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Note: John Winship Haskell.....date of marriage to Mary Ann Williams is either 14 January or 20 January 1837. Mary Ann Williams was a sister of Edwin R. Williams, who married John's half-sister, Olive.
A Haskell Bible record in possession of the Ashtabula Genealogical Society records the date of marriage to Mary A. Williams as 14 January 1837. The ceremony was conducted by Rev. Asa Jacobs.
John Winship Haskell moved from Tunbridge, VT, to South Ridge, OH (now part of Conneaut, Ashtabula county, OH), where he apparently met and married Mary Ann Williams in 1837. He is listed in the 1840 census as a resident of Conneaut, Ohio. Sometime after the birth of their second child, Marshall Harrison, in 1839, John and his family moved from South Ridge to Conneautville, Crawford county, PA. He is listed in the 1850 census as a "merchant" in Conneautville. Also listed is his wife, "Mary A. age 32", "Daniel W. age 12" (surely an error, it should read "David Williams age 12"), "M. H. age 10" (undoubtedly refers to Marshall Harrison), "C. M. Clay age 4" (probably refers to William Cassius as the ages agree), and "Ida A. age 1".
In 1857 John and his family moved from Conneautville to Ashtabula, OH. He built a business block in Ashtabula at the corner of Main St. and Spring St. in 1864 and operated with his eldest son, David, a dry goods store in that location. Later they were engaged in the lumber business.
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Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio
Published 1893
JOHN WINSHP HASKELL, deceased.
- One of the representative men and pioneers to whom Ashtabula owes much of her growth and present development, is the late John W. Haskell, the subject of this memoir. He was a descendant of old Puritan stock, and was born in Tunbridge, Vermont, August 16, 1810, being the son of Aretas Haskell and Betsey Moody. Upon the death of his wife Betsey, the father married Annie Folsom, who was of that family from whom Mrs. Frances Folsom Cleveland descended. The elder Haskell (Aretas) was born in Vermont, in 1783, of Welsh ancestry. He spent his entire life in that State, dying in 1858, at the age of seventy-five years. John Winship was reared at home, securing his education at the common schools. His youth was spent in various kinds of work until he arrived at the age of twenty-four years. At this period, 1884, he started out in life for himself, seeking the West as the most advantageous country in which to better his condition. He first located at Conneaut, where for a time he was engaged in school teaching and in peddling goods, in the northern part of the State. Later on he settled at South Ridge, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits for several years. In 1846 he removed to Conneautville, Pennsylvania, where he continued his mercantile business and also engaged in the manufacture and sale of lumber. He and his partner, Edwin R. Williams, erected the first steam sawmill in that section of the country, the same being located at Steamburgh, Crawford county, Pennsylvania. The enterprise created quite a sensation and people came from Pittsburg, Philadelphia, Cincinnati and many other points to see it. It was predicted by the people in that vicinity that this mill would cut up all the timber in that part of the country in a few years. It is worthy of note that this mill is still in operation, and that there yet appears to be plenty of timber for it to work upon. This mill marked the introduction of steam power for running mills in this section of the country.
In 1857, Mr. Haskell again moved to Ohio, settling this time in Ashtabula, where he followed the same business, making lumbering and the shipping trade on the lakes special features, together with railroad building. The advantages of lake transportation were the principal cause of his removal. He, with his partners, Oran Baldwin and Edwin R. Williams, under the firm name of O. Baldwin & Co., secured the contract for the construction of the Ashtabula & New Lisbon Railroad from Ashtabula harbor, on lake Erie, to the Ohio river. The work on the road was suspended on account of hard times brought about by short crops. The firm took mortgages on the road-bed and other property, which subsequently they disposed of. The road was finally completed and is now known as the Pittsburg, Youngstown & Ashtabula Railroad.
In 1836 Mr. Haskell was united in marriage, at South Ridge, to Mary Ann, daughter of Jacob and Lydia (Wright) Williams, a native of Ashtabula county, Ohio. Four children were born to them: David Williams, Marshall Harrison, William Cassias and Ida, now Mrs. Frank Sherman. They also adopted Fannie Harriet as their daughter.
Mr. Haskell departed this life at Ashtabula, Ohio, November 12, 1885, having lived to the same age as did his father.
Mr. Haskell was originally a Free Soiler, but upon the formation of the Republican party he became an advocate of its principles, never, however, seeking public office. During his earlier years he was a member of the Baptist Church, but later on in life he joined the Presbyterian Church, of which he was for many years an Elder.
Mr. Haskell was eminently a self-made man, the architect of his own fortune. By his energy, perseverance and good financial judgment, by his strict integrity and honorable business methods, he accumulated a fortune and established an enviable reputation. He was a man of noble character, public, spirited, liberal and charitable, giving generously to the poor and to the church. To his family he was much devoted, looking carefully after their wants, and making the domestic hearth his place of rest. He died as he had lived, a Christian, holding the confidence and esteem of all who knew him.
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