OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List Issue 273 *********************************************************************** 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 273 Today's Topics: #1 Bio - 1885 - Portage Co, OH, Freed [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: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 14:07:40 -0500 From: Betty Ralph To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <2.2.32.20000911190740.0073f3c8@HiWAAY.net> Subject: Bio - 1885 - Portage Co, OH, Freedom # 1 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Bios: Atwood, Brown, Dudley, Finch, Gardner, James, Kilbourn, Kneeland - 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 JOSHUA ATWOOD, retired, P.O. Freedom, was born February 29, 1812, in Pittsfield, Vt., son of Joshua and Thankful (Stone) Atwood, the former a native of Massachusetts, the latter of Vermont. Our subject was educated in the country schools, and was a farmer until seventeen years old, when he began to learn the blacksmith's trade with a Mr. Egleston in Pittsfield, Vt., with whom he continued for three years and then worked for himself a few months in Rutland, same State, and at Pittsford one year, after which he engaged with Mr. Egleston one year, and then for a time worked for himself. He came to Ohio in 1836 and opened a blacksmith shop at Freedom, this county. In 1844 he added a carriage manufacturing department and soon employed as many as eight men, and supplied the demand within a large radius. He was very successful, and in 1875 he retired from active labors to enjoy the fruits of many years' hard and persistent toil. Mr. Atwood was married in 1838 to Aurelia Birge, who died in 1874, leaving no children. He and she were among the first members of the Congregational Church at Freedom. Our subject has served the township honorably as Treasurer and Trustee. He is a pleasant gentleman; in politics a representative Republican. His brothers-in-law, Lasell and Simeon Birge, came to Freedom Township, this county, the former in 1832, bought 400 acres of land and erected many of the buildings in Freedom Center. Simeon Birge, who was a physician, moved away in 1838, while Lasell remained until 1846 or 1847. The father of our subject was in the war of 1812, and participated in the battle of Plattsburg. HENRY IRVING BROWN, farmer, P.O. Freedom Station, was born in Freedom Township, this county, July 28, 1860, son of Isaac and Rebecca (French) Brown, natives of New York and Connecticut respectively, whose parents were among the first settlers in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Brown were married here in 1837 and reared a family of five children, three now living: Ellen A., Ida D. and Henry I. The two eldest, Levi J. and Mary A., are dead. The mother died February 8, 1881, aged sixty-two years. Our subject was married October 27, 1881, to Allie Miller, of Freedom Township, this county, born June 2, 1861; parents of one daughter - Mamie E. Brown, born September 7, 1883. Our subject follows general farming and stock-raising. In politics he is a Republican. CHARLES DUDLEY, farmer, P.O. Freedom, is a native of Richmond, Berkshire Co., Mass., born December 8, 1814, son of Timothy and Anna (Osborn) Dudley, natives of Guilford, Conn. They were married in Berkshire County, Mass., in 1800, and in 1835 moved to Freedom Township, this county, and in 1837 to Whiteside County, Ill., where they died, aged seventy-seven and ninety years respectively. Our subject came to this county in 1837, settled in Freedom Township, where he now resides. He has cleared many acres of land and has followed general agriculture. He was married June 22, 1837, to Sarah Leete, a native of West Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., Mass., born August 6, 1816, and a daughter of Nathaniel and Dimmis (Wickhane) Leete, natives of Connecticut, and who were married in 1800, and lived and died in Berkshire County, Mass. To our subject and wife were born four sons: Charles A., attorney in Des Moines, Iowa; Plimmon H., civil engineer, New York City; Marquis W., and John F., a farmer in Freedom Township, this county, all married. Our subject has served in some of the township offices. He and his wife are members of the Congregational Church. In politics he is a strong Republican. LISBON FINCH, farmer, P.O. Freedom Station, was born in Otis, Berkshire Co., Mass., July 8, 1819, son of Joshua and Clarissa (Clark) Finch, also natives of Otis, Berkshire County, where they were married, and reared a family of nine children, three of whom are now living. They came to Freedom Township, this county, June 16, 1825, where Joshua Finch was an old-line Whig "stand-by," and was prominently identified with the Masonic order for sixty-two years. Here he and his wife died. Our subject, who has always made his home in this county, owns several hundred acres of land here. (His sister Celestia's marriage in November, 1826, with Lester Hall, was the first wedding in the township.) He was married April 8, 1846, to Eunice Scovill, born in Licking County, Ohio, July 4, 1821, daughter of David and Clarissa Scovill, natives respectively of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, and early settlers in Johnstown, Licking Co., Ohio, coming June 17, 1817. They were the parents of eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Finch have had five children born to them: Cordelia, Howard J., Lydia R., David S. and Lyman J., all living except Lyman. Our subject is a Republican. WILLIAM GARDNER, farmer, P.O. Freedom, was born in Berkshire County, Mass., October 1, 1805, son of Henry and Abigail (Stedman) Gardner, natives of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, respectively, and who died in Berkshire County. Our subject came to this county in 1829, and purchased land in Freedom Township, where he followed brick-making for a number of years. He was married in Freedom Township in 1836, to Marietta Matteson of Hiram Township, this county, and a native of Bennington County, Vt., born in 1818, daughter of Robert and Lois (Vaughn) Matteson, who moved from Vermont to this county in 1833, and resided a few years in Hiram Township; thence they went to Illinois, and later to Kansas, where they died. To our subject and wife were born five children: Henry, Robert, Marion, Christopher C. and Franklin, all living. In politics Mr. Gardner is a Democrat. JOHN R. JAMES, farmer, P.O. Freedom, was born September 14, 1818, in Hampshire County, Mass.; son of Aaron and Irena (Willcutt) James, natives of same county, and where they were married; in 1817 they moved to Charlestown Township, this county, and settled upon land formerly purchased by their forefathers. Of their family three survive: Joel W., John R. and Catherine W. Peebles. Our subject remained upon and operated the home farm until about 1855, and then came to Freedom Township, this county, where he now resides. He was twice married, first on May 30, 1838, to Elsie Prentice, also of Charlestown Township, this county, a native of Connecticut, daughter of Elisha and Betsey (Frisby) Prentice, who settled in this county about 1823 and here died. To our subject and wife were born three children: Albert P., Laura A. and Rosa C. The mother died September 5, 1847, aged thirty-six years, and our subject then married, May 1, 1854, Prudence D. Colton, of Freedom Township, this county, born in Hartford County, Conn., January 11, 1824, daughter of Jeremiah and Lucy (Lusk) Colton, natives of Massachusetts and Connecticut, respectively, and who were married in Hartford County, Conn., May 29, 1814. In 1825 they came to Freedom Township, this county, where they died, Mr. Colton in 1867, his widow in 1868, aged seventy-five and seventy-seven years respectively. Their family of five are all now deceased except the wife of our subject. By this union were born four children: Mary E., Willis C., Lucy J. and Flora I. Mrs. James is a member of the Congregational Church. In politics he is a Republican. JOHN KILBOURN, farmer, P.O. Freedom, was born August 13, 1828, in Hartford County, Conn., son of Hiram and Mary (Crocker) Kilbourn, natives of Connecticut, and of English descent. They were married in Hartford County, Conn., November 24, 1824, and in 1828 came to Freedom Township, this county, where they purchased land, built a log-cabin and saw mill, cut roads, cleared farms, etc., and reared a family of which two are now living: John and Frank. The father died September 3, 1866, the mother November 13, 1879, aged sixty-eight and eighty-one respectively. Our subject purchased land in Freedom Township, in 1850, and in 1858 became owner of the homestead farm; he has now 210 acres. He was married July 5, 1857, to Amy M. Loomis, of Hiram Township, this county, where she was born in 1836, daughter of Charles and Arminta (Harmon) Loomis, natives of Vermont and Massachusetts, respectively. They married in this county, and reared a family, of whom six are now living. The parents are both dead. To the union of our subject and first wife were born three children: Rena, Myrtie and Charles L. Mrs. Kilbourn died April 17, 1880. Our subject was married again February 22, 1882, to Mrs. Sarah A. Davis, of Freedom Township, this county, widow of Martin Davis, who died in 1874, father of three children: Cora, Emma (deceased) and Eugene. Our subject is a Republican in politics. GILES W. KNEELAND, farmer, P.O. Freedom, was born in Shalersville Township, this county, October 15, 1817, son of George W. and Sally (Carlton) Kneeland, who settled here in a very early day, and where they were married in 1815. They were both natives of Connecticut, whence they moved with their parents, who were among the first settlers in the county. Our subject is the only survivor of a family of four children, whose parents died in 1835 and 1878, respectively, faithful members of the early pioneer church. He came in 1828 into Freedom Township, where he now resides, and where he was married December 6, 1838, to Amy A. Barber, born in Berkshire County, Mass., May 24, 1818, daughter of Myron and Amy (Spaulding) Barber, natives of Connecticut and Massachusetts respectively, and who came to Freedom Township, this county, in 1824; they died aged Sixty-seven and forty-three respectively. Of their family of four only one - Amy A. - survives. Our subject and wife are parents of five children, all now living: Keziah S., Elbert R., Charles J., Myron A. and Elva M. Mr. Kneeland has served in some of the township offices. He and his wife are members of the Congregational Church. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V00 Issue #273 *******************************************