Summit County, Ohio - Chapter 20: Statistics, 1908 (part 17 of 27)

Charles N. Gaylord attended the public schools of Monroe Falls and spent three years in the Tallmadge Academy. He then entered the paper mills at Monroe Falls, where he worked for some twelve years, after which he rented the farm from his father, and has been engaged in agricultural pursuits ever since. The homestead farm was the property of his mother until her death and he continued to rent it until the settlement of the estate, when he purchased it together with seventy adjoining acres. During this whole period he has operated a dairy, keeping about twenty-five cows. During nine months of the year his milk goes to tlie Co-operative Creamery at Stow, of which enterprise he was one of the organizers, and of which he is a director as well as a heavy stockholder. In 1899, he embarked in a new industry on his farm, this being the making of ice cream by wholesale, and this dainty he sells all through this section, having the important contract of supplying Silver Lake Park. He has well-equipped quarters and utilizes a steam engine for power, Mr. Gaylord raises corn, oats and potatoes. His interests are many and varied, and he keeps a firm hand on all.

Mr. Gaylord married Iaicv Southmayd, a member of an old and important family, and they have two children: Howard S. and Stanley G. Mrs. Gaylord is a daughter of the late William and Martha (Wilson) Southmayd.

The paternal grandmother of Mrs. Gaylord was Clarissa (Rice) Gaylord, who was born February Ci. 180.5, and died March 14. 1879. She was a daughter of Captain Rice and was the first white child born in Stow Township.

She became the second wife of Erastus Southmayd, who was born at Middletown, Connecticut, March 29, 1787. He came to the Western Reserve a single man and was married (first) to Annie Wetmore, in 1822, who died after the birth of three children: Charles, Lucy and Leonard. In 1827, he married Clarissa Rice, and they had four children: Walter, William, Horace and Heurj-. Erastus Southmayd owned a good farm situated one-half mile north of Stow Center, which he cleared from the forest, and for some years he also kept a hotel at Stow Corners. He died on this farm October 16, 1866. He was a member of the Disciples Church.

William Southmayd, father of Mrs. Gay- . lord, was one of the best-known citizens of Smnmit County. He was a farmer and school teacher, following the latter profession for sixteen years consecutively in his native county. For many years he was one of the infirmary directors and held political positions of various kinds, sending as clerk and as treasurer of Stow Township, on the Republican ticket, for a long period. He was a member of the School Board, and was an elder in the Disciples Church. His last years were passed at Cuyahoga Falls, where he died December 8. 1887, aged fifty-seven years. On November 4, 1852, he married Martha Wilson, who was born at Pompey. Onondaga County. New York. December 27, 1831, and wa« a daughter of Dariu? and Temperance ("Cha^e) Wilson. Darius Wilson moved to the Western Reser\'e in 1835 and settled in Medina County, Ohio, where he died at the age of seventy-four years.

Politically Mr. Gaylord is a Republican. He served one term as justice of the peace and several terms as township trustee. For four years he has been president of the Summit County Horticultural Society, for two years president of the Farmers' Institute of Summit County, and secretary of this organization for two years, and has been a member of the School Board for a long period. He belongs tr) Pavonia Lodge. No. 301. Knights of Pythia=. at Cuyahoga Falls. He is a deacon in the Disciples Church.

G. C. DONALDSON, manager of the Pittsburg Coal Company, at Akron, has a large territory to cover in the interests of this immense concern, with w^hich he has been identified since 1900. He was born at Girard, Trumbull County, Ohio, in 1872, where he secured his schooling.

When sixteen years of age Mr. Donaldson went to Cleveland and entered the employ of Pickands, Mather & Company, with whom he continued for eight years, after which he was three years with the Canada Life Insurance Company. For a short time, Mr. Donaldson was employed as a special agent by the Erie Railroad, and then entered upon his present connection with the Pittsburg Coal Company. Until 1904 he traveled in its interest through Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, and then was stationed at Akron and placed i n charge of all the business in Ohio west and .-outh of Warren, Ohio.

On October 9, 1902, Mr. Donaldson was married to Anna Grace Dunbar, of Steubenville, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson are members of the Presb\i,erian Church of Akron. Mr. Donaldson is a talented musician and is treasurer of the Tuesday Musical Club, Akron's leading mu.sical organization.

SAMUEL F. ZILIOX, president and general manager of the Commercial Printing Company, of Akron, has specialized in his line of work for many years, and has been at the head of his present enterprise since its incorporation in 1896. He was born at Millville. Butler County. Ohio, in 1864, and was educated mainly at Hamilton.

When a lad of fifteen years Mr. Ziliox entered the printing office of Jacob H. Long, at Hamilton, where he remained two years, then spent a short time at Urbana, only to return to Hamilton, where he was connected with the Hamilton Democrat as superintendent and business manager until May, 1889. For a short period he was a member of the advertising staff of the St. Louis Chronicle, then was identified with the Laning Publishing Company, of Norwalk, Ohio. In Febmary, 1891, he came to Akron and was in charge of the job depai-tment of The Akron Printing and Publishing Company until March, 1896, when, with others, he organized the Commercial Printing Company. This concern was incorporated in 1898, with a capital stock of $20,000, which has been increased to $75,000. The officers of the company are: S. F. Ziliox, president and manager; D. W. Bowman, vice president; F. A. Lane, treasurer and general superintendent, and W. E. Young, secretary and assistant superintendent.

In 1904 Mr. Ziliox was married to Katheryn Aydelotte, of Hamilton, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Ziliox are members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Elks, and is a member of the Elks club.

FREDERICK KUHLKE, one of Akron's sul)stantial bu.sdness men, who conducts one of the leading bakeries in the city, ha.s been identified with Akron's development for the past forty-one years. lie was born in Germany in 1846, and was reared and educated in his own land.

In 1864 Mr. Kuhlke came to America and for two years he worked in a grocery store in New York City, and then came to Akron. Not being able to secure employment in a grocery at that time, Mr. Kuhlke worked on the Ohio Canal and at various things which an active, industrious young man is able to secure, in the meanwhile making friends for him.'*e]f and accumulating enough capital to go into bu.siness in 1882. In 1886 he first engaged in the bakery business, having a partner for a .space of six weeks, after which he continued alone. He proved himself a good manager and accumulated considerable money, but in the panic of 1893 he sastained losses which made it necessary for him to begin all over again.

Mr. Kuhlke proved that he possesses the periseverance and courage which iLSually belong to his countrymen, by setting to work immediately to repair his losses. He met with .such success that by 1904 he was able to con.sitruct liis present plant, consisting of a two-story brick building, 46 by 56 feet and basement, located at No. 830-2-4 South Broadway. Mr. Kuhlke conducts a first-class bakery, having sixteen employes and running seven wagons. His sales-rooms and office are located at No. 27 East Exchange Street.

In 1869 Mr. Kuhlke was married at Akron to Mary Bramer, and they have two surviving children - George, who is a salesman for the bakery, and Carl, who is foreman of the business. One son, HermaTi, died in 1894, aged twenty-four yeai-s, and his only daughter, Meta, died also in 1894, at the age of twenty-two years.

Mr. Kuhlke has taken more or less inte^rest in politics and has frequently shown his public spirit. Since 1869 he has been identified with the Odd Fellows and has twice been sent as a representative to the Grand Lodge of Ohio, which is no slight honor. He belongs to various German societies of a l>eneficiary and social nature, including the Liedertafel.

J. L. SHIREY, M. D., an old-established physician and .surgeon of Akron and a prominent and respected citizen, was born at Hanover, Harrison Coimty, Ohio, June 20, 1853.

At the age of twelve years Dr. Shirey went to Indiana, and was educated at Dover Hill, in that State, and at Carroll ton, Ohio. In the meantime he had commenced the study of medicine and spent one term in the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, and then entered Starling Medical College, where he was graduated in 1885, locating for practice at Tippecanoe, Harrison County, Ohio, from which place he came to Akron, in 1887. He ha.s been in the active practice of medicine and surgery in this city ever since, and claims a large amount of tJie legitimate business of the profession. He is a member of the Summit County and of the Ohio State Medical Societies, and keejis thoroughly posted on all subjects relating to the advance of medical science.

Dr. Shirey is an active politician and is a stanch Republican. He is a citizen of great public spirit and takes pride in the progress and welfare of the city. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

ANDREW HARPER ALLEN, a wellknown re.?ident of Cuyahoga Falls, now li\ing retired in his pleasant home on Sackett Street, was born at Pond Creek, Bureau County, Illinois, August 18, 1856, and is a son of Robert Henry and Mary Phylura (Cochran) Allen.

The Allen family in Summit County, came from Scotch and Irish ancestors. John Allen, the great-grandfather of Andrew H., was born in County Antrini, Ireland, where he died, leaving a fajuily of six children. George Allen, his third son, born in County Antrim, in 1799, married Elizabeth Harper, and they came to America in 1832, settling first at Lee, Ma.ssachusetts, and in 1836, coming to Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He followed papermaking almost all his active life. He was a man of great industry and prudence and invested in land in Summit County, which became very valuable, a part of his eighty-acre farm being now included in the city of Cuyahoga Falls. He had ten children, namely; Jane, Andrew H., John M., Robert H., William A.. George L., Julia, Mary Alexander and the first Mary, who died in infancy while the family was cro.ssing the Atlantic ocean.

Robert Henry Allen, father of Andrew H., was born December 25, 1882, at Lee, Massachusetts, and came to Cuyahoga Falls with his father, in 1836. For twenty years after reaching maturity he was engaged in the carriagemaking trade at Cuyahoga Falls, but in 1874 he moved to a farm which was situated in Stow Township, on which he lived until 1882. He then moved to Akron, where he resumed work at his trade of carriage manufacture, but one year later be discontinued it, and bought a farm of 170 acres in Stow Town.ship, to which he moved. He now turned his attention to acquiring land and continued to add one parcel to another until his possessions aggregate 600 acres. He was a man of exceptional business faculty, but he gained his ample fortune without dishonesty, mainly through his steady perseverance and frugality.

On October 5, 1855, Mr. Allen married .Mary Phylura Cochran, who was born at Cuyahoga Falls, July 18, 1837, a daughter of John M. and Jane (Semple) Cochran. Both the Cochran and the Semples were old colonial families of Scotch-Irish lineage that had generations of honest ancestors behind them. John M. Cochran was born in 1775, at Calcutta, Ohio, and in 1814 was married to Jane Semple, who was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, but who had been reared in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where her father, James Semple had settled, being an early teacher in that locality. The children of Robert Henry and Mary P. Allen were: .Vndrew H., Maria, William A. and Arthur M. Mrs. Allen ls a consistent member of the Ejiiscopal Church. Mr. Allen was identified with the Republican party, and wa« one of its founders in Summit County. He died May 5, 1902, aged sixty-nine years.

Andrew Harper Allen's parents resided only one year at Pond Creek, moving then to Cuyahoga Falls, where he was reared and educated. After completing the High School course, he learned the trade of wagon-maker with his father and uncle. After finishing his apprenticeship with the firm of W. A, Allen & Company, he was married and moved to Lafayette, Indiana, where he worked for about a year. He w-as then in partnership with John Spafford, at. Akron, for a year, and for another year with John Agne, under the firm name of Allen & Agne. doing bu.siness enough to encourage him to organize the Allen Wagon Company. This enterprise was entirely successful and Mr. Allen carried it on for some years, .giving employment to thirty people in his works. After dispasing of his interests in this concern, in partnersliip with his father he piirchased the old Galloway farm, and on it was engaged in general farming and dairving for five years.

After retiring from the fai'm Mr. Allen went to the Goodrich Rubber Company as a millwright and pattern-maker, where he continued for five years. He then started a pattern shop of his own, at Cuyahoga Falls, which he continued to operate, with two assistants, until the spring of 1907. Mr. Allen then retired from active business life, being able to look back over a useful and prosperous career of many years.

Mr. Allen was married, first, to Ora Warner, who was a daughter of William Warner, of Mogadore. She died in 1897, aged thirtyseven years. Her three surviving children are: Walter M., residing at Akron; Edna Grace, who married E. 0. Hale, residing at Akron, and S. Blanche, who married F. F. Bingham, and resides at Bedford, Indiana. Mr. Allen was married, second, to Emma Willgohs, who is a daughter of Dr. Charles F. Willgohs, of Doylestown. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are members of the Episcopal Church. In political sentiment, Mr. Allen is a Democrat. He has been identified with much of the development of Cuyahoga Falls, at all times performing his fiill duty to the community as becomes a worthy citizen.

FREDERICK C. WOOD, a well known business citizen of Akron, treasurer of the Akron Auto Garage, was bom in 1873, at Peninsula, Boston Township, Summit County, Ohio, and is a son of Frederick Wood.

The father of Mr. Wood was born in Ireland, in 1828, and emigrated to America and settled in Boston Township, in 1835. For fifty years he was engaged in business at Peninsula, being a pioneer merchant of the place, and was prominent in the town's development. At the age of .seventy-nine years he still survives, enjoying life, and resides with his son at Akron.

Frederick C. Wood entered his father's store as a clerk in early youth, and for twelve years was a partner with his father, the firm style being F. Wood & Son. In the fall of 1899 he came to Akron and engaged in a clothing business for six years, and in 1905 he became associated with the Youngstown

Telegrwta, but subsequently sold his interest ;uid returned to Akron. Since then he has been identified with automobile interests. He bought a partnership in an established automobile concern at Akron and the business was incorporated as the Akron Auto Garage Company, with a capital stock of $25,000. The president and manager of the company is Andrew Auble, and Frederick C. Wood is secretary and treasurer. Scarcely any business is showing a more healthy growth than is the automobile.

In 1896 Mr. Wood was married to Clara Brown, of Sharon Center, Medina County, and they have two children: Charlotte Josephine, and Frederick Southmayd. The name of Southmayd came from the youth's seventh greatrgraudfather, Rev. John Southmayd, who was presented with a. home by the citizens of Waterbury, Connecticut, in recognition of his .services in the Pequot War.

Mr. Wood has been active in politics since early manhood and he was elected treasurer of Boston Township when twenty-one years of age, serving two terms. For four years he was postmaster at Peninsula, serving under the late President McKinley, and being reappointed by President Roosevelt, resigning the office when he came to Akron. He is still interested in public affairs, but holds no office, devoting the main part of his time to business. At present, with Mr. Auble, he is erecting a fine brick and cement building, 110 feet by 70 feet, on Buchtel Avenue, to be utilized as a garage.

Fraternally, Mr. Wood belongs to the Masonic fraternity, the Modern Woodmen, and is a council member of the Knights of P>i;hias. For a number of years he has been connected with the Episcopal Church of Our Savior, and is serving on the board of vestrymen. Recently, with Rev. Atwater and Frederick Work, he planned and carried out a mo-st delightful trip. The gentlemen took fifty Sunday school pupils whom they had formed into a quasi-military organization, to Wn,«hington city, where the party called on President Roosevelt, whose pleasure at seeing the lads in Rough Rider costumes, probably

THE KELLER BRICK COMPANY, of Portage Township, manufacturers of wire-cut building brick, and shippers of the same to all parts of Ohio, consists of three brothers, namely: William F., Frederick W. and Charles, all practical business men and valuable citizens. This business was established in 1890 as a partnership and was thus continued until December 12, 1900, when it was incorporated and has since been known as the Keller Brick Company. The officers are: Frederick W. Keller, president, and William F. Keller, secretary and treasurer. The plant is equipped with the most modern machinery for the making of brick, and its capacity is 40,000 daily. Coal is the fuel used, and employment is given to thirty experienced workmen.

William F. Keller was born December 7, 1862, at Berlin, Germany, and is a son of Gottfried and Elizabeth (Haller) Keller. The father was born in Berlin and died at Wooster, Ohio, in 1899, aged sixty-five years. He emigrated to America in 1865 and, after living for some years in the State of New York, went to Canada, where he followed his trade of mason and quarryman. In 1887 he settled at Wooster, Ohio, and continued to work at his trade during the rest of his active life. He had thirteen children, of whom the three sons already named, Frank, and two daughters, are living, namely : Mary, who married James Lennon, residing at Akron ; and Katherine, who married Harry Ingersol, also residing at Akron. Seven children died young. The three brothers who are in business together - Frederick W., Charles and William F. - were married to three sisters. Frederick W. married Sarah M. Seigfried; Charles married Jennie Siegfried, and William F. married Hattie L. Seigfried.

William F. Keller's education was obtained in the public schools at Wooster. When eighteen years of age he came to Akron, where he followed teaming and other occupations for a time. In 1880 he went to work in a brickyard, learning the trade with Arthur Bartges, and later he worked for the Cooper Brick Company. In 1890 he decided to go into business for himself, and, in partnership with his brothers, leased the present plant. The business has constantly increased and has been expanded into one of the large and prospering concerns of Portage Township.

Mr. Keller, as above noted, married Hattie L. Seigfried, who is a daughter of Isaac Siegfried, of Akron, and they have five children, namely: Pearl, who is bookkeeper for the Keller Brick Company, and wife of Albert Phelps, who is employed by the firm; and Earl L., Claude, Helen and Ada. Mrs. Keller is a member of Trinity Reformed Church of Akron. In politics, Mr. Keller is a Republican. - Fraternally, he is connected with the Modern Woodmen.

FREDERICK WOOD, a highly respected citizen of Akron, and a pioneer resident of Summit County, whose business life at Penin- .-ula covered more than fifty years, was born in County Wicklow, Ireland, in 1828, his parents being Nesbitt and Eliza (Morton) AVood.

In 1835 the parents of Mr. Wood came to America with their children. They lived for two years in Michigan and then removed to Ohio, settling in Boston Township, Summit County. There the father died in 1863 and was survived five years by his wife.

From the age of eighteen years, when he entered into business, until his final retirement, Mr. Wood's whole life was given to mercantile pursuits. After several years of training in the stores of the village of Boston, in 1853 Mr. Wood embarked in business for himself at Peninsula, with which place he was identified for over a half century. He served in many of the township and town offices, for over twenty years was postmaster, and was the promoter and backer of many of the successful enterprises of the place. For twenty years or more he operated a stone quarry in Boston Township. With his retirement from active business life and removal to Akron he severed many ties at Peninsula.

In 1854 Mr. Wood was married to Ghaxlotte M. Baxnhart, who was born June 19, 1836, at Peninsula, wliere she died October 22, 1890. She was a daughter of Jacob and Rhoda (Bronson) Barnhart, the former of whom was born in New York and became a resident of Peninsula in 1833. He died January 26, 1874, one of Summit County's most respected citizens. The mother of Mrs. Wood was born in Connecticut, in 1800, and she was a daughter of Hermon and Molly (Hickox) Bronson. There were four children born to Frederick Wood and wife, namely: Anna C, Stella A., Minnie E. and Frederick C. The eldest daughter died in womanhood and the third daughter died in infaincy. Stella A. married H. L. Cross, of Cleveland and they have three children. Frederick C. is a prominent citizen of Akron. An adopted daughter of Mr. Wood, Mrs. Julia E. Moody, resides in the old Wood homestead at Peninsula.

Mr. A\'ood has been a member of the Episcopal Church since boyhood and, with his wife, was very active in church work for years, the latter being organist and leader of the choir. She was a lady of many accomplishments and lovely character and her death was a loss, not only to her family, but to her church and community. Mr. Wood is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

EDWARD COATES, a successful business citizen of Cuyahoga Falls, who has shown enterprise and ability, not only in one trade, but in several, carries on two distinct industries on his property at the north end of Second Street in this city. His greenhousas cover a large space and his florist business is flourishing, while he has had his own blacksmith shop in operation for a number of years. Mr. Coates was born at Simcoe, County Norfolk, Ontario, Dominion of Canada, November 8, 1856, and is a son of Thomas and Jane (Alderson) Coates.

Thomas Coates was born at Richmond, Yorkshire, England, in 1819. and died in 1883. He was a carriage-maker by trade, and after emigrating to Canada, settled at Simcoe, where he did a large business and gained an extended reputation as a carriage and wagon manufacturer. He retired from active business about eight years before his death. In the management of municipal affairs at Simcoe he was very prominent, holding numerous responsible offices, and at the time of his death was acting mayor. His children were: Joseph, residing at Simcoe; Maria, who married Francis Hurt; Thomas, residing at Simcoe ; Edward, and George. Maria and George are both deceased. The family was reared in the faith of the Episcopal Church.

Edward Coates attended the common schools and during his vacations he learned the wood-working trade with his father, and by the time he was sixteen years of age he had a working knowledge of wagon-making. He then learned carriage-ironing and for several years was thus employed in some of the best shops at Simcoe. Following this he formed a partnersliip with his brother Joseph under the firm name of J. & E. Coates, for the manufacture of wagons and carriages, and the firm also engaged in undertaking. Edward Coates continued as a member of this firm until 1880, when he withdrew to give his entire attention to horseshoeing. For some years ])revious he had had considerable practice in this line, and had acquired enough skill to make him feel confident of success. After securing a diploma from the Toronto Veterinary College as a horse farrier, he opened a shop at Simcoe.

In the latter part of 1883 IMr. Coates came to Cuyalioga Falls and started into business for himself, at Northampton. Shortly afterward he removed to Miuiroe Falls, where he remained until 1885, wlien he returned to Cuyahoga Falls and entered into partnership with Joseph Jones, under the firm name of .Tones & Coates, in the business of horseshoeing and general repairing. Several yeaRs later Mr. Coates bought the interest of Mr. Jones and continued alone until 1899, when he purcha.«ed the business of F. D. Vogan. and after that was the only proprietor and operator of a shop of this kind at Cuyahoga Falls for four years. Mr. Coates prospered so well that he decided to expand his facilities and, accord- ingl}', moved to his present site on Second Street, building his present commodious and well-equipped shop. He still 3oes a very large business in this line.

In his boyhood Mr. Coates had worked at times in a florist's establishment, and finding the work congenial, had subsequently resolved, now that he had the time, to take up floriculture as a husines.-;. In 1904 he built his first greenhouse, a stnicture 14 by 60 feet, intending to i-un it as a kind of side issue, but he succeeded so well and his trade increased so rapidly that in 1905 he built another greenhouse, 20 by 60 feet ui dimensions, and he now devotes about three acres to plants and flowers. He deals mainly in bedding plants and finds a ready local market for all ho can produce. Beginning this business more for recreation than for profit, Mr. Coates has developed it into something very important and remunerative.

Mr. Coates was married to Mary A. Monteith, who is a daughter of \^'illiam Monteith, of Simcoe, Ontario, but who was born in County Donegal. Ireland. They have two children. Edward M., residing at Cleveland, and Ruth M. The family belong to St. John's Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Coates has ser\-ed two terms as a member of the vestry. His fraternal connections are with the National Union, being secretary of the local council, and of the Modern Woodmen of America, being a chai"ter member of the organization at Cuyahoga Falls.

PAUL E. WERNER, founder, president and general manager of the Werner Company, at Akron, book manufacturers, lithographers, printers and engi-avers, and also publishers of the New AVerner Edition of the Encyclopaedia Brittannica. has been in active business life in this city for a great many years. Mr. Werner was born in 1850, in Wurtemberg, Germany, a kingdom that has contributed to America some of her leading citizens, and came to the United States in 1867.

firms, in the meanwhile preparing himself and laying the foundations tor a business of his own. In the above mentioned year he purchased the Akron Germania, and in four years had made such progress that he felt justified in enlai-ging his scope of operations, ui 1878 founding the Sunday Gazette, and also the Akron Tribune, daily and weekly. The management of all these journals he kept in his own hands until 1884. Pressure of 'dher busine.ss then induced Mr. Werner to dispose of his newspapers, and he then turned his entire attention to general printing, binding and engraving. In 1888 Mr. Werner organized a stock company which was the forerunner of the present great book factory, which represents, in a special degree, the development of the ideas and the persevering industry and foresight of its founder.

Among the many prospering business enterprises of Akron few are more widely known, and still fewer are of equal importance to t^iis section than the Werner Company, the officers of which are men of capital, public spirit and unblemished integrity. They are; Paul E. Werner, president and general manager; R. M. Werner, vice-president and a.~sistant treasurer; C. I. Bruner, treasurer; Karl Kendig, secretary; H. M. Huddleston, assistant secretary; and Edward P. Werner, general superintendent.

The Werner Company is by far the largest and most complete book factory on the American Continent. It comprises under one roof, so to speak, and vmder one management, all the graphic arts and trades. It furnishes directlv and indirecth' the material means of livelihood for from 4,000 to 5,000 Akron inhabitants. The great majority of the employees of the Werner Company are skilled in trades and arts and receive high compensation. During the year 1906 the works of the Werner Company were in unintermpted operation and a great part of the time were running thirteen hours daily. In order to form an idea nf the magnitude of this great industrv the following will be of interest: Dtiring that year this companv purchased and received raw material and shipped finished products representing the full capacity of 1,200 railroad cars. The products included more than 3,000,000 of large books; more than 15,000,000 of large and finely-illustrated catalogs made for the largest manufacturing concerns of this country, and millions of other printed, lithographed and engraved articles. If the boolcs alone which were manufactured by the Werner Company last year were laid on one pile alone, one on top of the other, this pile would reach ninety-six miles into the air. If these books were laid side by side, they would constitute a line 500 miles long.

The raw materials consumed during the past year comprise 3,500 different kinds, the largest consumption being in paper, cloth, leather, gold and ink. A little calculation will show how immense has been the output. If the paper consumed for only the past year were laid in sheets, side by side, they would reach around the world four times. The binders' cloth consumed for this period measured 5,000,000 square feet. The different kinds of leather consumed required the skins of 25,000 cattle, 30,000 sheep, and 36,000 Persian and Morocco goats. Over 3,000,000 leaves of gold were consumed.

While the principal product of this factory is books, the Werner Company has a worldwide reputation for furnishing fine commercial work, typographic as well as lithographic, and catalogs of every description, and of this particular kind of product it makes more than any other concern in the United States.

President Werner of the above company has numerous other interests in city and county and has been the encourager of many of the enterprises which needed a helping hand when getting established. He is president of the Klages Coal and Ice Company, is president of the Akron Germania Company, and also of the German-American Company.

On February 22, 1873. Mr. Werner was married to Lucj'^ Anna Denaple. and they have three sons - Edward Paul. Frank Albert and "Richard Marvin. All three were educated at Kenyon Military Academy, at Gambier, Ohio, subsequently attended schools in the East, and finally completed their general educations in Germany. Edward Paul, who is the general superintendent of the Werner CompaRy, was married in 1901 to Harriet Poehlman, and they have three children: Frank Albert, residing at Berlin, Germany, has made a reputation, at the age of thirty years, as a portrait artist ; and Richard Marvin, who is vice-president and assistant treasurer of the Werner Company, married Eda R. Hyndman, and they have one child. Their home is at No. 282 West Market Street. Although Mr. AVerner's life has been mainly devoted to his large business interests, he is recognized as one of the foremost publicspirited men in the community. His influence is felt in the furtherance of educational and philanthropic movements at Akron.

T. DWIGHT PAUL, assistant state engineer, was born at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, July 21, 1848. He is a son of the late Hosea Paul, who was a pioneer citizen and sun'eyor. Hosea Paul was born at Northfield, Vermont, April 6, 1809. In 1834 he removed to Cuyahoga Falls, where he afterward served as justice of the peace and mayor. He located several of the first railroads in this section, and waa county surveyor for many years. During 1863-4 he served as an assistant engineer in the United States Engineer Corps department of the Army of the Cumberland. His death in 1870 was hastened by hardships endured in his war service. He was noted for his mgged honesty, and for his outspoken opposition to slavery and intemperance, when it required courage to express such sentiments.

T. Dwight Paul was educated in. the public schools at Cuyahoga Falls and the Pennsylvania Polytechnic College at Philadelphia. He was married in 1877 to Emeline Owens, of Armstrong's Mills. Belmont County, Ohio. Two children were born to them : Ethel, who died in 1900, at the age of twenty-one years, and Frank D. Paul, a graduate of the Ohio State University, who is now a mechanical engineer at Cleveland. They have two foster children, Theresa and Lewis Paul, whom they took to raise upon the death of their daughter.

by appointment and for three years was resident engineer of the Public, Works of Ohio, and for one year was United States deputy mineral surveyor, of Montana. He was chief engineer of the B. Z. & C. R. R. in 1S75-6, building the same from Bellaire to Woodsfield, Ohio. He has sened as division engineer of the Canada Southern, Chicago, Lakeshore & Western, the Chicago & Erie, the Union Pacific, and other railroads, in Canada, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan. Kansas, Nebraska, Idaho, Montana and AVashington.

In 1902-3 he was engineer in charge of construction of the Akron & Barberton Belt Railroad. In 1894-5 he had charge of the field work of the survey of a proposed ship canal through Ohio for the United States government.

Mr. Paul served in the Akron City Council from 1898 to 1901. He twice prevented the Akron Street Railroad from obtaining an extension of their franchise on a 5-cent fare basis, and compelled a basis of twenty-five tickets for one (1) dollar. He was very largely instrumental in securing independent telephone service for Akron. He made a remarkable record in opposition to all franchise aggression, and to all forms of hasty or secret legislation, often voting alone in his opposition. Mr. Paul has still work to do before his history closes, and his friends believe it will not be unimportant.

WARD B. MIDDLETON, physician and surgeon at Cuyahoga Falls, and proprietor of "The Elms," a private hospital, is an eminent member of his profession, for which he prepared by long courses of study in the most advanced scientific schools of the country. Dr. Middleton was born in Jackson Township, Coshocton County, Ohio. October 24, 1858, and is a son of Jesse and Susan A. (Titus) Middleton. Ignatius Middleton, the paternal grandfather of Dr. Middleton, was bom in South Carolina, where he owned a large plantation and was one of a distinguished family, his uncle, .\rthur Middleton, being one of the .signers of the Declarntion of Independence.

Jesse Middleton, father of Dr. Middleton. was born in South Carolina and was a son of Ignatius and Sarah (Loomis) Middleton. He died in Coshocton County, Ohio, in 1886, aged seventy-six years. He had long been engaged in farming and stock-raising. In politics he was a stanch Democrat. He married Susan A. Titus, who was a daughter of Timothy Titus, of Harrison County, and she resides at Roscoe, Ohio, being now in her eightysixth year. They had five children, namely: William C, residing on the old homestead; Caroline, who married John Norris and resides in Coshocton County; Frances L., who married Henry Ash and resides at Roscoe, Ohio; Bessie (deceased), who married Dr. G. S. Morris, of Arkansas City, Kansas; Ward B., the youngest, who-se name begins this sketch. Jesse Middleton and his wife were early promoters of the Presbyterian Church in Coshocton County.

In boyhood Dr. Middleton attended first the local schools and later the Normal school at Ada, and a school at Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania. He taught school for seven years, during which period he entered upon the study of medicine, beginning to read in 1880 under Dr. W. C. Frew, of Coshocton. He subsequently entered the Medical College of Ohio, at Cincinnati, where he was graduated March 5, 1885. He began the practice of his profession at Roscoe, where he remained for eighteen months, then practiced for one year at Newark, after which he became examining surgeon for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, for four years residing at Pittsburg, and for the latter four years of this connection at Akron. Dr. Middleton retired from railroad practice in 1899, since which time he has mainly devoted himself to surgery, residing at Cuyahoga Falls, where, in Februarv% 1905, he opened his private hospital. This medical retreat which he has named "The Elms" is a modern institution, beautifully located and thoroughly equipped, with accommodations for ten patients, all of whom come directly under Dr. IMiddleton's personal care.

Medical Association. He keeps closely in touch with the progress of his profession and iiiiikes use of such perfected apparatus as his own knowledge and experience have proved to be of value. In 1898 he passed three months in the New York Polyclinic Hospital, doing post-graduate work in surgery and gynecology ; in the fall of 1899 he spent three weeks in the Chicago Clinical School ; in the fall of 1900 he took a special course in gynecology ait the Mary Thompson Hospital, Chicago, under Dr. Byron Robinson, and at the same time he took an operative course in the post-graduat« school in the same city, which he has visited since.

Dr. Middleton married Clara R. Wood, who is a daughter of H. H. Wood, of Coshocton County, and they have two children, namely: Louise A. and Margaret L. Dr. Middleton is nominally identified with the Democratic party, but is practically independent in political action. He is affiliated Avith the Methodist Episcopal Church.

HARRY W. HAROLD, one of the substantial retired residents of Akron, where he has lived for the past twenty-seven years, was born at Maidstone, County Kent, England, in 1829.

Prior to coming to America in 1859, Mr. Harold had been well educated in an English school, and had already served for twelve years in the British army. He located at Oxford, Worcester County, Massachusetts, from which place lie enlisted in 1861 for service in the Civil War in Company E, Fifteenth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. On accoimt of his previous military experience, he was made drill master of Company E, in which he held the rank of sergeant. The regiment was stationed in Virginia during the term of Mr. Harold's service, and it participated in numerous hai'd battles.

After his honoraible discharge from the army, which came in 1863, on account of illness, Mr. Harold returned to Massachusetts, and shortly afterward went to work in the government armory at Springfield, where he remained for two vears. This was followed bv a A'isit to his old home in England, and, after returning to America, he was engaged for thre« years in a cutlery business in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and then came to Ohio, and for five years carried on a gun and cutlery business at Alliance. Four years of farming in Lee County, Illinois, followed, and then Mr. Harold lived one year at Canton, Ohio, coming from there to Akron. For three and one-half years he was superintendent of the Akron Cutlery Works, after which he engaged* in a gunsmith business for himself, continuing until 1900, when he retired from ;dl kinds of business. As recreation he does quite a little bit of gardening on his pleasant grounds at No. 318 Carroll Street. He owns (ither property at Akron.

In 1866 Mr. Harold was married to Anna Proudley, : and they have one child, Charles B., who is bookkeeper for the Star Drilling A\'orks. With his family, Mr. Harold belongs to the Episcopal Church. Politically, he is a Republican. He has never lost his interest in military affairs and enjoys attending the reunions of his old regiment. During and since the Civil War he has been interested in the philanthropic work carried on by Clara Barton, of the Red Cross Society, for whom he has the greatest veneration and with whom he carries on a friendly correspondence.

The Loomis Hardware Company

(ine of the oldest business firms at Cuyahoga Falls, which was established in 1864 and incorporated in 1895, does the largest business in its line in Summit County. Its main founder was L. W. Loomis, the late father of the present proprietors, Byron H. and Ining L. Loomis, who was prominently identified with the progress and development of this section for very many years. L. W. Loomis was born January 11, 1836, at Nelson, Madison County, New York, and was the eldest of a family of eleven children born to his parents, who were William and Emeline (Thomas) Loomis.

until he had reached his inajoritj-, when he started out for himself. His capital of $10 he used in preparing to go out on the road as a tin peddler for the firm of Smith & Harrington, of Waterloo, New York, and he was in the employ of this house when he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Company G, Thirteenth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantrj'. During the two years he was in the army he participated in the battles of Yorktown, Hanover Court House, Ball's Bluff and other engagements of more or less importance, and was honorabh' discharged at Canandaigua, New York, February 6, 1864.

After his return from the army, Mr. Loomis resumed work for his old employers, until Febniary, 1864, when, with his brother, Horace E. Loomis, he came to Cuyahoga Falls, and, in partnership with his former firm, established the business which is now known as the Loomis Hardware Company. Mr. Loomis and brother contributed ten tinware wagons and they had a half interest m the business. In March, 1865, L. W. Loomis bought his brother's interest, and in 1868 he became the sole owner of the business. He found a market all over the country, and for twenty years kept up the peddling business in seasonable time, replacing the tinware with a hardware stock.

On .Tune 10, 1895, the Loomis Hardware Company was incorporated by L. W., Byron H. and In'ing L. Loomis. This business has been since expanded into one of the largesit in the county. The store at Cuyahoga Falls is stocked with everything in the line of hardware, including kitchen furnishings and ranges. The tinware department has been resumed, and they have a special trade which takes their manufactured goods.

"\ATien Mr. Loomis came to Cuyahoga Falls in 1864, he found a town with a population of 1.500. with few signs of improvements of a public character. It was through his personal efforts that a petition was circulated which resulted in the incorporation of the town. He was a man of great enterpri-e and remarkable foresight. In 1879, in partner- .«hip with H. E. Parks, he opened up High

Bridge Glen, which became a very popular public resort, and during Mr. Loomis' management a pavilion costing $3,500 was erected. From the time of its organization until his death Mr. Loomis was president of the Falls Savings and Loan ^^ociation. In politics he was a Repubhcan, and no man was ever better qualified for civic office, but the only office he would accept was that of councilman. For many years he was connected with Howard Lodge of Odd Fellows.

On June 3, 1864, Mr. Loomis was married to Jane Curtiss-, who w^as a daughter of Chauncey Curtiss, of Canandaigua, New York, and they had five children, three of whom reached maturity, namely: Lillian M., born March 21, 1865, who died August 31, 1898 ; Byron H., who was born September 18, 1868; and Ir\'ing L.. who was born August 21, 1871; Mrs. Jane Loomis, mother of these children, died May 26, 1895.

Byron H. Loomis was reared and educated at Cuyahoga Falls and has been connected with his present enterprise during the whole of his business life. He is secretary and treasurer of the Loomis Hardware Company.

Irving L. Loomis, who is president and general manager of the Loomis Hardware Company, like his brother, passed through the Cuyahoga Falls High School and then entered the present business, working for five years in the tinshop. On March 23, 1895, he was married (first) to Mabelle Campbell, a daughter of C. A. Campbell, of Hudson. She died November 7, 1897, leaving one son, Carl C. Mr. Loomis was married (second). November 24, 1898, to Clara L. Nelson, who is a daughter of Chester Nelson, of Tallmadge. Mr. Loomis belongs to Star Lodge, No. 187, F. & A. M., and to the Knights of Pythias, in which he is pa«t commander, being also a member of the Uniformed Rank of Cuyahoga Company, No. 84.

F. H. MASON, first vice-president of the B. F. Goodrich Company, at Akron, has been a resident of this city for twenty-eight years and is prominently and officially connected with many of the important business enter-

In early life the parents of Mr. Mason removed to Vermont, where he was reaxed and educated, but young manhood found him in the oil fields of Pennsylvania, and later on in the mining regions of California. There he gained a large amount of practical knowledge, combined with beneficial experience. In 1879 he came to Akron and entered the works of the Goodrich Company as a general employe, but was shortly made foreman, then assistant superintendent and later superintendent and general manager. On January 1, 1907, he succeeded B. G. Work as first vice-president of this company. He owns .stock in a number of other successful enterprises, and is president also of the Bridgewater Machine Company, and is on the directing board of the Thomas Phillips Company.

In 1876 Mr. Mason was married to May L. Dexter, of Bangor, Maine, and they have two daughters: Mrs. H. K. Rayman, whose husband is connected with the B. F. Goodrich Company; and Mrs. Frank C. Howland, who is connected with the Thomas Phillips Pipe Company, of Akron.

JAMES LYONS, one of the venerable residents of Northfield Town.ship, Summit County, Ohio, who, despite his years, is known as one of this section's most capable and energetic agriculturists, was born in 18B4, in Aberdeenshire. Scotland, and is a son of James and Martha (Sangster) Lyons.

Mr. Lyons remained on his father's farm until reaching his majority, when he emigrajted to America, and settled in Bedford, Ohio, being employed there for two years on the Cleveland and Pittsburg Railroad. Since that time he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1864 he came to Northfield Township and purchased his present fine farm of 160 acres, of which he cultivates about 100 acres, keeping two men constantly and extra hands during han^est tame. In the past he has paid particular attention to dairying, milking on an average of twenty-five cows and shipping milk to Cleveland, but because of the difficulty so universally experienced in securing competent farm help in these days, he has decided to give up dairying, and, therefore, keeps but sixteen cows, giving his entire time to feeding cattle for the market.

Mr. Lyons was married to Betsey Freeman, who is a daughter of John Freeman, of Solon, Ohio, and who was bom on the voyage from Scotland to America in 1836. Of this union there have been born four children : Ann (decea.sed), who was the wiie of Fred Aldrich, of Cleveland, and has two children: Ellen, who is the wife of Leon Kellogg, reared five children; (one. Hazel, died in September, 1907, in her thirteenth year) ; George, the only son of his parents, died in 1900, aged twenty-eight years; and Margaret, who is the wife of Frank Gossman, of Macedonia. They reared four children: Bertha, Ralph, Jennie and an infant, deceased.

James Lyons is one of Northfield Township's prudent, observing and public-spirited citizens, and stands deservedly high in the esteem of his fellow-townsmen. Although never an office-seeker, he is a stanch Republican and has sensed several terms as supervisor. With his family he attends the United Presbyterian Church.

T, L. FIRESTONE, proprietor of the Empire Hotel, the leading hostelry at Akron, has been a resident of this city for the past thirtyeight years. He was born at Fredericksburg, Wayne County, Ohio, in 1846, where he lived until twelve years of age, when his mother died and he went to live with his uncle at Newark, Ohio.

His education was completed in the Newark schools and at the age of seventeen he entered the Federal army. His fiLrst enlistment for six months was in Company E, ]29th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which regiment was raised at Cleveland. After the close of his first enlistment he remained at home for two weeks and then re-enli.sted, entering Company H, 102d Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for a term of three years, and served until the close of the war. During his first period in the army he was a member of Cox's Division, Burnside's Corps. He was present when Cumberland Gap was taken, in 1863, and went through the entire Knoxville campaign. During liis second period he was in the Twentieth Army Corps, and his service w^as mainly in Tennessee and Alabama, the command to which he was attached following and intercepting the Confederate, General Hood, whenever it was possible. During the first enlistment he served as a private, and during the second held the rank of corporal. He was honorably discharged August 12, 1865.

After Mr. Firestone returned home he learned the turner's trade, at Fredericksburg, and - after coming to Akron, in 1869, he worked as a turner, being connected for ten years with the W. B. Doyle Company. For one and one-half years he was employed by the Simon Hankey Company, and later, for the same period, by the Baker-McMillan Company. In 1882 he returned to his old home in Fredericksburg, where he engaged in a lumber business and planing mill for eight and one-half years, and subsequently worked with the Gobeille Pattern Company, of Cleveland, for one year, and with the firm of Slatei and Taft for one year. Mr. Firestone then returned to Akron and was associated with Andrew Jackson in a lumber business, later was with the Akron Gymnasium Company for a year, and was with Hiram Henry for one and one-half years. After retiring from that line of work, Mr. Firestone went into the hotel business, for ten years having charge of the Windsor Hotel. In June, 1906, he took charge of the Empire Hotel, the leading one at Akron.

In 1874 Mr. Firestone was married to NeUie Hanson, who is a daughter of Peter Hanson, and they have one son, G. Forrest. The latter was born at Akron in 1876, and after graduating from the Akron High School, spent one term at Buchtel College, and three years in the law department of the University of Michigan, graduating at the latter institution in 1898. Since then he has been in the active practice of law at Akron and is a member of the Summit County Bar Association. In 1904 he was married to Ruth E. Loomis, who is a daughter of H. E. Loomis, of Akron. He belongs to the Delta Tau Delta college frar ternity, is a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the Odd Fellows.

THOMAS PORTER RITCHIE, a repre- .«entatlve agriculturist of Stow Township, who resides on his 110-acre farm, was born on his present property in Stow Township, Summit County, Ohio, November 27, 1859, and is a son of George Grier and Katherine (Shannon) Ritchie.

William Ritchie, the grandfather of Thomas P., was a native of County Donegal, Ireland, and died in 1825, when comparatively a young man. He left a widow, formerly Isabella Grier. and in 1834 she came to America with her children, settling first in Hudson Township, Summit County, Ohio, and later removing to Boston Township, where she died. In Ireland Mr. Ritchie's family belonged to the Church of the Covenant, but after coming to America they became members of the United Presbyterian Church. Five children were born to William Ritchie and his wife, namely: William, Martha, Margaret, George G. and Alexander.

George Grier Ritchie was born in Londondeny, Ireland, in February, 1823, and was eleven years old when the family came to America. With his brother, Alexander, who now resides at Akron, he purchased the farm now owned by Thomas P. Ritchie, then a tract of 200 acres. Later he became the purchaser of this property and added, from time to time, until he was the owner of 312 acres. Mr. Ritchie was engaged in sheep raising principally imtil the cheese industry became more, profitable, when he engaged in dairy farming, and at one time kept as many as fifty cows. He was a Prohibitionist and a great Abolitionist, and, although physical infirmity prevented him from ser\"ing in the Union ranks during the Civil War, he gave $500 to the cause. George G. Ritchie married Kaitherine Shannon, who was born in Holmes County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Thomas Shannon. Six children were born to this union : Maria, who married Charles Ritchie, of Weyauwega, Wisconsin; Thomas Porter; W. Shannon, who resides at Corona, California; James, who resides in Stow Township; Mary, who married Will Sauder, of Ravenna, Ohio; and George, who resides at Columbus, Ohio. Mrs. Ritchie is a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, while her children are connected with the United Presbyterian.

Thomas Porter Ritchie grew up on the homestead, and was educated in the common schools. With the exception of two years spent on an Iowa farm, he has always resided here, and he now raises hay, wheat, oats and corn, on about fifty acres. He keeps nine cows, and is also engaged in dealing in calves, which he buys all over the country, shipping them to Cleveland. Mr. Ritchie is a Democrat in politics, but he has never sought office.

Mr. Ritchie was married to Carrie Deming, who is a daughter of George Deming, of Durant, Iowa, and they have six children, namely: J. Clayton, Leland A., Carlton W., George Deming, Nathan L. and Clark G.

E. S. DAY, vice-president of the National City Bank of Akron, and a prominent business citizen here of thirty years standing, was born in 1852, at Bingiianilon. New York, and to his native state he owes his liberal education.

Prior to coming to Akron, in 1877, Mr. Day was interested in busine.'v'; at Binglia.niton, and since coming to this section has been engaged in the wholesale liquor business, in point of years being the oldest merchant in the citv. He has done an extensive business in dealing in real estate and is a large property owner. For the pa.^t five years he has been vice-president of the National City Bank, and he is on the directing board of the Central Savings Bank. His other interests here are varied and numerous.

Mr. Day is a ^ood citizen in all that the word implies. He has been closely identified with the material growth of Akron and her enterprises and has always been concerned in promoting her best interests. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

B. G. WORK, president of the B. F. Goodrich Company, of Akron, which controls one of the largest manufacturing plants in this section of the state, was born in the state of New York, in 1868.

Mr. Work's boyhood, up to twelve years, was spent in his native place, and there his preliminary education was secured. In 1880 he came to Akron and subsequently attended Williston Seminary, at Easthampton, Massachusetts, and then entered Yale College. After completing his education he took up practical work with the Goodrich Company, starting in as a clerk and climbing step by step until he became superintendent of the plant and served as such for twelve years, when he succeeded Mr. Corson as vice president, and on January 1, 1907, he succeeded Col. George T. Perkins as president.

EDWARD RUSSELL PECK, one of the well known and highly esteemed residents of Stow Township, Summit County, Ohio, who owns a fine farm of 125 acres, was born October 7, 1836, in Hudson Township, Summit County, Ohio, and is a son of William Hall and Lydia (Bradley) Peck.

Rufus Peck, the grandfather of Edward Ru.ssell, was born in Newtown, Connecticut, but in his later years removed to Street.sboro, Ohio, where he resided until his death, March 6, 1848. He married Sallie Hall, and to them were born the following children : Chloe, who married Abel Dibble; Lvman, born December 26, 1801; William Hall, born .July 23, 1803; John N., born March 15, 1805; Nancy P., born .Tuly 20, 1809. married George

William HaJl Peck was born in Newtown, Connecticut, where he learned the trade of carpenter, but on coming to Ohio, in 1834, he purchased a farm in Hud^son Township, on which he resided until his death. He was a Democrat in politics, and was a ca)>tain in the state militia. Mr. Peck was married to Lydia Bradley, who was a daughter of Stephen Bradley, and they had four children : Sarah Ann, who married E. S. Beardsley, of Cleveland, Oliio; Stephen, born in 1834, who died in 1869; Edward Russell; and Joseph, who died in Cleveland. Mrs. Peck pa&-«ed away in 1869 at the age of sixty years.

Edward Russell Peck was reared in Hudson Township, and, in 1863, he purchased the home farm, on which he resided several years. In 1860 he bought his present property, a tract of 125 acres, on which he has since carried on general and dairy farming, and in 1894 erected a fine residence. He is known as one of the township's good, practical farmers, and as a citizen his reputation is beyond reproach.

Mr. Peck was married to Maria Y. Talcott, daughter of Hezekiah and Betsey Talcott, residents of Stow Township, and their children are the following: Nora, who married J. D. Ritchie, lives in Akron ; William H., born September 20, 1869, resides at home; and Gertrude L., who is the wife of Warner Huchison, resides in Chicago.

AMOS A. ROTHROCK, farmer and township trustee of Portage Township, spent twenty-nine years as an educator, teaching with much success in diff'erent sections. He was born in Stark County, Ohio. November 3, 1851. and is a son of Samuel and Catharine (Stauffcr) Rothrock.

they moved to Copley Township, Summit County, where Samuel Rothrock bought a farm of 160 acres. On this place he died in 1870. His widow survived until 1901.

Amos A. Rothrock was reared on the farm in Copley Township. He was a studious boy and in the local schools prepared himself for teaching. Before he entered upon his university career, he had already taught the district schools for nine winters, devoting his summers to work on the farm. He then entered Otterbein University, near Columbus, (^hio. where he completed his education June 11, 1885. Four years of training at college liad prepared him for a prominent place in the educational field, and when he was offered the superintendency of the Mogadore schools, he accepted and remained for one year. After an interval of one year at Dover Academy he spent another year at Mogadore. He then taught for two years at West Richfield, one year in the Akron High School, and two years in the Copley High School, and then spent two more years at Mogadore. A period of twenty-nine years is a long time, but it has been a season of great enjoyment to Mr. Rothrock and of inestimable benefit to those who have come under his instruction, and it is with pleasure that he sees so many of his old pupils occupying positions nf responsibility and prominence in different walks of life.

In 1901, Mr. Rothrock retired from educational work and moved to his finely-improved farm at Fairlawn, just west of Akron. He then resumed farming for the first time .'iince his youth. He takes an active interest in local affairs, the greater part of his life having been passed in this section, perhaps all of it, with the exception of a year during which he was principal of Dover Academy, which is situated within 100 miles of Chicago, Illinois. He is known to all his fellow citizens and has a wide circle of friends. Politically he is a Repxiblican and is now serving his third term as township trustee.

tage County, Ohio, October 17, 1898. Mrs. Rothrock died in February, 1904, and Mr. Rothrock was married, second, in April, 1905, to Harriet E. Stone. He is a member of the M^oodland Methodist Episcopal Church of Akron. He is a man of sterling character and in every sense a representative citizen.

J. FRANK TEEPLE, one of Akron's well known business men, who does a large real estate and collection business, with offices in the Walsh Block, was born in Franklin Township, Summit Couty, Ohio, in 1866, and is a son of Aaron Teeple, who was a substantial citizen of that section.

J. Frank Teeple was mainly educated in a select school at Copley, and this was supplemented by a business course under 0. S. Warner, after which he became interested in the grocery line, in which he continued for sixteen years, during nine of these for other parties and seven years for himself. After selling out his grocery interests, Mr. Teeple started a collection agency and also went into the real estate business, having a valuable allotment on West Market Street. He handles a considerable amount of his own property, and among his fellow citizens is considered a man of his word and of most excellent business judgment.

In February, 1892, Mr. Teeple was married to Minnie M. Howes. He is a first-class citizen and takes an active part in all local affairs, lending his influence in .support of public-spirited measures on all occasions. He is a Knight of Pythias and a member of the Modern Woodmen.

A. W. BENNAGE, a leading business citizen of Akron, and a member of the firm of George A. Botzum Company, dealers in dry goods and ready-to-wear garments, has been a resident of this city for a quarter of a century and belongs to an old pioneer family of the county. He was born in Bath Township, Summit County, Ohio, in 1861, and is a son of John and Mary fWhitted) Bennage.

1828. During the early business life of John Bennage, he was engaged in the manufacturing of stoneware, but after settling in Bath Township, he engaged in farming. He had ten children, and eight of these still survive.

A. W. Bennage was reared and educated in Bath Township and remained on the home farm until he was twenty years of age, when he went into the lumber business, and bought and cut timber through Ohio and Michigan, and manufactured Imnber for twenty-three years. He was in partnership with W. F. Averill, under the firm name of Bennage & Averill for seventeen years. In 1904 Mr. Bennage became associated with George A. Botzum, in the establishing of the firm of the George A. Botzum Company, which occupies a prominent place in the commercial activities of Akron.

In 1880 Mr. Bennage was married to Sarah Averill, who was born in Copley Township, Summit County, Ohio, and is a daughter of William Averill.

Mr. Bennage is one of Akron's representative citizens and has been identified with many of the movements which have encouraged her growth and increased her prestige.

JAMES B. PAULUS, general farmer and dairyman, residing on his farm of eighty acres, situated in Stow Township, was born in SufReld Township, Portage County, Ohio. April 10, 1853, and is a son of William and Rebecca (Brouse) Paulus.

The Paulus family came originally to Ohio from Pennsylvania, and the grandfather of James B. settled in Portage County, a little east of Mogadore, at a place called Horseheaven, and there William Paulus was reared and there followed the trade of blacksmith. For forty years he served acceptably as a justice of the peace and from his business and the just emoluments of office, he accumulated a competency and retired at the age of fifty years. Politically, he was a Democrat. Fraternally, he was a Mason. He married Rebecca Brouse, who was born in Stark County, and they had the following children : Mary, deceased, who was the wife of George Gethmaii, residing at Kent; Urias, who died in the army during the Civil War, having enlisted at tlie age of seventeen years; Isaac, residing at Canton, Ohio; James B. and Jane, twins, the latter of whom married Louis Newbax, of Akron; Jefferson, residing at Kent; Chloe, who married Daniel Swartz, residing in Suffield Township, Portage County. The father of the above family died in May, 1895, and the mother in December, 1905, the former aged seventy years, and the latter, seventynine years. The mother of Mr. Paulus was a consistent member of the Lutheran Reformed Church.

James B. Paulus grew up on the home farm and until fifteen years of age, more or less regularly attended the district schools, then hired out af farm work by the month. When he was twenty years old he rented a farm in Suffield Township, which he operated for two year.5, when he married, and in 1875, came to Stow Township, Summit County. He purchased his present farm of Horace Moon, and has all of it under cultivation, together with fifty-five additional acres, which he rents. He raises his own grain and hay, and for some years devoted a great deal of space to potatoes. He runs a dairy business with fourteen cows, disposing of his milk at Kent, and he also keeps about five head of horses. Mr. Paulus has done a great deal of improving on this property. He found no better accommodations than an old log cabin and in the first year he built a part of his present comfortable residence, which he completed in 1904, in the meanwhile erecting substantial barns and putting up good fences.

Mr. Paulus was married to Caroline Hively, who died July 15, 1907. She was a most estimable lady, a devoted wife and mother and a kind friend to all who brought their troubles to her. She was the mother of six children, namely: Charles, deceased; Ada, who died aged twenty^hree years; Edwin, who died aged fourteen years ; Willard, residing at home; Theresa, deceased, who married Henry Brown : and Edna, residing at homo.

Democratic party. He is not an oflBce-seeker, but consents to serve in local positions when called upon, and for many terms has been township supervisor.

JACOB LAPP, proprietor of the Lapp cooperage plant, located at No. 1120 East Market Street, is a representative citizen of Akron, where he has lived since 1870. He was born in 1843, at Cuyahoga Falls, Summit County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Margaret Lapp.

The father of Mr. Lapp, who was born in Germany, emigrated to America, and in 1840 settled at Cuyalioga Falls, where he carried on a cooperage business. Of his seven children the six survivors are as follows: John and Jacob, both residing at Akron ; Louisa, wife of Ezra Spellman, of Akron ; Elizabeth, wife of William Eves, residing at Akron ; William, a resident of Akron ; and Hattie (Mrs. Douglass), also residing at Akron.

Jacob Lapp was educated in the public schools of his native place, and learned the trade of cooper, working for many years according to the methods in vogue before cooperage machinery was invented. He made many of the barrels formerly used by the Standard Oil Company. Later he associated his son with him in business and in 1883 they established the plant at its present location in Akron, where a very large business is now carried on. Staves are shipped to this plant by the carload from all parts of the United States. Mr. Lapp owns a stave factory himself, which is situated at AVoodside. He also owns four other cooper shops located in Orrville, one in Columbus, another in Toledo, and still another in Kent, Ohio. These several plants give employment to about 100 men. Barrels of all kinds are manufactured, and the name of Lapp gives evidence of their superior quality.

On July 8, 1863, Mr. Lapp was married to Frances E. Rice and they have the following children: Fred M., who is associated in business with his father, married Sarah Rothrock, and has two children. Harry and ClaytiLs; Harry J., managing a branch cooper shop at Toledo, mai'ried Elizabeth Furness; Alma and Grace E., both residing in Akron, the former of whom is the wife of August Manthey, a molder by occupation; and the latter, wife of Charles Smith, captain of Fire Department No. 2, of Akron.

Fraternally, Jacob Lapp is an Odd Follow, while Fred M. is identified with the Knights of Pythias. They both are men of high standing commercially and belong to the progressive, reliable class of citizens to which Akron owes much of its prosperity.

HARRY BROWN MILLS, proprietor of the Kleanit Manufacturing Company, at Akron, is one of the city's native successful business men and representative citizens. He was born in 1867, at Akron, Ohio, and belongs to a old pioneer family of this section.

Ithel Mills, the grandfather of Harry B., was born in New York, and was a pioneer of resourceful and enterprising character. He located in Summit County at a very early day and he built the old county court-house. He married Emily Spioer, who was a daughter of Major Minor Spicer, who was the first settler of Akron, a.nd one of Summit County's prominent men in his day. The late William H. Mills, the father of'H. B., was born at Akron, where his life AA-as spent. He married Alice S. Brown, a daughter of Charles W. Brown, the Browns being also old Summit County settlers.

Harry B. Mills was reared and educated in his native place. Early in his business career he conducted a grocery, but for the past sixteien years he has been intere-^ted in his present manufacturing business. The introduction of his product, Kleanit, met with success from the start, and in face of all competition, has been accepted as the best article of its kind ever piit on the market. It has reqiiired comparatively little advertising, proving its merits wherever used. Mr. Mills has a constantly increasing business which now extends over a large territo^^^ He is located at No. 1009 South High Street, Akron.

father was George Smith, a well-known citizen of that section. Mr. and Mrs. Mills have three children - Ruth, Paul and Mildred. Mr. Mills belongs to the First Christian Church at Akron.

CHARLES EDAVARD HANSON, residing on his finely-improved farm of 124 acres, in Stow Township, is one of this section's \v]trosentalive agriculturists. Mr. Hanson waborn August 24, 185'). in Hudson Town.ship. Summit County, Ohio, and is a son of Richard and Susanna (Briggs) Hanson.

Richard Hanson was born August 10, 1827, in the town of Whapwood, Lincolnshire, England, and was there married. He came to this country with his children, and immediately afterward engaged in the wagon-making businass, with his brother Charles, under the firm name of Hanson Brothers, later becoming sole proprietor. Subsequently he purchased a farm in Stow Town-^hip. which he cultivated until his retirement from active farm work, when he removed to Hudson Township, and there his death occurred in his seventy-fifth year. Originally a Whig, Mr. Hanson later became a Republican, but he never aspired to political office. He was married to Susanna Briggs, who was born in 1828, and to them there were born the following children: Charles Edward; Richard and Hewson, of Stow Town.ship : Thomas Henry, of Hudson Township ; William George and Jamas, of Stow Township ; Mary Susanna and Charlotte, both of Hudson Township; and Albert David. The family belong to the Episcopal Church.

Charlfts Edward Hanson resided in Hudson Township imtil he was eleven years old, at which time his parents came to Stow Township, and here he worked on the farm until 1880, at which time he purchased his present 124-acre tract, which he has cultivated to the present time. He also manages twenty-four acres helonging to his .sister-in-law. He devotes considerable attention to cattle-raising and has from twenty to twenty-five head. He ships milk to the condensing milk factory, at Kent, Ohio. .Mr. Hanson recentlv remod- clod bLs home, vvbicli now includes twelve roon:is and a bath, and built his present barns, one being a combined horse-barn and wagonhouse 30 by 60 feet, with 18-foot posts, and the other 58 by 60 feet, with' 22-foot posts, for his stock, and, in addition, has a fine granary, 20 by 28 feet. He keeps his buildings in the best of condition, and his farm in general presents a fine appearance.

Mr. Hanson was married to Orrie Stewart, who was a daughter of Thomas and Catherine Stewart, of Stow Township. She died in 1896, aged thirty-eight years, having been the mother of .six children, namely: Rose E., Zena, Charles Frederick, Abigail I., Thomas S. and Eddie, the latter of whom died aged seven yeare. In his political views. Mr. Hanson is a Republican, and he has filled the offices of school director and supervisor, and been township trustee for sixteen years.

JULIUS OSCAR WILLIAMSON, one of Stow Town.ship's leading citizens, resides on his well-equi]iped farm of 186 aci^s, which he devotes to general farming and dairying. Mr. Williamson was born in Stow Town.^hiji. Summit County, Ohio, on the fann he now owns, March 14, 1846. and is a .son of Palmer and Amy (Horton) W'illiamson.

Palmer W'illiamson was born in Westchester County. New York. October 9, 1802, and died April 30, 1883. From the age of sixteen years he was entirely dependent upon his own efforts, and from poverty and through many hardships he climbed to affluence also, and gained the respect and confidence of all who came within his .sphere. In his youth he worked on the docks and engaged in lumber-^ ing. In 1823 he secured a position as shipfiing clerk at Poughkeepsie. where he continued for three years, doing tlie hardest kind i>f dock work. After his marriage in 1827, he settled down to farming and this continued his main occupation during the rest of liis life. Prior to coming to Ohio he kept a tavern for one year at Goslien, New York. In the .spring of 1831, he brought his family to Tallmadge Township, Ohio, but three years iMter settled in Stow Township, where he invested his capital in a farm of eighty acres. With the help of a frugal, industrious wife, he achieved success and. became a man of ample fortune. His life proved the value of industry, temperance and perseverance, and wiiile it presented no heroic qualities, its unselfishness and general well-doing left its lieneficient influence on his family and community."

In 1827 Palmer Williamson was married t<j Amy Horton and they had the following children: Mary, Horton, Bradner, Susan, .Tane, Aldrette and Julius Oscar. The mother (lied September 27, 1879, aged seventy-six years.

Julius Oscar Williamson found life much ia.<ier in his lioyhood than did his father, and he was afforded fair opportunities in the way of education. After graduating from the High School at Cuyahoga Falls, he attended Hiram ("ollege, and for the subsequent eight years taught school through the winter seasons, and ga\e hfs father assistance on his farm and in tiie dairy during the summers. In 1865 he riilisted for servdce in the Civil War, entering Comi^any D, 198th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, contracting for two years, hut actually serving but five weeks, on account of the happy termination of the great struggle, and he was honorably discharged on May 8, 1865.

Mr. Williamson is an intelligent, practical farmer and dairyman, who successfully em- })loys modern meithods in the conduct of his business. His dairy requires twenty cows to keep up the necessarj^ supply of milk, and he devotes from eighteen to twenty acres of his land to corn, the same to wheat, and from fifteen to twenty acres to oats, and some six acres to potatoes. His silo is fourteen feet square. His dwelling is substantial and everything about the farm gives testimony to careful management. Formerly Air. William-'on was a member of the local Grange, and has always been interested in the agricultural dovelopment of his section.

the have had six children, namely : Henry J., residing at Stow Corners, married Ruth Gaylord, of Stow, and they have three children, Valda, H. Julius and Gaylord; Homer E., operating the home farm with his father, married Alice Nickerson, of Stow, and they have one child, Arlene; Don P., residing at Stow Corners, married Jessie Durbin; Arba G., residing at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; and Earl C. and Amy A., residing at home. The family belong to the Church of Christ, in which Mr. Williamson is an elder, and formerly was superintendent of the Sunday School. He is a thoughtful man who casts his vote as his judgment advises. For many years he has held local office, serving as township trustee and supervisor and also as a useful member of the School Board. His father was a Mason, having joined the fraternity in New York, but Mr. Williamson is not identified with any secret society.

W. LEWIS SHOEMAKER, president of the Day Drug Company, a large retail drug organization of Akron, is one of the leading business men of the city. He was born October 10, 1869, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. At the age of twenty-three years he left the home farm on which he had been reared and began work as clerk in a drug store, being thus employed first at Cumberland, Maryland, and later at Wheeling, West Virginia. In April, 1899, Mr. Shoemaker came to Akron and engaged in a drug business. In November, 1905, The Day Drug Company was incorporated, with a capital stock of $15,000. Its officers are: W. Lewis Shoemaker, president and treasurer, and Sallie B. Shoemaker, secretary, which officials, together with Mark Gair and Scott Housekeeper, constitute a board of directors. The business, entirely retail, is in a very prosperous condition. In addition to his drug interests, Mr. Shoemaker is a stockholder and a director in the Dollar Savings Bank, and is also interested in Akron real estate. In December, 1890, Mr. Shoemaker was married to Sallie Bradley, of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and they have two daughters, Mary

LUCIUS C. MILES, vice-president of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, is a leading citizen of Akron, whose activities have been directed along both business and political lines. He was born at Brookline, Massachusetts.

In 1870 Mr. Miles came to Akron and completed his education in the Akron High School. He entered into busines in partnership with Charles Dick, and they dealt in grain for a period of six years. He became identified with other business enterprises and subsequently was elected president of the Akron Cereal Company, which was merged with the Great Western Cereal Company in 1901. Mr. Miles is on the directing board of the above company, and is also vice-president of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.

Mr. Miles married Harriet M. Seiberling, who is" a daughter of John F. Seiberling. Mr. Miles has been an active citizen and to such a degree that in 1895, he was elected treasurer of Akron and of Summit County, was re-elected in 1896, and served for four years. Personally he is a man of business honor and of social standing.

CHARLES S. SPANGLER, a representative business man of Clinton, Ohio, who is dealing in general merchandise, was born on the old Spangler home farm in Franklin Township, Summit County, Ohio, April 24, 1859, and is a son of Joseph and Caroline (Smith) Spangler.

David Spangler, the grandfather of Charles S., came to Ohio from Adams County, Pennsylvania, with his vnie, Elizabeth (Boety) Spangler. and settled north of Clinton on a farm still in possession of the family, where the rest of their lives was spent. Their children were: Joseph, John, David, Ephraim, Henr\^ Jane and Elizabeth.

helped to clear. Mr. Spangler now lives a retired life at Akron, but still owns a farm in Franklin Township. He was married, first, to Caroline Smith, a native of Franklin Township and daughter of Daniel Smith, who came from Pennsylvania and settled as a pioneer in Ohio. There were ten children born to Joseph and Caroline Spangler, of whom six died in infancy. Those who reached mature years were: Adam G. ; John, now deceased; Charles S. ; and Jennie C, who married 0. W. Baum. After Mrs. Spangler's death, Mr. Spangler married for his secozid wife Adeline Hoy, who was born in South Perry, Hocking County, Ohio. Three children were born of this union - David E., Irving H., and Joseph G.

Charles S. Spangler attended the district schools in boyhood, and worked on his father's farm until 1893, when he located in Clinton and went into partnership with P. M. Frase in a general store. After ten years of successful business dealings this partnership was dissolved, Mr. Spangler purchasing Mr. Frase's interesdis, and since that time he has carried on the business alone. Here he handles a fine line of general stock, while at Turkeyfoot Lake, where he established a branch store in 1906, he carries fancy and staple groceries.

On October 3, 1881, Mr. Spangler was married to Eleanor H. Whitmyer, who was born in Franklin Township, on her father's farm, and is a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Haring) Whitmyer. Mr. and Mrs. Spangler have been the parents of four children - G. Howard, a graduate of Buchtel College; Clinton Grover; Charles Russell; and Elizabeth Beatrice. Mr. Spangler is a member of the order of Maccabees, and in politics is a Democrat. He belongs to the Christian Church, in which he is an elder, and his son Howard deacon and superintendent of the Sunday School.

LUTHER KESLEY RANNEY, fruit grower and farmer, residing on his highlycultivated farm of fifty acres, in Boston Township, was born in Summit County, Ohio, August 19, 1856, and is a son of Luther B. and Caroline (Clapp) Ranney.

The Ranney family Ls one of the oldest in .America and has produced many famous men and women. The ancestral line may be traced to one Thomas Raney, who came to the colonies from Scotland, subsequent members adding the other letteis which make the name as it now stands. The original settler, Thomas had a son, also Thomas, whose son Nathaniel, was the great-great-grandfather of Luther Kelsey Ranney. Nathaniel Ranney (1) died in 1766.

Nathaniel Ranney (2), the great-grandfather, died in 1800, leaving a son. Comfort Ranney, who came as one of the earliest settlers to Boston Township, Summit Comity, Ohio, from a place which is now known as Cromwell, Connecticut. Luther K. Ranney has in his po.ssession a wooden bottle, holding a gallon of liquid, which was made in the days of the French and Indian Wars, which was carried by Comfort Ranney, and which his father had used during the Revolutionary War. It is said that on one occasion the great General Washington accepted a draught from its contents.

Comfort Ranney was born March 20, 178S. His wife, Betsey Hubbard, to whom he was married in 1808, accompanied him to Ohio. He was a ship-builder by trade. He located first at Hudson, but soon afterward removed lo Cleveland, where he later acquired a large amount of land which subsequently became valuable, but, unfortunately for his descendants, not before it had passed out of his possession. He returned to Hudson and operated a sawmill, and after it was destroyed by fire, in 1820, he moved to Boston Township, purchasing the farm on which Euther K. Ranney resides. He died July 14, 1823. His widow subsequently married William Collier, and died January 4, 1868, aged seventy-eight years. There were two sons born to her .second marriage, M. J. and Fred M. Collier, both of whom made brilliant records during the Civil War. Both are deceased.

This loss was keenly felt by his son, Luther B. Kanney, who was then a youth of fourteen years. He determined to regain possession of the old home and immediately accepted a proposition made by a neighboring farmer named Deacon Hudson. This was that Mr. iianney should receive the sum of five dollars a month for his service for a specified time, while Mr. Hudson should take up a pending mortgage and thus give Mr. Ranney's mother, brothers and sisters a home. Mr. Ranney continued to work for Mr. Hudson until he was twenty-one years of age, gradually being able to command more pay, and he lived to see his commendable ambition satisfied, becoming the proud owner of the old farm on the State road. While in Mr. Hudson's employ, he hauled a portion of the brick for building the Western Reserve College.

The farm now contains eighty acres, Mr. Ranney having added a few acres to the original tract after it came into his possession. He was a man of great firmness and determination. Naturally gifted with a fine understanding, he would doubtless have made his mai'k had he been afforded educational advantages. As it was, he overcame difficulties that would have discouraged an ordinary man, took a leading part in the life of his community, and tis an exemplary Christian, set an example. He never united with aii\- religious body, but was a great student of the Bible, reading it with a broad sense of its meaning, such as he could never find included in the tenents of any church. In all things moral and temperate he was praiseworthy, and so lived that his fellow-citizens commended him and pointed him out as an example to the rising generation, fn his political life he supported measures and candidates who could show their substantial claims to recognition, but in no sense was he ever a politician, and the only office he ever held was that of township trustee. He was born November 28, 1809.

In 1833, Luther B. Ranney was married (first) to Salley M. Carter, who died July 29, 1846, leaving the following children: Martha, who died aged eighteen years; Mary deceased, married Willis Leach; Comfort, residing at Lansing, Michigan ; Harriet Sophia, who died m 1907, was the second wife of Willis Leach; and Sarah M., residing with her half-brother, Luther K. Ranney. On April 6, 1847, Luther B. Ranney was married (second) to Caroline Clapp, who was born May 3, 1821, and died May 26, 1895. She was a daughter of Rev. Richard and Anna (Alvord) Clapp, of Northampton, Massachusetts. There were three children born to the second union, namely: Julia Ann, who married John Criss, residing at South Frankfort, Michigan; Luther Kelsey ; and Carrie M., who married William H. Evans, residing at Akron. The family always has resided on the farm, with the exception of three years when they lived at Akron, coming to the city in order tc provide better educational facilities for the children. During the early western gold discoveries, in 1850, Luther B. Ranney went to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and was absent for four years, engaged in mining, and met with success.

Luther Kelsey Ranney attended the distiict schools until ho was seventeen years old, w hen he accompanied tine family to Akron, where. he entered the preparatory department of Buchtel College. There he worked hard, crowding the studies of three years so that he completed the preparatory' course m two years. He then enticed the classical department of the college^ taking the course but not completing it. at the same time doing a large amount of extra Avork on the farm. He was especially proficient in Greek and Latin, and this led the faculty to urge on him the project of fitting himself for a profe.ssorship in- languages. Mr. Ranney would have found in professional life, especially in this line, much that was congenial, l>ut he had to consider the failing health of his parents and the need they bad of his strength, judgment, and .services on the farm, and he speedily settled the matter, by putting aside his own personal desires, and returning to Boston Township.

Mr. And Mrs. John T. Fisher

chards have partiuularly iiilertibted hiin, and he raises a large amount of all vaz'ieties of iino fruit and beiTies. His fruit stock has been scieutiticailj' selected, and under his fostering care produces in abundance. Foi-nierly, he did some trucking. He keeps about hf teen head of cattle and ships his milk to Cleveland. Mr. Ranney married Mary M. Ozman, who was a daughter of Abraham Neumau Ozman, oJ' Boston Township, and they had three children : Luther Carroll, Neuman Clinton and Caroline Eliza. Mrs. Ranney wa^ formerly a member of the Congregational Church at Hudson and a leader in Sunday-school work. Her death, which occurred July 27, 1897, removed a woman of most lovely Christian character from her home and counnunity. Politically, Mr. Ranney is an Independent Demo crat. He retains his membership in the Delta Tau Delta Greek letter fraternitj' of Buchtel College. He has a magniticient library of over 1,0U0 carefully selected volumes, and when other interests fail, Mr. Ranney can generally be found finding plea^iure and recreation in his books, toward which his natural inclinations have always led.

JOHN T. FISHER, a member of the firm of Fisher Brothers, lumber dealers and manufacturers of doors, Siish and blinds, at Akron, was born in Portage County, Ohio, in 1859, where he was reared and secured a district school education. In early manhood Mr. Fisher learned the carpenter trade and learned it so thoroughly that for twenty-six years his work was in demand in every section he lived in, and it has all stood the test of time. Pie became a somewhat noted builder of bank barns, his record being of sixty-two of these substantial structures. The one he erected for AV. G. Hays & Son, near Ravenna, was 200 feet long and 50 wide, with 32-foot posts, being the largest barn ever built in this section of the country. He also erected numerous residences of different styles of architecture. For four years he was interested in n lumber business at Kent and came to Akron in 1901, where, in a.ssocinfion with his brother Philip, his partner, he erected the planing mill and lumber plant at No. 945 South Pligh Street. The firm of Fisher Brotliers do an extensive business and personally they stand high in public esteem.

In 1887 Mr. Fisher wius married to Mary .Knapp, of Suffield, Portage County, Ohio, and they have three children, namely: Jennie, Edith and Esther. The eldest daughter was educated in the schools at Kent and Akron, and after graduating from the Akron Business College, became bookkeeper for the firm of Fisher Brothers and is a very capable young lady. Mr. Fisher and family belong to St. Bernard's Church.

LUCIUS V. BIERCE. wlio has resided on iiis valuable farm of over 100 acres, situated in Tallmadge Township, for the past thirty-two years, is a member of a family which has made tlio name one of distinction in Ohio, ever since it journeyed down the Connecticut Valley t(i the Western Reserve. Lucius V. Bierce was born June 2_, 1827, in Athens County, Ohio, and is a son of William and Harriet (Hineman) Bierce.

For seven years the grandfather of lAieius y. Bierce fought in the Patriot army, in the Revolutionary' AVar. The first of the family concerning whom reliable records have been found, was James Bierce, who was born in England prior to 1730, and who emigrated and settled at Halifax, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, his son, Hezekiah Bierce being born on May 25th of that year. The latter married Deborah Sturtevant, who was born January 23, 1732, and they were the great-grandparents of Lucius A^. Bierce.

AA^illiam Bierce, son of Hezekiah and Deborah Bierce, was born at Plymouth, Massachu.se tts, March 26, 1753, and he married Abigail Bell, who was born October 2, 1754. In April, 1775, AVilliam Bierce enlisted in the Continental army, in which he served until honorably discharged in November, 1783. He V)elonged to Colonel Herman Swift's regiment of Connecticut troops sent immediately after his enlistment, to Ticonderoga. This was thou considered, as if tndy was. an ontpo.«t of civilization, and with the rank of orderlv sergeant, William Bierce did good service here as at other points, participating in the battles of Monmouth, White Plains and Fort George, and starving with his comrades through the dreadful winter at Valley Forge. ^0 better proof of the strenuous life these patriots led in those stormy times, can be found than the fact that when Sergeant Bierce left the army, every superior officer of his company had either been killed or died from hardship. Another unhappy condition was that the soldiers were paid in money that at the end of the war was not negotiable, and for his seven years of faithful service, William Bierce found himself possessed of a bunch of script, of no use except as playthings for his children. He came to Nelson, Ohio, an old man, and his death occurred there. Early in life he was a miller. His grandson, Lucius "V. Bierce, preserves the old veteran's powder horn, of which he made good use at Ticonderoga, in 1775, and which he carried during his seven years of service. Mr. Bierce also treasures a title deed to property, which was given his grandfather in 1803, which bears the signature of Thomas Jefferson, as President of the United States, and of James Madison, Secretary of State.