Short Biography of Abraham H. Stanley

ABRAM HENRY STANLEY. — Throughout northern and western Ohio, the name of Stanley is synonymous with thrift, enterprise and prosperity, and has long been prominently known in the Western Reserve. Abram Henry Stanley, with whom this sketch is chiefly concerned, has been associated in a business way with the leading citizens of many states, and as a man of honor and integrity is universally respected. Having by wise management and judicious investments accumulated much wealth, he is now living retired from active pursuits, spending his winters in Toledo and his summers at Chippewa Lake, Medina county, where, on the east bank of the lake, he has a charming cottage, made attractive by the large number of beautiful sugar maples and magnificent elms, while near by is a spring of pure water, possessing rare medical properties. The representatives of a pioneer family of the Western Reserve, Mr. Stanly was born, January 7, 1831, in Northfield township, Summit county, a son of Daniel S. Stanley.

Born in New York state in 1800, Daniel S. Stanley came to the Reserve about 1818, and here spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1880. After his marriage he bought a tract of heavily timbered land in Northfield township, erected the typical low cabin of the pioneer, and in the course of years, by means of persistent toil, transformed the part of the forest belonging to him into a fine farming estate. He was a man of versatile talents, skilful as a mechanic, and in addition to tilling the soil worked as a carpenter and contractor, and was for a time interested in the clothing business. He married Harriet Cranmer, who was born in New York and came with her parents to Summit county, Ohio, in childhood. She was born in 1802, and died in 1880. Twelve childre were born to them, namely: German Stanley, deceased; Mary, deceased; Abram Henry, the subject of this brief biographical sketch; Esther, deceased, Morris W.; Sarah J.; Lucian B.; Ernest J.; Wilbur F., and Adlebert, deceased.

In common with his brothers and sisters, Abram Henry Stanley was brought up on the home farm and educated in the rural schools of his day. He subsequently assisted his father both on the farm and in the clothing store, remaining with his parents until 1852. Going in that year to Cleveland, he entered the employ of the Delamater Brothers, builders and contractors, principally of public works, a firm with which he was connected for a long period of time, during the last eighteen years of the time being a member of the firm. While thus employed Mr. Stanley in his work of installing water-works, laying out sewers and making excavations of different kinds was called to various large cities and towns, not only in Ohio, but throughout Indiana, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania, and met with men of distinction in both business and social circles. Disposing of his interests in the company in 1903, Mr. Stanley has since lived retired from active pursuits, having been successful in acquiring a competency. He has property of value both in Cleveland and Toledo, receiving from his investments a substantial annual income.

Mr. Stanley married, in 1854, Loretta H. Waters, who was born in Northfield township, Summit county, and is an own cousin of Chief Justice Waite of Ohio. Mrs. Stanley died in 1907, leaving one daughter, Mable Grace, wife of George A. Craig, of Toledo. Politically Mr. Stanley is a Republican, but has never been an aspirant for public office. Fraternally he has been a Mason for over forty years, and is a member of Evergreen Lodge, No. 222, F. & A. M., of Conneaut, Ohio.

Source: "History of the Western Reserve" ⁴⁹¹³