History of Stark County Ohio United States of America

Our database does not include an historic photo for Stark County Ohio, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us!

Biographies:

Lyman Underwood Humphrey, governor of Kansas, was born in Stark county, Ohio, July 25, 1844; son of Col. Lyman Humphrey, a lawyer of distinction, who died in 1852. At the outbreak of the civil war he enlisted as a private; at the age of seventeen, in the 76th Ohio infantry. He was promoted first lieutenant and acting adjutant of his regiment, and was captain of a company for a full year before he was out of his minority. He was in the battles of Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, the siege of Vicksburg and the several conflicts around that city, at Chattanooga and the campaign around Atlanta. He was with Sherman in his march to the sea, and participated in the capture of Savannah; was wounded at Pittsburg Landing and again at Chattanooga, and took part in the battle of Bentonville and in the capture of General Johnston's army. During his four years service he was not absent from his post in the army for a single day, and when wounded at Chattanooga he refused to leave the field, and participated in the battle till the close. When the war ended he attended Mount Union college and studied law at the University of Michigan, 1866-67, but did not graduate. In 1868 he was admitted to the bar, and soon afterward removed to Independence, Ken., where he became connected with the Southern Kansas Tribnae. In 1876 he was chosen to represent his district in the state legislature. In 1877 he was nominated by the Republican state central committee for lieutenant-governor, to fill a vacancy, and was elected by a largo majority. In 1879 he was re-elected to the same office by over 40,000 majority. In 1884 he was elected state senator from Montgomery county, and in 1888 was elected governor, receiving 72,000 majority, the largest popular majority that had ever been given to a governor in Kansas. He was re-elected in 1890 by a large plurality, serving as governor, 1889-93.

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

Robert S. Shields, Prosecuting Attorney elect of Stark County, Ohio, was born in Washington, Warren county, New Jersey, on September 28th, 1845. His parents were William and Anna (Hance) Shields. After a preparatory course of study at the seminary in Allentown, Pennsylvania, he entered Union College, Schenectady, New York, and graduated from that institution in 1867. Selecting the legal profession he entered the law office of E. W. Stoughton, in New York city, with whom he prosecuted his studies for about eighteen months. At the expiration of that time he removed to Ohio, and completed his legal course of training in the office of his uncle, Joseph Hance, at New Philadelphia, and was admitted to the bar at Cadiz in 1870. Locating himself in Canton he has there successfully followed his profession. In the spring of 1871 he was honored by election to the Mayoralty of Canton, being chosen to occupy that position for four years, on the Democratic ticket. In October, 1875, he was elected by the same party Prosecuting Attorney for Stark county, for a term of two years. The duties of this office he entered upon, January 1st, 1876. He was married in 1871 to Clara A., daughter of Martin Wikidall, an old and successful merchant of Canton.

From: The Biographical Encyclopedia of Ohio of the Nineteenth Century. Columbus, OH, USA: Galaxy Publishing Co., 1876.

Michael Halm, Manufacturer, was born at Plain Top, Stark county, Ohio, January 18th, 1821, being the son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Kryder) Halm. His means and opportunities for obtaining an education were very limited, his school days having been passed in Bucyrus, Crawford county, Ohio. When he attained his majority he went to Columbus. This was in March, 1842, and he there commenced his apprenticeship to the cabinet-making trade. On January 1st, 1844, he started in business for himself, and has ever since continued it. While he has had to encounter many trying obstacles, and has been the victim of some misfortunes, his career as a manufacturer may on the whole be characterized as a very successful one. He started in business with no capital but skill and energy. He secured loans, and was able to repay them entirely within three years, having in the meantime secured to himself and family a comfortable home. In 1856 his factory was destroyed by fire, and he sustained a loss of thirteen thousand dollars. In 1861 his establishment was a second time burned out, and his losses were largely above his insurances. Since then he has prospered by a strict attention to business and through a studious effort to win patronage by turning out a superior quality of goods. During the rebellion he served in the Union army for eight months. He has held few places of public trust and responsibility, but where he has served in an official capacity, he has discharged his duties with intelligence and fidelity. He is quite largely interested as a stockholder, Director and President, in a number of prosperous business corporations, and is an enterprising and public-spirited citizen. He was married on March 14th, 1844, to Mary A. Markley, and has two married daughters and one single; also three single sons, and five grandchildren. He became religious in early life, and attributes all his successes to temperance, religion, and devotion to God. He has given for charities and benevolent purposes thousands of dollars, and has thereby, while helping others, enriched himself with a consciousness of having done what he could for the amelioration of the condition of his fellows. He has been an Odd Fellow for many years, passed all its chairs and received all its honors, and is sincerely devoted to its principles of "visiting the sick, relieving the distressed, burying the dead, and educating the orphan."

From: The Biographical Encyclopedia of Ohio of the Nineteenth Century. Columbus, OH, USA: Galaxy Publishing Co., 1876.

History of Stark County Ohio

Biographies:

Local History and Genealogy Links: