Frank J. Shaw

As printed in 1908

FRANK J. SHAW, who is serving in his second term as treasurer of Norton Township, in which he is a leading citizen and successful farmer, was born in Summit County, Ohio, June 7, 1850, and is a son of Merwin and Emily (Betz) Shaw.

Merwin Shaw, father of Frank J., was born ill Wadsworth Township, Medina County, Ohio, and was a son of Joshua F. Shaw, who came to Ohio from New York at a very early date, and settled first in Wadsworth Township but later removed to Norton Township, and was the first owner of the farm which is now the property of his grandson, Frank J. Shaw. Ill (lied at Johnson's Corners. Merwin Shaw followed agricultural pursuits through life. He married Emily Betz, who still survives at the age of seventy-three years and resides in California. She is a daughter of Abraham Betz, who was a pioneer from Pennsylvania, to Medina County. Merwin Shaw died on the present farm of his son, in 1903, in the old home built by his father. The four children of the family all survive, namely: Frank J., George A., Ella and Hattie, the older daughter being the wife of William Yoder of Wadsworth, and the younger, the wife of William Shafer, of Akron.

Frank J. Shaw has always lived on the homestead farm and in addition to following agricultural pursuits here, he has operated a portable sawmill for about thirty years, and for the same length of time engaged in threshing, owning an outfit. He still continues to run his mill, it being the only one in the vicinity nearer than Wadsworth. His farm includes a little over 100 acres of excellent land. For several years after his marriage he lived on the part of the farm which contained the old home, and then moved to another part on which he had built a house and barn and made many improvements. Still later as his children grew up and married, he built houses and barns for his sons, and also purchased a small property with comfortable residence, for his son-in-law. Ward Ware. Mr. Shaw has thus shown his regard for the happiness and welfare of his family and enjoys seeing their prosperity. He is a well-educated man himself, being a graduate of the High School of Seville, Medina County, and has given his two sons and two daughters many advantages.

On December 25, 1879, Mr. Shaw was married to Ruth Wilder, who is a daughter of Wells Wilder, of Medina County, Ohio, and they have the following descendants: Frank M., residing on a part of the home farm, is employed at the Stirling Works at Barberton, as a patternmaker, married Delia Fendingham and they have three children: Ruth, Gladys and Paul; Daisy A., who married Ward Ware, who follows the carpenter trade in Norton Township, has three children:

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Mr. Shaw has never desired political office but has consented to serve when his fellow citizens have honored him. He was elected township treasurer in 1903, the only member of the Republican party to receive the elective vote in Norton Township, for many years, and approval of his service was shown by his re-election for a second term. He has also been a member of the township School Board. He is one of the leading members of the Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church. Eor a long period he served as class leader and in all the offices of the Sunday-school in the old church at Johnson's Corners.

As printed in Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.