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William
W. Appleby,
a real estate dealer of Conneaut, Ohio, and one of the prominent
business men of the town, is descended from early settlers of this place.
Following is a brief sketch of his life, and also that of his father and of
his uncle, Captain Calvin W. and Gilman Appleby:
W. W. Appleby was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio on
December 14, 1839, son of Capt. Calvin W. and Mary (Brown) Appleby.
His father was born in Bethlehem, New Hampshire on August 17, 1808 and lived
to be seventy-two years of age, dying August 6, 1880, at Conneaut, Ohio.
His mother, a native of Windsor, Lower Canada, was born on November 10,
1811, and died on April 16, 1872, at the same place. This worthy
couple had several children, only two of whom lived to adult years, and of
those two W. W. is the older. He was educated in the Conneaut Academy,
and before he engaged in the real estate business he was employed as a
bookkeeper and salesman.
Mr. Appleby was married in Detroit Michigan, in 1872, to
Miss Ida J. Wiles, daughter of Francis R. Wiles. Her father died in
Detroit, of cholera, in 1854, when she was only two years old. Mr. and
Mrs. Appleby have four children: Calvin W., Frederick W., Walter R.,
and Fannie. Mrs. Appleby is a member of the Episcopal Church, and is a
lady of much culture and refinement. Politically, Mr. Appleby
affiliates with the Republican party. He has served as a member of the
City Council for four years.
Captain Calvin W. Appleby, and his older brother, Captain
Gilman Appleby, were for many years prominent steamboat men on the great
lakes. They came to Conneaut at an early age with their stepfather,
Major Samuel Blakeslee, and family, and were among the first settlers of the
place. Major Blakeslee was a well-known resident of Conneaut for many
years, and at last died from the infirmities of extreme age. He was at
one time Worshipful Master of the Masonic lodge of Conneaut. He had
two sons and three daughters, namely: Orville, a resident of Geneva
Lake, Wisconsin; Chauncey of Chicago, Illinois; Harriet, wife of Frank
Nettleton, of Kingsville; Eliza, wife of James H. Lake of Fredonia, New
York; and Aurelia, wife of C. F. Levitt of Conneaut.
Captain Calvin W. Appleby's first experience as
boatman was on the Lady of the Lake. He afterward ran on the packet J.
G. King, the brig. Lucy A. Blossom, and the steamers Indiana and Sultana.
The whole of his active life was spent on the lakes, and for many years he
was one of the most popular commanders running between Buffalo and Chicago.
He was an intimate friend of Benjamin Wade and Joshua Giddings. Mr.
Wade was his attorney in one of the first suits the Captain ever had, the
litigation concerning Conneaut harbor. This suit was with the Fords
and Captain Appleby and the defendant.
Captain Gilman Appleby, also a native of
Bethlehem, New Hampshire, was born on August 29, 1806. He built and
commanded both the Sultana and the ill-fated Lady Elgin. He also
commanded the North America and the Constitution. After he built and
took command of the Lady Elgin, his brother became captain of the Sultana.
This vessel was described as the "Buffalo and Chicago steam packet Sultana,"
and was used chiefly in carrying passengers. The gangway to the
Sultana (like the gates to the upper sanctuary) was open night and day for
the reception of the able sons of Ham, and the disembarking, too, if
occasion required it, to insure the safety of such passengers on "the
underground steamboat railway," Captain Calvin himself being the
captain conductor. Many were the negroes carried safely over, and the
Sultana could have carried as many more had opportunity offered. The
kind and large-hearted Captain was a man of wonderful expedients in
providing ways and means to lend a helping hand to every one who was in
trouble. Gilman Appleby was commander of the famous Caroline at the
time she was captured by the enemy on December 20, 1837. The fate of
this vessel - how she was set on fire and allowed to drift over Niagara - is
familiar to all readers of history. The captain and crew escaped.
These brothers, Gilman and Calvin, were both self-made
men, beginning their careers on small vessels and working and wining their
way to promotion and the high positions they occupied. Many were the
times they distinguished themselves for their bravery. Indeed, they
were ready for every emergency. In all their long experience they
never lost a life nor did they ever have an accident. Gilman was at
one time commanding the North America on Lake Erie, and when near Dunkirk,
New York, the vessel was caught in a heavy storm and was in danger of being
dashed against the beach. The Captain knew this would be certain death
to all on board. All the steam the vessel was allowed to carry was
applied. Still she was in danger. Only one thing could save her.
Apply more steam. But would the strength of her boiler admit this?
Taking the benefit of the doubt, and against the best judgment of the
engineer, he held down the safety valve with his own weight, and more steam
applied, and thus withstood the storm, landing his passengers safe in port.
(Transcribed from Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio; published in
Chicago: Lewis Publ. Co., 1893)
For REFERENCE see:
City Cemetery, Conneaut,
Ashtabula Co., Ohio for burials.
Royal
P.
Smith, one of the wealthy
farmers of Monroe Township, Ashtabula county, Ohio, appears as the subject
of this article. He was born in 1840, near his present
home, son of Isaac Smith, a native of Vermont. Isaac Smith emigrated
from Vermont to Ohio in 1832, and settled at Kelloggsville, where he farmed
and carried on a mercantile business for half a century. Although he
had but limited educational advantages in his youth, he was a man of
remarkable energy and business ability, and was successful in his various
undertakings. He began working out for wages when he was twelve years
old, and until he was twenty-one his mother, a widow, received his earnings.
When he landed in Kelloggsville, he bought 106 acres of land, and at the
time of his death he was the owner of 640 acres and had money at interest.
Politically, he was a Democrat, and took a commendable interest in public
affairs, frequently filling local offices. For sixty years he was an
honored member of the Masonic fraternity. He died on May 12, 1883, at
the age of eighty-four years. At the time of his death, he was a
Universalist in belief. The Smiths are of English origin, some of the
family having come to America previous to the war of 1812. The mother
of Royal P. Smith, who before her marriage was Miss Lucia Thompson, was born
in New Hampshire, about twelve miles from Dartmouth College. She had a
good education, and was for some time engaged in teaching. Her death
at the age of seventy-six years occurred on April 24, 1881. The
Thompsons are of English descent. Isaac Smith and his wife had five
children, as follows: Isaac, who died on January 28, 1854, aged
twenty-one years; Susan J., wife of G. G. White, of Hutchinson, Kansas;
Royal P.; Irving, a resident of Monroe township, Ashtabula county; and
Lucia, who died on November 26, 1852, at the age of five years. Isaac
Smith was first married to Harriet Walker, who died without children.
Royal P. Smith remained with his parents until 1861, when he married and
began life for himself. He is now the owner of 450 acres of land, in
three different tracts, 200 acres being under cultivation. In 1861 he
was married to Corinna E. Swift, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Dan and
Mercy (Doubleday) Swift, natives of Italy Hill, Yates county, New York.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith have four children, namely: Charles, engaged in farming
near Kingsville; Carrie M., wife of George Humphrey of Cleveland, Ohio;
Harriet, a student at Buchtel College, in Akron, Ohio; and Corinna, also
attending college. Mr. Smith's political views are in
harmony with Democratic principals. For six or seven years he has
served as Trustee of his township. He is a member of the Masonic
fraternity and of the State Police.
(Transcribed from Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio; published in
Chicago: Lewis Publ. Co., 1893)
(See 1870 Census Monroe Twp.,
Ohio)
Captain Thomas
J.
Carlin, Justice of the
Peace and Notary Public, Conneaut, Ohio, dates his birth at Chautauqua, New
York, January 12, 1816. His parents, James and Mary
(Smith) Carlin, were born, reared and married in Ireland, and in 1814 came
to the United States and settled in Westfield, New York. James Carlin
was a brick mason, which occupation he followed all his life. He was
an honest and straightforward business man and in him were the truest and
purest types of religion united. He died in September, 1826, about the
age of fifty years. Both he and his wife were Presbyterians.
Later in life, however, Mrs. Carlin united with the Methodist Episcopal
Church, of which she died a consistent member, at the age of seventy-seven
years, her death occurring about 1874. During the latter part of her
life she made her home with the subject of this sketch, and her last resting
place is at Conneaut. This worthy couple were the parents of three
daughters and four sons, only two of whom, Captain James Carlin and the
subject of this article, are living. Thomas J. received
his education in the public schools and the Westfield Academy. His
first business was that of making brick at Westfield. He also followed
the same occupation at Conneaut in an early day, having made this place his
home since 1838. Early in 1861, although forty-six years
of age and not in reach of the draft, being too old, he enlisted in the
service of his country; raised and took into the service the Second Ohio
Four-gun Battery, General Fremont subsequently adding two twelve-pound
howitzers to their force. Mr. Carlin was made Captain of the battery
and served as such until his health failed in 1862, when he resigned.
He served in western Missouri, Arkansas and Mississippi. He was then
appointed assistant enrolling officer, under Governor Tod, for the
Nineteenth Congressional District, and served in that capacity until the
close of the war. The battery was in the first battle of Pea Ridge,
later at Black River bridge, at Raymond, Mississippi, and also at Vicksburg.
On one occasion the Captain, with twenty-non-commissioned officers, was
detailed to capture a ton of reel powder near Warsaw, Missouri. He
accomplished the task, delivering the ammunition over to the United States
Arsenal in October, 1861. While out on this raid his horse shied at a
large rock which was on a dug-out road, thereby causing Captain Carlin to
strain his back. An hour later he was compelled to dismount, and from
the effects of this strain he has been troubled ever since. At the
time he enlisted in the army two of his sons, Orson A. and James M. also
entered the service, leaving the mother and two daughters alone.
Captain Carlin had been a Postmaster at Conneaut for eight years previous to
his enlistment, and at the close of the war he was elected Justice of the
Peace, holding the office by re-election up to the present time.
He served as Mayor of Conneaut three terms, not in succession, however.
In the educational affairs of the town he has been an important factor.
He served continuously for twenty-one years on the Board of Education, his
associates retaining him even while in the war. With fraternal
organizations he has also taken an active part. He organized the first
lodge of Good Templars in Conneaut and was its first Worthy Chief, which
office he held for two years. He has taken a prominent part in all
temperance work of the town ever since and has ever been an ardent
Prohibitionist. He is the oldest member of Evergreen Lodge, A.F. &
A.M., of which he served four years as Worshipful Master. At the
breaking out of the war he was Senior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge of
Ohio, and was in a fair way for promotion at that time. He took part
in the unveiling of the Perry monument at Cleveland Ohio. He signed
for a carter for a lodge of I. O. O. F. nearly fifty years ago; remained
with the organization, was its Noble Grand for several terms, and had a
working place in it until it surrendered its charter. His name is the
first on a petition for a charter for Custer Post, No. 9, G.A.R., and it is
he who had the honor of naming the post in Conneaut. He is a United
States pensioner. Captain Carlin was married November 22,
1838, at Conneaut, Ohio, to Miss Mary Ann Dibble, daughter of Ezra Dibble, a
soldier in the war of 1812, the marriage ceremony being performed by S. F.
Taylor, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Huron county. After
fifty years of happy married life they made arrangements to celebrate their
golden wedding, but Mrs. Carlin's health would not permit them to carry out
their plans. She died June 22, 1889, aged seventy-two years.
From her girlhood she was a member of the Conneaut Congregational Church.
Her life as far as health would permit, was one of activity. It was an
inspiration to gentleness, patience, faith and courage: these virtues
in her were luminous, and never more so than in her last protracted illness.
She was a woman of rare intelligence and Christian character, and all who
knew her cherished her memory with grateful affection. The
Captain and his wife had for children, of whom we make the following record:
Orison A., who married Miss Allie Loomis, is agent for the Adams Express
Company at Greenville, Pennsylvania; Ellen J., wife of J. C. Kuchler, agent
for the Erie & Pittsburg Railroad Company at Greenville, Pennsylvania, died
January 17, 1893 in the fifty-third year of her age. She was a member
of the Presbyterian Church for many years, and was the mother of an only
child, Miss Carlin. James M., who married Miss Doty Crane, died in
September, 1889, aged forty-two; and Artimisia Blanche is the wife of G. W.
Bigelow, of Conneaut. Mr. & Mrs. Bigelow have four children, as
follows: Mamie C., who has been a successful teacher in the Conneaut
public schools since her graduation in 1889; Brownell, a graduate of
the Conneaut high school with the class of 1893; Helen K.; and Orsie Carlin.
Captain Carlin is the oldest member of the Conneaut Congregational Church,
having been a member for more than forty years. During his official
career he has had an enviable reputation as a brave and efficient public
officer. In church, with eye bedimmed and enfeebled voice, he still
remains a working member as in former years. On all questions of moral
reform he has always been, and still is, at the front, laboring for the true
and good.
(Transcribed from Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio; published in
Chicago: Lewis Publ. Co., 1893) For reference:
See
1860 Census, Borough of Conneaut, Ashtabula Co., Oh
Also
See 1870 Census, Borough of Conneaut, Ashtabula Co., Oh
Elisha
Farnham, deceased, was of
Puritan origin. His father and grandfather participated in the
Revolutionary struggle, and he inherited the same spirit of loyalty.
He was born in Hapton, Connecticut on June 8, 1806, and was the sixth in a
family of ten children. His parents, Thomas and Abigail Farnham, were
by no means wealthy, and his advantages for schooling were limited, yet he
acquired a good common-school education. Being the eldest son,
he was at an early age obliged to rely on his own resources, and a portion
of his wages were also contributed to the support of his father's family.
He learned the machinist's trade and was a skillful workman. In the
fall of 1830 Mr. Farnham packed his worldly effects in a knapsack and came
to Conneaut, Ohio, locating on land still occupied by his heirs. In
1841 he erected the gristmill on the south ridge, still in operation, and at
present owned by his son. With good health, strict adherence to his
business and a Connecticut birthright combined, he accumulated a competence.
His death occurred October 4, 1875 at age 69 years and 1 month. He is
buried in Farnham Cemetery south of Conneaut on old Center Road.
Mr. Farnham was twice married, first to Mary A. Ring, of Conneaut, Ohio,
November 14, 1833. She died August 11, 1849. She is buried in
Farnham Cemetery. On January 30, 1850, he was united in marriage with
Mrs. Harriet A. Sanborn, who is still living. The children, who were
all born from the first marriage, are as follows: D. Alphonso, born
June 5, 1835, married Sophia Brooks, was a soldier in the Union army during
the Rebellion and died in the service. He died January 22, 1862 and
was buried in Farnham Cemetery; Flora, born June 12, 1837, is the wife of
the popular Sheriff, T. S. Young; P. Henry, born November 14, 1838, married
Mary Mallory and lives in Conneaut; Mary, born February 27, 1841, married
Martin Reals; Lydia E., born Mary 30, 1843, married C. L. Fuller, who was
drowned in Lake Erie; and Emily, born September 21, 1847, married William G.
Buss. Mr. Farnham held many positions of trust, and was for many years
a township officer. He was not only a worthy citizen, but an obliging
neighbor and an intelligent husband and father.
(Transcribed from Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio; published in
Chicago: Lewis Publ. Co., 1893 with notes added by Sharon Wick)
For REFERENCE:
See Farnham
Cemetery Index of burials
William
G.
Buss, a carpenter by trade
and a highly esteemed citizen of Conneaut, Ashtabula County, Ohio, was born
in Canada, and dates the day of his nativity back to June 2, 1838. He first
arrived in Conneaut when he was six weeks old, his parents having located
here at that time.
Mr. Buss is a son of Alford and Jane (Kilbourn) Buss, who were born,
reared and married in Vermont. Alford Buss was a tanner and currier by
trade. He carried on business at Conneaut from 1854 until 1859, when he
moved to Tennessee. In Tennessee business at Conneaut form 1865 until 1859,
when he moved to Tennessee. In Tennessee, he was engaged in the boot and
shoe business until the spring of 1863, when, with his property burned by
the rebels and his life threatened by them, and for no other reason than
that he was a Union man, he was obliged to seek a home elsewhere.
Just before he left a friend of his, a Union Man, was
found suspended by the neck and dead, Mr. Buss had warning that unless he
left within twenty-four hours he would share the fate of his friend.
General Buell made his headquarters on Mr. Buss's premises while in that
vicinity. Coming north with his family -- wife and one son -- Mr. Buss
located in New Albany, Indiana. Eight months he went to Galena, same State,
where he spent the rest of his life, engaged in the boot and shoe trade. He
was born in 1809 and lived to be seventy-six years old. His wife also born
in 1809 died in 1866. Their family was composed of six children, as
follows: (9) Loring, who was
accidentally drowned in Conneaut Creek in 1842 at the age of six years;
William G., the subject of this sketch; Henry who came home from the
army during the war with health impaired, and died two weeks later at the
age of twenty-two; Alfred, who was in the same battery with his
brother Henry -- the Section Ohio -- was discharged on account of
disability in 1863, but recovered, and several years afterward died of heart
disease; George, who enlisted in a Kentucky regiment in 1864 and
served until the end of the war, is now a resident of Galena, Indiana; and
Hattie, widow of Burr Emerson, is a resident of Crothersville,
Indiana.
William G. Buss first launched out in business for
himself in a sawmill at Port Burwell, Canada. When the war broke out he came
to the United States and enlisted at Ashtabula, Ohio, April 27, 1861, in
Company I, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in the three months service. He was
discharged August 30, 1861, and on the 16th of the following month enlisted
in Germany E., Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a Sergeant. He
veternized December 21, 1863 at Wauchatchie, Tennessee; was mustered out of
the service at Louisville, Kentucky, July 13, 1865. Among the engagements
he took part in were those of Winchester, Port Republic, Chancellorsville,
Gettysburg, and Look-out Mountain. He was with Sherman on that famous march
"Atlanta to the sea," thence up through the Carolinas to Richmond and on to
Washington, taking part in the grand review.
William G. Buss first launched out in business for
himself in a sawmill at Fort Burwell, Canada. When the war broke out he
came to the United States and enlisted in Ashtabula, Ohio, April 27, 1861,
in the Company I, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in the three months service. He
was discharged August 30, 1861, and on the 16th following month enlisted in
Company E., Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a Sergeant. He
veteranized December 21, 1863, at Wauhatchie, Tennessee; was mustered out of
the service at Louisville, Kentucky, December 21, 1863, at Wauhatchie,
Tennessee, was mustered out of the services at Louisville, Kentucky, July
13, 1865. Among the engagements he took part in were those of Winchester,
Fort Repubic, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Look-out Mountain. He was
with Sherman on that famous march "Atlanta to the sea," thence up through
the Carolinas to Richmond and on to Washington, taking part in the grand
review.
The war over Mr. Buss went to Saginaw, Michigan, as a
lumber inspector, and remained there until 1876. He has since been a
resident of Conneaut, engaged in work at the carpenters trade.
Mr. Buss was married March 28, 1867 to Miss Emma
Farnham, a native of Conneaut and a daughter of (7) Elisha and Mary
(Ring) Farnham. Elisha Farnham was born in Connecticut June 8, 1806,
the sixth in the family of ten children of Thomas Farnham. Thomas
Farnham and his father were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. At the age
of twenty-five Elisha Farnham came West to Ohio and settled in Ashtabula
county on lands that he occupied up the time of his death. He owned and
operated a gristmill and sawmill, located four miles from Conneaut. He was
married in Conneaut. He died October 4, 1875, aged sixty-nine years, his
wife having passed away in 1849, aged thirty-two. Mrs. Buss was two years
old when her mother died, and was the youngest of the family, which was
composed of (6) six children, the others being
as follows: Don Alphonzo, who served in the Second Ohio Battery two
years, came from the army and died soon afterward of hasty consumption; (1)
(2) Flora, wife of T. S. Young, of South
Ridge, this county; (4) Patrick Henry, a
Wisconsin farmer; Mary, wife of Steven Havelin, of South Ridge;
Lydia E., widow of Cornell Fuller, is a resident of Conneaut.
Mr. and Mrs. Buss have five children, viz,: Henry,
Jennie, Don Alfred, Lee Ring, and Anna Emily.
(3) Henry married
Minnie Tinker and lives in Conneaut. The other children are members of
the home circle.
Mr. Buss belongs to the G. A. R., and his wife is a
charter member of the W. R. C. at Conneaut, of which organization she was
the first vice-president.
(Transcribed from Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio; published in
Chicago: Lewis Publ. Co., 1893 with notes added by Sharon Wick)
L.
I.
Baldwin, a venerable
citizen of Conneaut, for several years engaged in milling, now retired from
active business, dates his birth in Oneida county, New York, October 26,
1811. The facts in regards to his life and ancestry have been gleaned and
are herewith presented.
The Baldwins trace their ancestry back to Nathaniel
Baldwin, of England, whose son, Samuel, was the father of Nathaniel Baldwin,
the great-great-grandson of the subject of our sketch. Nathaniel Baldwin
and his wife, nee Abigail Camp, came from England to America and
settled in Milford, Connecticut, in 1639. He was born in Bucks county,
England, and died in Connecticut in 1658. His wife died March 22, 1648. At
the time they came to America his brothers, Timothy, Joseph, John, and
Richard also came. Nathaniel and Abigail Baldwin had seven children:
John, Daniel, Nathaniel, Abigail, Samuel, Sarah, and Deborah. Samuel,
the fifth, was born November 28, 1744, and died February 22, 1804. His
wife, who before her marriage was Mercy Stanley, died January 6, 1768. They
had a family of six sons and five daughters, one of whom, Enos Stanley
Baldwin, married Charlotte Bailey, and had four sons and four
daughters. Enos S. died October 20, 1828, and his wife died February
26, 1815. One of their four sons, Remus, the father of L. I., was
born in Milford, October 5, 1791, and his wife, whose maiden name was Julia
Ives, was born December 20, 1787, she, too, being a native of Connecticut.
Remus Baldwin moved to New York and subsequently to
Pennsylvania, in Erie, in the latter State, spending the closing days of his
life. He and his wife were engaged in farming and afterwards in various
occupations. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church for
many years, he being an officer in the Church. They were married September
9, 1810. Their family of five children is as follows: L. I.; Almira C.,
wife of David Brand, is deceased, as also is her husband; Samuel, who
married Abigail Snow, is deceased; Horace and his wife, Nancy A. (Welton),
are both deceased; and Caleb Parker, unmarried, died on the Pacific
ocean, July 29, 1852, while on his way to California, the supposed cause of
his death being cholera. The father of this family died in Erie,
Pennsylvania, December 9, 1853; the mother at the same place, February 10,
1873.
L. I. Baldwin removed with his parents from Oneida to
Genesee county, New York and in 1820 to Cattaraugus county, same State,
whence they afterward removed to Erie county, Pennsylvania. He remained on
the farm with his father until after they went to Erie county, when he
located at Erie for the purpose of learning a trade, that of woolen
manufacturer. After remaining there six years, he went back to the farm.
For many years he farmed in Erie county. In the spring of 1872 he located
in Conneaut, and here for four years he ran a gristmill. He served as
Justice of the peace of Conneaut three years, having filled the same office
while a resident of Elk Creek and Girard, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Baldwin was married August 10, 1837, to Miss
Rosanna Battles, daughter of Asa and Elizabeth (Brown) Battles.
Her father was born in Massachusetts, April 10, 1786, and her mother in
Vermont, May 9, 1787. The former died in 1848, and the latter in 1868. In
the Battles family were six children, as follows:
(2) Rosina, oldest, born June 27, 1815; George, a resident
of California; Alsina, of Girard, Pennsylvania; Lucina, also
of Girard; Asa, deceased; and Rush, a banker, manufacturer and
farmer of Girard.
Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin have had twelve children, namely:
Byron A., a real-estate dealer of Chicago, is married and has two
children; Julia, wife of James A. Moorehead, Erie
county, Pennsylvania, has six children; Narcissa,
wife of J. C. Denslow, died at the age of twenty years;
Remus Asa, who married Adaline Foot
and has seven children, was in the war two years, and the past twenty-seven
years has been in the employ of the Pittsburg & Cleveland Railroad, being
now a resident of Cleveland; Georgia A., wife of
Morton H. Gould, of Arizonia, has seven children; Gorbam Ives, an
engineer, was killed in a railroad wreck in 1882, and left a widow and three
children; (4) Florence
E., who died at the age of thirty-six years;
Rush Emerson died at St. Louis at the age of
twenty-one years; Lucene, wife of C. R. Goddard,
of Conneaut, has four children; Leslie, who died at the age of
twenty-six years; (2)
Kent Kane, married and living in Chicago, has three children;
Elmer E., of Conneaut, is married and has one
child. There are forty grandchildren to the family and five
great-grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin celebrated the fiftieth
anniversary of their marriage August 10, 1887.
(Transcribed from Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio; published in
Chicago: Lewis Publ. Co., 1893 with notes added by Sharon Wick)
For REFERENCE:
(1)
See Death Register
(2)
See City
Cemetery
(3)
See City Cemetery
(4)
See City
Cemetery
H. N.
Havens, a member of the
firm of Wright & Havens, proprietors of a planing mill and contractors and
builders, Conneaut, Ohio, is one of the substantial and highly esteemed
citizens of this place.
H. N. Havens was born in Chautauqua county, New York,
July 13, 1846, son of Nelson and Eliza (Ashley) Havens. His
parents were born, reared and married in New York, and his father was a
well-to-do farmer of that State, living an active and useful life and dying
in 1866, aged fifty-eight years. He took an active interest in the
educational affairs, and served as School Trustee for many years;
religiously, was an Universalist; politically, a Republican. He was
connected with the Underground Railroad. He believed in a vigorous
prosecution of the war and was deeply interested in the success of the Union
forces. Few men in his vicinity had more friends than he. His
good wife, who shared in his religious belief and who was a member of the
same church, passed away in 1849. The subject of this sketch is the
youngest of their eight children, four of whom are still living.
In early life, Mr. H. H. Havens learned the trade of shoemaker and worked at
that trade for five years. Then he began working at the carpenter's
trade and has since been emgaged in contracting and building. He is a
natural mechanic. Since 1888 he has been identified with the firm of
Wright & Havens, which firm has from the beginning done a most successful
business, their business amounting the past year to about $50,000.
Mr. Havens was married September 3, 1867, to Miss Mary E. Loucks, daughter
of John R. and Eunice Loucks, both of whom are deceased. Mrs. Haven
was a devoted wife and loving mother and was a member of the Christian
Church. Her untimely death occured in 1874, at the age of twenty-six
years. She left two children, Eunice and Ralph B. The former
died at the age of eleven years. Ralph B. is an expert wood turner,
probably not having a superior in the State, and he is in the employ of the
Glenville Standard Manufacturing Company. He married Miss Kate
Woodbury, daughter of T. W. Woodbury, of Conneaut, and has one child,
Nelson. After the death of his mother, Ralph B. Spent six years in the
Wade family at Andover, this county, Mr. Wade being a brother of Mrs.
Colfax, wife of the vice president. He was educated in the schools of
that place and while he was there the Colfax family visited Mr. Wade and one
of the Colfax boys and Ralph became fast friends. The
subject of this sketch, like his father, affiliates with the Republican
party.
(Transcribed from Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio; published in
Chicago: Lewis Publ. Co., 1893 with notes added by Sharon Wick)
Major
Frank
Viets - No more worthy
representative of an old and honored Ohio family is to be found than the
subject of this sketch, to whose services in defense of his country is added
a long life of usefulness and activity in peaceful affairs, calculated to
upbuild and beautify that land which he helped to save to liberty and right.
The founder of the family in America was the great grandfather of the
subject of this sketch, who came from Germany and settled in Vermont in an
early day, and it is very probable that he spelled his name "Vietz," instead
of the manner employed by his descendants. His son, Jesse Viets, was
born in Green Mountain State in 1785, and was a farmer and pioneer Methodist
minister. When about thirty-two years of age, he concluded to try his
fortunes west of the Allegany mountains, and accordingly turned his steps
toward Ohio, then a new and slightly settled country. He made his way
overland by the slow and tedious means of an ox team, consuming as many
weeks in the undertaking as it now takes day to cover the same distance.
Finally arriving in Ohio, he settled in Amboy, where he passed the remainder
of his days, when not traveling on his ministerial missions. These
latter usually took him along the shore of Lake Erie, from Buffalo probably
as far as Cleveland, and the greater number of Methodist congregations in
that part of the country were organized by him. He was exceedingly
enthusiastic in his work and more widely known than any other man in the
same district. Highly intellectual, probably, possessed of an splendid
education, a fluent speaker, of unexampled energy and perseverance, combined
with great personal magnetism, he was well calculated to wage war against
the powers of darkness, and used his talents to great effect. The
great and good man died in Amboy about 1848, his loss carrying widespread
sorrow to many hearts and homes, where he was universally beloved and
revered. His six children were as follows: Rodney, born in 1807;
Dolly Ann, married Horatio Lovejoy, and they both died in Conneaut; Roland
died; Mary Ann, became the wife of Henry Benson, and both died in Conneaut;
Lucinda married John Watson, and both died in Iowa. Rodney
Viets, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Vermont, and
accompanied by his parents to Ashtabula county, Ohio, in 1817, and it was
ever afterward his home. He received a good education under the able
guidance of his illustrious father, and when a young man was engaged for a
time in teaching. This he continued at the age of twenty-four to enter
the ministry of the Disciple Church, preaching his first sermon in Ashtabula
county, probably at Amboy. He inherited his father's genius and
indomitable spirit for good, and would often ride long distances and
encounter the fiercest weather to comfort those needing spiritual aid.
He never held a regular appointment, but worked wherever he could do the
most good. He was married, in Ashtabula county, to Lucinda Wood, a
woman of rare force of intellect and sweetness of character, the youngest in
a large family of children of a prominent pioneer of this county. Her
father is now buried in Amboy, of which city he was an early settler.
They had ten children: Rodney, who died when young; one died in
infancy; Amandona, deceased, was the wife of H. A. Walton, of Saybrook;
Byron is a farmer of Geauga county; Melissa A., is the wife of D. H.
Gaylord, of Geneva; Frank is the subject of this sketch; Mary, married, is
now deceased; Henry Warren; Celestia, wife of C. E. Cooper, resides in North
Dakota; and Durell, whereabouts unknown. The family were called upon
the mourn the loss of the father in 1887, who died at a ripe old age,
greatly lamented by all who knew him. No one in this vicinity, unless
it was his father, ever did more to strengthen and advance the moral welfare
of the community than he, and he richly deserves the high regard in which he
is universally held. Major Frank Viets, whose name heads this
brief biography, was born in Saybrook, Ashtabula county, Ohio, March 12,
1839, and received his education in the common schools of that city.
He resided at home until his majority, being employed on the farm in the
lumber camp. At the end of this time, the Civil war broke out and he
hastened with all the ardor of youthful patriotism to tender his services to
his country. He enlisted for four months in Company F, of the State
militia, which was a part of the Ohio Volunteer Artillery. This
company was at once ordered to the front and fired the first gun at the
battle of Philippi, in West Virginia. The battles of Laurel Hill and
Carrick's Ford were fought before the expiration of the first term of
enlistment. The company was afterward ordered to Camp Chase, and there
underwent two musters in and out of the Federal service in one day.
Major Viets then returned home and assisted in raising and organizing
Battery C, in which he was commissioned Second Lieutenant, by Governor Tod.
This company was then ordered in Camp Dennison near Cincinnati, Ohio, and on
September 9, 1861, they were mustered into the three years' service.
Kentucky was the scene of immediate action and the battle of Wild Cat was
the first battle, which was followed by that at Mill Springs, where Major
Viets was within reach of the rebel general, Zollicoffer, when that officer
was killed. Thence the command of Major Viets went to Fort Donelson,
whence they proceeded to Nashville and Pittsburg Landing, and subsequently
participated in the siege of Corinth. Here the Confederate forces,
under General Bragg, got behind the Federal troops and drove the latter back
across Kentucky, engaging them in battle at Perryville, in October, 1862.
The confederates, however, were repulsed, and were forced to retire into the
Confederacy, whither Major Viets' command followed them to near Nashville,
Tennessee. The Major's command then swung off after General Morgan,
whom they met at Hartwell's Ferry, and again at Rolling Fork river, at which
latter point the Union forces defeated the Confederate troops, whom the
Federals followed out of the State to Nashville and La Verge. At the
latter point, owing to an injury received by Major Viets some time
previously, he resigned his commission of First Lieutenant and returned
home, having been in the service just two years.
He then secured a sub-contract in the construction of the
Jamestown & Franklin Railroad, which, from the standpoint of finances, was
disastrous to every contractor on the work. This adverse turn in the
Major's fortunes caused him to look to the West, as the place best
calculated to enable him to retrieve his finances, and he accordingly
established himself, in 1868 in Kansas City, Missouri, where he entered the
commission business, dealing with the commissary of the Kansas Pacific
Railroad, then being built. As the road extended from point to point
beyond Kansas City, the Major removed his business to each succeeding
headquarters as far as Denver. At this time, the Major's attention was
attracted to the Red River country in Dakota, by the building of the
Northern Pacific railroad, which he decided was a country of wonderful
resources, with a brilliant future before it. He was so favorably
impressed with its prospects that, in the fall of 1870, he removed his
family to the Red River valley, 200 miles in advance of any railroad, and
established himself in Grand Forks. Here he engaged in the real estate
business, in merchandising and milling and various other profitable
ventures, as time and the development of the city warranted. He was
half-owner of the town site, and was exceedingly active in all financial
enterprises. Mrs. Viets was the first white woman in the village, and
it was not until the following fall that another white woman put in an
appearance. After thirteen years of frontier life, becoming weary of
incessant activity, the Major determined to return to Ohio and provide
himself with a good home, in which to pass his declining days, still,
however, retaining his extensive interests in Grand Forks, which city he
visits annually. Here, in Ohio, the Major owns a large and well
improved farm near Ashtabula, where he means accumulated by the toil of
former years. Besides his other enterprises, he is largely interested
in the Ashtabula Driving Park Association, and is a stockholder in the
London Company, of Ashtabula, in which he is also president. In fact,
having been a man of activity for so many years, the Major finds it
difficult to keep his determination of eschewing all business pursuits.
On November 30, 1865, Major Viets was married to Miss Nancy L. Dow, a lady
of sterling qualities of mind and heart, who is a daughter of John Dow, a
well-known pioneer of this county, who married, a Miss Butterfield, also a
representative of an old and respected family. Major and Mrs. Viets
have but one child, Gertrude, born March 5, 1866, who was educated in
Faribault, Minnesota, and married M. S. Titus, now a banker at Minto, North
Dakota. Their marriage occurred in July, 1887, and they have two
children: Annie, aged four years; and Frances, aged eighteen months.
Politically, Major Viets adheres to the principles of the Republican party,
but has not served officially except as Commissioner of his county in Dakota
and as Councilman of Grand Forks, although his financial Training and
upright character, combined with rare executive ability, amply fit him for
the creditable discharge of any important public duties.
(Transcribed from Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio; published in
Chicago: Lewis Publ. Co., 1893 with notes added by Sharon Wick)
Sagito
Jay Smith,
Mayor of Conneaut, Ohio has been identified with that place for many years
and has probably done more to advance its interests than any other man.
It is therefore fitting that appropriate mention of him should grace the
pages of this work. Sagito J. Smith was born in Ashtabula
county, Ohio, Aug. 23, 1834, son of Plin and Aurelia (Weeks) Smith, natives
of Sheldon, Vermont. His parents came to Ashtabula county, Ohio,
in 1829, and established their home in a log house in Andover. The
music of howling wolves was frequently heard from their cabin door.
Plin Smith was a wagon maker by trade. Soon after moving out here he
cut down an acre of trees on the farm of Roger Cadwell to pay for having his
boots half soled. The subject of our sketch was the third born in his
family of eleven children, and is one of the seven who are still living.
John Smith, the grandfather of the subject of this
sketch, was born in New London, Connecticut and died in 1816. His
maternal grandfather, John Weeks, was of English ancestry, and died when he
was thirty-one years. He had a family of five children: Philo,
Jedediah, Eliza, Ann and Aurelia. Jedediah died when about fourteen
years of age. Plin and Aurelia Smith were the parents of eleven
children: Philo, Josett, Sagito, Delia, Mary, John H., Aurelia,
Amelia, Eliza, Plin W. and Lizzie H. Mrs. Smith died April 21, 1893 at
the age of eighty-three years and was bright and active up to the time
of her death. Plin Smith was an old friend of Benjamin Wade, and in
the early days they were much together. Mr. S. J. Smith
received of this county at at Kingsville Academy, and for two years taught
in the country schools, "boarding around." In 1854 he came to Conneaut
and entered upon a mercantile carrier as clerk in the store of D. N.
Webster, at $6.00 per month. A few months later he entered the employ
of Thompson & Rice, at an increase of $.00 per month on his salary, and
remained with that firm five years. At the end of that time he formed
a partnership with E. A. Keyes and opened out in business at the old Keyes
stand at the foot of Main street. A year and a half later, in 1860, he
sold out to Mr. Keyes. They he engaged in the general merchandise
business by himself at the stand where he first began clerking. With
$350 in his pocket he set out for New York to buy goods, on the day Fort
Sumter was fired upon. At the house of Butler, Cecil, Ross & Co., in
that city, his honest face and straightforward manner ingratiated him at
once. Mr. Cecil, the financier of the firm, after a short interview
with him, remarked: "Young man, you have a small capital with which to
start in business, but you look to me like a young man of energy and honesty
and one who would succeed in business. Buy all the goods you want."
And during his long business career he bought more goods from that house
than any other. He made many visits to New York during the exciting
times of the war, and did a successful business until the fall of Vicksburg,
in July, 1863. For five years after that date he barely held his own.
He continued in the general merchandise business here until 1887, and at
various times had interests in branch stores elsewhere. He still has
some mercantile interests in the county, being a member of the firm of E. T.
Dorman & Co., and also of the Andover firm, Smith & Baker. In
the meantime he merged into manufacturing, buying the Conneaut paper mill at
the foot of Main street in 1872. After conducting the mill for some
time he discovered that it could be run on a more paying basis.
Accordingly he put in new machinery and made a specialty of the
manufacturing of paper flour sacks, completing and printing the sacks and
selling them direct to millers. He put in six printing presses and
employed a large force of hands. In this enterprise he was very
successful and continued to do a paying business until one night in
December, 1889, when the mill, while in operation, was burned.
During this time Mr. Smith formed a partnership with Thayer & Lake, the firm
name being Lake, Thayer & Smith, and in 1880 they began a private banking
business, Mr. Lake being president. After the death of Mr. Lake the
bank was reorganized into a National bank, and Mr. Smith has since been its
president. In 1885, when the American Bag Company was organized, with
Senator R. Kell of New York as president, Mr. Smith was chosen as one of the
directors, he holding a large portion of the stock. Besides
the business affairs already referred to, Mr. Smith has also been interested
in real estate transactions. He purchased several tracts of land in
this vicinity about the time the Nickel Plat division was located here, in
the establishment of which road he took an active part, making frequent
trips to New York in the interest of the line. In 1880 he purchased
the Herald, which he conducted for ten years, when, by reason of the
destruction of his plant by fire, he joined with the Reporter, securing an
interest in that office, from which both papers have since been issued - the
Herald on Friday and the Reporter on Tuesday. Mr. Smith was
elected, on the Republican ticket, Mayor of Conneaut in 1875 and served one
term of two years, declining a second term. In 1890, he was again
elected to this office, and in 1892, was re-elected by an overwhelming
majority. His present term will expire in April, 1894. From a
leading publication we clip the following: "The municipal government,
with S. J. Smith, Esq., as Mayor, is characterized for prompt, thorough and
conservative legislation, while the general status of the city is excellent.
Real estate is held at reasonable prices, there are countless attractive
sites obtainable and the citizens have already evinced their willingness to
entertain and substantially encourage any legitimate manufacture that may
bring liberal increase to the local population." Within his
administration the water works and sewerage system of Conneaut were
constructed. Mr. Smith(1) was
married December 7, 1859 to Miss Alitcia Lake, daughter of Hiram(3)(4)
and Lois (Gifford) Lake of Conneaut. She died May 28, 1889, aged
fifty-three years, leaving two children, namely: Hiram L., who has
succeeded his father in the merchandise business in Conneaut; and Lois, wife
of E. T. Dorman, also of Conneaut. Mrs. Smith was a member of the
Congregational Church for many years. Mr. Smith's second marriage
occurred December 7, 1891, the lady of his choice being Mrs. Daphne (Jones)
Loomis, daughter of Mrs. Hiram Lake(2) by her former
marriage of Solomon Jones, a well-known and highly esteemed citizen of
Conneaut. Mr. Smith has adopted his niece, Elsie, who is the daughter
of his sister Amelia, who is deceased, as is also her husband, Nathan
Guthrie. Mr. Smith built his residence, corner of Main
and Mill streets, in 1865, the timber for which he hauled from his father's
farm, twenty-five miles south of here, helping to cut down the trees
himself. In 1868 he built the Lake & Smith Block, corner of Main and
Harbor streets. At this writing he is building a three-story block,
which will be arranged for banking and store rooms below and offices above,
the building to be fitted with elevator and all modern conveniences.
Mr. Smith and his wife are members of the Congregational Church, of which he
has been a Trustee for a number of years. He was a member of the
building committee of his church in Conneaut, the other three members of the
committee being G. J. Record, M. D. Townsend and Hiram Judson. This
committee cleared over $1,700 in one day in running an excursion to Niagara
Falls, July 4, 1876, which sum was paid over to the building fund. In
politics Mr. Smith is a Republican, and is an earnest temperance worker.
He has traveled extensively and is well informed on the general topics of
the day. After the death of his first wife he took a trip across the
continent. In 1892 he and his wife made an extended tour through
Mexico and Southern California. He was a delegate for the Nineteenth
District of Ohio to the Republican National Convention at Minneapolis, which
nominated Harrison for President.
(Transcribed from Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio; published in
Chicago: Lewis Publ. Co., 1893 with notes added by Sharon Wick)
FOR REFERENCE:
(1) Sagito J. &
Alicia L. Smith, along with their children Hiram L. & Lois A. can be found
in the 1880 Census of Conneaut, Ashtabula Co., Ohio on Page 473.
(2) Hiram Lake and his
wife is also found on Page 473 of 1800 Census of Conneaut, Ashtabula Co.,
Ohio.
(3) Hiram Lake and his
wife, Louis (Lois) is found in 1860 Census on June 19th, 1860 - Borough of
Conneaut, O. - Page 231b - Dwelling 524 Family 527.
(4) Hiram Lake and his
wife, Lois are buried in City Cemetery, Conneaut, Ashtabula Co., OH
(See 1870 Census Conneaut,
Ohio)
(5) Sagito J. Smith in 1880
Census, Conneaut Village, Ashtabula Co., Ohio pg. 381b
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