Montville Township (part 8 of 8)

GRANGER TOWNSHIP. 919 Isaac and Hannah (Parker) Whitman, were also | and Clara E. Lewis, living in Kansas, Mr. and natives of Massachusetts. They came to Me- | Mrs. Whitman's children are as follows: Jessie dina Co. in 1842, and first located in Chatham Township, remaining there eleven years; then moved to Granger Township, where they made their homes up to their deaths. His father's death occurred March 22, 1861, and his mother's Mareh i, 1863. Previous to engaging in the mercantile trade, Isaac, in partnership with his brother Alden, operated a saw-mill in Granger Township for twelve years ; they then disposed of the mill property, and bought out the store of French & Boughten, of Remson's Corners. They continued in partnership for eight years, and then Alden sold his share to his brother and removed to Chatham Township, where he is now engaged in farming. Since that time, Isaac has continued in trade alone. His stock consists of a general line of merchandise, embracing dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, hardware, etc. He has been Postmaster since 1869. As a merchant, Mr. Whitman is deservedly popular, being in his manner genial, obliging and courteous. As a citizen, he ranks as one obliging neighbor, and a useful and honorable member of society. He was united in marriage, Dec. 1, 1858, to Miss Susan A. Perin. She was born in Hinckley Township Dec. 24, 1839. Her father, Orrin Perin, was a native of Massachusetts. Her mother, Elizabeth Willey, a native of Vermont. They were married in Monroe Co., N. Y., and came to Ohio in 1833, first locating in Granger Township, remaining there but one year; thence to Hinckley Township, where they resided until 1865. They then removed to McLean Co., Ill., and, in 1875, to Ford Co., where her father died in April, 1880. Her mother is now living with her children in Granger Township. Mr. and Mrs. Perin's children were as follows: Asa D., now living in Kansas ; he served three years in the 5th Kansas Cavalry ; Reuben W., enlisted in the 36th Ill. V. I., and served nearly three years, when he was killed at Chickamauga ; Charles H., enlisted in the 5th Kansas Cavalry, and was in the service nearly three years. He was killed at Pine Bluff, Ark., while in service ; Susan A. ; Orrin O. ; he served nearly a year in the 178th O. V. L; he is now living in Hinckley Township ; Mary A. Thompson, living in Kansas ; Eliza F. Sprague, living in Nebraska; Heman L., living in Granger; Cora T. Rankin, living in Illinois,

E., born Nov. 4, 1861, died March 3, 1863; Earnest W., July 12, 1863; Arthur L, born Sept. 27, 1868, and Cora E., Dec. 7, 1874 ; died Sept. 23, 1876. Mr. Whitman has a sister living in Granger Township - Harriet N. Raw. He has served the township as Treasurer about five years, and in educational matters has always taken an active interest.

GEORGE WORDEN, farmer ; P..O. Weymouth. Is a son of Zara and Sally (Frisbee) Worden, who were natives of Connecticut, and early settlers in Medina Co. They first located in Liverpool Township, where George was born in June, 1822. When he was about a year old, his parents removed back to Connecticut and remained there about three years ; then, tired of the rocks and hills of Connecticut, they returned to Liverpool Township, where they resided for a number of years. Subsequently, they removed to Lorain Co., and then to Weymouth, Medina Co., where they both departed this life. George remained with his parents until he was 24 years old; he then came to Granger Township, and took up 112 acres of timbered land, which he has since cleared and improved with fences, buildings, etc., and where he has resided up to the present writing. He was married, Aug. 23, 1852, to Miss Mary A. Clark; she was a daughter of Phineas and Saloma (Brown) Clark, natives of New York, and pioneers of Brunswick Township, coming there as early as 1817, and residents of the township up to 1864, when Phineas died and his wife removed to Weymonth, Medina Township, where she died in 1875. Mary was born in Brunswick in 1834 ; she has a sister, Jane Wallace, living in Weymouth. Mr. and Mrs. Worden had but one child - William S. - who is now living at home. They are both members of the Methodist Church. The children of Zara and Sally Worden, now living, are as follows: Nathan, now a resident of Henry Co.; George, the subject of this sketch ; Joseph, living in Medina; Sally Ann, residing in Medina ; Caroline Upson, living in Medina, and Thomas, now living in Medina.

S. P. WOLCOTT, Granger. This gentleman was born in Middlesex, Washington Co., Vt., Sept. 25, 1804. He is the son of Joseph and Lucy (Hills) Wolcott, both natives of East Windsor, Conn., where they were married and resided till the latter part of the eighteenth century, when they removed to the birthplace of their son S. P. They remained in the Green Mountain State until 1816, and then removed to Ontario Co., N. Y. In the fall of 1820, they came to this county and located in Granger Township. They were the parents of seven children, four of whom are now living. Mr. Wolcott was the Captain of a company, and served his country with distinction during the war of the Revolution. Three of his brothers were also in this war. He died in 1866, at the advanced age of 91 years. His wife died in 1855. S. P. Wolcott was raised upon a farm, receiving but a limited education. He worked for his father until of age, and contributed no little toward caring for the family. He was frugal and industrious, and as fast as he earned money he invested it in land. In 1828, he returned to Ontario Co, N.'Y., where he found employment as a farm laborer for two years. During this time he had saved enough money to finish paying for the land he had purchased. He was united in marriage to Miss Nancy W. Codding Sept. 20, 1835. She was born in Bristol, Ontario Co., N. Y., Feb. 13, 1814. From this union there were sixteen children - Fernando, Alzina M., Horace, Sarah J., Harriet C., Chester, Clay,- ton C., Clayton, Cornelius, Cornelia, Samuel M., Alice A., Frank L., Mary L., Amelia C. and Ida M. Horace, Chester and Clayton were in the late war. After the war, Horace entered the employment of the Government and went overland to the Pacific coast. On his return to the East he took a trip South, since which time he has never been heard of by the family. Mr. Wolcott began life as a poor boy, and is, in the fullest sense of the word, a self-made man. Although too old to work he still has charge of his farm, which is one of the best improved in Granger Township. He is an intelligent, enterprising gentleman, a jovial companion and one of the county's best citizens. In politics, he is a Republican of the stalwart kind.

ROBERT LEE, farmer; P. O. Albion, Wayne Co. ; was born in the latter county Jan. 23, 1833, and was married, Oct. 9, 1856, to Miss Maranda R. Tanner, who was born July 19, 1839. Their children were named Sarah J., born Oct. 4, 1857; Rosa M., April 19, 1859, died Feb. 26, 1862; Cora B., Jan. 15, 1865; Lillie G., Jan. 26, 1877 ; Sarah J., now Mrs. Aaron Swartz, married Dec. 6, 1877; they have one child - Lucius L. Swartz, born Jan. 31, 1879. Mr. Lee went to California in 1852, during the gold fever excitement, taking the overland route and traveling in the saddle or with the wagon train. It took them three months to make the trip, halting a week at Salt Lake City to recruit their teams. They were threatened on the way by Indians, who were probably more in search of plunder than a fight. At this time, they were joined by another train, and, by coralling their teams and protecting themselves as best they could, they passed a very disagreeable night, waiting for the expected attack. Morning came, and they were left to pursue their way unmolested, with the exception of losing some of their stock.

They entered the Golden State at Hangtown, now called Placerville. He worked in the mines in various parts of the State, remaining there three years, coming home via the Nicaragua route, landing safely in New York, and arriving home by way of Cleveland. Mr. Lee has been living in Homer Township for twentyfour years, on what used to be called the Albro farm of 80 acres, but has made additions from time to time, until now he owns 181 acres of good land, making a farm of which he may well be proud, as he is pleasantly situated and surrounded with home comforts of no ordinary degree. His father, Josiah Lee, living in Albion, Wayne Co., was born in the State of Connecticut, Thompson Township, Oct. 14, 1796, and moved to the State of New York with his father in 1798. He married Miss Agnes Lafler Nov. 3, 1816, and came to this State in 1819, settling in Jackson Township. There were no improvements on the land he entered, and no roads but as they cleared them between here and Cleveland, coming by way of Medina, which then could boast of one solitary log house and another in process of construction.

Before they reached the future county seat, it grew quite dark and threatened rain. Turning the oxen loose to browse in the slashing, they sought the log house for shelter, but were lost in the darkness of the stormy night. Their loud halloos were finally heard, and they were kindly taken in and cared for by the pioneer's family. They reached Wayne Co. in due time, and entered 320 acres of land, at $2 per acre. Mr. John Mason, three-fourths of a mile, east, was their only neighbor, and Wooster the nearest post office. Their children were John H., born March 14, 1818, died Aug. 17, 1822; Phoebe, Nov. 24, 1819, died Aug. 11, 1822; James, April 30, 1822; Josiah, July 2, 1824, died Aug. 20, 1851; Elizabeth, March 23, 1826; Jacob, July 12, 1828, died Oct. 23, 1853; David B., Oct. 21, 1830; Robert, Jan. 23, 1833; Oliver, Jan. 9, 1836; Lucene, Feb. 7, 1839 (now Mrs. G. M. Reed) ; Elizabeth married Mr. P. C. Bunt; George, July 14, 1841, | died Dec. 15, 1854. Mrs. Agnes Lee died April 8, 1860, and on Jan. 26, 1868, Mr. Lee married Phoebe Smith. They had one child - Jessie, born Dec. 6, 1869; she died March 2, 1878. Three of the brothers were in the army during the war of the rebellion. David enlisted in Co. B, 4th O. V. C., and served in the Army of the Potomac until the battle of Gettysburg, where he was wounded in the right hand. Soon after, he was honorably discharged from the service, but, upon the wound healing, he again enlisted in the 178th O. V. I., and served to the end of the war, participating in the great battle of Murfreesboro and many skirmishes between Nashville and the front. James enlisted in Co. K, 102d O. V. L, and served for three years. Oliver enlisted in the same regiment and company (Capt. J. M. Sloan's) and was in the battles of Decatur, Ala., Stevenson, Perryville, Frankfort, etc.

Addendum

JUDGE SAMUEL HUMPHREVILLE, Medina, Ohio, died of apoplexy, Feb. 4, 1881. The following tribute to his memory is taken from the Medina Democrat of Feb. 10, 1881: "Our community was greatly shocked on Friday morning last to learn of the sudden death from apoplexy of ex-Judge Humphreville, an old and respected citizen of Medina, whose demise occurred about 10 o'clock, at the office of the Gazette newspaper. The judge, after breakfast, as was his custom, came down town and visited the Gazette office to look after some job printing that had been ordered, and while there in conversation with Mr. Green, he suddenly fell baek in his chair, gasped a few times, and expired. The judge, we are informed, had been in his usual health, with the exception of a slight headache which had annoyed him for a few days, and though 73 years of age, had the appearance of good health and promise of a longer lease of life than was allotted him. The deceased was born and bred in Berkshire Co., Mass.; from there he came to Medina, about forty years ago, and engaged in the practice of law. He represented Medina Co. in the Constitutional Convention which framed the Constitution of 1851. Next, he was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for this district, going on the beneh in February, 1852, and serving a term of five years, he being the first

Judge elected in this district after the adoption of the present Constitution, whence -the code practice of law dates. Prior to about the year 1850, Mr. Humphreville was a Democrat, and was elected to the above-mentioned offices by his Democratie constituents, among whom he was a leader. But when the rebellion of the Slave States became inevitable, he joined the Republican party, and as a member of that party represented this Senatorial district in the General Assembly of Ohio for the period of three years, beginning in 1862. He was next elected a member of the third Constitutional Convention, which met in May, 1873. For some years, he has been a member of the Board of School Examiners for this county, and, at the time of his death, was at the Gazette office for the purpose of getting some examination cards printed. He spent considerable time during the past few months in writing a history of the bar of Medina Co., which he finisned about two weeks ago, and which will appear in the forthcoming county history. Throughout his whole life, he has been a faithful and persistent worker. Asa public officer, he faithfully discharged his trust ; as a lawyer he was honest and upright and an honor to his profession, and as a neighbor and citizen he was always genial and kind to all, and a man in the true sense of the word."