OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 801 Today's Topics: #1 Fw: Bio - 1885 - Portage co, OH, R ["Maggie Stewart" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <04c201bf386c$50021380$0300a8c0@local.net> Subject: Fw: Bio - 1885 - Portage co, OH, Ravenna #8 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit ----- Original Message ----- From: Betty Ralph To: Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 1999 10:39 AM Bios: Gardner, Gibbons, Goeppinger, Griffin, Grinnell - Portage County, Ohio, from "History of Portage County, Ohio" published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885 Copyright C 1999 by Betty Ralph. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. bralph@hiwaay.net ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************ DE WITT CHAMPLIN GARDNER, insurance agent, Ravenna, was born November 24, 1839, in Freedom, this county. His father, Ira Gardner, born in Vernon, N.Y., May 6, 1803, at the death of his parents was brought up by an uncle in Black Rock, Oneida Co., N.Y. He learned the shoe-maker's trade and in 1826 came to Middlebury, Portage (now Summit) County. Here he was one of the Superintendents on the construction of the Baltimore & & Chesapeake Canal. In 1828 he married Miss Martha, daughter of Judge Norton. They came to Ravenna in 1830, and in 1838 located on a farm in Freedom Township, where Mrs. Gardner died in 1838. Two of their children are now living: Miles Gardner, in Ashtabula County, Ohio, and Mrs. D.K. Wheeler, in Ravenna. Mr. Gardner then married Miss Olive A., daughter of Thaddeus Curtiss, of Charlestown, this county, and their children are De Witt C.; Lafayette C., in Kansas; Mrs. Esther B. Barber, in Lincoln, Neb.; Mrs. E. Stedman, in Newton Falls, Ohio, and Charles F., in Wadsworth, Ohio. Ira Gardner died March 30, 1871. He was elected Sheriff of this county in 1856. In politics he was a Republican. Mrs. Gardner died in 1876. Our subject, D.C. Gardner, received his education in the schools of the home district and at Hiram College. He enlisted with a large number of his fellow students in the famous Forty-second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under James A. Garfield, September, 1861. He was wounded in the right shoulder at the battle of Port Gibson, Miss., May 1, 1863, and received his discharge in September of the same year. After taking a commercial course at Cleveland, Ohio, he settled on the farm with his parents, where he remained until his mother's death in 1876. He located in Ravenna, in 1877, and entered into partnership with H.C. Bedell, as agents for line of fire and life insurance companies. Mr. Gardner bought out his partner's interest in 1883, and now carries on the business alone. The companies represented by this agency are of a first-class character, numbering about twenty, in fire, life, accident, tornado and plate-glass. Mr. Gardner married, September 27, 1882, Miss Cynthia M. daughter of Edward G. and Alantha Beckwith, of Dimondale, Eaton Co., Mich. Mrs. Gardner is a member of the Congregational Church. Mr. Gardner is a life-long Republican. He is a member of the G.A.R. WILLIAM S. GIBBONS, police officer, Ravenna, was born in Salem, Columbiana Co., Ohio, August 23, 1843. His father, Hugh Gibbons, came to this county in about 1853, and after living some years each in several townships to the eastern and northeastern parts of the county, finally moved, in about 1874, to Akron, Ohio. Our subject enlisted in April, 1861, in Company G, Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and re-enlisted in the same regiment two months later for three years service. He served in the Army of the Potomac, and took part in most of the fierce engagements in the Virginia campaigns. He received three wounds at the battle of Cedar Mountain, August 9, 1862, compelling him to remain in hospital eight months. He also received several slight wounds at other times. At the expiration of his time he re-enlisted in the Eleventh Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, serving till the close of the war in the Army of the Cumberland. In the famous march to the sea he had command of a foraging company with the rank of Sergeant. He made an honorable record as a brave and faithful soldier, receiving his final discharge at Washington, June 11, 1865. Returning to Ravenna our subject worked here about twelve months as glass-blower, also in Pittsburgh, Penn. He was Deputy Sheriff of this county under the administration of O.B. Payne and O.C. Risdon. In 1871 he was appointed police officer and elected Marshal of Ravenna, and since then has been at the head of the police system of Ravenna most of the time. He is a faithful and fearless officer, discharging his duties to the satisfaction of the people. Mr. Gibbons has been successful in acquiring property. He is one of the principal stockholders of the Crown Flint Glass Works, of which he held the position of Director two years. Mr. Gibbons married, August 9, 1866, Miss Margaret E. Cline, born in Ravenna, December 14, 1844. Her father, William Cline, a native of Pennsylvania, married Miss Amanda Sapp. Mrs. Cline died July 30, 1884. Mr. Cline still resides at his home on South Walnut Street, Ravenna. Our subject is a member in high standing of the I.O.O.F; also a member of the R.A. and G.A.R. CHRISTOPHER FREDERICK GOEPPINGER, tanner, Ravenna, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, September 3, 1841. His father, Justis J. Goeppinger, came to America in 1849, and sent for his family to follow in 1850. They lived four years at Jackson, Ohio, two years at Ellsworth, Ohio, and finally settled at Newton Falls, Ohio, where they now reside. Our subject learned his trade with his father. January 25, 1866, he married Miss Mary M. Schauweker, a native of Columbiana County, born July 5, 1841. Their children now living are Rudolph, Eva, Lizzie and Ada. Those deceased are Della and Mary. In 1867 Mr. Goeppinger purchased the tannery of Martin Cretzinger, at Ravenna. He at once established himself here permanently and went to work improving and building up the business. He now carries on the only tannery in the place. He makes a specialty of fine harness leather, for which this establishment has a wide and first-class reputation. The products of this tannery are in great demand and are shipped to the far West, finding as well a ready sale in the Eastern and home markets. Mrs. Goeppinger is a member of the Reformed Church. Mr. Goeppinger is a member of the Lutheran Church. He is a stanch Democrat; a member of the I.O.O.F. and is a F. & A.M. ANDREW B. GRIFFIN was born August 7, 1819, in Oneida County, N.Y., and is a son of Richard I. and Anna (Buell) Griffin. He located in Ravenna in 1838, where he married Miss Elvira J. Stowe, June 14, 1843. Her parents, Auren and Hannah (Sheldon) Stoew, native of New Marlboro, Mass., came to this county in 1811. The Stowe brothers (Auren and Hiram) carried the United States express from Cleveland to Pittsburgh during the war of 1812. Our subject carried on a cabinet shop until 1856, when he took charge of the hub factory purchased by the Stowe brothers. In 1880 he purchased the hub factory, which he sold out in 1884. Mr. Griffin has some very fine and intricate cabinet work which was exhibited with high honor at the Centennial Exposition. He has held the positions of Town Clerk and Treasurer, Justice of the Peace and Mayor. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Griffin were George (deceased), Emilie (deceased), and Mrs. Carrie G. Esty. WILLIAM GRINNELL, Ravenna, Ohio, a son of James and Julia (Luce) Grinnell, was born in Allegany County, N.Y., June 28, 1839. The family immigrated to Ohio, and settled in Franklin Township, this county, where Mrs. Grinnell died. James Grinnell is a resident of Summit County. Our subject lived on a farm until about eighteen years of age, when he entered a store at Kent, Ohio, as a salesman. In the spring of 1859 he went to Hardin County, Ky., working on a farm a short time; then entered a store in Elizabethtown, same county, as salesman. During the winter of 1860 and 1861, a military company being organized, our subject was waited upon by a committee and urged to join for drill, but declined the invitation. This act rendered his stay in that locality rather unpleasant, and in the spring of 1861 he returned to Kent, Ohio; re-entered a store, where he remained until 1862, when he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in as Fifth Sergeant. He was promoted to be First Lieutenant; was wounded at the siege of Knoxville, Ky., November 29, 1863, causing confinement to hospital until April 1, 1864; was commissioned Captain of Company D soon after his return home, but discharged on account of wounds. Mr. Grinnell was united in marriage in 1865, with Rachel A. Phillips, a native of this county. He was acting as Deputy at the time of his election as Auditor of this county in 1868, which position he occupied twelve years. In 1883 he was appointed by the Governor a member of the Tax Commission, to revise tax laws of State, but declining health necessitated his resignation. Our subject was one of the founders and builders of the Flint Glass Works at Ravenna, Ohio, and its Secretary and Treasurer until January, 1884. He was actively identified with the building of the new court House, having drafted the original bill and forwarded the same to the Legislature, by which authority was given the Commissioners to issued bonds and erect said Court House, and then, by appointment of Common Pleas Court, was made one of the Building Committee. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Fri, 26 Nov 1999 19:14:23 -0500 From: "Maggie Stewart" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <04c801bf386c$5bb9f440$0300a8c0@local.net> Subject: Fw: Bio - 1885 - Portage co, OH, Ravenna #9 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit ----- Original Message ----- From: Betty Ralph To: Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 1999 12:32 PM Bios: Harmon - Harris, Hinman, Holcomb - Portage County, Ohio, from "History of Portage County, Ohio" published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885 Copyright C 1999 by Betty Ralph. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. bralph@hiwaay.net ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************ ELIAS HARMON, one of the first settlers of Mantua, was a descendant of Francis Harmon, who in 1635 settled near Boston, Mass. His children were John and Sarah Harmon, the former one of the first settlers of Springfield, Mass. Nathaniel, a son of John Harmon, was, with the exception of his two brothers, the first settler of Suffield, Conn., and there John Harmon, the great-grandfather of Elias Harmon, of Mantua, was born. He was the first Deacon of the first church at Suffield, and died there in 1786. Elias Harmon, father of the Elias Harmon, who settled in Mantua in 1799, was also a native of Suffield, Conn., and in that village resided until his death. In the history of Mantua will be found a record of Elias Harmon's settlement. During his residence in Portage county he held the following positions: supervisor of Highways in 1803; Justice of the Peace from 1808 to 1815; he was appointed Associate Judge in 1815, and reappointed to 1836; in 1808 was County Treasurer, reappointed in 1809; Assessor in 1810; Deputy United States Marshal in 1810; was elected Representative 1810-12, receiving 148 votes against John Campbell's seventy-three and Hezekiah Burrough's seventy-seven. From 1814 to 1835 he was engaged as Land Agent for original owners of Western Reserve lands. His daughter, Eunice, was the first white child born in the township, and the first white female child in the county. In 1802 Zacheas Harmon settled at Mantua, and four years later came Seth, Enos, John and Daniel Harmon, three of whom served in the war of 1812 and were taken prisoners by the British at Malden, Canada. Elias Harmon died in September, 1851 (vide Mantua and county history). Orrin Harmon, son of Judge Elias Harmon, was born in Mantua Township, February 22, 1805, and was educated in the schools of that township. His wife, Mrs. Camilla (King) Harmon (daughter of Dr. Robert King, who settled in Charlestown Township, this county, in 1826), was born at Sandisfield, Mass., November 14, 1802; came to Portage County with her father and was married to Mr. Harmon, at Ravenna, September 26, 1832. This lady died June 17, 1878. Of their children, Julian C. Harmon, born February 17, 1835, is now a resident of Ravenna, and owner of a large farm near the city; Sabrina C., born January 27, 1842, died October 10, 1856. Mr. Harmon, now in the eighty-fist year of his age, can look back seventy years to the beginning of the county, and relate with remarkable precision events connected with the county's progress and settlement. His long service as County Surveyor is referred to in the general history of the county. SAMUEL D. HARRIS, editor Democratic Press, Ravenna, was born in Ravenna Township, this county, May 17, 1816; son of Samuel D. Harris, born Bozrah, Conn., and Lucy S. Harris, a daughter of Zenas Kent, also a native of Connecticut. In 1812 Samuel D. Harris, Sr., moved to Stowe Township, now in Summit County, where he remained but a short time, and then moved to Ravenna, where he established a home and reared a family. Of his children there are three living: Samuel D., A.A., and Mary M., widow of Dr. Cane, of St. Paul, Minn. He was for years engaged in teaching school; served the county as Auditor from 1823 to 1831; was Surveyor from 1833 to 1845; again elected and served till 1857. Samuel D. Harris, Jr., served in the County Clerk's office, where he acted as Assistant from 1838 to 1855. He took a just pride in surveying and followed it until his death, which occurred in this county August 2, 1865. Our subject, after receiving his education in the common schools of the county and Ravenna Academy, taught school. In 1836 he entered the Western Courier office, then controlled by Selby & Robins, and in 1837 took a position at the case in the Buckeye Democrat, then published by John B. King & Co., and edited by Le Grand Byington. After the collapse of this journal in 1837, and early in 1838, he was employed as Assistant Clerk in the office of the Court of Common Pleas. He filled this position until 1844. In June, 1845, he and Boswell Batterson published the Portage Sentinel, a Democratic journal. Mr. Batterson sold his interest to Mr. Harris, who became sole proprietor about 1851. In August 1855, he sold the Sentinel to Alphonso Hart and a Mr. Craig, of New Lisbon. From August, 1855 to 1857, he studied law with N.L. Jeffrys at Ravenna, and was admitted by the District Court in 1857. Subsequently he was employed in the offices of Judge Day and H.C. Ranney. In 1860 he was Delegate to the Democratic National Convention at Charlestown, in company with Samuel Lamb, of Canton (Eighteenth Ohio District) both being firm supporters of Stephen A. Douglas. In 1861 he was one of the most ardent supporters of the Union movement, and in the fall of 1861 was nominated by Republicans and Democrats on the Union ticket as County Treasurer; was elected, and re-elected in 1863. From 1861 to 1866 he was a member of the County Military Committee. In August, 1868, he organized the Press office, and on September 3, that year, issued the first number of the Democratic Press, a thorough Democratic weekly journal, which he has edited continuously up to the present time. Mr. Harris was married April 28, 1844, to Miss Joannah Doty, daughter of David Doty, of Ravenna. They are the parents of three children, viz.: Lucy M., married to A.T. Smith, of Ravenna; George D., now part owner of the Press; and Miss Kate Harris, residing with her parents. ANSEL M. HINMAN, farmer, P.O. Ravenna, was born October 20, 1826, in Atwater Township, this county. His grandfather, Edward Hinman, and his father, Elizur Hinman, were among the pioneers of Ravenna Township, this county. Our subject received his education in the schools of the home district and at the Atwater Academy, and at twenty-five years of age he moved to Ravenna Township, this county, and married Miss Helen M. Reed, born in Worthington, Mass., and who came to Ravenna Township at seven years of age, in 1833, with her parents, Lathrop and Chloe Reed, who settled on and cleared up a farm on the road north of Ravenna, where Mr. Reed died in 1842. Mrs. Reed still resides at this place at the advanced age of ninety years. Their children were Mrs. Harriet Miller, deceased; Mrs. Susan M. Dewey, in Wellington, Ohio; Mrs. Helen M. Hinman, deceased, and Lathrop E. Reed, banker, St. Paul, Minn. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hinman located here on the homestead farm. Their children are Edward L., Mrs. Hattie Peck, Harlan E. and Henry D. (twins, who are still at home. Mrs. Hinman died in October 30, 1877. She was a lady of exalted Christian character, beloved by all who knew her. Mr. Hinman afterward married Miss Jennie Sackett, of Pittsburgh, Penn. He and his worthy wife are consistent members of the Congregational Church. WANZER HOLCOMB, capitalist, Ravenna, was born September 9, 1827, in this county, son of William A. Holcomb. He received his education in the schools of the home district and at Marlboro Academy, Stark Co., Ohio. In early life he learned the trade of stone and brick mason with his father. On September 25, 1851, he was married to Miss Sophronia C. Stough, of Ravenna, daughter of the well known pioneer, Jacob Stough, and was brought up in this city. Their children are Margaret (now Mrs. Smith), William W. and Harry S. After living in Edinburg two years and in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, five years our subject and family finally settled in Ravenna. Mr. Holcomb was appointed in 1857 Superintendent of Masonry on the A.&G.W. (now the N.Y.,P.&O.) R.R., which position he held until 1868. Since that time he has been engaged as contractor, taking extensive contracts for corporations and railroad companies. Since 1870 he has been connected with the Diamond Glass Works of this city, and now owns a one-half interest in the concern. Mr. Holcomb is a member of the Disciples Church. He is a life-long Republican. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V99 Issue #801 *******************************************