early history of Geauga county, is the subject of the
following biographical sketch. He was born at Jefferson, Schoharie
county, New York, Oct. 23, 1813, a son of Simeon Tuttle, a native
of Woodbury, Connecticut. The father emigrated when a young man to
Schoharie county, when that country defined the western frontier, and
there cleared up a fine farm on which he lived full fifty years.
He was a strict Presbyterian in his religious faith, and held various
local offices of trust and responsibility. His wife, Betsey
Dayton, was born at Watertown, Litchfield county, Connecticut, and
died a number of years before he passed away. She, too, was an
adherent to the Presbyterian faith. They had a family of ten
children, three of whom survive. Edwin Tuttle is the
youngest of the living children. He was born in the log cabin
built by his father and grew to manhood amid the scenes of pioneer life.
His educational advantages were meager, the mental resources of the
teachers being not much superior to the material equipment of the house,
which was a dilapidated building that had been used as a store and was
miserably furnished and poorly heated. He remained at home until
he was twenty-one years of age, and went to work at farm labor,
receiving $10 or $12 a month for seven years. When he became of
age he came to Ohio and located in Geauga county, finally purchasing
land in Newbury township. He removed to Munson township early in
the '50s and has resided upon his present farm for a half century.
Mr. Tuttle was married in 1843, to Miss Maria
Davis, a native of Geauga county and a daughter of Asa Davis,
one of the pioneers of the county and a man greatly respected for his
sterling worth. He died at the age of sixty-seven years, but his
wife survived to her eighty-third year. They reared a family of
ten children, four of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Tuttle
have traveled life's pathway side by side for fifty years, lightening
each other's burdens, sharing each other's joys and sorrows. They
are the parents of two children: Davis and Willie.
Davis Tuttle married Dillie Bartlette, and
they have one daughter, Flossie; Willie Tuttle married Mary
Tiffiny, and they are the parents of two children, Lloyd and
Belle.
In his political opinions Mr. Tuttle has
affiliated with the Democrat party; he has served as township Trustee,
giving excellent satisfaction. He has been very prosperous in his
farming operations, and has a landed estate of 600 acres, and choice
grades of livestock. Although he began with no means energy and
perseverance have accomplished the desired ends and placed him among the
prosperous citizens of the county.
Source: Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio -
Publ. Chicago - The Lewis Publishing Co., 1893 - Page 969 |
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