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Biographies
Source:
History of Summit County,
with an outline sketch of Ohio
Edited by William Henry Perrin.
Illustrated.
Chicago: Baskin & Battey, Historical Publishers,
186 Dearborn Street
1881
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1881 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
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Bath Twp. -
JARED BARKER, Bath. Mr.
Barker is one of the leading agriculturists and
live-stock dealers of Summit Co. He was born in Monroe
Co., N. Y., Sept. 10, 1819. He is the son of Lanson
and Betsey (Phelps) Barker, both of whom were natives of
Connecticut. They were married at Pittsford, Monroe
Co., N. Y. In 1827, Mr. Barker came to Ohio and
purchased a tract of land in Holmes Co., and the year
following came West with his family and stopped for a few
weeks at Massilon, Ohio, and then moved to Granger, Medina
Co., Ohio. He lived in Medina Co. some years, and then
purchased a place in Royalton, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, upon
which he resided for most part the remainder of his days.
In his family were the following children, viz.:
Roxie A., William, Jared, John, Lyman, Mary and
Frances. He departed this life in 1855, and his
wife in 1847. They were intelligent, Christian people,
and had the respect of all who knew them. Jared
Baker lived at home and assisted in the farm duties
until 27 years of age. He was united in marriage to
Miss Eleanor Munson Dec. 16, 1847. She was born in
Wayne co., Ohio, Nov. 25, 1827. By this union there
were two children, viz.: Mary E. and
William. Mrs. Barker died Sept. 9, 1856.
Soon after his marriage Mr. Barker came to Bath
Township, and the year following purchased 300 acres of
land, going in debt for nearly the entire amount. By
hard work and economy he paid for this land, and has added
to it, until he now owns over 500 acres. Upon his farm
are five large barns which are very conveniently arranged,
and afford shelter to a large number of live stock.
Mr. Barker has made a specialty of wool-growing, and is
one of the most successful and practical stock-growers in
the county. He now has upon his place about eighty
heard of short-horn cattle. A number of these are
thoroughbred, and the rest good grade cattle. A number
of these are thoroughbred, and the rest good grade cattle.
He also has upon his place some fine Clydesdale and English
coach horses. Perhaps there is not a man in Summit Co.
who owns more good stock of all kinds than Mr. Barker.
He began as a poor boy, and is in the fullest sense of the
word a self-made man. He is of a retiring disposition,
and does not meddle much in political affairs, yet he is
decided in his opinions, which he never fails to express at
the ballot-box. His donations for educational,
religious and other charitable purposes have been very
considerable; nor have they been confined to Bath Township
alone. Many of them are yet unknown in the community
in which he resides.
History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio - Edited
by William Henry Perrin. - Illustrated. - Chicago: Baskin &
Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn Street - 1881 -
Page 1014 |
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Hudson Twp. -
HARVEY BALDWIN, deceased, son of
Stephen Baldwin, was born in Goshen, Conn., Sept.
17, 1798. He came here from the old home when 16 years
of age, in 1814, and accepted a clerkship in the store of
his brother, where he remained about three years. On
Oct. 6, 1817, he married Miss Anne Mary Hudson,
daughter of David Hudson, who is frequently mentioned
elsewhere in this history. Mrs. Baldwin was
born Oct. 28, 1800, and was the first white child born
within the limits of Summit Co. Mr. and Mrs.
Baldwin turned their attention to farming and preparing
for themselves a home, and to that end they moved to a farm
some few miles from the site of Hudson, where they remained
about three years. Mr. Hudson was desirous to
have them reside near him, and therefore he made
preparations to have them move which they did, coming to the
farm where Mrs. Baldwin now resides. Of their
four children, the wife of Prof. Edwin S. Gregory is
the only survivor; those deceased are Anna N., who
died when about 7 years old; Harriet M. and Lucy
S., the youngest who died at 17. Mr. Baldwin
was identified with the general improvement of the vicinity
from the time he began to do business. He was one of
the Trustees of the Western Reserve College for over forty
years. He remained in full possession of his faculties
to the last, and passed away peacefully June 12, 1880.
Mrs. Baldwin resides on the old homestead, in probably
the oldest residence in the county; it was built by her
father in 1806. She is possessed of extraordinary
vitality for one of her age, and, although she is in her
81st year, she is as attentive to the duties of
house-keeping as ever. She is the only survivor of a
family of seven sons and two daughters.
History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio - Edited
by William Henry Perrin. - Illustrated. - Chicago: Baskin &
Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn Street - 1881 -
Page 823 |
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City of Akron -
A. A. BARTLETT, Recorder, Akron; is a
native of Champaign Co., N.Y., and was born June 22, 1840.
Until the age of 17, he lived upon the farm; he then went to
work n a sawmill for a year or two, subsequently conducting
the mill on the shares. He was thus engaged at the
breaking-out of the war. In July, 1861, he enlisted in
Co. A, 49th N. Y. V. I., for three years or during the war.
He served with the regiment in the Potomac army, and was in
all the engagements of the command up to the battle of
Antietam, where he was wounded, which occasioned the loss of
his left arm. April 6, 1863, he was discharged, and
returned to his home in New York, and gave his attention to
a small place he owned. Some two years later, he went
to Corry, Penn., where he engaged in a steam saw-mill as
engineer, and, one year later, took charge of the business.
In the spring of 1867, he came to Akron, and soon engaged in
the planing-mill of George Thomas & Son, and was
connected with the business until 1879. During the
latter eight years of that time, he served as foreman of the
establishment, though conducted under several different firm
names. In the fall of 1878, he was elected on the
Republican ticket as County Recorder, and entered upon the
duties of his office in January following. In 1860, he
married Miss Imogene Travers, a native of Chautauqua
County, N. Y.; by the marriage, there has been three
children, two of whom are living - Mary and
Jennie.
History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio - Edited
by William Henry Perrin. - Illustrated. - Chicago: Baskin &
Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn Street - 1881 -
Page 682 |
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City of Akron -
PHILO BENNETT, retired, Akron.
This gentleman was born in Herkimer Co., N.Y., Feb. 16,
1810, and is the oldest of three children born to Ephraim
and Lucinda (Hutchins) Bennett. Shortly after his
birth, the family moved to Brownville, where he lived until
he was 22 years of age. At the age of 16, he was
apprenticed to the harness and saddle trade, and served
until he became of age. A year later he moved to
Cleveland, Ohio, and worked at his trade and at carriage
trimming until 1837, when he moved to Tallmadge, and worked
at his trade. The following year he visited St. Louis,
returning in 1839. In 1842, he came to Akron, engaged
in the harness business, and was identified with the same
until 1862, since which time he has retired. In
September, 1852, he married Miss Emma Francis, a
native of England, who came to Akron about the year 1843,
where she lived with her sister until her marriage. By
their marriage there was one child, now deceased.
History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio - Edited
by William Henry Perrin. - Illustrated. - Chicago: Baskin &
Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn Street - 1881 -
Page 380 |
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MRS. SARAH C.
BENNETT ,
farming; P.O. Twinsburg; was
born in Orange Township, Cuyahoga Co., May 14, 1838, to
Almon and Henrietta (Squires) Smith, natives of
Connecticut, to whom were also born Almon S., Asher V.,
Susan H., Orange V., Orville and Lyman.
Henrietta was a daughter of Morehouse, whose wife was
a Mead. Henrietta came to Mahoning Co. about the year 1820,
and moved to Orange, Cuyahoga Co., in 1822; her husband died
in Orange in 1849. Mrs. Bennett was married,
Jan. 27, 1858, to Elam Bennett, whose name she
now bears; he was born in this township, on the farm which
she now owns; his parents were Henry and Fannie
(Streeter) Bennett, natives of the Eastern States.
Henry Bennett was one of the early settlers in
this township; he had three sons: Cyrus, Henry S. and
Elam. Mr. Bennett's life was spent on the
farm on which he settled. He was held in high esteem by all
who knew him. He and his wife were members of the M. E.
Church. He died Oct. 14, 1873, and she in May, 1878. Mrs.
Sarah Bennett lived happily with her husband
until his death, which occurred Sept. 8, 1871. Since
his demise, she has remained on their farm of 175 acres,
with her three sons, Almon C., Delos H. and Otis.
History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio - Edited
by William Henry Perrin. - Illustrated. - Chicago: Baskin &
Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn Street - 1881 -
Page 1040 |
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Twinsburg Twp. -
H. A. BISSELL, farmer; P. O.
Twinsburg; was born Mar. 3, 1847, on the farm where he now
lives; his parents were Cephus and Isabel (Crawford)
Bissell; his father was born in Middlefield, Mass., June
25, 1800, and was the son of Justus, who was a son of
Israel Bissell, who was a naive of Connecticut.
Cephas came West with his parents to what is now
Portage Co., in 1806, and settled in Aurora. Feb. 23,
1829, he was married, by Rev. John Seward to
Isabel Crawford, who was born in Orange Co.., N. Y., May
20, 1806, to Solomon and Anna Crawford, whose other
children were Alexander and Cadwalder.
Solomon was born Feb. 14, 1772, and Anna, his
wife, Feb. 24, 1783; they were married March
13, 1800. Cephas Bissell spent the early part
of his life in Aurora, and removed to the eastern part of
Twinsburg Township in 1832, where he lived until his death,
which occurred May 18, 1867; his wife still survives him.
Their children were Cephus, born in Aurora Apr. 19,
1830, died Sept. 28, 1873, leaving one son, Freddie;
Isabel, who was born in Aurora Sept. 20, 1831, and died
Dec. 27, 1833; Anna, born in Twinsburg Dec. 25, 1840,
married Nelson Dodge, and died Jan. 30, 1862.
Henry A. was married, Dec. 18, to Anna
Nichols, born in this township Feb. 25, 1869; she was
the daughter of Oscar A. and Ellen (Hutchinson) Nichols;
she bore him one son - Roy H., Sept. 22, 1880.
Cephus Bissell, the father of our subject, was
regarded in the community as an upright man and worthy
citizen; he and wife were both members of the Congregational
Church. Henry A. is the only child living; he
is engaged in farming and dairying, and is doing a good
business; his farm consists of 415 acres.
Source: - Page 1041 |
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REV. SAMUEL
BISSELL ,
educator. Twinsburg. The ancestors of the above were of
English descent, and the family trace them to one John
Bissell, who left Somersetshire in 1628, landing in
Plymouth in the same year, and, in company with others, went
overland to Windsor, on the Connecticut River, where he
settled, and from him have sprung a numerous family. Here
was born Israel Bissell, who was the
grandfather of our subject; he entered the Colonial army,
and died of camp distemper, at the age of 45; the same fate
came to the grandfather on Samuel's mother's side.
Israel Bissell had three sons and four daughters,
viz.: Israel, Justus and Robert;
Eunice, Roxana, Prudence and Anna.
Robert had three sons and two daughters, viz.:
Samuel, Roswell and David; Laura
and Bianca. Samuel was born April 28, 1797, in
Middlefield, Mass.; he came West with his parents to Ohio in
1806, and settled in Aurora, now Portage Co., which was at
that time on the verge of the " Far West." Here his father
settled and raised his family amid the wild scenes of that
period. No schools existed here at this time, except
those of privation and hard labor. Up to the year 1816,
Samuel assisted his father in clearing up their forest
home. Having a burning desire for an education, and, in the
absence of proper schools, he began a systematic course of
study, including the classical, and fitted himself for
college, and graduated in Yale in 1823; two years later, in
New Preston, Conn., he was licensed to preach, and returned
to Aurora, where he engaged in teaching a select school,
and, shortly afterward, took charge of a small
Congregational Church society at Twinsburg, then in a weak
and feeble condition, and ministered to their spiritual
wants for about fourteen years; the society, in the
meantime, grew and prospered. About this time, he gave up
his pastorate and resumed teaching, and established the
well-known Twinsburg Institute, a description of which the
reader will find in the history of the township in this
volume. Since that time, he devoted himself to teaching,
having had charge of this institute for fifty-two years,
during which time more than 6,000 students of both sexes
have been under his instruction; among this number were 200
Indians, from five different tribes, some of whom have
surpassed in scholarship any of the white youth in the
institution. It may truthfully be said of Mr.
Bissell that, in his labors, he has been unselfish in
his ends, not too highly esteeming worldly wealth or
honors, but has given his life and labors to benefit his
fellow-man. Mr. Bissell was twice
married—first, to Fannie A. Gaylord, who died leaving
no children; his present wife was Amelia C. Sikes,
born Nov. 28, 1823, in Summers, Tolland Co., Conn.; her
parents were Chauncey and Cynthia (Hancock)
Sikes; Chauncey was a son of Abel
Sikes, and Cynthia was a daughter of Gibson
and Eunice (Green) Hancock, all
of South Wilbraham. The children of Chauncey and
Cynthia were Amelia C, Henry C, Francis,
George M., Ralph F., Julia A. and Elizabeth M. Mrs.
Bissell graduated, June 30, 1850, in the Wesleyan
Academy at Wilbraham, Conn., and for many years has been a
successful teacher, Mr. and Mrs. Bissell have one
daughter - Fannie A.
History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio - Edited
by William Henry Perrin. - Illustrated. - Chicago: Baskin &
Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn Street - 1881 -
Page 1040 |
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Hudson Twp. -
THOMAS BLACKBURN, farmer, P. O.
Hudson; was born in Lincolnshire, England, Oct. 9, 1833.
When about 25 years of age, he emigrated to the United
States, and came direct to Summit Co., Ohio; he resided in
Pennsylvania about three years. He enlisted in the 1st
Ohio Light Artillery Sept. 10, 1861, and served almost four
years. At various engagements he had two horses shot
on which he was riding and three others wounded, but
fortunately escaped without being injured in the least.
With the exception of two weeks, he was never off of duty
during almost four years of continuous service. The
regiment in which he was, opened the fight and closed it in
the battle of Murfreesboro, which lasted seven days, and
participated two days in the contest at Chickamauga; also at
Shiloh, Franklin, second battle of Nashville and Perryville,
Tenn. In the latter, their regiment lost heavily - 18
men killed, 42 wounded, 68 horses were killed, and 7 guns
were taken by the rebels. He returned to Summit County
after his discharge, and April 10, 1866, he married
Hannah Cowley, daughter of Joseph Cowley, of
Tallmadge. They have three children, viz., Florence
J., Henry J. and Lottie H. Mrs. Blackburn
was born in England and came to the United States with her
parents when she was 4 years old. Mr. Blackburn's
father died in England; since then his mother emigrated to
this country, and is now passing her declining years under
the filial care of her son's family. She is in her
90th year and is very feeble.
History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio - Edited
by William Henry Perrin. - Illustrated. - Chicago: Baskin &
Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn Street - 1881 -
Page 824 |
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Copley Twp. -
DELOS BOSWORTH, farming; P. O. Copley
Center; was born in Copley Township, Summit Co., Ohio, Jan.
11, 1818. He is a son of Allen and Hannah
(Harrington) Bosworth, who were parents of the following
family: Polly, Sally, Delos, Norton, Norman and
Leonard. Allen Bosworth was a native of Rhode
Island, while his wife was born in Vermont. In 1815,
Mr. and Mrs. Bosworth came to Summit Co., Ohio (then
Medina Co.), from Otsego Co., N. Y., locating at first in
Tallmadge Township, but the following year moved to Copley
Township, locating on Lot 22. This was the first
settlement in Copley Township. At the time of his
settlement in Copley, Mr. Bosworth's total
possessions in money amounted to only $1.50, and this he
gave for the erection of his log cabin. He purchased
150 acres of land on credit he was 24 years of age, and Mar.
16, 1841, married Christina Wagoner, and to this
union were born three children - Millard, born Feb.
16, 1845; Norman, born Feb. 28, 1847, died Dec. 29,
1861, and Eleonora, born June 26, 1849. Mrs.
Bosworth died Sept. 3, 1855, and on the 8th of April,
1858, Mr. Bosworth married Abbey W. Whinery,
and by her had one son - John C., born Dec. 27, 1860.
Soon after Mr. Bosworth's first marriage, his father
died, and Delos took charge of the family, and moved
to the north-eastern part of the township, on Lot 14.
He now owns 130 acres of fine farming and grazing land,
which he has made by his own labors. His son
Millard in August, 1862, enlisted in Co. H, 42d O. V.
I., and served gallantly through a number of battles, and
during his service, lost his health, which he has never
regained. Mr. Bosworth is a Republican in
politics, and he and wife are members of the Universalist
Church.
History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio - Edited
by William Henry Perrin. - Illustrated. - Chicago: Baskin &
Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn Street - 1881 -
Page 1029 |
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Copley Twp. -
TRUMAN BOUGHTON, farmer; P. O. Copley
Center; was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., Aug. 22, 1814.
He was the fifth child in a family of six children born to
John and Sally (Roat) Boughton, and their names,
respectively, Nathaniel. When in his 4th year,
Truman's mother died, and soon afterward his father
married Polly Stimpson, and by her had the following
family: John, George, William, Morris, Sophia,
Elmer and Levi. In 1833, this family came
to Bath Township, Summit Co., Ohio, where they lived until
the father's death, which occurred in 184. His widow
afterward removed to Michigan, where she has since died.
Truman lived with his father until he reached his
majority, and then began for himself. In April, 1833,
he was united in marriage with Flora Davis, daughter
of William and Avis (Hopkins) Davis, and to this
union were born five children, as follows: B.
Franklin, E. D., H. G., Olive I. and M. H.
Soon after his marriage, Mr. Boughton settled on Lot
No. 27, about a mile east of Copley Center, and has resided
there ever since. His family are all married, and are
all living in Summit Co. B. F., the eldest son,
enlisted in August, 1861, in Co. A, 2d O. V. C., and served
all through the war in the same company, and was finally
discharged in Sept., 1865. Mr. B. started in
life with nothing but a stout heart and willing hands, and
by the hardest labor has acquired a nice home and fortune.
In politics he is a Republican, and is an energetic and
enterprising gentleman.
History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio - Edited
by William Henry Perrin. - Illustrated. - Chicago: Baskin &
Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn Street - 1881 -
Page 1030 |
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Hudson Twp. -
CHARLES BOUTON, hotel and livery,
Hudson; was born in Lake Co., Ohio, Jan. 3, 1829. His
father, Seth Bouton, came at an early date from New
York, and settled in Lake County, Ohio. They moved to
Peninsula in 1836; they built a log cabin, a Mr. Beeres
also building one at the same time; these constituted all
the buildings or settlements at that time between Peninsula
and Hudson. Here the Bouton family lived about
twelve years, when they moved to Illinois, and where Seth
Bouton new lives in his 82d year. When our subject
(Charles) was about 14 years old, he went to learn
the boat-building trade canal-boats were built. When
he was 19 years of age, he took charge of the boat-building
business for Waterman, and remained until 21 years of age,
when he concluded to go to California during the rush to teh
gold mines of that State, where he worked at mining for
about two years, and met with reasonable success during his
stay. Returning to Ohio, he resumed his trade at
Peninsula, and in the winter would build a boat and run it
during the summer, then dispose of all in the fall of the
year; this he followed for about five years. In
1859, he, in company with Henry Johnson, purchased a
yard and dry-dock and and conducted the boat-building
business until 1873, when he sold out. To Mr.
Bouton belongs the credit of building the first
round-stern propeller canal-boat ever in use, and, up to
this date , he built the last boat that has been built in
Peninsula in 1872. When he sold out in 1873, he came
to Hudson, and purchased the Mansion House property in 1874,
and has been in the hotel and livery business since.
He has been twice married, first in April, 1854, to Helen
A. Johnson, daughter of Henry Johnson, of Boston
Township; she died May 29, 1872, leaving three children:
Lillie B., now wife of R. K. Pelton, of
Cleveland; Lawson and Clarence. His
second marriage was celebrated with Ada D. Crosley,
of Cleveland, in April, 1874.
History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio - Edited
by William Henry Perrin. - Illustrated. - Chicago: Baskin &
Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn Street - 1881 -
Page 824 |
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Franklin Twp. -
JACOB BREITENSTEIN, Sr., lawyer,
Clinton. He is the oldest and only son living of
Jacob Breitenstein, who was married to Barbara
Sweithauser, born natives of Ober Rhein Kreis, Germany.
He came to this country with his parents in 1836. They
came to Marshallville, Wayne Co., Ohio, and remained there
one year, when they removed into Chippewa Township in the
same county. They remained there fifteen years, when
they came to Franklin Township, this county. His
education was received in the common schools of Germany,
attending school but six weeks in this country. He
worked on his father's farm until 24 years of age, when he
married Lydia Keller, a native of Pennsylvania.
He worked for six years as a coal miner, after which he
bought a small farm of 24 acres with his earnings. He
carried on farming very successfully until 1876, when he
retired. He then began practice as a lawyer in the
Justice's Courts. By his industry and economy he has
amassed considerable wealth, and is now owner of five farms,
including a valuable and rich coal mine, which yields him no
small income. He has six children - John, Jacob D.,
Elias, Daniel, Andrew and Mary. He has
served as Township Trustee for a number of years, and is a
Notary Public. He is a member of the German Reformed
Church. His parents came to this country very poor,
and all he has was acquired by his own exertions.
History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio -
Edited by William Henry Perrin. -
Illustrated. -
Chicago: Baskin & Battey, Historical Publishers,
186 Dearborn Street -
1881 - Page 1026 |
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Twinsburg Twp. -
JAMES BROWN, farmer; P. O. Twinsburg;
was born Dec. 1, 1806, in Hampden Co., Mass., to James
Brown, whose father's name also was James.
The mother of our subject was Orvilla Phelps, of
Connecticut; his father, being a poor man, he left home at
the tender age of 7, and was buffeted about from place to
place until he was 11 years of age, when he was bound out
until his majority, after which he worked out by the day and
month, receiving small compensation for his labor. In
his 27th year, he married Emeline Waterman, daughter
of Zebedee, a soldier in the war of the Revolution.
Mr. Brown came West in the spring of 1839, to
Twinsburg, where he manufactured shoes, which business he
had followed to some extent before he came West. In
1841, he purchased the land where he now resides, which then
was mostly unimproved. April 14, 1843, his wife died,
leaving one daughter - Caroline, now Mrs. John W.
Barge, who is a resident of Cleveland. Jan. 10 of
the following year, he married Maranda Hanchett, born
July 1, 1825, in Yates Co., N. Y., daughter of Seth and
Patty Remington Hanchett, who were natives of
Connecticut, and removed to Yates Co., N. Y., prior to the
war of 1812. To them were born nine children.
The family came West to this township in 1833, locating in
the southeastern part. Mr. Brown, by his last
marriage, has one child only - Almon James, who
perpetuates the family name. To James, the
grandfather of our subject, were born James, William,
Nicholas, Daniel, Thomas, Lewis, Israel, Petsey and
Jennie. To James and Orvilla Phelps were
born Hannah, Orvilla, James, Roswell and Almon.
Almon James was born Feb. 16, 1846, and, on Mar. 5,
1868, married Miss Dunchee, who was born Dec. 18,
1848, to Harrison and Sylphinia (Nye) Dunchee.
Almon J. has one son - James H., born Dec. 27,
1877. The farm consists of 300 acres, the result of
hard labor and rigid economy.
History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio - Edited
by William Henry Perrin. - Illustrated. - Chicago: Baskin &
Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn Street - 1881 -
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City of Akron -
JOHN D. BUCHTEL, Akron, second son of
Wm. and Martha (Henderson) Buchtel was born ay 20,
1849, in Coventry Township, this county. In 1864, when
his father went into the army, he came to Akron, and worked
in the mill until his return, when he went to school for two
years. He then engaged in a flour and feed store; attended
commercial school in Poughkeepsie in 1868, and spent two
summers at Saginaw, Mich. He was in the employ of
Thomas & Son one year (1871), and teller in the
Citizens' Savings and Loan Association, from May, 1872, to
March, 1877, when his health failed and he lay sick for some
time. In 1878, he was a member of Tlermania Printing
Co. for a short time and then went to Chautauqua Lake where
he clerked in a hotel for three months. He then came
back to Akron, and in November, 1878, opened a feed store on
Mill street, which he kept until the spring of 1881, when he
became a member of the firm of Wm. Buchtel &
Sons, lumber dealers.
History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio - Edited
by William Henry Perrin. - Illustrated. - Chicago: Baskin &
Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn Street - 1881 -
Page 669 |
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City of Akron -
JOHN RICHARD BUCHTEL, manufacturer of
reapers and mowers, Akron, whose portrait appears in this
work, was born Jan. 18, 1822, in Summit Co., Ohio.
He was the son of John Buchtel, a farmer, and
the grandson of Peter Buchtel, who was a
native of Pennsylvania, whence he moved to Ohio in 1809,
entering service here as a soldier in the war of 1812, and
dying in the army. He engaged in farming when a youth,
with no opportunity of obtaining other education than such
as he could acquire by himself so that, when he attained his
majority, he could with difficulty write his name. At
that age he began to work land on shares, continuing it for
several years, until at length he was able to purchase a
small farm of twenty acres. Finally disposing of this,
he bought a farm of 160 acres in Coventry Township, Summit
Co., Ohio, which he improved and lived upon until 1854, when
he sold it, and purchased a farm in La Porte Co., Ind.,
purposing at the time to remove there, and continue farming.
Before doing so, however, he modified his plans and entered
into the employ of Ball, Aullman & Co., of
Canton, then just beginning to make and introduce very
extensively the ''Ohio," and afterward the "Buckeye" mower
and reaper, continuing as their agent until the spring of
1856. The firm was burnt out soon alter, and made an
assignment to him for the benefit of its creditors.
They obtained an extension, and he gave them such important
aid that the firm, C. Aullman & Co., was again on a
secure foundation. In 1864, he succeeded in persuading
the Canton manufacturers of the "Buckeye" machines, to build
a manufactory at Akron also, and he superintended the
construction of the necessary buildings, and purchased a
one-sixth interest in the new establishment. By the
following spring they began manufacturing their machines in
the new buildings. The next year the business was
organized as a stock company, of which he was elected
President. This company has over $1,000,000 of paid-up
capital, and $500,000 surplus. Its works have capacity
for building over ten thousand machines annually. The
Akron Iron Company, with its large rolling-mills and fine
blast furnaces, and the Akron Knife Works, of the Whitman
& Miles Manufacturing Company, for the
production of knives and sickles for mowers, grew indirectly
out of the establishment of the Buckeye works; and the Akron
paper-mill of Thomas Phillips & Co., the
rubber works, the the chain works, and many other
flourishing industries, owed very much to Mr.
Buchtel for their location in Akron. He was an
officer of the Canton incorporation of C. Aultman &
Co., a Director of the Akron Iron Company, of the Bank of
Akron, and of the Weary, Snyder & Wilcox
Manufacturing Company, besides many smaller business
interests. In politics a Republican, and in temperance
matters a prohibitionist; he was the candidate of the latter
party for Secretary of State of Ohio, in 1874. He was
appointed by Gov. Hayes, and confirmed by the Senate, one of
the Trustees of State Agricultural College, and was a member
of the executive committee during the erection of its
buildings. Throughout the war of Secession, his
services to the community were simply invaluable. When
others deemed the obstacles to filling up the quota and
escaping the draft to be insurmountable, he, by his direct
and supervisory efforts obtained the apportionment laid upon
his town. In religious belief, he is a stanch
Universalist, but nevertheless contributed for the erection
of every church built in Akron, after he began to take an
active part in affairs. The crowning work of his
unstinted liberality was reached in the establishment and
endowment of Buchtel College, Akron, an institution under
the control and patronage of the Universalist denomination
of Ohio. As the outgrowth of three years of earnest
thought and persistent effort, the corner-stone of this
college was laid July 4, 1871, Horace Greeley
delivering the address of the occasion. Besides
donating at the outset, his library to the institution, he
from time to time contributed toward its completion and
permanent endowment, until his gilts, in this direction,
amounted to over $100,000. This college, at first an
experiment, steadily made its way forward until it holds a
place of acknowledged merit among the most flourishing
institutions of the West. His generous contributions
to the Akron Library Association, of which he was President,
did much to place that organization upon a permanent basis.
It may be safely said that he gave away all he earned, and
was a great public and private benefactor. In 1844, he
married Miss Elizabeth Davidson, and their
union is without issue. In 1877, Mr. Buchtel
went to Athens Co., Ohio, where he purchased for the Akron
Iron Company, on the line of the Hocking Valley Branch
Railroad, 1,400 acres, comprising some of the richest
deposits of coal and iron in the State. During the
same year, the railroad company located a station on these
lands, and in honor of his efforts to develop the mines,
they named the station Buchtel, and later, the post office
there received the same name. As purchaser, projector
and general manager of the company during the past four
years, he has made five openings and established large
furnaces, which combined, require a force of over four
hundred men to operate, with a mining capacity of 1,000 tons
of superior furnace coal. The rich veins of iron there
are worked with great facility on account of contiguous
quarries of limestone which produce lime suitable for
fluxing.
History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio - Edited
by William Henry Perrin. - Illustrated. - Chicago: Baskin &
Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn Street - 1881 -
Page 666 |
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City of Akron -
WILLIAM BUCHTEL, lumber, etc., Akron;
a son of John and Catharine (Richards) Buchtel,
was born Dec. 23, 1822, in Green Township of this county.
His father had but little means, except his land (106 acres)
and his children only went to school when they could be
spared from the farm in winter. He (subject) and his
brother, John R., cleared a large portion of his
father's farm. At 22. he commenced for himself, and in
one year bought the homestead, and engaged largely in
wheat-raising. He followed farming until 1856, when he
bought an interest (having rented out his farm) in the
Chamberlin Mills, which he operated for some time with good
success. He served in the 164th O. N. G. during the
late war, and was honorably discharged in the fall of 1864.
After leaving the army, he removed to Akron, and in the
following year he made one of the firm of Jackson, Buchtel &
Co., and engaged in the lumber business for five
years—subject being most of the time in the pineries near
Saginaw, Mich., superintending the manufacture of lumber.
He is at present in the lumber business. Since 1865,
he has located and handled over 20,000 acres of Government
and State lands, in Clare,
Isabella and Missaukee Counties, Mich., and still owns some
3,000 acres there. He was married Mar. 7, 1842, to
Miss Martha Henderson, of Springfield Township. By
this marriage there are four children, viz.: James H.,
John D., Wm. M. and C. J.
History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio - Edited
by William Henry Perrin. - Illustrated. - Chicago: Baskin &
Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn Street - 1881 -
Page 668 |
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Hudson Twp. -
F. W. BUNNELL, (deceased; was born in
Waterbury, Conn., July 6, 1820. He learned the
carpenter's trade in his native place, and when about 21
years of age, he came to Ohio, locating at Hudson, where he
established himself in the business of contracting and
building. Among the buildings erected under his
direction may be mentioned the Pentagon, the M. E. Church,
and some of the best residences in this place, two churches
in Twinsburg, and one church at Ravenna. These, in
addition to many good residences throughout the country, are
monuments of his workmanship. He married Marie
Mansur Jan. 12, 1845. She was born in Hudson Mar.
9, 1825, and the only daughter of Perley and Phylene (Bearss)
Mansur. Mr. Bunnell died here Apr. 24, 1875,
leaving a widow, but no children. Mrs. Bunell's
father, Perley Mansur, was born in New Hampshire, in
1800. He learned the blacksmith's trade in Boston,
Mass., and, in 1823 he came to Ohio and stopped with his
brother who had located in Delaware, Ohio. On account
of malarial affections, which were then prevalent in
Delaware and vicinity, Mr. Mansur disliked the
locality, and he and his wife started with a horse and wagon
for the North, hoping to find a more desirable location.
On their way they stopped overnight at Hudson with David
Hudson, who, on learning that Mr. Mansur was a
mechanic, insisted upon his making this his future home, as
there was much demand for the labor in which he was skilled
in the then growing town. The citizens, being
interested, were anxious for him to remain here, and, to
assure him of their zeal in the matter, they set to work and
built him a shop on Main street, near where Mr. Wadsworth's
present shop is located. He worked at his trade about
nine years, when he moved to a farm which he had purchased
in this township. He engaged extensively in buying and
selling cattle. This business he followed about twenty
years, when he retired from business, and moved to Hudson,
where he died, in 1858, in his 58th year. His widow
survived him until 1880, when she died at this place in her
78th year. They had two sons - George, of
Cumberland Co., Ill., and James, in the real-estate
business at Cleveland.
History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio - Edited
by William Henry Perrin. - Illustrated. - Chicago: Baskin &
Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn Street - 1881 -
Page 824 |
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Hudson Twp. -
JOHN BUSS (deceased); was born in
Smarden, Kent Co., England, Sept. 28, 1811. His
father's family emigrated to the United States in 1825, and
settled in Sherman, N. Y. Mr. Buss resided with
his parents until his 18th year, when he entered the
Mayville Academy, afterward attending school at Dunkirk,
N.Y. In 1833, he came to Hudson, intending to take a
full college course, with the object of preparing himself
for the ministry. He remained in the preparatory
department for two years and entered the Freshman class, but
was finally compelled to abandon his studies on account of
failing health. In July, 1836, he entered the store of
Kent & Brewster as clerk, remaining with them
until November, 1839, when he went to Columbia, Mo., and
engaged as private tutor in the family of a Mr. Allen
for about one year, thence to Lake Providence, La., where he
taught school until May, 1841, when he returned to Hudson,
Ohio. In September of that year, he formed a
partnership with E. B. Ellsworth, in the dry goods
business, in which he continued about there years, when he
retired and entered into partnership with T. M. Bond,
in the store now occupied by his son. About three
years afterward, Mr. Bond retired, the business being
continued by Mr. Buss, until the stock was bought by
Morrell & Ingersoll, in 1856. They were in
business about two years, when Mr. Buss
necessarily resumed control of the business again, and
continued until 1867. Mr. Buss has served the
people of Hudson in almost their every office. He held
the office of Mayor two terms, being elected in 858, and
again in 1871. He was Corporation Treasurer four
terms; was member of the Council and Trustee for many years,
and served as Justice of the Peace twelve years. He
was married to Miss Eliza Goodman, Jan. 1, 1845.
They had eight children, four of whom survive - Charles
H. and Mary J., who reside here; Mrs. C. R.
Seymour, of Winchester, Mass., and Fred B., of
Chicago, Ill. Mr. Buss enjoyed the confidence
and esteem of his fellow citizens, which was won by his
strict honesty and unswerving integrity. His remains
were laid in "God's acre," on Dec. 1, 1880. On the
evening of his death, a meeting of citizens adopted
resolutions expressive of the esteem in which Mr. Buss
was held, and their sorrow at his demise. All places
of public business were closed as the funeral procession
passed through the village. Charles H. Buss
became familiar with mercantile business by assisting in his
father's store. He attended school at Western Reserve
College, not completing a full college course. In
1876, he and Sebastian Miller purchased, in
partnership, the stock of his father (John Bass), and
conducted the business under the firm name of Buss &
Miller. Subsequently, Mr. Miller withdrew,
and Mr. Buss has since been conducting the business
alone. He was married to Miss Mary Squire, Jan.
1, 1872. They have two children, viz., Augusta M.
and John C. Mr. Buss was elected Corporation
Treasurer, which office he has held two years.
History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio - Edited
by William Henry Perrin. - Illustrated. - Chicago: Baskin &
Battey, Historical Publishers, 186 Dearborn Street - 1881 -
Page 823 |
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