History of Massillon, (Stark County) Ohio United States of America

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Biographies:

William Mayhew Folger, naval officer, was born in Massillon, Ohio, May 19, 1844; son of Robert and Amelia (Hayden) Folger; grandson of Mayhew and Mary (Joy) Folger; and a descendant of Peter Folger of Nantucket, who arrived in America in 1630. He was graduated from the U.S. naval academy, Nov. 22, 1864, and served on board the John Adams and Marion, practice ships, in the latter part of the civil war. He was promoted ensign, Nov. 1, 1866; master, Dec. 1, 1866; lieutenant, March 12, 1868; lieutenant-commander, March 29, 1869; and commander, Jan. 26, 1885. He was chief of the bureau of naval ordnance, 1889-93. He commanded the Yorktown in Bering sea and China, 1894-96; and was commissioned lighthouse inspector for the 11th district, April 19, 1896. He was promoted captain, Feb. 6, 1898, was assigned to the command of the protected cruiser ,New Orleans of the North Atlantic squadron in April, 1898, served with the flying squadron under Rear-Admiral Schley in Cuban waters from May 9 to May 20, 1898, and after that date was connected with the North Atlantic squadron, under Admiral Sampson, in the operations against Cervera's fleet and its final destruction.

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

Stephan Ross Harris, representative, was born near Massillon, Ohio, May 22, 1824; son of Stephen and Sibyl (Clark) Harris, and grandson of John and Mary (Hamilton) Harris, all of whom were natives of Essex county, N.J. He studied in the common schools, in a select school in Dalton, Ohio; in the preparatory department of Washington (Pa.) college; in Norwalk seminary, and in the classical department of the Western Reserve college, Hudson, Ohio. He then taught school, and in 1849 was admitted to the bar, settling in practice in Bucyrus, Ohio. He was deputy U.S. marshal, and a member of the county military committee, 1861-65; and was an active member of the Ohio state bar association, holding the presidency, 1893-94. He was a Republican representative from Ohio in the 54th congress, 1895-97.

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

William Cook Earl, Editor and Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was born at Kendall, now Massillon, Stark county, Ohio, May 23d, 1817, and is a son of Gilberthorp and Sarah Earl, both natives of New Jersey, and of English descent. His youth was passed on a farm until he reached his seventeenth birthday, and during the winter seasons he attended school in the primitive structures of those days. After leaving the farm he became a clerk, and afterwards a partner in a store, remaining there altogether about ten years. He next engaged in the milling and manufacturing business, which he followed for several years. On leaving this occupation he became editor of the Massillon News, which he conducted successfully for three years, and then accepted the position of Freight and Ticket Agent at Massillon for the then Ohio & Pennsylvania, now the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway. He remained in that connection two years, and left it to accept the post of General Freight and Ticket Agent on the recently completed extension of that road from Crestline to Fort Wayne, then known as the Ohio & Indiana Railroad. On retiring from that position he removed to Toledo, where he edited for some time the Daily Toledo Blade, which he relinquished to assume the duties of the office he has filled for the past fifteen years--that of Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows of the State of Ohio. In 1850 he was Grand Master of the same jurisdiction, and for eight years has been its representative in the Grand Lodge of the United States. He has been for a number of years President of the Toledo Agricultural Works. In political matters he was formerly an old-line Whig, and since the organization of the Republican party he has been an active and zealous member of the same. He has never sought political office, being content with the occupations and positions he has held in private life. He served for seven years as Canal Collector; was a Trustee of the Ohio Lunatic Asylum for ten years, being appointed by three different Governors; and is now, by election, a member of the Police Board of the city of Toledo. He was married, January 30th, 1843, by Rev. John Swan, at Massillon, to Harriet T. Wheeler, formerly of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and who is still living. His family consists of four sons, all of whom have now grown to manhood.

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