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 - Page 835

Richfield Twp. -
GEN. O. M. OVIATT (deceased); was born at Goshen, Litchfield Co., Conn., Feb. 24, 1799, and removed with his father, Capt. Heman Oviatt, to Hudson, Portage Co. (now Summit Co.), in 1803, Hudson at that time being an unborken wilderness, with but a few white inhabitants, its principal denizens being the Chippewa tribe of Indians.  His father kept a small store, stocked with such goods as met ready sale with the few whites and many Indians then scattered over the Reserve.  But the general trade was one of barter with the latter, for their furs, etc., which were the principal currency of that early period.  Gen. O. was so constantly associated with the Indians in hsi youth as to render him as proficient in the use of their language as in his own.  With the exception of a period which he spent in attending school at the Litchfield Academy, at Litchfield, Conn., (John Brown, Sr., accompanying him), most of his youth was passed in Hudson.  The friendship there formed with old Osawattomie continued through life, Mr. O., in after years, aiding him in some of his public enterprises, especially in his Kansas expedition.  In the winter of 1820, with a companion named Timothy Hall, and a pair of oxen and a sled, he came to the township of Richfield; it was at that time almost entirely unsettled, and with only a doubtful trail between the two points.  After the erection of a small abode, in the following spring, he was married to Miss Phoebe H. Coe, of Charlestown, Portage Co., Ohio, and with his young wife moved to the new home.  The ensuing year he commenced the building of a store near his residence at the center of the town, cutting down the forest and removing the green stumps from the ground to locate the same.  There are none or two individuals still living who assisted in this work - Mr. John Payne, now aged 83, and Mr. Lester Hall, both now residents of this place.  This store was the principal point of trade for the country around for a circle of twenty miles or more, and for over fifty years, or until the year 1876, was continuously open to successful trade.  Gen. O. was noted for his large business capacity, probity, and strictly honest dealing.  He was also greatly interested in the building-up of the town and forwarding its best interests.  In the erection of the first Congregational Church, in 1830, he bore a large share of the burden, and in the educational interests he was strictly identified and foremost in his endeavors to make the same a success.  At this time, a large share of the emigrants to this Western region were poor, and their hardships many, in their endeavors to obtain homes, and there were many who expressed great gratitude for timely assistance rendered them by him at that early period.  In the year 1836, he met with the great affliction of his life, in the death of his beloved wife, a few of whose characteristics the writer cannot refrain from mentioning.  Her special pleasure was in visiting the sick and needy of the then scattered population, whom she would cheer by kind words and supplying their necessities.  She was an earnest Christian worker through an active and busy life, and died on Mar. 1, 1836, aged 34, sincerely mourned by all who knew her.  Five children were born of this marriage, of whom but two are living, viz., Mrs. Dr. A. E. Ewing, and O. M. Oviatt, still residents of this town.  Gen. O. afterward married Miss Lucretia S. Ward, of Hadley, Mass., a Christian lady of refinement and intelligence, with whom he lived happily until his death.  Of this marriage there were born four children, of whom three are living - Mrs. Geo. W. Gardner, of Cleveland; Mr. Wm. H. Oviatt, and Mr. Louis D. Oviatt, of Longmont, Colo. Ellen P. Oviatt died May 5, 1856, aged 11 years.  In the year 1848, Mr. Oviatt removed to the city of Cleveland, where he had property interests, his first residence there being the present Catholic nunnery on Euclid Avenue, which he sold to them ostensibly for a school building, but which they since have transformed into a nunnery and school against a strict stipulation with him at the time of its purchase, that it should never be used for that purpose, he being always a strong anti-Catholic.  After a few years spent in the commission business, he engaged very extensively in the packing business with D. J. P. Robinson, now of Mentor, which partnership was continued very successfully some eighteen or twenty years.  In politics he was at first an ardent Whig, but after the formation of the Republican party he fully indorsed its principles, and adhered to them until his death.  He was often urged to become a candidate for office, but generally refused, believing the office should seek the man; still he was called to many positions of trust, among others in an early day, that of Associate Judge of Medina Co., one of his Associates being Judge Pardee, of Wadsworth.  He was member of the City Council of Cleveland many successive terms, several times elected its presiding officer, member and Chairman of its Finance Committee, and held other positions of trust, the duties of which were conscientiously executed and to the satisfaction of his friends who had placed him in office.  In the year 1868, he retired from active business, and after an absence of nearly twenty years from his early home, having a desire to spend his remaining years near his children, he returned thither ; but his residence there was of short duration, for after one year of pleasurable intercourse with his children, old friends and neighbors, he was suddenly attacked by a disease (which had troubled him for many years) and died after three days illness. His remains were removed to Cleveland and interred in his own private vault in Woodland Cemetery.
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 - Page 1007