OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List Issue 83 *********************************************************************** 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. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 00 : Issue 83 Administrivia: To unsubscribe from OH-FOOTSTEPS-D, send a message to OH-FOOTSTEPS-D-request@rootsweb.com that contains in the body of the message the command unsubscribe and no other text. No subject line is necessary, but if your software requires one, just use unsubscribe in the subject, too. ______________________________ ------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Betty Ralph bralph@HiWAAY.net March 2, 2000 *********************************************************************** Bios: Kent, Lee, Longcoy, Meacham, Merrell - Portage County, Ohio, from "History of Portage County, Ohio" published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885 CHARLES H. KENT, merchant, Kent, was born in Ravenna, this county, August 12, 1818, son of Zenas and Pamelia (Lewis) Kent. He was reared in Ravenna until eighteen years of age, when he received a common school education, after which he attended the Canandaigua Academy, at Canandaigua, N.Y., for two years. In 1839 he embarked in mercantile business at Franklin Mills (now Kent), with Clapp & Spellman, under firm name of Clapp, Spellman & Kent. In 1841 the firm divided up their stock, and our subject succeeded to the business. In 1845 Mr. Kent and his brother Marvin were associated in business in Franklin, at the same time they purchased the goods for their father, Zenas Kent, at Ravenna, and continued the business there. In 1850 Mr. Kent, in connection with two others, built a factory for the manufacture of window glass, with which he was identified for several years. Previous to 1860 he was connected in business with Kent, Wells & Co., and Kent, Grinnell & Co. In 1860 he embarked in dry goods business, in which he has been engaged to the present time. Mr. Kent was married, January 14, 1841, to Mary E., daughter of Rev. Stephen W. Burrett, of Franklin, by whom he has one child - Charles B. Mr. Kent is the oldest established merchant in Kent, and one of its representative business men. In politics he is a Republican. He has served as Mayor of Kent for four years. WILLIAM A. LEE, proprietor of restaurant, and dealer in wines, liquors, etc., Kent, was born in Ithaca, N.Y., March 29, 1829; a son of Daniel and Mary (Davenport) Lee, who settled in Peru, Huron Co., Ohio, in 1834; former a wagon maker by trade, at which he worked in Peru until his death. Our subject was reared in Huron County from five years of age. He was married, April 16, 1855, to Martha, daughter of William Moore, of Plymouth, Richland Co., Ohio, by whom he has four children: Ida, wife of Henry Struckrad; Flora, wife of J. Otis Smith; Hattie, and Bertie, wife of F.M. Townsend. Mr. Lee learned the machinist's trade in New Haven, where he remained until 1861, and was then employed in the railroad shops at Norwalk until 1865. He then came to Kent, this county, and worked in the railroad shops for two years, when he opened a billiard room, which he conducted for one year, after which he moved to Warren, and engaged in the same business for four years. He subsequently returned to Kent and embarked in the restaurant and saloon business, which he has continued in to the present time. On November 1, 1884, he supplied a long-felt want by opening a first-class restaurant in the Carver Block, which is conducted in the metropolitan style. He is a pushing, energetic man, and his experience in the business, taken in connection with his natural fitness for this pursuit, will no doubt prove his new venture a success. In politics he is a Democrat. BYRON A. LONGCOY, farmer, P.O. Kent, was born in Franklin Township, this county, June 5, 1854, son of David and Abby (Woodard) Longcoy. His father, a native of New York, born May 30, 1808, son of Anthony and Ann (Thompson) Longcoy, settled in Franklin Township, this county, in 1830, and worked in David L. Ladd's linseed oil-mills for several years. He afterward manufactured brick, and furnished this material for the construction of the Earl Block, and a large portion of those used in what is now known as the Carver Block. He was married, May 4, 1834, to Abby, daughter of Joshua and Rebecca (Woodin) Woodard, early settlers of Ravenna Township, this county, and later of Kent, by whom he had nine children: Anna (deceased), Victoria (deceased), Nettie (wife of Samuel Putnam), Maretta, Francis and Frank (twins), Miraett, Ralph (deceased) and Byron A. In 1853 David Longcoy located on the farm now occupied by our subject, where he resided until his death, August 5, 1873. During the last eight years of his life he was engaged in butchering and had a market in Kent. Our subject was married, April 15, 1875, to Dolly A., daughter of Dr. J.S. and Delia (Rockwell) Sweeny, of Kent, this county, by whom he has two children: Bertha and David. Mr. Longcoy is a member of the Congregational Church, Mrs. Longcoy of the Episcopal denomination. In politics he is a Prohibitionist. CORNELIUS C. MEACHAM, farmer, P.O. Kent, was born in Litchfield, Litchfield Co., Conn., January 29, 1814, son of Seth and Sally (Weston) Meacham, who settled in Tallmadge (now Summit County) in 1816, where they lived for many years. Mrs. Seth Meacham died in 1872 in her eightieth year, and in the spring of 1874 Seth Meacham removed to Franklin Township, this county, where he died in 1876, at the age of eighty-four. They had ten children: Fanny (deceased), Cornelius C., Esther (deceased), Cordelia (deceased), Esther second (Mrs. James McCormick), Samuel, Flora (deceased), Sally (deceased), Lois (deceased) and Seth. Our subject was reared in Tallmadge, where he lived until twenty-five years of age. He was married, Feburary 1, 1839, to Rebecca D., daughter of James McCormick of Armstrong County, Penn., by whom he had two children: Clara and Sarah, both deceased. In 1841 Mr. Meacham settled in Brimfield Township, this county, where he lived seven years, then removed to Suffield Township, and resided there seven years. In 1855 he located in Franklin Township, and for the past fifteen years has been a resident of Kent. In politics Mr. Meacham is a Republican. HIRAM MERRELL, retired, Kent, was born is what is now Wyoming county, N.Y., May 29, 1818, son of Noah and Clara (Pearsons) Merrell, who settled in Franklin Township, this county, in 1837, renting a house of Joseph Stratton, on which they lived two years, then buying a farm of ten acres in the north part of the township, where they lived and died. Noah Merrell was a native of Connecticut, his wife of Holland. They reared a family of ten children: Althea (deceased), Norman, Oral (deceased), Hiram, Louisa (Mrs. Darius Davis), Freedom, Roxy, Noah, Cass and Jane (deceased). The subject of this sketch when twenty years of age worked on a farm by the month one summer, and the following year he engaged in the manufacture of brooms, which business he followed for eight years, acquiring a farm of eighty acres now owned by A.O. Haymaker, a part of which he cleared and improved, and where he resided ten years. In 1853 he purchased a large farm in Rootstown where he resided one year, when he returned to Franklin, and since then he has owned several farms, having speculated considerably in farm property, and has accumulated a competency. Mr. Merrell was married, February 24, 1842, to Sarah, daughter of Frederick Willard, an early settler of Franklin Township, this county, by whom he has had seven children, four of whom are now living: Angeline (Mrs. Byron Fessenden), Wallace, Earl and Frederick. Our subject moved to Kent in 1868, where he has since resided, one of its representative citizens. In politics he is a Republican. ______________________________ ------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by christina m hursh frog158@juno.com March 2, 2000 *********************************************************************** Cincinnati, The Queen City, Vol. 3; published in 1912 ALFRED A. TUCKER. (transcribed by Lisa Laurent-Michel) Alfred A. Tucker, occupying the position of cashier in the Cincinnati Post office, Was born in this city March 12, 1857, and is one of four living children in a family of nine whose parents were George W. and Sarah (Huntsman) Tucker. The father was born in Watertown, Massachusetts, in 18o7, while the mother, a native of Pennsylvania was born in 1817. In early life George W. Tucker learned the harness maker’s trade and later engaged in business on his own account as a harness manufacturer. He came to Cincinnati in 1831, when the city had scarcely emerged from villagehood, and conducted a shop where the Traction building now stands. His son Alfred A. Tucker was sent as a pupil to the public schools and when lie had completed the work of the grades entered Woodward high school, from which he was graduated with the class of 1876. Thinking to devote his life to a professional career, he then entered the Miami Medical College, from which he was graduated in 188o. He practiced for two years but since that time has been in public positions. He served as cashier of the post office from 1891 and in 1899 was again appointed to this position, which he has since held, his incumbency in the office covering sixteen years. He has been retained under different administrations and his long connection with that office stands as incontrovertible proof of his ability and trustworthiness. He was also for several years connected with the Cincinnati Waterworks as receiving teller and for three years was bookkeeper in the county auditor’s office. His record as an official is one over which there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. Mr. Tucker has always given his political allegiance to the republican party and has been a faithful worker in its ranks for the promotion of its growth arid the extension of its influence. He has long held membership in the Mason fraternity, is a Knights Templar and Scottish Rite Mason and has also the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He maintains membership relations with the Blaine Club and Stamina League. ______________________________ ------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by christina m hursh frog158@juno.com March 2, 2000 *********************************************************************** From: Cincinnati, The Queen City, Vol. 3; published in 1912 Milton Adler Page 536, Cincinnati, The Queen City Prominent among the progressive, enterprising and far-sighted businessmen of Cincinnati is Milton Adler, the Vice President and Executive Manager of the Julian Kokenge Shoe Manufacturing Company, a mammoth enterprise, with which he has been identified since 1893. In this connection he bends his efforts to administrative direction and his keen judgment and the soundness of his business methods are manifest in the splendid results which have attended his undertakings. Mr. Adler is one of Cincinnati's native sons, born in 1869, his father being William Adler, the founder of the Fairmount Woolen Mills, of which the son is still president. The father was a native of Germany but the belief that better business opportunities were afforded in the new world led him to bid adieu to friends and native country and sail for America. He became a resident of Cincinnati about 1854 or 1855 and with his brother Isaac, founded the Fairmount Woolen Mils, which he conducted successfully for many years, this growing industry becoming one of the important manufacturing concerns of the city. He remained a valued and representative businessman here to the time of his death, which occurred in 1903. Milton Adler was reared in Cincinnati and attended the local schools, being graduated from Hughes High School in 1887. He afterward spent a year or more in the University of Cincinnati and liberal education thus qualified him for many of the practical and responsible duties which have since devolved upon him. He entered business circles as a clerk for the wholesale dry-goods house of the George W. McAlpin Company and there remained for a year and a half, after which he became a partner in the firm of Mayer Br4others & Company, wholesale dealers in liquors. In that business he continued until 1893, when he became Vice President of the Julian - Kokenge Company. His attention has since been concentrated upon the work of office management. For intricate commercial problems he finds quick and ready solution and his judgment is seldom if ever at fault. He possesses, too, the definite aim and determined purpose that enable him to carry forward to successful conclusion whatever he undertakes, and he is recognized in business circles as one of the strong representatives of commercial affairs. Mr. Adler has won in social circles equal favor with that accorded him in business life. He is a popular member of the Phoenix Club, the Country Club and the Business Men's Club and other organizations. In matters of citizenship he stands for that which is practical and progressive, desiring the best interests of the community. He does not seek nor care for office but in business circles is leaving his impress as one of the foremost factors of the community. ______________________________ ------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by christina m hursh frog158@juno.com March 2, 2000 *********************************************************************** incinnati, The Queen City, Vol. 3; published in 1912 J. GORDON TAYLOR. (transcribed by Lisa Laurent-Michel) J. Gordon Taylor, one of the enterprising and representative business men of Cincinnati, has been the secretary of the Eagle White Lead Company of this city since its reorganization in 1891 and was also one of the reorganizers of the concern. His birth occurred in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 25th of November, 1838, his parents being Eli and Hannah M. (Marsh) Taylor. The father, a native of Exeter, New Hampshire, came to this city in 1832 and embarked in business as a publisher, for several years publishing the old "Family Magazine." Owing to financial reverses he abandoned the publishing business and took up his abode at Mount Healthy, Ohio, where he was engaged in four different pursuits at the same time, operating a farm, a store, a brickyard and a cooper shop. In 1847 the family home was established at what is now College Hill, and Eli Taylor undertook the task of raising the endowment for the Farmers College. When that had been accomplished he became the southern representative of a shoe manufacturing concern at Lynn, Massachusetts, of which his cousin, David Taylor, was the head. Eli Taylor made his headquarters in New Orleans, leaving his family at College Hill, Ohio. In September 1854, while he was home on a ten days’ visit, the Ohio Female College at College Hill was destroyed by fire. Rev. Dr. Covert, who was the proprietor of that institution and also conducted the Glendale (Ohio) Female Seminary, wished to abandon the College Hill school after the fire and transfer its pupils to the Glendale Female Seminary. The residents of College Hill and vicinity did not relish the idea of losing the college and prevailed upon Eli Taylor and General Samuel F. Carey, the famous temperance lecturer of those days, to buy the property, rebuild it and continue the work of the institution. In 1859 Mr. Taylor disposed of his interest in the Ohio Female College to Rev. F. Y. Vail and in association with an old Quaker, John Wanzer. formed the pork-packing firm of Taylor & Wanzer. Shortly after the outbreak of the Civil war Mr. Taylor, being too old to enlist as a soldier, became connected with Captain S. H Lunt, a quartermaster at Louisville, Kentucky, remaining with him in the field until his death. He died of pneumonia at Washington, D. C., on the 7th of April, 1864. Eli Taylor was married in Cincinnati to Hannah M. Marsh, a native of Newark. New Jersey. and a daughter of Aaron Marsh, who came to this city in 1826. Mrs. Hannah M. Taylor here passed away on the 28th of November, 1908, at the age of ninety-two years, her demise being the occasion of deep and widespread regret. J. Gordon Taylor, who was but two years of age when the family home was established at Mount Healthy, spent his boyhood days there and at College Hill. In the year 1859 he was graduated from the Partners College at College Hill. In May 1861, he responded to Lincoln’s first call for troops, enlisting for three months service. After spending that period in camp without being assigned to any particular regiment, Mr. Taylor was appointed captain of Company E of the Seventy-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which had been newly organized. He served with credit until August 12, 1864, when, on account of his father’s death, he resigned his commission. At that time he was at Fort Morgan. Mobile Bay, Alabama, and, owing to the length of time it then required to carry mail between Mobile and Washington D. C. it was not until October 1864 that he received official notice that his resignation had been accepted. During his term of service he was connected with the Army of Ohio, the Army of Kentucky, the Army of the Cumberland and the Army of the Gulf. From October 1862, until he left the army Captain Taylor served as an aid on the staff of Major General Gordon Granger. He returned to Cincinnati late in October 1864. and in May of the following year, in company with two other Cincinnati men, went back to Mobile, Alabama, where he conducted a general store until December, 1866. In that month he again returned north and was married at Hamilton Ohio, to Miss Helen Hughes, who accompanied him back to the south. They located in New Orleans Louisiana, and for several years Captain Taylor ran a steamboat on the river between New Orleans and Montgomery, Alabama. This venture was at first a successful one but eventually became unprofitable and, his steamboat being wrecked. Mr. Taylor entered the internal revenue department at New Orleans under James B. Steedman, .an old army friend, who was collector of internal revenue at New Orleans. He remained in the internal revenue service until the latter part of 1869 and on the 1st of January 1870, returned with his wife to Cincinnati. He became bookkeeper for the hardware house of Dicksen, Clark & Company on Pearl Street and subsequently entered the service of Frederick Eckstein, a manufacturer of white lead, in a similar capacity. Later he became a stockbroker in the Eckstein concern and was made its secretary In 1891, in association with John B. Swift, Thomas S. Brown, Jr. and others, he bought out the Eagle White Lead Company and has since served in the capacity of secretary. A man of excellent business ability, sound judgement and keen discrimination, he as contributed in no small degree to the continued growth and success of the enterprise. Captain Taylor is commander of the Ohio Commandery of the Loyal Legion, is a member of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland and also belonging to Fred C. Jones Post, G. A. R. His business career has been marked by a thorough understanding of each task which he has undertaken and by that continuous progress which logically follows constantly expanding powers and employment of opportunity. Abram Freeman, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Taylor, was an early settler of Cincinnati and at one time owned almost all of the land now comprising the west end of Cincinnati. Freeman Avenue was named in his honor. He later disposed of the property and invested in a farm near Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, where his demise occurred. He was the father of six sons. One of the sons, a surveyor, was killed by the Indians. Another son disappeared and nothing was heard of him until almost a hundred years had passed, when some men discovered a cave in what is now the state of Washington. In it was found the skeleton of a man and on the walls of the cave, carved with a knife or some sharp instrument, was the name of A. Freeman and the date of his disappearance. Though there is no certainty that this was the same Freeman who disappeared from Cincinnati so many years before, it is generally believed by those most interested that he was captured by Indians who took him to the northwest, that he escaped or was abandoned and crawled into the cave to die, having just enough strength left to carve his name and the date of his disappearance in hope that his fate might be known. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V00 Issue #83 ******************************************