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History of
Ashtabula Co., Ohio
SOURCE: History of Ashtabula County, Ohio
Large, Moina W.
Topeka :: Historical Pub. Co.,, 1924, 1132 pgs.
NOTE: Other Biographies will have a note stating their sources.
ALSO NOTE: I will transcribe biographies upon request. Please
state the County and State in the Subject line of the email. ~ SW
BIOGRAPHIES
* CALAWAY, Wallis F.
* CALDERNE, Joseph
* CALDWELL, John Anson
* CALLENDER, W. W.
* CAMP, Charles D.
* CANDELA, G. A.
* CANFIELD, E. A.
* CAREY, W. H.
* CARLSON, John
* CARLSON, John
* CARNEY, S. I.
* CARR, C. Vern
* CARTER, William Albert
* CASE, Charles H.
* CASE, Clarence V.
* CASTIGLIA, Benedetto
* CHAFFEE, G. W.
* CHAFFEE, N. L.
* CHAPMAN, Horace J.
* CHEKURAS, Peter and Louis
* CHILCOTT, A. J.
* CHILDS, Clifford A.
* CLARK, A. M.
* CLARK, J. R.
* CLARK, James O.
* CLARK, Stanley
* CLINE, S. A., Capt.
* CLOSE, George E.
* CLOSE, Joseph E.
* COCHRAN, C. F.
* COE, T. W.
* COLBY, F. C. |
* COLLANDER, Paul J., Dr.
* COLLINGE, George
* CONGDON, Floyd
* CONGDON, Fred J.
* CONGOS, Frank H.
* CONNELL, H.
* COOK, A. H.
* COOK, A. P.
* COOK, Frank R.
* COOK, Joseph E.
* COOK, Joseph R.
* COON, M. M.
* COOPER, J. J.
* CORNELL, C. C.
* CORNELL, George W.
* CORNISH, T. C.
* COSNER, W. W.
* COSSITT, Duran S., Dr.
* COTTON, Wilbur W.
* COWGER, C. D.
* CRITES, J. W.
* CROCKETT, Ernest, Dr.
* CROSBY, W. R.
* CROWTHER, G. N.
* CROZIER, Austin
* CUMMINS, John
* CUMMINS, Robert E.
* CURPHEY, Edward M. |
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JOHN
ANSON CALDWELL, one of the prominent business men and worthy
citizens of Conneaut, Ohio, was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania,
November 3, 1838.
The Caldwells trace their ancestry to Tyrone and
Donegal counties, Ireland, and are of Scotch-Irish extraction. They were
Protestants; were people of wealth, belonging to the landed nobility, and
had a coat of arms.
John A. Caldwell's parents, Robert and Maria
(Lowry) Caldwell, were both natives of Pennsylvania. Robert Caldwell
was born December 14, 1798, and died in Erie county, Pennsylvania, in
1842. He was a farmer by occupation, was keenly alive to the best
interests of the farm, and was well known as an honest, industrious and
worthy citizen. From boyhood he was a devout member of the United
Presbyterian Church. He had decided views on political matters, and was an
ardent Whig. His wife, Maria, was born July 17, 1801, and died
November 15, 1838. She, too, was a worthy member of the United
Presbyterian Church, and was a woman of many estimable qualities, loved by
all who knew her. Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell were married February 1,
1821, and had a family of children as follows: Nancy, wife of
Lewis Speer, was born January 16, 1822, and died in 1858;
Mary, born March 3, 1824, became the wife of Richard Bran,
his death occurring February 11, 1892, and hers February 19, 1892;
Elizabeth L., born March 22, 1827, married William Catlin,
her death occurring in 1891, and his in January, 1893; Emeline, wife of
Elisha Stone, resides in Batavia, Illinois; Almira, wife
of R. S. Whitney, is a resident of Westfield, Wisconsin; and
John and Anson, the youngest of the family. By a second
marriage Robert Caldwell had one child, Alfred
Augustus, born May 7, 1841 This son, Alfred Augustus,
enlisted in the Union army in 1861. He was taken prisoner on the
battlefield and was sent to the Andersonville prison pen, where, after
months of suffering from exposure and starvation death came to his relief.
He sleeps his last sleep in the National Cemetery at Andersonville.
The subject of our sketch was deprived of a mother's
loving care in infancy, and, his father having died a few years later, he
remembers little of him. He lived at the old farm home until he was
fifteen years of age. Then he worked two years at the tinner's trade, and
after that went to school two years. In 1859, at the age of twenty, being
of a restless disposition and having a desire for travel, he set out for
California, via the Isthmus route, taking passage on the celebrated Star
of the "West. It will be remembered that this same vessel, while on the
way to Fort Sumter with provisions and ammunition for General
Robert Anderson in 1861, was fired upon by the rebels.
Mr. Caldwell spent two years in
California in mining operations, and several years more in mining and
prospecting through the territories of Oregon, Idaho, Washington and
Montana. He returned east as far as Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1866, and the
following year made a visit to the home of his childhood. In 1868 he went
to Omaha, Nebraska, and for several years worked at his trade there.
January 6, 1872, be removed to Conneaut, Ohio, and engaged in the grocery
business, under the firm name of Bosworth & Caldwell. Two years
later the firm became Poole & Caldwell, and since 1882, having
bought out his partner's interest at that time, he has continued the
business under the name of J. A. Caldwell. He carries a full line
of groceries, provisions, crockery, queensware, notions, etc., and has a
large trade, numbering among his customers the best people of the city and
surrounding country.
Mr. Caldwell was married in Council
Bluffs, Iowa, April 29, 1869, to a daughter of Calvin and Harriet Poole.
It was his father-in-law with whom he was engaged in business, under the
name of Poole & Caldwell. Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell have two
children, viz.: Jessie A., wife of C. B. Stoke, of
Conneaut; and Harriet Almira, a pupil in the Conneaut public
school. Mrs. Caldwell is a member of the Episcopal Church.
In social as well as business circles Mr.
Caldwell ranks with the leading citizens of Conneaut. He is a member
of the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council and Cache Commandery, in all of which
bodies he holds the office of Treasurer. He is also Treasurer of the,
Knights of Honor, National Union and the Elks of Conneaut. He is a charter
member of the Knight of Pythias Lodge, at Conneaut; was the first Past
Grand Chancellor of said lodge, and has also served five years as District
Deputy of the same—Maple Lodge, No. 217. He is also a member of the Mystic
Shrine. Aside from his activity in secret organizations, he has always
shown a public spirit worthy of commendation and has been deeply
interested in the public enterprises of the city. He holds decided views
on political matters of county, State and Nation, and affiliates with the
Democratic party.
(For Source, see Note 1 below) |
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JOHN CARLSON,
who now lives in Kingsville Township, is a leading farmer of Ashtabula
County. He was born in Sweden, Feb. 15, 1859, the son of Carl
and Elizabeth Isaacson.
Carl Isaacson was born in Sweden, where he died in
1924. He came to this country, but after five years returned to
his native land. His wife died in 1904. Mr. and Mrs.
Isaacson were parents of the following children: John, the
subject of this sketch; Ed. lives in Sweden; Theodore,
Ashtabula; Louie, Ashtabula Township; Anna, Sweden; and
Hilda, married Abbie Dickerson, lives in Cleveland.
John Carlson spent his boyhood in Sweden and was
educated there. Thirty-six years ago he came to the United States
and located at Altoona, Pa., where he was employed in the mines four
years. He then came to Ashtabula Harbor and worked at the docks
for 15 years. In 1902 Mr. Carlson purchased his first farm
of 50 acres, which he sold in 1920. The Carlson farm is
located on the south ridge east of Ashtabula and is among the fine dairy
farms of the community. Mr. Carlson resided in Ashtabula
for a few years at 32 Fargo Avenue. In 1924 he moved to his
present farm of 80 acres. He has owned several farms in the
county.
On Jan. 29, 1892, Mr. Carlson was united in
marriage with Miss Tilda Jepson, a native of Sweden, who came to
this country with her parents when a child. Elsie Jepson,
the mother, lives in Ashtabula. Her husband died in 1921. On
April 23, 1923, Mrs. Carlson died very suddenly, leaving 12
children, as follows: Carrie, lives at home; Mabel,
cashier of the Ward Baking Company, Cleveland; Agnes, teaches
school in Ashtabula; Lillie, died in 1902; Edith, teaches
school; Mildred, an instructor in penmanship in the Saybrook
Township School; Martha H., at home; Elizabeth, died at
the age of 17 years; Alice, at home; Della, Arlene and
Jane, all at home.
Mr. Carlson is a Republican and a member of the
Lutheran church. He is a substantial citizen and deservedly stands
high in the estimation of his friends and acquaintances. |
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| G. W. CHAFFEE, retired, is a member of one of
Ashtabula County's oldest and most prominent pioneer families. He
was born at Jefferson, where he now resides, Jan. 1, 1850, and is a son of
N. L. and Mary E. (St. John) Chaffee. |
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N. L. CHAFFEE, now deceased, was during his
lifetime an important factor in the development of Ashtabula county.
He was born at Tully, Onandaga County, N. Y., Oct. 31, 1813. He came
to Ashtabula County in September, 1831, without a relative in the state.
He taught school during the winters and the rest of the year chopped and
logged wood, until 1837, at which time he entered the law office of Hon.
Joshua R. Giddings at Jefferson. After being admitted to the bar in
1839, a partnership was formed with Mr. Giddings which continued
for six years, In 1831 Mr. Chaffee was elected prosecuting
attorney and re-elected four years later. He was elected to the Ohio
Legislature in 1848 and became a judge of the Common Pleas Court in this
district in 1861 and re-elected in 1866. After ten years' services
on the bench he resumed the practice of law in which he was actively
engaged until the time of his death in 1887. At one time Mr.
Chaffee owned 1200 acres of land in Ashtabula County, as well as large
tracts in Kansas. He was a Republican, a member of the Methodist
Church and a charter member of the Masonic Lodge at Jefferson. N.
L. Chaffee took an active interest in the underground railroad during
slavery times. He secreted George Harris, the husband of Eliza
Harris, of Uncle Tom's Cabin.
His wife, who was born at Rock Creek, Ohio, died in
1859. She was the daughter of Col. G. W. and Cybelia
(Hawley) St. John. Col. G. W. St. John was a native of
Connecticut, having come PAGE 672 |
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H. CONNELL,
assistant shipping clerk in the employ of the Nickel Plate Railroad,
Conneaut, Ohio, is a native of Crawford county, Pennsylvania, born
November 24, 1845, son of Jonah and Eliza (Zielie)
Connell.
Jonah Connell was born in Schoharie
county, New York, oldest in the family of seven children—five sons and two
daughters —born to Isaac and Eva (Fink) Connell, both natives of
Scholarie county. Isaac Connell moved West, and died in
Illinois. Following are the names of their children: Jonah,
Cornelia, Peter, John, Christopher, Margaret,
and Martha, the last two being the only ones now living.
Margaret is the widow of Aaron Colly, and
Martha is the wife of Omri Goodwell. Jonah
Connell was married April 3, 1845, to Miss Eliza
Zielie, daughter of David and Sallie (Stokes) Zielie,
her father a native of New York and her mother of Connecticut. Mr. and
Mrs. Zielie had four children, viz.: Catherine, who married
Charles Fink, both being deceased; Margaret, widow of
Daniel McLaughlin, has one child, Matilda; Mrs.
Connell; and Peter who married Susan Brown,
both being deceased, and leaving two children—Caroline, wife of
John McGee, and Sarah, wife of Martin Rawley.
Mrs. Connell is nearing her seventy-eighth mile post, the
date of her birth being October 14, 1815. Her worthy companion passed away
October 11,1887, aged seventy-four years, two months and six days. He was
a consistent Christian from his boyhood days, and filled most acceptably
in his Church all the offices accorded to laymen. His many estimable
traits of character and his pure Christian life endeared him to a large
circle of friends. For more than sixty years Mrs. Connell
has been a member of the church. In their family of five children, G.
H., whose name heads this sketch, is the oldest; Jane, born
August 9, 1848, died April 15, 1853; Sallie, born February 17,
1850, died April 18, 1853; James, born March 7, 1852, died April
20, 1853; and Mary, born July 15, 1854, died May 27, 1858.
G. H. Connell was educated in Erie, Pennsylvania, finishing his
studies with a commercial course. After leaving school he was engaged in
farming until 1883. In the mean time, in 1865, his father's family had
moved to Conneaut. In 1883 he began working for the Nickel Plate Railroad
Company, first, in the shops, and subsequently as foreman in the yard,
continuing in the latter capacity nine years. He was promoted to his
present position October 20, 1892, and has since been rendering efficient
service here.
Mr. Connell was married April 23, 1869, to Miss
Amelia Cathcart. Their only child, James, is engaged in
agricultural pursuits, having charge of his father's farm.
Mr. Connell is a member of Maple Lodge,
No. 217, K. of P.; the Uniform Rank, K. of P.; and the State Police, of
which he is a Special Officer. For six years he was School Director in
Conneaut township, and one term was Clerk of the Board. His wife is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Of Mrs. Connell's family we make record
as follows: Hugh Cathcart, her father, was born September
10, 1803, was a pattern maker by trade; died February 14, 1869. Her
mother, Caroline (Giddings) Cathcart, was born April 30,
1820, and died February 1, 1855. Both were old school Presbyterians for
many years. They had six children, namely: Earl, who died at the
age of six months; Emma, wife of Eugene Maxfield,
born August 3, 1842, died December 29, 1878; Holmes, born January
3, 1845, died July 26, 1845; Amelia; born December 12, 1849;
Hubert, born July 24, 1852, died October 10, 1852; and Addison,
born January 8, 1855, died May 4, 1855. By a former marriage to Olive
Youngs, Mr. Cathcart had three children— Solomon
H., of Elyria, Ohio; Elizabeth, born September 13, 1835, died
in April, 1849; and Augusta, wife of M. Z. Andrews,
Centralia, Kansas.
(For Source, see Note 1 below) |
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W. W. COSNER, a prosperous
farmer and stockman of Kingsville Township, and the owner of 88 acres of
good farm land, was born in West Virginia, Jan. 6, 1856, and is the son
of Henry and Nancy (Roby) Cosner.
Henry Cosner was a native of Grant County, W. Va.,
and a farmer during his entire life. He died in 1886 and his wife
died in 1920. They were parents of ten children, five of whom are
now living, as follows: Thomas, a farmer, lives in West
Virginia; Otto, also a farmer, lives in West Virginia; Heather,
married Elihu Sanders, lives in West Virginia; Aldina,
married George Bennett, lives in West Virginia; and W. W.,
the subject of this sketch.
W. W. Cosner spent his boyhood on his father's
farm and attended the district schools. He owned 123 acres of land
in his native state and in 1906 sold his interests and came to Ashtabula
County and located on his present farm in Kingsville Township. The
place is well improved.
Mr. Cosner was married to Miss Rebecca Keith,
deceased. To this union three children were born: Rosa
Bell, wife of George Parks, New York state; Chareles W.,
lives in Pennsylvania; and Martha Ann, the wife of Earl
Gardner. Mr. Cosner was married the second time to
Miss Sefrona C. Johnson, and to this union two children were born,
as follows: Clareta, married Ed Bisby, a linesman,
lives in Kingsville; Hettie, lives at home.
In politics Mr. Cosner is identified with the
Democratic party. He is an industrious farmer, highly esteemed in
his neighborhood.
(See Note 2 below for Source) |
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DR. DURAN S.
COSSITT, a popular young physician of Conneaut, Ohio, is just
starting out in a career of usefulness and is already winning his way to
the front ranks of his chosen profession. As one of the representative
young men of the town, it is fitting that some personal mention of him be
made in this work.
Dr. Duran S. Cossitt was born in Mercer county,
Pennsylvania, March 6, 1866, son of Dr. Henry De La Cossitt and
Elizabeth (McClimans) Cossitt, the former a native of Connecticut and
the latter of Pennsylvania. Dr. Henry De La Cossitt was a
practicing physician of Greenville, Pennsylvania, for over fifty years,
having settled there when he was twenty-six. He had two brothers,
Epaphroditus and James, who were also eminent physicians, the
latter having practiced at Newcastle, Pennsylvania. Our subject's father
practiced medicine not only throughout Mercer county but also in the
adjoining counties, and wherever he was known he was highly respected,
both as a skillful physician and as an upright Christian man. He was a
member of the Greenville Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a Democrat in
politics, and when the war came on he was in favor of its vigorous
prosecution. During those dark days he assisted in the organizing and
drilling of recruits. He died March 1, 1877, aged seventy-six years. His
widow, born March 1, 1831, is still living, an honored resident of
Greenville. She is a member of the United Presbyterian Church. Following
are the names of their six children: Dr. Henry De La Cossitt, a
graduate of the Western Reserve Medical College, Cleveland, Ohio, class of
1893; Sarah Elizabeth, wife of Dr. J. A. Doyle, who
is located at Homestead, Pennsylvania, and who graduated at the medical
college in the same class with Drs. Henry DeLa and Fred S. Cossitt,
his only child being Joseph; William E., who resides at the
home place with his mother and has charge of the estate; Dr. Duran S.,
the fourth born; Dr. Fred S., a graduate of the Western Reserve;
and Carrie J., attending the public school.
Drs. Henry De La and Fred S. are
practicing at Greenville, Pennsylvania.
The subject of this sketch received his literary education at Thiel
College, at which institution he graduated in 1887. Sarah
Elizabeth, William E. and Dr. Fred S. Cossitt,
are graduates of the same school, Dr. Henry De La having passed to
the junior year. Our subject began the study of medicine in 1889, spent
one year in the University of Pennsylvania and two years in Cleveland at
the Western Reserve. In April, 1892, he established himself in the
practice of his profession in Conneaut, where he has since remained,
meeting with good success.
He is Examiner for the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen. Recently he has been appointed, for the period of one year, as
one of the Board of Examiners of the teachers of the public schools, which
board is composed of three members.
He was married June 29, 1892, to Miss Maud G.
Hamblin, daughter of Samuel Hamblin, a member of the
firm of Hamblin & Sons, of Greenville, Pennsylvania.
Both the doctor and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Mrs. Cossitt is one of a family of four children, of
whom we make the following record: John H. Hamblin, a
machinist, and a resident of Conneaut, Ohio, married Miss Emma
Reichard of New Hamburg, Pennsylvania, and has two children; Mary
C., a member of the home circle; Mrs. Cossitt; and
Ralph, who is attending the public school.
(For Source, see Note 1 below) |
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W. R. CROSBY, a substantial
and well known farmer and stockman of Rome Township, is a member of one
of Ashtabula County's oldest families. He was born there, Sept.
14, 1869, and is the son of Elliott and Betsy (Crowell)
Crosby.
Elliott Crosby was born Feb. 28, 1839, and died
Jan. 5, 1876. He was the son of Elijah Crosby, who came to
Ashtabula County in 1806. Elliott Cosby was married to
Betsey Crowell, who was born Aug. 22, 1841, and died April 9, 1922.
To this union the following children were born: Howard Crowell,
born Oct. 16, 1866, lives at Geneva, where he is engaged in the grocery
business; W. R., the subject of this sketch; Mary Elizabeth,
born Dec. 28, 1870, lives at Rock Creek, Ohio; and Lillie Esther
Hart, born Jan. 25, 1872, died Dec. 29, 1898.
W. R. Crosby has always lived on a farm.
He attended the district schools and New Lyme Institute, after which he
engaged in general farming and stock raising. He now owns a well
improved farm of 182 acres of Rome Township and raises good stock.
On Oct. 20, 1898, Mr. Crosby was married to
Miss Sarah Crosby, and they have three children, Esther, Florence
and Alice.
Mr. Crosby and his family are members of the
Presbyterian Church and are favorably known throughout the community. |
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G. N. CROWTHER, an
enterprising and successful young mercant of North Kingsville, and
postermaster of that place, was born in that village, March 6, 1896, and
is the son of C. E. and Elizabeth (Lyon) Crowther.
C. E. Crowther was a native of Kingsville, born in
1856. He was a prominent fruit farmer of Ashtabula County for many
years and retired in 1920. Mr. Crowther died Aug. 4, 1924,
and his wife died Nov. 16, 1924, both are buried in East Lake Cemetery.
Mr. and Mrs. Crowther were the parents of the following children:
Herman E., lives at Jefferson, Ohio, married Ida Powers,
and they have a daughter, Harriet; Catherine, married C. D.
Force, lives at North Kingsville, Ohio, and they have five children,
Robert, Elizabeth, Charles, Glenn and Homer; C. V.,
lives in Cleveland, married Miss Sylva Mullen of Alliance, Ohio;
and G. N., the subject of this sketch.
G. N. Crowther has spent his entire life in
Ashtabula County. After attending the public schools of North
Kingsville, he was graduated from Ashtabula High School in 1915.
He then engaged in the general merchandise business at North Kingsville,
just across the street from his present location. In 1918 he has
sold his business and enlisted in the merchant marines, and served in
that branch of the service for eight months. Upon his return to
North Kingsville, Mr. Crowther opened his present place of
business. He handles a fine line of groceries and general
merchandise, and also has the postoffice in connection.
On July 16, 1918, Mr. Crowther was united in
marriage with Miss Gretchen Hollister, residents of North
Kingsville. The Hollister family ranks among the leading
pioneer families of Ashtabula County. Mr. and Mrs. Crowther
have no children.
In politics Mr. Crowther is identified with the
Republican party and he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
He and his wife are members of the Presbayterian church and are widely
and favorably known throughout the county.
(See burial record in East
Lake Cemetery)
(See Note 2 below for Source) |
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ROBERT E. CUMMINS, a
member of one of Ashtabula County's prominent pioneer families, is a
successful young business man of Conneaut. He was born in that
city, Feb. 28, 1891, and is the son of John and Mary (Risdon)
Cummins. A complete sketch of John Cummins and his
family appears elsewhere in this volume.
Robert E. Cummins received his education in the
public schools of Conneaut and attended the Culver Military Academy.
After completing his education, he was appointed manager of the Cummins
Estate by his grandfather, David Cummins. Mr. Cummins
served as vice president of the Conneaut Telephone Company for eight
years and is now president of that company. He is also director of
the Conneaut Mutual Loan & Trust Company. He lives at 909 Main
Street.
On May 26, 1917, Mr. Cummins was married to
Miss Dorothy Sweet, a native of Conneaut, and a daughter of
Ralph E. and Myrtle (McMillan) Sweet, natives of Ohio, and residents
of Conneaut. Mr. Sweet is employed by the Nickel
Plate Railroad as freight conductor. Mrs. Cummins is
the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Sweet. To Robert E.
and Dorothy (Sweet) Cummins one child has been born, Robert E.,
Jr., born April 13, 1918.
Mr. Cummins is a Republican and belongs to the
Elk's lodge. He has an extensive acquaintance in Ashtabula County
and is highly esteemed.
(See Note 2 below for Source) |
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NOTES:
Note 1:
Source 1 - Biographical History of Northeastern, Ohio Embracing the Counties of
Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake.
Containing Portraits of all the Presidents of the United States with a Biography
of each, together with Portraits and Biographies of Joshua R. Giddings, Benjamin
F. Wade and a large number of Early Settlers and Representative Families of
today.
Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company - 1893.
Note 2:
Source 2 - History of Ashtabula County, Ohio by Mrs. Moina W. Large - 1924
NOTE: There will be an asterisk (*) next to the biographies that have a
portrait.
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