Six of the sons were teachers in common schools, two became physicians, one a lawyer, and four farmers.  Mrs. E. A. Abbey Brush is well known as one of Elyria's most devoted women in the cause of temperance.
     Ebenezer Abbey was a man of somewhat remarkable business ability.  In 1794, he accompanied his parents to Otsego county, New York, where they became respected and influential citizens.  Dec. 15, 1830, he commenced the then laborious journey of removing to Ohio.  Jan. 15, 1831, found him on Butternut ridge, North Eaton, Ohio, - his large family and worldly effects on two wagons, drawn by one span of horses, and one pair of oxen, - with but seventy-five cents in his pocket, which he paid out for a bushel of wheat.  Then commenced the trial in earnest with the wilderness.  He selected a place for his future home, where his son Lemuel now resides.  It was not, however, until Apr. 6, 1831, that he permanently located thereon.  His purchase consisted of one hundred and thirteen acres, of which seventy-five were located in Carlisle township, and thirty-eight in Eaton.  He is accredited with having hauled the first load of wheat from Wayne county, Ohio, which he distributed among the settlers.
     While in New York State he had been extensively engaged in the manufacture of pot and pearl ashes, and had also learned the cooper's trade, both of which industries he carried on after settling in his new western home.  His father had once been in comfortable circumstances, but he sold his property in the east, taking in payment four thousand dollars of continental money, just prior to the congressional act of repudiation.  He lost everything, and, on returning to Otsego county, then an old man, he never recovered either his health or his fortune.  Hence, it fell upon Ebenezer to make his own way in the world, which he did, meeting with many reverses, among others, losing a large number of barrels of ashes by the embargo placed on American products, during the war of 1812.  With a perseverance commendable of his race, he moved to the then "far west," as above stated, and there resumed his old time avocations, utilizing the surplus timber, and bringing into the then infant settlement considerable money for his ashes.
     Nov. 9, 1840, he commenced building a saw mill on Black creek, sawing the first log therein on the day of General Harrison's inauguration as president of the United States Mar. 4, 1841.  Mr. Abbey was a man of but little school education, but of native shrewdness and natural ability.  After accumulating enough to make his family comfortable, he applied his surplus to paying some old debts from his old home in New York, of more than two hundred dollars, thus freeing himself form all old obligations, and allowing him to enjoy a clear conscience for the remainder of his days.  His wife was of the same family of Blanchards as that from which sprung Mrs. President Hayes, and in her humble sphere did equal honor to her respectable ancestry.
     Lemuel Abbey, son of the above, was born in Otsego county, N. Y., Jan.23, 1821.  He was early taught sound practical lessons of industry and self-reliance, which have since been of great benefit to him. On the 25th of March, 1859, he married Sarah, daughter of William Lawson, of Eaton, formerly of Yorkshire, England.  She was born Aug. 29, 1826.  They have had no children.  In early years, Mr. Abbey was taught to "follow the plow," and has most of his life been engaged in agricultural pursuits.  He is a man of sound judgment, and of an intelligent and inquiring nature.  In political faith, he is a staunch and unswerving republican, and in religious belief, a liberal thinker, and not a member of any particular denomination.  His sterling integrity and the even rectitude of his life require no orthodox affiliations to bring him within the pale of consistent christianity nor do any who as closely live up to the Golden Rule as does he.
Source: History of Lorain County, Ohio - Publ. Philadelphia: William Brothers - 1879 - page 204

WILLIAM W. ALDRICH was born in Dover, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, Oct. 17, 1817, - son of Aaron and Elizabeth Aldrich, who were natives of Rhode Island.  A. Aldrich was born Apr. 27, 1793, and Elizabeth was born Dec. 22, 1795, by maiden name, Winsor.  Married Sept. 11 1814.  In 1816 they removed to Dover, Ohio.  The journey there consumed six weeks of toilsome travel.  Passing through Cleveland, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, only three dwellings greeted the eyes of Mr. A. and his companion, in the place of the so many fine mansions, that make it now so beautiful.  In the history of Mr. A. Aldrich, occurs one of the rare and signal interpositions of divine providence, which it is pleasurable to record.  Soon after his arrival amongst the woods of Dover, he became disabled from excessive labor of felling the forest was too much for him?  What should he do?  Disqualified as a woodsman; a growing family upon his hands, and in a country uncultivated unexpected as the "manna" descended for the relief of the children of Israel, came a letter from a stranger, authorized by a company of strangers.  This proposed a removal to Otsego county, N. Y., where he might take charge of a cotton factory, with a salary of eight hundred dollars per year, with house rent and firewood free.  This proposal was accepted as a godsend.  For several years he remained in this employ, each year increasing his compensation, until Mr. Levi Beebe, of Watertown, N. Y. proposed higher wages, wishing Mr. Aldrich to put a cotton factory in operation at that place.  Consenting, Mr. Aldrich remained at Watertown for nearly two years, when, finding himself provided with necessary means to found a home for himself and family, he again moved to Ohio.  He re-settled in Dover in 1829.  Habits of industry and economy secured for him a comfortable and beautiful home on the shore of Lake Erie, a few miles west of the romantic residence of Ex-Governor Wood.
     Mr. A. Aldrich affords a commendable example of industry, frugality, integrity, benevolence, piety and good will toward all men.  Of a sound and discriminating mind, he was for many years selected as a magistrate in the township.  In the discharge of duties of said office he was ever more anxious to adjust matters of difference by compromise than litigation - never an instigator of quarrels, but a pence maker.
     Mr. Aldrich and wife were baptized and united with the First Baptist church in Avon, Ohio, in 1832, elder Hanks officiating.  In 1836 Mr. Aldrich was one of the original five who met and formed the First Baptist church of Dover, Ohio.  For many years he maintained his christian profession with uniform consistency, and the jeer of the infidel was put to silence by his godly life.
     Died, in Dover, on May 27, 1856, Deacon Aaron A. Aldrich, aged sixty-three years and one month.  In his decease the Baptist church sustained an irreparable loss in member and office bearer; community mourned the loss of one whom all joined in saying, "he was truly a good man."  To his family he was ever dear, and his memory is ever hallowed at the family altar which he so constantly visited, no matter what the pressure might be of worldly business.  Six children are now grown to maturity and mostly settled in life.  Two of these are companions of Baptist ministers in this State.
     Mrs. Elizabeth Aldrich died Dec. 21, 1869.  She was a faithful christian worker, was always kind to the poor and needy, and ever ready and willing to supply their needs.
     William W. Aldrich, son of Aaron Aldrich, received the advantages of a good common district school education until twelve years of age.  Three years after that he attended school during the winter months. With this exception, he from choice, worked faithfully for his father until he was twenty-one years of age.  These early years were spent in clearing up the forest, making roads, tearing down the old log dwelling, and replacing it with new structures.  Often did he work until midnight to burn the log heap rolled together during the day.  Homespun garments he wore, homespun tow and linen in summer, the fuller cloth in winter.  Well does he remember the yoke of cattle and lumber wagon that, filled with father's family and neighbors, he so often drove to the old town house in Dover, where all denominations met under one roof to worship a common father.
     At the age of twenty-one, Mr. Aldrich hired to his father for the term of one year, at eleven dollars per month; losing but a half day's time once in four weeks - this to attend covenant meetings.
     Feb. 5, 1840, Mr. Aldrich was married to Miss Martha Bassett, daughter of Nathan Bassett of Dover.  Renting his father's farm, he worked it for one year, receiving one-third of its products for his share.  At this time, with twenty-five dollars as first payment, he commenced on a farm of his own.  Five years, only, passed, when  he was the owner of seventy-five acres of land.  From this time, while he remained in Dover, he was ever active in business.  His good wife, in every sense of the word a helpmate, by her wisdom and prudence, contributed largely to the success which followed.
     Soon after the death of Mrs. Aldrich's father, who was killed by lightning, Apr. 6, 1842, Mr. Aldrich took possession of the "old homestead," buying up the other heirs.  To this valuable farm of one hundred and sixty-eight acres, he added many other acres. 
     Commencing, in 1844, in a small way, the slaughtering business, increasing trade led him to build a slaughter house, from which, for twenty-five years, he supplied Cleveland markets.  At the same time, he was engaged on Lake Erie in a general coastwise trade.  Wood and ship plank from Black River to Detroit, kept busy three scows - the "Mayflower," purchased of Livingstone & Phelps, of Black River; the scow "Consuello," of the same place; and finally, the scow "Wave," of Fairport, Ohio.  All these ventures added to his capital, which he employed in general speculations; dealing largely in horses, cattle, sheep - in fact, in anything that could be traded or sold.
Source: History of Lorain County, Ohio - Publ. Philadelphia: William Brothers - 1879 - page 141

BERI ANDREWS.     Prominently connected with the material interests of Penfield, and among its early and respected citizens was the subject of these lines.  He was born in Meriden, Connecticut, Feb. 5, 1806.  He was the son of Marvel and Sallie (Bronson) Andrews, both of whom were natives of Connecticut, and among the worthy citizens of that State.  At the age of twenty-three, Mr. Andrews married Eliza Hall, the union resulting in four children - two sons and two daughters, namely: Bela, now married and settled in Henry county, Illinois; Hannah E., Sarah B. and William B., all living on the homestead farm.  Mrs. Andrews died Apr. 21, 1857.  On the twenty-ninth of April, 1858, he married Amy, a daughter of Jonathan Sheldon.  She survives him.
     In 1834 Mr. Andrews moved to Lorain county, Ohio, and settled on the farm where his widow now resides.  The place then contained over three hundred and fifty acres, of which two hundred acres remains in the family.
     Mr. Andrews held several offices, notably those of township clerk and justice of the peace, in which he served with general satisfaction to the people, and with personal credit.  He was exemplary member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, of which he served with general satisfaction to the people, and with personal credit.  He was an exemplary member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, of which he was senior warden for many years.  After an eminently useful life Mr. Andrews died Oct. 9, 1868.  He was a man of who was greatly respected for his many excellent qualities.  A good practical farmer, and an industrious and honest citizen, his death was felt as an irreparable loss in the community in which he had lived so long, and in which his  worth was well known and so generally appreciated.
     A portrait of himself and widow, together with a view of the old homestead, is inserted in this work, as a deserved testimonial of a meritorious life, and as a token of regard from her to whom his many virtues were as a household word, and to whom his death was a sad bereavement.
Source: History of Lorain County, Ohio - Publ. Philadelphia: William Brothers - 1879 - page 306