Lake County Ohio GenWeb

E.T.C. Aldrich

This biography is taken from Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio, Embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake; Lewis Publishing Company, 1893.

Transcribed and submitted by Becky Falin, 1996.

E.T.C. Aldrich, who is engaged in the insurance business at Mentor, Ohio, resides at his attractive country home, "Eastside," which adjoins the General Garfield homestead, "Lawn Field," on the east.

Mr. Aldrich comes of an old New England family, and of his life and ancestry we make a record as follows:

E.T.C. Aldrich was born in Franklin, Tompkins county, New York, November 18, 1827, son of William S Aldrich, who was born in Providence, Rhode Island, October 2, 1803, and grandson of Tilson Aldrich, a native of Cumberland, Rhode Island, and a son of a Revolutionary soldier who fought at Bunker Hill. Tilson Aldrich went to Tompkins county, New York, in 1816, where he was engaged to work at his trade, that of tanner and currier and cotton manufacturer. In the sping of 1835 he moved with his son William S to Ellery, Chautauqua county, that State, where he followed farming the rest of his life. He died in February, 1858. He was a Quaker. William S. Aldrich, a farmer by occupation, moved from Chautaqua county, New York, to Mentor, Ohio, in the spring of 1866, and here he spent the remaining years of his life and died October 30, 1876. While a resident of Dryden, New York, he was captain of a battery for several years, receiving his commission in 1828. He also served as Township Supervisor for a number of years, and was well known and highly respected. His wife, whose maiden name was Maria C. Cantine, was born in Tompkins county, New York, September 27, 1804, and died Febraury 5, 1892. Her father was born in New York and her mother was a native of France. William S. Aldrich and his wife had a family of one son and two daughters, the subject of our sketch being the oldest.

E.T.C. Aldrich was born and raised on his father's farm, and in early manhood was engaged in teaching for seven years - teaching one school five years. He remained on the home place with his father, assisting in the management of the farming operations until his father's death. He still owns the homestead, which comprises 147 acres, and which, as already stated, joins the Garfield place on the east. He has a general supervision over the operations of the farm, and at the same time conducts an insurance business in Mentor, representing two companies, the Phoenix and the Dwelling House of Boston.

Mr. Aldrich was married May 29, 1851, to Emily Fisher, who was born in Chautauqua county, New York, July 19, 1829. Her parents, Josiah and Caroline (Clark) Fisher, both natives of Vermont, emigrated to New York prior to their marriage. Her father was a carpenter. He was married a second time, and in 1853 went to Wisconsin, where he spent the closing years of his life and where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Aldrich's children are as follows: Frank W., born February 8, 1853, was married in 1881 to Lena G Taft; William F., born September 19, 1857, is now a resident of North Dakota, engaged in the insurance business; and Mary C., who was married August 29, 1890, to E. D. Barber, who is engaged in the insurance business at Wahpeton, North Dakota. Each has received a good education, and Mrs. Barber was a teacher in Mentor for five years previous to her marriage.

Politically, Mr. Aldrich is a Republican. He has served as Trustee, member of the Town Council and Mayor of Mentor, and for seventeen years was a member of the school board. He was a member of the Republican Congressional Convention of the old nineteenth district for eight years, and during that time became well acquainted with General Garfield. That was before Garfield moved to Mentor, four years previous to his election as president, and after his removal here Mr. Aldrich became intimately associated with the General, enjoying his confidence and friendship. During the memorable campaign of 1880 Mr. Aldrich assisted in entertaining the thousands who came to see General Garfield, singly and in delegation, and had the pleasure of introducing many distinguished men to him. Mrs. Aldrich is a Methodist.