History of Austintown, (Mahoning County) Ohio United States of America

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Biographies:

Aylett Rains Cotton, representative, was born in Austintown, Ohio, Nov. 29, 1826; son of John and Catharine (Parkhurst) Cotton; grandson of John Cotton, and a descendant of the Rev. John Cotton, who settled in Boston, Mass., in 1633. He removed to Iowa in 1844; attended Allegheny college, Meadville, Pa., in 1845; taught school in Fayette County, Tenn., 1845-47; and was admitted to the bar in Clinton county, Iowa, in 1848. In 1849 he went to California, crossing the plains with an ox team, and worked in the gold mines, returning to Iowa in 1851, where he was judge of Clinton county court, 1851-53; prosecuting attorney, 1854; a member of the state constitutional convention, 1857; and served in the legislature in 1868 and 1870, being speaker of the lower house during the latter term. He was a Republican representative in the 42nd and 43rd congresses, 1871-75. In 1883 he returned to California, and practised law in San Francisco. In 1898 he was elected president of the society of California pioneers.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Jasper Packard, representative, was born in Austintown, Mahoning county, Ohio, Feb. 1, 1832, son of Thomas and Nancy Ann Packard; grandson of John and Mary Packard. He removed to Indiana with his father in 1835, and labored on the farm until 1850; attended Michigan Central college, and Oberlin college, Ohio; was graduated at the University of Michigan, A.B., 1855, and taught school, 1855-56. He was married Oct. 4, 1855, to Harriet S., daughter of George and Therina Tibbits of Farmington, Mich., and then settled in Laporte, Ind., where he edited the Union and studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1861, and in the same year entered the Union army, rising from the rank of private to that of 1st lieutenant in the 48th Indiana infantry. In the Vicksburg campaign, where he received a facial wound, he was promoted captain. He was in the march from Memphis to Chattanooga, and was promoted lieutenant-colonel of the 128th Indiana infantry during the Atlanta campaign. He was brevetted brigadier-general of the volunteers, March 13, 1865, for meritorious services, and was mustered out of the army in 1866. He was auditor of Laporte county, Ind., 1866-68; was a Republican representative from the eleventh Indiana district in the 41st, 42d and 43d congresses, 1869-75, and was chairman of the committee on private land claims. He established and edited the Laporte Chronicle 1874-78; was U.S. internal revenue agent 1876-84, and proprietor and editor of the Laporte Daily Public Spirit, 1886-88. In 1888 he removed to New Albany, Ind., and was proprietor and editor of the New Albany Evening Tribune, and a representative in the Indiana legislature 1896-98. He received the honorary degree of A.M. from Hillsdale college, Mich., in 1873. On June 1, 1899, he was appointed commandant of the Soldiers' Home, Lafayette, Ind., and he died there, Dec. 13, 1899.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor