LEON D. SMITH,
One of the prominent men of Wellington is Leon D. Smith,
who holds the office of mayor. He is also manager of the western
territory of Telling-Belle Vernon Company, of Cleveland.
Mr. Smith was born at Parkman, Geauga Co., Ohio, Jul. 2,
1870, the son of Newell and Betty (Dunn) Smith.
Newell Smith was born at Parkman, Ohio, as was his
wife. He became highly successful as a cheese manufacturer in
North Central Ohio, and was a pioneer in that particular business.
He later owned and operated a farm at Troy, Ohio. He was the
brother of the late Hon. Henry K. Smith, who served
as probate judge of Geauga County for a period of 42 years. Mr.
and Mrs. Smith, deceased, are buried at Parkman. He was
a Republican, a member of the Universalist Church, and belonged to
Parkman Lodge, F. & A. M. Three children were born to
Mr. and Mrs. Smith: Ralph and Mary, both deceased; and
Loren D., the subject of this sketch.
As a boy Leon D. Smith attended the Parkman public
schools, from which he was graduated. He also attended Hiram
College, and for several years was interested in the manufacture of
cheese. He came to Wellington in 1904 as manager of the local
plant of the Telling-Belle Vernon Company, later being appointed
manager of the western territory of the company, with supervision over
nine of the company's plants, most of which were erected under the
able management of Mr. Smith. He has been
highly successful in his work at the Wellington plant and is numbered
among the company's able executives.
Mr.
Smith was married (first) in 1892 to Miss Nellie J.
Ensign, who died at Parkman in 1915. She was the
daughter of Henry and Jane (Hopkins) Ensign, who were
natives of Geauga County. Both are deceased. Three
children were born to Leon D. and Nellie J. (Ensign) Smith:
1. Harold, lives at Cleveland, where he is identified
with the insurance and employment department of the Telling-Belle
Vernon Company. He married Miss Louise Smith,
and they have a daughter, Betty Louise. By a former marriage, he
has two children, Leon and Myron.
2. Newell, lives at Bloomville, N. J., where he is
identified with the General Electric Company. He married
Miss Leola Craypeau, and they have three children:
Robert, Laven, and Nevelle. 3.
Rachel Smith Philips lives in Cleveland and has three
children: Gen, Fay and Arthur.
Mr. Smith was
married (second) to Miss Belle Mills Wilbeck, the
daughter of Edwin Mills, of Litchville, Ohio, a Civil War veteran.
Politically, Mr. Smith is a Republican. He was
elected a member of the city council in November, 1921, and re-elected
to that office for four successive terms, being president of the body
from 1927 until 1929. At the death of O. B. Williams,
he was appointed mayor by virtue of holding the office of president of
the council.
Mr. Smith
is a member of the Congregational Church, and belongs to the Kiwanis
Club; Wellington Lodge, F. & A. M., Nov. 127; Wellington Chapter, R.
A. M.; and Order of Eastern Star, Temple Chapter No. 103, Past Worthy
Patron.
 Source:
History of North East Ohio? ~ Page 1600 |
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MILFORD B. SMITH,
one of the most progressive and intelligent young farmers of Chardon township,
was born in
Geauga County, Ohio, Aug. 20, 1856, a son of
Oliver Smith, also a native of Geauga
County, born Oct. 12, 1825. The
grandfather, Loren Smith, was a
native of Vermont, born Oct. 29, 1795; he
emigrated to Geauga county, Ohio,
at an early day, bringing his family and making the trip by team. He took up land on what is now known
as King street, Chardon, built a log
house, and cleared a farm. His wife,
Almeda Canfield, was born Dec. 31,
1800, and died July 6, 1855. They
had born to them thirteen children, eleven of whom lived to maturity. Both were consistent members of the
Disciples’ Church.
Mr. Smith died Apr. 15, 1854.
Oliver Smith, the father of
Milford B., was the fourth-born and
second son.
Albert Smith, a son, went to
California during the gold excitement of 1849, and finally became editor of
a Monticello (Iowa) newspaper.
Oliver Smith was a farmer by
occupation, but in later life engaged in mercantile pursuits at Chardon. The failure of his parents’ health
necessitated his return to the old homestead, where he cared for them during the
remainder of their lives and there also passed his declining years. He died July 9, 1882. He was a prominent member of the
community, active in public and religious movements. He was an honored member of the
Masonic and I. O. O. F. fraternities.
He married Jane Randall, who
was born in Geauga county, Ohio, Oct. 4, 1829,
a daughter of Jason Randall, a
pioneer of Geauga County. Their union occurred Jan. 1, 1850,
and the wife survived to Mar. 12, 1865, leaving a family of three children:
Alice M., born Sept. 23, 1853, is the
wife of Henry E. Branch; Milford B. and Emma J., born Sept. 22, 1860; two children died in infancy.
Mr. Smith was married a second time
Nov. 12, 1865, to Nancy E. Little, who is yet living; no
children were born of this union.
Oliver Smith was a life-long member
of the Disciple
Church, and held the position of the financial Deacon for
twenty-years. During the last few
years of his life his time was devoted almost entirely to the settlement of
estates, as executor or administrator, and when he died he left a large amount
of this business for his son to close up.
He was a Trustee of the township for more than fifteen years.
Mr. Smith, the subject of this sketch
passed an uneventful youth, attending the district schools until the age of
fourteen years, when he entered the village school at Chardon, and at the age of
twenty years began teaching.
Although he pursued this calling only two terms he earned an enviable reputation
as an educator, having conducted one of the best schools ever taught in Munson
township. Abandoning his profession
on account of his father’s ill heath, he returned to the farm to take charge of
the business there.
He was married
Sept. 26, 1878, to Huldie A. Lacy, a
native of Portage county, Ohio, and a daughter of
Ralph and Achsah (Little) Lacey,
whose families emigrated from
Massachusetts
to the West in an early day.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of
three children:
Birdie A., born June 4, 1880; Mertie A.,
born Aug. 4, 1882; and Kittie M.,
born Sept. 10, 1884. They are
members of the Disciple
Church, taking an active part in its various work.
Mr. Smith has been Superintendent of the Sunday-school for six years, and conducts a
large bible class.
He has been very
successful in his farming, and has a finely improved place, consisting of 110
acres with good farm buildings. He
has 500 sugar trees and a vineyard and orchard, and carries on a general
agricultural business after the most approved methods. In politics
Mr. Smith is a Republican.
 Source:
History of North Central Ohio - Publ. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company -
1893 ~ Page 802
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