750 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY Austria both in 1859 and again in 1866, and is now a pensioner for his service. The mother died in Italy about 1895. They had a large household of children. Nine of the sons are now in the United States. One of them, James Galli, is manager of the Presbrey-Cuykendall Company, at Barre, Vermont, one of the largest concerns of its kind in the East for contracting in granite work and in the building of mausoleums. Some of the other sons are employed under James Galli at Barre, and there are two sisters living in that city, besides one at home in Italy. Four of the family are deceased, and altogether there was a large number of children who grew up in the Galli household back in Italy. Until he was twelve years of age Caesar A. Galli attended the local schools. He then was placed in the Brera Milano at Milan, Italy, and learned both the technic of the practical trade and the art of sculpture. His training was unusually thorough. While in the school he worked in clay modeling each day for two hours, then spent a similar time in designing, and then performed practical work with the chisel for two hours. In this way he .went along for seven years, and at the age of nineteen years had finished his apprenticeship as a sculptor. On coming to the United States and landing in New York City on May 2, 1904, he went at once to Barre, Vermont, where some of his older brothers had located ten years previously. He found work in that great center of the granite industry for two years, and at the age of twenty went to Boston and for three months was employed on the Cambridge Bridge. His next location as a journeyman was in New York City. and also in Newark, New Jersey, where he was employed in several different contracts of carving and sculpture work. From there be went to the Southwest, at Llano, Texas, and for about six months was engaged in stone carving for a church at Houston, Texas. Returning East. he worked on the Metropolitan Building at Twenty-third Street and Sixth Avenue in New York City as a carver, subsequently on the courthouse at Jersey City. New Jersey, and for six months was one of the carvers at Washington, District of Columbia, on the National Museum Building. Then followed a. period of travel over the New England states ending with his arrival at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1909. He spent about a year in Cleveland, most of the time engaged in carving for the Cuyahoga County Courthouse. On March 29, 1909, Mr. Galli married in Cleveland Miss Pearl Malnati. She was also born in Italy. After their marriage Mr. Galli returned to Barre, Vermont. and for a time was employed by the Presbrey-Cuykendall Company as a. traveling inspector for their mausoleums and other granite construction contracts. After six months his employment in this firm was terminated by the big strike in the granite quarries by the granite cutters. This interval he filled up by work on the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on the public square in Syracuse, New York, and then returned to Barre and took a well earned vacation. His next location was at Boston, where he took for himself a contract to perform part of the carving for the Municipal Building in New York City. The carving was all done in Boston, and the finished material shipped from that city to New York. Having finished this contract, Mr. Galli came from Boston direct to Elyria in 1912. and here joined his brother-in-law, Angelo Delia. who had also married a Miss Malnati, and together they bought the monument business of S. L. Sands. hi the past three years they have built up their business second to none of its kind in Lorain County and among the first in Northern Ohio. Mr. Galli is affiliated with Elyria Lodge No. 431 of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, is a member of the Granite Cutters International Union Association, of the Ohio Retail Monument Dealers Association, and the HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 751 National Retail Monument Dealers Association. He and his wife have one daughter, Alma C., who was born in Barre, Vermont, and is now five years of age. FRANCIS O. RICHEY. The only member of the Lorain County bar making a specialty of patent law, and the only one thoroughly qualified in this county for its practice is F. O. Richey, who since locating here has developed a large business mostly in corporation and patent work. For a number of years Mr. Richey lived in Washington, District of Columbia, and while there was connected with the patent office, an experience which has proved invaluable to him in his practice as a patent lawyer. A Virginian by birth, Francis O. Richey was born in Clarke County of that state August 15, 1878, a son of John S. and Ella M. (Locke) Richey, who were also natives of Virginia and since 1913 have lived in Elyria. John S. Richey as secretary of the Retail Merchants Association of Elyria has offices in the Chamber of Commerce. In earlier years he was a merchant at Fort Defiance, Virginia, and in the same line of business at St. Joseph, Missouri, until moving to Elyria in 1915. F. O. Richey is the oldest in a family of nine children, eight of whom are living, three of them in New York State, one in Boston, one in Tennessee, and one in Montana. He and his brother Herbert are the only ones living in Lorain County. Herbert has his home in the Y. M. C. A.. Building at Elyria. Mr. Richey was liberally educated, took his preparatory work in the Augusta Military Academy in Augusta County, Virginia, and then entered the University of Virginia, from. which he received a degree in electrical engineering. He is thus a man of thorough technical training, and in the branch of law to which he gives his chief attention that is almost as essential as his knowledge of the fundamental principles of jurisprudence. While living in the City of Washington Mr. Richey studied law in the National University, and his degree of LL. B. was given by that institution. For three years he was assistant examiner in the patent office at Washington, then in March, 1909, came to Elyria as special counsel for the Dean Electric Company, having charge of their law and patent work. Since 1914 Mr. Richey has been in practice as attorney and counselor at law, with special attention to patent and trade mark causes, and with offices in the Masonic Temple. Owing to the fact that his home after reaching majority was in the City of Washington until coming:, to Elyria, Mr. Richey cast his first vote in this city. This is due to the factthat all residents of the District of Columbia are without the right of franchise. Mr. Richey is affiliated with Elyria Lodge No. 456 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, is a member of the Y. M. C. A., the Elyria Country Club, the Elyria Chamber of Commerce, and his hard work at his profession is varied by his recreative pursuits of golf in the summer and hand ball in the winter. On May 21, 1914, he married Miss Helen D. Betteridge of Elyria, a sister of Dr. Edward Betteridge of that city. Mrs. Richey was born in Kentucky but received her education in the public schools at Elyria, being a graduate of the high school in 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Richey have a little daughter, Bettie Jane, born June 29, 1915. FRANK MARION STEVENS. Since establishing himself in active practice of the law at Elyria nineteen years ago, Mr. Stevens has enjoyed many of the most substantial successes of the able lawyer. has interested himself in politics with disinterested motives and has several times been honored with office and his professional, business and social connections 752 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY indicate that. he has won a most enviable position in the community. A native of Chicago, Frank M. Stevens was born February 27, 1873, a son of George W. and Mellissa (Fullington) Stevens. His parents are both living in Elyria, and have had their home there since 1887. His father, who was born in the vicinity of Concord, New Hampshire, spent his active career as a railroad man, and for many years was with the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern. While living in Chicago he was superintendent of the shops of the West End, later was stationed at Elkhart, Indiana, as master mechanic, and was superintendent of motive power at Cleveland until he retired from the service. His wife was born at Ypsilanti, Michigan. Their children, all living, are three boys and two girls, mentioned in order of age as follows : Mrs. T. S. Faxon, of Elyria ; Frank M. ; George, a resident of New York City ; H. C., of Chicago ; and Mrs. Robert Ely of Elyria. All were born in Elkhart, Indiana, except Frank Marion. Mr. Stevens was liberally educated, having graduated from the Elyria High School with the class of 1891, and subsequently was a student in Adelbert College, Western Reserve University and Ohio State University. He attended the academy of Western Reserve University one year, then entered Adelbert College, and during two years, 1893 to 1895, spent at home after leaving college, he read law in the office of Johnston & Leonard at Elyria. He then continued his studies in the University of Ohio, where he was graduated LL. B. in 1897. During 1898 he gained his initial experience as a lawyer at Elyria in the office of the late E. G. Johnson, who was in his time one of the most prominent members of the Lorain County bar. Since 1899 Mr. Stevens has conducted an independent practice, and has looked after a broad range of legal business, having been connected with some of the most important eases tried in the local courts during that time. Most of his public service has been within the line of his profession. In politics he. is an active republican, and served four years from 1899 to 1904 as city solicitor of Elyria, and for seven successive years was prosecuting attorney of Lorain County, from 1906 to 1912. Mr. Stevens is also a director of the National Bank of Elyria, a director of the Hecock Floral Company of Elyria, a director of the Lorain Building Company, of the Lorain County Electric Company. He is a member of all the Masonic bodies of Elyria and is also a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason. He is also affiliated with the Knights of the Maccabees at Elyria, the Woodmen of the World, and Elyria. Lodge No. 465, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His name is found on the membership rolls of such organizations as the Lorain County Bar Association, the Elyria Country Club, the Elyria Chamber of Commerce, and his fondness for outdoor life leads him into such recreations as baseball, golf and tennis. In a political way he rendered some valuable service as secretary of the Lorain County Republican Executive Committee during McKinley's two campaigns in 1896 and 1900, and from 1900 to 1904 was the clerk of the board of elections. He is a member of the Elyria Board of Education. On October 4, 1901, Mr. Stevens married Miss Helen M. Moriarty, daughter of Mrs. Ellen Moriarty of Elyria. She was born and educated at Elyria. and is the mother of two children : Frank E.. born at Elyria, March 27. 1904 ; and Richard F., born at Elyria, November 3, 1907. DR. H. LYNN KNAPP, D. O. At Elyria one of the physicians who can claim a patronage of exceptional numerical strength and value is Doctor Knapp, osteopath, who during nearly ten years of residence in Lorain County has enjoyed a success and standing that are creditable not only to him personally but to his profession. It is largely through the able HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 753 and conscientious work of such men as Doctor Knapp that osteopathy, which originated only about twenty years ago, has won its place with the older schools of medicine. Doctor Knapp is one of the ablest exponents of this science in Northern Ohio. A New Yorker by birth, Doctor Knapp was born in North Collins, Erie County, twenty miles from the City of Buffalo, on July 19, 1883. His parents are Anthony Wayne, who was named for the famous Indian fighter, and Florence (Wood) Knapp. His father was born in Perrysburg, New York, and his mother at North Collins, and they were married and spent many years in the latter locality. They now reside retired at East Aurora, New York. Anthony W. Knapp spent twenty-six years as a teacher in country schools in New York State. He received his education from the public schools of Erie County. He is affiliated with the Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at North Collins. Of the three children in the family the first two are twin daughters, Clara and Carrie, the former now Mrs. H. H. Graham of Buffalo, New York, and the latter Mrs. A. Ross Gray, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. All the children were born at the home of their parents in North Collins in Erie County, and received their education in the public schools of Buffalo. Doctor Knapp is a graduate of Masten Park High School of Buffalo with the class of 1901, and having determined upon a professional career he soon afterwards entered the S. S. Still College of Osteopathy at Des Moines, Iowa, from which he received his degree D. O. in 1905. His practice began in Galveston, Texas, in 1905, but after nine months he returned north and since July, 1906, has had his home and office at Elyria. Doctor Knapp has his offices in the Masonic Temple, and is a member of the American Osteopathic Association. Fraternally he is identified with King Solomon Lodge No. 56, Free and Accepted Masons, with the Royal Arch Chapter, and takes an active interest in local affairs, largely through the Elyria Chamber of Commerce. His religious faith is that of the Unitarian Church. His principal recreation is found in automobiling, and he is a member of the Elyria Automobile Association. September 30, 1907, Doctor Knapp married Miss Esther M. Kamper, a woman of broad culture and a member of one of the fine old families of Buffalo, New York, her parents being W. R. and Lulu Lenice (Wilgus) Kamper, both of whom are now living at Buffalo, where her father is in the wholesale business. Mrs. Knapp was born in Buffalo, attended the public schools and is also a graduate of the Masten Park High School. Dr. and Mrs. Knapp have two children, Lenice Florence, who was born March 2, 1909, in Elyria and her names are in honor of her two grandmothers, and Lester Ben, born September 3, 1915. The residence of Doctor Knapp and family is at 206 Harvard Avenue. HARRY A. POUNDS, who has been a lawyer in this city for more than fifteen years, is a member of the firm of Pounds & Redington, with offices in the Elyria Block. This firm has a high reputation for the successful results of many important cases which have gone through their hands. Harry A. Pounds was born in Eaton Township of Lorain County, Ohio, July 25, 1874, a son of Thomas M. and Mary Frances (Zehring) Pounds. His father was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and was brought when a child to Wayne County, Ohio, where he married Miss Zehring, a native of that county. They were married about 1865, and in 1868 they settled in Eaton Township of Lorain County. Thomas Pounds spent most of his life as a farmer, but during his youth had served an apprenticeship to a tanner, and while living in Wayne County worked at his trade and also had a tannery at West Lebanon. He was connected with the tanning business after locating in Lorain County. He gave up farming in 1883 and moved to Elyria, where he lived retired, 754 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY renting his place in Eaton Township, until his death on February 28, 1887. His widow is still living in Elyria. There were two children, and the daughter Mildred Louise now lives with her mother and is a teacher in the Elyria public schools. Harry A. Pounds has lived at Elyria since he was nine years old. His education was continued in the public schools of that city, and he graduated from high school in 1891. After a brief attendance at the Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware he entered the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and remained until graduating LL. B. with the class of 1898. In October of the same year he was admitted by examination to the Ohio bar, and began active practice in Elyria on March 1, 1898. He soon came to be known as a young attorney of excellent habits and ability and the skill and energy which he put into the conduct of his cases soon brought him an important practice. He was engaged in individual practice until January, 1915. at which time the present partnership of Pounds & Redington was established. His associate is Harry M. Redington, a well known lawyer whose name is mentioned on other pages. Mr. Pounds has not given all his time to private practice. From 1908 to 1912, a period of four years, he served as city solicitor of Elyria. He was director of public safety for one year from January 1. 1912, to February 1, 1913. He is a republican in politics and a member of the Lorain County Bar Association. On June 4, 1908, Mr. Pounds married Miss Nellie M. Hastings. daughter of Lewis and Harriet (Gott) Hastings of Elyria. Both the Gott and Hastings families have been long established in LaGrange Township of Lorain County, and Mrs. Pounds was born and educated in the Village of LaGrange in that township. HARRY HINKSON. One of the old established men in the contracting and building business in Lorain County is Harry Hinkson, who has recently opened offices alone in the Masonic Temple at Elyria. and now looks after a large business as a contractor and builder and also in real estate and insurance. He came to Lorain County more than a quarter of a century ago, and has been almost continuously identified with contracting and has acquired a number of other interests. His early life was spent mainly in Buffalo, New York, though he was born in Dubuque, Iowa, September 15, 1867, a. son of Ransom and Hattie (Barnett) Hinkson. His father was born in Ottawa, Canada, and the mother was born in Wiltshire, England, and when about two years of age was brought to the United States by her parents who located in Dubuque, Iowa, in which city she was reared and married. In the spring of 1873 the family removed to Buffalo, New York, where she died in 1907, at the age of fifty-eight. Ransom Hinkson when a boy went with his parents to Iowa, and lived there until the removal to Buffalo already mentioned. Grandfather Hinkson owned and kept a tavern on the old overland route to California. It was a flourishing institution during the memorable days of '49 and following, when all the roads of the West were crowded with emigrants and gold seekers, and large numbers of them were entertained at the Hinkson Tavern. This house was the last of its type along that route to give way to a more modern hotel. The Hinksons were thus among the early settlers of Iowa, and Ransom Hinkson hauled the first poles for the first telegraph line built through that section of the state, not many years after the telegraph had become a practical means for the transmission of intelligence. By business he was a general contractor and since 1873 has lived in Buffalo, and beginning with the first administration of President Cleveland has continuously HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 755 served as cattle inspector at the Buffalo Stock Yards. He is now sixty-eight years of age. Of the five children in the family, two sons and three daughters, two died in infancy and the three now living are : Harry ; Ruby, Mrs. Glen Fargo of Buffalo ; and May, wife of Harold Martin of Cleveland, Ohio. All the children were born in Iowa. About five years of age when the family left Iowa and established their home in Buffalo, Harry Hinkson regularly attended the public schools of that city up to thirteen. Since that age he has been doing for himself, and his first employment was in a planing mill. He remained with that industry in Buffalo until 1889, and in that year came to Elyria to take charge, as foreman, of the sash and door department of the John Hart Planing Mill. A few years later ill health compelled him to give up the confining work of the mill, and for a year he was employed in farm labor in the country districts. Since returning to Elyria in 1895 he has been engaged in contracting and his business record now covers fully twenty years. A general opinion in that community is that Mr. Hinkson put the full force of his character and ability into every undertaking, and it was as a result of this characteristic that in a few years he had a larger business than he could individually attend to, and consequently in 1903 he organized the Hinkson-Halpin Company, contractors and builders. After retiring from this concern, he organized the corporation known as Hinkson-Buttenbender Company, general contractors, and dealers in real estate and insurance. He became president of the new organization, and after the Elyria Block in which the offices were located had burned the company moved its headquarters to the Masonic Temple. On March 1, 1915, the corporation was dissolved, and throughout its existence Mr. Hinkson had been president. As already stated he is now in business alone. In the course of his career at Elyria he has constructed a large number of the more substantial business buildings and residences, and has done an important work in developing unimproved real estate. He is also treasurer of the Park Amusement. Company of Elyria, is president of the Elyria Fence Supply Company, and a stockholder in several other enterprises. He is the owner of considerable real estate and his own home is on Lake Avenue in Elyria Township just outside the city limits. In politics he has been active as a democrat, though the subordinate position of that party in Lorain County has not permitted his able qualifications to represent the people in public office. He was the unsuccessful candidate of his party for sheriff in the fall of 1914. He is a member of the Elyria Chamber of Commerce, belongs to the Elyria Automobile Association, and takes a prominent part in fraternal orders. He is chairman of the trustees of the local branch of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and a member of its building committee, and is also affiliated with Elyria Lodge No. 465, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of the Maccabees, and in Masonry belongs to King Solomon Lodge No. 56, Free and Accepted Masons, Marshall Chapter No. 47, Royal Arch Masons, and Elyria Council No. 86, Royal and Select Masters. October 23, 1890, he married Miss Bertha M. Eckler of Carlisle, Lorain County, daughter of John' H. and Cornelia M. (Hart) Eckler, who were old settlers of Carlisle having come originally from Connecticut. Her father died on the homestead in Carlisle and her mother is now living in Elyria. Mrs. Hinkson was born and educated in Carlisle. Mr. and Mrs. Hinkson have a son, Rollin E., who was born at Elyria and following the work of the public schools finished his education in the Elyria Business College. 756 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY HUGH D. GREER, D. D. S. Of the many professional men who have their headquarters in the Masonic Temple at Elyria, Dr. Hugh D. Greer, dentist. is regarded as one of the ablest members of his profession and during his residence in Lorain County has made himself an influential factor in local affairs. Doctor Greer has a wide and varied experience in his profession, covering more than twenty years, and has seen a great deal of the country and of men and affairs generally. His birth occurred in Lexington, Missouri, April 4, 1864. His parents were Joseph R. and Tabitha (Dickinson) Greer. His father was born in Virginia. and his mother in Kentucky. When Doctor Greer was six years of age his father died and he Was only two years old when deprived of a mother's care. The parents were married in Meeklin, Jackson County, Missouri. Joseph R. Greer was descended from the old McGregor stock of Scotland, where his father was born. Grandfather Greer on coming from Scotland brought two other brothers and first settled in New York and then moved to Virginia, where his son Joseph was born. Tabitha Dickinson was a Kentucky girl from the Blue Grass State, but her mother and father were both natives of England. Joseph R. Greer and his wife are buried in a little country churchyard located four miles west of Meeklin and about twenty-eight miles east of Kansas City, Missouri. a place which their son Doctor Greer visits whenever he is in that vicinity. Doctor Greer has one sister, one brother and a half brother: Mrs. Charles H. Ayers of Independence, Missouri ; Thomas S., a physician and surgeon of Edgerton, Kansas ; and Charles L., a half brother. whose mother was Nannie (White) Greer and who died at the birth of this only child, who is now a resident of Kansas City, Missouri. Nannie White's father lived at Pleasant Hill, Missouri. She died in April, 1870. and Joseph R. Greer passed away November 30, 1870. All the children including. Doctor Hugh were reared in the home of an uncle and aunt, William Thomas and Elizabeth J. (Greer) Bell at Lexington, Missouri. In the spring of 1913 Doctor Greer visited these worthy people; for whom he has the strongest affection, for the first time in four years. but prior to that time had made it a practice to see them every year. Mr. Bell was an active farmer but has been retired for the past thirty years. Doctor Greer lived with Mr. and Mrs. Bell on their farm until the age of fifteen. His education came from the public schools of Lexington, Missouri, but when quite young he found work as weighmaster in the coal mines at Wellington, Missouri, for the Wellington Coal Company, and was with that firm about four years. His next position was in the wholesale grocery house of Beckham-Mercer & Company at Kansas City, beginning as stock boy and having a place in the bookkeeping department when he left. It was while in that business that he gained his real education and training for life except his equipment for his profession. On leaving the grocery house he went to Texas and was at first one place and then another for about a year, after which he returned to Independence, Missouri, spent one year in the retail coal business, and then entered the dental office of Parker & Monser, dentists, and after being with them two years received a preceptor's certificate, which in those clays entitled the holder to practice after registering the same with the county clerk. After ten months of practice Doctor Greer determined that he was insufficiently equipped for the profession, at least to pursue it independently, and accordingly gave up his office and went west to San Francisco. While he practiced dentistry there to some extent, his ill health interfered with any regular vocation and he put in his time chiefly in recuperating his strength. He lived on the Pacific Coast from the spring of 1888 to the fall of 1891, and after returning East his physician confided to him that he had sent him out to the coast to die, HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 757 but was pleasantly disappointed at the rapid recovery. On returning to Kansas City Doctor Greer entered the office of Dr. George S. Monser, dentist, who had in the meantime moved to that city from Independence. He remained with him in practice about a year, and then going to Wichita, Kansas, was for six months in the employ of Doctor Boyd, a dentist there. He then opened an office for himself in Wichita, but at the end of six months sold out, and his next home was in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where for about a year he was employed in the offices of the New York Dentists in that city. He then opened an office of his own in Allegheny, now a part of Greater Pittsburg. This was about 1894. While in practice at Allegheny he also attended the Pittsburg Dental College. and few members of the profession have studied harder and done more to acquire proficiency and expertness in this calling. In 1898 Doctor Greer'registered for practice in Ohio, and in May of that year located at Elyria. For nearly ten years he practiced with offices in the Wurst Block at 535 Broad Street, but sold out his practice in October, 1907, and for the following six years practiced in the metropolitan City of Cleveland, where his office was located just across from Higbee Company's big store on Euclid Avenue. On leaving Cleveland Doctor Greer returned to Elyria in June, 1913, and in the subsequent two years has acquired a large and profitable practice. In politics Doctor Greer is a democrat, and that is unfortunate for the community, since he is eminently qualified for public service, but Lorain County has long been unfavorable to democratic candidates however well qualified, and it is only seldom that the individual popularity of a candidate overcomes the normal party prejudice. Doctor Greer in the fall of 1914 was on the democratic ticket as nominee for county auditor, and at an earlier date in 1902 had been a candidate for councilman at large in Elyria. Fraternally Doctor Greer is affiliated with King Solomon Lodge No. 56, Free and Accepted Masons, at Elyria, with the Knights of the Maccabees at that city, and is well known both professionally and socially. His favorite recreation is mountain climbing, and whenever able to take a vacation he generally finds his way to the mountainous districts, usually in. the West. At Wichita, Kansas, November 25, 1892, Doctor Greer married Miss Ida M. Crawmer, daughter of James P. and Elizabeth Crawmer of Wichita. Mrs. Greer was born in Iowa, and was educated in the public schools of her native village and at Randell in that state, graduated from the high school at Superior, Nebraska, and subsequently finished a course in the Kansas State Normal School. Dr. and Mrs. Greer have a happy family of six children, five sons and one daughter: Arthur G. is now an engineer and is on one of the Great Lakes boats; Reed C. is in the real estate and insurance business with offices in the Masonic Temple at Elyria ; Hugh D., Jr., is in high school; William Thomas Bell is also a high school student ; Elizabeth D., is in the grades; and Richard H. begins school life in 1915. The first three children were born in Pennsylvania and the others in Elyria. LORENZO DOW HAMLIN. At an early stage in his career, about thirty years ago, Lorenzo Dow Hamlin was known to a limited circle of people in Lorain County as a country school teacher. For some four or five years he was a faithful and rising employe in the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and the next stage of his career found him a Lorain County farmer. From this business he turned his attention to the law, and now for more than ten years has been one of the able and successful attorneys at Elyria. Born at Ridgeville Corners, Henry County, Ohio, August 21, 1867, 758 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY Mr. Hamlin comes of one of the oldest American families, and his people have been identified with Ohio for several generations. Going back along the line of ancestry for a number of generations ve come to the record of James Hamlin, who emigrated from London, England. in 1639, to the Massachusetts Colony, and settled at Barnstable, Massachusetts. He and his descendants became connected by marriage and otherwise with nearly all the old New England families. The next in line is James, II, and following him comes James, Ill, and then James, IV. A son of the last James was Job Hamlin, whose life fell in the historic period that concluded with the separation and independence of the American colonies. Job Hamlin was a colonial volunteer in the French and Indian wars, was with General Wolfe at the taking of Quebec, and later became an officer in the War of the Revolution. Although an official member of the. church, a record is found of his being fined for profane swearing and doubtless he possessed the violent temper which has been always more or less an inalienable characteristic of the family. Continuing the lineage from Job the next is David Hamlin, whose son was David IL the last being the grandfather of Lorenzo Dow Hamlin of Elyrla. David Hamlin II, married Roxanna Crocker, and both were of the Purltan stock and the Crackers were likewise among the first settlers of New England. David and Roxanna came from Lee, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, and became early settlers at Dover, Cuyahoga. County, Ohio. At their home there Noah Crocker Hamlin, father of the Elyria lawyer. Was born December 14, 1832. He was a farmer, an earnest and consistent Christian and for sixty-five years a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and for more than sixty years class leader in that church. He is now living at the age of eighty-three on his farm two miles southeast of Elyria. Noah Crocker Hamlin married Lydia Lucinda Fauver on March 27. 1860. She was born April 8, 1840, in Eaton Township of Lorain County, a daughter of Walter and Alzina (Cornell) Fauver, who came to _Ohio from New York State many years ago. This brief account of the family shows that Lorenzo Dow Hamlin began life with the fortune of a good heritage and he grew up in a home of Christian ideals and with influences tending towards substantial character and good citizenship. During the winter of each year from 1873 to 1883 he attended the country district schools. In the latter year he spent one year in the Oberlin Academy, and then qualified and began teaching district schools in Lorain County. He alternately taught and attended school in Oberlin and Berea for the succeeding five years. Not being satisfied with the prospects arising from teaching. Mr. Hamlin in 1889 went to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in search of employment. and while there attended a technical school. He never graduated from any institution except. that of hard experience. Soon after going to Pittsburg he found employment with the Pennsylvania Railroad as common brakeman on the main line east. He possessed qualities which make for advancement in any calling. and after ten months was promoted and spent two years as a conductor and master of wrecking train and crew, and the company then sent him into the Union yards at Pittsburg as assistant yard dispatcher. Resigning from the railroad service in June, 1893, with a certificate testifying to his good service. he returned to Lorain County and took up the vocation of farmer in Carlisle Township. That was his work for seven years. In 1900 he began the study of law with Judge Lee Stroup in Elyria. who was at that time prosecutlng attorney of the county. Mr. Hamlin was admitted to the bar in 1903, and has been in active practice at Elyria since May, 1904, with offices now in the Turner Block. It should also be mentioned that. while a student of law between 1900 and 1902 he paid part of his expenses as a teacher in the Elyria Business College. HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 759 For a number of years Mr. Hamlin has been active in republican politics, and is a man of progressive inclinations, but believes that all reforms should be conducted within the ranks of the party rather than by the familiar practice of "bolting" or disruption. For three years he was a member of the Republican County Executive Committee. Though an active party worker Mr. Hamlin's scrupulous integrity and rigid adherence to the ideals of public service have not been entirely favorable to his political advancement. His first public office was as clerk of Carlisle Township to which he was elected in 1894 and in which he served six years. In 1902 Governor George K. Nash appointed him a member of the Ohio Investigating Canal Commission and he remained with that commission eighteen months and it is said that during that time he was the only man who had ever personally inspected or even seen the entire canal system of the state. In the fall of 1903 the same governor appointed him to fill a vacancy on the State Board of Public Works caused by the death of Hon. Charles Goddard. He was on that board until Hon. George Watkins who at the time of the last appointment was the republican nominee for the office, was elected and qualified. Mr. Hamlin spent most of his time in Columbus in the service. of the Canal Commission until the close of the 1904 session of the State Legislature. In 1904 he was a candidate before the Republican State Convention for nomination as a member of the State Board of Public Works, and in that convention openly contested the nomination against the "electrical mule" group of exploiters of state property. It was a bold and admirable stand to take in the interests of good service in the state, but as Mr. Hamlin says himself he was so badly licked that he has not "come to" yet politically. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic order at Elyria, and in church matters was formerly a Methodist, but is now an independent thinker so far as independent thought is possible in that sphere. On November 21, 1890, in Carlisle Township of Lorain County, Mr. Hamlin married Stella J. Brush, daughter of William and Facelia (Humphrey) Brush. She was descended on both sides from New England ancestry. On September 7, 1910, at Akron, Ohio, Mr. Hamlin married for his present wife Lillie 0. Bloom, who was then a widow, daughter of William and Margaret (Hahns) Gault. The Gaults are of Protestant Irish descent, while the Hahns are Pennsylvania Dutch. William Gault, her father, was a. volunteer in the Union army and served throughout the Civil. war. By his first marriage Mr. Hamlin has the following children : Facelia Brush Hamlin, born April 19, 1892, and now living in Chicago, Illinois; David Walter Hamlin, born August 28, 1895, and living in Lorain County ; Lydia Irene Hamlin, born September 24, 1897, and a student in Oberlin College ; and James Thurman Hamlin, born December 19, 1906, and now in the public schools. ISAAC EVERSON. Iii the course of a long life Isaac Everson has had many interesting associations with Lorain County. It was his birthplace, the home of his youth and mature manhood, and while for all these reasons he is loyal to the county he has also made himself useful by active work and real service as a farmer and in every position to which the destiny of life has assigned him. His birth occurred in Brighton Township of Lorain County, April 10, 1840. His parents were Isaac and Hannah (Hammond) Everson. His paternal grandfather was also named Isaac Everson and died in Massachusetts when the second Isaac was seven years of age. The maternal grandparents were Edmondson and Hannah Hammond, who were early settlers in Lorain County, where Mr. Hammond followed shoemaking at Brighton for many years. Isaac Everson, Sr., was born 760 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY in Massachusetts in 1777 and died in 1868. He came to Brighton Township in 1836, buying 120 acres and clearing it up, erecting a log house as his first habitation, and spending the rest of his days on a farm. His first wife was Mary Usher, and their children were Franklin, Samuel, Norman, Orville, Lafayette, George, Mary and Lucy, all of whom are now deceased. By his marriage to Miss Hammond there were three children : Harriet, who graduated from Oberlin College and who dled in 1879 as the wife of Howard Burrill, who was also a graduate of Oberlin College, and for a number of years was an editor in Iowa and is now living retired at Washington, in that state ; Elizabeth, who died in infancy; and Isaac. Isaac Everson, Sr..and wife were active members of the Baptist Church, and he was a Whig and a republican in politics. He developed a farm of 120 acres well improved, and nearly all of lt cleared by his own hands, and he put up some very substantial buildings. He was one of the prominent men of the township in his day. His wlfe was born in Chenango County, New York, twelve miles from Utlca, New York, in 1800, and died March 12, 1883. Isaac Everson, Jr., has made his own way in the world for many years. He started with a district school educatlon acquired in Brighton Township, and took up farming as his first vocation. On May 8, 1879, he married Mary Collen, a daughter of Ephraim and Mary (Drayton) Collen, both of whom were natives of England. They came to Chatham in Medina County,. Ohio, where her father followed farming until his death at the early age of thirty-nine. His widow survived to be eighty-two. Of the seven Collen children the three now living are Mrs. Everson, Elvira Whitney of Toledo and William T., a farmer at Norwalk, Ohio. Mrs.. Everson was born ln England. April 14, 1847. Mr. and Mrs. Everson have a fine family of eight children, and may properly take pride in their accomplishments and the worthy positions they occupy. The oldest. Arthur, born March 25. 1870, is a lineman with the Postal Telegraph Company ; Franklin James, born October 24, 1871, is located at Milan, Ohio, and has served as lineman and is now district manager for the telephone company ; Charles H. was born September 10, 1873, and is still at home; Walter H., born November 7, 1877, and is also at home; Norman B., born December 7, 1879. is in the real estate business at Cleveland, Ohio; Jessie May, born July 17. 1880. is the wife of Rev. Newton Moore, a Congregational minister at Muscatine, Iowa ; George H., born August 18, 1885, graduated from the Wellington High School and from Oberlin College, and from Columbia University of New York City, and was recently chosen among twenty-three applicants and is now secretary to the Criminal Court Committee in New York City, and has a very promising career of usefulness before him ; Howard H., the youngest, was born February 10, 1888, and is also a telephone man. Mr. and Mrs. Everson are members of the Congregational Church and quite active in church affairs, Mr. Everson serving as a member of the board of trustees. He is a republican in politics. Mr. Everson started out as a farmer on 105 acres of land. Many changes have resulted from his ownership and control, and his is undoubtedly one of the finest farms in Brighton Township. It is located close to Brighton Center and besides general farming he carries on some dairying, and keeps shorthorn cattle, Berkshire hogs, some good road horses, and a number of White Rock chickens. All of this prosperity he has won from a start of only $300 of capital. He also owns ninety acres of bis father's old homestead. HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 761 EARL J. STRICKLAND. Perhaps no branch of business is more indicative of an advanced state of civilization than that of insurance in its different forms of life, fire and accident, and it would be hard to find another that in recent years has had a more phenomenal growth. Financial protection against the results of death or accident has come to be looked on as a modern necessity among all classes of people who have claims to reasonable intelligence, and since this necessity has come to be generally recognized the insurance business has grown by leaps and bounds. One of the leading men engaged in this line of business in Lorain County, Ohio, is Earl J. Strickland, general agent for The Ohio National Life Insurance Company, of Cincinnati, Ohio, who has an office at 318 Elyria Block, Elyria, this county. Mr. Strickland was born in Jamestown Chautauqua County, New York, September 23, 1883, a son of Parker D. and Josephine (Moynihan) Strickland. The father, a native of Dayton, New York, was an upholsterer by trade and spent most of his life in Jamestown, where he died in 1903. His wife Josephine was born in Ireland, and was seventeen years old when she came to the United States, where she had brothers and sisters living, her parents remaining in their native land. She is still living, being a resident of Jamestown. She and her husband were the parents of nine children—four sons and five daughters—of whom the subject of this memoir is the eldest of the family and the only one now living in Ohio. Earl J. Strickland was educated in the public schools of Jamestown, New York and began industrial life as a clerk in the employ of the American Express Company at Jamestown, where he continued in that capacity for two years. He was then transferred to Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburg, and was agent of the company there for one year, being then, in August, 1907, transferred to Oberlin, Ohio. After acting as the. company's agent in Oberlin for five years he resigned from this position to enter the employ of The Ohio National Life Insurance Company of Cincinnati, as general agent for this territory, with headquarters at first in Oberlin. In 1913 the headquarters for the district were established in Elyria, with a commodious office in the Elyria Block. The company is an "old line" insurance company, organized under the laws of Ohio, and engaged in the sale of "nonparticipating insurance" at a low fixed guaranteed rate, which plan of insurance is rapidly coming to be considered as superior to that which provides for the participating in so-called "dividends," which are simply overcharges held in trust by the companies and returned, in whole or part, at the end of the year, or stated period of years, to the person holding the policy. The fifth annual statement of The Ohio National Life Insurance Company, issued December 31, 1914, shows a surplus to policyholders of $654,560.62, which is greater than that of all other Ohio companies combined, except the Union Central. That Mr. Strickland is a man of force, with a thorough grasp of the business in which he is engaged, may be gathered from the fact that his name appears as second in the list of the five leaders for paid up business for the first quarter of 1915. As a member of the builders' club of his company, he was elected secretary in January, 1916. He is an active and useful member of the Elyria Chamber of Commerce, while his fraternal affiliations are with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias, of Elyria. Mr. Strickland was married, July 19, 1906, to Miss Nellie E. Scott, of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, who was born in West Virginia, but reared and educated in Coraopolis where she attended business college. They are the parents of one son, Donald Scott, who was born in Oberlin, Ohio, November 13, 1908. 762 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY HORACE GREELEY REDINGTON (son of Ransom Nathaniel Redington and Melissa E. Tyler) was born on a farm in Amherst Township, Lorain County, Ohio, on July 10, 1858. His father was a direct descendant of John Redington, who came over from England in 1646 and settled at Topsfield, Massachusetts. His mother belonged to the Tyler family which settled in Massachusetts, and later moved to Connecticut and took part in the founding of the New Haven Colony. Ransom N. Redington was born at Fredonia, Chautauqua County, New York, in 1816. In 1819 his father, Harry Redington, moved his family from Fredonia to Amherst Township, Lorain County, Ohio, where he resided until his death on November 18, 1848. Melissa E. Tyler was born in Eaton Township, Lorain County, in 1822. Her father, David Miles Tyler, came to Lorain County from Connecticut prior to 1820. She was married to Ransom N. Reding- ton at Elyria, Ohio, on July 24, 1844. He died. at Amherst, Lorain County, in October, 1885. She died at Amherst. n 1905. Thus the Redingtons and Tylers have been identified with the history of America for over 250 years, and with that of Lorain County for nearly a century. Horace G. Redington attended the public schools in Amherst Township and Oberlin Village. was graduated from Oberlin Academy, and entered Oberlin College with the class of 1881. However, he left that institution in the early part of 1880 during his junior year, and entered Cornell University where he finished the school year. From the fall of 1880 until the spring of 1884 he read law under the supervlsion of Jacob F. Burkett, of Findlay, Ohio. He was admitted to the bar on June 4, 1884, an at once opened an office and began to practice his profession at Amherst, Ohio. On December 4, 1884, he married Miss Lucy Cornelia Moore, of Amherst, daughter of Dr. Abner C. Moore and Elizabeth Onstine. Doctor Moore came to Amherst in 1851, and actively practiced medicine there for over forty years. Her mother was a daughter of George Onstine. who, with his father, Frederick Onstine. settled in Amherst Township in 1819. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Redington : Harry Moore, born February 22, 1.886 ; Blanche Lucile, born August 4, 1888. and Horace Ray, born May 30, 1891: They continued to reside in Amherst Village until February 193.1, when they moved to Elyria, Ohio, where Mr. Redington continued to practice law. In 1885 he was elected mayor of Amherst, which office he held for four terms or eight years. He organized the Savings Deposit Bank of Amherst in 1891, and served as its president until 1905. He organized the Amherst Water Works Company, and is still its president. For several years he was president of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce. While in Amherst, he was financially interested in numerous other enterprises, and was recognized as one of the leading citizens there. He became affiliated with the Masonic, Odd Fellow, and other lodges at Amherst, as well as the Elks Lodge and the Masonic Chapter at Elyria. In 1911. he and Judge David J. Nye were elected as the two delegates from Lorain County to the Ohio Constitutional Convention, Mr. Redington being the high man in the field of ten candidates. On September 1, 1914. he was appointed judge of the Court of Common Pleas to serve until the election in November, 1914, Judge Stroup having resigned. At the November election in 1914, he was a candidate for election to serve until January 1, 1917, the end of Judge Stroup's term. He and his opponent. W. B. Thompson, each received 4.983 votes. The result being a tie, there was no election, and Judge Redington, by virtue of his appointment, will hold the office until January 1, 1917. From June 4, 1884, to September 1, 1914, Judge Redington was almost continuously engaged in the practice of law, and was recognized as one of the able lawyers of Lorain County. His broad experience and HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 763 success as a lawyer, his wide experience as a man of affairs, coupled with the highest integrity, made it only natural that he should be a successful judge. His judicial service has been notable. Politically, Judge Redington is a democrat, and has been chairman of the Lorain County Central Committee on several occasions, and has acted as a delegate to various democratic conventions. He belongs to the Elyria Chamber of Commerce, the Men's Club of the Congregational Church, and other civic and social organizations. Judge and Mrs. Redington are still residing in Elyria. The biography of Harry M. Redington is elsewhere contained in this publication. Blanche Lucile attended the public schools at Amherst, and Miss Mittleberger's School for Girls in Cleveland ; was graduated from Oberlin Academy, and took two years' work in Oberlin College. She was one of the most popular members of Elyria's younger social circles, and on April 21, 1915, was married to E. Carl Danner. They are now residing in Johnstown. Pa., where Mr. Danner is connected with the Cambria Steel Company. Horace Ray attended the public schools at Amherst, was graduated from Oberlin Academy, took his freshman year at Oberlin College, entered Brown University as a sophomore the next. fall, and was graduated from that institution in June, 1913. On October 30, 1915, he married Miss Bess Fell. They are residing in Elyria. He is connected with the National Tube Company of Lorain. ROY F. VANDEMARK is accounted one of the leading lawyers of Elyria of the younger generation and a citizen whose activities in civic life are rapidly bringing him to the forefront. He was born at Lodi, Medina County. Ohio, December 22, 1887, and is a son of B. J. and Mary (Burkholder) Vandemark. B. J. Vandemark was born in Spencer Township, Medina County, Ohio, and throughout his life has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, in which his industry and energy have gained him success. He was married in Harrisville Township, Medina County, to Mary Burkholder, who was born in Congress (or Canaan) Township, Wayne County, Ohio, and both still survive and reside on their farm in the vicinity of Lodi, although they are now retired from active labor. An active and influential republican, Mr. Vandemark has been a prominent figure in local politics, having been a trustee of Harrisville Township and held other township offices, and at this time being a commissioner of Medina County. Mr. and Mrs. Vandemark are the parents of five sons and one daughter, all living, as follows: A. W., a resident of Chippewa Lake, Ohio; C. V., H. A. and V. A., who all reside at Lodi; Effa, who is now Mrs. Charles Overs, of Ashland, Ohio; and Roy F., of this notice. All the children were born in Medina County, and all received their educational training in the public schools of Lodi. Roy F. Vandemark was graduated from the Lodi High School in the class of 1907, following which he entered the Western Reserve Law School. and was duly graduated in 1910, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In June of the same year he commenced practice at Elyria, in association with Henry W. Ingersoll, a connection which continued until October 1, 1915. since which time Mr. Vandemark has maintained an office in the Elyria Block and practices alone. Mr. Vandemark is a member of the Lorain County Bar Association and holds an established position in the confidence of his clients and the regard of his fellow-practitioners. A republican in politics, he is at the present time a candidate for the office of city solicitor. Mr. Vandemark belongs to the Elyria Chamber of Commerce, and his religious Vol. II-14 764 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY connection is with the First Congregational Church, in whlch he is a leading member of the Men's Club. He belongs also to King Solomn Lodge No. 56, of Elyria, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and Marshall Chapter and Elyria Council, also of this city, and is lecturing knight of the Elks Lodge at Elyria. That his tastes are intellectual and his habits of a very energetic character, his career up to the present time has shown. Before him unquestionably are many honorably years of participation in professional life. On March 31, 1914, Mr. Vandemark was married to Miss Zepha White, who was born in Harrisville Township, Medina County, Ohio, daughter of C. N. White. Like her husband she is a graduate of the Lodi High School, class of 1907. In the spring of that year her mother died, but her father still survives and resides on the old home place in Spencer Township, Medina County, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Vandemark there has been born one son : Robert W. ("Bob White"). WILLIAM CRISP. In the death of William Crisp, which occurred in November, 1910, Elyria lost one of its veteran business men, one who was honest and conscientious in all he did, and enjoyed a reputation for fair dealing second to none. Born in the Village of Mausley, Rugby, England. February 23, 1840, William Crisp was brought to this country in 1844 by his parents, who bought a farm in Avon, Lorain County. When only fourteen. years of age he entered the employ of John A. Topliff as an apprentice and learned the carriagemaker's trade. When twenty-two he was taken into partnership with his employer, and this relationship continued for seven or eight years. Then Mr. Crisp formed a partnership with William Henson which continued until his death. The firm of Crisp & Henson was the oldest partnership existing in Lorain County when it was broken by Mr. Crisp's death. They had been engaged in business in the same location on West Avenue for forty years. Besides his business career Mr. Crisp served two terms on the city council and was a member of the board of health at the time of his death. Mr. Crisp married Georgina Goodwin and they became the parents of four children, as follows: Edith, Lottie, Zada and John C. ROBERT HUGHES RICE. Junior member of the law firm of Stroup, Fauver & Rice, whose offices are in the Turner Building at Elyria, Robert Hughes Rice is a young man of natural capabilities and thorough training, and has already taken his position among the leading professional men and citizens of Elyria. Born at Riceville, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. December 14, 1886, he is a son of Elmer M. and Carrie C. Rice. The family moved from Riceville, Pennsylvania, to Elyria in 1897, and Elmer M. Rice is cashier of the Elyria Savings and Banking Company. Robert H. Rice enjoyed the advantages of a liberal education and made the best of his opportunities while in school and university. Graduating from the Elyria High School in 1904, he entered Oberlin College, where he was graduated A. B. in 1908, and in 1911 took his degree LL. B. from the Columbia University Law School at New York City. He was elected to membership in the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity, the scholarship honor fraternity, from Oberlin College in 1908. While in the Columbia university Law School he was one of the editors of the Columbia Law Review. In 1908 he represented Oberlin College in the intercollegiate debate, and enjoyed similar honors at Columbia University in 1909 and 1910. Prior to that, in 1907, he was president of the Northern Oratorical League. While his educational career was apparently uninterrupted in HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 765 its continuity, Mr. Rice paid a large share of his expenses, and entirely supported himself while in law school by tutoring, teaching and lecturing. During the summers of 1908, 1909 and 1910 he held a clerical position in the Elyria Savings & Banking Company. Immediately on his admission to the bar June 29, 1911, he began practice in the office of L. B. Fauver. He was a member of the firm of Fauver & Rice from 1912 to 1914, and has since been junior in Stroup, Fauver & Rice, one of the leading law firms of Northern Ohio. Mr. Rice was a member of the first charter commission of Elyria in 1913. While non-partisan as to local politics, he is a republican in national affairs, though in many ways he is completely independent. In Masonry he is affiliated with King Solomon Lodge No. 56, Free and Accepted Masons, and Marshall Chapter Royal Arch Masons. His church is the First Congregational. At Elyria on December 26, 1914, Mr. Rice married Harriet E. Garford, daughter of G. H. Garford of Elyria. MELVIN F. HARRISON. The rapid growth of the automobile industry has been responsible for the development of a new profession, the follower of which much necessarily possess qualifications and talents requisite in few other lines. Engaged in the automobile business at Elyria since 1908, Melvin F. Harrison, of the Harrison Motor Company, has become one of the best known figures in the automobile world of Ohio, being the fortunate possessor of just those attributes which make for success in this newest of vocations. Mr. Harrison was born at Dover, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, December 20, 1876, and is a son of John B. and Carrie H. (Witham) Harrison, both residents of that place today. The father is a real estate dealer and farmer, a native of the place, and has spent his entire life at Dover, where the mother was also born and where they were married. George Harrison, the grandfather of Melvin F. Harrison, came to Ohio from Connecticut, making the journey with an ox-team, and for many years conducted the old half-way house between Elyria and Cleveland. He is now deceased, and the maternal grandfather, a veteran of the Civil war, in which he fought as a Union soldier, A. B. Witham, survived until January, 1916. He was then ninety years old and a resident of Cleveland. John B. Harrison has held several minor offices of a civic and township nature, and is one of the community's influential and highly respected citizens. He and his wife have been the parents of three sons and one daughter: Melvin F.; Lua-Ella, who is now the wife of George A. Hogue, of Blue Cass Springs, Woodburn County, Indiana; Herman, who died at the age of six years, nine months, fifteen days; and Calvin L., a resident of Dover. All were born at Dover and there educated. After graduating from the Dover High School, Melvin F. Harrison attended Burke & Dyke's business college, at Cleveland, and began his business career by opening a stall in the new market house in that city, dealing in butter and eggs, an enterprise in which he was engaged for about a. year. At this time his father lost his health and was compelled to go to Northern Michigan, and the son disposed of his Cleveland business and returned to the home farm to take charge of its management for twelve months. His next move was to Cheboygan, Michigan, where with his father, he built a range of greenhouses, the first of any size to be erected in that state north of Bay City, and remained in business together for one and one-half years, under the style of Harrison & Son. The father then returned to the home farm and for three and one-half years longer Melvin F. Harrison carried on the business alone, but finally sold out to a cousin, George H. Harrison, and returned to Cleveland, from which city he subsequently removed to Greenwood, Indiana. 766 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY There, with his brother-in-law, George A. Hogue, he erected and installed a telephone exchange, known as the Home Telephone Company, with the idea of forcing its purchase, through competition, by the Bell Telephone Company. The older organization, however, did not come to terms, but Mr. Hogue, a practical man of business, organized a home company at Greenwood, to which the partners sold the line and equipment. Returning to Cleveland, Mr. Harrison again invaded the florist business, locating an establishment on Euclid Avenue, on the present site of the Hippodrome. There he conducted the M. F. Harrison Flower Shop, with a branch store in the lobby of the Holland Hotel, for two years, and sold out to the Ohio Floral Company, for which concern he became secretary and treasurer, positions in which he remained for one year. At that time he engaged in another venture with his brother-in-law, going to Lincoln, Illinois, where they erected an electric line from that point to Springfield for the McKinley Syndicate. With the completion of that enterprise, Mr. Harrison went to Chicago and became manager of the north side store of the Fleischman Floral Company, with which he was identified for three years. He then returned to the old home at Dover, but shortly thereafter, in October, 1908, came to Elyria, where he purchased a one-half interest in the business with which he is connected at this time, with Harry McKinley, the business being located on its present site. but under the name of the Auto Inn. About four months later Mr. Harrison bought his partner's interest and conducted the enterprise alone for two years, handling the Overland automobile, a car with which he has been associated since entering the business. In this connection it may be mentioned that Mr. Harrison sold the first Overland sold in Lorain County, being the first county agent, an agency which he has retained to the present time. In 1911 Mr. Harrison sold a half interest in the business to Mr. A. L. Jackson, a sketch of whose career appears elsewhere in this work. The partners were unable to decide whose name should appear first in the new firm style, so finally agreed to "flip a coin,— with the result that the name Jackson-Harrison Company was adopted, which existed until September 1, 1915, since which time Mr. Harrison has .continued the business alone. He has taken over the agency of the Ford and Mercer automobiles and commercial trucks, as well as the Hudson and a number of others as side lines. The large, up-to-date and finely-equipped offices and salesrooms are located at No. 625 Broad Street, and the business is now recognized as one of Elyria's leading enterprises. Mr. Harrison's only venture in politics was while a resident of Cheboygan. Michigan. He lived in a democratic ward and was put on the republican ticket to run against an old-time democrat for supervisor, his opponent never having been beaten in that ward. Mr. Harrison defeated him by three votes for the office, which he held for only one year. as he then left Cheboygan. Mr. Harrison is a life member of Elyria Lodge No. 465, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks: King Solomon Lodge No. 56, Free and Accepted Masons, and a member of the Elyria Chamber of Commerce and Elyria Lodge No. 431, Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is not only a capable salesman, but an enthusiastic motorist and expert driver, and belongs to the Elyria Automobile Club, being a member of its board of directors. As evidence of Mr. Harrison's skill as a driver may be cited his trip to the San Francisco Exposition in 1915. Starting from Elyria, he went to Blue Cass Springs, Indiana, then via the Lincoln Highway to Salt Lake City. Utah, from there on the Overland Trail via Ogden and north of Great Salt Lake into Reno, Nevada, then over the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Lake Tahoe, down to Sacramento, Fresno, Los Angeles and San Diego, on to Tijuana, Mexico, and back up the coast route to HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 767 Santa Barbara, and through Santa Cruz to San Francisco. This trip of 5,047 miles was accomplished without a puncture, the only mishap on the entire trip being a burned out magneto caused by fording a swollen creek. However thrilling experiences were not lacking, especially in the mountains, where on one occasion he avoided a serious accident only by driving his machine into a barrier of rocks on the edge of a deep gorge. He was accompanied on this trip by his wife and daughter. Mr. Harrison was married December 24, 1896, to Miss Marion B. Weed, of Cleveland, who was born and reared there, and educated in the public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison were married Christmas Eve, at North Olmsted, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. She is a daughter of Westel J. and Mary Ann (Moore) Weed, the former an old ship-builder of Cleveland, where he resided during the active period of his career. He was well known by every captain on the great lakes, and was superintendent of the two shipyards of Quayle & Sons. Mr. Weed, at the time of his retirement, went to North Olmsted, Ohio, but when his health began to fail moved back to Cleveland, where his death occurred, and where Mrs. Weed still resides at the old home. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison have had three children : two sons who died in infancy, and Miss Thelma Fay, who was born at Cheboygan, Michigan. The family home is in the exclusive Colonial Apartments. JOEL VINTON SAMPSELL, M. D. From the point of continuous service as a physician and surgeon Doctor Sampsell is now one of the oldest in Elyria. He came to this city a young man fresh from medical college nearly forty years ago, and so far as strength has permitted has accepted the almost innumerable opportunities which are offered to the able and unselfish physician for service to humanity. Among other professional distinctions Doctor Sampsell, whose offices are at 331 Second Street, is local medical examiner of Lorain County with the Industrial Commission of Ohio, and is also one of the pension examiners in this county. It would have been contrary to an almost established family custom if Doctor Sampsell had chosen any other line of work than the medical profession. His father and a number of his uncles and many other relatives have at different times been engaged in this profession, and on his mother's side there were also an unusual number of doctors. Dr. J. V. Sampsell was born in Ashland, Ohio, May 19, 1850, a son of Dr. J. B. F. and Catherine (Luther) Sampsell. The Sampsell family in Ohio is descended from an old Maryland German family of that name. The Sampsells settled in Columbiana County, Ohio, in the very early days. Dr. J. B. F. Sampsell had four brothers and eight cousins, all of whom were physicians of repute, while his wife's father was also a pioneer physician, and the latter had four cousins who were identified with the same profession, while one of his female cousins married a doctor. Dr. J. B. F. Sampsell was born in Columbiana County, and his wife in Ashland, Ohio. Her father, Dr. Joel Luther, was the first physician and surgeon to locate in Ashland, having moved to that pioneer locality from Jefferson County, New York. He brought with him five thousand dollars in gold, and though he died at the age of thirty-five he accumulated a considerable fortune after locating in Ashland. Dr. J. B. F. Sampsell was engaged in the practice of medicine at Ashland for a number of years until the outbreak of the Civil war, and then engaged in the hardware business. For a year or so, from 1871 to 1873, he practiced medicine at Elyria, and moving to Delaware, Ohio, resumed practice and continued it there until his death, which occurred in 1877. His wife died in Ashland in 1868. He had also served as mayor of Ashland 768 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY and took a prominent part in local politics. Dr. J. V. Sampsell has one sister, younger than himself, Mrs. Frank Semple of Ashland. Joel V. Sampsell received his early education in the public schools of Ashland, and for a time attended the noted old college founded by Alexander Campbell at Bethany, West Virginia. His medical studies were pursued in one of the oldest and best schools for medical training in America, the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia,, from which he was graduated M. D. with the class of 1877. He also took post-graduate work in the New York Polyclinic. Doctor Sampsell located for practice at Elyria in 1877, and in all the years subsequent to that date has continued as a general physician. He practiced here when Elyria was a comparatively small city, and had his share of pioneer experience as a doctor, attending his country calls over the roads that existed before the beginning of the good roads movement and long before such facilities were introduced as the telephone and the automobile. Doctor Sampsell is a member of the staff of the Elyria Memorial Hospital. In politics he is a democrat. His interest in keeping up the party organization has caused him a number of times to allow his name to go on the ticket as candidate for mayor, though without expectation of success, since no candidate on the democratic ticket in Elyria ever expects to be elected. Though Doctor Sampsell never did any campaign work in connection with such elections, he at one time came within nine votes of being made mayor, and a little campaigning on his part would doubtless have swung the tide in his favor. His opponent at that time was Doctor Reefy on the republican ticket. Doctor Sampsell is affiliated with King Solomon Lodge No. 56, Free and Accepted Masons. On May 17, 1879, he married Miss Nettie Nichols of Elyria, who died in August, 1895. His present wife, before her marriage, which occurred April 26, 1898 was Miss Mary Groscup of Ashland, Ohio. ERNEST PERRY CLEMENT, M. D. Among the men whose activities are devoted to the science of healing in Lorain County, none bring to bear upon their calling larger gifts of scholarship and resource than Dr. Ernest Perry Clement, of Elyria, a specialist in abdominal surgery, a field in which he has won more than local reputation. His entire professional career has been passed in Lorain County, at Grafton from 1898 until 1910 and since the latter year at Elyria, and his success in his vocation has been won in a locality not wanting in men of broad and thorough medical learning. Doctor Clement was born at Brunswick, Medina County, Ohio, December 22. 1874. and is a son of Charles R. and Sophia W. (Benjamin) Clement. His paternal grandparents, Edward Clement and wife, came to America from Devonshire, England, about the year 1832 and settled at Strongsville, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, where they were pioneer settlers and early farmers. The maternal grandparents of Doctor Clement came from New York State to Ohio about 1845, settling at Brunswick, Medina County. Charles R. Clement was born at Strongsville, Ohio, and as a young man moved to Medina County, where he was married and for many years carried on agricultural pursuits, although he is now living retired at Medina. As a young man he enlisted for service in the Union Army during the Civil war, but the regiment of which he was a member was never asked to go to the front. He has always been known as a. good and public-spirited citizen, taking a keen and helpful interest in the affairs of his community, and during his younger and more active years was the incumbent of a number of minor offices, such as township trustee, etc. Mrs. Clement, who was born at Brunswick, Medina County. Ohio, died in 1907. There are three sons and three daughters HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 769 in the famlly, namely : Mrs. Lampoh, of Cleveland, Ohio, the wife of Capt. J. H. Lampoh, a captain on the Great Lakes and at this time master of the Thomas A. Andrews; George B., who is engaged in dealing in real estate and allottment property at Cleveland; Frank A., a carpenter contractor of Medina, Ohio; Elma E., who is the wife of Charles Barry, of Medina, Ohio ; Dr. Ernest Perry, twin of Elma E. ; and Willis, who is a. painter contractor of Cleveland. All were born at Brunswick and received their early education there. After graduating from the Brunswick High School, Ernest Perry Clement spent three years at the Ohio Northern University, pursuing a literary department course, and then engaged in the study of medicine at Starling Medical College, which is now the medical department of the Ohio State University. He was graduated in that institution in 1898, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and in the same year entered practice at Grafton, Lorain County, that continuing to be the scene of his professional labors until August 1, 1910, when he came to Elyria. Here he has offices in the Elyria Block, on Broad Street. Skillful in diagnosis and successful in treatment of long standing cases, he is probably best known as a specialist in abdominal surgery, and the demand for his services in that. line has opened up a career of exceptional breadth and usefulness. He has continued to be a close and careful student, having taken post-graduate work at the Post-Graduate Medical School, New York City, and is a member of the surgical staff of the Elyria Memorial Hospital. He belongs to the Lorain County Medical Society, the Ohio State Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the Ohio State Clinical Association, an organization which includes in its membership the leading surgeons of the Buckeye State. Fraternally, the doctor is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias lodge at Grafton, and he holds membership also in the State Automobile Association, the Cleveland Automobile Club and the Elyria Chamber of Commerce. Doctor Clement was married to Miss Grace M. Humphrey, who was born, reared and educated at Elyria, daughter of J. O. and Elizabeth (Worthington) Humphrey, both of whom are now deceased, old settlers of Eaton Township, Lorain County. To Doctor and Mrs. Clement there has been born one daughter: Clara Mae, born at Grafton. HUBERT DAY. Successful merchandising finds many advantages in long established relations with the trading public. One of the oldest hardware houses in Lorain County is that conducted under the present firm name of Hubert Day & Sons, with a large store at 421 Broad Street, Elyria. This house has a reputation gained by many years of handling goods of recognized quality and with the individual guarantee of the firm behind every article sold. In earlier years the business was conducted by A. G. Carpenter, and was bought about twenty years ago by Hubert Day. Mr. Day is a man whose abilities have well fitted him for the service of a reliable merchant, and though his previous training had been that of a farmer he carried on the store without any interruption to its long established reputation, and in later years has taken into the firm his two sons, H. Kellogg and George M. Day. The firm now carries a. large stock of general hardware, tools, factory supplies, paints, stoves, house furnishings, sporting goods, victrolas and records and other special stock. and many of the most widely advertised and best known goods of standard manufacture have a place in their stare. Hubert Day is a native of Ohio, and was born at Sheffield August 11, 1844. He is descended from Robert Day of Hartford, Connecticut, who came to America in 1634. A more definite account of the early history of the Day family will be found on other pages in connection 770 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY with S. B. Day. Mr. Day's parents were John and Cornelia Ann (Sackett) Day. His father was born in Sheffield, Massachusetts. and his mother in New York State, and the former died in Sheffield of Lorain County in 1871 and the mother in 1881. They were substantial farming people, and Hubert Day grew up on the old homestead, with an education begun in the district schools and continued for several terms at Oberlin College. Until middle life his pursuits were those of agriculture and its related activities, but in 1896 he left the farm and came to Elyria, and in June of that year bought out the old established hardware house of A. G. Carpenter. For a number of years he conducted the business under his individual name, and when the two sons came in the title was changed to Hubert Day & Sons. In its endeavor to furnish the highest class of mercantile service the firm relies not only upon the best quality of goods but also upon those facilities which bring a store into prompt relation with its customers, and employ both automobiles and horses in their delivery service. Mr. Day is a republican, a member of the Elyria Chamber of Commerce, and has long been actively identified with the Congregational Church. He has served as deacon for the past thirty-five years. having held that office in the church at Sheffield, and is now deacon in the First Congregational Church at Elyria. On November 26, 1878, at Elyria Mr. Day married Annie Lou Chambers, daughter of Richard Chambers, who was born in Somersetshire, England, and came to this country in 1865. Mrs. Day was eleven years old when she came to the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Day in 1914, before the outbreak of the present European war, spent two months abroad, visiting among other places the scenes of her early childhood, and also traveled through Belgium and France, stopping at Parls and spending some time in Brussels and Antwerp, and from the former city visiting the Waterloo battlefield. Mr. and Mrs. Day's four children were all born in Sheffield, namely : Mildred Eleanor Day ; Hubert Kellogg Day, an active member of the firm, who married Ethel Hancock ; George Myron Day who married . Silver H. Geldmacher of Denmark, Iowa ; and Dorothy Anne Day. All the children graduated from the Elyria High School except Hubert, who left school in his junior year. The daughter Dorothy was graduated in June, 1913, from Oberlin College, where she specialized in kindergarten work. HENRY A. BECK. In the course of many years the business title "H. A. Beck, general contractor and builder and real estate". has come to signify a substantial service in that community. Mr. Beck's primary work has been as general contractor, and probably no man in Elyria has a better reputation nor a longer list of achievements in construction work. He became a carpenter during his youth and for the past fifteen years has been engaged in constant service as a general contractor. He is naturally proud of his work and aims to perform the highest type of building service. At the same time his service has taken on a broader scope, and he has done much to develop vacant real estate in and about Elyria. A great many people are familiar with the Beck addition of the City of Elyria, located on High Street with interurban car service. This is Mr. Beck's individual allotment, and originally comprised more than four acres of ground, but it has been completely built up and practically all the lots and homes are now sold. Mr. Beck has developed a great deal of property and sold it on the installment plan, and has another allotment in the Second Ward out Lake Avenue. A native of Medina, Ohio, Mr. Beck was born November 25. 1869, HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 771 a son of Fred and Elizabeth (Freidt) Beck. His father was born near Stuttgart, Germany, and came to the United States when seventeen years of age, first located near Philadelphia, and later moving to Stark County, Ohio, and from there to Wadsworth in Medina County. For a number of years he was a blacksmith, but subsequently retired to a farm and became identified with political affairs in Medina County, serving as county recorder and in other positions. Fred Beck was married in Pennsylvania, his wife having been born near Allentown in that state. It was on his father's farm in Guilford Township of Medina County that Henry A. Beck grew to manhood. He obtained his education in the common schools and at the age of eighteen started to learn the trade of carpenter. The trade came naturally to him, since from boyhood he was handy with tools, and with experience as a practical workman he has combined a good business judgment and the quality and reliability so essential to the performance of every contract in its uttermost detail. As a journeyman carpenter he worked in Cleveland, Akron and other cities, and in 1893 removed to Elyria. He did the general work of his trade for a number of years, but since 1901 has been in general contracting, and now maintains an office as general contractor in the Masonic Temple. Many of the substantial business houses and residences in Lorain County have been constructed by Mr. Beek, and a long list might be drawn up to indicate the local monument to his industry and skill. His work includes the construction of a number of school buildings in this county, and besides a large number of residences. at Elyria Mr. Beck also put up one of the factory plants in that city. In the Builders Exchange of Elyria Mr. Beck has served as trustee, and is a citizen who identifies himself actively with every public movement. He is also a member of the Elyria Chamber of Commerce and is affiliated with the Knights of the Maccabees and the Knights of Pythias, is a republican in politics and alderman of the Second Ward. and is a member of the Second Congregational Church. In Masonry his affiliations are with King Solomon Lodge No. 56, Free and Accepted Masons, and with Marshal Chapter No. 47, Royal Arch Masons. Mrs. Beck before her marriage was Pearl Kindy, daughter of Henry and Caroline Kindy. She was born in Medina County. The two children of their marriage are Nellie A. and Pauline A. Nellie is the wife of Walter C. Roe, who is an electrical contractor, with offices and display rooms for the handling of everything electrical in the Masonic Temple. REV. JAMES AUGUSTINE MCFADDEN. The most recently organized Catholic Church in Lorain County is the St. Agnes Church on Lake Avenue in Elyria. The laying of the cornerstone for the new edifice on July 25, 1915, was, to quote the words of a newspaper account, "the occasion of one of the largest demonstrations of the kind ever held in this city. It is estimated that at least five thousand people stood for over two hours and witnessed the ceremony." A feature of the celebration was the large parade which marched from St. Mary's Church to the scene of the cornerstone laying. Composing this procession were 100 members of the Knights of St. John, the Knights of Columbus, delegations from Catholic congregations all over Northern Ohio, and a number of visiting priests, the mayor, city and county officials and other citizens. The principal church official was Monsignor O'Reilly, who extended the congratulations of the bishop, to which response was made by the pastor of St. Agnes, Father McFadden, who told of the work he had before him, expressed gratitude for the splendid Christian fellowship that he had found both among Catholics and Protestants in Elyria, and asked for the co-operation of the public in carrying out the plans for a new church. The principal address of the day was delivered by Father Jen- 772 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY rings of the St. Agnes Church at Cleveland. At the conclusion of his address Father Jennings spoke as follows: "I have a word of praise, therefore, to give to your young pastor, who will come into this parish like a messenger of Israel, to cure the wounds of the afflicted and to bring God's message among men. I will say that the bishop has priests as good, but he has nobody better than your pastor. A word of commendation is due Father McFadden. He came to this city a stranger. By hard work and untiring zeal he has organized St. Agnes parish. He has shown remarkable executive ability, and has commanded the respect of all with whom he has come in contact. The future of St. Agnes church is in his hands, and there is no reason to believe that he will not make a good account of his stewardship." The young pastor of St. Agnes Church of Elyria, James Augustine McFadden. was born December 24, 1880, a son of Edward and Mary (Cavanaugh) McFadden. He obtained all his education in schools of Cleveland, attending the Holy Name Parochial School, St. Ignatius College, and St. Mary's Seminary. He was ordained a priest June 17, 1905, and his first appointment was as assistant to Rev. Gilbert P. Jennings, pastor of St. Agnes Church at Cleveland. The St. Agnes parish at Elyria was organized June 17, 1914, and in a year's time the young pastor had carried forward the responsibilities entrusted to him to the fortunate event chronicled above by which the beginning has been made on the building of a beautiful home for this parish. St. Agnes Church when completed will furnish a large audience room for worship and general church activities and with a school in connection. RINALDO ROLLINS STETSON. Now living retired at Elyria, Mr. R. R. Stetson is one of the old time printers and newspaper men, having begun his apprenticeship in a printer's office before the Civil war, and for many years managing the Oberlin News. A son of Thomas and Mary Little (Leigh) Stetson, he was born March 22. 1844. at Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. His birthplace was the Pearson-Leigh house near Old Town Hill. Newbury. and he was a member of the seventh generation to be born in that house. It was built by Capt. John Pearson in 1728 and three generations of the Pearson family and three generations of the Leighs have been born in the same place. Mr. Stetson's father, Thomas Stetson, was born at Lisbon, New London County, Connecticut, July 22, 1814, while his wife was born in Newbury. Essex County. November 24, 1814, and was in the sixth generation born in the Pearson-Leigh house already mentioned. Mr. Stetson has an interesting ancestry. and it is traced back through many generations to Cornet Robert Stetson, from whom, according to the best information obtainable, R. R. Stetson is a descendant in the eighth generation. Cornet Robert Stetson was horn in 1613. though whether in England or Scotland is a matter still to be settled by his descendants. The accepted tradition in the family to account for his removal to America is that he was led to make this move by the presence of a girl for whom he had formed an ardent affection in the Colony of Massachusetts. Anyhow, he came to this country in 1634, settling at Scituate. now called Norwell, Massachusetts. His first wife was named Hannah. She was still living in 1681 and was mother of his children. His second wife was Mary Bryant, who outlived him. The children of Cornet Robert of whom there is record were Joseph, Benjamin, Thomas, Samuel. John. Eunice, Lois, Robert and Timothy. The line of descent to the Elyria family of Stetsons was carried by the son Robert, afterwards known as Robert of Pembroke. He was born January 29, 1653, HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 773 at Scituate, Massachusetts, in the old family home, and was baptised February 26, 1653. By the will of his father, Cornet Stetson, this son received his father's old clothes, which were considered a sufficient inheritance in addition to what had already been given him. The date of the death of Cornet Robert Stetson was about February 1, 1703. As a result of a movement started some ten years ago (1905) there is now an incorporated organization known as "The Stetson Kindred of America," and some account of this organization may properly be introduced into this sketch. In the month of August, 1905, four members of the Stetson family met and agreed upon a plan to assemble as many as possible of the descendants of the original Cornet Robert Stetson, and the executive details were left in the hands of George W. Stetson of Medford, Massachusetts. On October 14th of that year there were gathered in the Town of Norwell eighty-four persons, all of them lineal descendants of the Cornet Robert. They stood about the spot where once was the house of their ancestor, went through the house then standing on the site, which had been in existence nearly 180 years, being built probably about 1725, and they quaffed water from the spring which had been used by Cornet Robert and which had never been known to fail from the year 1634 to the present time. The company also visited Stetson Hall, ate their basket lunch, and then decided to organize an association to be known as the Stetson Kindred of America. They elected temporary officers, who were instructed to incorporate under the laws of Massachusetts, and the officers chosen at that time, were : Hon. Francis Lynde Stetson of New York City, president; the late John B. Stetson, the famous hat maker of Philadelphia, vice president ; and George W. Stetson of Medford, secretary and treasurer. The matter of incorporation was entrusted to Robert Stetson Gorham. who is now vice president of the organization. This organization bought the old homestead at Norwell where Cornet Robert Stetson settled in 1634. Rinaldo Rollins Stetson gained his early education in the public schools of Massachusetts and New York. In choosing a career he followed his inclinations for the mysteries of the "art preservative of all arts," and began a regular apprenticeship as a printer in the Rochester Evening Express office at Rochester, New York, in September, 1859. For a number of years he followed his trade in Boston, Massachusetts, and Chicago. Illinois. but in 1876 came to Oberlin, Ohio, to take charge of the News in that city. Since 1906 Mr. Stetson has had his home in Elyria. In his political associations he has been always a republican since casting his first vote. In 1869 he was made a Mason in Valley Lodge No. 109 at Rochester. New York, and also took his degrees in Odd Fellowship in Rochester City Lodge No. 66. During 1892-95 he served as master of Oberlin Lodge No. 380, Free and Accepted Masons, and is now affiliated with King Solomon Lodge No. 56, Free and Accepted Masons, and with Marshall Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, at Elyria. He also belongs to the Masonic Club and the Volunteer Veteran Fire Association of Lorain County. His church home is the Methodist. At Rochester, New York. August 18. 1868. Mr. Stetson married Mary Elizabeth Read, daughter of E. H. and Lucinda Read. Her father was a native of Bennington, Vermont, and of old New England ancestry. Her mother. whose maiden name was Lucinda Felt, was born in Fabius, New York. the first Felt having lived at Charlestown, Massachusetts, in 1633. Mr. Stetson is the father of four children, three of whom are living, and has four grandsons and two granddaughters. The children are Mary Alice, wife of Rev. S. L. Bristor, born at Windridge, Penn- 774 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY sylvania ; Rinaldo Rollins, Jr., who died at Oberlin March 31, 1888; Frank Arthur, an Elyria lawyer, referred to in following paragraphs; and Florence Edith, of Elyria. FRANK ARTHUR STETSON. In the Lorain County bar Frank A. Stetson has been one of the steadiest and most industrious workers during the past thirteen years, and his position is now one of assured success and prominence. Mr. Stetson has the distinction of being the first lawyer in the history of Lorain County to hold the office of assistant prosecuting attorney, an office which was only recently created and which he has held since January 1, 1915. A native of Lorain County, Frank Arthur Stetson was born at Oberlin, April 27, 1877, a son of Rinaldo Rollins and Mary Elizabeth (Read) Stetson, who are now living at Elyria. Mr. Stetson's interesting family record will be found in the sketch of his father. His early years were spent at Oberlin, where he attended the public schools and the academy, and in 1900 graduated A. B. from Oberlin College. As a means of furthering his higher education he taught school for some time, part of the time in the. country and part of the time in graded and high schools, having been an instructor in the high school at Vermilion. In 1901-02 Mr. Stetson was a student in the Western Reserve University Law School at Cleveland, and defrayed sonic of his expenses in that institution by teaching in the city night schools. Admitted to the bar in 1903, he soon afterward formed a partnership with II. W. Ingersoll, under the firm name of Ingersoll & Stetson. This firm was in existence until 1910, since which time Mr. Stetson has practiced alone, and now gives most of his attention to his duties as assistant prosecuting attorney. For the past fourteen years Mr. Stetson has been active in local politics as a republican. He has served at different times as secretary and treasurer of the county executive committee and Was secretary and had' charge of the local campaign. during the fall of 1914 along with F. R. Fauver, who was chairman of the county central committee. Mr. Stetson is a member of the Elyria Chamber of Commerce. of the Lorain County Bar` Association, and has fraternal affiliations with King Solomon's Lodge, No. 56, Free and Accepted Masons, of which lodge he is worshipful master ; with Marshall Chapter, No. 47. Royal Arch Masons; Elyria Council, No. 86, Royal and Select Masons, and is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of 'Eagles, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Modern Woodmen of America. His church home is the Methodist Episcopal. On October 6, 1910; at Cleveland, he married Miss Ethel M. Bartlett, daughter of Willis P. and Nettie Bartlett. Her mother died May 19. 1915, in Cleveland, and her father is still living in that city. Mrs. Stetson's family ancestry is traced back to Colonial times. She is also a. graduate of Oberlin College. To their marriage have been born three children : Neva Claire, Carol Elizabeth and Frank Arthur. Jr. JOHN KAISER. It is not always easy to measure and appraise definitely the accomplishments of the individual in business or professional affairs. However, the case is comparatively simple in consideration of the building contractor, whose work stands out conspicuously and its value and importance are at once recognized. There is one company in Lorain County which during the past fifteen or twenty years has probably been identified with the construction and handling of more impor- HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 775 tant contracts in the building field than any other concern. This is the John Kaiser Building Company of Elyria, of which John Kaiser is president, and his brother L. P. Kaiser, is secretary and treasurer. In the sketch of the secretary of the company, L. P. Kaiser, will be found an enumeration of the more important structures and contracts which this company has handled and that list will serve to indicate the prominence of the Kaiser Brothers as business men in this county. The career of John Kaiser as a building contractor has been a product of long continued practical experience and efficient business management. He was born in Dover Township, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, April 2, 1862. His parents, both now deceased, were Antone and Catherine (Werch ) Kaiser, the former a native of Canada and the latter of Germany. The family established their home in Dover Town-ship of Cuyahoga County in 1872, and afterwards lived in Wood County, at the City of Dayton, and at Cleveland and Cincinnati. In -these various localities John Kaiser spent that period of life usually assigned to boyhood and youth, though he had entered upon the practical stage of man's activities before his youth was spent. At different places and under different contractors he learned thoroughly the trade of carpenter and builder, and is a man whose later business success is based upon the foundation of a thorough technical knowledge of the chief trade at the foundation of his business. For nearly ten years he was with John Rouser & Company of Dayton, three years of that time as foreman, and while there was a factor in the building of the Barney & Smith Car Works at Dayton, in the construction of several buildings of Springfield College, and of courthouses at Tiffin, Sidney and Columbus. For several years while living at. Cincinnati Mr. Kaiser paid particular attention to the intricate and difficult art of stair building. He engaged in contracting on his own account in Cincinnati in 1889. During the next eight or nine years he completed a large addition to the University of Ohio, put up a large block on Walnut Hills in Cincinnati, and a large number of other houses in that city and vicinity. Mr. Kaiser has been a resident of Elyria since April, 1898. The contracting business was first carried on under the name John Kaiser & Brother, but in 1905 the John Kaiser Company was organized and incorporated, and for the past ten years that company name has been one of familiar association in connection with most of the larger building contracts in the city and vicinity. At the present time the company is erecting the new St. Agnes Catholic Church at Elyria. The John Kaiser & Brother Co. has built two schoolhouses in Lorain, and these are buildings of which any firm of contractors might well be proud. They opened up what is known as Kaiser Court in Elyria. where they have built and improved by the most modern methods and where both the brothers own and reside in fine residences which they built. Mr. Kaiser is one of the most prominent members of the Elyria Builders Exchange and served as its president in 1908. He and his family are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church, and he belongs to the Knights of Columbus. On June 17, 1889, he was married to Miss Mary O'Connor of Sidney, Ohio. They have a happy family, for whom Mr. Kaiser has provided liberally, and the eight children are named as follows: Bessie, wife of Norman Terrill ; Margaret, wife of Frank Rockwood; Charles; Andrew, now deceased ; Mary ; Harry ; Ernestine; and George. LOUIS PHILIP KAISER. No man within the Clty of Elyria has contributed in greater degree to the making of his surroundings than has Louis Philip Kaiser, secretary and treasurer of The John Kaiser & Brother Company, general contractors and builders and real estate agents. Turn 776 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY where you will, large buildings and small, beautiful residences and modern homes, banks and industrial structures, places of worship and educational institutions, edifices for the housing of public utilities—these, and more which contribute to the architectural ensemble of a flourishing community, have been erected under the direction of Mr. Kaiser and the firm which he represents, and no greater tribute could be paid to his skill, business sagacity and reliability. Mr. Kaiser was born at Custar, Wood County, Ohio, August 8, 1875, and is a son of Antone and Catherine (Wersch) Kaiser. the former a native of Canada and the latter in Germany. They came to the United States about 1856, settling at Dover, Ohio, where for a few years the father was engaged in blacksmithing. They then noved to Wood County, Ohio, and settled at Custar, but soon moved back to Dover Township, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and subsequently lived for various periods in Wood County and at Cleveland, Ohio. When Louis P. Kaiser was about seven years of age the family returned to Dover, and there resided until about 1895 when the family came to Elyria, and here the parents both passed away. Antone Kaiser was a blacksmith by trade, a vocation which he followed during the greater part of his life, although he was also largely interested in farming. There were five sons and seven daughters in the family, of whom all lived to maturity except one child who died when about twelve years of age. The oldest child, Mrs. Mary Schuster, died in 1912 at her home at Custar, Wood County, Ohio, as the wife of Nick Schuster and the mother of twelve children; four of the Kaiser sons and three of the daughters reside at Elyria, these being John. who is president of The John Kaiser & Brother Company ; Louis Philip. of this review ; Antone; Frank J.; Mrs. C. R. Engles; Mrs. Clinton Wadsworth, and Mrs. Frank Squires. Louis Philip Kaiser was given his literary training in the public schools of Dover Township, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and in correspondence schools, but is largely self educated, having learned more iii the schools of hard work and experience than in any other kind. As a youth he learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed from his eighteenth year until he went into business an his own account in 1900. in company with his brother, John, in general contracting and real estate. The firm was known as John. Kaiser & Brother until January 8, 1906, when the company was incorporated, and since then has been known as The John Kaiser & Brother Company, with John Kaiser as president of the concern, and L. P., as secretary and treasurer. In addition to doing the major part of the best work accomplished at Elyria since the inception of the company, this concern has erected three large churches at Lorain and has handled many other outside contracts. Notable among the structures erected at Elyria may be mentioned the Elyria Memorial Hospital, the Nurses' Home, the Elyria Savings and Banking Company, the Young Men's Christian Association Building, Washington Terrace. the American Lace Manufacturing Company's plant and Saint Agnes' Catholic Church. For the last named, the contract figure was approximately $30,000, and work was commenced in May, 1915, Bishop Farrell•, of Cleveland, having authorized Father McFadden, the local priest, to proceed with the work. This is a brick edifice on Lake Avenue, 56x114 ft., with a seating capacity of 500 persons. The floor of the edifice is constructed of reinforced concrete, and at some future date it is planned to erect an addition to the building, in which the altar and sanctuary will be located, thus increasing the seating capacity by 100. The John Kaiser & Brother Company have evolved new methods for use in particular cases, and in the conduct of their business all the way through have demonstrated the possession of progressive ideas and HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 777 energetic spirit. In their own particular magazine, "Homes of Character," they state : "The one big thought—the building—which must continue to satisfy, delight, rest and relax, is the construction of the home itself—herein we specialize. We are not satisfied merely to assist you in securing a home. We wish to render you a still larger service in aiding you in the selection of the style of home which your taste and your family position may require. To this end we are presenting you with a year's subscription to our publication, Homes of Character Magazine. Each issue will contain a wide range of building designs, as in this number. They will be actual homes designed by the John Henry Newson Company, probably the best known firm of designers of home architecture in the country. If you have a special design construction in mind, we shall be glad to give you the benefit of our services, as the exclusive representatives of the John Henry Newson Company, having your home designed according to your own ideas or in combination with some of these plans, securing this work for you from 10% to 20% cheaper than if you were to secure the same high grade of service direct. It is to our advantage to have every home in which we are interested as well as yourselves, built of the very highest and most artistic style obtainable." In the foregoing there are incorporated ideas which distinctively evidence the progressive and energetic methods by which this concern is actuated and operated, as well as a conception of the dignity and importance of the business that has contributed so materially to its success. The concern, as a dealer in real estate, land and homes, sells its properties at popular prices and according to easy payments which make it possible for even the man most modestly situated financially to secure a home of his own, and at the office of the company are to be found approximately 200 different designs of homes, ranging from $2,500 to $15,000. In the building up of this large enterprise, Louis P. Kaiser has borne no small part. He is a well informed and broad-minded man, lending to the business a progressive spirit and to his community an extent of practical usefulness the extent of which is difficult to adequately estimate. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Elks and Eagles lodges of Elyria, and also holds membership in the Elyria Automobile Club and the Elyria Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Kaiser was married in March, 1912, to Miss Elsie M. Hauhn, who was born and educated at Vermilion, Ohio, and also attended the Elyria Business College, daughter of Mrs. Mary Hauhn, who still resides at Vermilion. One son has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kaiser : Robert Louis, born at Elyria, Ohio, April 2, 1914. CHARLES C. LORD. It is as a veteran newspaper man that Charles C. Lord is best known in Lorain County, though his other activities have also brought him those quiet distinctions associated with the popular and capable citizen. At the present time Mr. Lord is city editor of the Elyria Daily Chronicle. He has been in the newspaper business for a number of years, and is a printer by trade, having learned that business under the late George G. Washburn. Mr. Lord was born in Darlington, Wisconsin. and came to Elyria when a boy in 1870. Thus for forty-five years he has known Elyria in its changes and growth. Four years ago he became editor of the Chronicle. For some time he was in the fire insurance business, and in the way of public service he held the office of justice of the peace in Elyria Township many years. On June 10, 1885, at Elyria, he married Miss Alta Penfield. Their children, all graduates of the Elyria High School, are : Ralph Lord, now clerk in the United States district clerk's office in Cleveland ; Clara, who 778 - HISTORY OF LORA IN COUNTY owns a ladies' shoe store in Fremont ; and Walter C'. Lord, who is a member of the class of 1917 in the Elyria High School. HENRY MILLER is engaged in the real estate and insurance business at Elyria. Ohio. For many years he has been connected with the upbuilding of Lorain County and he has just reason to be proud of the fact that to his efforts can be traced many a substantial enterprise or advancement contributing greatly to the growth and prosperity of this section of the state. hi every sense of the word he is a representative citizen and a business man of marked capacity. A native of Lorain County, Henry Miller was born at Brownhelm Station. Ohio, May 28, 1865, and he is a son of Adodate and Regina (Smith ) Miller, both of whom are now deceased. The father was born in Mecklenburg Schwerin, Germany, and his parents passed their entire lives in the Fatherland. He was a substitute for Henry Lutz when men were being drafted for service in the Civil war, but that struggle was terminated before he was called. During the greater part of his active career he was a. stone quarryman but for a number of years he conducted a butcher and saloon business. Mrs. Miller was born at Brownhelm Station. Ohio. and her father, Henry Smith, was a native of Hessen, Germany. wbenee he immigrated to the United States in an early day. Henry Smith drove an ox team from Brownhelm Station to Cleveland to the first grist mill established in the latter city. En route he forded the Rocky River. and it took him three weeks to make the round trip. He built a log house in the vicinity of Brownhelm Station and subsequently erected a frameis still standing and which is now used as a store house on the old Smith homestead. It is roofed with hand split and shaved shingles and has been in continuous use for over forty-six years. This farm is owned by Mrs. Henry Brown, an aunt of the subject of this review. Mrs. Miller was summoned to the life eternal October 8, 1912, and Mr. Miller died in 1889 ; both are interred in the Brownhelm Station Cemetery. Concerning the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller the following brief data are here incorporated : Jacob lives at Amherst, Ohio; Henry is the subject of this sketch ; Lizzie is the wife of C. W. Sales, of Huron. Ohio : Mary is the wife of Edward Wittmer, of Vermillion, Ohio: Charles A. lives on the old Miller homestead near Brownhelm Station and is unmarried ; William is a resident of Amherst, Ohio ; Freda is the wife of Fred Strehle. of Brownhelm Station : and Peter is deceased. Peter, the last mentioned, was killed in front of the old home, at the age of twenty-one years, by accidentally falling off a train and striking on an iron bridge girder. He lived only three days. The Miller children were educated in the little frame schoolhouse just east of Brownhelm Station and two miles distant from their home. Henry Miller attended school until he had reached his eleventh year, at which tender age he began to work on a farm for Charles Cooley. Subsequently he worked for .Joshua Phelps for several years and then he pound-fished on the lake for a time. and November 29. 1886. he entered the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company as a brakeman. continuing as such until 1894, when he was promoted to the position of conductor on a freight and construction train. He served in the latter capacity until April 26, 1907, on which date, while standing On the running board of the tender, he was brushed off by accident and both legs were cut off below the knee. This accident happened at "West Park. a suburb of Cleveland, and of course put an end to his railroad career. Six months later Mr. Miller, plucky and energetic still, began to solicit fire. life and accident insurance on his stumps. He received HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 779 no help whatsoever from the railroad company. He has continued in this business to the present time and in addition now handles real estate and is agent for the Winkley Artificial Limb Company, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, the largest manufacturers of artificial limbs in the world. Needless to say Mr. Miller is equipped with a pair of the Winkley artificial limbs and is an ardent advocate of their patent adjustable double slip socket artificial leg, which is warranted not to chafe the stump. He has represented the above company for the past five years, during two of which he traveled for that concern. He has made a splendid success of business in recent years and owns a fine, big automobile which he drives as well as if he had never been crippled. In politics Mr. Miller is an ardent republican. He was elected infirmary director of Lorain County in the fall of 1909 and took up the reins of office, with two other directors, January 1, 1910. He served in the above capacity with the utmost satisfaction to his constituents for two years. This office is now under the supervision of the county commissioners and is no longer elective. In the fall of 1912 Mr. Miller ran for the office of county recorder but owing to political exigencies met with defeat      he polls. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Elyria and is still affiliated with the Brotherhood of Railway Conductors. March 18, 1889, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Miller to Miss Ella Buswell, a daughter of Otis and Thankful (Fisk) Buswell, old settlers in LaGrange, Ohio, where they lived on the same farm for nearly sixty years. Mr. and Mrs. Buswell are now deceased. Mrs. Miller was reared and educated in Lorain County. She and her husband have one daughter, Dorothy E., born in 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are popular with their fellow citizens at Elyria and command the high esteem of all with whom they come in contact. It is to the inherent force of character and commendable ambition and the unremitting diligence of Mr. Miller himself that he steadily advanced in the business world until he now occupies a leading place among the active and representative men of Elyria. JOSEPH BINEHOWER. For more than twenty-five years a resident of Wellington. Joseph Binehower though now in hls seventy-fifth year is still active, looking after. his business every day, and has had a most eventful and unusual experience. He is one of the surviving veterans of. that grand army that fought for the preservation of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war. He has met every difficulty, has solved every problem, with the same unflinching courage and fidelity which characterized his service as a soldier. Some idea of his career is reflected in a short paragraph which was published in 1915 under the title Fifty Years in Business. It reads as follows: "On July 10, 1865, Joseph Binehower took his first application for insurance, it being on the property of Jane S. Brown of Savannah, Ohio, and on Saturday, July 10, 1915, he celebrated his fiftieth anniversary in the business. He has had over 500 losses, all of which were settled without contesting a claim. This is certainly a great record. he is enjoying a good business at this time, and his many friends congratulate him upon his long and successful career as an insurance agent and wish him many more years in the business. He is still a live wire at the age of seventy-four, and represents some twenty-five companies." Joseph Binehower was born in Wayne County, Ohio, June 17, 1841, a son of John and Fannle (Ault) .Binehower, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. The paternal grandparents were John and Susan (Stober) Binehower, who moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio, where they spent the rest of their days. John. Binehower served as a teamster in the War of 1812. The maternal grandfather, Valentine Ault, who mar- 780 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY ried a Miss Lauer, was also a native of Pennsylvania and was an early settler in Wayne County, Ohio. John Binehower, father of Joseph, was born May 12, 1810, and died December 20, 1893. His first wife, mother of Joseph, died April 29, 1844. They were married in Wayne County, Ohio, and the father followed the trade of plasterer for some years and afterwards became a farmer. He died in Ashland County. By his first wife there were two children : Susan, now deceased, was the wife of Richard Palmer, and Joseph. For his second wife John Binehower married Sarah Klotz, and of the two children of that marriage one is now living, Mrs. Maria C. Karth of Ashland, Ohio. Mr. Binehower's parents were members of the Lutheran Church, and' his father was first a whig and later a republican. John Binehower by close application to business became quite well to do, but before his death lost nearly all his property. Mr. Joseph Binehower received his early education in the district schools of Ashland County, and had four months of attendance at an academy. He had begun his career as a practical farmer when the war broke out, and on September 4, 1861, he enlisted in Company B of the First Ohio Light Artillery. He served three years seven days. and was honorably discharged at Nashville, Tennessee, September 12, 1864. He was always on duty, and the record of important engagements in which he participated includes Wild Cat, Kentucky ; Perrysville, Kentucky ; Stone River, Tennessee; siege of Tullahoma ; Chickamauga ; Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, and he left the army while the Atlanta campaign was in progress. Following the war he returned to Ashland County, worked on a farm a time, also attended the academy already mentioned, and then in July, 1865, started the insurance business as already noted. He remained in Ashland County until 1866 and from there moved to West Salem, Ohio, where he remained two years, was then in Nova, Ohio, six years. and three years at Polk, Ohio, where, in connection with insurance, he conducted a stove and tin business altogether eleven years. On July 18, 1867, Mr. Binehower married Mary A. Marks. a (laughter of George and Sophia (Hartman) Marks, her father a native of Richland County and her mother of .Ashland County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Binehower became the parents of five children and four are now living : John M., who died April 9, 1905; Osea A., who married Morton A. Daugherty, is now a widow, employed as a clerk in a store at Wellington, has one child, Frances; Fannie M. married W. J. Slemmons. a dentist at Cleveland, and they have two children, Rhea Rutheda Fay and Joseph R.; Ada S., who is secretary to the John J. Rhodes Insurance Agency Company at Cleveland ; and Azalia Blanche, wife of F. A. Davies, a shoe merchant at Wellington. Mr. Binehower has always been prominent in Grand Army circles and filled the various offices in his post. He is also a Royal Arch Mason and he and his family are members of the Methodist. Episcopal Church. In politics he is a republican. For the past seventeen years Mr. Binehower has filled the office of justice of the peace, and has an unusual record in this office. He has disposed of 633 cases, and in all that time has had only six jury trials. During his residence at Polk in Ashland County, Ohio, he also filled the office of constable, deputy sheriff and town marshal. He was elected town marshal for the express purpose of putting a man out of the saloon business in the community. and he succeeded. While filling one of these offices just mentioned he also had the distinction of arresting for murder the last two criminals in Ohio who were hanged outside of penitentiary walls. Mr. Binehower has been a resident of Wellington since 1888. at which HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 781 time he established his office as an insurance man, and he has always enjoyed a large and profitable business in that line. His prosperity is the more creditable on account of the fact that he had nothing given to him at the outset of his career, and has accomplished a great deal by relying upon his own efforts and courageously facing every circumstance. ARHUR THOMAS GLEW, D. D. S. Though a comparative newcomer to F yria, Dr. Glew is an old resident of Ohio, spent many years in the successful practice of dentistry at Germantown, and is now fortunately located and enjoys many influential professional and social connections in his new home. A native of Canada and of English parentage, Arthur Thomas Glew was born at Toronto May 8, 1871, a son of Thomas and Marguerite (McBride) Glew. His, father was born in Yorkshire, England, and his mother in Toronto, Canada. Thomas Glew, who was brought by his parents to Canada when five years of age, grew up in that country, and became a school teacher, a profession which he followed practically all his active life, and for more than twenty-five years was engaged in his work in and around Toronto. He died in that city in May, 1903, and his widow is still living there. There were three children : Albert Edward died in Chicago in 1892 ; the second in age is Dr. mew of Elyria ; and Horace Greeley, who was given that name on account of his father's ardent admiration for the famous editor of the New York Tribune, is now a dentist at Warren, Ohio. Dr. A. T. Glew received his early education in the public schools of Toronto, prepared for his profession in the Philadelphia Dental College at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he graduated with the degree D. D. S. in 1896. He at once moved to Germantown, Ohio, and was soon recognized as one of the leading dentists in that section, and remained in practice for eighteen years. Mrs. Glew 's health suffered in the climate of the valley of Germantown, and on this account Dr. Glew in June, 1914, removed to Elyria, and has since met with excellent success in this locality. Fraternally Dr. Glew is affiliated with .Germantown Lodge No. 157, Free and Accepted Masons; with the Royal Arch Chapter of Milesburg, Ohio ; with the Modern Woodmen of America; and is a member of the Lorain County Dental Society and the Ohio State Dental Society. He also belongs to the Elyria Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife are both active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Elyria, and they have taken much interest in church affairs. On December 30, 1896, Dr. Glew married Miss Martha Elizabeth Lee of Toronto, Canada. She was born. in England, but when five years of age came to Toronto with her parents and lived in that city until her marriage. Her parents were Ephraim and Jane (Roberts) Lee. Her father was a dry goods merchant in Toronto and died in 1903, the same year of the death of Dr. Glew 's father. Her mother is still living in Toronto. Dr. and Mrs. Glew have two children : Lillian Marguerite, who was born in Toronto, and Mildred Ione, born in Germantown, Ohio. Lillian is a member of the class of 1.916 in the Elyria High School ; while Mildred is in the 1918 class. Dr. Glew 's offices are at 114 Middle Avenue. ALAN R. BRANSON. The business manager of the Elyria Chronicle, Alan R. Branson, while still a young man as age is measured in years, has had a broad and varied experience in business life, and during his career has at times filled offices of public trust. He is one of the live, energetic and progressive men of his adopted city, whose enthusiasm and industry have contributed to the growth and prestige of the paper with which he is connected. Mr. Branson was born at Wellington, Ohio, October 24, 1886, and is a son of Edwin C. and Carrie Louise Branson. 782 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY Edwin C. Branson was born at Altoona, Pennsylvania, and learned the carpenter 's trade at Defiance, Ohio, where he was married. Subsequently going to Wellington, he formed a partnership with G. H. Palmer and founded the Wellington Bending Works. This existed until the plant was merged into what is known as the Pioneer Pole & Shaft Co. After retiring from the firm he was elected county treasurer of Lorain County two terms of two years each ; later was appointed tax commissioner of Lorain County by Governor Cox, which expired January 1, 1916. Mr. Branson is president of the Chronicle Printing Company of Elyria, although he and Mrs. Branson make their home at Wellington. Alan R. Branson attended the public schools of his native place, and in 1904 was graduated from the Wellington High School, following which he took a course at Oberlin Business College, where he was graduated in 1905. He then went to Cheyenne, Wyoming, to enter upon his first business venture, the conduct of a hardware establishment. For several years thereafter he was engaged in playing professional baseball, at York, Pennsylvania ; Worcester, Massachusetts ; Ogden, Utah, and Tecumseh, Michigan. After this experience Mr. Branson returned to Wellington, where he became manager of the Wellington Cold Storage Company, a position which he held for four years and which he resigned to come to Elyria and take over the business management of the Elyria Chronicle. In his career he has shown the possession of versatile talents which have allowed him to succeed in several directions, his present position being no exception to the rule. Mr. Branson is a Master Mason. A republican in politics, he has taken a lively interest in party affairs, and has appeared in a favorable light in public matters, having served as clerk of the board of public affairs at Wellington from 1911 to 1914 and as clerk of the Wellington Township School Board during 1913 and 1914. Mr. Branson was married at Wellington, June 16, 1910, to Miss Alberta May Knowlton, who was left an orphan when not yet six years of age, and after her thirteenth birthday made her home with Dr. and Mrs. R. G. Holland, of Wellington, until her marriage. Two children have been horn to Mr. and Mrs. Branson : Edwin Alan, aged four years ; and Jack Holland, two years old. FREDERICK W. COLSON is one of the prominent members of that group of live and enterprising business men and industrial leaders who have built up and given prestige to Elyria as a manufacturing city. Born at Kent, Ohio. a son of W. B. Colson of Cleveland, and educated in the Cleveland public schools, Frederick W. Colson began his active business career about twenty-five years ago. He has the distinction of having been the first traveling man for the Garford Saddle Company and for a number of years he was closely associated with Mr. A. L. Garford and had an important share in extending the sales of the original Garford saddles. It was in 1890 that he accepted the commission to go out on the road for this company, and he continued with the firm for about eight years. After that he was in business in Chicago, Buffalo and Cleveland, and in 1907 returned to Elyria, and has since been actively identified with the Worthington Company and with the Machine Parts Company. Mr. Colson is president of the Worthington Company, the other officers of which are : H. S. Follansbee, first vice president ; F. Colson, second vice president, and Thomas N. Cook, secretary ; and is vice president and treasurer of the Machine Parts Company, of which J. P. Brophy is president and H. W. Ingersoll is secretary. The Worthington Company manufactures a large line of wheeled vehicles under the trademark Fairy. including velocipedes and similar vehicles for children, and invalid wheel chairs and other wheel equipment and furniture for hospitals and sani- HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 783 tariums. The Machine Parts Company also manufactures wheel goods, screw machine products, and fine reed furniture. Mr. Colson is an honorary member of the Ohio National Guard, is a republican in politics, is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Elyria, is a member of the Cleveland Athletic Club, the Elyria and Cleveland Automobile clubs, the Elyria Country Club and the Elyria Chamber of Commerce. His church is the Presbyterian. At Cleveland on December 18, 1894, he married Miss Ivy Edmondson, daughter of George W. Edmondson of Norwalk, Ohio. SMITH W. MOORE. The representative of the Ohio State Life Insurance Company, of Columbus, Ohio, at Elyria, Smith W. Moore has been identified with this line of business only since 1912, but in the short period of three years has become known as one of the leading insurance men of this part of the state. Mr. Moore was born at Deersville, Harrison County, Ohio, March 1, 1878, and is a son of Samuel S. and Alice A. (Smith) Moore. The parents of Mr. Moore were married at Deersville. The father is a native of Harrison County and the mother of Canal Dover, Ohio. Samuel S. Moore was the first school principal at Deersville, and subsequently gave up the vocation of education for that of the law, having been admitted to the bar about 1878, after some study at Hopedale, Ohio. He practiced at New Phildelphia, Ohio, for about eight years, and then entered journalism as editor and owner of the New Philadelphia. Times, with which he was connected for eighteen years. Selling out at the end of that time he returned to his legal practice at New Philadelphia for two years, and in 1909 moved to Oberlin, Lorain County, Ohio, where he continued to be engaged in practice until 1913. In that year he was appointed one of the state examiners, in the Bureau of Accounting, a position which he still holds, his residence being at Oberlin, where Mrs. Moore also resides. There are four children in the family, all living: Smith W., the eldest, and the only son ; Evangeline, who is now the wife of Roy Gordon, of Mineral City, Ohio ; Isabel, who is the wife of Franklin D. Whitwell, of Knowlesville, New York ; and Josephine, who lives with her parents at Oberlin. Mrs. Gordon is a graduate of the New Philadelphia High School and Mrs. Whitwell of Oberlin Academy, while Josephine is attending Oberlin High School and will graduate with the class of 1916. Smith W. Moore attended the public schools of New Philadelphia, following which he took a two-year course under Prof. John P. Kuhn, who was one of the most able professors in Ohio. At the normal school he specialized in mathematics, and subsequently went to the New Philadelphia Business College, where he took a course in stenography. He was next with James B. Clow & Company, at Newcomerstown, Ohio, for a short time, and then became associated with his father, on the latter's paper at New Philadelphia. After being thus engaged for two years, he went to Evanston, Wyoming, as assistant bookkeeper and stenographer with the Beeman & Cashin Mercantile Company, but two years later resigned that position to enter the service of the Union Pacific Railway Company, where he remained as night ticket agent and freight clerk for one year. Returning to New Philadelphia, he became connected with the Pennsylvania lines, at Canal Dover, Ohio, as bill clerk for one year, and then went to the Southwest, locating at Tyler, Texas, where he entered the service of the Saint Louis & Southwestern Railroad. There he was employed in connection with joint account settlements in the auditor's office for four and one-half years, when he again returned to New Philadelphia, and when his parents went to Oberlin he accompanied them to that place and remained there until accepting a position with the Lake 784 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad at Elyria. After working there for two years as bill clerk, in 1912 he engaged in the life insurance business with the Ohio State Life Insurance Company, in which connection he has since specialized in health and accident insurance as general agent, his offices being located in the Elyria Block. Mr. Moore has made a decided success of his operations in this line, and has written some large business for his company. This is recognized as one of the strongest and safest institutions in the Middle West, having a cash capital (1915) of $661,902, and total assets of over $954,722.03. Its reputation for promptness and fidelity to agreements has given it high standing, a position which Mr. Moore shares among those with whom he has had transactions. Mr. Moore is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Oberlin. On February 27, 1898, Mr. Moore was married to Miss Bertha Jones, of Stillwater, Ohio, who was born and educated there and an accomplished musician. WILLIAM FORD LORD. A family that has been identified with Lorain County for fully seventy years is represented by William F. Lord, a well known and successful carpenter contractor at Elyria, who is himself a native of this county, and has done a good deal to extend the associations of the name with usefulness and honor in this section of the state. Born at Ridgeville, Lorain county, September 11, 1847, William Ford Lord is a son of Thomas and Maria (Ford) Lord. Both his parents were natives of England, and after their marriage came to the United States in the early '40s, landing in New York City, and shortly afterwards settling at the old Village of Olmsted in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. About a year later they moved to Ridgeville in Lorain County. Thomas Lord ran away from his home in England when only nine years of age, and shipped on an ocean going vessel, and spent many years in seafaring life. He sailed both on ocean vessels and in the marine of the Great Lakes, and part of his early career was spent in the United States Navy, from which he received an honorable discharge. All this occurred many years before the Civil war, and before he had married. Returning to England, he married there Miss Ford, and then crossed the ocean to establish his permanent home in the Middle West. Many years later when he was quite an old man, he returned to England on a visit. This was about 1875. Thomas Lord owned about fifty acres in Ridgeville and cleared it out from the wilderness, partly with the help of his son William F. Six years before his death Thomas Lord moved to another place two miles distant, in Ridgeville Township, and both farms were in his estate at the time of his death. He attended with his wife the services of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he was an active member. There were four sons and two daughters in the family ; all of them grew up, and three boys and one girl are still living. Sarah. the oldest, and the wife of Thomas Kelly of Olmsted, Cuyahoga County, is now deceased, as is also her husband. Minnie is the wife of Percy Saulsbury of Olmsted. The third in age is William F. of Elyria. Richard J. died at Olmsted. George lives at Olmsted. Bert H. is a resident of Elyria.. All these children were born on the old farm in Ridgeville and received their early education in that township. For many years William F. Lord was identified with the agricultural activities of Ridgeville Township. In 1895 he moved to Elyria and has since carried on a large business as a carpenter contractor, has constructed a number of houses in and about Elyria, and has some valuable holdings in local real estate. In politics he is an active republican. While a resident of Ridgeville he served as supervisor a number of times. Fraternally he is a member of King Solomon Lodge No. 56. Free and Accepted Masons. HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 785 September 11, 1879, he married Miss Marie Westley of Ridgeville township. Mrs. Lord was born in England, but was only nine years of age when her parents, George M. and Charlotte (Luck) Westley, came to this country. Her mother is now living at Butternut Ridge, in Lorain County, past ninety-one years of age, while her father died at Elyria in 1906. Three children comprise the household circle of Mr. and Mrs. Lord. Lottie M., Merwin H. and Frank G. were all born in Ridgeville, but finished their education in the Elyria public schools. Frank graduated from the high school with the class of 1908. The son, Merwin H., married Miss Marietta Cox of Elyria, and thus there are two granddaughters in the family, Marion and Vivian. CHARLES W. SMALLEY, the proprietor of a flourishing grocery and bakery at No. 579 Broad Street, Elyria, is a business man and citizen of substantial standing who has won his position of honor by years of labor and intelligently directed industry. Mr. Smalley was born April 10,. 1871. at Petrolia, Pennsylvania, one of the noted centers of oil production of the Keystone State and the home of the famous "Coal Oil Johnnie," who was a neighbor and close acquaintance of Mr. Smalley. He is a son of Lorenzo W. and Mary E. (Larkin) Smalley, the former a native of the vicinity of Elmira, New York, and the latter born near New York City. The parents were married in New York State and at an early day moved to Petrolia, Pennsylvania, where the father was engaged as an express owner and baggageman, but subsequently went to near Gilman, Illinois, in 1879. There Lorenzo W. Smalley followed farming for a period of twenty years, then moving to Onarga, Illinois, where he conducted a bakery and restaurant for one year, then retiring and living quietly until his death in April, 1900. He was buried at Onarga, following which Mrs. Smalley moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where her son was at that time located. She has since made her home with the subject of this sketch. During the Civil war Lorenzo W. Smalley made an effort to enlist in the Union Army, but was unable to pass the examination for physical soundness. He was a member of an old Yankee family, while Mrs. Smalley was of Scotch-Irish descent. There were four sons in their family, all of whom are living: William L., a bachelor, who was last heard from several years ago at Sioux City, Iowa; George W., of Cleveland, Ohio, engaged in the real estate and collecting business; F. E., Who is representative for the Frank Leslie Publishing Company, of New York. publishers of Judge and other magazines, having charge of their business in Texas, Oklahoma and a part of Mexico, with headquarters at Dallas, Texas ; and Charles W. The two older boys were educated in the public schools of Petrolia, Pennsylvania, while F. E. and Charles W. attended the district schools of Illinois, where the family resided at the time. Mr. Smalley's parents were not financially able to give him the education that either they or he would have desired, but he was an assiduous student, making the most of his opportunities, and when he left the district school, at the age of thirteen years, had secured a good training. At that time, to quote his own words, he "began to hustle." His first business venture on his own account was as the successor of his father in the bakery and restaurant at Onarga, an enterprise which he owned and conducted for four years, then selling out and moving, in 1896, to Cleveland, Ohio, where he secured a position as traveling representative for the great packing firm of Swift & Company. For eight years he was engaged in traveling in Cleveland and to points within fifty miles of that city, and believes that during this period he gained more real education and secured more practical knowledge than his schooling and experience had ever given him. On leaving 786 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY the employ of this concern, Mr. Smalley went to Ridgeville, Lorain County, Ohio, and there, in partnership with F. S. Bates, bought a general store and conducted it under the name of Bates & Smalley for three years, at the end of which time Mr. Smalley disposed of his interests. At this time, in 1907, Mr. Smalley came to Elyria, where he bought the business of D. L. Curtis, grocer and baker at No. 579 Broad Street, where he has since carried on an excellent business in fancy groceries and bakery goods. Mr. Smalley is one of the wide-awake business men of Elyria. and is a member of the Elyria Chamber of Commerce, the Elyria Grocers' and Butchers' Association, the United Commercial Travelers and the Elyria Automobile Club. Personally he is a large, jovial man, whose many sterling qualities attract friends to him wherever he goes. but, although he enjoys the companionship of his fellows, he is more of a home man, and belongs to no fraternal orders. While they are not members. Mr. and Mrs. Smalley attend the First Methodist Episcopal Church. On December 15, 1903, at Cleveland, Mr. Smalley was married to Miss Grace A. McGarrell of Westfield, New York, where she was born, reared and educated, daughter of the late Michael and Zilpha ( Bristol) McGarrell. Mr. McGarrell died at Westfield, in 1913. and the mother still resides there, where the family is an old and honored one. After nine and one-half years of wedded life, Mr. and Mrs. Smalley became the parents of a daughter, Marion Zilpha, who was born at the Elyria Memorial Hospital, June 22, 1913. The saddest event in Mr. Smalley 's life occurred April 26, 1915, when this little one was taken away, dying at the age of twenty-two months. LOUIS HADAWAY. The junior member of the firm of Hadaway Brothers, one of the rapidly growing business enterprises of Elyria. Louis Hadaway has been connected with this establishment since its inception and has had an active part in building up its business to its present large proportions. He is a native son of Elyria and with the exception of two years has passed his entire life here, his career being typical of the rewards to be attained through industry and integrity and the following out of an idea along well directed lines. Mr. Hadaway was born September 19. 1878, and is a son of Charles and Margaret (Mayers) Hadaway, the former born near London, England, and the latter in Ireland. Charles Hadaway was about nineteen years of age when he emigrated to the United States and settled at Elyria, and here continued to maintain his home during a period of more than twenty-eight years, his death occurring when he was forty-eight years of age. During seventeen years of this time he was employed on the stock farm of the late T. W. Laundon, located near Elyria. Mrs. Hadaway, who survives her husband, makes her home here. There were eight children in the family, as follows : one who died in infancy ; Mrs. Kate Bath, deceased, who left two sons, now grown, Alfred and Charles, residents of Cleveland ; George H., who is the senior member of the firm of Hadaway Brothers, and whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this work ; Eliza, who is the wife of Alfred Myers, of Cleveland ; Charles, of Elyria ; Louis ; Fred, of Elyria ; and Susan, who is the wife of Walter Johns, of Cleveland. All the children were born at Elyria and here educated in the public schools. After securing his educational training in the public schools, Louis Hadaway went to work with H. M. Andress, who was engaged in the livery business at Elyria. thus early gaining experience in a business in which he was later to win marked success. He remained with Mr. Andress for six years, and then turned his attention to the trade of machinist, in the plant of the National Tube Company, a concern with which he was HISTORY OF LORAIN. COUNTY - 787 connected for eight years. When he had thoroughly mastered his trade and demonstrated his ability and capacity, he was sent by that company to Cleveland, Ohio, as an inspector, but after two years returned to the mills at Elyria, where he was employed until engaging in business with his brother, George H. In 1902 they bought the livery business of George Bivins, who was located on the present site of the American Theatre, on Broad Street, and from the start the venture was a decidedly successful one. In 1905, finding larger and more up-to-date quarters necessary, they built what is the largest storage building and livery in Lorain County, located at No. 607 Broad Street. Here are kept seventy horses and ten automobiles and automobile trucks, used for hack and transfer service, heavy teaming, moving, etc., with a patronage that extends all over the county. The Hadaway Taxi Company maintains a line of taxicabs, and makes a specialty of furnishing these vehicles for weddings, funerals, touring parties, etc. Like his brother, Mr. Hadaway is a republican, but also like him his activities in civic life have been confined to an effort to secure good legislation and efficient officials. He is an enthusiastic automobilist and a popular member of the Elyria Automoblle Club, but finds his greatest recreation, perhaps, in trout fishing. Each summer he spends his vacation in the vicinity of Traverse City, Michigan, and rarely returns without some magnificent specimens to show for his skill in the piscatorial art. Mr. Hadaway was married October 11, 1899, to Miss Margaret M. Hutchins, who was born and educated at Elyria, where her family were old pioneers. Her parents were Almon and Phoebe (Madison) Hutchins, the former of whom is deceased, while the latter still makes her home at Elyria. Mr. and Mrs. Hadaway are the parents of two sons : Louis Sterling, born June 15, 1901; and Almon Russell, born September 9, 1907, both at Elyria. JAMES A. HEWITT. As a general contractor and builder Mr. Hewitt has filled an important niche in the business community of Elyria for more than ten years. His record of practical achievement as a builder is a long one, and is unmistakable evidence of his thoroughness and reliability and his reputation is now such that people entrust to him a task with the complete confidence that it will be fulfilled in both the letter and spirit of the contract and the specifications. Mr. Hewitt was formerly associated with other firms and partners, but now is in business alone, and his offices are in the Masonic Temple. A Canadian by birth and of English ancestry, James A. Hewitt was born in the Village of Blyth, Ontario, December 26, 1878, a son of James A. and Annie Elizabeth (Wismer) Hewitt, the former a native of London, England, and the latter of Jordan, Ontario. They were married in the Town of Oshawa, Ontario. James A. Hewitt, Sr., was about seventeen years of age when he came from England to Canada, and for many years has been a successful contractor and in addition to that business now conducts a planing mill and lumber yard at Beamsville, Ontario, where he and his wife have lived for the past ten years. He was formerly a resident of Grimsby, where he was honored with the offices of mayor and councilman several times. He and his wife were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. All their five children, two sons and three daughters, are living: Mrs. S. S. Russ of Beamsville, Ontario; James A., who is the only member of the family in the United States ; Mrs. T. J. Noble, living near London, Canada ; Ethel, at home ; and Roy, who is with his father at Beamsville. James A. Hewitt got into practical activities when little more than a boy, after finishing his education in the common and high schools of 788 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY Grimsby, Ontario. His first work was one year in a printing office, the Grimsby Independent at Grimsby, but he left that to learn the carpenter's trade. He had been doing carpenter work for two years when he met an accident. His right hand was deeply cut by a saw, inflicting a painful if not dangerous wound, and for nearly a year totally incapacitated him for further work at his trade. By careful treatment the wound was healed. and only a scar now exists as a memento of the accident. Though unable to work at his trade, he found a situation as conductor and station agent on the H. G. & B. Railway at Grimsby. This position was given him on account of his acquaintance with C. H. Green, who was at that time superintendent of the road. Mr. Green is now superintendent of motive power for all the radial lines and city lines running into Hamilton, Ontario. Being once more fit for work, Mr. Hewitt resumed his apprenticeship as a carpenter, and was one of his father's trusted and efficient workmen up to eleven years ago. Mr. Hewitt came to Elyria from Grimsby, Ontario, in 1904, and for the following two years was foreman with the general contracting firm of Hinkson & Halpin. He was next with F. C. Wolf, general contractor at Elyria, for a little more than a year. In 1907 he started out for himself as a general contractor, but in November of the following year formed a partnership, The Halpin & Hewitt Company, general contractors. After a year and a half Mr. Hewitt withdrew from the company. on April 1, 1909, and at that time opened his office as an individual contractor in the Masonic Temple. He has since looked after his business alone, and has been highly successful. His specialty in the building line is the construction of residences, and there are now more than a hundred houses in Elyria and vicinity which testify to his ability in this direction. and which represent investments of many thousands of dollars. Some of the notable private homes and other structures which have gone up under his superintendence and with the facilities which he supplies are the following: The A. B. Taylor residence on Washington Avenue ; Mrs. Clayton Strauss' home on Washington Avenue ; the residences on Columbus Street of A. L. Patrick and J. B. Thomas; F. A. Smyth's home on Washington Avenue, and he also built the Charles Flower Block and the Hecock Floral Company's building. While a young man living in Canada Mr. Hewitt took an active part in politics. but he has not been inclined or has found no time for such matters since locating in Elyria. Fraternally he is best known in Masonic circles, having affiliations with King Solomon Lodge No. 56, Free and Accepted Masons, with Marshall Chapter No. 47, Royal Arch Masons, of which he is past high priest, with Elyria Council No. 86, Royal and Select Masters, Elyria Commandery No. 60, Knights Templar, in which (1916) he is eminent commander, and with Al Koran Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Cleveland. He is also a director and second vice president of the Elyria Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Elyria Automobile Association. While not members he and his wife attend and give their support to the First Congregational Church. On November 20, 1901, at Beamsville, Ontario, Mr. Hewitt married Miss Fannie T. Gibson. Her parents Joseph G. and Margaret (McGill) Gibson, were both born in Scotland, and on coming to this country settled in Grimsby. Ontario, from there moved to Olmsted Falls in Cuyahoga County. Ohio, and died there. Mr. Gibson was foreman of railway bridge construction. It is interesting to note how the destiny of life brought Mr. and Mrs. Hewitt together. She was born in Grimsby, Ontario. in a house next door to where her future husband then lived, but so far as known neither one of them was conscious of the other's existence until years later. When she was one year old her parents took her to Olmsted Falls. Ohio, and she did not return to Canada until an attrac- HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 789 tive young lady of about eighteen, and while at Beamsville she and Mr. Hewitt first came to know each other. A. few years after their marriage they Caine to live in Elyria, which is not far from her girlhood home in the adjoining county in Ohio. Mrs. Hewitt was educated chiefly in the public schools of Olmsted Falls. To their marriage have been born two children : Margaret Frances, whose birthplace was Beamsville, Ontario, and George Phelps, who was born in Elyria. Their home is at 315 Park Avenue. Mr. Hewitt takes his principal recreation in automobiling. FRANK .ALLEN SMITH. A resident of Lorain County most of his life, Mr. Smith's name is associated with various phases of Elyria's commercial activities. For nearly twenty years he has been in the real estate and insurance business as his chief line of enterprise, has assisted in the promotion and has financial interests in different business concerns, and has identified himself with the organized movements for the general improvement of the community. There is hardly any event of importance in the civic and commercial history of Elyria during the past twenty years with which he has not been connected in some public spirited manner. He is now secretary and treasurer of The F. A. Smith & Brother Company, probably the leading concern in Lorain County in the handling of real estate and insurance and surety bonds. The corporation, which has been only recently formed to succeed the former partnership of P. A. Smith & Brother, has offices in the Elyria Block. He was born in Wellington, Lorain County, Ohio, April 25, 1868, a son of Milo R. and Abigail (Haskell) Smlth. His father died at Elyria August 30, 1913, and the mother is still living, her home being in Oberlin. Milo R. Smith was born at Amherst in Lorain County, and his wife is a native of Augusta, Maine, born on the Penobscot River. She came to Lorain County with her mother, locating about 1856 in Oberlin, where she and Milo Smith married. The Smiths came to Ohio from Northern New York, their original seat having been near the head of. the Hudson River. Milo Smith spent all his active years as a farmer in Huntington Township in Lorain County. There were six children, four sons and two daughters, all of whom reached maturity and all but one are now living. In order of age the children are : Will M., now president of The F. A. Smith & Brother Company ; Edward H., who died in 1884 at the age of twenty-one on the home place in Huntington Township ; Margaret, Mrs. L. S. Hazel of Atlanta, Georgia ; Frank A.; Mason D., a teacher in the public schools at Elyria; and Minerva, Mrs. Harry Crosier of Pittsfield, Ohio. All the children claim Lorain County as their birthplace, and as children attended the local public schools and all graduates of the Wellington High School. Will and Frank also attended business college in Terre Haute, while Mason took his higher instruction in the Ohio Northern University at Ada. Frank A. Smith graduated from the Wellington High School with the class of 1888, then entered business college at Terre Haute, and following his graduation became bookkeeper with J. R. Duncan & Company of that city. A year later he went to Williamsburg, Kentucky, and spent five years with the Kentucky Lumber Company as bookkeeper. Returning to his home county, he located in Elyria in 1895, and about a year later engaged in the insurance and real estate business. He shared an office with Clayton Chapman, but did business alone until 1912, when he was joined by his brother Will. Mr. Frank Smith moved from the Chapman office into the old Elyria Block, and was the first tenant in that structure, which subsequently was burned. With the construction of the new Elyria Block he was the first tenant to take possession, and that is still his business home. When his brother Will joined him in the busi- 790 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY ness the firm became known as F. A. Smith & Brother, but in May. 1915, the business was incorporated under the name The F. A. Smith & Brother Company, with Will Smith as president and Frank A. Smith as secretary and treasurer. This company handles surety bonds, fire insurance and city real estate, and is the leader in these lines in Elyria. The firm platted and laid out the Dewey Avenue allotment in Elyria in 1907, and all of that subdivision is practically sold out. Mr. Frank Smith is a stockholder in the Lorain County Abstract Company. In politics he is a republican, and in many ways has made his influence count for good in the improvement of the community. He served five years continuously as a member of the city council, and during the first two years represented the Third Ward and in the last three years was councilman at large. He was also city assessor in the Fourth Ward for three successive years. Mr. Smith is much interested in fraternal affairs, and is affiliated with King Solomon Lodge No. 56, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Elyria ; Oriental Commandery of the Knights Templar at Cleveland: Al Koran Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Cleveland : Lake Erie Consistory of the Thirty-second Degree at Cleveland: and is a mcmber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the Royal Arcanum. the Tribe of Ben Hur, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Order of the. Eastern Star and the National Union in the local bodies at Elyria. He is a working member of the Elyria Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Smith was married to Miss Nell E. Short of Wellington. November 4, 1891, and on the same day he also voted for Major McKinley for governor of Ohio. Mrs. Smith was born in Devonshire. England. and when about two years of age was brought to the United States by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Short. About six years later she lost her father, and her mother had passed away when Mrs. Smith was about six years of age. She was reared and educated principally in Berea. Ohio, and subsequently lived at Wellington until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have a daughter, Esther La Rue, aged twelve, and now attending the grade schools at Elyria. WILL M. SMITH. The active business career of Will M. Smith covers fully thirty years, and the first half of that period was spent in the lumber industry and for the past fifteen years he has been associated with his brother in the large real estate and insurance firm now known as The F. A. Smith & Brother Company, with offices in the Elyria Block in Elyria. A native of Lorain County, born at Huntington October 9. 1860, Will M. Smith is a son of the late Milo R. and Abigail (Haskell Smith. His mother is still living at Elyria. Further particulars concerning the family will be found in the sketch of Frank A. Smith. Reared on a farm, Will M. Smith attended the country schools, also the Wellington High School, and prepared for business by a course in the Terre Hautc Business College of Terre Haute, Indiana. He got into active business life as a sawmill operator. and spent fourteen years in that industry. two years in Huntington and twelve years at Centerton, near Chicago .Junction. in Huron County. Having sold out his interests at Centerton he moved to Elyria in September, 1901, and the following summer built his attractive home in that city, performing a large share of the work himself. In the fall of 1902 Mr. Smith entered into business relations with his brother Frank A. under the firm name of F. A. Smith & Brother. In May, 1915, his business was incorporated as The F. A. Smith & Brother Company, with Will Smith president and his brother secretary- HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 791 treasurer. This company handles surety bonds, fire insurance and city real estate and stands at the top as a reliable agency in these lines. The firm in 1907 platted and laid out the Dewey. Avenue allotment in Elyria, and at this writing practically the entire subdivision is sold out. Mr. Smith takes much interest in fraternal affairs. He is secretary of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen, and has held that office for the past ten years. For the past eight years he has been recording secretary of Elyria Lodge No. 103, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a member of King Solomon Lodge No. 56, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Elyria. He belongs to the Elyria Chamber of Commerce, and in politics a republican, was quite active in local affairs while living at Centerton, in Huron County, serving as a trustee of Norwich Township, as justice of the peace and as school director during his twelve years of residence there. His church is the Methodist Episcopal, and he was treasurer of the Sunday School a number of years up to January, 1915. His first wife was Miss Stella M. Rotson of Spencer, Medina County, Ohio. She died in Elyria in 1901, one month after the family removed to this city. Her only daughter is now Mrs. C. R. Summers of Oberlin. On August 24, 1904, Mr. Smith married Mrs. Nellie White of Chicago Junction. The two children of her former marriage, both now with Mr. and Mrs. Smith, are Dale and Ethel White. Dale White is a young man who has become widely known for his athletic accomplishments. He is fond of all outdoor sports, including basketball, football, and is an expert swimmer. In the spring of 1915 he assisted the local police as expert diver in recovering the body of a small boy who had been drowned, and also swam out and saved the life of a boy whose canoe had been overturned. He is a graduate of the Elyria High School with the class of 1913 and is a young man of great promise. HARVEY T. WINCKLES. Two of Elyria's most successful business men are members of the Winckles family, which was originally established in North Ridgeville of Lorain County. The parents of these two men are Thomas and Lucy (Hurst) Winckles, who are now living retired at Elyria. On other pages will be found information concerning them, and also the brother, Carey T. Harvey Winckles was born at the homestead in North Ridgeville June 3, 1871. When a boy he attended the district school, also the public schools of Elyria and made himself independently supporting before he was out of his teens. For a time he and his brother were engaged in farming together. He took great interest in live stock and horses, and at different times owned and handled a number of fine animals. In 1896 he became actively associated with the Farm Implement Company, of which he is now the head. This company originated as a joint enterprise of the Winckles brothers and four senior associates. These were in turn bought out, while Mr. Robbins retained his interest and remained with them until his death in 1811. Thus the Winckles brothers own most of the stock in the Farm Implement Company, but Harvey T. has all the responsibilities of its management. The Farm Implement Company is the largest concern of its kind in Lorain County. Besides having a large supply of general hardware, it handles farm machinery, buggies, harnesses, stoves, paints, oils and varnish, and also has a large trade in field and garden seeds. Harvey T. Winckles is a director of and largely interested in the Elyria Construction Company, of which his brother is president and manager. and is also one of the directors of the Savings Deposit Bank 792 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY and Trust Company of Elyria. He is a member of the Elyria Chamber of Commerce and of the First Congregational Church. On December 2, 1896, Mr. Winckles married Miss Lizzie Philpott, a sister of George Philpott, the well known shoe merchant of Elyria. Mrs. Winckles was born and educated in Elyria, is a graduate of the high school, and for about four years prior to her marriage was one of the popular teachers in the public schools of Elyria. J. HARRY HURST. The proper measure of importance and prosperity for a city is not found in its buildings and other material facilities so much as in its men. In proportion as a community has a group of live and enterprising individuals, it is performing its share of the world ,s service and is making progress in the right direction. In the nucleus of live and energetic citizens who are the core of Elyria,s prosperity, one of the first to deserve mention is J. Harry Hurst. Mr. Hurst was for many years in the employ of the National Tube Company, rising from an humble place in that industry to an executive office. A few years ago he resigned and has since directed the full current of his energies to the business life of Elyria. He is president of its Chamber of Commerce, is identified with a number of local concerns, and is active head and senior member of the firm of The Wilkins-Hurst Company, the largest and oldest furniture and undertaking house in Lorain County. At their location 382-386 Broad Street, three large floors are filled with an elaborate stock of furniture and rugs, while, at 248 Broad Street are located the undertaking parlors, containing a chapel, a morgue, and a show and storage rooms for the largest line of caskets in Lorain County. The company also operates an auto invalid car and has every facility for perfect service. J. Harry Hurst was born at Latrobe, Westmoreland County. Pennsylvania, October 9, 1859, a son of Joseph Lee and Nancy (Jack) Hurst. His father was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and is now living at McKeesport in that state at the age of seventy-eight. Since 1900 he has continuously held the office of county assessor of real estate. The mother is also still living at the age of seventy-nine. Joseph L. Hurst made a notable record as a soldier in the Civil war, serving as a private in Captain Henry L. Donnelly,s Company of the One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry. He enlisted August 8, 1862. for a term of nine months, and was discharged at the expiration of his term on May 24, 1863, at Harrisburg. He is now a popular member of Colonel Sam W. Black Post, No. 59, Grand Army of the Republic, at McKeesport. He and his wife are the parents of six sons and three daughters. but the daughters all died in infancy. The six sons are living, and in order of age are named J. Harry, Frank W.' Charles F., James Edward. J. Lee Jr., and William B. All except J. Harry live in ,McKeesport, are connected with the National Tube Company interests in various capacities, as foremen, furnace men, etc., and their homes are so located that all can be with their parents if required in fifteen minutes time. The children were born at different localities in Pennsylvania. but within a radius of 100 miles around Pittsburg. A short time after the war Joseph L. Hurst had engaged in the dry goods business at Latrobe, but reverses came and the financial stress fell heavily upon his family. J. Harry Hurst was at that time attending the public schools, but soon afterward found it necessary to get into some self-supporting activity. Most of his school attendance was at McKeesport, and it. has always been a matter of deep regret with him that he was unable to continue his education as far as he desired. An education he holds one of the greatest advantages man or woman can possess, and with this idea he has been very liberal in securing the best of schooling HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 793 for his own children. When fifteen years of age Mr. Hurst entered the employ of the National Tube Company, and continued with that industry for twenty-seven years. From a position hardly more than that of office boy, he went through many grades of responsibility, had charge of a number of departments, and after the company entered the trust he was transferred from McKeesport to the treasurer's office in the Frick Building at Pittsburg, where he remained five years, and was then transferred to South Lorain, Lorain County, as chief clerk of tube and pipe department. This was in March, 1905, and after holding that position two years he resigned, and has since been actively identified with the business community of Elyria. Mr. Hurst came to Elyria in November, 1907, and secured an interest in what is now the Wilkins-Hurst Company. At the location on Broad Street already named a furniture store has been in business continuously since 1837. Until Mr. Hurst came to Elyria the firm was Ensign & Wilkins. On the death of Mr. Ensign Mr. Hurst bought his interests. Mr. Ensign was at one time a sheriff of Lorain County. The business has since been incorporated as the Wilkins-Hurst Company. Mr. C. H. Wilkins still has an interest in the company, but since 1911 on account of ill health has been obliged to live in Redlands, California, where he looks after an insurance business. Mr. Hurst is now the senior partner and owns the bulk of the stock and is active head of this flourishing business. Known as a successful businessman, Mr. Hurst has been drawn into many of the activities which are making for a greater or better Elyria. In politics he is a republican, and in 1913 was appointed a member of the board of education to fill out the term of W. W. Austin, who had resigned, and at the fall election held in Elyria on November 4, 1915, he was elected a member of the board for a term of three years and January 1, 1916, was elected first vice president of that body. He is chairman of the building committee of the board of education. He is also a director of the Elyria Savings and Banking Company, a director and trustee of the Elyria Y. M. C. A., and a director of the Y. W. C. A., is president and a director of the Chamber of Commerce, a director of the Merchants Association of Elyria, treasurer of the Men's Club of the Episcopal Church, treasurer of the Men's Federation Club of Elyria, and a member of the Elyria Country Club. When business permits, he enjoys a quiet game of golf with his friends at the Country Club. He has been elected a life member of the Memorial Hospital Association of Elyria and is a member of the official board of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In Masonry he has taken the thirty-second degree of Scottish Rite, belongs to the Council and the Knight Templar Commandery at Elyria and to various other Masonic bodies in McKeesport, to Syria Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Pittsburg and to the Eastern Star, a Ladies' Auxiliary of the Masonic order. He is also a member of Harlan P. Chapman Post, Sons of Veterans, at Elyria, to the Elyria Tent of the Knights of the Maccabees, while his firm has membership in the Automobile Club. Mr. Hurst's first wife was Miss Hattie B. Powers of Elizabeth, Pennsylvania. She died three years after their marriage at McKeesport. Her one daughter, Lulu LaRue, is now the wife of Howard B. Somers of Elyria, now special agent there for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee, with offices in the Century Block. Mrs. Somers was born in McKeesport, was educated there in the high school, spent nearly two years in the Indiana State Normal at Indiana, Pennsylvania, but left school on account of ill health. The present Mrs. Hurst before her marriage was Miss Elizabeth S. Robb, who was born and reared in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and was educated at McKeesport, being a graduate of the high school of that city, 794 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY and lived there until her marriage. For a number of years she taught school at Braddock, five miles from McKeesport, going back and forth to her duties every day. Her parents were T. J. and Ellen (Veasey) Robb of Beaver County, where her father died about 1900. Her mother now lives at Elyria with a son. Two daughters and one son have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hurst. The daughters are Eleanor and Isabel, both of whom are graduates of the Elyria public schools, each has taught a year in Elyria Township, and both are now students in the Ohio Wesleyan University of Delaware, where Eleanor wlll graduate with the class of 1916. Both the daughters were born in McKeesport. The son is Orlando Hunter Hurst, who was born in McKeesport, April 28, 1903, and is now attending the grade schools at Elyria. WILLIAM STOLZENBURG’S record as a building contractor and in public affairs is one that gives him a special place in the history of the City of Elyria during the past thirty years, and reflects high credit upon his ability and public spirit. A brother of Henry Stolzenburg of Elyria and a son of Christian and Mary ( Ebel ) Stolzenburg, William Stolzenburg was born in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, September 11, 1862. He came to the United States in the early '80s, several years before his parents emigrated to this country. and has been a resident of Elyria more than thirty years. His education came from the public schools of Germany, and after his confirmation in the Lutheran Church he attended night school four times a week for three years, taking second premium for scholarship the first year, first premium the second, and also received honors the third year. Before coming to this country he had served an apprenticeship of three years as a carpenter. worked as a journeyman one year and came to this country soon after his marriage. In 1885 Mr. Stolzenburg began the business of general contracting. and in the past thirty years it is .doubtful if any building contractor in Lorain County has done a more extensive business. To his credit may be assigned the construction of more than 400 buildings in Elyrla. including business blocks and some of the finest residences in the city. At the same time he has been closely identified with the civic development of • the city during his residence. For eighteen years he was a member of the -volunteer hook and ladder company of the fire department, and is now a member of the Lorain County Volunteer Firemen's Association. He was appointed assistant chief of the fire department. but resigned that post in 1907 when elected councilman at large. a position he has filled with judgment and ability for four successive terms, and is regarded as one of the strongest men in the city council. He is a member of the Elyria Chamber of Commerce and the Elyria Builders, Exchange, and for many years has been one of the most influential members and officers of St. John's Lutheran Church. having served eighteen years as trustee, and is still in the office of head cashier of the church. On July 13. 1883, Mr. Stolzenburg married Miss Augusta Bobzien, who was also born in Mecklenburg-Schwerin. To their marriage were born six children, all but one of them still living. Albert M., who was horn before his parents left Germany, is in business at Elyria and married Tilla Stettin, and they have three children, Guy. Pearl and Ralph ; Christian C.. born in Elyria, as were the other children, is a machinist. and married Hattie Peters of Elyria. and has two children. Chester and Helen : William H., who was a soldier in the regular army of the United States for five years, married Lucy Pauley, and has one child. William Rev. Otto F.. who is now a minister of the Lutheran Church at Pomeroy, Ohio. married Nettie Vortman Anna is at home with her parents: and HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 795 Emma is deceased. All the children are married except Anna and all received their early education in the German Lutheran School at Elyria, while Rev. Otto attended the public schools, the college at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and prepared for the ministry at the Concordia Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. PAUL W. SAMPSELL, M. D. No history of the medical profession in Lorain County would be complete without reference to the personality and the conspicuous success of the late Dr. Paul W. Sampsell, who for many years was undoubtedly the strongest practitioner of the Eclectic School in Lorain County, and stood first and foremost among all representatives of the profession in this part of the state. He possessed all the qualifications for the successful physician, and in the end had hosts of admirers of the symmetry and wholesomeness of his character. Though spending the greater part of his long lifetime in Lorain County. Dr. Paul W. Sampsell was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, June 22, 1828. He died in Elyria May 8, 1888. He belonged to a fine old family and one that furnished a large number of physicians to the world. Educated in the common schools, he attended the Eclectic Medical College and also the Homeopathic School of Medicine at Cincinnati, from both of which institutions he graduated. His first place of practice was in Ashland. Ohio, and from there he moved to South Bend, Indiana. He enjoyed a high degree of popularity and standing among the leading citizens of that young manufacturing city, and continued there until failing health obliged him to seek a change of occupation and climate. A few years before gold had been discovered on the Pacific Coast, and among young men of venturesome spirit no undertaking was more highly in favor than a trip to California. Believing that such a journey would be of great benefit to him, he crossed the plains about the year 1852, the party going by wagon. Among other members of this little expedition were several of the famous Studebakers of South Bend, then young men and close friends of Doctor Sampsell. These young men not only conducted their own tour but looked after a number of wagons and families on the road to California. At the end of one year in California Doctor Sampsell was greatly encouraged by his renewed health, and then decided to return to his native state. In 1854 he made a permanent location in Elyria, and continued there in the Eclectic practice of medicine until his death more than thirty years later. After going to Elyria he was offered a chair in one of the colleges of Cincinnati, but declined a position where his ability and learning would have made him useful as an influence in the instruction of young men preparing for medicine. This was mainly due to his great preference to remain in active private practice. The opinion has frequently been expressed that as a physician Doctor Sampsell had no superior and had few peers during his active career. He enjoyed not only a large office practice, but as long as health and age permitted he had demands upon his time and energies requiring almost constant riding about the City of Elyria. Doctor Sampsell served as mayor of Elyria, and it is to his administration that the nucleus of the present beautifully shaded streets of Elyria is indebted, as the first shade trees were planted at that time. In 1855 Doctor Sampsell was married in Elyria to Miss Evaline Childs. To their marriage one son was born, Warren W., who died December 1. 1887, at the age of thirty-one. Mrs. Sampsell was a native of Elyria, and came of an early and highly respected family there, and she herself was a woman of high culture and popular esteem. She died at Elyria in 1904 at the age of sixty-seven. At the present time there is only one direct descendant of the late Doctor Sampsell. The son, Vol. II-16 796 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY Warren W., and his wife are both deceased, but they left a son, Paul W., a grandson of Dr. Paul W., and now a successful lawyer practicing in Los Angeles, California. He has had his home in California since his grandmother's death in 1904. GEORGE BENJAMIN RANSHAW. Few men possess the talent for the exercise of such extended activities for usefulness in the world as George B. Ranshaw, who is prominently known in Elyria through his work as a religious and social leader, and more recently as district agent for the Berkshire Life Insurance Company. A record of his life in detail makes interesting reading. Born in Covington, Kentucky, January 27, 1864. George Benjamin Ranshaw is a son of Henry and Emma (Warwood) Ranshaw. His father was born in London and his mother in Birmingham. England, coining to America when young, and were married at Cincinnati. Ohio, whence they removed to Covington, Kentucky. The mother came to the United States when about fourteen years of age. Her parents settled first at Pittsburgh, and later moved to Cincinnati. The Warwoods made the trip from England to the United States in a sailing vessel, which required about five weeks for the voyage. Cholera broke out among the passengers, and three of her brothers fell as victims of the disease and were buried at sea, and scores of the other passengers died before the end of the voyage. Henry Ranshaw came to America with an older member of the family, George Stacey, a half-brother. He was about twenty-two years of age at the time, and they both settled in Cincinnati. They also made the trip from England in a sailing vessel. Henry Ranshaw had learned the trade of machinist and shipwright in London, and after coming to the United States he and his half-brother established an iron railing works in Cincinnati. They subsequently developed this into a plant for steel fabrication. Henry Ranshaw was on terms of intimacy with General Rosecrans and General McClellan, both of whom were distinguished leaders of the Union army during the Civil war, and through the influence of General Rosecrans a large amount of Government business was turned to the plant at Cincinnati. The 'business for which .George Stacey furnished capital and which grew up largely under the supervision and as a result of the energy of Henry Ranshaw was known as the Stacey Manufacturing Company, and the firm is owned today by the children and grandchildren of Henry Ranshaw and George Stacey, both of whom are now deceased. While they had not yet completed their naturalization as American citizens at the time of the Civil war, they organized a regiment for the defense of Cincinnati, in which Henry Ranshaw became first lieutenant, and his brother a captain. It was known as Col. Amos Shinkle’s Regiment, and it may be noted in passing that Colonel Shinkle built the suspension bridge over the Ohio River at Cincinnati. Henry and Emma Ranshaw were the parents of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, all of whom grew up, and all are still living except two sons and one daughter. The third son and the fifth child, George B. Ranshaw obtained his early education in the public schools of Covington, and also attended the famous old Chickering Institute of Cincinnati, a school which at different times enrolled many students who afterwards became famous, among them William H. Taft. Mr. Ranshaw entered the law department of the Cincinnati University. while Jacob D. Cox was its dean, and was graduated LL. B. with the class of 1885. and the same year. by special examinations, was admitted to the bar of Kentucky. and for about four years practiced in the office of George R. Sage and Thornton M. Hinkle HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 797 at Cincinnati. Later he went out to the frontier in Dakota Territory, locating in Edmunds County, where he established himself in the town called Roscoe, that name having been given the new town in honor of the noted New York lawyer and politician, Roscoe Conkling. While in Dakota he purchased the newspaper Appeal, the official organ of the prohibition party, became sole proprietor, and through voice and pen did a notable work in educating the people of both North and South Dakota to establish prohibition as one of the cardinal principles of state policy. Mr. Ranshaw and Rev. James H. Kyle were co-workers in Dakota, and they subsequently moved to Aberdeen in South Dakota. Kyle outlined the platform of the populist party in South Dakota, and was elected on that ticket for the United States Senate, and died while filling his second term as a senator at Washington. During the four years in Dakota Mr. Ranshaw was elected state president of the Christian Endeavor work of the State of South Dakota, and spent much of his time in presenting the principles of the Endeavor Society and in organizing it in various churches. It was this work which finally brought him to answer the call to the active ministry. Having sold his newspaper in South Dakota, the Appeal of Aberdeen, to members of the populist party who employed its columns to advocate that brand of politics, he returned to Kentucky and entered the Transylvania University at Lexington, where he took the English theological course. As a minister of the gospel Mr. Ranshaw had charge of churches at Paris, Indiana, for one year, two and a half years at Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, and in the third year entered upon his duties as pastor of the Walnut Hill Disciple. Church in Cincinnati. He remained in that charge three years, and was then sent to Taylor, Texas, for a year. He was a member of the boards of both the Home and Foreign Missionary societies of the Disciples Church, and on account of his knowledge of the work of these two organizations he was sent as missionary pastor of the First Christian Church of San Antonio, Texas, and while there organized the first congregation of the Disciples faith among the Mexican population, and continued to superintend the work in the Mexican field as long as he remained in Texas. Later returning to Cincinnati he became assistant secretary of Home Missions, and that was his principal work for ten years, though in the meantime he did much preaching, and also founded and was editor of the American Home Missionary at Cincinnati. This paper is still published. Mr. Ranshaw has occupied the pulpit as a preacher in nearly all parts of the United States. In 1910 Rev. Mr. Ranshaw was called to Elyria to become pastor of the local Disciples Church. and remained its minister up to October 1, 1914. Since transferring his work to the field of Lorain County he has practically identified himself with many important movements in this locality. He has been called upon for numerous addresses of a memorial character and especially in the cause of prohibition, and at the same time has proved himself a thorough student and vigorous worker for civic improvement. He was one of the commission of fourteen local citizens who drew up a new charter for the City of Elyria, though that charter was defeated by the machine politicians from both the dominant parties. He is now serving on the Elyria City Board of Health. On October 1, 1914. Mr. Ranshaw entered business as district agent for the Berkshire Life Insurance Company of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. This is one of the oldest life insurance companies in the country, having been incorporated in 1851, and for sixty-three years it has measured up to the highest standards of an ideal insurance service, has successfully 798 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY met all the different tests applied by experience and changing conditions to insurance management, and offers practically all the most progressive forms of life insurance policies. Mr. Ranshaw’s office as district agent is in the Masonic Temple. and he has already built up a large clientele over his district, which covers the counties of Lorain, Erie, Sandusky, Huron and Medina. Mr. Ranshaw is a member of the Elyria Chamber of Commerce. Politically he is identified wlth that progressive branch of the original republican party whose champion is Theodore Roosevelt, but in local politics he votes independently. At the present time he is leader of the large men's class in the First Congregational Church Sunday School. He is also leading a large young men's bible class in the Elyria Young Men's Christian Association, known as the Automobile Bible Class, and the first to be instituted in America. In 1915 he was elected chairman or the religions work committee of the Young Men,s Christian Association. In the way of public service while living in Dakota Territory he served as city magistrate and police judge at Roscoe. On October 25, 1894, at Covington. Kentucky, he married Miss Zue Lou O'Neal, daughter of Col. Weden O'Neal and Caroline (Fenley) O'Neal. On both sides Mrs. Ranshaw is descended from old Virginia stock. Her father was colonel of the Fifty-fifth Kentucky Regiment of the Union army during the Civil war, and for many years was one of the prominent lawyers and republicans in Northern Kentucky. A number of years ago he led a forlorn hope of the republicans against that eminent Kentuckian, John G. Carlisle. Mrs. Ranshaw's parents both died at Covington. She was born in Crittenden, Grant County. Kentucky. where her grandfather. John Fenley, a wealthy planter and slave owner. was one of the first settlers. Mrs. Ranshaw was educated in the public schools of Covington. and for years has been a leader in church work. At Elyria she has given special attention to the Mothers, and Teachers, Organization. She is a forceful speaker. and possesses almost a genius as an organizer. She organized the first Teachers' and Parents' Association in Elyria, and has directed its work to a point productive to great good to all the public schools and has brought about proper co-operation between the parents and the teachers. She is also president 'of the Political Study Club, the largest club in Elyria : is president of the Federation of Parents, and Teachers' organizations of Elyria : and is vice president of the exclusive social club known as the Four O'Clock Club, which is one of the oldest woman's organizations in Elyria, and has a membership limited to twenty-four. With the resignation of Emma S. Olds from the board of education of Elyria. Mrs. Ranshaw was appointed in her stead in December. 1914. and later she refused reappointment to the same office. She is frequently called upon to give addresses throughout the country around Elyria. largely on the subject of mothers, and teachers, co-operation in school affairs. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ranshaw were born two children : Weden O'Neal, who was born in Texas while his parents resided in that state, is now concluding his fourth year in the Staunton Military Academy in Virginia. Emily Warwood, the daughter. graduated from the Elyria High School in 1914. the leader of her class of eighty-four. and is now one of the most promising students in the large freshman class of 385 at Oberlin College. She was born ill Cincinnati, Ohio. HON. ANTHONY NIEDING. Lorain County has had many Occasions to be grateful to its present representative in the Lower House of the State Legislature. Anthony Nieding. who was elected on the republican ticket in 1914. Representative Nieding, who is a prominent lawyer of Elyria. HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY - 799 with offices in the Masonic Temple, is less of a politician than a public spirited citizen, and has shown excellent judgment in his work in the Legislature. The city council of Elyria recently passed resolutions thanking him for his effective work in defeating the Behne bill, which it was generally believed would have proved seriously detrimental to the cause of municipal ownership in Ohio. The bill was referred to a committee and Mr. Nieding, knowing of the bill and the action the committee was to take, was instrumental in sidetracking the bill for two weeks, when it was finally defeated. Another part of his legislative record was his bill, introduced at the request of the State Coroners Association, permitting coroners to deputize private citizens to serve writs and receive fees. This bill passed both houses of the Legislature in May and is now a law. Descending from old German stock of Lorain County, Anthony Nieding was born on a farm in Elyria Township, August 2, 1875. His parents were Henry and Elizabeth (Neuter) Nieding. His father was born in Germany, was brought to America as a child, his parents settling in Black River Township, and his life has been spent as a farmer, largely in Ridgeville Township. Elizabeth Neuter was born in Michigan, and bier father, George Neufer, was also a native of Germany, and after coming to America saw service as a Union soldier in the Civil war. Educated in the country district schools, Anthony Nieding later attended Baldwin College near Cleveland, and spent two years in the Cleveland Law School. He was admitted to the bar June 12, 1903, and for the past twelve years has been engaged in active practice at Elyria and has a large clientage and has been unusually successful in handling many important cases. His activities in behalf of the public welfare began with manhood, and he has proved an effective worker in many movements. He was formerly a member of the Republican County Central Committee, is active in the Elyria Chamber of Commerce, and in 1901 was elected secretary of the Lorain County Agricultural Society, a post he held for a number of years. Fraternally he is identified with the Fraternal Order of Eagles, belonging to Elyria Aerie No. 431 of Elyria ; with the Modern Woodmen of America ; the Knights of Pythias; Elyria Lodge, No. 465, of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and with Harlan P. Chapman Camp of the Sons of Veterans at Elyria. On October 14, 1903, Mr. Nieding married Miss Grace Babcock, daughter of George P. and Lois A. (Mathison) Babcock. Her father came from New London, Connecticut, and after living in Lorain County a number of years went to New Jersey, where he was a. Federal employe, and where he died in 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Nieding have one daughter, Lois E., born June 14, 1905. WILLIAM E. ROE. Among those who have quite recently entered the professional circles of Elyria, on the basis of attainments and talents at the age of twenty-five William E. Roe has the promise of a brilliant future in the law and as a leader in public affairs. Mr. Roe belongs to a highly respected family which has been identified with Lorain County a number of years, and is of English parentage. He was born in Amherst, Lorain County, Ohio, May 6, 1890 a son of Samuel and Anna (Bancroft) Roe. His father was born at Kirchkar, England, in September. 1862, and died at Amherst in Lorain County July 29, 1901. His son has apparently inherited many of his substantial qualities of character and ability to win his own way. Samuel Roe came to the United States alone when about twelve years of age, and coming to Elyria in 1874 found employment which finally started him in the stone quarrying business. For a number of years prior to