Summit County, Ohio - Chapter 20: Statistics, 1908 (part 8 of 27)

After all this long and hazardous army experience, Mr. Force returned to Akron, where he set about learning a peaceful trade, having no more desire for military life. He entered a factory where he learned the pottery trade, becoming so expert a worker, that in 1879. when the Akron Stoneware Company was organized, he was made superintendent and also president, and served as such until March, 1900. At this time, in association with R. H. Kent, he organized the Summit China Company, which is incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000, Mr. Force being president and superintendent and R. H. Kent, secretary and treasurer. This company employs 150 men and does an annual export business of $175,000.

In 1870, Mr. Force was married to Alice L. Washburn, a daughter of Daniel B. Washburn, who was one of the pioneers of Summit County. Mrs. Force died March 14, 1893, leaving six children, namely: Mildred, who married E. L. Demming; Orlando, residing in Akron ; Jessie B., residing at home; Daniel B., working with the Summit China Company; Ferdman F., assistant superintendent of the Summit China Company; and Benjamin F., who is a student at the Ohio State University. Mr. Force was married (second) in June, 1897, to Mi's. Yeomans, who is a daughter of John Wilson, of Brimfield, Ohio.

Although he has never sought public office, Mr. Force has long taken an active interest in politics, and on many occasions has demonstrated his public spirit and civic pride.. Fraternally, he is an Odd Fellow. He is a member of Buckley Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and also of the German Rifle club. He ranks well up among Akron's prominent citizens.

WILLIAM A. MORTON, notary public at Barberton, has been established in the insurance and real estate business here since 1903, and has been a resident of Summit Countv .since 1873. He wa« born in Law-

The parents of Mr. Morton were born in England and were married there prior to coming to vVmerica in 1862. Thomas Morton was a coal miner and he engaged in this work first in Pennsylvania and after 1873, in Summit County, Ohio. For two years he lived at Tomotown, east of Akron, but in 1875 he moved to Norton Township and located at a point then known as Dennison and now as Sherman. At this place he became a mine boss and was known as a very reliable, capable man. His wife died in 1881 and his death followed in 1884.

Prior to coming to Summit County, William A. Morton had attended school for a short time but had in no way gained a sufficient amount of education to satisfy him, even in boyhood. For three years he worked in the mines in Summit County and then started again to school, attending first the Copley and Norton Center High School and later the Normal Schools at Wadsworth and Lebanon. He then taught school for some time, after which he took a commercial course in the Iron City Business College at Pittsburg, where he was graduated in 1884. Upon his return to Summit County he engaged in teaching for ten years and for four years of this period he was principal of the Western Star Academy. He became widely known as an excellent educator, and he was made treasurer of the Summit County Teachers' Institute and latel- its president, serving one year in each position. In 1900, Mr. Morton came to Barberton and became a member of the office force of the Sterling Company, later of the Pure Gum Specialty Company, and later bookkeeper for the American Clay Company, of Akron. In 1903, he established a fire insurance office and began also to deal in real estate, and in company with Godfrey Werner he entered also into the coal business and developed the mines at Manchester, in Summit County. His business interests are large and important.

Mr. Morton has been in public office for a number of years. Since 1889 he has been a notary public and for nine yeaiv he served as a justice of the peace in Norton Township, where he also was trustee for two terms, and township clerk for four years. He is a member of the Summit County Court House Commission, appointed by Judge J. A. Kohler, has served two terms as Deputy State Supervisor of Elections, and has been a member of the city council of Barberton.

Mr. Morton is a popular and respected citizen. He is fraternally connected with the Odd Fellows and the Elks and is one of the trustees of the latter organization.

GEORGE DREISBACH, whose farm of 125 acres of valuable land, all in one body, is situated in Norton Township, is a representative citizen of this section and one of its best farmers. He was born in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, December 19, 1843, and is a son of Charles and Sarah (Konkle) Drei.sbach.

About 1865, Charles Dreisbach became a resident and landowner in Summit County and continued to invest in property until he acquired a very considerable amount. His first purchase was of 144 acres, to which he added sixty-five acres, and later bought sixtyseven acres where Barberton now stands, a part of which, on which Lake Anna is situated, he sold to John J. Warner, and also owned fifteen acres in Coventry Township, the total reaching 300 acres, the result of careful foresight and wise investing. He died on the farm where his son lives, in 1885. He was married three times, Sarah Konkle. his second wife, being the mother of George. He had fourteen children, ten of whom still survive.

George Dreisbach was born near a place called Big Grass Pond, from which his father moved in his boyhood, to near Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, where he bought a farm. In 1865, George accompanied his father to Sum- mit County, where he was subsequently married and one year later he moved to Michigan. He learned the joiner's trade in youth, working with E. A. Barber of Akron, and worked also at this trade in Michigan. He also made a great deal of money by handling farming lands, buying, improving and selling, frequently owning and disposing of two farms in a year. Upon the death of his father, he returned to Ohio and bought out the other heirs, and has resided in Norton Township ever since. For a short time he owned the old Surfass farm, but this he sold to George Cowling.

Mr. Dreisbach was given but few educational chances in his youth. He was only thirteen years of age when he was sent into the harvest field, and was proud to be able to do the work of a half hand. He has always enjoyed the hard, hearty work incident to safely getting in the crops, and for a period covering fifty-two years he has never failed to take part in this labor, even when working as a joiner.

Mr. Dreisbach married Martha A. Raber, who was born in Stark County, Ohio, who is a daughter of L. B-. Raber, and she came to Summit County in girlhood. They have two children : Lewis B. and Charles C. A. The elder son married Anna Blocher, who is a daughter of Martin Blocher, and they have one son, Leroy. He resides on the home farm. Charles C. A., who owns forty acres in Coventry Township, married Mamie Strawhacker, and they have one child, Merland.

B. .T. GIFFORD, city superintendent of the Mohican Oil and Gas Company, whose portrait appears in this connection, has been identified with the gas business all his life. He was born in the state of New York, in 1872. and was reared and educated in Pennsylvania.

After finishing his schooling, Mr. Gifford went to work for the Standard Oil Company, at Titusville, and eighteen months later went to Fremont. Ohio, where he was engaged in the gas business for six months. Thence he went to Toledo, where he was employed for two years. Later he worked all through the Indiana gas belt, subsequently returning to Pennsylvania. AVhen the Mohican Oil and Gas Company was organized, in May, 1905, Mr. Gifford became associated with it at Barberton and later, when it became the lessee of the Akron Gas Company, and the offices were transferred to Akron, he became the superintendent at this point. His steady continuance in one line of effort has given him the experience needful for an office of the importance of the one who fills. In 1898 Mr. Gifford was married to Bernice Giles, who was born at Dennison. Ohio, and they have two attractive children : ^Margaret Grace and Bernice June.

WILLIAM H. JIcCHESNEY. a descendant of one of Springfield's oldest and most honored families, and a man of prominence and influence in his community, was born on the farm on w-hich he now resides, in Springfield Township, Summit County Ohio, December 3, 1857, and is a son of William and Louise (Gressard) McChesney.

John McChesney, the grandfather of William H., was a farmer and distiller, and he erected the residence which stands, well pre- .-^en'ed, on his grandson's farm. The name of his wife was Martha and they had the following children: Andrew, who married Betsy Cables, died in Kansas; Margaret, who married Eli Flickingcr, died in Iowa; Mary, who is the widow of Jacob Merton, resides in Nebraska; Leslie, deceased, married Harriet Chote, who resides in Kansas; and William.

William McChesney was born March 3, 1817, in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and wa.s eight years of age when he accompanied his parents to Ohio. He followed farming all his life and died in 1905, in his eighty-ninth year. Enterprising and publicspirited, William McChesney did much toward building up the community in which he lived. He was one of the heartiest supporters of the Valley Railroad, to which he donated the right of way through his farm. He was one of the pillars of the Presbyterian Church. Politically, he was a Republican

William McChesney married Louise Gressard, who was a daughter of Frederick Gressard and had been a soldier in the French army before coming to America. He landed at Philadelphia but subsequently came to Coventry- Township, Summit County, where he reared a family of six children. Both he and wife died in Coventry Township. To William and Louise McChesney were born the following children : Charles Lewis, who died in infancy; Edward Austin, a contractor and farmer, residing in Springfield Township, married Sarah Wise, of East Liberty ; Philora, who married George L. Sypher, residing at Akron ; Herman G., residing at Akron, owns a farm near Krumroy ; Frederick, residing on his farm in Springfield Township, who married Nettie Yerrick, and William H.

William H. McChesney was reared in his native section and was educated in the district schools. For many years he carried on agricultural pursuits on the home farm. It is a tract of almost sixty acres and Mr. Mc- Chesney's careful cultivation resulted in abundant returns. When he tired of farming he became associated with his brother, Edward Austin, in building and contracting, renting his farm to a tenant. He is well known all through this section and. enjoys the respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens.

By his marriage to Lucy Thompson, Mr. McChesney became connected with another prominent old family of Summit County. Mrs. McChesney is a native of Summit County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Henderson) Thompson, and a granddaughter of Jame.s and Margaret (Sunderland) Thompson. Robert Thompson was born in 1809, and came to Summit County, in 1832, where he died at the age of seventy-two years. The children of Robert Thompson and wife were : Margaret J. ; Mary F., who married Oscar Collins, re.siding at Cleveland; Nancy J., who died in 1900, was the wife of William L. Ewart; James A., who died in 1906. resided in Indiana; one xVlthough Mr. and Mrs. McChesney have no children of their own, they have an adopted son who is very dear to them, who bears the name of Walter McChesney. He is a bright, intelligent youth of twelve years.

Mr. McChesney is a stanch Republican. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church which has been the faith of the family for generations. His beautiful modern home he erected in 1906, and there he and wife enjoy oft'ering hospitality to their many friends.

ROBERT A. McCLELLAN, who was, for almost seventy-two years a prominent citizen and successful farmer of Springfield Township, was born April 9, 1835, on the farm on which his son, William J. McClellan, now resides in Summit County, Ohio. He was a son of William and Jane (Fite) McClellan.

The parents of the late Robert A. McClellan came to Sunnnit County in pioneer days and the family has been one of prominence in this section ever since its founding. Of the children of William and Jane McClellan the following reached maturity: William A., residing at Akron, married Alice Russell; Elizabeth, who married Urias Cramer, residing at Wichita, Kansas; and Robert A.

Robert A. McClellan passed his boyhood attending the district schools, and working on the farm, of which he later became manager and subsequently owner. He married Amanda Hoff, a member of another family that has been identified with Summit County from its earliest days. Her parents were James and Wilhelmina Hoff, who died in Springfield Township, where they had spent long and useful lives. They were natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. McClellan still survives and is an esteemed resident of Mogadore. She was born February 9, 1847, and is one of a family of eight children, namely: Lucinda, who married James Stall, residing at Delta, Ohio; Miles, residing at Akron, who married Mattie Swain ; Emma, residing in Springfield Township, who married Thomas Hale; Zadia, residing at Cuyahoga, Falls, who mar- ried L. Cranier; Albert, re.<idiii<i- at Tallniadge, Ohio, wlio married Hattie Treat ; Frank, residing at Mogadore, who married Mary Hale; Amanda, who is the widow of Robert A. Mc- Clellan, who died April 29, 1907 ; and James.

To Robert A. McClellan and wife were born five children, as follows: Cora, William James, Charles, Robert A., and Fred. Cora, who married Robert Gates, April 27, 1891, residing at Mogadore, has three children, Harry, born November 22, 1892, Eunice Mary, born May 16, 1894, and Ernest, born April 17, 1908. Mr. Gates is a prominent Rej)ul)lican of Springfield Township, serving at present as a justice of the peace, and he is a charter member of Mogadore Lodge, No. 482. Knights of Pythias; William James, born November 18, 1874, was educated in the local schools and the Mogadore High School, married Lillian Selzer, daughter of Michael and .\manda Selzer of Springfield Township, and they have two children. Pearl, born December 8, 1904, and Edna May, born May 18, 190(J. Mr. McClellan is a very successful farmer, a Democrat in politics, and belongs to the order of Knights of Pythias at Mogadore. Charles, who has been in partnei-ship with his brother in conducting a meat market, at Mogadore, since September, 1900, is a Democrat in politics and fraternally a Knight of Pythia's. He married Elsie L. Denny, June 21, 1905, a daughter of Henry A. and Barbara Deiniy, of Sufiield Township, Portage County. Robert A., who is in business at Mogadore, is a Democrat in politics, and fraternally a Knight of Pythias. Pie married Lizzie Bowman, a daughter of Jefferson and Jemima (Boyer) Bowman, and they have two children, Earl and a babe. Fred resides with his mother at Mogadore.

About four years preceding his death the late Robert McClellan moved from his farm to Mogadore, where he had erected a comfortable home. He was a successful farmer, and was an honorable man. Politically, he was a Democrat. With his sons, he was associated with Lodge No. 482, Knights of Pvthia«.

CHARLES N. MILLER, a representative citizen of Mogadore, and manager, secretary and treasurer of the Colonial Pressed Brick Company, an important industry of this section, was born in Plain Township, Stark County, Ohio, February 27, 1880, and is a of N. S. and Ellen (Wise) Miller.

The Millers came originally from Pennsylvania to Ohio, Abraham Miller, the grandfather, bringing his family to Stark County, where the father of Charles N. Miller was born and where he still resides, at the age of fifty-eight years. His occupation since he reached mature years has been farming. He married Ellen Wise, who also survives, and they are the parents of three sons and four daughters, namely : Roy C, residing at Canton; Joseph A., residing at New Berlin; Nettie, who married Harry Stover, residing at Canal Fulton ; Minnie, who married Arthur Wear-stler; Lydia, who married Thomas Weaver, residing at Canton; Ellen, residing with her parents ; and Charles N.

Charles N. Miller was educated in the schools of New Berlin and after graduating from the High School, took a couree in the Spencerian Business College, at Cleveland, where he was graduated in 1902, after which he accepted a position as cashier for the Federal Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of automobiles and parts, at Cleveland. He remained with this organization until 1905, when he entered into his present business, which was then located at Akron. He became bookkeeper for the Pressed Brick Company, and after its removal to Mogadore he became manager, secretary and treasurer.

The Colonial Pressed Brick Company is an Ohio corporation, and in 1904, the late Ira A. Miller, of Greentown, was its president. J. A. Sheets was elected vice-president and C. N. Miller secretary, treasurer and general manager. The other capitalists connected with the company are: J. W. Hisey, Henry Sweitzer, Levi Stoner, E. C. Sheets and W. E. Butler. They are engaged in the manufacture of face or stiff mud brick. The kiln has a capacity of 12,000 brick per day, machine capacity, 40,000, and they employ

25 men and market their product over a large area of country, finding ready sale on account of its superior quality. The plant is most conveniently located where there i-- an abundance of clay, with water supplied by the Little Cuyahoga River. Its equipments are entirely modern. When Mr. Miller took charge it needed a man of his business capacity to adjust what was wrong and to put the business on a full paying basis. This he has done and it is numbered with the prospering industries of this part of Summit County.

In 1904 Mr. Miller married Rhuie Summers, who is a daughter of Rev. H. B. and Elizabeth Summers, who was born at Baltimore, Fairfield County, Ohio, and they have one son. Homer Summers. The father of Mrs. Miller is a well-known minister of the Evangelical Church. Both Mr. and Mrs. Miller belong to the United Evangelical Church. They have been residents of Mogadore for the past two years.

ROBERT C. GATES, a leading citizen of Mogadore, where he is engaged in a grocery business, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, July 18, 1861, and is a son of Henry and Eunice (Cornwell) Gates.

The founder of the Gates family in this State was the paternal grandfather, Halsey Gates, who came with his wife Lucy and settled at what has been known ever since as Gates Mills, as early as 1816. He was the founder of that village and there lived out a long and useful life. His children were: Washington, who is deceased; Edwin, who is deceased; Alexander, w'ho has never been heard of by his family, since he moved to Mexico, in 1884; Maria, deceased, who married Selig Knapp; Eliza, who married Gordon Shipman; Hattie, who married D. B. Spear; William, who resides at Toledo, Ohio; and Henry. The grandparents were natives of New York.

Henry Gates, father of Robert C, was born at Gates Mills, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, in March, 1831. Soon after his marriage he left Gates Mills and settled at Cleveland, where he had charge of a mill, having been trained in this industry. He moved from there to Elmore, in Ottawa County, and from there to Port Clinton, in 1887 locating at Mogadore, where he has been engaged ever since in operating a mill of his own. Although many men of his age have retired from business, Mr. Gates has preserved his strength, vitality and ambition to a remarkable degree, and is just as capable of conducting large business deals as in his earlier years. When twenty-one years of age he united with the Masons, at Chagrin Falls, and received his demit when he left Port Clinton. He is a member of the Disciples Church. Mr. Gates has been a life-long Republican, this being the political complexion of the whole kindred, with the single exception of Mr. Gosline, who is the editor of the Oak Harbor, Ottawa County, Press, and a son-in-law of Mr. Gates.

Henry Gates was married (first) to Eunice Cornwell, who died at the age of sixty-three years. She was a daughter of Sanders Cornwell. There were five children born to that marriage, namely : Walter, who died in infancy ; Lucy, who married J. W. Sylvester, residing at Cleveland; Cora, who married George Gosline, residing at Oak Harbor; George, residing at Mogadore, who married Grace Hickerman ; and Robert C.

Robert C. Gates attended school up to the age of seventeen years, both at Elmore and Port Clinton, after which he worked for a time in a printing office, and later worked at railroading. In 1887 he came to Mogadore with hLs father, and shortly afterward embarked in his present business, in which he has met with success, being now one of the leading men in his line in the place.

Mr. Gates was married (first) to Sylvia Atchison, who died in the following year. He was married (second) to Cora McClellan, who is a daughter of one of the prominent old county families, Robert and Amanda (Hoff) McClellan. They have three children : Henry Robert, Eunice and Ernest. Mr. and Mrs. Gates are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mogadore, has been called to public office. He served six years as a member of the School Board, for three years was treasurer of the corporation, and in the fall of 1904, without his knowledge, he was nominated for justice of the peace and subsequently elected, his personal popularity being great enough to overcome a normal Democratic majority of some eighty votes. He has taken an. active interest in everything likely to advance the welfare and prosperity of the town and county. He is a charter member of Lodge No. 482, Knights of Pythias, at Mogadore. Like every other member of his family, he is a musician and has been the leader of the Mogadore band since it was organized in 1902. His father, in his youth, was a member of the old Gates Mills band and was a member of the Elmore band when living there.

BRADFORD W. SKINNER, a representative citizen of Tallmadge Township, of which he has been a trustee for the past five years, resides one-half mile northeast of Tallmadge Center, where he owns fifty acres of excellent land. He was born in Bath Township, Summit County, Ohio, April 7, 1833 and is a son of Col. Salmon and Caroline (Waldo) Skinner.

The father of Mr. Skinner was born at Milford, Connecticut. In his eighteenth year he entered the service of his country, in the War of 1812, after which he settled in Summit County. He lived to the unusual age of ninety- two years, dying in 1892. He married Catherine Waldo, who accompanied her father, General Waldo, to Suffield Town- .ship, Portage County. He later moved to the far West, where he died. Mrs. Skinner died at the age of forty-two years. The children of Salmon and Catherine Skinner were the following: Daniel, residing in Nebraska; Decatur, who died in California; Uriah, deceased; Bradford W., of Bath Township ; Oliver, who died in Geauga County, Ohio ; Edwin, residing at Tallmadge, married (first) to Caroline Wurst, and (second) a lady in Bath Township, and he served in the Civil War as a member of the 29th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; and Joseph-, who died in a New York hospital, having served in the Civil War under General Sherman.

Bradford W. Skinner was eleven years of age when his mother died. He lived 'in Bath and Northampton Townships until he was eighteen years of age, in the meantime having but meager school advantages. When he came to Bath Township he hired out to run a sawmill, and he remained in the employ of one man for fifteen years. He then rented land of F. D. Ailing for five years, subsequently purchasing thirty-three acres of the land, which he has added to and continued to cultivate. For many years he followed teaming, this being very profitable to him, resulting in his becoming a man of independent means.

On April 18, 1855, Mr. Skinner was married to Laura Dickerson, who is a daughter of William and Martha Dickerson, farmers of Northampton Township. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Skinner, namely: Etta L., Carlton B., OUie, Lucy A. and Minnie. Etta L. was married (first) to Arthur Hart and (second) to John Newton, ra«ides at Hudson and has four children. Carlton B. married (first) Julia, a daughter of 0. S. Treat, and (second) Fannie Bierce, daughter of Luciu.'i V. and Hattie Bierce, and they have one daughter. Ollie married Frank Root, who is a mail carrier residing at Six Corners. They have four children. Miss Lucy A. is head nurse at the Battle Creek Sanitarium, Battle Creek, Michigan. She studied three years at Ann Arbor and holds the record of being the only girl who ever passed out of that institution from the school room directly to a high and responsible position, one which she has capably filled for the past three years. Minnie married Edwin Upson, who is engaged in farming in Tallmadge Township.

Politically Mr. Skinner has been a stanch Republican ever since he acquired his right to full citizenship and he has been a supporter of the Government both in peace and war. On May 2, 1864, as a member of Company D, 164th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, he accompanied his comrades to Cleveland and from there to Arlington Heights, Washington, and when the military necessity was over, returned to Cleveland and was mustered out. As one of the township's intelligent, reliable citizens, Mr. Skinner has frequently been called upon to accept local offices and on all occasions he has performed his duties faithfully and efficiently. For the past five years he has been a township trustee and his caution and good judgment have made him a valuable member of the board. He belongs to Buckley Post, Grand Army of the Republic at Akron, and is a member of the local Grange. He is a liberal man in the support of charities and has never turned a deaf ear to distress.

HOWARD A. BAUER, a well-known citizen of Norton Township, who .since 1895 has been operating the Weygandt farm, which is a valuable tract of seventy-three acres, was born June 14, 1873, in Norton Town.ship, Sununit County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Susanna (Hoch) Bauer, who were natives of Pennsylvania.

Howard A. Bauer was reared, in Norton Township, where he has resided all his life with the exception of two years spent at Barberton. On January 1, 1895, Mr. Bauer was married to Augusta Weygandt, who was born on the old Weygandt farm across the road from the present home, and is a daughter of Elias and Mary (Miller) Weygandt, the latter of whom was a daughter of Peter Miller. Elias Weygandt was a native of Pennsylvania, and came early in manhood to Norton Township. He owned the farm on which Mrs. Bauer was born, his wife being the owner of the present Bauer home, Mrs. Bauer owns the present farm, which Mr. Bauer cultivates very successfully. Mr. and Mrs. Bauer have one child, Thelma May. They attend the Lutheran Church at Doylestown, Ohio.

EDWIN H. CARTER, general farmer and representative citizen of Northfield Township, was born in Boston Township, Summit County, Ohio, August 14, 1858, and when fourteen

Mr. Carter worked on his father's canal boat and later assisted the latter on his farm, until he was twenty years of age, when he purchased the canal boat named Tempest, and later owned the Tidal Wave. He continued on the water for about two years, after which he engaged in farming for a time, still later entering a wholesale house at Akron, where he continued for five years. He had previously learned the blacksmith business and spent a season in the Michigan woods working as a blacksmith for the Cleveland Sawmill Company, Prior to going to Akron, he conducted a blacksmith shop at Everett, for five years. Before his marriage in 1904, he rented a farm at Everett for two years, and afterward came to the Chaffee farm, which he has operated very successfully ever since. He raises truck and produce of all kinds for the Cleveland market, keeps twenty cows and has butter made on the farm for special customers, has some twenty calves and twenty head of hogs. He raises good crops also of corn, oats, wheat and hay. The apple orchard is a fine producer and many barrels are shipped a season.

On May 2, 1904, Mr. Carter was married to Gertrude Wisneski, who is a daughter of Peter Wisneski. She was born at Independence, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, December 2, 1867, but for the past twenty-five years has lived with the Chaft'ee family, by whom she is looked on in the light of a daughter. Her father was born in Poland and came to America with his parent.s. They settled first in Cleveland, moving later to Independence, where Mr. Wisneski followed the trade of stonecutter until within five years of his death, when he bought a farm in Northfield Township, on which he raised truck for the Cleveland market.

Mr. Carter takes no active interest in politics, voting as his judgment directs. He is known to his fellow-citizens as a fine farmer, a reliable man and an accommodating and helpful neighbor.

CHARLES W. WICKLINE, general superintendent of the Akron China Company, and one of the stockholders and a director in the concern, was born in 1869, at Pitt;>burg, Pennsj'lvania, where he attended school in early boyhood.

Mr. Wickline is a self-made man, beginning at a very early age to provide for his own maintenance. He began to work as a feeder in a nail factory and so careful, accurate and industrious did he prove himself that by the time he was eighteen years old he was given charge of four machines, which he operated for about seven years. Desiring to see something of the country and to engaged in a more congenial business, Mr. Wickline then went to East Liverpool, where he learned the pottery trade, his natural deftness and ready understanding of the principles of this industry soon bringing him into notice with china manufacturers and dealers. Coming to Akron he was here given charge of one department of the Akron China Company, in which he owned stock. His manifest ability resulted in his rapid promotion, and for the past six years he has occupied his I)resent responsible position. The Akron China Company commands an extensive trade, as at their Chicago office they do a half million dollars' worth of business yearly in im- ]>orted goods alone. They have 225 employes in their Akron plant. In addition to his interest in this important enterprise, Mr. Wickline is a director in the Akron Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He has always taken some interest in local political affairs.

In 1892 Mr. Wickline was married to Mary Frances Hawkins, who was born at Steubenville, Ohio. Her grandfather was one of the first settlers in Jefferson County. Mr. and Mrs. Wickline have one son, Frank Hawkins. Mr. Wickline, with his family, is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is quite prominent in Masonry, having been identified with the fraternity for many years. He is past worshipful master of Akron Lodge, N. 83, F. & A. M. ; past high priest of Washington Chapter No. 25 ; past thrice illustrious master of Akron Council, No. 80 ; and belongs has the distinction of being the oldest resident of Northfield Township, was born in what is now Hampden, Ma.ssachusetts, April 14, 1817, and is a son of Comfort and Persis (Skinner) Chaffee.

The family can be traced back to France, from Avhich country it early went to Wales and in colonial days came to Massachusetts. The original settler was named Samuel and he had a son, John, who settled at Pomfret, Connecticut, and he had a son, Asa. Asa Chaffee, the great-grandfather, was born in Connecticut, and was one of the early settlers at Wilbraham, Massachusetts. He had sixteen sons, many of whom were killed in the French and Indian and in the Revolutionary War. The youngest of these. Comfort Chaffee, was born at Wilbraham, Massachusetts. He participated in the Revolutionary War and proved a bold and resolute man. He was a strict Sabbatarian and permitted no household or farm work to be done on Sunday.

Comfort Chaffee (2), the second child and eldest son of his parents was born at Wilbraham, Massachusetts, where his life was spent. He was a farmer and stockdealer and was a man of considerable substance. He assisted in suppressing Shay's Rebellion. He took a leading part in the town's government and held many of the offices. He married Persis Skinner, who was born in Woodstock, Connecticut, and they have six sons and three daughters. Their children were reared in great strictness.

Comfort Jackson Chaffee attended the district schools in his youth and received excellent training in the rudiments. On the last day of December, 1837, he entered the employ of the firm of Waters & Flagg, armorers, at Millbury, Massachusetts, and remained a year, afterward worked at the Chicopee Falls Arms Company, and later cut a large amount of cord wood, taking his pay of thirty-seven and one-half cents a cord, in sole leather.

Later he worked at manufacturing monkey wrenches. About 1839, Mr. Chaffee received a letter from his brother Jonathan, who was then at Brecksville, Summit County, asking him to join him in this part of the country. On April 1, 1840, he left Massachusetts, traveling by rail to Rochester, New York, which was then the terminus of the line, and there took a stage to Dunkirk, at that point taking passage on the steamer General Scott, then making her maiden trip to Cleveland.

Having safely reached Northfield Township, Mr. Chaffee bought seventy acres of land, which is included in his present farm and to the original purchase he continued to add until he owned 300 acres. He cleared the timber from his land, making his home for two years with his brother and also working in a machine shop at Brecksville. In the second year he built a barn. When not employed on his land he worked at Brecksville, in the iron works when they were running, and also, in the machine shops at odd times. He afterwards assisted in establishing a plant for the manufacture of rifles at Brecksville. He began to stock his farm with cattle and sheep, as soon as practicable, and in 1848, he began dairying, starting with two cows, and later increased to eighty-seven cows. At the same time he had 400 sale cows on the place. Later Mr. Chaffee became a drover, a very successful one, and in this capacity he was on the road until he was eighty-eight years of age, selling at Brooklyn, Ohio, and South Cleveland, when not holding sales on his own place. Mr. Chaffee is well known all over this section of the State, and for many years was regarded as an authority on cattle and stock. His operations sometimes were on a large scale and through his excellent business judgment, he accumlated an ample fortune.

Mr. Chaffee married Asenath W. Ferry, who died May 30, 1904, aged eighty-six years. She was a daughter of Noah Ferry and was born at Wales, Ma.ssachusetts. There were two children born to this marriage: Mozart, deceased : and Anna Maria, who is the widow of Dr. Franklin Coats, of Berea, Ohio.

a Whig, later became a Free Trade Republican, but at present is identified with the Democratic party. The only ofhce he would ever consent to hold was that of school director. His life has covered a notable period of history and has been more or less filled with interesting incidents. Mr. Chaffee is remarkably preserved and enjoys social intercourse and takes the interest of a much younger man in the affairs of his community and of the world at large.

J. M. WILLS, president and superintendent of the United States Stoneware Company, at Akron, is one of the city's prominent and substantial citizens. He was born in 1841, in England and was eight years of age when he accompanied his parents to America.

Mr. Wills was reared and educated at Cuyahoga Falls. After graduating from the High School of that city, he looked about for employment, and was engaged for some two years in making plows. He embarked then in a mercantile business in which he continued for twenty-six years, during sixteen of which he officiated as postmaster at Middlebury. In 1889, Mr. Wills became superintendent of the United States Stoneware plant at Akron, and this city has since been his place of residence. On the death of George W. Brewster, Mr. Wills succeeded him as president of the company. This concern was organized for the manufacture of all kinds of stonewai'e and enjoys a heavy trade, the plant giving employment to fifty workers. Mr. Wills is himself master of every part of the business, and keeps closely in touch with commercial and manufacturing interests all over the country. Under his guidance the business is enjoying continued prosperity. In 1863 Mr. Wills was married to Martha E. Willis, of Middlebury (East Akron), and they have five children: Rena; Nellie J., who married A. H. Coles, of Cleveland; Bessie, who married J. J. Chamberlain, of Akron; Frank S., of Lima, traveling freight agent for the Lake Erie & Western Railroad; and Grant M., residing at Cleveland, who is stock clerk for the Ferro Machine & Foundry Com- pany. Mr. Wills has taken an active interest in city politics and for four years served as a member of the City Council. He belongs to the beneficiaiy order of the Protected Home Circle.

WALTER A. FRANKLIN, of the firm of Franklin Brothers, also a general contractor, at Akron, has been for the past twenty-eight years a resident of this city, which has been the scene of his greatest business activity. He was born a Baltimore, Maryland, in 1868, and is a son of Charles Franklin, who is a retired citizen of Akron.

The parents of Mr. Franklin came to Ohio when he was about two years of age, and he attended school in this city. His entrance into business was as a clerk in a tea store for two years, commencing at the age of thirteen years. Afterward he worked in a brick yard for one year and then engaged in lathing. He also learned the plasterer's trade and subsequently served two years at the cooper's trade. Prior to his twenty-first birthday he had accomplished all this and was theii prepared to engage in contract plastering, which he did at the age of twenty-one. This easily led to mason work and general contracting. In 1898 the firm of Franklin Brothers was established for the purpose of dealing in all kinds of sand and gravel and other commodities and doing all kinds of excavating and heavy teaming, an extensive business being carried on along all these lines. C. F. Franklin manages this business W. A. Franklin, independent of the Franklin Brothers does a large amount of contract work, private residences especially, in connection with city building. He has built the following fine residences: S. J. Rickie, B. G. Work's addition to residence, George G. Allen's, John Gross's. George Warner's. M. O'Neil's; I. R. Manton's, also Frederick Miller's, of Cuyahoga Falls, and the addition to the palatial home of C B. Raymond, besides many others.

James A. and Robert D. Fraternally Mr. Franklin is a Mason and he belongs to the Blue Lodge, Chapter, and Council at Akron. His business location is at No. 327 Cuyahoga Street. He is recognized as one of the city's most capable business men, and is also an interested and a.ctive worker in advancing the welfare of Akron in every way. His portrait on the neighboring page will be regarded as an appropriate supplement to this article.

C. F. FRANKLIN, of Franklin Brothers, the leading general contracting firm of Akron, is one of the city's successful, self-made men. He was born in 1873, at Cleveland, Ohio, but wiis reared and educated in Akron, attending the North Hill School.

In boj'hood he started out to make his own way in the world, and he was the first lad to carry the Cleveland Press north of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, which work he performed for three years, and under conditions which would have discouraged, many less persevering youths. At that time the newspaper, which was greatly in demand, did not reach Akron until five o'clock in the afternoon, causing the brave little carrier to make a somewhat risky trip over the North hills at night. This determination of character has been a winning attribute in later life. From being a newsboy he entered the employ of the Akron Building and Cabinet Company, and reonained with this concern during seven busy years. He then took charge of L. D. Ewing's planing mill for two years. During the next two years he worked for the Akron Spirit Level Company, then for thirteen months w^as with the Summit Lumber Company, following which came his partmership with his brother, Walter A, Franklin, under the style of Franklin Brothers.

This firm is one of the most progressive in the city. The Franklin Brothers were the first to make a business of delivering screened sand to their customers, and they own the only steam shovel. They are engaged in all kinds of heavy teaming, having thirty-eight teams in operation to assist in excavating and other contract work. A large contract now

The Franklin Brothei-s are the owners of the North Hill sand banks, situated at the corner of North Howard StTeet and Glenwood Avenue, whieh contains fifteen acres of sand and to an average of forty feet high.

On November 15, 1893, Mr. Franklin was married to Ada M. Gillett, of Akron, and they have five children, namely: Charles E., Howard L., Walter A., Ada May and Francis Gillett. Mr. Franklin is a member of the order of Modern Woodmen and of the Buildei-s' Exchange.

McAllister brothers, the name including Isadore and Alexander McAllister, own the old Alexander McAllister farm of eighty-eight and one-quarter acres, which is .situated in Bath Township. It formerly contained eighty-nine acres but the McAllister school building, in School District No. 10, takes off three-fourths of an acre. This farm was purchased from an early settler, Dr. Crosby, June 30, 1840, and has never been out of the family.

The parents of the McAllister Brothers were born and reared in Ireland and came to America in 1836, following their marriage. They settled first in Coventry Township, Summit County, and Alexander McAllister, the father, was a contractor on the Pennsylvania & Ohio Canal. Later he moved to Monroe Falls, where he took a second contract. His first contract was the building of the canal between Akron and Middlebury, now East Akron. From Monroe Falls he moved on the present farm of his sons, in Bath Township, finding no buildings but an old log house. Many of the trees had been girdled and were dead, and old stumps made a lonesome appearing landscape, but he was a man of great energy and industry and completed the clearing of the whole farm. This was a large undertaking, as in those days, the use of present explosives and machinery for this purpose was unknown, and all the heavy work had to be done practically by sheer strength. In

1843 he replaced the log house with the frame one in which his sons reside. He had seven children and Isadore and Alexander are the only survivors. The others were: John, who died in infancy in Coventry; Alexander (1), who died an infant, in Coventry ; an unnamed infant; Mary, who died June 20, 1854, aged three years; and James, who died in Bath Town.ship, September 6, 1873, aged twentyone years. The father died April 22, 1854, and the mother, February 6, 1891.

Isadore McAllister was seven year's of age when hL« father died, leaving a family of small children for the mother to rear. Her children being too young to give much assistance, she let the farm out on shares until her sons were old enough to take charge, which they did when young. They have proven themselves good farmers and stockraisers and excellent business men as well. They operate a fine dairy with twelve cows.

Isadore, the elder of the McAllister Brothers, was born April 4, 1847. He married Miranda Vallen, who is a daughter of William Vallen, and they have two children : Lloyd, aged twenty-one years, and Alma, aged seventeen years. Mrs. McAllister died April 12, 1902.

Both brothers work together in harmony and present a picture of brotherly affection and devotion to each other's welfare that it is jileasant to contemplate. They are both consistent members of St. Vincent's Catholic Church. For four years, Alexander McAllister has served as a member of the School Board.'

CALVIN SPADE, foreman of the Robinson Clay Company factory No. 3, at East Akron, a responsible position he has filled for the j)ast five years, was born in Springfield Township, Summit County, Ohio, September 6, 1851, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Heckman) Spade.

John Spade, the grandfather of Calvin Spade, came to LTniontown, Springfield Township, in 1812, from Snyder County, Pennsylvania, and died when advanced in years. Of his fourteen children, all reached maturity except two, and the survivors reached a good old age, the majority leaving descendants. The eldest child, George, was born in Snyder County, in 1811, was brought by his parents to Springfield Township, where he married Rebecca Weaver; Jacob married Miss Myers, and died at the age of seventy-two years; Samuel also married a Myers, and died aged sixty-seven years; Catherine also married into the Myers family, and died aged seventy-three years; William married a Miss Weaver, and died aged seventy years; Henry married a member of the Myers family, and lived to be sixty-eight years of age; Noah married a Miss Starr, and died aged seventy-eight years ; Thomas married a Miss Weaver, and died aged seventy years; Sarah married a Kreichbaum, and died aged thirty-five years; Eve never married, and lived to the age of eightyone years; John, father of Calvin, lived to the age of seventy-seven years; and Michael married a member of the Weaver family. The grandparents died aged sixty-six and eightyone years, respectively.

Both parents of Calvin Spade were born in Springfield Township, where their lives were passed. They had the following children : Samuel, who died aged two years; Catherine, who married Joseph Bollinger ; Eve, who married Moses Israel ; Calvin ; Michael, who married Barbara Jane Swinehart; William, who married Barbara Keller; John, who married Minerva Schriner; Sarah, who remains unmarried; Elizabeth, who is unmarried.

Calvin Spade had few educational advantages in his youth. His life had been one of constant industry and has been mainly confined to the pottery industry. He learned his trade at the pottery of his uncle, George Spade, and for the past thirty-three years he has been engaged at Factory No. 3, this plant having been established for a half century. Mr. Spade, from his long experience, has the work here well in hand, and since he has been superintendent, the product has not only been increased in quantity but has still more surely confirmed its reputation as to quality. Mr. Spade has thirtj'-six workmen under his control and the most cordial feelings exist between the foreman and his employes.

In 1873 Mr. Spade was married, and nine of his family of children still survive, namely: William Edward, residing in New Mexico, is a locomotive engineer, married Pearl Metzger and they have one child; Robert, residing at Atlanta, is a pitcher in the Southern Base Ball League, married Carrie Boiling and they have two children, Glynn and Vera; Grace, who married William Ritzman, a farmer of Springfield Town.ship, has one child, Hazel; Stella, who 'married John Ritzman, a farmer of Springfield Township, has one child, John; Louisa, who married George Ody, resides in the Hunt Allotment of Akron ; Ira, who is engaged with his father at the pottery; and Huldah, Lillie and Carrie L., all residing at home. The family belong to the East Market street Reformed Church. For thirty years Mr. Spade has been a member of the order of Knights of Pythias, belonging to Aetolia Lodge, No. 24, Akron.

GEORGE A. SHAW, organizer, president and general manager of the Buckeye Match Company, of North Baltimore, Ohio, has been a prominent resident of Barberton and New Portage, for the past thirty-four years, serving with credit in public offices, successfully directing business affaii-s and taking an active part in political life. Mr. Shaw was born about one-half mile north of Johnson's Corners, in Norton Township, Summit County, Ohio, September 1, 1853, and is a son of Merwin and Emily E. (Betz) Shaw.

The father of Mr. Shaw was born at Medina, Ohio, and spent the larger part of his life in Norton Township, Summit County, where he engaged in fanning and also operated a grist mill.

Attending the district schools in the winter seasons and working on the home farm during the summers, made up the larger part of Mr. Shaw's boyhood life. Later he attended the High School at Doylestown and subsequently attended the Mennonitc College at Wadsworth, Ohio. The failure of his father's health, about this time, threw the responsibility of managing the home farm on his shoulders. Several years later he went to South

Dakota, where he took up a Government cluini of 160 acres, but made his home at Mitchell. While there he entered into the employ of a railroad company, first as night yardniiister and later as manager of the day yards. After residing there for some two years and continuing his railroad work, he was so seriously injured while making a coupling, that all further railroad work was abandoned and he returned to Summit County, on a pass gladly offered by the company.

Mr. Shaw located at New Portage, where he opened a general stone, and for eight years he served as postmaster there, when, on being elected mayor of Barberton, he moved to his prsent home. He served four years also as postmaster of this city and- was elected a member of the first board of Public Affairs, of Barberton. Mr. Shaw is concerned in various business enterprises and is president of the Barberton Wire Lock Fence Company, which plant employs about twenty-five men. He has recently organized an industry which promises to be one of great importance, the Buckeye Match Company, which has been incorporated for $100,000. The works are to be established at North Baltimore, Ohio. Mr. Shaw owns a majority of the stock and is president and general manager of the company. He is recognized as one of the able and enterprismg business men of Summit County.

Politically he has always been identified with the Republican party and has been an important factor of the same in Summit County. He organized the first McKinley club in the county and has been liberal in contributing to its work. Fraternally he belongs to the Junior Order of American Mechanics and to the Knights of Pythias.

C. CHARLES CONAGHAN, a leading business citizen of Tallmadge, belongs to one of the old pioneer families of Ohio that crossed the mountains from Pennsylvania and entered the Western Reserve about 1800. C. Charles Conaghan was born October 16, 1842,

The Conaghan family is of Irish extraction, the grandfather, DennLs Conaghan, having been born in Ireland and left his native land in youth. He settled in Adams County, Pennsylvania, married and subsequently came to Ohio, where he reared a large family, and died in old age in Wyandot County.

Charles C. Conaghan, father of C. Charles, carried on agricultural pursuits on what was known as the old Logsdon farm, in Wyandot County. He married Mary A. Bardoon, who was born in Perry County, Ohio, in June, 1822, and was a daughter of Anthony and Magdalene Bardoon, the former of whom was a native of France and the latter, of Germany. There were two children born to Charles C. and Mary (Bardoon) Conaghan: C. Charles and A. Frank. Charles C. Conaghan, died aged thirty-two years. His widow married (second) William Best, and .she became the mother of four more children, namely: Mary E., Agatha, Louisa and Matilda. Mrs. Best died November 9, 1891.

C. Charles Conaghan, bearing his father's name along with inheriting his sterling traits of character, was reared on the old farm in Wyandot County, which his father and grandfather had redeemed from the forest. He attended the district schools in boyhood and had already become very useful on the home farm when the Civil War broke out and its i<<ue.~ absorbed the thoughts of young and old almost to the exclusion of every private interest. On August 12, 1861, Mr. Conaghan enlisted in the Federal army, at Tiffin, Ohio, entering Company B, 49th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, contracting for three years or during the war. He was honorably discharged at Chattanooga, Tennessee, September 5, 1864, having participated in numberless engagements, many very serious battles, and suffered both from wound and imprisonment. He took part in the battles of Shiloh, Liberty Gap and Chickamauga, being wounded at the latter place, on September 19, 1863, but he recovered in time to participate in the Atlanta Campaign and also in the hat- ties of Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Adamsville, Cassville, Pickett's Mills, Pine Mountain, Kenesaw ^Mountain, Peach Tree Creek and the siege and capture of Atlanta. The mere recital of these hLstoric names brings the blood to the cheek and the fire to the eye of every noble old veteran, but a tear also falls, for in the National Cemetery, at Marietta, Georgia, with, thousands of their gallant comrades, sleep 113 brave soldiers who once were members of the 49th Ohio.

Although Mr. Conaghan seemed to bear a charmed life through the furious JDattles which he never evaded, he was captured by a party of Gen. Kirby Smith's soldiers at Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, October 8, 1862. Fortunately for him his captors could not conveniently take their prisoners with them at that time and he was immediately paroled. This kept him out of active service for a time, as did his wound for several months, otherwise he served with his regiment whenever it was in the field. Mr. Conaghan believes that he knows the States of Kentucky and Tennessee better than many of their native sons, having marched three times across the former and five times across the latter, and under conditions which will never permit him to forget the landscape or the people. Mr. Conaghan was but nineteen years of age when he entered the army and his only brother was but seventeen, the latter offering up his young life on the altar of his country, at the battle of Kenasaw Mountain. Mr. Conaghan is a prominent and interested member of Buckley Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Akron, and has represented his post at the Department Encampment.

After the end of his military service, he returned to Carey, Wyandot County, where he remained until the spring of 1865, when he entered a commercial college at Cleveland and subsequently, for a few months, was bookkeeper in a business house of that city. In February, 1866, he came to Akron, where he was engaged for one year in a coal business, later removing to New Portage, where he was in a grocery line for eighteen months. In 1870 he came to Tallmadge and engaged in clerking until 1885, and in the following year went into a partnership in a mercantile business, with the late Frank E. Hine. Mr. Hine died in 1892, since which time he has continued alone, doing the most satisfactory business in his line, in the place.

Mr. Conaghan w-as married (first) al Akron, to Olive R. Ellis, who died October 27, 1885. She was a daughter of Joseph D. and Mary A. (Brown) Ellis,, and left two children, Nellie L. and Mary. Mr. Conaghan was married (second) March 25, 1897, to Mrs. Margaret E. (Hall) Hine, who was the widow of his former partner, Frank E. Hine. Mr. Conaghan is one of the town's public-spirited, enterprising and useful men. He commands the respect of his fellow-citizens and enjoys the esteem of a large circle of friends. The political offices he has held have been regarded by him in the light of public trusts, and their duties as faithfully performed as were those of the young soldier in 1861-2-3.

W. J. WILDES, president of the Board of Public Ser\'ice of Akron, has held this honorable position since the organization of the board. He was born in this city in 1872, and is a son of James Wildes, a native of Summit County, who settled in Akron, a half century ago.

W. J. Wildes was reared in Akron and educated in her institutions, graduating from the High School in 1889. In the following year he went to Poughkeepsie, New York, entering Eastman's Commercial College of that city, where he completed the course. He then returned to Akron and entered into general contracting with his father. They have since executed a large amount of work, including the building of roads, streets and sewers, both in Akron and at other points, a number of important contracts having been filled in Northwestern Ohio. In recent years Mr. Wildes has taken quite an active interest in politics. In 1902 he was appointed a member of the Board of City Commissioners, by Mayor Doyle, and served one year, since which time he has been in service on the pres-

In 1902 Mr. Wildes was married to Florence McCue, who is a daughter of T. W. Mc- Cue, of Akron. Fraternally Mr. Wildes belongs to the Knights of Columbus, the Knights of St. John, and to the Elks. He is a member of St. Vincent Catholic Church.

HON. CHARLES A. DAVIS, mayor of Cuyahoga Fallis, and proprietor of the largest grocery house in the city, was born at Canastota, Madison County, New York, January 19, 1856, son of George M. and Sarah J. (Hale) Davis.

His paternal grandfather was Samuel Davis, a native of New Jersey, but of Welsh parentage, who came to this county at an early day. This Samuel Davis died in Lennox Township, Madison County, in 1850, at the advanced age of eighty-two years, having moved from New Jersey to Lewis County, New York, in 1828. He was a farmer by occupation.

Samuel's son, Aaron, grandfather of Mayor Davis, was born in New Jersey, sixteen miles from Brunswick, about 1808. Previous to his marriage he moved to Lewis County, New York. At the age of eighteen he learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed until the death of his wife, when he went West, to Des Arc, Prairie County, Arkansas, where he became the owner of 1,200 acres of land. In 1850 he wrote saying that he would return home in the spring, if nothing happened to prevent him, but that was the last news received from him. He married, in Auburn, New York, August 25, 1825, Rachel Merritt! They had four children, of whom three grew to maturity, namely: Mary, who is now dedeased; Samuel, and George M.

George M. Davis was born in Lewis County, New York, and came to Cuyahoga Falls in the spring of 1866, being for some years after coming here in the employ of L. W. Loomis. In January, 1875, he returned to New York with his family, afterwards returning to the Falls, where he and his wife now live retired. Tbev have two children, Charles A., whose name begins this sketch, and Frank J., who is a resident of Earned, Kansas. Politically George M. Davis is a Democrat. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Charles A. Davis completed his literary education in the High School at Cuyahoga Falls, and then worked for several years on a farm, which he left to enter the printing office of the Cuyahoga Falls Reporter. In 1875, when his parents returned to New York, he accompanied them and remained there for three years, later returning to Cuyahoga Falls. Subsequently he worked as a printer on the Akron Daily Tribune for a year, or until its suspension. He continued in journalism a while longer, accepting a position with the Oil City Derrick, at Oil City. In the latter part of 1879 he returned once more to Cuyahoga Falls and entered the Jones Bros.' grocery' store as a clerk. Two years later, on the firm's going out of business, Mr. Davis opened a store of his own and conducted it for eighteen months, after which he resumed clerking. He had long been an active worker in the ranks of the Democratic party, and when President Cleveland entered upon his second administration, Mr. Davis was appointed assistant postmaster. At the close of his term in that office he purchased the Cuyahoga Falls Reporter, which journal he conducted with marked ability for six years.

In November, 1903, Mr. Davis sold the newspaper and bought his present grocery store, from H. E. Wells. He now conducts the largest grocery trade in the town, besides which he has other important business interests, being a director in the Cuyahoga Falls Savings Bank, also in the Falls Savings and Loan Association and in the Elgin Butter and Ice Cream Company, and a member of the Finance Committee of the Cuyahoga Savings Society. He has been a strong political factor for many years, and was elected Mayor of Cuyahoga Falls on the Democratic ticket, assuming the duties of the office January 1, 1906.

Middleport, Oliio. Mrs. Davis died in 1903, leaving two children, Leslie L. and Frank A. Mr. Davis is a member of Star Lodge, No. 187, F. and A. M. A patriotic and enterprising citizen, he keeps the p\iblic welfare ever in view, and his official acts have been fraught with beneficial results to the community.

HIRAM STUMP, the owner of 175 acres of excellent farm land in Franklin Township, was born on his present farm, in an old log house, in Summit County, Ohio, September 18, 1842, and has made his home on this property all of his life. He is a son of John A. and Mary (Grove) Stump.

Michael and Mary (Ashway) Stump, the grandparents of Hiram, came to Ohio from Pennsylvania in wagons, with their five children, crassing the river at Pittsburg, by way of the ferry. They settled in Tuscarawas Township, Stark County, Ohio, in the dense woods, and here two more children were born. Nine years later, while assisting a neighbor to raise his house, Michael Stump was accidentally killed by a log falling on him. His widow, who was left in straitened circumstances, reared her children as best she could. She lived to the advanced age of ninety-two years.

AVhen he reached manhood John A. Stump returned to Pennsylvania, where he learned the cabinet-making and carpenter trade with hi.-i uncle, John Stump, with whom he worked three years, during which time, in 1832, he was married. One month after his marriage he took his young wife back to Stark County, Ohio, to his mother's home. In 1833 they came to Fi'anklin Township, Summit County, and located on the present farm of Hiram Stump, he purchasing eighty acres of section I'o, school land, from the Government. On this farm, which had been partly improved, had been erected a log house and barn, but in 1845, Mr. Stump erected a brick residence, and a substantial barn was built by him in 1851. Here Mr. and Mrs. Stump spent the remainder of their lives, his death occurring at the age of seventy-nine years, and hers in her sixty-sixth year. In political matters Mr.

Stump was a Democrat, and he served his town,ship for some terms as trustee. The name of the lady Mr. Stump married was Mary Grove, and they became the parents of five children: Alpheus, who died January 2, 1907, aged sixty-nine years; Eliza, deceased, who was the widow of Eli Stout, who died in the army; Hiram; Mary Margaret, who died at the age of four years; and Lucinda, who died in infancy.

Hiram Stump was reared to manhood on the home farm, from which the longest period he has ever been absent was a six-weelvs' visit, in Pennsylvania.

While attending the district school, where he had good teachers, he helped to clear the home farm from stones and brush, and when he began farming it was with the scythe, the cradle and other crude implements, before the introduction of modern farm machinery. Although Mr. Stump has retired from active work on his farm he still oversees general operations. Like his father, he is a Democrat, and for nine years in succe.ssion served as township trustee. He is a member of the Reformed Church at Manchester.

On April 13, 1876, Mr. Stump was united in marriage with Emma Swigart, who was born in Stark County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Samuel Swigart, and to this union one child was born, Loma Belle, who married Rolla A. Stump, son of Nathaniel Stump.

Mrs. Stump's father, Samuel Swigart, and mother, Anna Grubb, were the second couple to procure a marriage license after the formation of Summit Countv, the date being June, 1840.

ISAAC NERHOOD, a representative farmer and dairyman of Coventry Township, and the owner of ninety-eight acres of fine farming land, located about five miles south of Akron, was born on his father's farm in Snyder County, Pennsylvania, November 18, 1854, and is a son of Amos and Barbara Ellen (Landls) Nerhood.

His death occurred in middle life on his farm in Snyder County. Jacob Nerhood married Hannah Eigel, who died in 1877, aged eightyfive years. They had seven children : John ; Daniel; Amos; Sarah, who married Isaac Musser; Sophia, who married Fred Haynes; Eliza, who married Jacob Snook; and Leah, who was the first wife of Isaac Musser.

Amos Nerhood, father of Isaac, was born on his father's farm in Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood, lived the life of a farmer and died in August, 1883, aged sixty-six years. He married Barbara Ellen Landis, who was born in Juanita County, Pennsylvania, where her father had been a pioneer. She died in 1902, aged eighty-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Nerhood had nine children, as follows: Elizabeth, who was the wife of Edward Yetter; John Jacob, who resides in Pennsylvania; Lucy Ann, who was the wife of A. Roniig ; Melinda, who married Emanuel Page, resides in Snyder County, Pennsylvania; Daniel, who lives in Pennsylvania; William Howard, who lives in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; Isaac; Joseph, who lives in Coventry Township; and Hannah Louisa, who died at the age of three months.

Isaac Nerhood attended the district schools of his native locality, when opportunity offered but the greater part of his youth was spent on the home farm, at hard work. At the age of twenty-two years he went to Bellvue, Sandusky County, Ohio, where he worked on various farms for about four years, and then located in Summit County, where he worked in J. P. Kepler's saw mill and at farming for a period of fourteen years, also during that time doing some carpenter work. Having accumulated enough capital he purchased a small piece of property in Springfield Township, a tract of thirty-eight acres, which he secured from Mr. Austin Spicer, but after three years he sold this place and bought his present property, from Edward Kepler, his brother-in-law. This is considered one of the best farms in this section of the township, and here Mr. Nerhood carries on general farming and dairying, keeping for the latter purpose a herd of about fourteen cattle. The large, nine-room frame house was built by J. P. Kepler, Avhile the barn was erected by John Stroman, an early owner. Coal has been found on the land in large deposits and much has been already mined.

On March 29, 1892, Mr. Nerhood waa united in marriage with Clara Melinda Kepler, who is a daughter of J. P. Kepler and granddaughter of John Kepler, a well known pioneer of East Liberty. Mr. and Mrs. Nerhood have one child, Harvey Elmer, who was born on Decoration Day, 1899.

In political matters Mr. Nerhood is a Republican, but he has never cared for, nor sought public office. With his wife he attends the Reformed Church, to which faith the family has always adhered. Mr. Nerhood is one of Summit County's self-made men, having worked his way from a boyhood of humble circumstances to be a man of substance, solely through his own efforts.

JOHN WILLIAM KING, the owner and operator of an excellent farm of eighty acres, situated in Green Township, was born on his present property in Green Township, Summit County, Ohio, March 15, 1878, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Gougler) King.

William King, the grandfather of John W., was born in AVittenberg, Germany, and as a boy of sixteen years came to America and settled in Pennsylvania. He was married in Pennsylvania to Magdalena Stroub, who was born in Germany. When a child of thirteen years she came to America, penniless, and was hired out to work for strangers for three years and was married young. They became the parent.s of ten children. After marriage William King removed to the northern part of Coshocton County, Ohio, where he became a substantial farmer and good citizen.

Jacob King, father of John W., was born on his father's farm in Coshocton County, Ohio, January 20, 1837, and went to the old Millcreek Township log school-house for about three months each year in boyhood, then the Greenburg Seminary, and the Spring Mountain College, the latter a Methodist institution, thus obtaining an excellent education. For about one year he taught school in Whitley County, Indiana, and the next six years were spent as an Evangelical preacher, being on the Stark County circuit. Two years of this time were passed at West Austintown, Mahoning County, Ohio, two years in Stark County, and the last two years at Fairview, Pennsylvania, where he preached in German. When only seventeen years of age Mr. King had engaged in the mercantile business at Warsaw, Ohio, but gave this up in order to attend school. Later he spent many years in farming, having acquired 458 acres of land, which he divided among his children. He is now one of the highly esteemed retired citizens of Greensburg.

At the age of twenty-three years, Mr. King was married to Elizabeth Gougler, and to this union there were born four children, all of whom live in Green Township, namely: Mary, who married Henry Oberlin ; Samantha; Emma, who married Jacob Boettler; and John William.

John William King attended the district schools, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. He secui'ed his property from his father, and its present fine condition proves liLs ability as a farmer. Mr. King erected his large house, barn, and other buildings after taking possession.

On January 14, 1900, Mr. King was married to Minnie B. Shaffer, who was born in Stark County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Samuel and Louise (Good) Shaffer, residents of Summit County. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. King: Harvey, Maude and Clyde. In political matters Mr. King is a Republican, while fraternally he is connected with the Grange and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.

OTIS K. VIALL, funeral director, whose business is located at No. 919 East Market Street, Akron, was born at Akron, in 1874, and is a son of John F. and Cornelia C. (Wheeler) Viall.

County, New York, April 30, 1825, and was brought to Ohio by his parents, Bennett and Wealthy (Arnold) Viall, when five years of age. They settled in Springfield Township, Summit County, among the pioneers. John F. Viall learned the cabinet-maker's trade, which he followed until 1866, at which time he engaged in undertaking. Later he was in partnership wdth his son, under the firm name of Viall & Son. He married Cornelia C. AVheeler, and their surviving children are: Frances, who married William Orendorf, residing at Akron ; Laura, who married C. B. Macey, residing at Noblesville, Indiana; Edward W., a r&sident at Noblesville; and Otis K., of Akron. Both John F. Viall and his wife have passed away. He was a man of business honesty and enterprise, and he made the first coffins kept in stock in the city of Akron, an innovation at that time. He was a stanch Republican politically but was never disposed to be a politician. A number of the minor offices of the township he held because he was elected to them, but he sought no political honors. For many years he was secretary of the Middlebury Cemetery Association.

OtLs K. Viall, upon completing his school education, became associated with his father in the undertaking business, and since the latter's death has had sole charge of it. He is a graduate of the Champion College of Embalming at Springfield, Ohio, and also of the Boston College of Embalming, of Boston, Massachusetts. His firm style is Otis K. Viall, funeral director and embalmer. He keeps in readiness all the paraphernalia incident to his business, and has an establishment which is modern in every particular. He is superintendent of the East Akron Cemetery Association.

In 1895 Mr. Viall was married to Daisy Shoemaker, who is a daughter of the late Cyrus Shoemaker, one of the old families of Northampton Township. They have one son, Earl Victor, who is a student of promise in the public schools. Mr. Viall and his wife belong to the Disciples Church. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias.

CHARLES BIRGE WETMORE, whose finely improved farm of 100 acres is situated in Stow Township, is one of the representative men of this section. He was born on his present farm in Stow Township, Summit County, Ohio, September 14, 1848, and is a son of Silas and Mary (Birge) Wetmore.

The Wetmore family was founded in America some time during the Sixteenth century, by three brothers, Seth, Chauncey, and one whose name has been forgotten, who came from Wales. Seth Wetmore settled in Connecticut, and from him the Wetmores of Stow Township have descended. He had two sons: William and Titus. William Wetmore was elected the first justice of the peace of Stow Township, when it was yet a part of Portage County. In August, 1804, he was appointed clerk of the court, and removed to Ravenna, but not being satisfied with the empty honor of hLs position he resigned and came hack to Stow Town.ship, settling on the farm now owned by Charles B. Wetmore. The first township election was held at his home. He built the house now owned by the heirs of Orison M. Moore, cultivated 200 acres of land, and in every way was one of the leading tnen of his section. In his latter years- he served as judge of the Court of Common Pleas. -Judge Wetmore was married to Anne Ogden, and to them were born four children: William, Edwin, Clarissa and Henry.

Edwin Wetmore, grandfather of Charles B., received a part of his father's farm at the time of the latter's death, and for many years wa.s engaged in busine.«s with his son Silas, whose death preceded his own by one year. For a long period he was a justice of the peace in Stow Township, having an office on his farm. In politics he was an ardent Whig in early life, later becoming a Republican. Mr. Wetmore died December 25, 1872, aged over seventy-four years. His finst wife was Polly Wetmore, a cousin, who died August 11, 1843.

Silas Wetmore, father of Charles B., grew to manhood on his father's farm, and throughout his mature life wa=: connected in business with his father, the partnership being dissolved by his death in 1871. He was a Whig and Republican, and during the Civil War was very active in securing men and means for the cause. He was a trustee of Stow Township, for a number of years. With the exception of Edwin Wetmore, who was a Methodist in his early years, the Wetmores have always been identified with the Christian Church, in which Silas Wetmore was deacon. He was married to Mary Birge, who was born in Connecticut and came to Ohio with her father. Dr. Simeon Birge, when ten years old. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wetmore : Charles Birge, and Edwin S., both of whom reside in Stow Township.

Charles B. Wetmore was reared on the home place, and his education was secured in the district schools and the High School at Cuyahoga Falls. After a visit of one year's duration, in the West, he returned, in order to take charge of the farm, when his father became ill, and here he has resided ever since. Mr. Wetmore has demonstrated his ability as a capable farmer, and raises large crops of wheat, potatoes and corn, and has a silo 14x30 feet. He keeps on an average, twenty cattle, and ships his milk to the Co-operative Creamery of Stow Township, of which he is one of the large stock-holders, and which he was instrumental in founding.

Mr. Wetmore was married to Adeline Kelly, who is a daughter of -John Kelly, a resident of Cuyahoga Falls, and to this union there have been born four children : Arthur S., who resides in Stow Township; Ida, who married Rev. D. W. Besaw, pastor of the Stow Corners Disciples Church; Jennie, who is the wife of Boyd Winch, of Akron ; and Henry, who lives at home.

Mr. Wetmore is an independent Republican in politics. He has served as township trustee for twenty years and also has served as a member of the School Board. He and family belong to the Disciples Church at Stow Corners, in which he is an elder.

Union County, Pennsylvania, May 5, 1840, .son of William and Salome (Reichley) Stetler. He is a descendant- of John Stetler, who came to this country at an early date from Germany, settling near what is now New York City. _ -

The next in ancestral line, Conrad Stetler, son of John, resided for a time in New Jersey, where he married. He afterward removed to Union County, Pennsylvania, where he became a wealthy farmer, .owning 1,000 acres of fertile land in the heart of Dry Valley. Among his children was John (II), born in 1792, who married Elizabeth Roughert, daughter of Anthony Roughert, a native of Bucks County. This John Stetler, who was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a Whig in politics, taking an active interest in public affairs, and a deacon in the Albright church. He died September 9, 1868 ; his wife in October, 1876. They were the parents of nine children : William, Daniel, Mary (married Thomas Pursel), John, Isaac, Charles, Thomas, Andrew and Elizabeth.

William Stetler, son of John and father of James A. Stetler, was born in Union County, Pennsylvania, October 10, 1816. He was educated in the district schools, and remained on the farm until reaching the age of fifteen years. After working for some three years in a brick yard, he obtained employment on the construction of the public dams on the Susquehanna, at which he continued for five years, during the winters being occupied in shoemaking. He also ran a boat from Northumberland to Philadelphia. In 1846 he became superintendent of wood-work on the dams, which position he filled until 1848. In the fall of that year he removed to Summit County, making the journey in a covered wagon over the mountains, and by way of Pittsburg. Settling in Green Township on a farm now owned by his son James, he lived there until about 1891, when he moved to Stark County. He returned, however, and is now making his home with his son, the subject of this seketch. Formerly a Whig in politics, he became a Democrat in 1844. Mr.

Stetler is now ninety-one years old, but is well preserved for a man of his great age. He has always been a man of much personal force, and has held at different times various township offices. He is a member and strong supporter of the Methodist Church, giving to it ifreely of his ample means, acquired by a long life of industry. His marriage to Salome Reichley took place November 2, 1838. She was born in Union County, Pennsylvania^ February 10, 1815, a daughter of William and Mary (Sausaman) Reichley, lifelong resident of that county. Her father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was at Cleveland, within hearing distance of the battle, when Perry obtained his great naval victory over the British flotilla under Commodore Barclay. Mrs. William Settler died in February, 1904, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years and one week.

James A. Stetler was the only child of his parents, and was eight years old when they settled in Summit County. In his youth he attended the old log school-house, with its slab benches, and was later sent to a good select school, where he improved his opportunities for gaining further knowledge. In the meanwhile his industrial education was not neglected, as he was early initiated, on his father's farm into the various methods and operations pertaining to agricultural life.

On September 2, 1860, he was married to Lovina Koons, who was born in Bloomsburg, Columbia Coimty, Pennsylvania, November 29, 1841. Her parents - Henry and Esther (Rough) Koon.s - were natives of Pennsylvania, and for many years farmers in Norton Township, Summit County. Mrs. Stetler was about ten years old when she accompanied lier parents to this State. She has borne her husband four children: William H., Charles E., Marvin T., and Clarence 0. ; all of whom have been given a sound practical education. William H. Stetler, after attending the common schools, completed his literary studies in the Academy at Uniontown, Stark County, Ohio. He followed farming in Green Township for a number of years, l)ut now resides in Akron. He married Rose Belle Haggerty, and has three children : Roscoe, who married Mary Weise; Harry, and Lucille. Charles E. Stetler, after passing through the common schools and graduating from Mogadore High school, became a student at Buchtel college. He became a practical telegrapher, and afterwards a commercial traveler, in which business he is now engaged. He married Ada Rhodes, and now resides in Dayton, Ohio. Marvin T. Stetler was educated in the Mogadore High School and at Uniontown Academy. He is now a resident of Kansas City, Mii5,souri. He married Maud Morton, and has two childien - Warren and Russel. Clarence 0. Stetler graduated from the Academy at Uniontown, and later as an accountant and bookkeeper from the Business College at Akron. He resides in Delaware, Ohio. He married Minnie Harmon.

James A. Stetler is now the owner of 303 acres of farm land in Summit County - 147 acres in Green Township and 156 acres in Springfield. He moved to the latter township after a residence of thirty years in Green. He lived in Springfield twenty-five years. Fifteen acres of his farm there consisted of a valuable deposit of vitrified clay, which for a number of years he was engaged in excavating, with the result of developing it into a valuable and important industry. In 1904 he left his Springfield farm and came to Uniontown to assume the care of his aged father.

Mr. Stetler is a Democrat in politics, and has served in the offices of tiiistee, justice of the peace, treasurer, assessor, and township clerk. His first presidential vote was cast for Gen. George B. McClellan. He and his wife are earnest and active workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church, which he has serv'ed as trustee. He is an Odd Fellow, belonging to Apollo Lodge, No. 61, of Akron, also to the Encampment No. 18, also of Akron; and to the Patrons of Husbandry, being past State deputy ma.ster of that order, and a leading member of Lodge No. 1323.

Mr. and Mrs. Stetler have always been numbered among the respected and honored residents of the county, and it Ls the universal that their days may be still further prolonged in the land in which Providence has cast their lot.

WILLIAM E. ETLING, owner and proprietor of the Etling Coal and Ice Company, of Barberton, has been interested in this line of business since 1903, and has been a resident of this city since 1896. Mr. Etling was born in Wayne County, Ohio, July 21, 1876, and is a son of Abraham and Ada (Mclntire) Etling.^

William E. Etling was reared on the old home farm in Wayne County, on which his parents still re.side. Until he was nineteen years of age he alternated working on the farm and going to school, and then learned the carpenter trade, coming to Barberton for that purpose and entering the employ of Charles Lutz. After four years of instruction and practice with Mr. Lutz, Mr. Etling started into contracting for himself,- for the first three years doing contracting only, then for two years engaged in contracting and dealing in coal, and since the spring of 1905, when he bought out the Barberton Ice Company, has added ice to his business interests. He also handles cement and lime and with his three teams does a large amount of teaming, giving employment to from three to twelve men according to the season. Mr. Etling owns his own buildings and bought the land on which the are standing when it was vacant property.

Mr. Etling married Jennie G. Santrock, who was reared in Wayne County, and is a daughter of John A. Santrock, and they have had four children, namely : Edna, who died aged eleven months and fifteen days; Mabel; Elmer W. and Esther Lucile. Mr. Etling is a member of the Odd Fellows.

C. H. MORTON, president of the Ohio and Penn.sylvania Base Ball League, with offices in the Central office building, at Akron, was born in Asthabula County, Ohio, October 12, 1854, and is a son of Rev. A. D. Morton.

John T. Morton is appended to that immortal document, the Declaration of Independence. His father is a son of John Morton who was a member of the same branch of the family which produced those statesman, the late Hon. Oliver P. Morton, formerly governor of Indiana, and Hon. Levi P. Morton, who was vice-president of the United States. Mr. Morton's father. Rev. A. D. Morton, at one time was presiding elder of the Akron District of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which religious body he was long a distinguished minister.

C. H. Morton's early life was passed on the shore of Lake Erie and in Cleveland, and after completing his education he entered into the grocery business in which he continued until failing health warned him that he would be obliged to seek more of an out-door existence. He had been interested in base ball prior to this and had been a player of some merit before entering into the sport in a business way. For the past sixteen years he has been the manager of different ball teams, and is now serving in his third year as president of the Ohio and Pennsylvania League of professional players, a body which has won many triumph on the Diamond. Their success in no small degree has resulted from the excellent management of Mr. Morton.

In 1883, Mr. Morton was married to Margaret Laber, who was born near Heidelberg, Germany. They have two children, Edna Ruth and Frederick William, the latter of whom is a bright student in the Akron High School.

DAVID A. McCOLGAN, who for twelve successive years has been a member of the Board of Education, and for six years one of the trustees of Springfield Township, resides on his farm of 132 acres, which he has placed under fine cultivation. He was born in Summit County. Ohio, June 6, 1854. and is a son of James and Nancy (Moore) McColgan.

The father of Mr. McColgan was born in Ireland and came to America in 1885 at the age of twenty-five years, subsequently coming to Springfield Town.?hip, Summit County,

Ohio. He was married at Trenton, New Jersey, to Nancy Moore, who was also born in Ireland, where her parents died. She died in 1857. The grandparents of Mr. McColgan, Michael and Martha McColgan, followed their son Janics to America some five years after he had emigrated, and they both died in Springfield Township, and were buried at Springfield Center. James McColgan died in 1870, having survived his first wife for thirteen years. There were four sons born to his first marriage, namely : William John, deceased, who married in Michigan, left two children ; James Shannon, resides in Northampton Township, engaged in farming, married Susan Adams and they have three children ; Charles Henry, who is deceased, and David A. There were three children born to a second marriage, all of whom survive.

David A. McColgan obtained his education in the district schools and was reared on a farm near Pleasant Valley, where his father first settled. For six years he resided in Portage County, but in 1884 he settled on his present farm, since which time he has been engaged in growing grain and stock. His land is fertile and under his excellent management, is very productive.

In 1878 Mr. McColgan was married to Jennie Grotz, who is a daughter of John and Elmira (Martin) Grotz. The grandmother of Mrs. McColgan was the first white child born in Suffield Township, Portage County, and her mother can remember the time when Indians would frequently be seen in the neighborhood of her home. Mr. and Mrs. McColgan have had two children, namely: Bertie, who died aged nine months; and Claude, who was born July 12, 1882. and resides on the home farm. He married Elma Spade, who is a daughter of Henry and Louisa Spade, and they have a little twoyear-old daughter, Mabel.

Mr. McColgan was reared a Republican, but for the past fifteen years he has been identified with the Democratic party. He has ser\'ed for six years as township trustee and for twelve years as a member of the Board of Education, having a remarkable recoid in connection with both offices, that of never having missed a single official meeting in the whole period. He has been particularly active in politics since 1890, and has been sent as a delegate to two State conventions. Both he and wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He stands as one of Springfield Township's representative citizens.

CLARK E. WOOLF, residing on his finely developed farm of fifty-nine acres, situated in Springfield Township, is one of the leading men of this section. He was born at Atwater. Portage County, Ohio, October 2, 1856, and is a son of George and Elizabeth (Baum) Woolf.

Mr. Woolf comes of old pioneer families of Ohio, on both sides, his ancestors having come to their respective settlements, from eastern homes, in the days when Indians still roamed through the trackless forests and Nature had been practically undisturbed. Family records do not tell how early the paternal grandparents settled in Columbiana County, but there they reared a family and both died M'hen George AVoolf, father of Clark E., was small. Of the twelve other children this biography does not treat, but all through this part of the State, their representatives may be found, usually among the respected and useful citizens. The maternal grandparents, the Baums, were equally early settlers in Trumbull County, where the mother of Clark E. Woolf was born. It is related of Grandmother Bauni, as indicative of her energy and courage, that she made a trip on horseback from Salem to Ravenna, through the forests, following only blazed paths, carrying with her the products of her own dairy for the purchase of warp for the weaving, which her busy hands carried on in the long winter evenings. She was the first white woman who ever faced the dangers of such a journey over that ground, and she accomplished it in one day. She was the mother of a numerous and sturdy family. Left a widow, she remained on her farm near North Benton, Mahoning County, a number of years and then