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and presented his grandson, Fred G., with his farm, when the latter was twenty years of age. George Zeller worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-four years old and then entered the Buckeye shops at Akron, where he worked for some years as a steam-fitter. In 1895 he resumed farming, purchasing the property on which he has resided ever since. In 1896 his barn was destroyed by fire, and in 1897 he replaced it by one of the most substantial structures in Portage Township, with dimensions of 70 by 40 feet, with 18-foot posts. George Zeller carries on a general farming line, raising wheat, corn and oats, keeps a. dozen head of cattle and ships his milk to Akron. Formerly he raised hogs quite extensively, but does not take much interest in this industry at present.
George Zeller married Lenora Sharp, of Akron, and they have had three children, the two survivors being: Fred G. and Clara, the latter residing at home. Mr. Zeller, like his father, has been a supporter of the principles of the Republican party, since he reached maturity.
Fred G. Zeller was educated in the schools at Akron. He has been engaged in agricultural pursuits ever since he took possession of his farm, which he operated first as a dairy farm. He realized, however, that there was more money to be made on his land in stock-raising and now gives the larger part of his attention to buying calves, pigs and sheep, which he fattens for market. His main crops are hay, oats, corn and wheat. He is an enterprising young man with modern ideas and progressive methods and occupies a recognized position among the agriculturists of his section.
Mr. Zeller married Emma Gartley, who is a daughter of Samuel Gartley, of Cuyahoga Falls, and they have one daughter, Esther Lenora, born July 31, 1906. In politics, Mr. Zeller is somewhat independent, with a leaning toward Republicanism.
JOHN W. FRANK, county commissioner of Summit County, and one of its leading citizens, resides on his valuable and well-im proved farm of 200 acres, situated in Portage Township. Mr. Frank was born near the village of Uniontown, Lake Township, Stark County, Ohio, November 29, 1838, and is a son of George Jacob and Eva (Weimer) Frank.
The parents of Mr. Frank were both born in Germany, the father in Wurttenberg and the mother in Alsace-Loraine. George Jacob learned the cabinet-maker's trade and also that of house carpenter. When he reached military age, he entered the German army and served out his necessary term and was in Alsace-Loraine when he was discharged. It was there he met the lady who became his wife, and after their marriage they settled near her home and continued to live there until 1837, when they came to America, bringing 'their five children. One daughter died at Havre, France, while the party was awaiting the sailing of their vessel. It took them a long time to reach Buffalo, New York, from which point they went to Cleveland and then on down the canal to Stark County, where George Jacob Frank bought a farm of eighty acres, the same on which John W. Frank was born.
John W. Frank remained on the home farm until he was seventeen years old and then entered on an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade. He also learned cabinet making, following this business for eight years. His mother died in 1870, and in 1872, the father sold the farm and subsequently lived until his death, in 1884, with his son, George Frank, at Uniontown. On the breaking out of the Civil War, John W. Frank started on his way to Indiana, where he anticipated finding work at his trade, and as he happened to be at Wabash, he attended a great war meeting held there that night, and when he reached Marshall County, his intended destination, he found war excitement prevailing. He worked there for several months, however, but on September 10, 1861, he followed the example of the majority of the young men of the neighborhood, and enlisted in the Ninth Illinois Cavalry, made up from
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both Indiana and Illinois, Mr. Frank belonging to an Indiana organization.
Almost immediately after enlisting, Mr. Frank was appointed corporal of his company, and during his fifteen months of service he performed. every duty with cheerfulness and bravery. The cavalry was called on to do a great deal of scouting in Arkansas, and many of the regiment took sick at Helena, Mr. Frank among the number Three boatloads of sick were sent up the Mississippi River to Keokuk, Iowa, landing there ten days later, Mr. Frank, at this time being unable to walk. He was prostrated for ten weeks in a hospital, his brother George assisting in his nursing for seven weeks, and finally taking him home, where good care finally restored him to health. He was honorably discharged at Keokuk as orderly sergeant having received several promotions.
Mr. Frank came to Akron in 1863 and worked several month at his trade, and from his marriage in October, 1863, until the following spring, he lived in Uniontown. At this time his wife, who was a very capable young woman and for many years a teacher, took charge of the Uniontown schools, teaching through the summer, while Mr. Frank became bookkeeper for a merchant in this village. In the fall of 1864 they returned to the Frank farm and lived there for the following eight years, in spring of 1873, moving to the farm on which they now live. At that time, Mr. Frank bought 116 acres, which he devoted to general farming, but as he gradually added more land he went into stock-raising. For many subsequent years he dealt largely in sheep, feeding and shipping, at times as many as 500 head. He is one of the township's most substantial men and useful citizens.
On October 27, 1863, Mr. Frank was married to Margaret F. Thompson, who is a daughter of Jacob Thompson. She was born in Stark County, Ohio, but was reared at Springfield Lake, Summit County. Mr. and Mrs. Frank have four children, namely: Elta Lorena, residing at home; Charles Walter, township clerk of Portage Township, manages the home farm ; Margaret Leora, residing at home; and John Clarence, residing at Barberton, is purchasing agent for the Sterling Boiler Works.
Politically, Mr. Frank is a Democrat and he has been active in public affairs for many years. Prior to removing from Stark County, lie was a trustee and treasurer of Lake Township, and since coming to Portage Township has been its clerk for two terms. In 1906 he was elected county commissioner, a just tribute to Mr. Frank's prominence in this section. He holds membership with Buckley Post, Grand Army of the Republic. With his family, he belongs to the West Congregational Church at Akron.
ARTHUR W. SCUDDER, postmaster at Fairlawn, resides on his well-improved farm of eighty acres, in Portage Township, where he is a well-known and much respected citizen. He was born in Copley Township, Summit County, Ohio, November 1, 1844, ad is a son of Walter and Catherine M. (Stimson) Scudder.
Walter Scudder, father of Arthur W., was born in the State of New York, where he was reared, educated and married. In the spring of 1844, with his wife and two children, he started in a two-ox wagon, for Ohio. He located at Copley Center, where he followed his trade of shoemaker for many years. He then purchased a farm near Montrose, but not having been accustomed to an agricultural life, in three years he sold his farm and returned to Copley Center, where he resumed work at his trade. In 1854 he again tried farming, purchasing a farm of 118 acres, south of Copley, on which he lived until 1883, when he sold out and removed to Akron, where he died in 1896. Mrs. Scudder died on the farm south of Copley, in July, 1868. They had four children : Thurlow, Emogene, Arthur W. and Carlton R. The eldest son was a soldier in the Civil War, serving three years as a member of Company H, 104th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, after which he was janitor for Grace School at Akron, for many years. At the time of his death, he left many
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friends to mourn his loss. Emogene married A. C. Francisco, residing at Copley. Carlton R. is a resident of Barberton.
Arthur W. Scudder was reared in Copley Township and attended the district schools. When but nineteen years of age he left home to enter the Federal army, enlisting for three years in Battery A, First Ohio Light Artillery. His contract was dated February 14, 1864, and he served until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged at Cleveland, Ohio, reaching home July 31, 1865. He was with Sherman's army in its march to the sea and took part in the siege of Atlanta, where his battery was used for skirmishing purposes. He was a brave soldier, as his record testifies and never evaded a duty. He had thus performed a man's part in life before he had reached man's estate.
Mr. Scudder then returned to the home farm and attended one term of school, and during the winter of 1865-6 he taught school. His marriage followed, to Maria A. Stirk, who is a daughter of Henry Stirk, formerly of Pennsylvania, but later of Wayne County, Ohio. They have four children, namely : Carlton H., who married 'Mary Porcher, owns a general store at Boneta, Medina County, ad has two children—Grace and Thurlow Frederick ; James Thurlow, who married Harriet Quirk, has one son, Quirk Thurlow, purchased his father's store in February, 1907, and is assistant postmaster at Fairlawn ; Orville E., who married Viva Baxter, resides at Akron, where he is manager of the North Howard Street Mission, being inclined toward a religious life; and Mary Belle, who married Clyde E. Orton.
After their marriage, in 1868, Mr. and Mrs. Scudder went to live in a small house situated on his father's farm, but in the spring of the following year, they moved to a farm in Wayne County, and later to a farm near Lodi. In 1870, Mr. Scudder bought a farm in Medina County, not far from Chatham. About one year later he sold this farm and moved to Copley, where he lived until May, 1872, when he bought his present farm. A man of excellent business judgment, he has al- ways been able to make his enterprises paying ones. For a number of years he operated three milk depots at Akron, having at one time twenty-six head of cows. In 1891 he moved to the pleasant little hamlet then known as Fairview, and it was through the efforts of Mr. Scudder that the place was renamed, Fairlawn, there being another Fairview in the State. He went into a mercantile business in the village and was the first postmaster, which office he retains, although he is no longer in business. He operated the store now owned by his son, at Boneta, for a time, as well as the one at Fairlawn.
Mr. Scudder is a member of Buckley Post, No. 12, Grand Army of the Republic. Both he and his wife come of military ancestry. His grandfather, R. R. Stimson, was a soldier in the War of 1812, enlisting August 28, 1814, as a fifer in Capt. Jenks Pullen's company, First New York militia, and was discharged November 1, 1814. Joseph Fox, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Scudder was commissioned a captain in Col. David Henley's regiment of Continental troops, June 29, 1777, in the Revolutionary War, and later was transferred to the Sixteenth Massachusetts and afterwards to the Ninth Massachusetts Regiment.
JOSEPH WIGLEY, of the firm of Hunt & Wigley, general contractors at Akron, is an old established resident of this city. He was born in Staffordshire, England, in 1859, and came to America in 1882.
Mr. Wigley had attended school and had also learned the building trade in his own country before emigrating, and after settling at Akron he worked at his trade exclusively until 1886, when he went into general con. tracting. The firm of Wigley Brothers for a number of years was the leading one of Summit County. In 1901, Mr. Wigley formed a partnership with W. H. Hunt, under the style of Hunt & Wigley, which continues. The firm does general contracting, building, paving, sewer building and like work. The fine pressed brick building they erected in Akron in 1907, is two stories in height, dimensions
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of 100 by 47 feet, and is one of the ornaments to the section of the city in which it stands. The firm leased it to the Clinton Milling Company for a term of five years, with the privilege of renewing the lease.
Mr. Wigley was married in 1899, to Agnes Cooper, of Akron, and they have two children: Florence Agnes and Edward John.
Mr. Wigley is a member of the Episcopal Church. Politically, he is a Republican and takes an active interest in city affairs.
WILLIAM F. HAUPT, one of the representative citizens of Loyal Oak, was born in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, February 19, 1848, and is a son of Christian and Elizabeth (Edelman) Haupt.
The parents of Mr. Haupt were both natives of Northampton County, and both died there, the father in 1853 and the mother in 1876.
Christian Haupt was a farmer during all his mature years, he departed this life at the age of forty-two. William F. being then only five years of age, was reared and educated in his native county, where he lived with his widowed mother until he was eighteen years old. In 1865 he came to Norton Township. Soon after he learned the stone-mason's trade, and followed that occupation for a number of years, after which he took up farming.
In 1869 he was united in marriage to Ellen Cecelia Lerch, daughter of Peter and Rebecca (Schweitzer) Lerch. Mrs. Haupt was also a native of Northampton County, Pennsylvania, born August 4, 1848. Her parents emigrated to this state (Ohio) in the spring of 1849, making the journey in wagons, and locating in Copley Township, Mrs. Haupt being only nine months old at the time. Two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Haupt,— Howard W. and Clinton F.—both residents of Akron.
William F. Haupt was one of the three organizers of the Norton Mutual Fire Association, in the interest of which be worked some of his time for six years as agent and director, without compensation. Many meetings were held at his residence until it was fully organized, and is now the only surviving charter member. The said association has now an insured capital of $4,000,000. He is identified with the Lutheran Church of Loyal Oak, has held church and township offices and is in every way a worthy and reliable citizen and is now living a retired life.
HORACE G. CANFIELD, who conducts a job printing establishment at Akron, was born November 19, 1830, and has resided in this city since 1842, when his parents came here from Medina, Ohio. In boyhood, Mr. Canfield attended school but the larger part of his education he secured in the printing office, he beginning to set type in his father's establishment, before he was eight years old. He is a printer by inheritance, both his father and grandfather having been practical printers. His father, Horace Canfield, settled in Cuyahoga Falls in 1833, where he established the newspaper, the Ohio Review, and later had papers at Cleveland, the Cleveland Commercial Advertiser, and Medina, The Watchtower, coming to Akron, in 1842, where he published his last paper.
Horace G. Canfield learned the printer's trade from the ground up, and has made a specialty of job printing.
He was foreman of the Beacon from 1855 to 1866, at which time he purchased a one-third interest, Mr. S. A. Lane also purchasing a third interest. Shortly after A. L. Paine and D. J. Long purchased the remaining third of Messrs. Beebe and Elkins. The firm name was then changed to Lane, Canfield & Company. Thinking Akron about large enough to support a daily paper, he issued the Daily Beacon with S. A. Lane as editor, H. G. Canfield, business manager, and Paine and Long in charge of the job and news departments. This was the first successful launching of a daily newspaper in Akron. Under the above-described management it flourished until it was sold out about four years later.
During the Civil War Mr. Canfield served in Company F, 164th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for 100 days, his regimen
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being stationed through this time, at Fort Cocoran. He is a member of Buckley Post, Grand Army of the Republic Akron Lodge, No. 83, F. & A. M., and Nemo Lodge, I. 0. 0. F.
On October 12, 1857, Mr. Canfield was married to Jennie Galbraith, and they have four children, namely : Etta M. and Hattie G., both residing at home; Jessie W., who is chief clerk and stenographer in. the office of the State Fire Marshal, at Columbus ; and Dr. Charles II., residing at island Pond, Vermont, where he is in the Government service as a meat inspector.
Politically, Mr. Canfield is now a Democrat, having been formerly a Fremont and Lincoln voter. For forty-five years he has been identified with the Masonic fraternity, and he has earned the "fifty-year badge" as a member of the Odd Fellows, and is- captain of the degree staff in the auxiliary order of Rebecca. Mr. Canfield has a little private museum in which he has collected a number of old family treasurers, among which is his great-grand father's diploma, issued in 1772, by Yale College, and a tiny shoe which was once worn by his great-great-grandmother. He is one of Akron's best known citizens.
RICHARD FREEMAN PALMER, who for some years has lived at Akron retired from active participation in business, was formerly identified with some of the city's large industrial enterprises, and owns a large amount of real estate within its boundaries. Mr. Palmer was born at Akron; Ohio, March 13, 1840, and is a son of Joseph and Eliza (Freeman) Palmer. -
Joseph Palmer was born in England and came to Akron in 1836. He was a millwright by trade and the work that brought him to this section was the building of the locks in the Ohio Canal. Later he assisted in building the Cascade mill, and was identified with that mill for eighteen years. In 1854 he moved to a farm in Medina. County, on which he lived until the death of his wife. He then returned to Akron, making his home with his son, Richard.
Richard F. Palmer was little more than a school-boy when he found occupation as a driver on the canal, and he continued to work as such until he was eighteen years of age. About that time he entered the high school, where he remained until President Lincoln's call, in 1851, for 75,000 troops, when he enlisted for service in the Union Army. He was for three months. a member of Company G, 19th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, being stationed during. this time mainly in West Virginia. For the following two years he ran a stationary engine and then, in February, 1865, re-enlisted,- entering Company I,, 188th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. During this second term of service, which covered a year, he was located in Tennessee and Kentucky. After being mustered; out of the army the second time, :Mr. 'Palmer then bought a canal boat and operated on the canal for some three years. In 1872 he found employment in the office of the Akron Iron Company, remaining there two years. He then entered the employ of Aultman; Miller & Company, becoming their general agent, with :headquarters at Tiffin, Ohio; being in their employ for twenty-seven years: Since 1897 Mr. Palmer has lived re. tired from active business life, but he has many congenial interests to occupy his attention.
Mr. Palmer was married June 9, 1862, to Frances E. Field, who is a daughter of Asa Field. Mrs. Palmer died April 23, 1898, leaving three sons and an adopted daughter. The eldest son , Frank L:, is a resident of Pittsburg. J. Dwight, residing in Akron, is one of the city's representative men and has just been elected a member. of the City Council. J. Asa; the third son; is secretary of the Burt Manufacturing Company, of Akron. Margaret, the daughter by adoption, is the wife of Willis Bacon. an attorney of Tiffin, Ohio.
Mr. Palmer has always taken a laudable interest in the public matters concerning the development of his city. Years ago he served on the City Council, in 1871 and 1872. At present he is a member of the Summit County Court House Building Commission, just completing the erection of a $400,000.00
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court house. For many years he has been prominent in Masonry and is the present eminent commander of Akron Commandery, and served seven years as prelate. He has twice been commander of Buckley Post, G. A. R.
PRESTON D. STRATTON, the founder and Past Supreme President of the beneficiary order of the Protected Home Circle, with offices in the Everett Building, Akron, was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, December 28, 1852.
Mr. Stratton had an early agricultural training and country schooling, but completed his education at Mt. Union College, leaving sooner than he had proposed, on account of the death of his father, following which he taught school for six terms. It was in 1886 that he originated the central idea and wrote out the plan for the Protected Home Circle, organizing at Sharon, Pennsylvania, with an initial membership of twenty-nine persons. Mr. Stratton would scarcely be blamed if he evinced some pride at the growth of the order, it now having a membership of more than 65,000. The organizaton has paid out during its twenty-one years of existence, more than $4,000,000, in death benefits, and has a reserve fund of $1,000,000. In addition in 1894, the order erected a fine temple at a cost of $50,000, which with equipment is now worth $100,000. This magnificient structure is located at Sharon. Mr. Stratton served for eight years as Supreme Secretary and for seven years as Supreme President and is now Past Supreme President in charge of the work in the State of Ohio.
In addition to the fraternal relations existing between him and so many of his fellow-citizens, in the order he founded, he is actively associated in other fraternities, being a Past Grand in the order of Odd Fellows, a member of the National Union, Ben Hur, K. & L. of Honor, and of the Foresters. Mr. Stratton has always been recognized as a good citizen since locating at Akron, and he was selected for the head of the Law and Order League, serving as its president during its term of usefulness. His political sympathies are with the Republican party. As he is a line speaker, his voice was frequently heard during the campaign preceding the first election of President McKinley.
In 1877, Mr. Stratton was married to Mary E. Protheroe, who is a daughter of Francis Protheroe, the latter of whom was born in Wales and came to America and settled in Goshen Township, Mahoning County, in young manhood. Mr. and Mrs. Stratton have three children : Florence E., who is a graduate of the College of Commerce, at Sharon, Pennsylvania, is her father's private secretary and stenographer; Delbert P., who is assistant manager of the billing department of the B. F. Goodrich Company, is a graduate of the Akron High School; and Raymond F., is a student.
Mr. Stratton is one of the leading members of the Baptist Church at Akron, in which he is a deacon, and is also president of the Men's club.
WILLIAM A. DICE, a practical farmer of Franklin Township, who operates an excellent tract of seventy-four acres, was born October 27, 1859, on the old Grill farm north of Clinton, Franklin Township, Summit County, Ohio, and is a son of Jeremiah and Caroline (Dissinger) Dice.
Jeremiah Dice was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Michael Dice, a substantial farmer of Franklin County. There were nine children in Michael Dice's family, but Jeremiah was the only one to come West, he settling north of Manchester, Franklin Township, when about twenty-one years of age. On first engaging in farming here he rented land, but later purchased two fine farms which aggregated about 250 acres, and here he died in 1904, at the age of seventy-three years ; his widow, who survives him, is seventy-two years old. Jeremiah Dice was married in Franklin Township, to Caroline Dissinger, who is a sister of Dr. Dissinger, of Canal Fulton, and daughter of John Dissinger, who came to Ohio from Pennsylvania by wagon and settled north of Manchester on a farm now owned by William A. Dice and
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other heirs. On this property Mrs. Dice was born. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dice, namely : John; Mary, who married M. Waltz; William Albert; Alma, who married L. W. Baughman; Elton; Emma, who married Thomas Sours; and Marvin, all living in Summit County, Ohio.
William A. Dice spent his boyhood days on the old home place north of Manchester, attending District School No. 1, and working at farming. He purchased a part of his present farm from Henry D. Dailey, and has here carried on general farming very successfully. He is a Democrat in politics, and has shown interest in the success of his party in this section.
On November 12, 188.1, Mr. Dice was married to Elizabeth Dailey, who is a daughter of Henry D. and Mary (Rhodes) Dailey, early settlers in this section. Henry D. Dailey, who was the original owner of W. A. Dice's present farm, which he helped to clear, died at the age of seventy-eight years, while his widow, who survives him, is in her eighty-second year. Mr. and Mrs. Dice have two children : Henry, attending Wooster College, who taught school for five years in the county, and is engaged to teach in the grammar grades in 1907; and Hazel; also a student at Wooster College, who will teach at Barberton, Franklin Township.
WALTER R. WOLFSPERGER, electrical contractor, with offices at No. 575 East Exchange Street, Akron, has been established in business for himself in this city for the past six years, prior to which he was connected with the electrical work .of a number of the largest institutions in this section. He was horn in 1878, at Canal Fulton, Stark County, Ohio.
Mr. Wolfsperger was educated in the public schools at Canal Fulton, where he lived until fourteen years of age, and earned his first money by working in the coal mines in Stark County. In 1893, he came to Akron and for about five years was more or less continuously employed in the shops, connected with the various rubber industries. In 1897, he went to Massillon, where he was connected with the Massillon Light, Heat & Power Company until 1900, when he returned to Akron and for the succeeding eight months, did the electrical work for the B. F. Goodrich Company. He was then employed by an electrical contractor up to 1901, when he embarked in business for himself. Mr. Wolfsperger's skill has been exercised in behalf of a number of the large institutions of Akron. He has done the electrical work for some years for Buchtel College, in its Women's dormitory, the residence of E. R. Held, the Crisp Block, the Bergen Iron Company's new plant, the Baker-McMillan plant, and a number of others. Mr. Wolfsperger's business has increased 600 per cent over the first year, a record which tells its own story.
In 1899, Mr. Wolfsperger was married to Louise Anna Shopbell, who was born at Massillon, Ohio, and they have two children, Rhea and Walter. Politically, Mr. Wolfsperger is a Democrat. Fraternally, he is connected with the order of Eagles, and is also a member of the White Anchor Relief Association.
SIMON P. LUDWICK, a substantial citizen and well-known agriculturist of Summit County, who owns and operates a farm of seventy-eight acres in Franklin Township, was born in an old log house in Franklin Township, Summit County, Ohio, October 28, 1844, and is a son of Samuel and Mary (Dick) Ludwick.
George Ludwick, his grandfather, and a native of Pennsylvania, was one of the early settlers of Franklin Township, and entered the farm now owned by Frank Cox, which he cleared from the woods. There his death occurred, as did also that of his wife. Among the children of George Ludwick was Samuel, the father of Simon P. He was also born in Pennsylvania, and was brought to Ohio by his parents, the remainder of his life being spent farming in Franklin Township. Mr. Ludwick purchased the old home farm and replaced the old log house with one of stone, which is still standing, and here he died in
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about 1855, at the age of fifty-three years. Samuel Ludwick married Mary Dick, daughter of Samuel Dick and she survived her husband one year. Mr. and Mrs. Ludwick had eleven children, as follows: George, residing in Michigan; Eve, who married Solomon Secrist ; Barbara, who married Isaac Snyder; Rachel, who became the wife of Martin Grill; Mary, who married Daniel Haring; Samuel; Rebecca, who married H. Snyder; Simon Peter; Jemima, who married H. Surfass; Anna, and Amos. Of the foregoing, Eve, Barbara, Mary, Rebecca, Anna and Amos are deceased the last mentioned passing away in his fourteenth year.
Simon P. Ludwick received a somewhat limited education, his parents dying when he was still a lad. However, he made the best of his opportunities and being an ambitious youth, he managed to secure a meager education. His young manhood was spent in working on the neighboring farms, and when eighteen years of age he started to do threshing, becoming a partner with his brother Samuel in this business on reaching his twenty-first year. He was also associated with Martin Grill and other partners, and for one year had charge of the business alone, operating the old style horse-power machine. After fourteen successful seasons spent in threshing, Mr. Ludwick, in 1875, purchased his present farm from the George Baughman heirs, and replaced the old buildings below the hill with his present large eight-room frame house, substantial barns and new outbuildings. Mr. Ludwick is one of Summit County's self-made men, and as such is honored and esteemed by all who know him. He has always been industrious, but in later years has found time for travel, and has visited brothers in Illinois and Michigan.
In March, 1872, Mr. Ludwick was married to Lucetta Baughman, daughter of George Baughman, and six children were born to this union : Samantha; Mirtie, who married Calvin Stump; Percy ; Lottie, who died at the age of two years; Leeman; and Bertha. Mr. Ludwick, with his family, belongs to the Reformed Church. In political matters he is a Democrat.
SOLOMON KEPLER, residing on his well-improved farm in Green Township, is one of the large land-owners of this section, his possessions amounting to over 400 acres, which are situated in both Green and Franklin Townships. He was born August 28, 1840, on his present farm in Green Township, Summit County, Ohio, and is a son of Jacob A. and Christina (Hushberger) Kepler.
Jacob A. Kepler was born near East Liberty, Ohio, to which place his father, Andrew Kepler, had come from Pennsylvania as a pioneer, and where his death occurred. Jacob A. Kepler grew to manhood on his father's farm, but after his marriage removed to a farm on the east side of Turkeyfoot Lake, where he erected a log cabin in the wilderness, Here Mr. Kepler cleared a farm of 200 acres, and this was his home for the remainder of his life, his death occurring at the age of sixty-two years. Mrs. Kepler survived her husband for a long period, being eighty-one years old at the time of her death. Jacob A. Kepler was married to Christina Hushberger, who was a native of Pennsylvania, and to them there were born eight children, four of whom grew to maturity, namely : Elizabeth, who is the widow of .J. R. Neal; Adam; Sophia, who married H. Swaggert, and Solomon.
Solomon Kepler attended the district schools of his native locality, and has been since engaged in agricultural pursuits. His fine farm, which is a part of the old homestead, includes a large house and substantial barns, built by Mr. Kepler himself, and the large, productive orchard planted by him. He is in very comfortable circumstances, and in later years has devoted some time to travel, visiting the home of his ancestors in Pennsylvania, and going as far West as California. In politics he is a Democrat, and has served as township trustee and as school director. In 1861 Mr. Kepler was married, first, to Elizabeth Garst, and their children were: Samuel, who died in infancy ; Oliver, who died at the age of six years; Belle, who mar-
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ried E. Rex, and has two children—Howard and Edith; Amanda, wife of N. Foust, with live children—Clarence, Jacob, Samuel, Oran and William; and Mabel, who married M. (trove, and has two children--Willard V., and a baby girl unnamed. After the death of his first wife Mr. Kepler was married, second to Hattie Herring, a daughter of Samuel Herring. Of this union there were born seven children—Andrew, Aaron, Solomon, Elsie, William, Florence and Blanche.
ALBERT G. DURSTINE, a highly respected citizen and retired farmer, residing on his farm of eighty acres, which is situated in Franklin Township, was born in an old log house that stood on the present farm, in Sum, mit County, Ohio, April 1, 1855, and is It son of Abraham S. and Susanna (Swartz) Durstine.
The Durstine family, which is an old one in America, was established in Bucks County, Pennsylvania; in 1660, by Michael Durstine, who emigrated from Alsace, France. The grandfather of Albert G. Durstine was Abraham Durstine, who was the founder of the family in Ohio. He was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, February 9, 1800, and was a son of Jacob Durstine, who lived. on the farm on which the original Durstine settled, and which is still a possession of the family. The grandparents of Albert G. came in pioneer fashion to Holmes County, Ohio, bringing as many of their possessions as they could. Later, the family moved to Wayne County, but, prior to his death, Abraham Durstine returned to Holmes County and died at Smithville, in March, 1878. The death of his first wife had preceded his own by twenty-four years, and he contracted a second marriage with a member of the Gniley family, who died without issue. The children of the first marriage were: Jacob, John, Abraham S., Catherine, Mary and Sarah.
Abaham S. Durstine was born in Holmes County, Ohio, in 1828, and died in 1887. When he reached manhood he married Susanna Swartz, who was a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Thornton) Swartz. She died in 1902, aged seventy-four years. The Swartz family came to Summit County from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, when Mrs. Durstine was eight years old. Her father helped to build the Reservoir and he domated sixteen acres of the necessary amount of land. Abraham S. Durstine, in 1853, bought the present farm of his son Albert, from Daniel Deihel, and he resided on the place for the rest of life. They had two children, Albert and Ellen. The latter, who married Isaac Carmany, is now deceased.
Albert G. Durstine was given a district school education, but much of his youth was spent, in working on the farm and also, occasionally, at the carpenter's trade. This line old hull, has always been his real home, and he has never been absent from it with the exception of three years.
On October 12, 1875, Mr. Durstine was married to Maria Rhodes, who is a daughter of Frederick and Margaret (Snyder) Rhodes, and they have one child, Edward, who manages the home farm. The latter married Mabel Reynolds, who is a daughter of Ransom and Hannah (Fosnacht) Reynolds, and they have one child, Otis Nathan. This promis ing little grandson of Mr. Durstine was born February 18, 1900, just 100 years, to the day, after the birth of Abraham Durstine, his grant: great-grandfather. The Durstines are a prominent family in Franklin Township.
F. B. GOODMAN, one of Akron's representative business men, who has been a resident of this city for the past twenty-seven years, fills the important position of assistant manager of the M. O'Neil Company, which is a leading mercantile house of this section of Ohio, its stability as well as its volume of business giving it this prominence.
Mr. Goodman was born at Atwater, Portage County, Ohio, June 6, 1854, and was there reared. He is a son of the late Henry Goodman, who was a substantial farmer of Portage County.' After leaving school, Mr. Goodman was employed in a general mercantile store in his native county for five years. He then went to Alliance and was a salesman for the
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mercantile firm of Wann & Warren, of that city, for three years. For the following three years, Mr. Goodman was in a general mercantile business for himself, in Stark County, and in 1880, he came to Akron and entered the employ of the mercantile house of O'Neil & Dyas, with which he continued until the death of Mr. Dyes. About this time the business was incorporated as The M. O'Neil Company, Mr. Goodman remaining with the firm, and since this period being assistant manager. For over a quarter of a century he has been connected with this house, and his fidelity to its welfare, and co-operation in its policy of fair dealing with the public, have made him a noteworthy factor in its success. Mr. Goodman was married in 1880 to Anna Martin, of Stark County, and they have one son, Walter, who has charge of the house-furnishing department of the M. O'Neil Company. Mr. Goodman is a member of the English Lutheran Church.
MAHLON S. LONG, senior member of the Long & Taylor Company, a leading business house of Akron, was born at Spring Creek, Warren County, Pennsylvania, in 1867, and is a son of Joshua W. and Matilda H. Long.
The parents of Mr. Long removed from Warren County, Pennsylvania, to Mentor, Ohio, when he was a babe of six months. His father resides at Newton Falls, Ohio, on a farm in that vicinity, and is now retired from active life. Formerly he followed blacksmithing and carriage-making. In 1861, he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Company F, 19th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but one year later was honorably discharged on account of disability.
Mahlon S. Long spent his boyhood and youth at Mentor and Toledo. In 1881 he went to Newton Falls, and was graduated from the Newton Falls High School in 1885. After teaching school for one year at the latter place, he entered Mt. Union College, and after two terms there, he went to work in the basket factory at Newton Falls. Twelve months later he went from that place to Chicago. Mr. Long remained in the metropolis of the middle west for a period of five years, mainly engaged as a salesman with a large cigar firm. In May, 1892, he came to Akron and engaged as shipping clerk with what is now the Standard Oilcloth Company. He continued with this firm for a year and a half. The panic of 1893 caused many of the employes to be laid off by this house, he among the number, and he fell back on his old work of basket-making. He continued making grape baskets during the following fall, at Kirtland, Ohio, and returned to Akron on the first of the following October, determined to go into business for himself and be independent of the ups and downs of more ambitious concerns. He had a little capital and this he invested in a small cigar store, on the site of the pres- ent magnificent new modern building.
With small capital, few resources and active competition, Mr. Long found the first three years hard ones to push through, but by working fifteen hours a day, and careful management, with honest and courteous treatment for every one, he built up a constantly increasing trade. He found it necessary, ere long, to increase his space by adding another room. Later, when it proved impossible to still further add to the building he occupied, as his business demanded, he resolved to purchase this piece of property then for sale, at the point of the intersection of Main and Howard Streets, and he acquired it in 1898. Its flatiron shape, 86 feet lying on Main Street and 92 feet on Howard Street, 60 feet wide at one end and 9 feet at the other, determined the name of the magnificent building, the erection of which was commenced in July, 1906.
In 1895, H. H. Taylor- became associated with Mr. Long and the firm name became M. S. Long & Company. On account of increasing business the first change was made to an additional store at Nos. 20-22 South Main Street, with dimensions of 30 by 102 1-2 feet, which they subsequently bought. On this land the firm built a brick structure, with three stories and basement, occupying two store rooms, one as a candy and ice cream
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department and the other with a general line of cigars, stationery, athletic goods and newspapers. The entire basement is used for a candy factory, a very complete plant here being installed, where are manufactured choice candies and "Purity" ice cream for retail and fine family trade. In July, 1907, they began the erection of the finest business block and office building in the city of Akron. It is seven stories in height, with basement and sub-basement. Since the completion of the building the Long & Taylor Company occupy the entire lower floor and part of the basement with two similar stores to the ones at 20 and 22 South Main Street. The Long & Taylor Company was incorporated in 1902, with a capital stock of $65,000, with H. H. Taylor as president and M. S. Long as treasurer and general manager. The main business of the company is conducted here, but the old quarters at Nos. 20-22 South Main Street are also utilized. The magnificent flatiron building is a source of pride to every citizen of Akron and it must be particularly so to Mr. Long, who, as no other can, realizes the struggles he went through in order that the present great enterprise became a fact..
In 1891 Mr. Long was married to Marion E. Taylor, and they have two children : Ger. trude M. and Robert H. T.
Mr. Long is a 32nd degree Mason and belongs to the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery at Akron, and to Lake Erie Consistory and Al Koran Temple A. A. 0. N. M. S. at Cleveland. During his residence in Chicago he was very active in the order of the Sons of Veterans, and at one time was commanding officer of Camp No. 1, of that city.
JOHN GRILL, a successful agriculturist of Franklin Township, residing on his 160-acre farm, was born on his father's farm in Franklin Township, Summit County, Ohio, February 4, 1863, and is a son of John and Leah (Snyder) Grill.
John Grill, his paternal grandfather, was a native of Pennsylvania, from which state he came to Ohio in 1840, settling first in Stark County. After a residence there of one year, he came to Summit County, and settled on the farm now owned by Charles Young in Franklin Township, which at that time was covered with a heavy growth of timber. After clearing off the timber, he erected an old-fashioned "up and down" sawmill, which he operated until his death at the age of seventy-five years. His widow, Mary, survived him for some years. The children of John and Mary Grill were: David, William, John, Daniel, Martin, Philip, Lydia, Sarah, Catherine and Mary of whom the only present survivors are: Daniel, Martin and Mary.
John Grill, father of John Grill of Franklin Township, was also born in Pennsylvania, accompanied his father to Ohio in 1840, and for a number of years worked in his father's sawmill, later becoming the owner of a mill. He was married in Franklin Township to Leah Snyder, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of Frederick Snyder, her father being a native of Germany. Mr. Grill died when eighty-three years old, in 1905, his wife having passed away in 1897 at the age of sixty-three. They were the parents of seven children : Levi, Eliza Jane, who married George Huber; Alfred; Amanda, who married Noah Fraze; Emma, who married David Johnson ; John ; and William.
John Grill received his education in the district school, and worked on his father's farm until after his marriage. He then entered the employ of the Akron Electric Railroad as conductor, a position in which he served for seven years. Mr. Grill then returned to the farm of his father, but in 1903 located on his present property, which he had purchased in the spring of 1902 from the William Woods heirs. In March, 1891, Mr. Grill was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Fetzer.
LEONARD ROBINSON, a highly respected retired farmer of Richfield Township, residing 'on his grain and dairy farm of seventy-four acres, was born in Virgil Township, Cortland County, New York, May 21, 1837, and is a son of Luman B. and Mary (Sweet) Robinson.
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The parents of Mr. Robinson were also natives of New York. The father came to Akron in 1846 where he followed the carpenter trade until within five years of his death, when he moved to a farm in Copley Township, Summit County, where he died in 1856. He was a Republican in politics, and prior to the Civil War was in sympathy with the Abolition movement. He married Mary Sweet and they had thirteen children, eleven of whom grew to maturity, namely : Levi, who is deceased; Lewis; Lydia, who is the widow of Jerome Wellman, of Akron; Lyman, residing at Edinburg, Ohio; Leonard; Lucina, deceased, who married Daniel Allen, also deceased; Lester, residing in Iowa; Laura, who married John Mann, residing at Akron; Louisa, who is the widow of Norman Smith, residing in Copley ; Lavina, deceased, who married George Tream; and Alonzo, who is deceased.
Leonard Robinson attended school at Akron, and learned the carpenter trade with his father. He easily learned other trades, being a natural mechanic, and for twenty years was employed as stationary engineer at various points, at one time working in this capacity in the old Allen barrel factory. He worked also in the pinery swamp in Copley, and for six years was engineer at the clay mills of Middlebury. In the spring of 1888, he came to his present farm, which he conducted as a grain and dairy farm until his retirement from business activity.
Mr. Robinson married Mary Swinehart, who was born in Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of John Swinehart. They had. four children born to them, namely: Henry, residing at Cuyahoga Falls; Mary, who married Charles Webb; Rosa, who married Charles Howe, who operates Mr. Robinson's farm; and William, residing at Shinrock, Erie County, Ohio.
The paternal grandfather of Mr. Robinson was a Revolutionary soldier and at the close of the war was given a land warrant for 160 acres, but he never took advantage of this claim.
A. H. NOAH, treasurer of the Diamond Rubber Company, at Akron, has numerous other important business connections here and is a representative of large interests. Mr. Noah was born in 1858, in Summit County, Ohio.
Mr. Noah was educated in the local schools and at Oberlin, Ohio,_ and later engaged in teaching for three years. In 1886 he organized the Akron Building and Loan Association, and continued secretary of the same for ten years, becoming also well known in the abstract and title business, as a member of the firm of Wilcox and Noah. In September, 1897, Mr. Noah became general manager of the Diamond Rubber Company, and when the business was reorganized, he accepted the position of treasurer. He is also vice-president of the Bruner, Goodhue, Cooke Company; is a director in the Akron Building and Loan Association and the Jahant Heating Company, and is secretary and treasurer of the Pan-American Rubber Company. He is an active, public-spirited citizen, and has served on the Akron library board.
In 1880 Mr. Noah was married to Kittie B. McGill, of Urbana, Ohio, and they have one son, Robert H., who is a student in the public schools. Mr. Noah is a vestryman of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
Mr. Noah is a 32nd degree Mason and is a prominent Odd Fellow. He is a Member of the Portage Country Club.
JOHN J. STARR, secretary of the Robinson Clay Product Company, one of Akron's most important industries, is a native of this city, born here in 1867, and is a son of Jonathan Starr and a grandson of Jonathan Starr.
The grandfather of Mr. Starr was a native of Connecticut. He came to Summit County in 1813, became a man of substance and prominence and was a member of the first board of Summit County commissioners. He owned large bodies of land in Copley Township, and there he reared his family, his son Jonathan being born there in 1831.
John J. Starr was reared and educated at Akron. When fifteen years of age he entered
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the employ of the E. H. Merrill Pottery Company and he has worked himself steadily upward through the grades of promotion until he has become secretary of one of the largest pottery concerns in the United States.
In 1892 Mr. Starr was married to Adelaide Akers, who is a daughter of Alfred Akers, of Akron, and they, have four children, namely: Helen, ,Anna, Miriam and Harriet.
Mr. Starr is a 32nd degree Mason and belongs to the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commandery at Akron and to Lake Erie Consistory of Cleveland.
R. A. MAY, senior member of the firm of May and Fiebeger, which after twenty-seven years of partnership was formed into a stock company—the May-Fiebeger Company—of which Mr. May is principal stockholder, has, after over forty years of active business management, retired from active service.
Mr. May was born near the borders of Saxony, and came to America with his parents when a child, settling in Akron and remaining there ever since. His education was acquired in the public schools of this city and also, being a lover of books, through much personal study. When a young boy, while visiting an uncle in Columbus, Mr. May learned the tinner's trade. He worked one year for John B. Cramer, and then entered into partnership with his employer, forming the firm of Cramer and May, successors of J. B. Cramer, who succeeded Rockwell and Cramer, successors to Justus Rockwell. Justus Rockwell succeeded H. 0. Hampson and Hampson succeeded Russell Gale, who owned the first tin shop rind stove store in Akron, even clearing away the bushes on what is now the northwest corner- of Howard and Market Streets, where he built his store.
While with Cramer and May, Mr. May started the first galvanized iron cornice business in Akron, being pioneers of cornice work in this vicinity and extending their business east into New York State and west into Indiana. The galvanized iron fronts on the buildings of May and Fiebeger on North Howard Street are a sample of his work.
When architecture changed, so that stone could be used to replace galvanized cornices, Mr. May saw that galvanized cornices would be gradually displaced, and bent his energies to the heating and ventilating business, being the pioneer of the furnace business in Akron. He studied heating in all its various forms, and the burning of various kinds of fuel, and invented the air blast, the process of admitting air into and over the fire, which made the burning of soft coal successful, and revolutionized the burning of soft coal in furnaces and stoves. All the so-called blast furnaces of every description that are in use today have sprung from this.
Mr. May also patented the two-way diving flue and numerous other devices, which made furnaces so successful that they are now sold in every soft coal state in the United States and are sent to foreign countries. Some of the most successful furnace manufacturers, salesmen and workmen in his line have sprung from his employ. Among them, Frank Fiebeger of the firm of The May-Fiebeger Company, William Clerkin of the Taplin, Rice, Clerkin Company. and George Maag, of the Twentieth Century Company.
For forty years he continued in the same line of business, continually increasing the plant and always keeping up the highest standard and enjoying the confidence of the business world. His motto always was, "Nothing succeeds like success."
Mr. May was married twice. In 1872 he married Miss Susan Rhodes of Randolph, Ohio. The children born to this union were: Mary L., Louis R., Helen-C., Frank G., and Rosalia A.
In the spring of 1894 Mr. May lost his first wife, and in the fall of 1899 he married his present wife, Miss Elizabeth M. Roussert, of Akron. Mr. May has always been a member of St. Bernard's German Roman Catholic Church, and is highly respected by all its members. After over forty years of strenuous business life, Mr. May has for the present retired to become acquainted with his family and enjoy the fruits of his labor.
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SAMUEL HAMMETT PRICKETT, residing on his valuable farm of 110 acres, situated in Richfield Township, is a representative citizen and on several occasions has served as township trustee. He was born near Marion, Wayne County, New York, January 6, 1829, and is a son of Samuel and Hannah Ann (Allen) Prickett.
The father of Mr. Prickett was born at Medford, New Jersey, and his parents were John and Sybilla (Hammett) Prickett. They lived to be over ninety years of age. Samuel Prickett was well educated for his day and for nearly fifty years he kept a diary, in which is reflected not only family happenings, but often pictures of passing events of importance. After some years of marriage, he moved to New York, with his wife and three children, remaining in that state for seven years, and then came to Ohio. He reached Richfield Township, June 8, 1834, where he purchased 200 acres of land and developed the same into a grain and stock farm. In early days he was a Whig, later a Republican. He died in 1886, aged over eighty-eight years. He married Hannah Ann Allen and they had the following children: Franklin, who is deceased; Caroline, who is the widow of Samuel Clark, of Richfield; and John, Hannah Ann, Allen S. and Aaron, all deceased; and Samuel. The parents of Mr. Prickett were reared in the Society of Friends, but attended the Congregational Church in Richfield Township.
Samuel H. Prickett was young when his parents came to Richfield Township, and he obtained his education in the district schools of this neighborhood. He remained on the home farm until in November, 1854, when he went to California, where he became interested in a claim, and remained, variously engaged, in that state until 1864. In the year following his return to Richfield Township, he purchased his present farm and has devoted himself to its cultivation and improvement. Mr. Prickett cultivates about eighty acres and keeps from 100 to 200 sheep. He is a member of Richfield Grange.
Mr. Prickett married Ann Amelia Garthwaite, who left one daughter, Edith, at death. He married (second) Edith Welton, who a daughter of Samuel Welton, of Richfield Township, and they have two children: Dan Welton and Marion Louise.
In politics, Mr. Prickett is identified wit the Republican party. In addition to sery ing as township trustee, he has been a mein ber of the School Board, and at all times h been a citizen actively interested in all move ments beneficial to this section.
GEORGE H. LODGE, assistant treasu of The Silver Lake Park Company, of Silv Lake, Summit County; was born at Newbur Ohio, November 30, 1875, and is a son o Ralph Hugh and Julia A. (Plum) Lodge.
Mr. Lodge can trace his remote ancestors to a Huguenot family that found refuge in England, and to those members who later accompanied William Penn to Pennsylvania. On land granted -to a Lodge, by the great colonizer, the grandfather of George H. Lodge, whose name the latter bears, was born in 1801, and he was reared in New Jersey and probably was still residing there in 1829, when he married Rebecca Smith; With his wife he came to Ohio, about that time, settling on Small farm in Stow Township, Summit County. In 1836 he assisted in the materials development of what is now Monroe Falls and in the vicinity of that village all h. children were born. They were as follows Emma, George H., Mary, Cornelia, and Caroline, the eldest being Ralph Hugh the father of George H. In 1846 the family moved Cleveland, and in 1848, settled on what w then known as the Leonard Case. farm, and in 1855 removed to a tract of 100 acres, which is now a busy part of that city.
Ralph Hugh Lodge was born August 3 1830, at Monroe Falls, Summit County, Ohio and as the eldest son assisted his father in all his enterprises, in 1872 assuming the management of the farm on which the family resided for seventeen years. He purchased property and engaged for a time in a mercantile business, but the real occupation of his life was the developing of what is known The Silver Lake Park, and in this great en-
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terprise he was ably assisted by his sons. The property came into his possession in 1874, and he took up his residence on this ground in April, 1876, and lived there until his death, May 22, 1907.
On April 7, 1869 Ralph Hugh Lodge was married to Julia A. Plum of Cuyahoga Falls, and nine of their ten children still survive, namely: Edward Ballard, a physician, residing at Cleveland; Mrs. Duncan B. Wolcott, residing at Kent, Ohio; Mrs. William IL Irvin, residing at Cuyahoga Falls; and Lillian P., William R., George II., Louis B., Laura C. and Ralph II. residing at Silver Lake Park.
George H. Lodge was educated in the schools of Cuyahoga Falls, leaving the high School to enter the preparatory school of Oberlin College, subsequently took a course at the Hammel Business College, of Akron, and since completing his education has been identified with the Silver Lake Amusement Park. He has charge of the outside work, attending to the erection of new buildings and making substantial improvements which still further enhance the beauty and comfort of this celebrated resort.
Mr. Lodge married Florence Adelia Call, who is a daughter of Charles Augustus Call, of Stow Township, Summit County. Mrs. Lodge is a member of the Congregational Church at Hudson.
Politically Mr. Lodge is a Republican. He has served as a deputy sheriff since the election of Sheriff Barker. He belongs to Star Lodge, No. 187, F. & A. M.
C. B. RAYMOND, secretary of the B. F. Goodrich Company, at Akron, is a native of this city, where he was born February 12, 1866, and he has been identified with some of its large business enterprises ever since he returned from college.
Mr. Raymond completed the high School course at Akron and then entered Amherst College where he was graduated in 1888, with the degree of B. S. Very soon afterward, he was made secretary of the Akron Woolen and Felt Company, with which he continued until April, 1891, when he came with the Good- rich hard Rubber Company and in 1898, when the American Hard Rubber Cone parry was organized here he became manager of the Akron plant,. remaining in that position until April, 1905, when he was made assistant secretary of the B. F. Goodrich Company. In 1906 he became secretary of the company and has remained in that capacity until the present. Mr. Raymond is connected with other successful business concerns, being a director of the American Hard Rubber Company, a director of the Second National Bank, and a director of the Hardware and Supply Company of Akron. lIe is a trustee of the Akron City hospital, a vestryman of St. Paul's Episcopal Church and a director of the Portage Country Club. For one term he served as a member of the Akron Board of Education.
In 1890 Mr. Raymond was married to Mary Perkins, who is a daughter of Col. G. T. Perkins, and they have three children, viz.: Mary Perkins, George Perkins and Charles Goodrich.
EARL JAMES GRUBB, proprietor of Elm-dale Farm, in Stow Township, is the manufacturer of the well-known Elmdale Creamery butter, carrying on general farming, dairying and poultry raising quite extensively. Mr. Grubb was born in Stow Township, Summit County, Ohio, August 15, 1878, and is a son of John William and Alice (Garrison) Grubb.
The father of Mr. Grubb was born in Pennsylvania September 15, 1845, and died November 11, 1896. He was a carpenter by trade and followed it, in addition to farming, all his active life except during his term of two years in the service of his country. He enlisted when very young in Company K, 151st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and saw much hard service. A brother was killed during the war but John William survived, but only to suffer from exposure then endured all his remaining life. He identified himself with the Grand Army post at Kent. He was a member of the order known as the Knights of Honor. John William Grubb married Alice Garrison, who was a daughter of James
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Garrison, of Franklin Township, Portage County, and they had the following children : William Edward, residing at Kent; Ernest Franklin, residing at Akron ; Grace E., who married William Samuels, residing at Akron ; Earl James; and Lela Ellen, who died aged twenty-two years. John William Grubb was a Consistent member of the Disciples Church, at Kent, in which he served as deacon.
John Grubb, the grandfather of Earl James, was the first of the family to own the farm which the grandson now possesses. He came from Pennsylvania and married Hannah Sorrick, of Stark County. They reared a large family. John Grubb carried on farming and also worked as a stone-mason.
Earl James Grubb spent seven years of his early life, at Brecksville, in Cuyahoga County, where he attended school, and he spent three subsequent years in the Kent High School, obtaining means to complete his education, by working in a meat market. Mr. Grubb has practically taken care of himself since he was twelve years of age. After leaving school he ran a meat market for one year at Mantua Station, and later worked in a Kent market house for a year, when he turned his attention to farming. His first rented place was the old Hoover farm, after which he bought a milk route, selling his product at Kent, which industry he continued for three years. During the last year he was also manager of the Crescent Poultry Farm at Kent. He disposed of his business at Kent, and April 15, 1904, he purchased his present farm, consisting of eighty-two and one-half acres. He winters about thirty-five head of cattle, raises his own for dairy purposes, and every season. has a fine lot of hogs, a cross between the Chester White and the Berkshire, which Mr. Grubb thinks can not be excelled. lie raises corn, oats, hay and wheat and markets all he does not use for himself. He also makes a specialty of poultry, raising broilers for the market, and has made a great success of this whole industry. He has made a scientific study of this business and has constructed buildings for his poultry where they are as comfortable in winter as in summer. The out lay has paid well, as on several occasions, the depth of winter, from 102 hens, he gathered ninety-three eggs, while the avers is from five to seven dozen a day. Mr. Grub has a fine silo on his land with dimension of 11 by 11 feet, with round corners, whic is 26 feet in depth.
Mr. Grubb's happy family includes wif and two children. He married Mary Lappin who is a daughter of Marvin and Olive Lap pin. Mrs. Grubb was born in Franklin Town ship, Portage County. The two children named Gordon Glee, who was born Februar 28, 1903, and Naundas Mildred, who was born March 14 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Grubb belon to the Disciples Church at Kent. Politically Mr. Grubb is a Republican, but he is no seeker for office. He belongs to the order of the Knights and Ladies of Security, at Kent.
C. R. QUINE, treasurer and general managtr of the Akron Clutch Company, and secretary of the Colonial Sign and Insulator Company, was born in 1879, at Akron, Ohio, and is a son of Robert S. Quine, of this city.
After completing his education Mr. Quine was connected with newspaper work for a short period and then became associated with the Colonial Sign and Insulator Company, For the past two years he has been treasurer and general manager of the Akron Clutch Company, which was organized for the manufacture of friction clutches. The company is now building a finely-equipped plant on Sweitzer Avenue, and preparations are being made to greatly enlarge the present capacity in order to meet the growing demand.
In 1905, Mr. Quine was married to Hattie Van Orman, who is a daughter of the late J. H. Van Orman, and they have one child, Robert C. Mr. Quine belongs to the Akron lodge of Odd Fellows.
H. A. WEST, one of Akron's able ,young business men, secretary and treasurer of the Enterprise Manufacturing Company, of this city, was born in 1872, in Portage County, Ohio, and is a son of the late Robert and Mary (Alexander) West.
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Mr. West was brought to Akron in childhood and was reared and educated here, graduating from the public schools in 1890. He then became connected with the official force of the old Akron Iron Company, and remained four years in the Akron and New York city offices, and from there went to the Whitman-Barnes Manufacturing Company for seven years, after which he accepted his present official position with the Enterprise Manufacturing Company.
In 1897 Mr. West was married to Ida M. Pflueger, who is a daughter of the late E. F. Pflueger. He is a member of the Disciple Church. Fraternally Mr. West is a Mason.
CHARLES SENN, superintendent of the Monroe Falls Paper Company, at Monroe Falls, has been a resident of this city since 1889. He was born at New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, June 10, 1860, and is a son of John B. and Anna (Sherrick) Senn.
The parents of Mr. Senn were both born in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland. The father was a coal miner both in his own land and after he settled in Tuscarawas County, And also engaged in farming after coming to the United States. Early in' the Civil War he entered the army as a private in the 151st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died in 1832. The mother continued to live on the home farm until about 1868, when, with her four children, she moved to Massillon.
In the public schools of Massillon, Charles Senn obtained his education, and learned his business of paper-making in the works of the Massillon Paper Company. He was about eighteen years of age when ho started out from home and worked in various paper mills, during this time gaining a great deal of useful information concerning the details of his trade. This determination to perfect himself has resulted in a complete knowledge of the art of paper manufacture. In 1889, he came to Monroe Falls to take charge of the plant of the Cleveland Paper Company. The Monroe Falls Paper Company is the successor of the Cleveland Paper Company. It was incor porated in 1899, with John Silk of Massillon, president; Charles Silk, vice president; F. B. Silk, secretary and treasurer, and Charles Senn, superintendent. With double shifts working, the output is twelve tons of paper daily, employment being given thirty-five men. The product goes all over the country and consists of light and dark rag wrapping paper; absorbent fly paper; red express; deadening felt paper and carpet lining. Sales are made direct to the trade and also through jobbers. The enterprise is a very prosperous one and under Mr. Senn's experienced supervision the greatest amount of product is obtained at the least possible expense, quality considered.
Mr. Senn married Mary Elizabeth Dixon, who is a daughter of Andrew Dixon, formerly of Massillon, Ohio, but for the past fifteen years a resident of Monroe Falls. They have four children: Hazel, who married and Kepler, residing at Monroe Falls; and Ada., Maude and Karl, residing at home. The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Monroe Falls, of which Mr. Senn has been an official member for a number of years. Politically he is in sympathy with the Republican party, but takes only a good citizen's interest in elections. He belongs to Pavonia Lodge, No. 301, Knights of Pythias.
LEWIS S. PALMER, one of Stow Township's leading citizens and large landowners, was born in' Green Township, Summit County, Ohio, October 29, 1857, and is a son of Josiah and Margaret (Stephens) Palmer.
Jacob Palmer, the grandfather, was a native of Connecticut. In 1833 he moved with his family to Virginia, where, with a brother, he purchased 500 acres of land. The untimely death of a son, about this time, disheartened Mr. Palmer, and he sold his interest in the Virginia property and removed to Maryland and from there to Stark County, Ohio. His son, Josiah Palmer, who became the father of Lewis S., was born in Connecticut, in 1824, and was twelve years of age when he came to Ohio. In 1853 he purchased a small farm in Green Township, but later removed to Springfield Township, where he carried on
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farming from 1869 until his death, in 1895, when he was aged seventy-one years. He was a Democrat in politics, and on numerous occasions his fellow-citizens elected him to office. Mr. Palmer was married to Margaret Stephens, who was a daughter of Jacob Stephens, of Jerseyshore, Pennsylvania, and to them were born eight children, namely : Albert, who died at the age of twenty-four years; William, who resides in Springfield Township ; Cecelia Jane, deceased, who was the wife of Charles McColgan, of Stow Township ; Catherine, deceased, who married David Brubaker, of Barberton, Ohio; Charles, who resides in Lake Township, Stark County; Lewis S.; Thomas who is a resident of Springfield Township; and Marcus, who is deceased. Mrs. Palmer died in 1884, at the age of fifty-nine years, in the faith of the German Reformed Church, in which her husband was a deacon.
Lewis S. Palmer was educated in the common schools of Green Township, and until he was twelve years of age lived on the home farm. He then accompanied the family to Springfield Township, and he assisted in cultivating the home farm until 1880, when he engaged in farming on his own account on a tract east of Monroe Falls, which he purchased in 1903. In addition to this farm, which consists of 107 acres, he owns a tract of thirty acres, which he bought in 1884, and the Singleton farm of 148 acres, in Streetsboro, which he secured in 1898. Two of these farms he rents, having fifty-two acres under cultivation on his own account. In 1874-5, when the Valley Railroad was under construction, Mr. Palmer worked as a foreman for E. A. McChesney. hi the spring of 1899 he purchased a portable sawmill, which he has operated throughout this section, sawing on an average of 500,000 feet annually, and since 1892 he has operated a threshing machine, giving three men employment. Mr. Palmer is a Democrat in politics, and although he is not inclined to have political aspirations, he has served his township as assesor. He belongs to the order of Eagles at Kent. Among his most cherished possessions is an old musket, which one of his paternal ancestors carried in the Revolutionary War.
Mr. Palmer was married to Almeda E. Swinehart, who is a daughter of Levi Swine-hart, a prominent citizen of Stow Township. Eight children have been born to this union, as follows: Nelson, Maude, Bertha, Blanche, Chauncey, Ira, Coy and Elmo. Chauncey died agea ten years.
BENJAMIN F. CLARK, deputy county recorder of Summit County and adjutant of Buckley Post, G. A. R., at Akron, has been a resident of this city since 1871, and for eighteen years was connected with the Beacon-Journal. Mr. Clark was born in Lifson, Columbiana County, Ohio, January 24, 1841, and is a son of Rev. George Callhoun and Susan Atchison (Lee) Clark.
The father of Mr. Clark was a minister in the Christian Church. His mother was a first cousin of General Robert E. Lee, and possessed much of the beauty and dignity of the ladies of that old Virginia family. As a minister subject to the commands of church councils, Rev. George Clark was obliged frequently to change his place of residence, and when his son was about three years of age, he was stationed in Trumbull County. As soon as Benjamin was old enough he was placed at school at Massillon, and was under the instruction of that great educator, Prof. T. W. Harvey, later State School commissioner, and under him was graduated in 1859. He then read medicine for two years with Dr. Metz, of Massillon, but when the Civil War became a certainty, he decided to put aside his personal ambitions and enter into the service of his country.
In August, 1861, Mr. Clark became a member of Company H, Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was mustered into service at Camp Tiffin, at Wooster, and after a season of drilling went to Cumberland Gap. The soldiers were put on skirmish duty for a time, the first fight in which the Sixteenth Regiment was engaged being at Tazewell, Tennessee. Great events followed and Mr. Clark, with his comrades were soon in the thickest
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of the Vicksburg movements. After passing safely through the siege of Vicksburg, he was severely wounded by a shell in the charge at Chickashaw Bayou, which sent him first to a hospital, later to his home as hopelessly injured and led to his discharge from the service. However, he was not through with military life, and as soon as he unexpectedly recuperated, he re-enlisted, entering Company B, McLaughlin's Cavalry, Sherman's Brigade, which was organized by John Sherman. This regiment took part in the Atlanta campaign, followed General Stoneman into Georgia, and after the fall of Atlanta still pursued the enemy, but, in turn, were themselves pursued by the desperate Confederates. The latter overtook them and forced an entire surrender of all that part of the raiding Union Army, with the exception of the brigade to which Mr. Clark was attached. It refused to surrender and 'attempted to cut its way out from Sunshine Church, to liberty, but suffered capture. Mr. Clark was confined for seven months in the terrible prison pen at Andersonville, but survived its terrors, and at last was taken to Savannah, paroled, and then sent to a hospital at Annapolis, Marylad. Two weeks later he was sent to his home at Wooster, but, in his weakened state the change and excitement were too much for him and he suffered a relapse. For three weeks he lay unconscious, and he owes to the untiring, tender and loving care of his mother, his subsequent recovery, although the strain was too heavy upon her and in returning to life's activities through her devotion, he was obliged to part with her forever.
Mr. Clark remained at home only as long as absolutely necessary and then rejoined his regiment, which was then at Salisbury, North Caroline, receiving a perfect ovation from his admiring comrades. His regiment was merged with the Fifth Ohio Cavalry, and after his return he participated only in the battle of Goldsboro, North Carolina. The work of the regiment was mainly railway and provost duty until Mr. Clark was honorably discharged, in the fall of 1865, at Charlotteville, North Carolina.
After his final return to Wooster, Mr. Clark was employed as a printer at Wooster and other points until 1871, when he came to Akron and entered the Beacon-Journal office, where he worked at the case for eight years, and then took a position on the editorial force. It was while he was connected with newspaper work that he wrote his volume which he called the story of his life in Andersonville Prison. In 1891 he was elected county recorder of Summit County, and in 1894 he was re-elected, serving in the office for six years and eight months, following which he was interested in some Youngstown enterprises and became inspector for the Eastern Ohio Gas Company, of Akron, a position he resigned, when he became deputy recorder.
On May 1, 1866, Mr. Clark was married to Caroline Foltz, who is a daughter of Moses Foltz, of Wayne County, Ohio. They have three surviving children namely : Cora Alice, who is the wife of H. S. Brundon, of Cleveland; George K., a machinist, residing at Akron ; and William K., also of Akron.
Mr. Clark is a member of the First Christian Church. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow. For many years he has been very active in the Grand Army of the Republic.
CHARLES A. DIXON, M. D., physician and surgeon, with offices at No. 634 South Main Street, Akron, has been a resident of this city for the past thirteen years, and is an eminent representative of the Homeopathic School of Medicine, in Summit County. He was born in December, 1871, in Genesee County, New York.
Dr. Dixon was educated at Batavia, New York, graduating from the High School and from Devoe College, and subsequently, in 1894, from the Cleveland Medical College, at Cleveland, Ohio. He located immediately at Akron, where he now enjoys a large and lucrative practice. He is president of the Summit County Homeopathic Clinical Society and member of the Northeastern Homeopathic Medical Society, the State Homeopathic Medical Society and the Summit County Medical Club. He is a close student and enthusiastic
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scientific investigator and his numerous papers are listened to with interest and profit by the members of the various professional organizations in which they are read. He is one of the directors of the Summit County Medical club. Dr. Dixon is a Thirty-second Degree Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commandery, at Akron, and to Lake Erie Consistory and Alkoran Shrine, at Cleveland, being an official in the lesser branches. He belongs also to the Masonic Club, an exclusive organization at Akron.
Z. F. CHAMBERLIN, who is serving in his second term as a member of the Board of Directors of the Summit. County Infirmary, was born in Hudson Township, Summit County, Ohio, August 1, 1840, and is a son of Horace and Ann (Post) Chamberlin.
Horace Chamberlin was one of the most prominent citizens of Summit County. He was born in Hudson Township, in 1818, and died on his way home from the Centennial Exposition, in 1876, at Cleveland. By profession he was a lawyer but he never practiced. His wife was a daughter of Zina Post, one of the most prominent pioneers of early days, in Hudson Township. The six children of Horace Chamberlin and wife were: F. A. Chamberlin, of Newburgh, Ohio, now living retired; E. A. Chamberlin, residing at Cuyahoga Falls; H. A. Chamberlin, residing in Twinsburg Township ; W. E., residing in Twinsburg Township; Delos, who died in infancy; and Z. F., subject of this sketch, who is the eldest of the family.
Z. F. Chamberlin was reared in his native township and was educated at Bissell Institute at Twinsburg, since which he has been extensively interested in farming, stockraising and dairying, operating 150 acres of land. He has always been more or less active in politics, and for six years was trustee of Northfield Township. He succeeded his father as a director in the Summit County Agricultural Society, serving nine years as the latter had done, and is succeeded in the office by his son, H. E.
Mr. Chamberlin married Sarah A. Paxson, who is a daughter of Heston C. Paxson, they have one child, Harmon E. The latter was educated in the district schools and la at Cleveland, and is a well informed youn man. He is a leading member of the ord of Maccabees in this section and belongs the Macedonian Village Council. He married Jennie Brower, who is a daughter o Henry Brower, and they have two children Reginald Brower and Marie Lenore.
The Chamberlins have always been rank with the progressive, intelligent, and substan tial people of Summit County. They ha owned lands and stock, and as they prosper in their own material affairs, have lent the influence to assist in movements to bene others.
B. F. HARBAUGH, one of Akron's representative business men, dealing in pianos and musical instruments, at No. 175 East Market Street, was born at New Pittsburg, Wayne County, Ohio, in 1854, and has been established in this city since 1902.
Mr. Harbaugh was educated in the schools of Wayne County, and early in life, in spite of his musical talents, had to work on a farm and also in a hardware store at Orrville, Ohio. In the meanwhile, as opportunity was afforded him, he cultivated his musical gifts and secured work as a teacher of vocal and instrumental music and as band instructor. Eventually he engaged in the sale of musical instruments, and handled these, especially pianos, at Orrville, for •twelve years prior to coming to Akron. Mr. Harbaugh handles four of the best makes, of pianos, including the A. B. Chase, the Packard, the Schiller and the Winter, making a specialty of the A. B. Chase and Winter Piano Players, and his stock includes everything relating to music.
Mr. Harbaugh was married February 26, 1879, to Sevilla Mowrer, and they have the following children: Ernest M., Who is associated in business with his father; Emily Alice, Otto C., who is a draughtsman with the Northern Ohio Traction and Light Company of Akron, and Ethel Thay and Edna Mav |