Summit County, Ohio - Chapter 20: Statistics, 1908 (part 3 of 27)

Few men were more prominent in the early development of Springfield Township than Abraham Rodenbaugh, father of Dr. Rodenbaugh. He was a man of progressive ideas. In the early days he, with John R. Buchtel. founder of Buchtel College, were boj-s from the same neighborhood, grubbed and cleared the timberland on several farms in the southern part of Coventrs- and Springfield Trwnships and purchased and ran one of the first separators for thra.shing wheat in that part of the county. Abraham Rodenbaugh survived until 1897, aged seventj'-nine years, his wife having died in June, 1891. They were widely known for their many worthy characteristics and for the generous hospitality that prevailed in their home.

A. WINKLER, vice-president of the Pettitt Brothers Hardware Company, a leading house in its line of business at Akron, has been a resident of this city almost all his life, although his birth took place in Germany. He was three years of age when his parents came to Akron in 1876. His boyhood was passed in attending to home duties. He wa* taught to be frugal and careful, from necessity, and he attended school imtil he was old enough to begin to learn a trade. He chose to be a tinner and worked under William Ka.sch, at Akron, for three years and then became a.ssociated with the firm of Mav & Fieberger. with whom he continued for eleven years, becoming well and favorably known, both to the trade and the general public. Since 1903 he

In 1897 Mr. Winkler was married to Anna Trommer, who was born at Millersburg, Ohio, and they have one daughter, Beatrice. Mr. Winkler'.s only fraternal connection is with the order of Maccabees. He is a man of practical ideas and of thorough kncnvledge of his line ^f busine.s.s, and finds time, in the course of his busy life, to lend his influence to further the city's welfare, and when the representative men of Akron are mentioned, bis name is included in the honorable list.

- JOSEPH A. BALDWIN. The death of Joseph A. Bald^\dn, w^hioh took place at his home. No. 805 East Market Street, Akron, removed from this section a man who was formerly one of the most important factors in its business life. Mr. Baldwin was born at Goshen, Connecticut, December 6, 1820, and was a son of Erastus and Lucretia (Austin) Baldwin, and a grandson of Daniel Baldwin.

Mr. Baldwin became a resident of Copley Township, Summit County, when seventeen years of age. Four years later he secured employment as a clerk with Kent, MclNIillen & Company, merchants, subsequently entering into partnership with Roswell Kent, under the firm name of J. A. Baldwin & Company, for the manufacture of woolen machinery. The firm style subsequently became McMillen, Irish & Company, and later Kent, Baldwin & Company. Mr. Baldwin was a man of keen bu-siness perceptions and was active in promoting and furthering many of the city's most important industries. In 1872 he became secretarv^ and general manager of the Buckeye Sewer Pipe Company and was identified with it until the close of his life. He was also president of the Summit Sewer Pipe Company and of the Permanent Savings and Loan Association, and a director in the Central Savings and Tni.?t Company. He was looked upon as the pioneer in the clay industry in this section.

A. Kent, a daughter of Alson Kent, who was a well-known citizen of what was fonnerly known as Middlebury. Two children were the fruit of this marriage: Alson, born in 1856, who died at the age of eleven years, and Eleanor L., born in 1859. The latter, in 1888, married Harry H. Gibbs, a prominent business man of Akron, who is treasurer of both the Buckeye and the Summit Sewer Pipe Companies. Mr. Baldwin is also sun'ived by a Ijrother, Harvey Baldwin, of Akron.

During the Avhole course of his life, Mr. Baldwin was interested in public affairs, and especially active in advancing the cause of education. In early yeare he ser\'ed on the Council of Middlebury and in later life on the Akron City Council, as a citizen ever being true to the r&sponsibilities he accepted. In his political views he was a Republican. He was actively interested in c^hurch work and for many years he had been a member and a trustee of the Firet Congregational Church at Akron. He was laiown in different parts of the country, it having been his custom for the past twelve years to spend the winter months in the South. In all places of sojourn he impressed those who were admitted to his acquaintance as a man of business ability and high personal honor.

CHARLES BRADLEY, one of Stow Township's highly esteemed citizens, who is now retired from active pursuits, was for many years engaged in farming. Mr. Bradley was born April 29, 1838, at Streetsboro, Portage County, Ohio, and is a son of George and Nancy Paulina (Peck) Bradley.

Stephen Bradley, the grandfather of Charles, was a native of Lee, IMassachusetts, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits. He and his wife Lydia were the parents of a large family. George Bradley, one of this family, was born at Lee, Massachusetts, and as a young man came to Streetsboro, Ohio, where he purchased a farm of seventyone acres. Lie was married May 17, 1837, to Nancy Paulina Peck, who was bom July 20, 1809, in Connecticut, and who was a daughter of Rufus Peck, of Litchfield, that state, who came to Ohio in 1835. Mrs. Bradley died June 9, 1874, and her husband survived her until 1894, wheu he passed away, aged eighty-five years. They were the pai'ents of seven children, five of whom grew to maturity, namely: Emily (deceased), Avho was the wife of George Nighman ; Charles, whose name begins this sketch; Clara, who is the wife of Samuel Foster, of Richland, Michigan; William, a twin with Clara, and Susan, who married James E. Oliu, of Ravenna, Ohio.

Charles Bradley was reared in Streetsboro. (^hio, and remained on the home farm until attaining his maturity. In the fall of 1863 he came to Stow Township and purchased a farm of forty-one acres, which he increased from time to time by purchase, until it aggregated 100 acres. Mr. Bradley has always engaged in general farming and dair}'ing, and his herd of from twenty-five to thirty head of cattle include some of the finest to be found in the township. His milk finds a readj^ sale at Cleveland. His farm buildings are all large and substantial, and include a circular silo, 14x28^2 feet.

Mr. Bradley married Henrietta Le Moine. who was a daughter of Noah Le Moine, of Stow Township. They had three children : Ora D., who is engaged in cultivating the home farm; "W. Earl and Clara M., who reside at home, ili-s. Bradley died September 27, 1899, in the faith of the Bisciplas Church. In politics Mr. Bradley is a Democrat. He is an active member of the local Grange, in which he has held official position.

ARTHUR J. WEEKS, proprietor of the extensive chemical pottery manufacturing plant situated at No. 926 East ]\Iarket Street, Akron, iias been a resident of this city for a quarter of a century. He was born in Copley Township, Summit County. Ohio, in 1847, and is a son of Darius Weeks, and a grandson on the paternal side of Leavitt Weeks, who came to Summit County \^'ith his two brothers as early as 181."). Settling on a farm in Copley Town.ship. Darius Weeks resided there all his life, with the exception of a few years, which he spent in mercantile business. He married Elizabeth Wilcox, daughter of ilajor John R. Wilcox, a graduate of West Point, who was stationed at Fort Edwards, Warsaw, Illinois, where Mrs. AVceks was born. Her grandfather Pliny Wilcox settled on the farm on which the Raymond House is now located, just across the road from the old home of -lohn Brown in Akron. Darius Weeks had three sons and two daughters, namely: Arthur J., whose name begins this sketch : Virginia, wife of William H. AVhitmore, of Akron ; Celestia A., wife of 0. E. Robinson, of St. Louis, Mis,souri ; Frederick H., who is engaged in the lumber and potterj^ business in Akron, and Charles D., also engaged in the pottery business, and a resident of Akron.

Arthur J. Weeks was reared mainly on his father's farm in Copley Township. After completing the disitrict school cotirse, he spent two years in Willoughby College, and then became a student at Bethany College, in West Virginia, where he took a course in civil engineering. Here he became a member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. Subsequently he was connected with the construction of the Wheeling & Lorain Railroad, and of the Valley Railroad, on the latter of whieh he was a diA^sion engineer. He then went to Evansville, Indiana, where he was engaged for seven years in a wholesale business. Returning at the end of this period to his native county, he embarked in the potterv^ business in Akron in partnership with his brother, F. H. Weeks, aTid Jo.seph Cook. After three years the Weeks brothers bought !Mr. Cook's interest, and three years later Arthur J. Weeks sold his interest in the concern to F. H. Weeks and purcha^d the F. W. Rockwell plant, which he has been since engaged in operating. Here he manufactures all kinds of pottery, but makes a specialty of chemical potter^'. His business, carried on along careful and con.servative lines, gives employment to from thirty to forty men, and is now ranked among the important industries of the city. Mr. Weeks has always been actively interested in the public affairs of Akron, and on numerous occasion has been elected to civic office, always proving ihimself equal to the demands made upon him in sucli official capacity. Ilis fraternal connections include the Odd Fellows and the beneficiary order of the Royal Arcanum.

In 1874 Mr. Weeks was united in marriage with Lovina Humbert, who bore her husband three children : Edmund A., Lulu L., and Arthur J. (deceased). Edmund A. Weeks, who was a student of Buchtel College and a graduate of the Western Reserve Medical College, is a physician residing in Akron. Lulu, w-ho al,so attended Buchtel College, is the wife of M. A. Knight, son of Dr. Knight of Buchtel College, and also, like the subject of this sketch, is engaged in the potterv bu.Siine.«s. Mrs. Weeks died July 31, 1907.

WILLIAM .AIcFARLIN was one of Akron's prominent business men for a long period, during which he was either at the head or officially connected with many of the most important interests of this section. For some years prior to his death he was president of the First National Bank of Akron, and was also treasurer of the National Sewer Pipe Company, of Barberton, Ohio.

Mr. McFarlin was born January 16, 1843, at Bath, Ohio, and was one of the family of four children of Moses and Elnora (Woodruff) McFarlin. He was educated at the Brooklyn Normal School and the Akron High School, after w'hich he was engaged in teaching until April, 1863. He then entered the Union army as chief clerk for Colonel Crane, who had charge of the military railroads in the Department of the Army of the Cumberland. He served in this capacity until October, 1865. In the following spring he accepted the position of teller in D. P. Eberman and Company's Bank at Akron. In 1867 he became teller and assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Akron, being made cashier in January, 1878. From 1871 until August 1, 1891, Mr. McFarlin was secretary and treasurer of the Akron Gas Company. On the organization of the Portage Strawboard Company, in 1882, he became its secretary and treasurer, and served as such until its merger with the American Strawboard Company in 1889. Other large corporations in which he was a prominent factor were: the National Sewer Pipe Company, at Barberton ; the Creedmoor Cartridge Company, at Barberton ; and the Akron Woolen and Felt Company. In all these organizations he proved himself a man of the quickest business perceptions, and was credited with sound judgment and broad views of the business field.

On December 31, 1872, Mr. McFarlin was married to Julia Ford Henry, who was one of a family of seven children born to her parents, Milton W. and Abigail (Weeks) Henry, of Akron. Her father was a native of Massachusetts, but subsequently engaged in a mercantile business in this citv, where he died March 16, 1886. Mr. McFariin died November 8, 1894. His widow survives and resides at No. '61 Fir street, Akron. They had three daughters - Anna, Bessie, wife of E. H. Fitch, manager of the Diamond Rubber Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Laura.

J. GRANT HYDE, a leading business citizen of Clinton, Ohio, who is manager of the Clinton Milling Company, was born in Bristol Township, Trumbull County, Ohio, September 6, 1872, and is a son of Charles P. and Clara M. (Hunter) Hyde.

Charles P. Hyde was also born in Bristol township, and there he has resided all of his life, being engaged in agricultural pursuits, and owning an excellent property. He was married to Clara M. Hunter, who was born at Niles, Ohio, and to them four children were born: Joseph Grant; John, of Trumbull County; Mary E., who married S. T. McBrier; and Clara E., who is single.

J. Grant Hyde was reared on his father's farm, and after graduating from the public schools of Bristol township at the age of eighteen years, he began teaching school, at which occupation he continued for eleven years, during which time he attended Mount Union College, at Alliance, Ohio, for four years. Mr. Hyde then engaged in the milling business at Niles, having a half interest in the George F. Sager and Company mills for about one year and one-half. In April, 1903, with Mr. Sager he came to Clinton^ where they purcha.^ed property and established the present mill. They conducted this business together until September, 1905, when it was incorporated into a stock company, George F. Sager being elected the first president and Mr. Hyde manager, a position which he has held to the present time. Thomas McBrier is the present president. The capacity of tlie mills is 100 barrels of flour and twenty tons of feed daily, and among their best known products are the "Clinton Best" flour and the "Fancy Blended." A branch office is situated at No. 63 West Market street, which is in charge of S. T. McBrier.

In October, 1905, Mr. Hyde was married to Maude H. Mahan, who was born at Bristol, Trumbull County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Joseph Mahan, a son of one of Trumbull County's early pioneers. Mr. Hyde is a Republican in politics, and. fraternally is connected with Western Star Lodge No. 21, of Youngstown, and the Knights Templar of Warren. With his family, he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a director in the Clinton Savings Bank and president and director of the Clinton Bell Telephone Company.

MINER JESSE ALLEN, prominently identified with the American Cereal Company, is one of Akron's substantial citizens whose large interests make him a notable factor in its Vmsiness life. Mr. Allen was born November 11, 1829, in Coventry Township, Sunnnit County, Ohio, and is a son of Levi and Phebe (Spicer) Allen.

Jesse Allen, the paternal grandfather of Miner J., was born in 1770, in Litchfield County, Connecticut, and came to Ohio in 1811, purchasing a large tract of wild land in Coventry Township, Summit County. He reared a family of ten children. The maternal grandfather, Major Miner Spicer, was also a native of Litchfield Countv, Connecticut, and came on horseback to Summit County, Ohio, in 1810, buying 260 acres' of land in what is now Portage To\vnship., He settled here with his family in 1811. During the War of 1812 he served as a major of militia. Major Spicer married Cynthia Allyn, who traced her ancestry back to Lieutenant Governor Jones, who was the first governor of the New Haven Colony.

Levi Allen was born February 10, 1799, in Tompkins County, New York, and was the second child of his parents. He was twelve years of age when he walked from there to Coventry Township, Summit County, Ohio, driving the cattle and sheep with which his father proposed to stock the new farm. He assisted in clearing and developing the land imtil his majority, when he purchased land for himself on which he resided until 1868. He then retired to Akron, where he died May 11, 1887. On December 10, 1823, he was married to Phebe Spicer, who was a daughter of Major Miner and Cynthia (Allyn) Spicer, and they had the following children: Levi, Miner S., Albert, Miner J., Walter S. and Cynthia. Mrs. Levi Allen died January 10, 1879.

Miner J. Allen, the direct subject of this sketch, was engaged in farming in Coventry Township, where he was reared and educated, until 1867, Avhen he came to Akron to assume the duties of local, and also traveling, grain buyer for the firm of Commins & Allen. In 1884 he invested in a one-fifth interest in the Akron Milling Company, which was merged two years later into the F. Schumacher Milling Company. Later this organization was merged into the American Cereal Company, and Mr. Allen is still connected with this great corporation, being one of its directors.

Mr. Allen was married June 1, 1876, to Frances C. De Wolf, a daughter of Samuel and Margaret (King) De Wolf, of Trumbull County, Ohio. Mrs. Allen's grandparent-^ were Joseph and Sarah (Gibbons) De Wolf, the former of whom was a Revolutionary soldier. Mrs. Allen can trace a clear anc&stral line to early colonial days, members of her family residing at Wethersfield, Connecticut, as early as 1664. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have five children, namely: Albert Mark, Miner W., Margaret P., Christine C, and Frances De Wolf. The family home is at No. 30 Hovvery Street. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are members of the First Disciples' Church at Akron. They have always evinced a deep interest in educational matters, and Mrs. Allen was one of the first two ladies to be elected a member of the Akron Board of Education. In earlier years Mr. Allen Wcos interested in politics, but since taking up his residence at Akron he has been too closely engaged in business to give much time to political affairs. His public spirit, however, has often been proved and he stands high in the estimation of his fellow citizens.

GEORGE PHILIP SCHNABEL, who has operated a fruit farm at Cuyahoga Falls, since 1892, is a well known citizen and belongs to a highly respected old family of this place. He was born at Liverpool, Medina County, Ohio, December 5, 1852, and is a son of John George and Johanna Christina (Kurtz) Schnabel.

The parents of Mr. Schnabel were both born in C4ermany, in the town of Weimsburg, the father on April 1, 1829, and the mother in 1818. The former died in January, 1900 ; the mother sui-vived her husband six years, dying in 1906. They came to America in 1846, settling first at Liverpool, Ohio, where -John George Schnabel followed his trade of shoemaking for seven years. In 1854 tie came to Cuyahoga Falls, where he continued to work as a shoemaker for the rest of his life. Of his eight children, the following six grew to maturity: Katherine, who married Frederick Eberly, residing at Akron; John, who died in the army, during the Civil War, having served three years in the Sixth Ohio Battery; Eliza, who married George Brewster, residing at Findlay, Ohio; Elizabeth, who married Elmer R. Brewster and resides in Akron ; Christina, who married William A. Williston, residing at Cuyahoga Falls; and George Philip. John George

Schnabel and wife were quiet, worthy, industrious people, kind and neighborly in- their relations with others, and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

George P. Schnabel was educated in the schools of Cuyahoga Falls. After he had completed the High School course, he learned the trade of shoemaking under his father and Sanuiel Wills, and continuing with the latter until he went out of business, after which Mr. Schnabel went into business for himself with his father. After they retired from this business, George P. Schnabel operated a store for Bowman & McNeil of Akron, for eighteen months, when he purchased it. After conducting it for himself for three years, he sold out to George Hanson. In 1892, Mr. Schnabel started his fruit farm, acquiring five acres on Portage street, which he has put into a fine state of cultivation. Under his intelligent care all kinds of fruit adapted to the climate flourish, but he has made specialties of grapes, strawberries and German prunes, devoting about one acre to strawberries. He raises about eight tons of grapes and disposes of all his products at Akron, receiving the highest market price on account of their superior quality. Under his way of conducting it the business has proved very profitable. In 1904 he erected his comfortable home - an eight-room, twostory residence, conveniently located on the farm.

Mr. Schnabel married Martha C. Harris, who is a daughter of Henry C. Harris, of Orrville, Ohio, and they have four children, namely : A. Garfield, a practicing physician, residing at Tucson, Arizona; AA'alter H., a stockholder in and secretary of the Nute Foundry Company at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; and Harriet F. and May B., both residing at home. The family is a representative one of the city.

WILLIAM J. O'NEIL, president of the Akron Pneumatic Tire Company, which has found a productive business field in this city, is a native of Akron, where he was born August 16, 1862. He is a son of the late Owen

O'Neil, who came to Akron about 1845, and engaged here in the oil business for a number of years, subsequently selling out to the Standard Oil Company.

After leaving school, Mr. O'Neil became cashier and bookkeeper for Cyrus Miller, a grocer, later becoming associated in an official position with the Akron Wholesale CTrocery Company. He then entered the employ of the B. F. CTOodrich Company, which he served six years as bookkeeper and nine as cashier. Mr. O'Neil then severed his connection with that company in order to assist in the organization of the Akron Pneumatic Tire Company, incorporated for $25,000, which manufactures pneumatic tires, the Greenwald Extensible Tread Tire and the Internal Protector Reinforced Tube-Non-skid Tread. It coiltrols also the manufacture of the Non-Puncturable Tire, one of the greatest inventions known in the automobile trade. Mr. O'Neil is a member of St. Vincent's Church at .\.kron.

A. ADAMSON, who is proprietor of one of the largest machine-shops and foundries at Akron, has been prominent in this industry here for the past twentj^-one years. ITe was born in Scotland, in November, 1861, and was brought' to America by his father, when he was nine years of age.

Mr. Adaimson resided in Western Pennsylvania until he was seventeen years of age and then moved to Portage County, Ohio, where he was employed as an engineer in mines until 1885. He then came to Akron, where he served an apprenticeship as a machinist with the firm of Webster, Camp and Lane, remaining six years with that company. Then, in partnership with J. W. Denmead he started a machine-shop of his own on the present site of the Doyle Block. This partnership continued for eight months, when Mr. Adamson bought out Mr. Denmead's interest, and continued the business at the same place for five years. He then built a brick block on West Exchange street, with dimensions of 50 by 100 feet, utilizing it exclusively as a machine-shop. Since then he has added to the original building, it being now two stories in height and 100 feet square. He has also built a foundry plant with dimensions of 60 by 100 feet and has equipped it with the best foundry machinery in this section of the State. The products of these works are all kinds of rubber machines and molds, this being the largest mold manufacturing plant in the world. Employment is given to eighty workmen and the distribution of wage money is very large.

F. and Vera L. C. F. Adamson is consulting engineer, with offices in the Hamilton Building. Vera L. has recently completed her third year at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Mr. Adamson has been particularly blessed in his children, both possessing talents of a superior order. He is an elder in the First Disciples Church at Akron. Fraternally he is a Mason.

GEORGE HELMSTEDTER, a prominent citizen and one of the largest landowners in Coventry Township, resides on his well-improved farm of 100 acres, owning about 366 acres in all, with property in Franklin township and four residences in Barberton. He was born June 18, 1849, in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Baduna) Helmstedter.

The parents of Mr. Helmstedter were both natives of Hesse-Darmstadt, where there were farming people. The father died when his son George was six months old. The mother sur\'ived until ;863, dying about six months before George rfelmstedter left Germany for America. Her first marriage had been to a Mr. Jones, who left her with two children, Adam and Elizabeth. Two were born of her second marriage, Catherme and George.

George Helmstedter grew up on the home farm and attended school until he was thirteen Years of age. He then apprenticed himself to a blacksmith, paying the sum of $45 as a premium, and worked for two and onehalf years learning the business, but receiving nothing in return but his board. Two of his companions, Peter Frederick and Peter

Flariet, determined to emigrate to America and join an uncle who was then living in Jackson Township, Stark County, Ohio, and it was easy to persuade the orphan boy, who had just lost his mother, to join them. George was then but sixteen years old, and his friends were each seventeen, and together they crossed the Atlantic ocean and made their way fo Massillon, Ohio. Peter Flariet was of a more adventurous disposition than the other boys and he soon left them and drifted west and was entirely lost sight of. Peter Frederick, however, became a well-to-do farmer, and George Helmstedter accepted the offer of the uncle on the Stark County farm, who offered him work for six months and wages of $6 a month. This looked like affluence to him and he accepted the offer, and faithfully earned his money.

After completing his contract with his employer, Mr. Helmstedter went to Millersburg in Holmes County, where he worked during the winter for Peter Myers, who paid him $7 per month. In the spring he started to work at his trade at Richville, near Massillon, where he remained for six months. He then entered the employ of John Frank, at Berlin, and afterwards worked for the Frank Brothers for four years. He carefully saved his money and although he received but a comparatively small wage at any place, in the aggregate, it amounted to a considerable sum. About this time he married and for four years he worked his father-in-law's farm on shares, a farm located in Manchester, which Mr. Helmstedter now owns. In 1876 he bought ninety-six acres of his present farm and later added the rest, buying ninety-seven acres from the Carmenter estate in Coventry township. That is a fine place well improved, with large house and barns and he obtains a good rental for it as he does for the well-improved farm near Manchester. All his property is well improved and kept in good repair. He has achieved a gratifying success and has acquired all his property honestly, and in a way that is open to any other quiet, industrious, saving young man.

married to Lavina Row, who is a dauglfter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Harton) Row. They have had seven children, namely : Rose Jane, who died aged two and one-half years; Arty Arvilla, who married Dustin Weaver and has four children - Homer, Charlotte, Nellie and Leo; Anice, who married George Painter, and has three children - Jennie, Clarence and lea; and Frank, Wesley, Levi and Lena Viola. Mrs. Helmstedter was born in Franklin Township, Summit County, Ohio, and her parents were among the early pioneers of that section. Her father died in February, 1892, aged eighty-one years, and her mother in 1898, aged eighty-two years. They had eleven children, namely: Leah, Polly, and Susan, all deceased; Sarah, who married Fred Weyrick; Jacob; Elizabeth, who married George Carmenter; Rebecca, who married H. Clackner; Lavina, Amanda, Levi, and an infant, all deceased.

Mr. Helmstedter and his family belong to the Evangelical Church. In politics he is a Republican. When he landed on the shores of America his money capital consisted of $15 in gold, a coin worth $10 and five one dollar gold pieces. This money he kept for a number of years, and used the larger coin at a time when just that amount was lacking to pay on a farm he was buying. He still has several of the smaller coins which he brought from Germany. His life has been a busy and interesting one. In spite of all disadvantages he has acquired more than independence, and has gained the friendship and regard of a wide circle of acquaintances. He has helped develop the resources of his section and lived to enjoy the results.

JACOB ABLER, president of the American Scrap Iron Company, the largest concern of its kind in this section of the comitry, is also the proprietor of the Akron Brass & Bronze Company, another important concern in the commercial life of Akron, and is also interested in many things which make this city a place of note. Mr. Adler was born in far off Russia, where he lived until he was nine years of age.

Aaron Teeple

From the age of nine to that of fourteen, he resided in Sharon, Pennsylvania, during which time he learned the English language. In 1891, when he had reached his fourteenth year, he came to Akron, and for two years wa.s employed here in the Diamond match factory. He then entered mto his present business, and finding it remunerative, in 1903 assisted in the organization of the American Scrap Iron Company. It was incorporated with a capital .«tock'^of $50,000, with Jacob Adler as president ; Max Holub as vice president and Robert Chalmers as secretarj'. The business is of more importance and of greater extent than the average citizen has any conception of, and includes a trade in secondliand machinery. Their yard is situated at No. 30 North State street, Akron. The Akron Brass it Bronze Company, of which Mr. Adler is at the head, gives employment to a goodly number of workers.

On January 25, 1898, Mr. Adler was married at Akron, to Ray Rosenbloom. He and his wife are the parents of three children - Bernard, Sylvia and Selma. Mr. Adler takes an interest in politics, to the extent of being concerned that good men get into office. He belongs to the order of Maccabees and to the Sons of Peace, and is liberal in the support of various religious organizations. As a citizen and business man he enjoys the respect and esteem of those with whom he comes into contact and is a worthy representative of a country which has sent many good citizens to America.

AARON TEEPLE, a well known and highly respected Akron citizen, who for a number of years has been closely identified with the agricultural and horticultural interests of the county, and whose residence is at No. 24 South Portage Path, was born in Franklin Township, in 1841, and is a son of John and Dorothy (Miller) Teeple. His father, a native of Newark, New Jersey, came to Summit County before its organization, purchasing a tract of 160 acres in the wilderness, on which he built the indi.spensable log cabin. After long and arduous labor he cleared his land and developed it into a good farm, on which he and his wife spent the rest of their days. He died in September, 1864, and was followed to the grave by his -nafe a year later. They reared a worthy family of six sons and one daughter. Three of the sons, including the subject of this sketch, fought for the preser\ation of the Union in the Civil War, one of them - Isaac - losing his life in the caase, being killed on the skirmish line in the battle of Champion Hill, in the rear of Vicksburg, May 16, 1863. George Teeple, the other brother, who was a member of the Fifty- Eighth Illinois Regiment, died near Springfield, Missouri, after the war. The daughter, Catharine, became the wife of Henry Brunkhart, who died in Missouri. She now resides in Akron. Her daughter Mary graduated from the State Normal School at Warrensburg, Missouri, and is now a teacher in the Akron Public Schools. John Teeple, the father, took a pride in giving his children a good education. All of them, except David, taught in the public schools.

Aaron Teeple, with whose history we are more directly concerned, passed his boyhood and youth amid the healthful surroundings of the farm. He was educated in Franklin Township and at the Western Reserve Eclectic College, at Hiram, Ohio, the principal of which was at that time James A. Garfield, afterwards president of the United States. On the breaking out of the Civil War, he, with a number of students, enlisted, in September, 1861, in Company A, Forty-Second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of which Principal Garfield was Colonel. His military record includes the winter campaign of 1861 and 1862 in the Big Sandy Valley, in Eastern Kentucky, in which the rebels under General Humphrey Marshall were driven from the valley; the taking of Cumberland Gap in the summer of 1862, with the frequent skirmishing and fighting, and its evacuation in the fall of the same year, followed by a march of eighteen days among the mountains of Eastern Kentucky without rations, harrassed by the enemy under General Kirby Smith and John Morgan until they reached the Ohio River at Greenupsburg ; the campaign up the Kanawha Valley in Westesn Virginia and return to Point Pleasant; the embarkation on fleet of transports to Memphis and Vicksburg; the first attack on Vicksburg by way of the Yazoo at Chickasaw Bluffs; the assault on Fort liindman or Arkansas Post, January 10, 1863, in which his regiment was in the advance line of the charge, resulting in the capture of the entire garrison; the campaign against Vicksburg, including all the engagements in the rear of the city, the siege and the surrender of General Pemberton's entire army; the campaign after General Joe Johnston at Jackson, Mississippi, and engagements incident thereto; the return to ^'icksburg and transfer to the Department of the Gulf; an expedition by land against Galveston, Texas, going as far as Opelousas and returning to the Mississippi River at Plaquemine, where a large fort Avas built; the patrolling of the Mississippi River by transports and gunboat fleet, and finally by aiding and covering the retreat of General Banks in his Red River campaign, in May, 1864. His service covered a period of over three years, during W'hich his regiment traveled more than 5,000 miles. He took part with the regiment in all of its engagements, excepting that at Black River, Mississippi. He remained behind on that occasion to bury his brother, who had been killed on the battle field on the day previous. About three weeks before his term of service expired he was taken sick, and was sent to the United States Barracks Hospital at New Orleans, where he was lying at the expiration of his term of service. By hi.? comrades he was brought to the hospital at Columbus, Ohio, where he was met by his mother and younger brother, who brought him home. For two years after his return he remained an invalid. After his army service he attended school for a time at Baldwin University, Berea, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Then it became necessary for him to be earning something, and he bought a farm of 140 acres, well timbered, near Akron, and engaged in the manufacture of lumber, clearini;: in lliis wav about fiftv acres, and paying for the farm from the sales. The land thus cleared he turned into farming land. He lived on this farm for about sixteen years, at the end of which time he bought a few acres of land near the corporation line of Akron, and built for himself and family a home. The extension of the city limits now includes his place.

A man of refined and intellectual tastes, Mr. Tceple has for many years taken a great interest in the fascinating science of horticulture, on which subject he is a well recognized authority. An article on horticulture from his pen may be found in this work. He has also furnished many similar contributions at different times to agricultural and horticultural journals, his communications being eagerly sought and welcomed by all lovers of fruits and those interested in floral culture. In politics he is a Republican. He has held various offices in Portage Township. For thirty years he has been a member of Buckley Post, G. A. R., of Akron, being a past commander of the same. Religiously he is affiliated with the Christian or Disciple Church.

Mr. Teeple was married in the fall of 1865 to Miss Rachel Heiser. This vmion has been blessed with two children : J. Frank, a former student of Buchtel College and now a business man of Akron ; and Nellie, a graduate of the public schools of Akron, who resides at home with her parents. \r

HON. AVILLIAM BUCHTEL, the founder and formerly president of the Akron Savings Bank, and largely interested in many of Akron's most important business enterprises, for years has also been prominent in affairs of public import in county and State. Mr. Buchtel was born in Green township, Summit County, Ohio, December 23, 1822, and is a son of John and Catherine (Richards) Buchtel, and a grandson of that hardy old pioneer, Peter Buchtel.

Wiliam Buchtel obtained his education in the district schools and has led a busy, useful life since reaching the years of discretion. He was twenty-two years of age when he pur- c'ha.secl his father's farm of 106 acres which lie continued to operate for twelve years, being mainly engaged in the cultivation of wheat. He then became interested in milling, and after renting his farm removed to Springfield Township, where he operated both grist and saw mills. He was so engaged when troops were called for to strengthen the defences around Washington, and he quickly re- .sponded, enlisting in the 164th Regiment Ohio National Guard, and remaining until honorablv discharged from the .service, in 1866.

Upon his return to Summit County, Mr. Buchtel became interested in the lumber business, first as a member of the firm of Jackson, Buchtel and Company, which later became William Buchtel and Sons. He estimates that during his many years of activity in this line, his firms had the handling of more than 20,000 acres of Government and State pine lands. Mr. Buchtel also turned his attention to banking interests at Akron, organizing, in company with W. B. Raymond, the Citizens' Savings Bank, of which E. Steinbacher was president, William Buchtel, vice-president, and W. B. Raymond, cashier. This later became the Citizens' National Bank. Mr. Buchtel then became vice-president of the City National Bank of Akron, a position he resigned in 1888, when he organized the Akron Savings Bank, of which he remained the head for a number of years. He served also as president of the Thomas Lumber and Building Company, and as treasurer of the Akron Building and Loan Association. Mr. Buchtel was interested for some years in building operations. Many of the stately residences at Akron are testimonials to his enterprise and ability, as also are some of the city's finest business structures, among them the Akron Savings Bank and the Buchtel Hotel, the larter being still his property.

Mr. Buchtel was married March 7, 1842, to Martha Hendei-son, of Springfield Township, Summit County. She died December 17, 1884, having been the mother of four children, namely : Catherine Jane, James H.

As a citizen, devoted to public duty, Mr. Buchtel has always shown his interest in civic affairs, and frequently even when the holding of office, interfered considerably with his private business, he consented to serve when convinced that it was for the public welfare. Thus he served on the board of city commissioners, several terms as its chairman ; was a member of the Decennial Board of Equalization in 1890, and held other important positions in which he safe-guarded the interests of the public. In November, 1901, he was elected a member of the Seventy-fifth General Assembly and during his first term at Columbus, served on the standing committees on Geology, Mines and Mining, Municipal Affairs and Prisons and Prison Reforms. In 1903 Mr. Buchtel was returned to the Legislature and during his term in the Seventysixth General Assembly, he served as chairman of the committee on Prisons and Prison Reforms and wa^ a member of the standing committees on Banks and Banking, Villages and Taxation.

Mr. Buchtel is a member of the Elks and of the Hoo-hoos, a very extensive organization composed wholly of men connected with the lumber industry. He belongs to Buckley Post, Grand Army of the Republic. For two years after his return from military service in the Civil War, he remained connected with the same batallion of National Guards.

MAX HOLUB, vice president of the American Scrap Iron Company, was born in Rassia, in September, 1857, and came to this country in 1882. Settling immediately in Akron, he began working for the Wilkoff Brothers Scrap Iron Company, at $1.00 per day. From this humble beginning he has by industry and intelligence risen to the position of vice-president of one of the largest scrap-iron firms in the State. He was married in October, 1889, to Mary Rosenfeld, and has two children - Harry and Dave - both of whom are attending the Akron Public Schools.

Mr. Holub has attained a gratifying success in the business world, but has sustained a severely felt loss in the death of his wife, which occurred in July, 1904.

PETER BIENZ, farmer and cheese manufacturer of Stow town.ship, where he owns a good farm of fifty-four acres, was born in Switzerland, in the Canton of Berne, December 31, 1851, and is a son of Frederick and Barbara (Schweetzer) Bienz.

The making of Swiss cheese has been an industry which the Bienz family has followed for generations. Johannes Bienz, the grandfather, kept a dairy in the Alps, it being situated at the little mountain hamlet of Ammenthal, where no other industry could be carried on with profit, the seasons being too short for farming. Even the feed for the cows had to be brought from the valleys and the wood used for the curing of the cheese had to be carried several miles up the mountains on the backs of the dwellers on these heights. Frederick Bienz, father of Peter, also manufactured Swiss cheese, and as he settled in the village of Kirchdoef, near Berne, he was able to engage also in farming. He became a man of prominence there and was elected a member of the Gemeindonath. He married a daughter of Johannes Schweetzer and they had twelve children. Frederick Bienz and all of his family except two sons, remained in Switzerland, where he died in 1882, age sixty-four years.

The first member of the Bienz family to come to America, was Christian Bienz, who arrived in 1866 and settled in Nebraska. He was followed by the younger brother, Peter, in the spring of 1875. In his own land, Peter Bienz went to school and assisted his father in the farming and cheese-making. Later, in order to be thoroughly qualified as a cheesemaker, he worked in a cheese factory for two years. After coming to Ohio he worked in Tuscarawas County and spent one season in a cheese factory at New Berlin, and in the fall of 1878, he came to Stow Township. Here he entered the employ of Hiram Reed, with whom he remained until 1888, when he purchased Mr. Reed's factory and a part of his farm. He carries on general farming on thirty acres of his property, raising hay and grain, and keeps nine head of cattle. His dairy has proved a great success. He makes 350 pounds of American cheese a day, using 4,000 pounds of milk, and this choice product he sells in New York and Philadelphia. He also makes fine butter, averaging from fifteen to twenty tons annually. His dairy is modern and first-class in every way, being equipped with all kinds of machinery used in butter and cheese-making. Mr. Bienz hires a man to operate the farm, while he, with the assistance of his sons, carries on the dairy.

Mr. Bienz married Ellen H. Reed of Stow Township, and they have two sons: Frank C, who was born December 11, 1881 ; and Frederick Hiram, who was born October 6, 1893. Mrs. Bienz is a member of the Episcopal Church at Hudson.

Hiram Reed, father of Mrs. Bienz, was born in Columbiana Countv, Ohio, January 13, 1825, and died September 21, 1894. He was one of twelve children born to John and Rebecca Reed. John Reed was a weaver by trade but when Hiram was about six years old he moved to Portage County and engaged in farming. Hiram Reed learned the carpenter's trade and followed it for a number of years, for several years after his marriage living with his father-in-law. His wife subsequently received twenty acres of land from her father, which Mr. Reed increased to eighty-three acres, in the meanwhile continuing to work at carpentering. In 1866 he sold this property and purchased the old Wolcott farm of 127 acres, near Munroe Falls, to which he subsequently added, selling it in 1871, when he moved to Hudson. He bought a farm there and resided on it for two years, and then sold and bought 300 acres, one-half of which was situated in Stow Township and the other half in Hudson Township. In 1877 Mr. Reed erected a factory for the manufacture of American cheese, which he carried on until 1878, when he turned his attention to manufacturing Swiss cheese, in which he met with great success. He subsequently sold his interest to his son-in-hiw, Peter Bienz. In 1851 Hiram Reed married Phoebe Saddler and they had the following children: Angeline, Elizabeth H., Ellen, Harriet, Arthur and one that died in infancy. The mother died February 7, 1871. Mr. Reed was married (second) March 20, 1873, to Mrs. Sophia Galloway, who was the widow of Henry Galloway and a daughter of Broady McKenzie.

Mr. Bienz conducts his business under the trade name of the Darrowville Creamery, manufacturers of American full cream cheese, cottage cheese and fancy creamery butter. In 1891 he erected his present comfortable eightroom house on Payne Road. In politics, Mr. Bienz has always remained an independent voter. He is a Mason, belonging to Hudson Lodge, No. 510, F. & A. M.

JOHN A. MOORE, a prominent business man of Akron, conducting a men's outfitting establishment at No. 32(3 South Main street, was born in 1865, at Akron, Ohio, and is a son of J. B. Moore, one of Akron's honored retired citizens. Born in Pennsylvania he came to Summit County in his boyhood. He was reared in Springfield township and worked on his father's farm until he came to Akron. where he assisted in building the plant of the Buckeye Mower and Reaper. He was associated industrially with the Buckeye Mower and Reaper Works for twenty-seven years, severing his connection with the same in 1892. He has now reached the age of seventy-one years and has been a witness of the city's wonderful development.

J. A. Moore was reared and educated iii Akron, completing a business course in Hammel's College, where he was a bright student. He entered business life and was one of the first to take stalls in the old Market House on South Main street, where he held stalls Nos. 6 and 7, for two years and a half. After selling out his interest he traveled through the "West, including the States of Michigan and Indiana. In the winter of 1888-9 he returned to Akron and in 1890 he established his present business. Like other successful enterprises of this city, it was started in a .small way and built up into a large busines? through the energy and capacity of its owner. Mr. Moore started with but $70 in cash and put in a stock worth $800. In nine months time he w^as out of debt, and he has steadily . advanced until now his business is one of tlic leading ones of its kind in the city. He carries a complete line of gent's furnishing goods, including hats, and as a side line he keeps on hand a stock of cigars and high grade tobaccos. He has other business interests also, and is a member of the finance committee of the Depositor's Savings Bank.

In 1891 Mr. Moore was married to Ora -Johnson, who was born at Kent, Ohio, and who died February 11, 1906. She is survived by three children - Raymond C, Bessie L. and Eva L. Mr. Moore is an active member of Grace Reformed Church. His fraternal connections include membership in the Protected Home Circle and the Pathfinders.

Since 1901 Mr. Moore has done a considerable amount of building. In the. spring of that year he purchased a desirable lot, where his business is now located, with a twenty-two foot front and a depth of 165 feet, on which he erected the fine two-story brick building, which is one of the finest store buildings in the city. He also erected his beautiful modern residence at No. 816 West Cedar street.

NELSON B. STONE, who passed from this hfe at his home in Akron, November 9, 1893, after a well spent life of seventy-seven years, was born September 18, 1816, as his parents, Milo and Sarah (Beardsley) Stone, were resting at the hamlet of Canfield, Mahoning County, Ohio, on their way from Connecticut, by ox-team, to Tallmadgc Township, Summit County.

When the mother and babe could travel, the father of Mr. Stone continued on his way with his family to Tallmadge Township, settling in the woods and subsequently clearing up a good farm there. On this farm. Nelson B. Stone was reared, attending the district school through boyhood and later the Tallmadge Academy, and still later Allegheny

College, at Meadville, Pennsylvania. He began industrial life as a clerk, filling positions successively at West Bloomfield, iSlew York, and at Ravenna and Chardon, Ohio. In December, 1840, he came to Akron, which place was to be his future home. Shortly after locating here he was offered and accepted a position in the county clerk's office, under Clerk Lucius S. Peck, and served until the fall of 1851, when he was elected clerk of Summit County, being the first incumbent of the office under the new constitution. For a short time he served also as deputy clerk in Cuyahoga County, but still maintained his residence at Akron. He was subsequently connected, for a short tnne, with the firm of Aultman, Miller and Company, but in 18135 he became secretary and treasurer of the Weary, Snyder and Wilcox Manufacturing Company, a position he filled during the remainder of his active life.

Mr. Stone was married (first) to Mary H. Clarke, of Akron, who died April 6, 1853, leaving one son. Nelson C, who is now president of the National City Bank, and one of Akron's most prominent business men. Mr. Stone married for his second wife, Elizabeth H. Beardsley, of Akron, and they had two sons, of whom the one survivor, Dwight M., resides in Akron.

In political sentiment, Mr. Stone was a stanch Republican, and was sent as a delegate to the first Republican State convention held in Ohio, at which time the late Hon. Salmon P. Chase was nominated for governor.

During the whole extent of his long and useful life, Mr. Stone was actively interested in the First Methodist Episcopal Church. For fifty-two consecutive years he served as secretary of the Sunday-school of that church, and he preserved his interest in the work until the peaceful close of his life. He was a practical Christian, one who believed thoroughly in supplementing thoughts and w'ords with action, hence his mourners did not come entirely from the higher walks of life. The poor, the lowly, the needy and afflicted had so often partaken of his kindness and practical sympathy, that they crowded to the bier, at his funeral, to pay the only token of affection they could give. In religious, political, social, benevolent and business circles, the estimate of his character was the same, and as his remains were borne away to be laid in the quietude of Glendale cemetery, each recognized that a good man had passed from their midst.

G. F. BURKHARDT, treasurer and manager of the Burkhardt Brewery Company, at Akron, was born in this city, in 1874, and is a son of William and ]\Iargaret Burkhardt, the latter of whom is president of the above company. William Burkhardt died in 1882.

The business of the Burkhardt Brewery Company was established at Akron in 1870, and after the old brewery burned in 1879, the family bought the land and erected the fine plant which is located at Nos. 513-523 Grant street. It is finely equipped with the most modern appliances pertaining to the business, and its output, which finds ready sale, is about 40,000 barrels. On November 24, 1902, the Burkhardt Brewery Company was incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000, and with the following officers: Margaret Burkhardt, president; William F. Burkhardt, vice-president and sui^erintendent ; G. F. liJvirkhardt, treasurer and manager; and E. C. Dietz, secretary.

G. F. Burkhardt was reared and educated at Akron and when seventeen years of age started to learn the brewing business, commencing at the bottom. In order to perfect himself he entered the American Brewing Academy of Chicago, where he was graduated in 1899. The benefit of his thorough knowledge has been given to the business, and its results are apparent. He has also other business interests.

Mr. Burkhardt is connected with a number of fraternal orders and social organizations, among them, the Elks and the Odd Fellows, the German, the Akron and the Turkeyfoot Lake clubs, and several German societies.

Akron's leading citizens, has been identified with many prominent local interests during his fifteen years' residence in the city, and has taken an active and useful part in their promotion. He was born March 4, 1842, in New York city, coming from an old New Jersey family which could boast of its Revolutionary patriots.

In the great metropolis in which he was born. Colonel Bloomfield was reared and educated, and early in life displayed many of the qualities which later contributed to his successful military career. In 1859, when but seventeen years of age, he joined the Seventh New York Regiment, which was the first regiment of State troops to be sworn into the service of the United States in 1861. Shortly afterward, Mr. Bloomfield was made captain of Company F, Sixth New York Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, and for the next two j-ears served under Generals Hunter and Butler, in the Department of the Gulf. He was then transferred to the Trans-Mississippi Department, and was assigned to the hazardous special duty of looking after and breaking up the numerous guerrilla bands that infested that section, work that could only be performed by men of the highest courage and daring. In the conflicts incident to this dangerous service. Colonel Bloomfield was wounded several times, and even now, after an interval of over forty years, feels the effects of a wound received at Escambia, Florida.

After the close of the war, Colonel Bloomfield located at St. Louis, Missouri, where he was engaged for some time in the wholesale hardware business under the firm name of Menzie-Rashcoe and Company. In 1871 he became interested in the insurance business. He had not long been a resident of St. Louis before he became connected with military affairs. Associating himself with the Missouri National Guards, he was made lieutenant colonel of the Seventh Missouri Regiment, and was in command of that organization when it took part in the ceremonies at the inauguration of General Grant, in 1873. Colonel Bloomfield's knowledge and experience of military matters, as well as his soldierly bearing, have made him a useful and almost indispensable man at many public functions. He is a Knight Templar and Past Grand Commander, and organized the military parade of the first conclave of Knight Templars of America held in St. Louis, in 1868, and served as chief of staff of the grand commander. He has held all the commanding offices in all the bodies of the Masonic order up to the Knights Templar degree. He was also commander of the Missouri National Guards.

On May 30, 1892, Colonel Bloomfield came to Akron and opened an insurance business, in the Hamilton building, in which he has since retained his office. He represents such reliable companies as the Penn Mutual Life, the Fidelity and Casualty Company of New York and the Eagle Fire Insurance Company of New York, besides a number of others.

Colonel Bloomfield was married June 3, 1889, at Akron, to Fannie C. (Cobb) Wager, a daughter of Charles B. Cobb, who was one of the pioneers of Summit County.

PUTTERILL BROTHERS, a successful firm engaged in the double occupation of farming in Stow Township and manufacturing cement blocks at Akron, is made up of Thomas and Edward Putterill, brothers, who came from England to America in 1872. The parents of the Putterill Brothers were Francis and Annie (Morris) Putterill, natives of Lincolnshire, England, where the father carried on farming. He was the owner of a piece of landed property.

Thomas Putterill was born in Lincolnshire, England, October 7, 1839. He has never married. Edward Putterill was born in Lincoln- .shire, England, May 1, 1848. He married Tabitha Corn, who is a daughter of Joseph Corn, of Akron, and they have had five children, tlie three survivors being: Annie Nina, who married Henry Mitchell, of Akron; George Fletcher and Thomas Edward.

already settled in that city, and they soon found work in the various industries. In 1877 they pui'chased an omnibus line which they operated for three years, and then sold it and bought their present farm, which originally contained 141 acres. It was known as the \"ictor farm, and it was densely wooded at that time, with few improvements. The two brothers have done an almost superhuman work in the improvement of this place, in the comparatively short period of time. They have sold a part of their land, retaining ninety acres, seventy-five of which they have cleared. What is known as Wahoga Lake, a beautiful sheet of water, was formerly a part of this farm. Some eighteen years ago the present fine ten-room residence was built, which is one of the most comfortable in Stow township, and ten years ago the brothers put up the barn, the dimensions of which are 40 by 42 feet, with 18-foot posts. For many years the brothers engaged extensively in agriculture, and they now grow hay, corn and oats and devote from ten to fourteen acres to wheat and several acres to celery. They ship their milk to Cleveland. In addition to their farming and dairying operations, they have a successful enterprise in the manufacture of cement building blocks, at Akron, doing the work themselves. In all their enterprises, the brothers have been united, their aims and objects being identical, their lives presenting an agreeable picture of fraternal affection, as well as practical business sense. They are men of high standing in their community. In politics they are Republicans and both have served as supervisors of Stow Township.

JOSEPH S. BENNER, a well known capitalist and business man of Akron, who is identified with a number of the city's most substantial financial institutions, was born at Akron, January 3, 1872. He is a son of John AV. Benner, who came here in 1868, and who still continues in business in this city.

Graduated from the public schools of Akron at the age of sixteen years, the subject of this sketch found his first regular employment in the office of J. E. Seiberling & Company, where he remained until 1890. He then became bookkeei^er and assistant cashier for the newly organized People's Savings Bank Company, which position he held until 1897. Then with J. R. Nutt and Will Christy, he organized the Central Savings Bank Company, taking the position of cashier in this concern, which he held until 1904, when the Central Savings Bank Company, mainly through Mr. Benner's efforts, effected a consolidation with the Akron Trust Company, after having first taken over the Guardian Savings Bank. The result of this merger was the Central Savings and Trust Company, of which institution Mr. Benner has been secretary ever since. Other successful business concerns with which Mr. Benner is identified are: The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company; The Akron People's Telephone Company, of which he is secretary; the Akron Coal Company, of which he is treasurer; the Globe Sign and Poster Company, of which also he is treasurer; and the Hower Building Company, of which he is secretary He is also a director in the Permanent Savings and Loan Company, and the Bannock Coal Company, and is treasurer of the Young Men's Christian Association. His large business interests are held with a firm hand, and his affairs are directed with the sound judgment and wise conservatism which ensure success.

Mr. Benner was married in 1894 to Nillie E. Stuver, a daughter of Jonas F. Stuver, of Akron. Of this imion there is one child, Mary Joyce. Mr. Benner takes considerable interest in civic matters and is a member of the Portage County Club. With his wife he belongs to the Lutheran Church.

CORNELIUS A. BROUSE, of the firm of Brouse and Hollinger, general insurance agents and prominent dealers in real estate, loans, investments and abstracts, with offices in the Doyle Block, Akron, is also secretary of the Permanent Savings and Loan Company, and stands as one of the city's influential business men. He was born at Chip-

In 1842, the parents of Mr. Brouse removed from Wayne County to Wadsvvorth, Medina County, where he had the advantage of excellent schools and later he was a student at the AVestern Star Academy and at Berea. At home he worked on the farm, and beginning when he was but fourteen years of age, he acted for five years as engineer in his father's sawmill. In 1859 he came to Akron, first in the capacity of a clerk for J. E. Wesener & Company, becoming a partner in this firm four j'ears later, when the style was changed to Wesener, Brouse & Company. This association continued for five yeai"s, and after the dissolution of the firm, Mr. Brouse became connected in partnership with David L. Wall, and the firm of Brouse & Wall continued for six years. At the end of that period, Mr. Brouse associated himself with his brother, Myron D. Brouse, and the new firm of Brouse and Company became a prominent factor in the dry-goods business in Akron. Mr. Brouse was connected with the dry-goods business in all for forty-two years.

The Permanent Savings and Loan Company, of Akron, of which Mr. Brouse is secretary, is one of the leading financial institutions of this section of Ohio. Its board of directors is made up of men of the highest commercial and personal standing and its officers represent a large amount of wealth and social influence. The officers are : Joseph A. Baldwin, president; R. B. Walker, first vice-president; Harvey M. Hollinger, second vice-president and treasurer; C. A. Brouse, secretary. Its executive committee consists of C. A. Brouse, F. H. Holton and Harvey M. Hollinger. The company is in an excellent financial condition, its assets amounting, in 1907. to $854,334.86, with a surplus of $25,676.64.

On October 14, 1862, Mr. Brouse was married to Kate We.=!ener of Akron. They are the parents of four children, viz. : Adelaide L., Cornelia A., Edwin W., and Miriam M. The family belong to the First Congregational

Church, at Akron, of which Mr. Brouse is one of the deacons. In politics, he is an ardent Republican. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, having been a member during the Civil War of Company F, 164th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He has a handsome residence at No. 481 Market street, Akron.

J. MARTIN BECK, president and a director of the Home Building and Loan Company of Akron, and one of the founder,* and vicepresident and treasurer of the Akron A'arnish Company, is identified with numerous other successful enterprises of this section, and is a very important factor in the city's commercial life. He was born October 14, 1843, at Selb, Bavaria, Germany, and came to America in 1862. He is a son of Adani and Christina ( Hoef er) Beck^ the former of whom died in 1890.

Mr. Beck was trained to business in a wholesale grocery and drug house, in his native land, and after an apprenticeship of four years, satisfactorily passed a difficult examination. As his half-brother, John Wolf, was a partner in the firm of M. W. Henry and Company at Akron, Mr. Beck came to this city and entered the employ of that firm, with which he remained for six years, and then was with the house of E. I. Baldwin, of Cleveland, for one year. In the spring of 1869 he visited Europe, returning to Akron in the fall, much improved in health. Soon after he entered into partnership with John Wolf and H. J. Church, under the firm name of Wolf, Church and Beck. In 1878 Mr. Beck sold his interest in the firm and formed a partnership with E. G. Kubler, in the establishment of the Akron Varnish Works, a concorn which is the oldest of its kind in Summit County and one of the largest in the country. The busine.«s of the Akron Varnish Company is the making of varnishes and japans, and its plants are located at 254 South Main and Canal Streets, Akron. Tlie industry Ls a leading one in this city and the products of this concern have a world-wade sale. The officers of the company are: E. G. Kubler. presi-

Mr. Beck was married January 12, 1871, to Kate J. Buchtel, who is a daughter of William Buchtel, of Akron. They have four children, namely: William B., Edward M., who is secretary of the Akron Varnish Company, Martha Louise, and Carl ¥. Fraternally Mr. Beck is an Odd Fellow and an Elk. The family residence is at No. 640 West Market Street.

ARTHUR M. AELEN, residing on his fine farm of 235 acres, situated in Stow Township, where he carries on general farming and dairying, is one of the substantial and leading citizens of this section. He was born at Cuyahoga Falls, October 18, 1875, and is a son of Robert H. and Mary R. (Cochrane) Allen.

George Allen, the grandfather of Arthur M., was born in County Antrim, Ireland. He married Elizabeth Harper, and with his wife and three children, came to America and settled at Lee, Massachusetts, removing later to Cuyahoga Falls. He followed the trade of paper-making to within a few years of his death, when he moved on a farm near the Falls, TV'hich is now largely built over. Both he and his wife were members of the Episcopal Church.

Robert H. Allen was born at Lee, Massachusetts, December 25, 1832, and was still an infant when his 'parents came to Cuyahoga Falls, where he was reared. During boyhood he W'Orked in the paper mills. He subsequently learned the trade of wagon-maker, and in partnership with his brother, W. A. A. Allen, was engaged for many years in the manufacturing busine.ss under the firm name of R. H. Allen & Company. About 1887, he bought 640 acres of land in Stow Township, and settled on a part of it, where he engaged in extensive farming, cattle-raising and dairying. He had large business dealings with his fellow-citizens, and enjoyed their confidence and esteem. Though he was no politician.

he took an intelligent interest in good local government. For a number of years he was a member of Star Lodge, No. 187, F. & A. M., Cuyahoga Falls.

In early manhood Robert H. Allen married Mary R. Cochrane, who is a daughter of John M. Cochrane, of Cuyahoga Falls. She was born July 18, 1837, and still survives, residing with her son, Arthur M. Her parents were John M. and Jane (Sample) Cochrane, the former of whom came to Cuyahoga Falls from Calcutta, Columbiana County, Ohio, and conducted a blacksmith- business. Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Allen had four children, three of whom survive, namely: Andrew Harper, residing at Cuyahoga Falls: William A., residing in Stow Township; and Arthur M. Robert II. Allen died May 14, 1902.

Arthur M. Allen was reared on the home farm and was educated in the public schools of Cuyahoga Falls and at Hudson Academy. At the time of his father's death, he received 235 acres, 150 of which he has under cultivation. He continues the dairying interests in which his father was engaged, keeping about forty head of cattle, and ships his milk to Cleveland. He raises his own hay and feed, and he is also interested in threshing and baling hay, doing a large amount of work of this kind throughout the county, keeping three men constantly employed. He is a member of the board of directors of the Springdale Horse Company, the syndicate that owns the $3,000 Belgian stallion, Toto. Mr. Allen is intimately concerned with all agricultural interests in his locality and is looked on as a man of business enterprise and sound judgment. Mr. Allen was married to Mertie Best, who was born in Northampton Township, Summit County, and is a daughter of Henry Best. They have one daughter, Mildred E. Politically Mr. Allen is a Republican.

FRANK C. REED, M. D., of Akron, was born at Austinburg, Ashtabula County, Ohio, in 1851, and is a son of the late Simon Reed, who was one of the pioneer settlers and later one of the leading manufacturers of that sec- tioii. Reared in his native place, he obtained his literary training at Grand River Institute, and in 1876 was graduated from the old Wooster Medical University at Cleveland. He at once located for practice at Akron, with which city he has been honorably identified ever since. He is a member of the Sixth District Medical Society, of which he was president in 1906, and belongs also to the Summit County, and the Ohio State Medical Societies. Aside from his profession he has some business interests, being a director of the Robinson Clay Product Company and a stockholder in the American Clay Product Company. For six years Dr. Reed served as a member of the Akron Board of Education, and he has ever shown a laudable desire to further public movements looking toward the welfare of his city. He has unselfishly given his professional services in times of public peril.

In 1881 Dr. Reed was married to Ellen M. Robinson, who was a daughter of the late Thomas Robinson, one of the early business men of this city. Mrs. Reed died May 11, 1907, leaving one daughter, Josephine R., who is a bright student in her classes at Buchtel College. Dr. Reed is an elder in the Presbyterian Church.

FRED T. ELLSWORTH, proprietor of the Spnngdale Stock Farm, a tract of 200 acres, situated in Stow Township, was born in Summit County, Ohio, October 8, 1867, and is a son of Edward and Emma (Thompson) Ellsworth.

Mr. Ellsworth was reared on his Grandfather Thompson's farm. The Thompson family came to Ohio from Connecticut in the person of Dr. Moses Thompson, Mr. Ellsworth's great-grandfather on the maternal side, who was born at Goshen. When seventeen years of age, Moses Thompson was permitted by his father to leave home and he started out in the world to seek his fortune, practically without any assistance. In 1800 he turned his course toward Ohio, and tramped the long di.stance, through unbroken forests and unbridged streams, until he reached Hudson. He was commissioned to buv 600 acres of land for Connecticut investors, and he purchased 160 acres for himself. He began to clear his land and subsequently returned to Goshen, where he married Elizabeth Mills, bringing his bride to the pioneer home. He became one of the pioneer physicians of this section.

^'irgil Thompson, the maternal grandfather of Mr. Ellsworth, was born in Hudson Township, Summit County, Ohio, March 14, 1810, and, in 1830, purchased the farm now owned by his grandson, Mr.' Ellsworth. He was one of a family of thirteen children. In 1836 he married IMaria Smith, who died two years later, and in May, 1842, he married Antoinette Turner. They had three daughters: Celia M. (deceased), who married H. H. Chamberlain; Mary A., who was the second wife of H. H. Chamberlain ; and Emma, who married Edward Ellsworth. Mr. Ellsworth has one sister, Mary.

Fred T. Ellsworth, when twenty years of age, went to Cleveland, and for five years was employed in W. Bingham's hardware store. He then went to Chicago, where he was in a livery business for five j^ears. In 1893, when his grandfather Thompson died, he returned to the farm to take charge of it. He cultivates 100 acres, raising thirty acres of hay, twenty of oats, and twenty of wheat. The Spnngdale Stock Farm has an excellent reputation through Summit County. Mr. Ellsworth deals more or lass in horses, of which he breeds some, and winters twentythree head for Akron parties. He is a member of the board of directors of the Springdale Horse Company, which is composed of twelve local horsemen, who imported the $3,000 Belgian stallion, Tofo, for the purpose of improving the breed of local draft horses. In 1901 Mr." Ellsworth built what is one of the finest barns in Summit CountJ^ Its dimensions are 36 by 100 feet, with 20-foot posts, and with the Shawver patent truss frame. There are twenty fine box stalls and the horses are carefully attended to and kept clean and sanitary by- a competent employe.

er. The latter is still living, and is now fiftyeight yeai's of*age. Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth have one daughter, Lucy,. born October 12, 1898. Mrs. Ellsworth is a member of the Catholic Church. In politics, Mr. Ellsworth is a Republican. As a good citizen he is active in promoting the welfare of the community, in which he is very popular, but he seeks no political preferment.

B. R. BARDER, president of the Biggs Boiler Works Company, at Akron, was born in Akron, Ohio, in 1878. He is a son of the late John P. Barder, whose death occurred in 1893, and who for many years was identified with the business interests of this city.

B. R. Barder was reared and educated in Akron, and began industrial life in the employ of the Biggs Boiler Company, in a humble capacity, in order to learn the business thoroughly. He continued with this company, rising step by step, and when the business was incorporated in 1900, Mr. Barder was prepared both by training and natural ability, to take the position of secretary and treasurer. Upon the death of Mr. Biggs, Mr. Barder was made president and treasurer, and continues at the head of this large industry, effectively directing its policy and enlarging its scope.

In 1903 Mr. Barder was married to Sarah I. Groff, of Akron, and they have one child, Louise E. As becomes a public-spirited citizen, Mr. Barder takes an interest in civic affairs and on various occasions he has consented to serve a.? a member of the City Council. His fraternal connections are with the Masons and the Knights of Honor.

M. O'NEIL, president and treasiyer of The M. O'Neil & Co., which operates the largest mercantile store at Akron, has resided in this city for more than thirty years and during a large part of that period has been an active business man. He was born in Ireland, December 12, 1850, and in the following year was brought to America by his parents, who were natives of that country.

His father, James O'Neil, was reared to agricultural pursuits in the "old country," where in early manhood he married Catherine Walsh. In 1850 he came to the United States with his wife and family and settled in New York City, where he found profitable employment.

The boyhood of the subject of this sketch was spent in the city of New York where he finished school attendance at the age of sixteen years and then became a messenger in a broker's office. In 1868 he entered a large wholesale dry goods house as bookkeeper, remaining until 1873, at which time he removed to Lancaster, Ohio, where he embarked in a retail dry goods business. In 1876 Mr. O'Neil came to Akron and entered into partr nership with Isaac J. Dyas, under the firm name of O'Neil & Dyas, and they began a wholesale and retail dry goods business at No. 114 East Market Street. Their business soon expanding to such an extent as to necessitate larger quarters, they erected a fourstory, stone-front store on South Main Street, which they filled with a complete stock of goods, taking possession in February, 1889. On October 28, 1889, their building and immense stock were destroyed by fire. Their loss was large and was not half covered by insurance. The firm then returned to the former place of business on East Market Street, where they remained until they had completed the erection of the magnificent building, on the burned site, now occupied by the M. O'Neil & Co. Isaac J. Dyas died in 1890. Mr. O'Neil subsequently took in as partners three of his clerks - John J. Feudner, William T. Tobin and F. B. Goodman - who took stock in the incorporated company and became officials, Mr. Feudner becoming vicepresident, Mr. Tobin, secretary, and Mr. Goodman, manager, while Mr. O'Neil assumed the positions of president and treasurer. The members of the company are men of high commercial standing and large experience. The company's store is the only department store in the city, and is headquarters for dry goods, carpets, wall paper, furniture, house furnishings, books, shoes, cloaks, furs, clothing and millinery. A large force of clerks, numbering about 300, is kept busy in attending to the wants of the store's many patrons. Mr. O'Neil is interested in other business enterprises in .Vkron and is numbered with the leading men of the city.

On July 16, 1884, Mr. O'Neil was married to Patience J. Mahar, of Cleveland. He and his wife have seven children: William F., Augustine, Patience, Thomas, Annette, Cyril and Marj". The family are members of the Catholic Church, and Mr. O'Neil is a member of the Knights of Columbus. The beautiful family home is situated at No. 370 West Market Street.

JOHN H. HOWER, until recent years one of Akron's most notable captains of industry, formerly president* of the Hower Oatmeal Mills, owing to his early and close identification with the industrial growth of the city has been often called the father of its manufacturing interests. He was born at New Berlin, Stark County, Ohio. February 22, 1822, but was reared in Summit County. He is one of a family of five children born to his parents, who were Jesse and Catherine (Kryder) Hower. Jesse Hower, who was a wheelwright by trade, died in 1829, when this section was still a wilderness. He was a son of Jacob Hower, who was of German parentage.

John H. Hower had comparatively few educational advantages in his boyhood, owing to the poor schools existing. When he was seven years old his father died, and he subsequently found it necessary to become self-supporting at an earlier age than is customary with more favored youths. Learning the trade of painter, he followed it after he was eighteen years of age, in Summit County during the summers, teaching school, both English and German, during the winters. When about thirty years old he embarked in a mercantile business at Doyleslown. Wayne County, Ohio, where he remained for some years. In 1861, he organized the Excelsior Mower and Reaper Company, in Doylestown, Ohio, to manufacture the invention of J. F. Seiberling, the inventor of the dropper, etc., on the reapers, for whom

Mr. Hower procured the patents for a good remunerative interest. The great demand for the machines soon outgrew the capacity of the plant. The Excelsior factoi"ies, established here through Mr. Hower's influence and by means of his personal exertions, formed a sort of industrial nucleus around which gathered other new and varied industries. The large royalties which they received from other manufacturing concerns, both in this and other states, amounting to nearly $500,000 were reinvested here, and helped largely to give that strong impulse in the direction of manufacturing activity which found its logical outcome in the widespread and substantial business prosperity which we behold here at the present time. As Mr. Hower was one of the first to build a manufacturing plant in Akron of the kind above mentioned, the title of "father of the industry," so frequently applied to him, seems peculiarly appropriate. Some of the largest works of this kind in the city were built by his influence and for a long period, during his ripest years of business activity, he was closely associated with the initiation and subsequent progress of many of Akron's most successful industrial enterprises, and finest of homes. In 1865 he assisted in the organization of the J. F. Seiberling Company, of Akron, of which he became vice president.

In 1879 Mr. Hower bought an interest in the Turner Oatmeal Mill, and in 1881 he became the owner of the plant. Then, with his sons, Harvey Y., M. Otis, and Charles H., he organized the firm of Hower & Company, which was incorporated in Januarj'-, 1888, as the Hower Company, this being merged in June, 1891, with the American Cereal Company. On the incorporation of the Hower Company the board was made up as follows: .Tohn PI. Hower. president; Harvey Y. Hower. vice-president; M. Otis Hower. secretary'; and Charles H. Hower. treasurer. Mr. Hower was also one of the incorporators of the Akron Reed nnd Rattan Company, of which he was elected president.

burgh, Pennsylvania, and who died at Akron in 1895. Their family consisted of the three sons mentioned above, who, besides being associated with their father, have been prominent in many other lines of business enterprise.

In 1900 John H. Hower married, for his second wife, Rebecca Ralston, a daughter of William Ralston, of Massillon. Mr. and Mrs. Hower reside in a beautiful home at No. 356 Buchtel Avenue. Mr. Hower is a charter member of Trinity Lutheran Church, and served as a member and trustee from its organization in 1870 to 1879. In politics he was in his earlier years a Democrat, but has been identified with the Republican party since its organization.

Harvey Y. Hower, eldest son of John H. and Susan (Youngker) Hower, was born October 16, 1855, at Doylestown, Wayne County, Ohio. He was educated in the public schools of Doylestown and Akron, and at Smithville Normal Academy, and then entered the employ of J. F. Seiberling & Companj^ first in their shops and later as a traveling representative. This was followed by a two years' bu.siness connection with Aultman. Miller & Company. In the spring of 1879 he became interested with his father in the manufacture of oatmeal and cereals, and became a partner in 1881, when the business of Robert Turner & Company passed into the hands of the Howers. He wa« connected with his father and brothers in the organization of the firm of Hower & Company, whose business location was the corner of Canal and Cherry Streets, Akron. On November 29, 1877, Harvey Y. Hower was married to Helen M. Stone, who was born at Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. June 25, 1865. They have four children - John Frederick, Harvey Burt, Lloyd Kenneth and Lewis Stone.

]M. Otis Hower, second son of Mr. Hower, was born in Doylestown, Wayne County, Ohio, on November 25, 1859. He received his education in the Akron schools and at Buchtel College, after which he joined his father in the cereal milling business until the transfer to the Cereal Milling Company. He remained with that company in the different capacities of general manager, director, etc., until 1901, when he embarked in various succesful enterprises.

Charles H. Hower, third son of John H. and Susan (Youngker) Hower, one of the incoqjorators of the Hower Company, and since June, 1891, a stockholder in the American Cereal Company, is also one of the incorporators and a stockholder in the Akron Reed and Rattan Company. He was born August 31, 1866, at Akron, Ohio, and completed his education at Oberlin College. AVhen seventeen years of age he became a traveling representative of the oatmeal firm of Hower & Company, and meeting with success, remained so engaged until the incorporation of the company as above detailed. On September 27, 1887, he married Nellie E. Long, who was 'born at Copley, Summit County, Ohio, December 6, 1868. He and his wife are the parents of one child - Helen M.

JAMES ALONZO DOX, formerly a highly respected citizen of Stow Township, was born at Geneva, New York, August 26, 1832, and died in Stow Township, Summit County, Ohio, July 18, 1906. His parents, Tunis and Clarissa (Dimick) Dox, were also natives of New York. For many years his father was engaged in the manufacture of brick at Geneva, and during boyhood and youth, James Alonzo assisted in the work. Later he began railroading, with which work he was connected for forty years, thirty of which he passed at Cleveland. A few years prior to his death, he retired to Stow Township and settled on the old Martin Sadler place, on which Mrs. Dox was born and on which she still resides. Mr. Dox was a member of Bigelow Lodge, No. 243. F. & A. M., of Cleveland, and of the Commandery at Akron.

On November 11, 1858, .James Alonzo Dox wa': married to Rebecca Sadler, who is a daughter of Martin and Susan (Steele) Sadler. Martin Sadler was born in Ireland and came to America when eighteen years of age, accompanying his parents to Stow Township, where he followed his trade of shoemaker.

which he had learned in liis native land. He lived with his parents on the homestead farm and assisted in clearing it and in building the first log house. His wife, Susan, was a daughter of Adam Steele, of Stow Township, and six of their seven children reached maturity; namely: Jackson, Thomas, Adam, Gibson, Phoebe Ann and Rebecca, Mrs. Dox being the only survivor. Her parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mai-tin Sadler died in 1877.

To Mr. and Mrs. Dox were born seven children, four of whom reached maturity, namely : Susan Charlotte, who was married (first) to George Shattuck, of Cleveland, and (second) to Samuel Frank, of Akron ; Phoebe Ann, who married Charles Ellsworth Saffell, of Stow Township; William, deceased; and Clinton Andrew.

Clinton Andrew Dox was born November 27,1865, in Whitley County, Indiana, and was educated in the public schools of Cleveland. Before accompanying his parents to Stow township he was engaged in railroad work, and also kept a store. He cultivates the home farm which contains sixty acres of excellent land, and devotes considerable attention to dairying, keeping twelve cows and shipping milk to Cleveland. He raises his own feed and has a silo 12 by 24 feet in dimensions. In politics he is a Republican, but, like his late father, is no politician.

WILLIAM H. HAVER, a well-known citizen of Coventry Township, who owns a valuable tract of twenty-five acres, which is situated near Barberton, has been identified more or less with the development of this section of Summit County, for a number of years. He was born at Doylestown, Wayne County, Ohio, January 11, 1856, and is a sou of Robert and Elizabeth (Frederick) Haver.

The father of Mr. Haver died when he was a babe. His mother was a daughter of Samuel Galehouse, one of the early settlers of Wayne County. After the death of her husband she was married^ to Stephen Latham, a well known and old-time resident of Summit

William H. Haver was reared on his stepfather's farm and in young manhood, worked for twelve years in the coal mines. Later, in association with J. C. Russ, Captain Morrison and S. N. Wilson, he acquired the ownership of Long Lake Park. A stock company was subsequently formed, and Mr. Haver sold his interest to S. N. Wilson, five years later. He removed from his old home near the park, about this time, to Barberton, where he erected several houses, and after selling them, he bought the Snyder farm, which adjoins his own property. Sutisequently he sold that to the Barberton Real Estate Company, and the land is now covered with dwellings. In October, 1904, Mr. Haver bought the old Daniel Harter home place, and in 1907 he erected a handsome new residence on a desirable corner to take the place of the old eight-room house still standing.

Mr. Haver was married January 11, 1880, to Elizabeth Hutchinson, who died in January, 1898, leaving four children, namely: Dorothy Joanna, who married Albert Heimbaugh ; Lottie May, who married John Howard, and has two children, Helen and James; Carrie, who married Wallace Knecht; and William Julian. Mr. Haver was married (second) October 30, 1900, to Cora B. Harter, who is a daughter of Daniel and Mary Harter.

Daniel Hai'ter was born in Franklin Township, .June 4, 1820, and has spent the greater part of his life in Summit County. He was married, October 26, 1844, to Mary Grove, and their family numbered eleven children, four of whom are now living, namely: Eliza J., residing in Copley Township; Lavina A., of Congress Town.'^hip. Wayne County; Joseph J., of Akron, and Cora B.. wife of the subject of this sketch.

Mr. Haver has retired from farming and leads a rather leisurely life, having the means to enjoy himself along congenial lines. He is fond of the water and has spent one delight- ful winter in a house-boat, mainly on the Mississippi River. Another trip of 200 miles was made on the Kusa River from Rome, Georgia, to Gladstone, Alabama. He has spent twenty winters in fishing and trapping, in various pai'ts of the South. His excursions have opened up a wide field of adventiu-e and enjoyment for him, a recital of which would make an interesting volume. Politically Mr. Haver is identified with the Repul)lican party. He Ls a member of the Disciples Cluu-ch.

WILLIAM ROWLEY, formerly a well known business man of Akron, was Ixiru in England in 1838, and died in Akron, in November, 1891, at the age of fifty-three years. He was a son of Enoch and Eliza Rowley, who settled here in 1848.

Enoch Rowley, Avho established the first pottery at Akron, was. until middle life, a resident of Sf«ke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England. He then came to America and established him.self at Akron. He was a potter by ivude and built up a large pottery business, which he carried on for many years, partly with his son, the late William Rowley. He was one of the sterling men of Akron in has day. For eight years he sen'ed in the City Council from the Sixth Ward. In Politics he was identified Avith the Republican party. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

William Rowley was one of a family of twelve children. He was educated in the Akron public schools, and as soon as he was old enough entered his father's pottery to learn the business. Later he entered into partnership with his father, whose interest in the business he aftenvards purchased. In 1886 he retired from activity, but continued to be interested in the public affairs at Akron as long as he lived. He was a zealous Republican and for six years served on the Board of Equalization. Fraternally he was an Odd Fellow.

Mr. Rowley married Mary .1. Wills, of Cuyalioga Fails, and they had four children, namely: Florence, who died in infancy; Arthur James, who is a prominent member of the Summit County bar; Maude L., wife of George H. Stubbs, of Akron, and Zelle I., wife of Jonathan Taylor, of Akron. Mrs. Rowley lives at No. 824 East Market Street, Akron.

JOHN T. MERTZ, chief of Akron's fire department, which responsible position he assumed August 1, 1901, has been regularly identified with this branch of the city's public service for the past twenty-four years. Chief Mertz was born in March, 1864, at Cleveland, Ohio, where he attended school to the age of fifteen years. From Cleveland Mr. Mertz went to Blyria, Ohio, where he worked in a factory for two years and then came to Akron, and for one year was employed in the grocery store of Cyrus Miller. His next position M^as in the ^Etna Mills, wheire, after six months of work, he was made assistant engineer, and he remained in the employ of the mill company until the plant was destroyed by fii-c, in December, 1884. Soon after that event he secured a po.sition as engineer for the Ohio Stoneware Company, in the 'meantiime taking a gread deal of interest in the work of the fire department, and occasionally working on the force as a substitute. In the fall of 1886, he accepted a position as driver for the department, and eighteen months later was promoted to the position of pipeman, serving as .such until July 1, 1897, when he was still further promoted, being made captain. Under the administration of Hon. W. B. Doyle, he was made chief of the department, in August, 1901. Chief Mertz is well qualified in every way to fill the office he holds, and it is a satisfaction to the citizens of Akron to know that their homes and other property are under the protection of so efficient a fire chief.

In January, 1885, Mr. Mertz was married to Susan Thiese, of Akron, and they have two sons, namely: Arthur B. and Raymond A. The former is bookkeeper for the Cleveland Twist Drill Company, of Cleveland, and was educated in Akron. The latter attends the public schools.