REV. JOHN HALL *   The Rev. John Hall was born at Lee. Berkshire county, Massachusetts, on the 5th of November, 1788.  He was descended from Welsh ancestry, his great grandfather.  Ichabod Hall, having emigrated from Wales and settled in Falmouth, Massachusetts.  His grandfather, Ebenezer Hall, was a commander of Massachusetts volunteers for frontier defense, and became distinguished as a successful Indian fighter.  His father, Moses Hall, was a soldier of the Revolution, having enlisted in the Continental army at the age of eighteen, near the close of the war.  After the close of the war he was a cloth-dresser, and had a factory at Lee.  Later on he removed to Lenox, in the same county, and engaged in farming.
     John was the oldest of a family of fourteen children.  At an early age he began to develop a taste for literature.  When old enough to work his labor was required upon his father's farm; but he devoted all his leisure to the pursuit of his studies—often under difficulties.  He studied the higher English branches and the Latin and Greek languages under partial direction of the Rev. Dr. Hyde, a prominent Congregational clergyman at Lenox.  At nineteen he commenced the study of medicine, which at the end of about two years was interrupted by his removal to Ohio, in 1809.  His journey alone on horseback, through an almost unbroken wilderness, consumed more days than the number of hours that would now be required to accomplish the same distance by rail.  He came to Ashtabula and engaged as a clerk in the store of Hall Smith.—a man well known to all the early settlers,—which position he retained for several years.
     In 1811 his father and family followed him to Ashtabula.  His father purchased tracts of lands in Ashtabula and Dover, Lorain county, which, like nearly all the wild lands on the Western Reserve, were covered with heavy timber.  He gave to each of his sons one hundred and fifty acres, and to each daughter one hundred acres, to be cleared for farms, and sold the remainder from time to time to other settlers.  The subject of this memoir cleared a large part of his one hundred and fifty acres, and otherwise improved and stocked it.
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* 'Written by his son, J. B. Hall.
----- Source: 1798 History of Ashtabula County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Pioneers and Most Prominent Men by Publ. Philadelphia - Williams Brothers - 1878 - Page 128

Kingsville Twp. -
EDWARD HAMMOND, INFIRMARY DIRECTOR.
     In connection with the view of the county infirmary is shown a portrait of the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch.  Of him we learn that he was the fifth child of John and Sarah Hammond, of West Worldham, Hampshire county, England, was born on the 16th day of August, 1817, and derived the principal part of his education in England, embarking with the family for America on the 1st day of June, 1836.  The date of their arrival and location in Kingsville was on the 1st day of the following August.  The parents died,—the mother in 1851, and the father in 1856 . The life-occupation of Mr.Hammond has been that of a farmer.  He was elected to the office of trustee of Kingsville in 1862, and served for the succeeding eight years in that position; was elected to his present position in the year 1873, and re-elected in the fall of 1876.  He has been twice married: the first time on July 11, 1842, to Harriet Gunn, daughter of Comfort and Sarah Gunn, of Kingsville; from this wife were born two children: John B., born July 11, 1843; he married Maria Van Slyke, and now resides in Michigan. Ellen E. was born Aug. 31, 1844; her husband is Sabin Holmes.  They live in Kingsville.  Mr. Hammond was married to his present wife, who was a sister of his former one, on the 15th day of May, 1851.  The following are the children of this marriage: Charlotte, born Apr. 1, 1857; Margaret G., born Oct. 16, 1859, died Aug. 22, 1864; Gess and Gessie were born Sept. 28, 1862.  Mr. Hammond is Republican in politics; is a member of the fraternity of Freemasons, and has taken the Royal Arch degrees.
----- Source: 1798 History of Ashtabula County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Pioneers and Most Prominent Men by Publ. Philadelphia - Williams Brothers - 1878 - Page 208

Monroe Twp. -
HANCE F. HARDY.    The son of Captain William Hardy, born near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Nov. 3, 1797.  Hance F. Hardy was left an orphan at the age of seventeen.  He early acquired habits of industry, and no sooner was he bereft of his parents than he took a contract to carry the mail from Sandusky to Fort Meigs, a distance of about one hundred and fifty miles.  The route lay through the Maumee swamp, and at certain seasons of the year was almost impassable.  The journey was made on horseback, following notched trees, and many of the streams could be crossed only by swimming.  The trip was made once per week.  When twenty years of age he bought a farm in Monroe township, this county, when he made it his home for sixty years.  He was one of the early settlers of that part of the county, and had his full share of the privations and hardships of pioneer life.  He was an industrious, law-abiding citizen, and lived a useful life.  He died Dec. 23, 1876,
nearly eighty years of age.
     Jan. 1, 1819, he was united in marriage to Acenoth Chapin, and the following are the names of Mr. Hardy’s children, with dates of their birth: Chloe P., born Oct. 8, 1819; Laura A., born Sept. 30, 1821; Margaret, born Sept. 8, 1823; William, born Aug. 30, 1825; Julia, born Jan. 28, 1828; Caroline, born May 29, 1830; Matilda E., born Apr. 29, 1835; Jane M., Apr. 24, 1837.  Mr. Hardy was a member of the Congregational church, in which he was for many years a deacon.
----- Source: 1798 History of Ashtabula County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Pioneers and Most Prominent Men by Publ. Philadelphia - Williams Brothers - 1878 - Page 203

AUSTIN HARMON.   This gentleman became a resident of the township of Andover in the year 1825, and has had his full share of pioneer hardships.  He was born in Wheatland, Genesee county, New York, on the 12th day of June, 1822, and is the third of a family of eight.  His parents, Samuel and Clarissa Harmon, formerly from Berkshire county, Massachusetts, removed to Ohio, locating in Andover township, in the year 1825.  The farm upon which they made settlement is now occupied by the subject of this sketch, the death of the elder Harmon occurring in the year 1834.  Austin, with his brothers and sisters, were left to battle, unaided, with the difficulties of life.
     Gradually step by step has he acquired his ample competence.  His has not been a remarkably eventful life.  In his township he has held several offices, filling them in an acceptable manner.  He was united in marriage on the 17th day of December, 1848, to Hannah L. Stillman.  Two children were born to them, — Sarah Adelaide, born June 9, 1850; and Lee Samuel, born Apr. 10, 1857.  This latter yet remains beneath the family roof.  On the 8th day of November, 1873, occurred the death of Mrs. Harmon.  The present wife of Mr. Harmon was Eliza J. Case, of Andover, to whom he was married Sept. 8, 1875.
----- Source: 1798 History of Ashtabula County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Pioneers and Most Prominent Men by Publ. Philadelphia - Williams Brothers - 1878 - Page 217

EDWARD HARMON.   Edward Harmon was the son of Samuel and Ruth Harmon, and was born in New Marlborough, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, Dec. 21, 1815.  He was the oldest child, and removed with his parents to Andover township, in this county, in the spring of 1825.  His father died at the place of his first settlement, Apr. 26, 1S34, and Edward, being the eldest son, was called upon to assume the chief part of the responsibilities and duties that had hitherto devolved upon his father.  His education was obtained at the district school of his neighborhood, and was necessarily limited.  When seventeen years of age he went to Wheatland, Genesee county, New York, at which place his father had resided a short time prior to his removal to Ohio, accomplishing the journey on foot. He spent the winter of 1822—23 at that place, and attended the winter’s school.
     Aug. 15, 1823, he was united in marriage with Miss Eve Border, who then resided in Andover, but who was born at Little Falls, Herkimer county, New York.  From this union were born two children,—the elder, Charles E. Harmon, born Feb. 21, 1854; and William Henry, born Aug. 23, 1855. The younger child lived but a short time.  The surviving son was married to Lucinda Vickery, Apr. 16, 1874, and he and his wife now reside on the farm where his father made for himself his first improvement.  Edward Harmon was a man of great and untiring industry.  By prudent management, assisted by exemplary habits, he amassed a fine property, the inheritance of his son, and lived a useful and honorable life.  He died in Andover, July 19, 1872.
 Source: 1798 History of Ashtabula County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Pioneers and Most Prominent Men by Publ. Philadelphia - Williams Brothers - 1878 - Page 218

Geneva Twp. -
ELIJAH HART, a fine portrait of whom, with wife and two sons, Erie and William, accompanies the view of their pleasant homestead in another portion of this work, was born at Little Hero, Vermont, on the 17th day of January, 1803, and is the fourth child of Thomas and Mary Hart.  His mother died when Elijah was but three years of age, in consequence of which the family was broken up, and he went to live with his uncle, Stephen Hart.  Remained with him until he had attained his majority.  His education was derived from the common schools of the Green Mountain State. In the fall of 1828 Mr. Hart came to Ohio, and with Unionville (Lake county) for a headquarters, pursued the occupation of stage-driving until his marriage, which occurred on the 9th day of June, 1829.  The lady who became at this time the partner of his joys and sorrows was Cynthia, daughter of Flavel and Martha Williams, of Geneva.  From this marriage have been born ten children, whose names are as follows: Lovisa, who married Edwin Chevalier, deceased in 1876, at Geneva, Ohio; Sidney, the second child, married Caroline Cole,,and at present resides at Osage, Iowa; Delphina married Arthur Mitchelson, and resides at Garfield. Kansas; Diantha married Alvin E. Shepard, resides in Erie, Pennsylvania; Volney married Belle Hendry, killed by the cars in July, 1874: Edwin married Ann Norton, lives at present in Garfield, Kansas, as does Olivia, who married Nathan Warner, and Elma, who died in Geneva, in 1874; Erie married Dora Squires, resides near the old homestead, and is the proprietor of the fine billiard-hall in Geneva village; and William, who has not yet launched his bark on the sea matrimonial, still lives at home.
     Upon the marriage of Mr. Hart. Sr., he began housekeeping in a log house which stood upon the spot now occupied by the residence of Mrs. Upson, on West Main street, Geneva, and remained there until he purchased the farm at present occupied by his widow, which was in 1836,—had resided continuously on this property until his death, which occurred Dec. 16, 1866. Mr. Hart pursued the peaceful occupation of a farmer, and acquired a handsome competence thereby, as shown by the well-kept farm of one hundred and twelve acres, the fine buildings, and orcharding.
     Mr. Hart was a life-long member of the Masonic brotherhood, and at his death was a member of Grand River lodge, No. 297.  Free and Accepted Masons, of which he was a charter member.  Politically he was a Republican, and his sympathies were ever with that party from its formation.  He was also a member of the Methodist church.
----- Source: 1798 History of Ashtabula County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Pioneers and Most Prominent Men by Publ. Philadelphia - Williams Brothers - 1878 - Page 180

STEPHEN GRIGGS HOLBROOK, M. D.    The subject of this sketch was born in Tolland, Connecticut, May 21, 1798.  His father dying, he, though but a lad, with an elder brother, Ralph, resolved to seek their fortunes in what was then the “New Connecticut.”  Arriving in Windsor they halted, each engaging in teaching district schools, by which employment they were able to provide for the journey of their mother and the remaining family, who arrived in Windsor in the year 1816.  Here for some years these two sons filially supported their family by alternate labor of teaching winters and felling forests and doing farm work in summer.  Finally, one day, holding out his blistered hands to his brother, Stephen G. announced his solemn purpose (which no doubt had been long secretly maturing) to earn his living in some other way.  The practice of medicine was determined upon, and he at once commenced its study with Dr. Brown, of Morgan.  Some little time of preliminary study was also spent at Burton academy, in Geauga county.  From this time on till his settlement in Kelloggsville, about 1824, he was engaged in study, attending medical lectures, and teaching common schools.  He also studied for a time with Dr. Allen, of Trumbull county, and Dr. O. K. Hawley, of this county, who as president of the medical society signed his diploma and license to practice medicine and surgery, which was given May 21. 1825,—his twenty-seventh birthday.
     Upon his arrival in Kelloggsville he boarded in the family of Martin Kellogg, with whose only daughter, Charlotte, he formed an acquaintance which ripened into an attachment and subsequent marriage.  In this connection it is but just to bear testimony to the many virtues and excellences of this noble woman.  In every high sense she was his help-meet, visiting with him the sick in the neighborhood, and ministering to the needy and afflicted as only a woman can do.  In the home she was an affectionate and considerate wife, a wise and judicious mother.  With one accord they together labored wisely and well in laying the foundations of their prosperity and happiness, which united labor was sadly and abruptly terminated by her decease in 1840.  Though now nearly two score years have elapsed since she passed away, her memory lingers like a fragrance in the community that she adorned, and especially in the hearts of her children, now grown to maturity.  Of this union are now living two daughters and one son, Rev. Martin Kellogg Holbrook, a minister in the far west.  Of a subsequent marriage, one son and one daughter were born, Stephen A. Holbrook and Flora, the wife of S. L. Fobes, both of Geneva, Ohio.
     Were we asked to give the more prominent characteristics of Dr. Holbrook, we should say he was of the strictest integrity, severely conscientious, with an unyielding sense of justice and right.  To a high standard of action he held himself and every one accountable.  His word was as good as his bond.  A shrewd observer of human nature, whenever he recognized in others, and especially in the young commencing the up-hill struggle of life, those qualities that he himself signally exemplified, his generous counsel and assistance were never wanting.  To such he was a kind and revered friend.  To those whose moral principles came not up to his high standard, his judgments, doubtless, sometimes appeared harsh and severe.  The mysterious workings of the law of heredity, upon which he laid so much stress in his treatment of the physical man, he may have too often overlooked or underestimated in the realm of morals.  To a mind so constituted, his early religious training of the strictest Calvinistic type lent great influence.  He was naturally a believer in the doctrine of a hell.  Indeed, his convictions upon this point were held with an earnestness and sincerity which might cheer and uphold its faint-hearted advocates to-day.  But in the sick-room were his gentler and best qualities abundantly manifest.  Cautious in his treatment, gentle and sympathetic in his manner, humorous, and ever ready with a joke or story to chase away the gloom and sorrow; multitudes will remember him for these, when the harsher aspects of his character have long been forgotten.
     For his professional brethren, with whom he counseled in difficult cases, he cherished great respect and affection.  On his death-bed, fully aware of his approaching dissolution, to his attending physician, Dr. Hubbard, he exclaimed, “Coleman is gone, and Spencer and Fifield and Farrington,—-all are gone,—and why should I stay longer?”  Then affectionately embracing, and charging him with a message of love to “A. F.,” his brother, he bade him a long adieu; and so, after fifty years of a professional career in Kelloggsville and vicinity, his well-rounded and useful earthly life closed at the ripe age of seventy-seven.  As he was fond of quoting, so will we: “Let his virtues be inscribed in marble, but his faults—let them be written in sand."
----- Source: 1798 History of Ashtabula County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Pioneers and Most Prominent Men by Publ. Philadelphia - Williams Brothers - 1878 - Page 126

Austinburg Twp. -
ABIAL WILLIAMS HOWARD.   The subject of this sketch, a view of whose fine residence, with portraits of self and wife, appear in another portion of this work, is the fifth of a family of eight, the children of Hezekiah and Margaret Spring Howard, of Preble, Cortland county, New York.  He was born Jan. 7, 1819, and resided in New York and Pennsylvania until 1838, when he came to Ohio, making his first stop with an uncle in Concord, Lake county.  His education was received at common school prior to his coming to Ohio.  About Jan. 1, 1839, he came to Austinburg, where he remained some three years.  On the 11th day of January, 1842, he found a wife in the person of Almira G., daughter of Salmon and Damaris Pitkin Hills, of Austinburg, and taking his young bride, removed to a wild farm in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and here, some three-fourths of a mile from a traveled road, they began the battle of life, and we may judge something of his success by the fact that he now owns some five hundred acres of land, which, with the mill property, etc., aggregates the snug sum of thirty thousand dollars.  In the township he has held numerous offices, among which has been township trustee for many years.  He is public-spirited, a kind and indulgent husband and father.  His children are as follows: Emily A., born Aug. 26, 1844, married Hubert E. Wadsworth, and resides at Eagleville.  The next were twins,—Eugene L. and Emogene L., born Oct. 2, 1846.  The former is doing an extensive business in Bridgeport, California.  The latter yet remains at home, as do the remaining three children comprising this interesting family.  Salmon Hills, the next child, was born Nov. 29, 1848; Edward F., born July 25, 1855; and Dwight A., the youngest, born Feb. 28, 1859.  Politically Mr. Howard is a Democrat.  His father was born in Tolland, Tolland county, Connecticut, in 1784, and is still living,—resides in Franklin, Pennsylvania.  The mother was a native of Connecticut, and died in 1852.  The father of Mrs. A. W. Howard was born in Farmington, Hartford county, Connecticut, July 30, 1788, died 1864, in Austinburg. Her mother was born Sept. 11, 1790, died Mar. 1, 1874, also in Austinburg.
----- Source: 1798 History of Ashtabula County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Pioneers and Most Prominent Men by Publ. Philadelphia - Williams Brothers - 1878 - Page 193

AMOS K. HOWELLS, M. D.  born Sept. 12, 1832, in St. Clairsville, Belmont county, Ohio,—the oldest son of William C. and Mary Dean Howells.  His father was born in the town of Hay, in Wales; his mother in New Lisbon, Columbiana county, Ohio.
     In 1840, Mr. Howells’ father moved to Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, where he published the Hamilton Intelligencer for nine years.  During this time J. A. Howells attended the public schools and worked in the office.  In those days the printing business was much as it is now.  It was hard to make it pay.  Feeling a deep interest in everything that concerned his father, while still a mere boy he assisted him in the office, and was soon a full hand at the old-fashioned Washington hand-press.  He has ever since been connected with his father in business.  June 29, 1852, he came with the family to Ashtabula, and worked in the office of the Ashtabula Sentinel, his father entering into partnership with the Hon. Henry Fassett.  Jan. 1, 1853, the office being removed to Jefferson, he came with it.  In October, 1854, he purchased J. L. Oliver’s interest in the office, and began the publication of the Sentinel under the firm-name of J. A. Howells & Co.
     Mr. Howells is a man of good business qualifications, and has been quite successful in building up a large business, the credit of which he equally divides with his father, with whom, in all business enterprises, he has always been associated.  The great ambition of his life has been to publish a large, well-printed, and carefully edited newspaper.  Those who know the Ashtabula Sentinel of to-day can
judge how successful have been his endeavors.  A prosperous business has been built up, although a large amount is constantly being spent in the production of the paper.  Yet they have built a fine building where are located a printing-office and book-store, the business of the firm being publishing, job-printing, and bookselling.
     On the 23d day of June, 1856. he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza W. Whitmore, by the late William Barton.  The result of this marriage has been four children, three of whom are now living, viz., William Dean, Jr., Mary Elizabeth, and Beatrice H.
     Mr. Howells’ father and grandfather were Abolitionists in their day. and he has followed, as a radical Republican.  He gives all whom he meets a cordial welcome, and generally endeavors to get an “item” out of them, for it appears the Sentinel and its readers are ever uppermost in his mind, and, in true editor fashion, he always stands ready to capture a straw.  Mr. Howells is a member of no secret society.  He has held various places of responsibility in the village of Jefferson, has been a member of the board of education for a great many years, chairman of the county Republican central committee, and postmaster since Mar. 1, 1869.
----- Source: 1798 History of Ashtabula County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Pioneers and Most Prominent Men by Publ. Philadelphia - Williams Brothers - 1878 - Page 121

     "Passed the secretary' office the 24th day of April, 1817.
                                                        "CHAS. D. COOPER, Secretary."
     In 1834 he removed to Ashtabula, Ohio, where he lived to see his only daughter and four sons settled around him.  He was a farmer and descended from a long line of ancestors, almost invariably farmers back to the original George Hubbard, who came from England in 1640, and settled in old Middletown.  Among active and enterprising men William Hubbard felt himself a kindred spirit by reason of the interest he took in the common object, and always sought to promote the moral and material prosperity of the community; his disposition was to be public-spirited, and he considered that to maintain a character of unimpeachable integrity was the highest aim of a good citizen.  He died in the year 1862, in the seventy-sixth year of his life.
----- Source: 1798 History of Ashtabula County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Pioneers and Most Prominent Men by Publ. Philadelphia - Williams Brothers - 1878 - Page 124