BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
History of Portage County, Ohio
Vol. 2
by Warner, Beers & Co.
1885
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Streetsboro Twp. -
JACOB CABOT FERGUSON, physician, P. O. Mogadore, Summit
County, was born Aug. 7, 1819, in Suffield Township, this county, son of
Samuel Ferguson, of Armstrong County, Penn., who came to this county in
1815, and Rosanna (Reynolds() Ferguson, a native of Londonderry, Ireland,
who settled in Springfield Township, in 1816. After living the lives of
pioneers they died, leaving three children: Sarah (Mrs. Moore); Elizabeth
(Mrs. Colvin), deceased, and Jacob Cabot. Our subject, having
finished his education at Wadsworth Academy, became a teacher, and so continued
for several years. He then began the study of medicine under Dr. M.
Jewett, and after practicing at intervals in Uniontown, New Baltimore and
Mogadore, Ohio, where he settled in1852, he graduated at the Western Reserve
College in 1858. On June 18, 1844, he married Miss Mary Ward, of
Randolph Township, who died Jan. 7, 1863, mother of the following children:
Rose (Mrs. Weimer, in Cincinnati); Kate (Mrs. Trenton); and
George W. Our subject married for his second wife, March 8, 1864,
Mrs. Margaret (Cochrane) Chamberlain, widow of James Chamberlain (her
son, Capt. W. F. Chamberlain, is Postmaster at Hannibal, Mo.) Our
subject is a Republican in politics.
Source:
History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 - by Warner, Beers & Co. - 1885 - Page
902 |
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Brimfield Twp. -
AARON FERREY, farmer, P. O.
Kent, was born in Belchertown, Mass., July 6, 1808, a son of Aaron and
Elizabeth (Gilbert) Ferrey, who settled in Franklin Township, this county,
in 1831. His father located on the farm now owned by Harley Judson,
most of which he improved, and here he resided up to 1850, when he removed to
what is now Kent and there lived until his death. By his first wife,
Elizabeth Gilbert, of Belchertown, Mass., Aaron Ferrey, Sr.,
had eleven children: Eliza (deceased), Aaron, Moses (deceased),
Mary (deceased), George (deceased), Ann (wife of George
Williams, in Wisconsin), William, Charles (in Indiana), Emeline
(deceased) and Frank. His second wife was Mrs. Mary McPherson,
nee Dickinson, by whom he had two children: Eliza, wife of
Henry Swan, and Byron. Aaron Ferrey, Sr., died
in 1860, at the age of seventy-eight years. Our subject was reared in
Amherst, Mass., until ten years of age, when his parents removed to Virginia,
there they remained five years and then returned to Amherst, and here his father
engaged in the manufacture of brick, our subject assisting him until twenty-one
years of age, when he embarked in the same business for himself, which he
continued for several years in different sections of New England. On May
9, 1837, he was married to Judith, daughter of George and Judith
(Hastings) Nutting, of Amherst, Mass., by whom he has had eight children:
George W., Charles E. (deceased), Frank H., Julia A., Fred A., Will D.
and John H. In 1842 Mr. Ferrey came to Portage County and
engaged in the manufacture of brick in Franklin, furnishing the material for the
large building now known as Kent Worsted Mills. In 1846 he removed to
Franklin Mills (now Kent), where he resided for twenty years, doing an extensive
business, and in 1866 he located in Brimfield, on the farm where he now resides
and in connection with farming, carried on a brick yard up to 1880, when his
sons took charge of that department Mr. and Mrs. Ferrey and
daughters are members of the Congregational Church. In politics he is
Republican.
Source:
History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 -
by Warner, Beers & Co. - 1885 - Page 607 |
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Garrettsville Twp. -
OSMON S. FERRIS, attorney,
Garrettsville, was born in Versailles, Wyandot Co.,
Ohio, June 1, 1843, son of Osmon and Lydia (Streator)
Ferris, natives of Portage County, Ohio, and who
shortly after marriage removed to Wyandot County.
Both are now deceased. The former, who was a
practicing physician of Mantua, Ohio, died Oct. 10,
1884. Our subject for some time attended the
Eclectic Institute, of Hiram, and then entered Hillsdale
College, of Michigan, where he graduated in 1870.
While not engaged with his studies he taught school, and
in 1872 graduated from the law schools of Cleveland,
Ohio. In January of the year following he came to
Garrettsville, this county, and entered upon the
practice of his profession. Mr. Ferris was
married Nov. 9, 1876, to Miss Ellen Rhinehart, of
Union, Cass Co., Mich., born Oct. 9, 1853, daughter of
Samuel Elizabeth Rhinehart, natives of Virginia
and Ohio respectively. By this union there are two
sons: Arthur R., born Sept. 4, 1879, and Mark
S., born Apr. 27, 1884. Mr. Ferris was
elected to the office of Prosecuting Attorney in 1877
and filled that office one term, during which he
prosecuted the case of Ohio vs. Mathew Powers,
who was convicted of manslaughter. In this case
Mr. Ferris was assisted by Alfonzo Hart,
ex-Lieutenant Governor of Ohio. The opposing
counsel were John McSweeney of Wooster, and W.
B. Thomas and I. T. Siddall, of Ravenna.
Our subject has been twice Mayor of Garrettsville, has
also served as Clerk and Solicitor, and is now holding
his third commission as Notary. He is a member of
Garrettsville Lodge, No. 246, F. & A. M.
Source:
History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 -
by Warner, Beers & Co. - 1885 - Page 727 |
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Rootsville Twp. -
ELI FIFER, farmer, P. O.
Rootstown, was born in Butler Township, Columbiana Co.,
Ohio, Dec. 25, 1833, son of John and Polly Fifer,
the former born in Virginia, the latter in Pennsylvania.
They were married in Ohio and settled in Columbiana
County, but moved to this county about 1854, and here
remained until the death of the father, Aug. 14, 1877.
The mother is now residing in Edinburg Township.
Our subject was married Feb. 13, 1855, to Sarah Shook,
born in Canton, Stark Co., Ohio, Aug. 3, 1837, daughter
of Philip and Sarah Shook,
who first settled in Stark County, but moved to this
county about 1838, where they remained until their
death. He died Apr. 12, 1872, and his widow June
24, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Fifer have four
children, three of whom are now living: Mary C.
(wife of J. C. McManus), Cora E. (wife of
Charles W. Evert) and Mason G. Judson
A. is deceased. Our subject is a shoe-maker
by trade, at which he worked twelve years, since when he
has been engaged in farming. He owns seventy-five
acres of good land, where he and his family reside.
He and his wife are members of hte Methodist Episcopal
Church.
Source: History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 - by Warner, Beers & Co. -
1885 - Page 869 |
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Streetsboro Twp. -
JAMES FILLMORE, farmer, P. O.
Streetsborough, was born in Middletown, Rutland Co.,
Vt., July 14, 1817; son of John and Huldah (Whitmore)
Fillmore, former of whom died when our subject was
but four years of age. James Fillmore was
then reared by his uncle, Asher Seward, of
Jefferson County, N. Y., with whom he remained until
seventeen years of age. He then worked by the
month on a farm for one man until he was twenty-two
years old, at $10 per month. Mr. Fillmore
married, on the first occasion, Jan. 1, 1840,
Juliette E., daughter of Ezra Nutting, of
Henderson, Jefferson Co., N. Y. His whom he had
one child - Cyer V. By his third wife,
Rachel E. Likers of Streetsboro, he had three
children: One deceased in infancy, Luther U. and
Lucia M., wife of Adelbert Pierce. His
present wife was Mrs. Louisa French, nee
Tucker, by whom he has one child - Gracie L.
In 1840 Mrs. Fillmore came to Streetsboro
Township, this county, and purchased fifteen acres of
wild land, where he lived three years, and then bought
thirty-five acres now owned by Curtis C. Singletary.
In 1860 he settled in the southwest part of the
township, where he still resides. He has been
elected to the office of Township Trustee two terms; in
politics he is a Republican.
Source:
History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 - by Warner,
Beers & Co. - 1885 - Page 888 |
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Nelson Twp. -
BENJAMIN FOWLER, retired farmer, Garrettsville,
was born July 25, 1807, in Northumberland County, Penn.,
and removed when nine years old to Lycoming County, same
State, with his parents, James Fowler,
born in Northumberland County, Penn., and Ann (Craft)
Fowler, born in England, and who came to America at
the age of sixteen years. The father was a
distiller during early manhood, and later a farmer.
He died at the age of seventy-five years, of palsy.
He and his wife, who died in 1824, were members of the
Presbyterian Church. Their children were eight in
number, five of whom are now jiving: Benjamin,
Daniel, Deborah, Nancy and Kate.
Our subject was educated in the log cabin schoolhouse,
and during his short terms in the winters he progressed
rapidly. It is a remarkable fact that he mastered
every problem in what is now known as "Pike's
Arithmetic" in twenty-one days and nights. At
seventeen years of age he began labor on a vessel which
plied on Baltimore Bay, and there remained five years.
In 1829 he rented a large farm along the Susquehanna
River, and five years later left there for Trumbull
County, Ohio, where he settled among the wolves and
other ferocious animals. Here he improved about
114 acres, besides clearing other farms. In 1853
he moved to this county, and settled where he now
resides. He owns 175 acres, known as the old "Spencer
farm,'' for which he paid $8,000. Since
locating here he has made a specialty of stock-raising
and dairying; he also continued the cheese-making
business, which he had commenced in Trumbull County,
Ohio, in 1848, but this industry he withdrew from in
1881. While in Trumbull County there were added to
his various other duties the operating of a sawmill, and
the first threshing machine ever used in that county.
At one time he was interested in a banking business at
Garrettsville, this county, which proved a loss to him.
Our subject married, in 1829, Elizabeth, daughter
of John and Abbie (McClow) Shaffer, natives,
former of Pennsylvania, latter of New Jersey. To
this union were born eleven children, eight of whom are
now living: J. Wilson, married to Flora De Lon;
Henry M. C., married to Caroline
Bristol, born Oct. 5, 1833, daughter of Lot and
Lucy (Towsley) Bristol, natives of Connecticut and
early settlers of Portage County (her father died in
1866, leaving two children: Fred and Caroline);
they have two children: Ransom and
Virginia; Harriet, married, for her second
husband, to Oscar Hoskins; Sarah J.,
married to Fred Bristol; Lorenda,
married to Samuel Craig; Cornelius,
married to Hannah Missner; John,
married to Rosa Doty; Watson,
married to George Collins. Mrs.
Fowler died in 1874. She was a member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which our subject has
been closely attached for over forty years. Mr.
Fowler cast his first Presidential vote for
Andrew Jackson, and has since adhered
faithfully to the principles of the Democratic party.
The Fowler family are descended from three
brothers who emigrated from England at an early period,
and soon after separated. One, Nathan, was
married and lived in New York, and his son Benjamin
was on board a vessel which remained out of sight of
land for three years and six months. He was with
George Washington during the Revolutionary
struggle. His father was killed in the French and
Indian war. Another of the three brothers,
Elithan, married and resided in Connecticut; and the
third brother, David, married a French woman and
settled in Pennsylvania, and from him the race, of which
our subject is a member, sprang. The Fowler
family as a
rule are long lived. Benjamin, the
grandfather of our subject, died at the age of one
hundred and six years.
Source: History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 - by Warner, Beers & Co. -
1885 - Page 772 |
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Randolph Twp. -
G. O. FRASER,
physician, P. O. Randolph, was born in Wellsvile,
Columbiana Co., Ohio, Feb. 24, 1840, a son of John and
Margaret Fraser, who were of Scotch origin, born in
Columbiana County, Ohio, where they remained until the
death of the father, Nov. 9, 1871; the mother resides on
the home farm in Columbiana County, Ohio. Our
subject was married, Dec. 7, 1862, to Libbie M. Icenhour,
born in Columbiana County, Ohio, June 1, 1845, daughter
of John E. and Mary C. Icenhour, who were of English
descent, former born in Ohio, latter in Lincolnshire,
England. They lived in Columbiana County until her
death, Feb. 14, 1878. Mr. Icenhour still resides
in his native county. Mr. and Mrs. Fraser are the
parents of three children, two of whom are now living:
Orrin C., born Apr. 24, 1864, and M. Edna, born Sept. 1,
1866; John I., born July 27, 1874, died Sept. 22, 1881.
Our subject for a number of years dealt in marble and
imported granite from Scotland. Afterward he read
medicine, graduated in the regular school of medicine at
Cleveland, Ohio, in 1876, and is now practicing in
Randolph, Ohio, with good success. He is a F. & A.
M.
Source:
History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 - by Warner,
Beers & Co. - 1885 - Page 461 |
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Ravenna Twp. -
HOMER C. FRAZER,
hardware dealer, Ravenna, was born September 21, 1821,
in Ravenna. He received his education in the
schools of the town and at Bissel Institute, Twinsburg,
Ohio. In September, 1848, he married Miss
Susannah Dennis, of Cleveland, Ohio, but a
native of Folkestone, England, and they have one son -
Edward W. Our subject succeeded
his father in the business he now carries on - a general
hardware store. Being one of the earliest
opponents of slavery, he is now an earnest advocate of
the cause of temperance. Mr. and Mrs. Frazer
are active workers in the Congregational Church.
Source:
History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 - by Warner,
Beers & Co. - 1885 - Page 823 |
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Ravenna Twp. -
COL. WILLIAM FRAZER,
who at the time of his death was the oldest male
resident of Ravenna, was born in Lansingburg, N. Y., in
1794. His father served seven years in the
Revolution, and lost his life in the war of 1812.
Our subject was a soldier in the war of 1812, in which
he served with distinction. He came from Geneva,
N. Y., to Revenna in 1814, and there carried on a
jewelry establishment, and a saddlery, in turn. In
1819 he married Miss Annie A. Campbell,
daughter of Gen. John and Sarah Campbell.
Of their ten children the following are now living:
Homer C., in Ravenna, Ohio;
Mrs. Catherine M. Preston, in Cleveland, Ohio;
Mrs. Martha E. Dodge, in Ravenna, Ohio;
Mrs. Eliza Barnes, in Grinnell, Iowa,
and William A., in San Francisco, Cal.
Mrs. Harriet M. Taylor, wife of
Hon. Ezra B. Taylor, died in Warren, Ohio;
Mrs. Amoretta R. Campbell died in
Chicago, Ill.; Mrs. Sarah Norton died
at White Water, Wis.; and two others died in infancy.
Col. Frazer served for several years as
Deputy Sheriff of this county, and also as United States
Marshal of this district. In 1842 he was elected
Sheriff of this county, serving with satisfaction to the
people and credit to himself. For many years,
commencing in 1852, he was one of the Directors of the
Portage County branch of the State Bank of Ohio.
Mrs. Frazer died in March, 1875.
The Colonel followed her in April of the same year.
They were honored and esteemed as upright pioneers.
Our subject was one of the original Republicans of the
county. He took the first newspapers published in
the county from their commencement, and kept a complete
file, which his son still continues. This is the
only unbroken file of these papers in existence.
Source:
History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 - by Warner,
Beers & Co. - 1885 - Page 823 |
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Edinburg Twp. -
ANDREW J. FRAZIER,
farmer, P. O. New Milford, was born in Trumbull County,
Ohio, Apr. 11, 1836; son of Lewis and Catharine
Frazier, natives of Pennsylvania, the former
born in Philadelphia in 1799, and the latter in
Cumberland County in 1801. The were married in
Philadelphia, thence moved to Trumbull County, Ohio.
After a brief residence there they returned to Mercer
County, Penn., and there remained until their death, in
1845 and 1847, respectively. Our subject was
married, May 12, 1864, to Catherine Wisell,
born in Trumbull County, Ohio, Jan. 4, 1834, daughter of
Daniel and Susan Wisell, also natives of
Pennsylvania, abut who came to Trumbull County, Ohio, in
1833 and remained there until their death; the mother
died in 1844, the father in 1866. To Mr.
and Mrs. Frazier have been born five children:
Hattie J., born Aug. 5, 1865;
Carrie T., born Sept. 25, 1866; Charles
J., born Dec. 7, 1868; Harry P.,
born Oct. 1, 1870, and Riley H., born
Feb. 27, 1873. Our subject owns 153 acres of
improved land where he and his family reside. He
was in the late war of the Rebellion, serving his
country nearly three years, and left a record as a
faithful soldier. Mrs. Frazier
and daughters are members of the United Brethren Church.
Source:
History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 - by Warner,
Beers & Co. - 1885 - Page 648 |
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Nelson Twp.
OSCAR D. FREEMAN, farmer, P. O.
Nelson, was born in Fredonia, N. Y., Jan. 20, 1836, son
of Joseph and Phebean (Freeman) Freeman, natives
of New York, and to whom six children were born, our
subject being the third. Joseph Freeman was
a molder by trade, but subsequently adopted the life of
a farmer, and is now a resident of Michigan. His
wife died in 1843. Oscar D. Freeman was
raised in Michigan, where he obtained a common school
education and began his career in life as a farmer.
In 1862 he removed to this county, and the year
following was married to Miss Lavinia Knowlton, a
native of Nelson Township, this county. By this
union there is one son - Porter C. During
the war of the Rebellion Mr. Freeman enlisted
with the 100-days men in Company I, One Hundred and
Seventy first Ohio National Guards, was wounded at
the battle of Kelley's Bridge and discharged on account
of disability. He has served one term each as
Township Treasurer and Constable.
Source: History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 - by Warner, Beers & Co. -
1885 - Page 773 |
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Suffield Twp. -
JOHN FRITCH, farmer, P. O.
Suffield, was born in Suffield Township, this county,
Oct. 5, 1811, son of John and Mary Ann Fritch,
natives of Berks County, Penn., who immigrated to
Suffield Township, this county, in 1805, with their
three little girls, and settled at Fritch's Lake.
They endured the hardships of pioneer life, and died
leaving a family of eleven children, of whom John
is the fifth. Our subject was twice married; on
first occasion, Mar. 2, 1843, to Mary Frank, a
native of Stark County, Ohio, who died Feb. 12, 1853,
the mother of the following children: George W.;
Lucy A., Mrs. Bickel, deceased; Rebecca, Mar.
Garl; Susanna, Mrs. Werstler; John H. and Mary
Elizabeth, both deceased. On July 17, 1853,
Mr. Fritch married Rebecca Frank, his
deceased wife's sister, by whom he has had the following
children: William B.,; Sarah, Mrs. McCloughan;
Daniel; Caroline, Mrs. Weaver; Wilson; Mary Ellen
and Candas. For over thirty years Mr.
Fritch was a popular auctioneer in Portage and
Summit Counties, Ohio. He now owns a farm of 308
acres, including the beautiful lake know as Fritch's
Lake. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran
Church. Politically he is a Democrat.
Source:
History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 - by Warner,
Beers & Co. - 1885 - Page 902 |
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Suffield Twp. -
GEORGE FRITCH, farmer, P. O.
Suffield, was born Apr. 15, 1813, in Suffield Township,
this county; son of John and Mary Fritch.
He ws brought up on his father's farm and attended the
primitive schools of those early days. He was
married Nov. 14, 1839, to Mary Rhodes, who was
born Jan. 14, 1821, in Germany, a daughter of Jacob
Rhodes. By this union there are the following
children: Jacob D., Henry, John (deceased),
Lucinda and Catherine (now Mrs. Wegman).
Our subject and wife settled where they now reside,
after their marriage, and by industry and good
management have acquired a fine farm of 299 acres of
well-improved land. Mr. Fritch's father
gave him 172 acres of land, in consideration of which
our subject paid his brother Jacob $34 per annum
during his life and $150 to his brother Benjamin.
Mrs. George Fritch received from his father,
Jacob Rhodes, fifty-five acres of land. Mr.
Fritch and his worthy wife are members of the
Lutheran Church. He is an upright pioneer citizen,
highly respected by the community in which he lives.
He has ever been a Democrat in politics.
Source:
History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 - by Warner,
Beers & Co. - 1885 - Page 903 |
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Nelson Twp. -
COLUMBUS C. FULLER, farmer, P. O.
Nelson, was born Apr. 23, 1818, on the farm in Nelson
Township, this county, which is still his home, and is a
son of Jeremiah R. and Hannah R. (Bierce)
Fuller, natives of Connecticut, who had a family of
five children, two of whom are now living: Chauncey,
in Iowa, and Columbus C. Jeremiah R.
Fuller came to this county in 1817 and died in 1851;
his widow died in February, 1882, aged ninety-two years.
Our subject was married, in 1848, to Mary A. Bierce,
born in Nelson Township, this county, in 1830, and who
has borne him the following children: Harry B.,
who was highly educated, and was a successful teacher,
died at the age of twenty-seven years; William J.;
Lucius B., a graduate of Oberlin College and a
theological student, died in his twenty-sixth year;
Marcus b., twin brother of Lucius B., who
graduated at the same time and is now a missionary in
India; Gerald M.; Columbus C., Jr., and George
N. Mr. Fuller has always been a farmer,
and for fifteen years has been an extensive breeder of
Ayrshire cattle. He is a member of the
Congregational Church; has held several of the township
offices; in politics he is a Republican.
Source: History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 - by Warner, Beers & Co. -
1885 - Page 773 |
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