AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY- 751 building was ready for occupancy and there Mr. Bunnell continued an active, prominent and forceful factor in the successful management and control of the business until failing health forced his retirement in 1916. However, he continued his official connection with the Hardware & Supply Company as its treasurer until his demise. His labors were an important element in the steady growth and expansion of the business, which became one of the foremost enterprises of this character in Ohio. On the 6th of August, 1890, Mr. Bunnell was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Buchanan, daughter of James and Mary Ann (Nesbitt) Buchanan, of Akron. Their children are : Marian, now the wife of Karl B. Kilborn, of Akron ; Ruth C., the wife of Ernest R. Preston, of Akron, and the mother of one child, Jean; and Wilbur J., who wedded Gladys Alexander. The family circle was broken by the hand of death when on the 23d of September, 1919, Mr. Bunnell was called to the home beyond. He was a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the Scottish Rite bodies. He likewise belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Patriarchs Militant, was a charter member of the Rotary Club and a member of the Akron Chamber of Commerce. His activities touched the general interests of society and always to the benefit and upbuilding of any organization with which he was identified. In early life he held membership with the Congregational church but at the time of his demise was a member of the Church of Our Saviour —Protestant Episcopal. He never sought to figure prominently in political connections yet was never neglectful of the duties of citizenship. He found his recreation in hunting and fishing and enjoyed the great out-of-doors. The best traits of his character, however, were reserved for his own fireside and he was a devoted husband and father, while his social qualities endeared him to all with whom he came in contact. FRANK BECKWITH BURCH Frank Beckwith Burch, of Akron, who enjoys a state wide reputation as a lawyer and lawmaker, having left the imprint of his individuality upon the history of the senate, comes to Ohio from the Empire state, his birth having occurred at Malone, New York, February 10, 1875. His parents, John and Marietta (Ketcham) Burch, were also natives of Malone, where the father 752 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY followed the occupation of farming for many years. He was a son of Nahum Burch, a native of the province of Quebec, who became the founder of the family in New York. The death of John Burch occurred in June, 1915. His wife was a daughter of Harvey Ketcham, who was born in Vermont and was a son of one who fought for the cause of independence in the Revolutionary war. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of life for Frank B. Burch in his youthful days, which were passed in Malone, and after attending the district schools he pursued his education in the Franklin Academy. At the age of eighteen years, however; he came to Akron, arriving here in 1893. It was his desire to become a member of the bar and with this end in view he entered the law office of Jacob S. Kohler, of the firm of Musser & Kohler, and a former attorney-general of the: state. For several years he continued his reading and was admitted to practice in 1899 not only before the Ohio bar but also in the United States courts. The same year he entered upon active professional work as junior partner in the firm of Parsons &. Burch and a subsequent change in the personnel of the firm in 1904 led to the adoption of the firm style of Wilcox, Parsons & Burch. The title was changed to Wilcox, Parsons, Burch & Adams in 1906 and in 1909 Mr. Parsons retired. In March, 1915, Mr. Burch became senior member of the firm of Burch, Adams & Clinedinst and on the 1st of January, 1917, the firm name was changed to Burch, Adams & Ream. Today Mr. Burch is at the head of the well known law firm of Burch, Bacon & Denlinger and there are few firms in the state who can equal theirs in the amount of business or in the nature of legal interests entrusted to their care. In 1904 Mr. Burch also organized the firm of Burch & Peters at Cincinnati but severed that connection in 1910. His firm also has an office in Canton and because of his widespread connections and his superior ability he has become known as one of the leading attorneys of the state, confining his attention largely to commercial law. He is recognized as a man of wide legal knowledge and of notable intellectual attainments and is regarded as the peer of the ablest members of the Ohio bar.. In addition to his law practice Mr. Burch is serving as vice president of the Akron Guarantee Mortgage Company and is interested in several other corporations. The year after he entered upon active practice Mr.. Burch was married to Miss Rose Brewster, a descendant of Elder William AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 753 Brewster, one of the founders of Plymouth colony. They have become parents of two children : Marjorie H., now Mrs. George W. Crouse, Jr. ; and Rosemary M. The religious faith of the family is that of the Protestant Episcopal church and Mr. Burch is serving as a vestryman in the Church of Our Saviour, of which he is a communicant. In his fraternal relations he is a Mason, belonging to Adoniram Lodge, and exemplifies in his life the beneficent spirit and high principles of the craft. His social relations are attractive inasmuch as he has membership in the Akron City Club, of which he was at one time president, the Portage Country Club, the Turkeyfoot Club, which he has also served as president, and in the Rotary Club. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party and upon its ticket he was elected to represent his district in the upper house of the general assembly in 1922. He sought effectively to promote public welfare along various lines and was active in the discussion of the taxing interests of the state and in laying plans for a state bureau of legislative research. He gave careful and thoughtful consideration to all vital questions which came up for settlement in the senate and none questioned the integrity of his position or his loyalty to the trust reposed in him. High and honorable principles have constituted the motivation of all of his acts and few men have displayed a higher loyalty to the ethical standards of the legal profession. SUMNER W. BAUGHMAN One of the largest factors in the splendid growth and prosperity of the People's Savings & Banking Company of Barberton has been its strong corps of officers, who have by their able and consistent efforts made of this one of the leading financial institutions of Summit county. Sumner W. Baughman, secretary and treasurer of this well known company, was born on the 19th of December, 1887, on a farm near Barberton, and is the eldest of the three children of L. W. and Alma E. (Dice) Baughman, who now reside at Kenmore, this county, and are mentioned elsewhere in this work. He received his elementary education in the public schools, later attending the high school at Kenmore and Wooster College. He taught school for eight years and then, in 1915, entered the service of the People's Savings & 754 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY Banking Company as teller, later becoming assistant secretary and treasurer, and on January 1, 1926, was chosen secretary and treasurer of the institution, positions for which he has shown himself well qualified. On July 7, 1926, Mr. Baughman was united in marriage to Miss Bernice M. Carpenter, of Gambier, Ohio. He gives his political support to the republican party and is a member of the Reformed church at Kenmore. He is a Mason and has been secretary and treasurer of the Lions Club of Barberton ever since its organization. He has earned the reputation of doing well whatever he undertakes and has been found to be reliable and dependable in every engagement. Quiet and unassuming in manner, he is nevertheless a man of strong character and commands the sincere respect of his fellowmen. ALBERT ROBERT RITZMAN Albert R. Ritzman, whose efforts as a realtor are contributing in substantial measure to the growth and future development of Akron, is actively engaged in business as a member of the Heminger, Ritzman Company, Inc., dealing extensively in real estate and also handling insurance and loans. He was born at Kenmore, in Summit county, Ohio, January 6, 1887, his parents being John and Anna (Brigger ) Ritzman, natives of Switzerland, who emigrated to the United States when twenty and fourteen years of age, respectively. It was in 1881 that they came to Akron, locating on Manchester road in Kenmore, near Summit Lake. John Ritzman, a trusted employe of the Colonial Salt Company for many years; died in 1925, while his wife passed away in 1928. They became the parents of seven children, as follows : Fred A., a resident of Kenmore, Ohio ; Ernest E., also living in Kenmore; William C., who makes his home in Detroit, Michigan ; Mrs. Mary Von Gunten, living in Kenmore ; Albert R., of this review ; and two who are deceased. Albert R. Ritzman pursued his early education in the Summit Lake school of Kenmore and continued his studies in the Central high school of Akron. His initial experience in the business world was obtained in the employ of the Colonial Salt Company, with which he continued for four years, while subsequently he spent five years in the service of the Peoples Savings Bank & Trust Company of Akron, rising to the position of receiving teller AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 757 with that institution. He next filled the office of deputy county treasurer for four years and thereafter was identified with the Commercial Savings & Trust Company in the official capacity of treasurer and trust officer for a period of eight years. At the end of that time he formed a partnership with McClellan Heminger for the conduct of a real estate, insurance and loan business under the name of Heminger, Ritzman Company, Inc., now one of the leading realty firms of Akron. They have laid out and sold Schaeffer Heights, Sherman Park and several other allotments and also conduct an extensive mortgage loan business. Mr. Ritz-man has been one of the most enthusiastic advocates of the movement for the annexation of Kenmore to Akron, working night and day to bring about this important step. He is a director of the Commercial Savings & Trust Company of Akron and the Kenmore Savings & Loan Company and enjoys an enviable reputation among Akron's foremost, influential and valued citizens. On the 10th of June, 1908, in Kenmore, Mr. Ritzman was united in marriage to Miss Vesta Heminger, daughter of McClellan Heminger, who is mentioned at length on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Ritzman are the parents of three children : Robert W., who was born in Kenmore, July 31, 1909, and is a student in Heidelberg University; Catherine Murriel, born in Kenmore, April 25, 1911, who is a high school pupil ; and Carol Alice, born in Kenmore, November 7, 1913, who is also attending high school. Mr. Ritzman has long figured prominently in community affairs and has made a splendid record in public office. He was city treasurer of Kenmore for three terms and is now serving his fourth term on the Kenmore board of education, of which he was president for three terms. He is a member of the Akron Chamber of Commerce, the South Akron Board of Trade and the Akron Real Estate Board, of which he was a trustee for three years and president for one year. He also belongs to the Akron City Club. He has served the Boy Scouts as chairman of the executive committee of the Kenmore district and a member of the executive committee of the Akron Area Council, and in fraternal circles is known as a York Rite Mason who has likewise attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite, and is a member of the Shrine. He is a member of all branches of Odd Fellowship, and served as noble grand of Kenmore Lodge No. 927; chief patriarch of Summit Encampment; and accountant of Canton Akron No. 2, Patriarchs Militant. His religious faith is indicated by his member- 25-VOL. 2 758 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY ship in the Reform church of Kenmore, in which he is serving as Sunday school superintendent. Mr. Ritzman has always lived in Summit county and enjoys an extensive and favorable acquaintance within its borders. There have been no spectacular phases in his life. His is the career of a thoroughgoing American business man whose persistency of purpose, whose determination and honesty, combined with that sound judgment which recognizes opportunities and learns by mistakes, have brought him to the point of success. His residence is at 814 Boulevard, Kenmore. CHARLES E. McCORKLE Among the able and successful educators of northeastern Ohio, none is more deserving of specific mention than is Professor Charles E. McCorkle, whose splendid work as superintendent of the schools of Kenmore has received much favorable comment. He was born near Sidney, Shelby county, Ohio, on the 8th of August, 1886, a son of Cyrus and Mary (Younker) McCorkle, the former of whom is deceased. His early education was received in the grade schools, and he pursued his high school studies in Manchester College at North Manchester, Indiana. He then entered Ohio University, where he specialized in history, and from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy in 1909. He held a fellowship at Clark University at Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1914-15, majoring under G. Stanley Hall in the graduate school, and received the Master of Arts degree in 1915. He also began work there leading to his Doctor's degree, specializing in psychology and education. He attended Harvard University in 1915-16, specializing in school administration, and received the Master of Arts degree. The degree of Doctor of Pedagogy was conferred upon him in 1918 by Ohio University. Before and during his college career, Professor McCorkle was actively engaged in educational work, serving three years as principal of city high schools and five years as superintendent of city schools, three years of which was at Ironton, Ohio, just prior to coming to Kenmore. He became superintendent of the Kenmore schools in June, 1919, and has effected a remarkable improvement in a locality considered by educators as a difficult one in which to maintain a school system on a high plane. He is wholly devoted to his work, for which he has shown both a natural aptitude and AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 759 high educational qualifications, and his record here has gained for him the respect and confidence of all who have been associated with him or are familiar with his accomplishments. In 1916 Mr. McCorkle was united in marriage to Miss Mary Young, of Boston, Massachusetts. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Order of the Eastern Star, the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, the Knights of the Golden Eagle, the Knights of Malta and the Kenmore Kiwanis Club, and belongs to the Phi Delta Kappa educational fraternity. He maintains professional affiliation with the Northern Ohio Teachers Association, the Ohio State Teachers Association, the Harvard Teachers Association and is a life member of the National Educational Association. He is a member of the Baptist church and is the teacher of the men's Bible class at Goss Memorial church. For two summers he has served as professor of education in Wooster College. Kindly and sympathetic in his attitude toward the student body and with a sincere desire to promote their intellectual growth and character building, Professor McCorkle has shown himself deserving of the thoughtful consideration of the people of his community, for he is doing a work here which in its eventual results and influence is immeasureable. Cordial and friendly in his social relations, he has won a host of warm and loyal friends and is deservedly popular throughout the range of his acquaintance. FRED J. DAYTON No citizen of Barberton is held in higher esteem in business, civic and social circles than is Fred J. Dayton, who has long been actively identified with affairs affecting the development, growth and prosperity of this community, having been for the past ten years secretary of the A. A. Moore Company. Mr. Dayton was born at Dorset, Ashtabula county, Ohio, November 19, 1868, and is the only child of Henry and Mary (Stainbrookl Dayton. He received his educational training in the public schools of Jefferson and also Jefferson Academy, and in young manhood went to work for A. A. Moore, who was engaged in mercantile business at Leon, Ohio. In 1894 he accompanied Mr. Moore on his removal to Barberton and was for many years with him in the grocery business. About 1917 Mr. Dayton became connected with the 760 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY A. A. Moore Company in the real estate, insurance and loan business, and is now secretary of that organization, of which E. F. Crites is president, and F. M. Weller, vice president and treasurer. This is one of the leading concerns in its line in this section of the county and Mr. Dayton has by his able and loyal efforts contributed in large measure to its success. He was on the original board of directors of the People's Savings & Banking Company and is now the only surviving member of that board. On June 18, 1901, Mr. Dayton was united in marriage to Miss Grace Williamson, of Bethany, Ohio. Mrs. Dayton is prominent in the civic and social life of Barberton, being president of the Winadosis Club and belonging to the Women's Music Study Club, as well as to the Ladies' Auxiliary to the Knights Templar at Akron. Mr. Dayton is a Mason, in which order he has attained the rank of Knight Templar; and he is also a member of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His religious membership is with the United Brethren church, of which he has been treasurer for many years. A man of sterling character, fine public spirit and agreeable manner, he is highly respected and deservedly popular throughout the community where he lives. EDWIN KURTZ Edwin Kurtz, owner and active manager of the Kurtz Lumber Company, is one of Akron's ablest and most successful business men and highly esteemed citizens. The important enterprise of which he is the head is the fruitage of his earnest and well directed efforts and which, from a modest beginning thirty-four years ago, has grown to be one of the leading enterprises in Akron. Mr. Kurtz was born here, May 21, 1866, a son of Elias and Katherine (Kuntz) Kurtz. The parents were natives of Pennsylvania, from which state they came to Summit county, Ohio, in 1854, and here the father was successfully engaged in farming throughout his active life. Both are now deceased. To them were born nine children, all of whom are living, namely : Jacob, of Springfield, Ohio; William, of Glendale, Arizona ; Alvin, also of Glendale ; Mrs. Ella Lutz, Miss Sara and Mrs. S. S. Carper, all of Mogadore, Ohio; Mrs. Anne Hole, of Mt. Pleasant, Ohio ; Mrs. Clara Young, of Glendale, Arizona; and Edwin, of Akron. Edwin Kurtz attended the Kaiser school in Springfield town- AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 763 ship, Summit county, after which he was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade, which line of work he followed until 1904, when he established his present business. Starting with a small lumberyard and planing mill, he applied himself indefatigably to the business and by his square dealing and efficient and prompt service soon established a valuable reputation for dependability, which during the subsequent years has been one of his strongest assets. In 1916 Mr. Kurtz enlarged to both yard and mill and is equipped to handle any requirements in his line. He carries a large and complete stock of lumber, both cut and dimension, and is specializing in standard cut material for garages of various sizes according to the number of cars to be accommodated. These have proven very popular and he is building up a large business in that line. He also cuts the lumber for houses according to specifications, and many of the better class of homes in Akron and vicinity have been constructed of this material. He is thorough and painstaking in everything he undertakes and the fine service which he has rendered the community justifies the slogan of the firm, "Twenty-eight Years of Square Dealing." On March 17, 1898, in Akron, Mr. Kurtz was united in marriage to Miss Minerva Brumbaugh, a daughter of Abraham and Sarah (Shoner) Brumbaugh. Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz are the parents of four children, namely : Irene, who was born in Springfield Center, Ohio, in 1899, married Carl W. Jackson and resides in Springfield township, this county. They have two children, William Sheldon and Mary Ila. Ethel, born in Akron in 1901, is the wife of William Sowers and resides in this city. They have a daughter, Dorothy. Mildred, born in Springfield Center in 1903, is in the employ of the Kurtz Lumber Company. Ila, born at the same place in 1905, is engaged in welfare work at Canton. Mr. Kurtz is a member of the Akron Automobile Club, and he and his wife attend the Arlington Street Baptist church, of which their daughters are members. In addition to being the owner of the Kurtz Lumber Company, Mr. Kurtz is a director of the Mogadore Lumber & Supply Company and a director of the William Penn Mortgage Company of Akron. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and the National Lumber Dealers Association. Though past sixty years of age, Mr. Kurtz is a man of remarkable physical vigor, which he attributes to the sort of business in which he is engaged and to the fact that he takes daily systematic exercises, so that he keeps as physically fit as the average man of thirty years. He takes a delight in living, is deeply interested in every- 764 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY thing worth while, and stands consistently for those things which tend to promote the public welfare along material, civic or moral lines. J. ADAM FICHTER In the field of architecture J. Adam Fichter has had much to do with the development and improvement of Akron, where evidences of his skill are seen in the beauty and in the substantial qualities of many of her leading structures. Mr. Fichter was born in Alsace-Lorraine, France, then a part of Germany, September 8, 1873, and his parents, John Adam and Catherine (Ruscher) Fichter, were also natives of that locality, where the father is still living at the age of seventy-eight years, but the mother is deceased. He has devoted his life to farming and to the sawmill and lumber industry. In their family were nine children, of whom five are yet living, the others in addition to J. Adam being : Michael, a resident of Leipzig, Germany; Henry, of London, England; Peter, of Alsace-Lorraine; and Mrs. Anna Fender, of Strassburg. In his youthful days J. Adam Fichter attended the public schools at Bouxviller in Alsace-Lorraine, was a student in a technical school and then spent two years in the study of architecture in the Strassburg Technical College. The year 1891 witnessed his arrival in America, where he entered upon the practice of his profession. For about a year he remained in Brooklyn, New York, and thence came to Akron, where he has since been widely known in professional circles. For a number of years he was associated with W. P. Ginther, a well known early architect here, and in 1900 he returned to Europe, spending about six months in France, where he further acquainted himself with professional work by study of the architecture of Europe and methods followed by representatives of the profession there. He then returned to Akron, where he again became assistant to Mr. Ginther, but in 1910 he established business independently and in 1912 formed a partnership with H. A. Brooker under the firm name of Fichter & Brooker. He has erected many important structures here, making the design and superintending the construction of the Central garage, Fire Station No. 1, the Metropolitan building, Savings & Loan building and various school buildings and churches throughout this part of the country. AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 765 On the 27th of May, 1897, Mr. Fichter was married to Miss Mary Maas, of Akron, and they now have four children : George, who was born in Akron in 1902 and married Dorothy Kretzman ; Edward, who was born in Akron in 1904 and is with the Fred W. Albrecht Grocery Company; Lucile, who was born in 1910 and is attending high school ; and Annette, who was born in 1918 and is also in school. Mr. and Mrs. Fichter are members of the Lutheran church and he is identified with the Akron Chamber of Commerce. His interest has largely centered upon his profession, in which his thoroughness and capability have long been manifest, gaining him advancement until he now occupies a most creditable position among the architects of the city. ERNEST EUGENE LESLIE One of Summit county's most highly respected citizens is Ernest E. Leslie, who for many years successfully engaged in farming and stock dealing near Northfield. He was born on the old Leslie farm, formerly the Brooks farm, one and three-quarter miles west of Northfield, on the 12th of January, 1859, and is a son of William and Maria Ann (Thompson) Leslie, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Parkman, Geauga county, Ohio. The parents married in 1854 and in the following year came to Summit county. The father died in 1872 and the mother in 1899. They had five children, of whom Ernest E. is the only survivor. Ernest E. Leslie received his education in the schools of his home neighborhood and remained on the farm until about twenty-five years of age. He then went to Iowa, where for two years he was on an uncle's farm, after which he returned to Summit county and was here employed at different occupations until thirty-five years of age, at which time he bought the home farm from his mother. During the subsequent years he has given due attention to the operation of the farms and the buying and selling of livestock. On his removal to Iowa his mother left the farm and lived in the village of Northfield until her death. He purchased the farm but in 1911 sold it and bought what was known as the James Lyon's farm. He never resided thereon, however, but sold it in 1918 and bought his present home of about four and one-half acres in the village of Northfield. 766 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY In 1900 Mr. Leslie married Miss Bertha Adell Cowen, who was born February 16, 1867, in Brandywine, Northfield township, a daughter of John and Eliza (MacNiece) Cowen. Her father came to this country from the Isle of Man and her mother from Ireland and they were married in the United States. Mrs. Leslie died May 18, 1915, leaving two daughters, Ruth Ernestine and Lois Leverne, both of whom are at home with their father. Mr. Leslie and his daughters are members of the United Presbyterian church, in which he holds official position, and he stands consistently for all that is best in the life of the community. Because of his splendid character, his fine public spirit and his kindly manner, he commands the esteem and good will of all who know him. REV. JOHN J. SCULLEN Rev. John J. Scullen, pastor of St. Vincent's church at Akron, was ordained thirteen years ago, and has spent his active ministry almost entirely in the larger cities and some of the important Catholic churches of northern Ohio. He was born in Bellevue, Ohio, March 23, 1878. He gained the rudiments of his early education there, and in preparation for the ministry was sent to Assumption College at Sandwich, Ontario, was graduated at St. Ignatius College at Cleveland in 1898, and pursued his theological studies at St. Mary's Seminary in Cleveland. Father Scullen was ordained in 1904. For six years he was assistant pastor at St. Augustine's church in Cleveland, was pastor of St. Paul's church at Euclid, Ohio, for four years, and in 1914 came to Akron as pastor of St. Vincent's church. CHARLES R. GRANT Charles R. Grant was born at Orange, Connecticut, October 23, 1846. His father was a shoemaker by occupation and his son was brought up with the advantage pertaining to that contemplative craft. He also learned the trade himself, working at it in the long winter evenings of his boyhood. In New England in those days not to be at work was accounted a sin amounting almost to a crime. So he was engaged in that labor and on a farm summers, and AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 767 attended school winters, till the outbreak of the Civil war, which brought his opportunity as well as his duty. November 19, 1861, he being then not quite a month past his fifteenth birthday, found him in Camp Lyon, Hartford, carrying a musket as a private in the Twelfth Connecticut Volunteers, a part of the old New England Division, destined for the Gulf department. His military service was recognized by special act of Congress, passed July 17, 1914. His regiment was the first to land in New Orleans on its capture. He was on duty as orderly at General Butler's headquarters and while there witnessed the execution of William B. Mumford, the only man ever punished capitally for pulling down the American flag. He was present also at the issuing of Order No. 28, the woman order, which raised such an uproar when it was read by Palmerston in the House of Lords. Upon leaving the army he came to Summit county, and engaged in farm work. He entered the Western Reserve College in 1868 and was graduated with the class of 1872. He took the freshman prize for Latin translation, had the philosophical oration in the junior year and the valedictory at commencement, supporting himself by teaching school winters and by farm work in the long summer vacations. After passing a year in Colorado, he began the study of law in Akron in November, 1873, and was admitted to the bar here in August of the next year. He practiced his profession in Akron till 1882, when he was appointed probate judge of Summit county, by Governor Foster, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his predecessor. He was elected to the same office for two full terms, retiring from it in 1891, and resuming his law practice. In 1912 he was elected judge of the Court of Appeals, then about to be organized under the new constitution of that year, for the eighth district, made up of the counties of Cuyahoga, Summit, Lorain and Medina, a district carrying the most important litigation in the state, arising in the city of Cleveland. He is still on duty in that position. His decisions so far are included in the four issued volumes of the Ohio Appellate Reports. He has been elected to the Board of Education of Akron four times, and appointed several times to the board of control of the Akron Public Library, serving as its president for three years. He has been three times married, but not once divorced, and has three living children, Mrs. Fannie V. Carr, of Manchester, Missouri, Louise E. Grant, librarian in the Pillsbury Library at 768 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY Minneapolis, and Ione Grant, now a student at Lake Erie College. He received the customary degree of A. B. upon his graduation in 1872, but has had no other, although always a laborious, if not notorious student. It cannot be said of him, as the Comic History of English Literature says of Robert Burns : "The early life of this man was much embittered by hard work." For, although his early history is only "the short and simple annals of the poor," and all his life work has indeed been hard, the fact has left no tinge of bitterness and he can truly say: "Therefore my age is as a lusty winter, frosty, but kindly," and he hopes and expects, at least to fulfill the saying of the poet-prophet of old, "Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like a shock of corn cometh in in his season." |