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 806 Today's Topics: #1 Fw: Bio - 1885 - Portage co, OH, R ["Maggie Stewart" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <050801bf386c$d85c1500$0300a8c0@local.net> Subject: Fw: Bio - 1885 - Portage co, OH, Ravenna # 20 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit ----- Original Message ----- From: Betty Ralph To: Sent: Friday, November 26, 1999 1:59 PM Bios: Slaughter, Smith, Snyder - 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 ************************************************************************ SOLOMON SLAUGHTER, farmer, P.O. Ravenna, was born August 31, 1805, in Kent County, Del. He started West at the age of twenty-three years and finally came to Revenna December 10, 1828. He worked three years in the hotel for Salmon Carter. He then married Miss Ruth Burdick, August, 1831. Purchasing a small claim, which he has ever since occupied, and relying entirely upon his physical resources, he has acquired 100 acres of well-improved land through which the Cleveland & Pittsburgh and New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroads pass. He still owns a flock of sheep, descendants of the first sheep brought to the place, over fifty years ago. Mrs. Slaughter died October, 1841, leaving four children: John B., of Goshen, Ind.,; Andrew, Lucy; and Betsey (deceased). Mr. Slaughter afterward married his deceased wife's sister - Lucy Burdick, who died three years afterward. He then married Miss Elizabeth Smith, who bore him four children: Mr. E.B. Caris, of Akron, Ohio; Charles W., of Pullman, Ill.; Martha D. (deceased) and Solomon E., of Ravenna. Mr. Slaughter is now living on the homestead, at the advanced age of eighty years. He still retains his faculties, and does his own work. He is the only pioneer now living in his part of the township, and one of the original Republicans of the county, and was deeply interested in the anti-slavery movements. He has led an active and a very useful life, and is respected by all who know him. WILLIAM SMITH (deceased), son of Capt. Jonathan Smith, a soldier in the Revolutionary war, was born at Mount Holly, N.J., February 8, 1809, and when nine years of age he came, with his parents, to Youngstown, Ohio, and there married, November 29, 1832, Miss Jane Trotter, by whom he had the following children: Jonathan S., Mary (Mrs. Day), Alvin T., Isaac W. and Frank, residing in this county; Judson, Chester and Edgar H. in Peabody, Kan.; Charles M. killed in Kansas in 1877 by a boiler explosion; Zenas K., died in this city, January 27, 1878, and William, died in infancy. Four of the sons fought in their country's defense during the late war of the Rebellion, making an aggregate of twelve years' service, and all returned home safe. Charles M. served four years in an Illinois regiment; Alvin T., a member of the Nineteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, also a veteran, served four years and three months, and was mustered out as Sergeant; Zenas K., of the Seventh Ohio volunteer Infantry, served over three years, and Judson served three years in the One Hundred and Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In 1843 Mr. Smith and family came to Deerfield Township, this county. Our subject, while in the midst of preparations for voting for Garfield, November 4, 1880, was stricken by the hand of death on the morning of that day. His widow survived him until November 16, 1884. They were a worthy couple, highly respected by all who knew them. Jonathan S. Smith in 1857 located in Ravenna, where he married Miss Lillian L. Freeman, October 31, 1861. He engaged in the dry goods business with H.L. Day in 1864, and in 1865 formed a partnership with his brother, Zenas K., which lasted until 1871, and Jonathan S. then carried on the business until 1878. He established his present grocery and provision store in 1880, have as partner his only son - Henry F. Alvin T. Smith married, September 12, 1867, Miss Lucy H. Harris, daughter of S.D. Harris, and they have one daughter - Nellie. He established in 1878 a dry goods and carpet store, which he still carries on. ROBERT SMITH, lumber dealer, Ravenna, was born June 19, 1833, in Ravenna Township, this county. His father, Moses D. Smith, of the neighborhood of Canandaigua, N.Y., a miller by trade, came to Ohio in very early times and married Miss Mary Reed at Parkman, Geauga County. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and served with distinction to the close of the struggle. One year after their marriage our subject's parents came to Ravenna Township, this county, where the father carried on for several years the mill on Mahoning Creek east of Ravenna, and after about two years' residence in Brimfield Township, this county, they finally located permanently in Ravenna. Moses D. Smith had learned the trade of carpenter while in his native State, which trade he followed here. He was an excellent mechanic, and many buildings now standing testify to his superior skill. He died here in November, 1853. His widow survived him until February, 1867. Of their six children, Robert is the second. Our subject married, May 2, 1855, Miss Elvira G. McMannus, daughter of Philip and Harriet McMannus, who came here from Erie County, Penn., when she was but seven years of age. They were well-known and highly respected residents of Ravenna, where they died, the mother December 8, 1863, and the father June 24, 1872. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born three children: Frank F., Mrs. Addie E. Swain, and Harriet E. Our subject learned his father's trade, that of carpenter, which he has followed about twenty years. He established a lumber yard in the place in 1873, and had as a partner, for about eight months, his brother-in-law, Edwin Smith, who sold his interest to J.S. Marvin in July, 1874. The firm is now known as R. Smith & Co. They do a general trade in lumber, and manufacture the "Common-sense Wooden Bed Spring." Mr. Smith served seven month in 1865 in the One Hundred and Ninety-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He is a Master Mason; a member of the A.L. of H., the R.A. and G.A.R. P.W. SNYDER, merchant, Ravenna, was born May 22, 1845, in Rootstown, this county, son of Peter and Henrietta (Wagner) Snyder, former a native of Allentown, Penn. They came to Franklin Township, this county in 1840, and in 1843 located in the southwest part of Rootstown Township, where they resided until his decease, which occurred June 23, 1845. The cause of his death was erysipelas, which was then raging as an epidemic in this county. Mrs. Snyder lived to bring up her family of four boys and four girls, and died in the same township January 6, 1878. She was a lady of fine business capabilities, and of most estimable character. Our subject has taken care of himself almost ever since he was nine years of age, making his home with his sister, Mrs. William P. Collins. At eighteen years of age he enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventy-first Ohio National guards, April 27, 1864, and was in the service four months, part of which time he was confined in the hospital at Covington, Ky., suffering from a severe attach of typhoid fever. Returning home he spent three years clerking in Rootstown and Randolph, this county. Mr. Snyder married, April 18, 1869, Miss Emma E. Rowe, of Ravenna. They moved to Lyons, Iowa, where Mrs. Snyder died March 15, 1870. In the following autumn Mr. Snyder returned and located permanently in Ravenna. Here he clerked two years with N. Converse, and five years with Smith Bros. On April 1, 1878, he entered into partnership with N. Converse, which was continued until 1880, when Mr. Freeman purchased Mr. Converse's interest. The firm is now known as Snyder & Freeman. Mr. Snyder married, October 19, 1873, Miss Orpha A. Brobst, of Brimfield Township, this county. She is a member of the Disciples Church. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Fri, 26 Nov 1999 19:18:09 -0500 From: "Maggie Stewart" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <050e01bf386c$e2a43920$0300a8c0@local.net> Subject: Fw: Bio - 1885 - Portage co, OH, Ravenna # 21 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit ----- Original Message ----- From: Betty Ralph To: Sent: Friday, November 26, 1999 4:44 PM Bios: Strickland, Swift, Thomas - 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 ************************************************************************ WILLIS STRICKLAND, retired farmer, was born June 10, 1801, in Sandisfield, Berkshire Co., Mass., and at the age of fourteen went with his father's family to the township of Otis, Berkshire County, where he lived till he came to Ohio. In 1827 he married Miss Lucy Hawley, and in June 1839, came to Windham Township, this county, where Mrs. Strickland died in January, 1841, leaving three children: Seth, in Minnesota; Selah, in Wisconsin; and Lucy H., who died at the age of twenty-four. Our subject next married, in June 1841, Mrs. Caroline Gardner, of New Lebanon, N.Y., and came at once to his home in this county. To this union were born three children: George (a farmer in Ravenna), John (died, aged sixteen), Willis (killed at the age of sixteen, by the kick from a horse in 1875). This wife dying in January, 1866, Mr Strickland married, November 27, 1866, Mrs. Sarah E. Richards, who had at that time one daughter - Alice - now the wife of Milton R. Furry, of Ravenna. Mr. Strickland moved to Ravenna in April, 1855. Mr. Strickland has been very successful as a farmer and business man, devoting himself principally to live stock. He was active in public affairs up to 1855, and while in Massachusetts was called to various public offices, including Postmaster and Representative in the Legislature. In July, 1875, in company with N.D. Clark, went to Dakota, taking $125,000 in Northern Pacific Railroad bonds owned by themselves and other citizens of Portage County, where they were exchanged for land in Cass County, which has proved to be a good investment for the bond-holders in Windham Township, this county. He was twice elected Justice of the Peace. He is now and has been for the last twenty years a stockholder and one of the Directors in the First National Bank of Ravenna, Ohio. Mr. Strickland is a member of the Disciples Church. DR. ISAAC SWIFT (deceased) was born in Cornwall, Litchfield Co., Conn., January 30, 1790, the youngest son and fourth child in a line of five children of Dr. Isaac Swift. His father was a Revolutionary patriot. When the British opened the war at Lexington, Dr. Swift, with a company of his neighbors, at once proceeded to Boston and entered the ranks of the patriot army. Dr. Swift was assigned the position of surgeon, in which capacity he served during the war. He died in 1802, when his son, the subject of this biography, was twelve years of age. Mrs. Swift, a most estimable woman, followed her husband to the gave in about six years, her son Isaac then being in his eighteenth year. Young Swift entered upon a course of study, attending medical lectures in New York City, and after completing his studies, was admitted or licensed to practice in New Jersey. In the spring of 1815 he set out westward, with a view to select a desirable point at which to establish himself in the practice of medicine. Mounted upon horseback, with all his worldly effects in a portmanteau attached to the saddle, he commenced his pilgrimage, and after rough riding, reached Cleveland City, as the natives called it, though its population was the mere handful of a hundred or two. After halting here for a short time, the young doctor resumed his journey, and in the month of June, 1815, drew rein upon his steed in the village of Ravenna, having then ridden over 1,000 miles. He horse, in swimming Grand River, at Painesville, took cold, and upon arriving at Ravenna was too sick to proceed farther. This obliged the Doctor to remain in Ravenna, nolens volens; thus the trifling matter of the sickness of a horse located him for life; his search after "a home in the West" ceased, and for over half a century he was a prominent resident of Ravenna. In 1816 Dr, Swift formed a partnership with the late Seth Day, for a term of five years. The firm bought out a store kept by a man named Hazlipp, adding to it a stock of medicines, Day carrying on the store and Swift continuing his practice. In 1817 Mr. Day was appointed Clerk of the Court and Recorder of the county. In 1820 the partnership was dissolved, and the store eventually passed back to Hazlipp, the Doctor retaining the stock of medicines. January 15, 1818, he was married to Eliza Thompson, and immediately after marriage the newly married couple commenced housekeeping in a dwelling then standing upon the ground now occupied by the Etna Block. In 1823 the erection of the Swift homestead, on Chestnut Street, was commenced, the building being completed in 1824, since which time it has been the residence of the family. After the dissolution of Day & Swift in 1820, the drug store was continued by the Doctor for a time in the Hazlipp store, and afterward, from 1822 to 1825, in the store of Cyrus Prentiss (that place of business being upon the corner now occupied by the First National Bank), in connection with which his medical practice was retained. In 1824 Dr. Swift was elected Treasurer of the county, and held the office until 1831. In 1825 he built a drug store upon the east corner of his lot on Chestnut Street, and established his business there. In 1828, after a practice of thirteen years, he retired permanently from the practice of medicine, devoting his time exclusively to the Treasurership and drug store. In 1842 the drug store was moved to the brick building on Main Street, known as Swift's Block or building. A brief partnership with the late Curtiss Hatch ensued, and the drug business was continued until 1859, when Dr. Swift disposed of it to his son, Dr. Charles E. Swift, and retired from active business. In 1846 the State Legislature conferred the appointment of Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, of this county, upon Dr. Swift. He occupied the position with usefulness and dignity for five years, at which time the office was abolished by the adoption of the new State Constitution. Mrs. Swift was united with the church in 1826, but her husband was not led to such a step until September 11, 1831, a conviction then coming upon him from attending a protracted meeting held by Rev. Charles B. Storrs, at Hudson. At this time Rev. Alvan Nash was pastor of the Ravenna Church. Dr. Swift took an active interest in the church, and became a leader in its affairs and counsels, and so remained up to the day of his death. For over forty years he was the church Treasurer, and he filled various positions within the scope of the church organization. Dr. Swift died at his residence on Chestnut Street, Ravenna, on Tuesday evening, July 14, 1874, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. W.B. THOMAS, attorney, Revenna, is a son of William D. Thomas, who was born in South Wales, February 18, 1810, and married Miss Ann Davis, of Llandowey, Carmarthenshire, South Wales, June 10, 1832, and April 14, 1836, with his wife and two small children - Sarah and David - left a large number of relatives and emigrated to America. They were forty days on the ocean. Arriving at New York they took passage up the Hudson River, through the Erie Canal to Buffalo, N.Y., thence to Cleveland, Ohio, by boat, and thence, with others who settled in Palmyra, this county, to Ravenna on foot (having a wagon to carry their baggage), arriving at the old Exchange Hotel June 10, 1836, unable to speak a word in English, and $30 in debt. He was a very industrious man. For years he worked for Zenas Kent as a farm laborer in summer, and threshed with the old hickory flail in the winter. He was ever grateful to David Jennings and others who aided him when in need. In April, 1846, he removed to Paris Township, and after some years of constant labor and economy on the part of himself and wife, who is a good financier, became the owner of a large farm and pleasant home, where he lived to the close of his life, April 10, 1881. He was a man of sympathetic nature, conscientious and honest. Mr. and Mrs. William D. Thomas were the parents of six children: Sarah A., David W., Mary A., John R., William B. and Amelia (the first and last named are deceased). Our subject, W.B., was born in Franklin Township, this county, about three miles west of Ravenna Village, on the Kent farm, May 1, 1845. He was brought up on the farm, and knew what it was to milk ten cows night and morning, and to mow his own swath. He first acquired a common school education, then attended the academy at Newton Falls, Ohio, then taught district and select school, saving from his earnings enough to complete his education. In 1863 he attended Hiram College, this county, at which time political proscription and intolerance was indulged in by the faculty to such an extent that he and seven other refused to submit and withdrew from college. This subsequently caused the removed of the college, J.H. Rhodes. Young W.B. then attended college at West Farmington until the fall of 1864, when he entered the law school at Ann Arbor, Mich., where he graduated on March 22, 1866; was admitted to the practice in Michigan, intending to remain at Ann Arbor, but was called home by his parents. He was admitted to the practice in Ohio, September 12, 1866, at Canfield, Ohio. Again he taught school and aided his parents upon the farm until April 23, 1868, when he hung out his shingle as a lawyer in the Empire Building, Ravenna Village, and has ever since occupied the same rooms as his office. He is earnestly devoted to his clients and is in every sense a successful lawyer and an enterprising citizen. On June 22, 1870, at Chardon, Ohio, he was married to Willa Abbie Belden, born in Farmington, Trumbull Co. Ohio, July 22, 1850, and a daughter of Dr. C.L. Belden, now of Portage County, Ohio, and by her he has the following children, all living: Winnie B., born in 1874; Ida T., born in 1876, and Charlie B., born in 1881; and of his children our subject is very fond. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V99 Issue #806 *******************************************