Schuyler R. Oviatt

As printed in 1881

SCHUYLER R. OVIATT, P. 0. Richfield; is a son of Marvin and Mary (Foote) Oviatt, who were both natives of Connecticut. Marvin was born in Goshen Oct. 1, 1797, and his wife in Norfolk Feb. 2, 1795. They were united in marriage in 1818. The father of Marvin, Capt. Heman Oviatt, was born in Goshen, Conn., Sept. 20, 1775; he was married Jan. 10, 1796, to Miss Eunice Newton, she was born Nov. 15, 1777. Capt. Heman Oviatt was one of the pioneers of Summit County, coming with David Hudson, to Hudson Township, in 1800, returning in the fall of the year to Connecticut, and returning in the spring of 1801, with his family. He located in Hudson Township where he resided for a number of years, taking a prominent position in all acts of public importance and improvements. He endowed Hudson College, while a resident there, with a fund of $12,000. His first wife, Eunice, was a woman universally beloved, and possessed much influence over the Indians. She died Sept. 17, 1813, leaving three children — Marvin, Orson and Harriet. Heman married for a second wife Sophia E. Kilbourne, by whom he had two children— Heman, now a resident of Cleveland, and Elizabeth, living in Richfield Township; she lived about twenty years, and after her death he married the Widow Curtis, of Akron, who survived him several years. In 1839, Heman removed to Richfield Township, were he resided up to his death, which occurred Dec. 5, 1854. A more extended narrative of his business enterprises, and connection with the township and county', will appear in another portion of this work. Marvin was married in Hudson in 1818, and engaged in farming for a short period in that township, and then connected himself with his brother Orson, in Richfield. In 1825, he went to Cleveland, and was engaged in the mercantile trade there for a few years, and then went South, and was in the produce business upon the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers; after a few years he returned to Richfield, and again went upon a farm. At the breaking-out of the gold excitement in California, in 1850, he started for the Pacific Coast, and after remaining there three years, started to return home, but fell from the steamer, upon which he had taken passage upon the San Juan River, and was drowned, August 1853. His body' was never recovered nor any of his effects. His wife died in Richfield, May 31, 1876. Their children now living are as follows: Schu3'ler R., Tracy' M., a Presbyterian Minister now living in Callfornia; Edward, a prominent law_yer of Akron; Celia, now the wife of Baxter H. Wood, of Medina; Virgil L., a graduate of the Western Reserve College (deceased); Carlos, died in Corry, Peun., having a wife and son; Schuyler R., was boi'u in Hudson Township in 1819. His education is academical, graduating at the Richfield Academy at the age of 20. He is by occupation a civil engineer, and has also devoted considerable attention to horticultural pursuits. At various times he has served the township and county in offices of public trust, prominent among which we mention, as County Surveyor, and also County Treasurer from 1871 to 1875. In township affairs he has always taken a leading interest; is now serving as Notary Public. In 1880, he prepared and delivered a historical address, in Richfield, at the pioneer meeting of that year, and also furnishes many of the facts and incidents which appear in the township history. He was united in marriage in June, 1842, to Miss Charlotte A. Weld, a daughter of James Weld, Esq., who was before his death one of Richfield's most prominent business men. Thev have two children — James S., a graduate of Western Reserve College, and at present living in Cleveland, serving as Assistant City Civil Engineer, and Miss Lotta, at home.

As printed in History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.