OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List Issue 272 *********************************************************************** 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 272 Today's Topics: #1 Bio - 1885 - Portage Co, OH, Frank [Betty Ralph ] #2 Bio - 1885 - Portage Co, OH, Frank [Betty Ralph ] 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. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #1 Date: Sat, 09 Sep 2000 10:24:01 -0500 From: Betty Ralph To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <2.2.32.20000909152401.00c8f33c@HiWAAY.net> Subject: Bio - 1885 - Portage Co, OH, Franklin # 20 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Bios: Wark, Williams, Williard - Portage County, Ohio, from "History of Portage County, Ohio" published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885 ************************************************************************ 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 JAMES WARK, photographer, Kent, was born in County Donegal, Ireland, January 23, 1845; son of William and Catherine (Long) Wark. His ancestors, who were of Scotch descent, located in Ireland in 1798. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in his native country, and came to America in 1866, locating at Cuyahoga Falls, Summit Co., Ohio, where he remained five months. He then went to Akron and worked on a farm by the month until 1869, when he entered the photograph gallery of G.W. Manly, where he served an apprenticeship of two years. In 1871 he removed to Kent and opened a photograph gallery, in which he has been profitably engaged to the present time. He was married, June 8, 1874, to Belle, daughter of Jasper and Fidelia (Bliss) Haught, of Kent, by whom he has two children: William J. and Bessie B. Mr. Wark is a member of the Episcopal Church; also an active member of the I.O.O.F. and R.A. He is now serving his third term as Clerk of this township, and first term as Clerk of Kent corporation. In politics he is a Republican. LEWIS K. WILLIAMS, farmer, P.O. Kent, was born in Franklin Township, this county, January 15, 1842, son of Austin and Adaline (Knowlton) Williams, the former a native of Massachusetts, the latter of Vermont. His paternal grandfather was Dudley Williams, who came from Russell, Mass., to Franklin in 1820, and located on the farm now owned by Henry Lake. He afterward removed to Wisconsin and died there. He reared a family of five children: Calvin (deceased), Austin (deceased), George, Fanny (deceased), and Polly (Mrs. Sylvester Huggins). The maternal grandfather of our subject was William Knowlton, formerly of Vermont and an early settler of what is now Kent. Austin Williams, the father of our subject, was reared on a farm and always followed farming as an occupation. In his early manhood his father gave him forty acres of land, on which he moved after his marriage and to which he added by purchases until he had accumulated 320 acres, where he lived and died April 1, 1872, in his sixty-fifth year. He had four children: Lewis K., William D. (deceased), Scott T. and Charles A. The subject of this sketch, a farmer, was reared on his father's farm and educated in the common and high schools of Kent. In 1865 his father gave him and his brother, William D., 120 acres of land, which they worked together for two years. He then purchased William D.'s interest and conducted the farm himself up to 1883, in which year he rented his farm and, having purchased a residence in Kent, removed there, where he now resides. He was married November 30, 1869, to Abbie, daughter of Deacon Lyman and Lucy C. (Stebbins) Sabin, of Hampshire County, Mass. In politics Mr. Williams is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Congregational Church. WILLIAMS BROS., proprietors of the Peerless Mills, Kent. This firm is composed of Scott T. and Charles A. Williams, the two younger sons of the late Austin Williams, the former a farmer by occupation, and the latter a student of the Western Reserve College. They began business in 1879 in the erection of the Peerless Mills. The present main building was erected in 1880 and the mill started in June, 1881, fully equipped for the manufacture of 125 barrels of flour daily by the "new process," as it was then known. At the end of two years the business had outgrown the building, also the capacity of the machinery for manufacturing, at which time (1883) the mill was enlarged by adding a wing nearly as large as the original building, the system of grinding changed to "full roller," the daily capacity increased from 125 to 200 barrels, and a feed department added. The mill is now 96x73 feet, five stories high, having a floor surface of over 35,000 square feet, and equipped in the best manner for flouring by the E.P. Allis system, containing sixteen full sets Gray roller mills, three clearing machines, twenty-one bolts, seven purifiers and aspirators, also dusters, centrifugals, packer, et. It is run by a 100-horse-power engine, which is furnished with steam from two 75-horse-power boilers. As the mills are now run they consume from 250,000 to 3000,000 bushels of wheat annually, and also have a capacity for grinding 150,000 bushels of corn. Grain for supplying the mill is largely bought from farmers at home, and the prices paid are equal to any market in the State, making the best of home markets for the farm. The proprietors are young men of push and enterprise, and fully understand all the details of the milling business, which is one of the leading industries of Kent. SCOTT T. WILLIAMS, miller, Kent, was born in Franklin Township, this county, February 26, 1852; son of Austin and Adeline (Knowlton) Williams. His paternal grandfather was Dudley Williams, an early settler of Franklin Township, this county, who afterward removed to Wisconsin and died there. His maternal grandfather was William Knowlton, a native of Cape Ann, Mass., also an early settler of Franklin Township, this county. Our subject was reared on a farm, and after he became of age engaged in agriculture for six years. In 1879, in company with his brother Charles A., he erected the Peerless Flouring Mills, and embarked in the milling business, in which he is engaged at the present time. He was married, October 17, 1877, to Hettie, daughter of Elias and Triphena (Blair) Converse, of Manua Township, by whom he has one child - Lewis B. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are members of the Congregational Church. In politics he is a Republican. FRANKLIN WILLIARD, farmer, P.O. Kent, was born in Franklin Mills (now Kent) November 11, 1822; son of Frederick and Margaret (Foster) Williard, repsectively natives of Maryland and Beaver County, Penn. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Philip Williard, a native of Germany and one of the first settlers of Rootstown, where he lived and died. Frederick Williard, a carpenter by trade, was an early settler of Franklin Township, and for the last twenty years of his life he was a farmer, the homestead now being occupied by his son-in-law, Freeman Stratton. He had nine children: Catherine (deceased), Sarah (Mrs. Hiram Merrell), George, Franklin, Frederick (deceased), Edwin, Mary (deceased), Samuel and Amelia (Mrs. Freeman Stratton). The subject of this sketch has always followed farming. He has been twice married. His first wife was Mary Pratt, of Franklin Township, this county, by whom he had two children: Perry, and an infant daughter (deceased). By his present wife, nee Sarah A. Hackett, he has three children: Frederick, Frances and Asa. Mr. Willard now resides a mile east of Kent, where he has lived for eighteen years. In politics he is a Democrat. SAMUEL WILLIARD, farmer, P.O. Kent, was born in Franklin Township, this county, October 22, 1832, son of Frederick and Margaret (Foster) Williard, who were among the first settlers of Franklin Township, this county, wherein our subject has always lived, and he now occupies a part of his father's homestead. He was married April 10, 1864, to Emma, daughter of Matthias Clark, or Akron, and by her he has had two children: Clifford (deceased) and Evalena M. Mr. Williard is a representative farmer and citizen of Franklin Township. In politics he is a Democrat. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Sat, 09 Sep 2000 13:35:06 -0500 From: Betty Ralph To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <2.2.32.20000909183506.00743bc4@HiWAAY.net> Subject: Bio - 1885 - Portage Co, OH, Franklin # 21 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Bios: Wolcott, Woodard, Wurster - Portage County, Ohio, from "History of Portage County, Ohio" published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885 ************************************************************************ 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 SIMON P. WOLCOTT, attorney-at-law, Kent, was born in Northfield, Summit Co., Ohio, January 30, 1837, son of Alfred and Mary A. (Scovill) Wolcott. He was born and reared on his father's farm and received his early education in the common schools. He prepared for college under the instruction of the late President Garfield, at Hiram Eclectic Institute, Hiram, Ohio, and from there attended Western Reserve College at Hudson, Ohio, where he graduated in 1862. Choosing the law for his profession, he studied one year in the office of H.B. Foster, of Hudson, Ohio, and one year with N.D. Tibbals, of Akron. He was admitted to the bar of Summit County in 1864, and in the fall of the same year located in Kent, where he has been in active practice ever since. He was married July 17, 1866, to Mary H., daughter of Anson A. and Sally P. (White) Brewster, of Hudson, and the issue of this union was three children: Nellie B., Jennie B. and Duncan B. Wolcott. In 1866 Mr. Wolcott was elected Mayor of Kent, being the second Mayor of the town; also served as City Solicitor of Kent two terms; was a member of the School Board nine years, and he is at present member of the Board of Examiners. In the fall of 1881 he was elected to the State Senate, representing Portage, Summit, Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula Counties; was re-elected in the fall of 1883 and he is now serving his second term. In politics Mr. Wolcott has always been a stanch Republican. JAMES WOODARD was born in Ravenna, Portage Co., Ohio, July 31, 1810. He was the eldest son of Gen. Joshua Woodard, and the first white male child born in what is now Ravenna Village. He came to Franklin Mills (now Kent), Ohio, in 1818, his father soon after erecting a woolen mill and continuing that business with John Haymaker for many years. His early advantages for an education were very limited, but he acquired, by diligent study, a good practical common school education. He was possessed of an active mind, and was compelled by force of circumstances in that early day to habits of industry. In 1834 he married Maria Hopkins, daughter of Rudd Hopkins, of Copley, Summit Co., Ohio. Soon after their marriage they commenced keeping hotel at the Upper Village at Franklin Mills, remaining there for some years, afterward settling on a farm now within the corporate limits of Kent. They raised a large family of children, two sons and seven daughters, all now living save one. Mr. Woodard occupied many positions of responsibility and trust. He served many years as Justice of the Peace and was also Sheriff of Portage County for two terms, and it has been often and truthfully said that Portage County never had a more efficient Sheriff. He was strictly honest, brave and courageous, and during his terms as Sheriff had occasion to arrest many counterfeiters and rascals that then infested Portage County. Notably among these was the notorious "Jim" Brown, who was convicted and sent to the Ohio Penitentiary. Mr. Woodard in his later years had retired from the more active duties of life. He was the efficient Mayor of Kent two terms, closing his last term three months before his death. His administration was marked by his considerate attention to the best interests of Kent, where he had so long lived, and it is universally conceded that Kent has never had so efficient a Mayor. He was a man of most positive convictions, sterling integrity, and was fearless in the expression of his views on all subjects. He was kind and charitable to the poor, and always gave with an open hand. He died at his pleasant home in Kent, September 2, 1883, of neuralgia of the heart, after an illness of only two days, honored and respected by all who knew him. CHARLES R. WOODARD, farmer, P.O. Kent, was born in Franklin Township, this county, April 4, 1854, son of James and Maria (Hopkins) Woodard. His parental grandfather was Gen. Joshua Woodard, a soldier of the war of 1812, and an early settler of this county. His maternal grandfather was Rudd Hopkins, one of the first settlers of the county, who was identified with the woolen manufacturing interest in Franklin Mills (now Kent), in the early times. James Woodard was the first white child born in the original town plot of Ravenna. He was the father of nine children: Clara (Mrs. John Perkins); Abby, deceased; Rebecca (Mrs. James Metlin); Delia (Mrs. E.W. Bassett); Frank; Lucy (Mrs. George Furry); Estella (Mrs. N. Hall); Mary (Mrs. Richard Williams), and Charles R. In politics Mr. Woodard was prominently identified in this county. He served as Sheriff of the county two terms, and during his residence in Kent was twice Mayor. Our subject was reared in Franklin Township, this county, and educated in the common and high schools. He was married April 4, 1878, to Elizabeth, daughter of R.P. and Jane Morgan, of Kent, by whom he has two children: Mary J. and George. In politics Mr. Woodard is a Democrat. FREDERICK WURSTER, bottling works, Kent, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, October 2, 1857, son of Philip and Christiana (Gugle) Wurster, and was reared and educated in his native land. He came to America when fourteen years of age, and worked in Philadelphia in a brewery for nine months; from there he went to Buffalo, N.Y., where he was employed in the same business for one year, and then returned to Philadelphia. In 1880 he went to Wilmington, Del., and embarked in the brewery business for himself, continuing in the same there one year. In 1883 he located in Kent, Franklin Township, and purchased the bottling works of Louis Gehring, where he has done a successful business up to the present time. Mr. Wurster was married October 13, 1878, to Louisa, daughter of Herman and Mary (Horning) Biederman, of Wilmington, Del., by whom he has two children: Sophia and Ida. Mr. Wurster is a member of the I.O.O.F. In politics he is a Democrat. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V00 Issue #272 *******************************************