Summit County, Ohio - Chapter 20: Statistics, 1908 (part 1 of 27)

Chapter 20: Statistics

It is interesting to compare the neighbor cities of Youngstown arid Canton in respect to the last two items. Youngstown has seventeen miles of paved streets and fifty-four miles of sanitary sewers. Canton haa eighteen miles of paVed streets and thirt3'-five miles of sanitary sewers.

The sixth census - that of 1840 - does not give the population of Akron. Summit County is given 22,560. At that time Cleveland had 6,071 ; Steubenville, 4,247 ; Zanesville. 4,766; and Chillicothe, 3,977.

Ordinances Of The City Ok Akron

SECTION 1. Be it ordained by the Cmuicil of the City of Akron, Ohio, that as the inhabitants of said City generally desire to enlarge the corporate limits of said City by the annexation of the following territory, to wit:

Situated in the Township of Coventry, County of Summit, and State of Ohio, beginning at a point in the pre.sent south line of the Corporation of Akron, 180 feet ea-t of the center line of Brown street, which center line is also the west line of Lot No. 5, Tract 9, Coventry Township, and said Vjeginning point is also 595.65 feet south of the north line of said Lot 5, and center line of South street; Thence south 0° 55' west 2082.95 feet to a point in the south line of said lot 5, 180 feet east of the southwest corner thereof; Thence south 1° west 1004.70 feet to a point 180 feet east of the west line of Lot 6, in said Tract 9. Thence south 89" 36' wesit 11712.87 feet to a point in Lot No. 7, Tract 2, Coventry Township; Thence north 0° 39' 30" east 42157.45 feet to a point in the north line of Coventry Township; Thence nearly east along said north line of Coventry Township 2090 feet to a corner of Coventry Township; Thence east along the north Hne of Coventry Township 2430.50 feet to a point in the west line of the corporation of jVkron ; Thence south 2940 feet along said west line to the southwest corner of said corporation; Thence nearly east 2900 feet along the center of Crosier street ; it being the Ijresent south line of said corporation and about 82" 58' east 437 feet to a point in the center line of Main Street; Thence north 19" 48' east about 235 feet along the center line of Main street and line of said corporation ; Thence nearly east 5230 feet along the south lino of said corporation to the beginning. The courses here given as true meridian.

KSituated in the Township of Ponage, County of Summit, and State of Ohio, beginning at a point in the Portage Path at the northeast corner of Tract No. 5, Coventry Township; Thence west along the south line of Portage Township 278.97 feet ; Thence north 0" 39' 30"' east 14486.65 feet to a point in Lot No. 10, west of the Portage Path in Portage Township; thence south 89° 13' 30" east 6362.87 feet to a point in the east line of the towing path on the east side of the Ohio Canal ; Thence along said east line of said towing path the following courses and distances; north 2° 31' 30" west 685.30 feet; north 13° 18' 30" west 225.00 feet; north 6" 12' 30" west 1343.40 feet; Thence leaving .said towing path and running north 89° 33' 30" (>ast (3075 feet to a point in the east line of Lot No. 3, in Tract 3, Portage Township; Thence along the line between lots Nos. 3 and 4 in Tract 3, and lots Nos. 4 and 5 in Tract 6, smith 0° 18' 30" west 1978.50 feet to the center line of Tallmadge avenue; Thence along the east line of Lot 22, in tract 6, and the same continued south 0° 57' 30" west 4018 feet to a point in the line between Tracts Nos. 6 and 7 ; Thence south 89° 51' west 504 feet to the east line of the corporation of Akron in Tract 6; Thence along the present east line of said corporation in Tract 6, north 1 907.75 feet to a corner of said corporation ; Thence running nearly west 9180 feet along the present north line of said corporation in Trncts 6 and 5 to the jiresont northwest corner of said corporation; 'l'iicnc(> ninirly sdutb

104.30 feet along the present west line of said corporation to the south line of Portage Township; Thence west along the south line of Portage Township 2430.50 feet to a point in the Portage Path; Thence southerly along said Portage Path and along a line of Portage Township 2090 feet to the beginning.

This Ordinance passed August 14, 1899. An ordinance accepting the application of the City of Akron for the annexation of territory above described was passed by Akron City Council, April 23, 1900. Instrument dated April 26. 1900. Received April 27, 1900. at 1:10 p. m.

An Ordinance autliorizing the annexation of certain contingent territory to the City of Akron. The following described territory is herebv authorized to be annexed, to wit: l^eginning at a point in the west corporation line of the City of Akron, where said corporation line intersects the north line of Portage Park Allotment as recorded in Plat Book 7, page 50, Summit County Records of Plats; Thence west along the north line of said allotment in Mull Avenue, and along a continuation of said north line due west to the center of West Exchange street, a distance of about 1421.60 feet; Thence southeasterly along the center line of West Exchange street to its intersection with the west corporation line of the city about 1931.40 feet; Thence north along the west corporation line of said City of Akron about 1336.50 feet to the place of beginning, containing about twenty-two acres of land, twelve acres of which land is a part of the Portage Park Allotment and 6.41 acres of said 22 acres subject to public streets surrounding it as set apart for a public park.

Passed November 17, 1902. Ordinance passed by Citv Council of Akron, Ohio, to accept the annexation of the above premises to the City of Akron, pas.sed April 20. 1903.

On the 21.^t of January, 1785, George Rogei'.-i Clark, Riehard Butler and Arthur Lee met a body of Indian.s at Fort Mclnto.sh, who asserted them.*elve.s to be repre.-ientative.-; of the Wyandot.*, Delaware^, Chippewas and Ottawas. The document they signed on that occaiiion and known afterward as the Treaty of Fort Mcintosh is in the word.s and figures following :

"The Commissioners Plenipotentiary of the United States in Congress assembled, give peace to the Wyandot, Delaware, Chippewa and Ottawa nations of Indians, on the following conditions:

Article 1. Three chiefs, one from among the Wyandot and two from among the Delaware nations, shall be delivered up to the commissioners of the United States, to be by them retained till all the prisoners, white and black, taken by the said nations, or any of them, shall be restored.

Article 2. The said Indian nations do acknowledge themselves and all their tribes to lie under the protection of the United States, and of no other sovereign whatever.

Article 3. The boundary line between the United States and Wyandot and Delaware nations, .shall begin at the mouth of the River Cuyahoga, and run thence up the said river to the portage between that and the Tuscarawas branch of Muskingum, then down the said branch to the forks at the crossing place above Fort Lawrence; then westerly to the portage of the Big Miami, which runs into the Ohio, at the mouth of which branch the fort stood which was taken by the French in one thousand seven hundred and fifty-two; then along the said portage to the Great Miami or Ome River, and down the southeast side of the same to its mouth ; thence along the south shore of Lake Erie, to the mouth of Cuyahoga, where it began.

\\'yandot and Delaware nations, to live and to hunt on, and to such of the Ottawa nation as now live thereon ; saving and reserving for the establishment of trading posts, six miles square at the mouth of Miami or Ome River, and the same at the portage on that branch of the Big Miami which runs into the Ohio, and the same on the Lake of Sanduske where the fort formerlj- stood, and also two miles square on each side of the lower rapids of Sanduske River, which posts, and the lands annexed to them, shall be to the use and under the Government of the United States.

Article 5. If any citizen of the United States, or other person not being an Indian, shall attempt to settle on any of the lands alloted to the Delaware and Wj^andot nations in this treaty, except on the lands reserved to the United States in the preceding article, such person shall forfeit the protection of the United States, and the Indians may punish him as they please.

Article 6. The Indians who sign this treat}', as well in behalf of all their tribes as of themselves, do acknowledge the lands east, south and we.st of the lines described in the third article, so far as the said Indians formerly claimed the same, to belong to the L'nited States ; and none of their tribes shall presume to settle upon the same or any part of it.

Article 7. The post of Detriot, with a district beginning at the mouth of the river Rosine, on the west end of Lake Erie, and running we.st six miles up the southern bank of the said river, thence northerly and always in six miles west of the strait, till it strikes the Lake St. Clair, shall be also reserved to the sole use of the United States.

Article 8. In the same manner, the post of Michillimachinac with its dependencies and twelve miles square about the same, shall be reserved to the use of the United Stat<.\«.

Article 9. If any Indian of Indians shall commit a robbery or murder on any citizen of the United States, the tribe to which such offenders may belong, shall be bound to deliver them up at the nearest past, to l^e puni-hfd according to the ordinances of the United States.

Article 10. Tlie commissioners of the United States in pursuance of the humane and H'beral views of Congress, upon this treaty's being signed, will direct goods to be distributed among the different tribes for their use and comfort.

Separate Article. It is agreed that the Delaware chiefs, Kelelarrand, or Lieutenant-Colonel Henry (alias Killbuck), Hengue Pushees or the Big Cat, Wicocalind or Captain White Eyes, who took up the hatchet for the United States, and their families, shall be received into the Delaware nation, in the same situation and rank as before the war, and enjoy their due portion of the lands given to the Wyandot and Delaware nations in this treaty as fully as if they had not taken part with

Col. Simon Perkins

COL. SIMON PERKINS. In Grace Park, Akron, stands a granite monument, which was erected by thi^ city, in 1895, in memory of its greatest philanthropist and one of its most distinguished former citizens. It recalls to memory one whose almost entire life was generously given to promote the prosperity of Akron and to advance the happiness of her citizens. Simon Perkins was born February 6, 1805, at Warren, Ohio, where he was reared to manhood, and was a son of General Simon and Nancy (Bishop) Perkins, nativ&s of Norwich, Connecticut.

Colonel Perkjns traced a clear line of ancestry back to Puritan forefathers. General Simon Perkins attained his military rank while commanding the United States forces in Northern Ohio, during the War of 1812. He had moved from Connecticut and settled at Warren, Ohio, in 1801, where he was made commissioner of the Connecticut AVestern Reserve Land Company.

During his early manhood. Colonel Simon Perkins was associated with his father in handling the large amount of land which the latter had acquired, and it was in relation to land that he came to Akron, in 1835. This city, then an insignificant one, became his permanent home and as years went by greatly benefitted by his public spirit, his far-seeing judgment and his liberal and broad-cast generosity. From the first he was a man of force and energy in every direction, and four years after coming to Summit County he was elected a member of the State Senate, and in

1841-42 of the House of Representatives, from this county. The selection of the county seat was one of the questions in which Colonel Perkins took a personal interest, and he was the champion of many of the important measures which now appear as laws on the State records.

While political life had many attractions for a virile, ambitious man like Colonel Perkins, agricultural employments also claimed a large part of his attention. He advocated farming along the most modern lines then known, and was the pioneer live-stock breeder, from standard stock, in this section. He owned hundreds of acres of productive land. He was also one of the first to see the adventages accruing from an extended line of railroad through Summit County, to run through Akron, and was the first pre=ident of the Cleveland, Zancsville & Cincinnati, now the Cleveland, Akron & Columbus Railroad, later becoming its general superintendent. In pushing the interests of this line. Colonel Perkins is credited with sinking a large fortune, but even he could never have imagined the beneficial results this great transportation line has brought to the country through which it is operated. Perhaps no other citizen contributed so much, in time, energy, land and money, to the material development of Akron, as did this broad-souled, large-hearted man. He lived to see the industrial, educational and charitable institutions which he had more or less founded, enter upon a period of pro.?perity, and to realize, in a small degree at least, the gratitude of his fellow-

Colonel Perkins was married in 1832, to Grace I. Tod, a daughter of Judge George and Sally (IngersoU) Tod, and a sister of the late Governor David Tod, a sketch of whom may be found in this work. Of the eleven children born of this marriage, ten reached maturity, and seven still survive. The Colonel's eldest son, Colonel George T. Perkins, is one of Akron's most prominent business men, being president of the B. F. Goodrich Company and of the Akron Rubber Com])any. Mrs. Perkins died Ajirll 6, 1'867, aged fiftysix years.

former cdtizen of Akron, where he was for many years identified with a number of the important business interests of the city, some of which were directly the result of his own genius and energy, was born March 10, 1834, at Norton, Ohio. He was one of a family of fifteen children (thirteen of whom grew to maturity) born to his parents, who were Nathan and Catherine (Peters) Seiberling.

Mr. Seiberling completed his education at the Western Star Academy, and for two years, from 1856 to 1858, he was in the drug business at Akron. He was, however, of a mechanical turn of mind, and in the latter year went to operating a sawmill at Norton. It was while there that he invented his noted E'xcehior mower and reaper, with the dropper attachment, and in 1861 he established works for their manufacture at Doylestown, which are still in operation. By 1864 the business had sn exjianded that extra works were needed, which were erected at Ma«sillon. In 1865 the J. F. Seiberling Company was established at Akron, but in 1869, Mr. Seiberling withdrew and then began" the manufacture of tlie Emprrc machine, which is so well known all over the country. Mr. Seiberling by this time not only had a perfect knowledge of business conditions and trade relations in every section, but he had command of a large amount of capital, and in 1871 he organized the Akron Strawboard Company, which he conducted until 1887. In 1883 he founded the Seiberling Milling Company and at this time built a six-story brick flouring mill, as well as the Academy of Music Block. In 1889 Mr. Seiberling obtained a controlling interest in the Akron Electric Street Railway. Later he expanded other inportant interests both in Akron and at other points.

On September 6, 1859, Mr. Seilierling was married to Catherine L. Miller, of Norton, Their family numbered eleven children, nine of whom are still living. They are as follows: Anna A., wife of S. Samuel Miller, of Akron; Frank A., president and general manager of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, who married Gertrude F. Penfield, and resides at No. 158 Ea^t Market Street; Charles W., trea.surer of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, who married Blanche Carnahan, and resides at No, 76 Fay Street; Co-ra D., wife of Lewis T. Wolle, of Cambria, Wyoming; Harriet M., wife of LuciiLS C. Miles, of Akron; Grace I., wife of Dr. W. S. Chase, of Akron; Kittie G., wife of Luther H. Firey, of Kansas City; Mary B., iwife of Henry B. Manton, of Akron;. Ruth J., wife of Ernest A. Pfleuger, also of Akron. The two decea.sed are John Frederick and Maude M., both of whom died in infancy. Mr. John Frederick Seiberling, the father of these children, died September 6, 1903. His widow still survives, and re.sides at No. 144 East Market Street.

Mr. Seiberling wa.« a man who was honorable, prompt, and true to every engagement. Throughout his career of far-reaching usefulness he remembered with a generous heart those who had not been so fortunate, and in quiet benevolence brought much cheer to those who needed it. For many years he was a member and a trustee of the Trinity Lutheran Church.

JAMES R. HEMPHILL, general manager of the Colonial Sign and Insulator Company, at Akron, was born in Summit County, Ohio, in 1860, and is a son of Robert. Hemphill,

And Repeesentative Citizens

James R. Hemphill was educated in the schools of Fairlawn and Akron and started into business as an employe of the Aultman- Miller Company, with whom he remained five years. Since then, with the exception of a period of two years, he has been engaged in his present business, first with the Akron Insulator and Marble Company, which was organized in 1894, and which in 1904 was consolidated with the Colonial Sign Company. The business was incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000, as the Colonial Sign & Insulator Company, with H. B. Camp, president ; C. R. Quine, secretary ; W. H. Motz, treasurer, and James R. Hemphill, general manager. Mr. Hemphill has always displayed a helpful interest in undertakings out.side his own sphere of work which have promised to benefit the city, and while never active in politics, performs every duty of a good citizen. In 1890 he was married to Louada Weeks, and they have had two children, Helen and Ray, the former of whom is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Hem])hill are members of the Fir.*t Congregational Church.

GEN. SIMON PERKINS. Verj^ many of the prominent families of Ohio trace their ance.~try to Connecticut, and this is the case with the distinguished Perkins family. Simon Perkins, who for so long a period was one of the leading men of Ohio, was born at Li.sbon. Conneetiout, September 17, 1771. In 1795 he is found at Oswego, New York, and in 1798 he was chosen by the Erie Land Company to act as its agent in the exploration of the Western Reserve, and in this capacity he spent his .summers in Ohio. After his marriage, he settled permanently at Warren, Ohio, where he was postmaster from 1801 to 1829, and was also special agent of the government in establishing local oflices and treating with the Indians. In August, 1812. as brigadier general of militia, he took oliarge of the troops in Northern Ohio and marched to defend the northern frontier. At the close of the campaign in the following year, he was offered by President Madison a commission as colonel in the regular army, which military honor he declined on account of his many pressing business duties.

In 1813 General Perkins organized the Western Reserve Bank and remained its president until 1836. He was a member of the Ohio Canal Fund Commission from 1826 until 1838. In 1825, in association with Paul Williams, he founded the village of Akron, and in 1831, in connection with Judge King and Dr. Cro.siby, that portion known as North Akron. He donated ground for public buildings, parks, schools and churches, and enriched in every possible way the young town where he enjoyed passing much of his spare time. He died at Warren November 6, 1844, aged 73 years, one month and nineteen days.

On March 18, 1804, he married Nancy Bishop, who was born at Lisbon, Connecticut, January 24, 1780, and who died at Warren April 24, 1862, aged eighty-two years and three months. Among their children was Colonel Simon Perkins, now deceased, who for many years was a leading figure in the affairs of Akron. Colonel George Tod Perkins, president of the P. F. Goodrich Company and the Akron Rubber Company, a .sketch of whom may be found in this volume, is a grandson of General Perkins.

GEORGE P. GRAFTON, a prominent farmer of Norton Township, who carries on a general line of agriculture, operates a anilk route and also grows many berries for the market, is serving as clerk of the School Board of this town.ship, with which body he has been connected a number of years. Mr. Grafton was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, December 10, 1858, and is a son of .John D. and SaraJi J. (Palmer) Grafton.

The parent.* of Mr. Grafton still reside on their farm in Jeffer.-ori County, where he was reared. He obtained a good district school education, and was trained to be a careful and capable farmer. He continued to live in Jefferson County for eight years followdng his marriage, moving then to Medina County, where he remained for almost a year. In March, 1892, he bought his present farm in Norton Township, and here has been since engaged in farming, dairying ad fiiiitgronving. He devotes an acre to small fruit, finding a ready mai-ket for all he can produce. He grows many potatoes, raising only the best varieties and giving them scientific care.

Mr. Grafton marrieid Nora J. Rwickard, who is a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Zimmerman) Swickard, and who was born and reared in Jefferson County. They have had seven children, all surviving except Sidney, the sixth in order of birth, who died aged sixteen months. Those livino- are: Elvah, Lizzie, Clyde, Mabel, John and Ella.

Mr. Grafton is a member of the First Lutheran Church at Barberton and is a luember of the Church Council. For about two years lie has been a member of the school board and several years before completed a sen'ice of four years.

J. B. LOOKER, pre.-iidcnt of (he Western Reserve Security Company, of Akron, is one v)f the city's leading citizens, participating largely in its business amd social life, and taking an interest in its development as as in its good government. Mr. Looker was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1873, and was reared and educated in his native city. He came to Akron in 1897, for some eight years previously having been in the rectifying bu.sine.«s. For five years he was in business at Akron as a. representative of Fleischman <^ Company, of Cincinnati, and then opened a restaurant and was additionally interested in a. five and ten cent store at ColumbTis. Prior to December, 1903, when Mr. Looker organized the Western Reserve Security and Loan Company, he had been engaged in a banking and loan bu.«iine,ss. He still operates two restaurant, one in Canton and another in Akron, they being the most select and highcla.ss places of the kind in the respective cities.

In 1893, Mr. Looker was married to Leta Lake, of Chicago, and they have tluve children : Adelaide, Florence and Ilelene. Mr. Looker is a thirty-second Degree Mason, and belonging to the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commandery at Akron and to Lake Erie Consistory at Cleveland. He is also a member of the Masonic and the Akron Lunch clubs.

GEORGE VIALL. Akron has a number of sutetantial citizens living in easy retirement after a long and useful bu.saness life, and among these is George Viall, who was l)orn in this city March 12, 1834, his parents being Thomas C. and Mahala (Atwood) Viall.

The father of Mr. Viall came to Akron in 1824, where he built both a' saw- and a woolen-'mill, and besides operating tliem he invested in a large amount of farm property in Summit County. He died when his only child, George, was about two years of age.

Mr. Viall completed his education in the schools of Akron, or old Middlebury, a* that of the city wa« then denominated, and was nineteen years old when he engaged in a grocery business at Old Forge. Two years later he purchased a boat and for three summers plied with it on the canal. After that lie wa.s for three year's in the grocery bu.siness ill Middlebury, and continued it for three more in the Tappan Block. He next engaged in the stoneware business, which occul)i«l him for eight years, and afterwards he was ill the general merchandise busiincss for nine years in Middlebur\\ Mr. Viall was one of Middlebury's most active business men for a long period, during a part of this time, in addition to the occupations above noted, being a representative of the United States Life Tn.surance Company, and also of the Cleveland Mutual Accident Insurance Company. For some years he was secretary and trea.surer of the Middlebur\' Clay Company, of which he was one of the incorporators.

Lewis Miller

born to tihiis union, the one .survivor is Mrs. Frank Comstock, residing at Akron. Mr. Viall married for liis .second wife, December 7, 1887, Mrs. Jennie (Thomp.son) Sweeney, a daughter of Duncan Thompson. Mrs. Miill wa.s born in 1849, at Edinburg, Scotland, and was but one year old wlien her parents came to America and settled at East Liverpool, Ohio. Nine years later they removed to Akron, where she was reared, being educated in the old Sixth Ward school. By her former maiTiage, j\Irs. Viall had three children : May and George, both residing in Chicago, Illinois, and Frank, residing at Lisbon, Ohio, where he is engaged in a general mercantile business. Mr. "\^iall reared Edward F. Carl, from childhood, and the latter is connected with the j\I. O'Ncil Company, of Akron.

Mr. Viall has served in public offices in his native city, at different times, having ever been interested in public movements and ainxious to promote the general welfare. For thirty years he has been identified with the Odd Fellows, and he belongs also to the Knights of Honor. He is a member of the Broad Street Church of Christ, which he served many years as a deacon, and as chairman of the board of trustees. Advancing years have caused him to resign these offices, but not to relax his interest in the work of the church, or to curtail his liberality toward it. Mrs. Viall is an active member of the Ladies' Add Society of this church.

LEWIS MILLER. Few citizens of Akron, now passed off the scene of life, have more claims to remembrance than the late Lewis Miller, the genius who invented the Buckeye Mower and Reaper. He was born July 24, 1829, at Greentown, Stark County, Ohio, and his useful life closed February 28, 1899.

Mr. Miller completed his education in the Academy at Plainfield, Will County, Illinois. From 1846 until 1851 he taught school during the winter seasons and worked as a plasterer in the summers. All the time he was studying out inventions, many of which have been since patented and put on the market.

In 1851 he became a member of the firm of Ball, Aultman and Company, manufacturers of stoves, plows, threshers, and the old Hussey reaper. After the firm removed to Canton, Mr. Miller became superintendent of the plant. Then followed his invention of the Buckeye Mower and Reaper, and in 1865 of the Buckeye Table Rake and still later, the self-binders. To his inventive genius, Akron and other manufacturing cities of Ohio owe a large part of their prosperity. In 1864 works were erected at Akron for the further enlargement of the business, under the firm name of Aultman, Miller and Company, Mr. Miller being the president and superintendent of the organizations with which his name was connected. His capital became invested in numerous other manufacturing plants, particularly at Akron and Canton, as well as in lianks and other business organizations. He was a trustee of Mt. Union College, of Allegheny College and the Ohio Wesleyan University, and at Akron was connected prominently with educational work. Although a good citizen he was never a prominent politician, being too busily engaged otherwise, but at various times he consented to serve on the City Council, and gave generously of hi^ time to promote all civic measures of importance. Thousands each year enjoy the benefits of the Chautauqua Association, of which he was the originator and founder.

Mr. Miller was united in marriage, September 16, 1852, to Mary V. Alexander, a native of Macoupin County, Illinois, who was born December 6, 1830. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom eight, are now living, namely: Ira, who resides in Akron; Edward, also of Akron; Robert, postmaster of Porto Rico ; Lewis, residing at the family home in Akron; Mina, wife of the distinguished inventor, Thomas A. Edison, of Llewellyn, New Jersey; Mary, who is single and resides at home; Grace, a teacher in a select school at Cleveland, and John B., who is associated with Mr. Edison in his scientific work. Those deceased are: Eva, who died just before reaching her sixteenth year; Jennie, who was the wife of Richard Marvin, who

WILLIAM J. EMERY, M. D., a wellknown member of the medical fraternity at Akron, was born in 1860, near Lowell, Seneca County, Ohio, where he was reared and obtained his earlier education. Later he entered Buchtel College, where he was graduated Ph. B., in 1885. For two years following his graduation, Dr. Emery was in the office of Ferdinand Schumaker, and he then entered upon the study of medicine, subsequently becoming a student at the Western Reserve, where he was graduated M. D. in 1890. He immediately entered upon the practice of his profession at Akron, and has ' been fortunate in gaining the confidence and support of the public through his acknowledged professional ability, winning an excellent status both as a physician and surgeon. Pie has identified himself with the lending medical oi'ganization? - the Summit County, the Sixth Councillor District and the Ohio State Medical Societies. He has been citv physiician, and during 1891-2-3 he was physician to the County Infirmary.

In 1894, Dr. Emery Avas married to Flora M. Stein, of Summit County. His busine-ss location is at No. 581 South Main Street. Fraternally, Dr. Emery is a. Mason, a member of Adoniram Lodge, F. & A. M., and also of the Home Guards. He is identified religiously with Grace Reformed Church of Akron.

DAVID C. SMITH, a representative citizen of Clinton, who does an extensive business in hardware, paints, implements, buggies and harness, was born on the home farm east of Clinton, Fra.nklin Township, Suumiit County, Ohio, February 27, 1859, and is a son of Lewis and Elizabeth (Croft) Smith.

John Adam Smith, the grandfather of David C, was a substantial citizen of liis native town in Germany, where he was mayor and professor in the Pligh School. He came to this country with his three children, of whom Lewis, the youngest, was three years old, and landed at Baltimore. Mr. Smith brought with him $7,000 in gold, which, in the few hours at night that were spent on the boat at the docks in Baltimore, was stolen from him, and he was compelled to begin all over again in the new country. Sustaining his great lo.ss with fortitude, this sturdy emigrant settled for a short time in Pennsylvania, whence they came to the vicinity of Canton, Ohio, and located for a time on a farm. A small place was then purchased near Canal Fulton, Ohio, where John Adam Smith spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring at the age of 89 years. In spite of his great pecuniary loss in early life, Mr. Smith had become a very successful man, and at the time of his death was rated one of the substantial men of his community. He had three children, Catherine, Elizabeth and Lewis.

Lewis Smith, father of David C, being the only son of his parents, was comjielled to spend his youth in hard labor on the home farms, and his period of schooling was limited to about eighteen months. After his marrige he lived for several years on a rented farm north of Canal Fulton, and then purchased eighty-one acres of fine land east of Clinton, Franklin Township, Summit County, where he resided for about thirty4hree years. He then bought a farm of 160 acres west of Clinton, w-here his death occurred twenty years later, when he was in his eighty-first year. Mr. Smith was married to Elizabeth Croft, who was born in Stark County, Ohio, and who died at the age of fifty-seven. Of this union there are living five children: Adam, who lives on the home place in Franklin Township : William H., of Clinton, Ohio; .lacol), who died in 1901; David C. and Mary E. Ruck, residing at Canal Pulton. After the death of his first wife, Lewis Smith was married to Louisa Fritz, who died in 1903, there being no children of the second union.

David C. Smith was reared on the home farm, attending the district schools, and when about nineteen years of age engaged in a thre.'^hiner business with his brothers, which was continued for about ten years, with much success. At the end of this time Mr. Smith engaged in a hard lumber business on a hirge scale, but after conducting it for twelve years he sold out hi.s interests therein, and on October 22, 1903, he purchased the stand of N. N. Housman and Company, and since that time has been engaged in the sale of hardware, paint-s, implements, buggies and harn&ss, of which he carries a full line, his sons, Clarence D. and Thurman C. being interested in the ibusdness with him. With much business ability, Mr. Smith also combines a pleasing manner, which wins both business and personal friends.

On October 11, 1883, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Mary E. Hul)er, who is a daughter of Phillip Huber, and tn this union there have been born eight children, namely: Dora, who married C. AV. McLaughlin, assistant cashier of the Fulton Bank ; Clarence D., Thurman T., Carrie, Ruth, Lewis, Miriam and Amelia.

Mr. Smith is a Republican in his political views, but he takes only a good citizen's interest in public matters. Fraternally he is connected mth the Knights of the Maccabees and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. With his family lie belongs to the Lutheran Church, in which he is deacon.

K. H. HAYS, secretary of the Akron Cultivator Company, with which enterprise he has been identified since 1890, was born at Manchester, Ohio, in 1862, and is a member of an old and representative family of tb.at section.

After leaving the Manchester schools, he entered the Ohio Northern University, and later attended Oberlin College, following which he taught school for eight years. He then caime to Akron and entered the office of the Akron Cultivator Company, of whdoh for the past eight years he has been secretary. He has proved the affirmative in his own case of the much discu.^sed question as to whether a college man makes a good business man. In 1888. Air. Hays was married to Frances Everhard. who died in 1903, leaving one daughter, Marguerite. He was married (second) in 1906 to Lena AVilson, a native of Akron. Mr. Hays is a member of the First Church of Christ, and is one of its board of elders. Fraternally, he is connected with the order of Maccabees.

HARVEY S. FIRESTONE, president of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, of Akron, was the founder of this important business organization, and its great success is mainly due to his own energy and business capacity. He was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1868, where he was reared and educated.

Mr. Firestone has been actively identified with business since early manhood, fir.st engaging as a coal merchant at Columbus for one year, and then becoming associated with the Columbus Buggy Company, at Detroit, Michigan. In 1895 he drove a buggv equipped with the first rubber tire made by the company, and was so impressed with its superior qualities that he decided to embark in the manufacture of these tires if he could create a public demand for them. He turned out a fine quality of rubber tires, manufacturing them at Akron, and demonstrated their value at Chicago, and the encouragement thus received determined him to go into the business on a large scale. He therefore organized the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, which was incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000, which has been increased to $500,000. The oflricers of the company are : H. S. Firestone, president and general manager; AVill Christy, vice president; L. E. Sisler, treasurer; S. G. Carkhuff, .secretary, and F. R. Talbott, assistant treasurer, with R. J. Firestone as sales manager. The business has grown to immense proportions, giving employment to 300 workmen..

In 1895 Mr. Firestone was married to Ida Belle Smith, of .Jackson, Michigan, and thev have three sons: Harvey S. Jr., Russell Allen and Leonard Kimball. Mr. and Mrs. Firestone are members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Mr. Firestone has a wide busi-

ALBERT G. MALLISON, who was one of the early settlers and first surveyors of Summit County, coming here in the capaciity of a civil engineer during the construction of the Ohio Canal, was born in 1797, at Groton, Connecticut, and died at Akron, February 26, 1879, aged almost eighty-two years. When he was eleven years of age his parents, Amos and Clarissa (Newton) Malldson, moved to Berkshire County, Massachuisetts, and thence, in 1832, to Akron, settling on a farm that is now Wooster avenue, one of the choice residence districts of Akron. Land then acquired by Albert G. Mallison and liibrother, Amos, is still owned by his descendants. Mr. Mallison was given good educational advantages and also learned surveying. and his ability in this direction was recognized by the officials who had in charge th" construction of the State line between Massachusetts and New York, the surveying being given to the young sun'eyor. After locating in Akron Mr. Malli.son sun-eyed and platted a large part of the northern section of the city for Dr. Crosby, Mr. King and other-, and in many of the old deeds of conveyance his name appears. He continued to be a prominent and useful citizen for many years, and his memory is ke|')t green along with that of the other pioneer Imilders of Akron.

On June 22, 1843, Mr. Malli.=;on married Cornelia G. Washburn, of Akron. Their family consisted of three children : Eveline, who married Horace G. AIduu. residing at Akron; Albert. H., who i- vice pre.-ident of the Depositors' Savings Bank at Akron ; and A-mos, who died in 1883. Mrs. Malli-on. the mother, died December 8, 187").

PETER M. ERASE, one of Clinton's mast substantial citizens, who is treasurer and ca.sihier of the Clinton Savings Bank, is well known in banking circles throughout Summit County. Mr. Erase was Iwrn on his father's farm in Chippewa Towrisbi]i, Wayne

John Erase, the grandfather of Peter M., was an emigrant in the early days from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and owned the land where was opened the first coal mine in that .section of Wayne County, the old Chippewa mine. His son, John, who was a native of Wayne County, remained there all his life, engaged in agricultural pursuits, and died in

1892, at the age of seventy-two years. Mr. Erase married Ann Etling, also a native of Wayne County, Ohio, who died in 1905, aged about seventy -i^ven years. To Mr. and Mrs. Erase were born eight children : Noah, who resides in Franklin Township, Siunmit County ; Catherine, wlio married William Deekerhoof; William, Peter Madison, John W., Mary, who married Charles Ajiplinger; Enmia, who married Henry Slee, of Franklin Township, and Ida, who married C. Albrecht of Akron.

Peter M. Erase attended the district schools of his native locality, and grew up on his father's farm until his marriage, when he started to operate hi'j father-in-law's farm, where he continued for four years. He then came to Clinton, where he opened a general store with Henry Serfass, this partnership continuing for about eight years. Then Mr. Serfass sold his interests to C. S. Spangler, who was Mr. Erase's partner initil June,

1893, when Mr. Era-^e retired from the firm. He then began to organize the bank, which was established in 1903 with a capital stock of $25,000. and the following officers: E. R. Hill, of Akron, president; Martin Limbach, of Clinton, vice president; P. M. Erase, treasurer and cashier, and Fred Deutsch, secretary. Mr. Erase was also one of the organizers of the Clinton Bell Telephone Company and is a stockholilcr in the Clinton INIilling Company.

In November, 1883, Mr. Erase wa< married to Ella A. Serfass, daughter of Lawrence and Lydia Serfa.«s, of Franklin Town- .ship. Summit County, and four children have been born to this union, namelv: Earl B.,

Mr. Erase is a Democrat in politics, and for four years served as township clerk. He is a charter member of the Knights of the Maccabees of Clinton. Mr. Erase, with his family, attends the Lutheran Church.

H. G. BRANDAU, vice president of the Ornamental Iron Work Company, of Akron, was born in 1876, at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he was reared and educated and gained his first knowledge along the lines of his present business, in boyhood entering an iron and w^re factory in his native city. Working at his trade, Mr. Brandau visited different sections of the country, reaching Akron in 1899, where he entered the employ of the Burger Iron Company. Here he met Frederick Zindel, like tastes and similar employment bringing about a business association which re.'^ulted in the organization of the Ornamental Iron Works Company in February, 1906. This succe.<.sful business enterprise was incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000, the officers being Fred Zindel, president; H. G. Brandau, vicepresident, and W. A. Boesche, secretary- and treasurer. All the officers are young, enterprising, capable and practical men. The business of the company is the manufacturing of all kinds of ornamental iron and wire goods. In 1902 Mr. Brandau was married to Pauline Zindel. and they have one child. Lillian.

WILLIAM BARNETT, general contractor, senior member of the contracting firm of Barnett & O'Marr, has been a resident of Akron since 1871. He was born in April, 1846, at Exeter, England, where he was reared, and where he served his apprenticeship to the brick and stone mason's trade.

Shortly after coming to Akron. Mr. Barnett began to work on the Schumacher house, in the same .summer as-sLsted in the building of Buchtel College, and within three years after locating in this city, began contracting. His first contract was the building he erected on the corner of Akron and Chestnut Street-, and later he built the Market House, on the corner of Howard and Cherry Streets, Mr. Whitelaw's Temple of Fashion on Howard Street, and many more of the substantial buildings which line that busy thoroughfare. Mr. Bamett is also a member of the firm of Gardiner & Barnett, paving contractors, which firm paved Main Street from Buohtcl Avenue to Tallmadge Street, Prospect Street to Perkins Street, and Union Street from Blutt to Buchtel Avenues. Mr. Barnett has also done a large amount of paving in neighboring towns, and has a reputation for bu.siness integrity second to none in this city.

Mr. Barnett was married in England to Lucy Stankum, and they have five children, namely; Emma, who mamcd George Conger, residing at Akron ; Charlotte, who married Frederick Dodge, also a resident at Akron ; Alice, who married Carl Colby, residing at Passaic, New Jersey; Jeannette, who married A. Sadler, and lives in Akron, and Louise, who married William Curtin, also living in Akron. With his family, Mr. Barnett belongs to the Episcopal Church.

Mr. Barnett ls in sympathy with labor organizations and helped to organize the first brick ^layers' Union at Akron. For eight years he was treasurer of this body, and a? their delegate voted for the first nine-hour system, at their convention. Until eleven years ago, when he suffered from partial paralysis, he was a noted athlete and he formerly gave instruction in boxing. Since being incapacitated he has received $3,000 from the disability fund of the order of Maccabees, of which he has long been a member. He has twice visited Europe since locating at Akron, and is a man whose ideas have been broadened through travel and mingling with men of all classes. He is recognized as one of Akron's best citizens.

HENRY FREDERICK, whose valuable farm of 200 acres, situated in Portage Town- .ship, has been in his possession since June, 1867, has developed this property into its present high state of cultivation from a tract of native timber. He was born at Doylcs-

Jacob Frederick was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and accompanied his fatlier, Thomas Frederick, in boyhood to Columbiana County, Ohio. When he was fourteen years old, the family made another change, removing to Wayne County, Ohio, where Thomas Frederick bought a half section of land, which included the present site of Doylestown. At that village Jacob Frederick was married to Margaret Rasor, who was a daughter of Christopher Rasor, wlio came from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, to Summit County when Margaret was a child, and she was reared at AVadsworth. In November, 1842, Jacob Frederick bought a farm in Copley Township, on which his son, Henry, was reared, and where both the parents died. They were good, Chri.stian people, who led a peaceful life and did their full duty to their neighbor.

Henry Frederick, in his boyhood, attended the district .schools in Wayne County, and later in Copley Township, and assisted his father on the home farm until he married, in 1858. He then rented in Copley Township a farm which was then owned by John C. Stearns, and which is now occupied by William Waggoner. After residing there for three years, he moved to a seventy-eight-acre farm north of the White Elephant Church, in Copley, renting it for eighteen months and then buying it. Mr. Frederick lived on that farm for eighteen month? and then sold it and moved to Clark's Mills for a residence of .?ix months, after which he lived for a year on a rented fann of 240 acres. About this time Mr. Frederick, together with Royal Brockway, bought the place on which he now resides, the whole tract containing 546 acres. This enterprise was entered into in May, 1867, and in the following fall," the partners divided their land, Mr. Frederick keeping 235 acres, with the improvement*. Since then he has bought thirty acres of the Brockway part on the west side, and seventyone acres of the Sherbondy plat, selling a portion of his land in 1904. lie has devoted his attention to general farming and dairying. During his first five or six years on this land, he was engaged in a lumber business to a large extent, but since then has paid attention exclusively to raising large crops and to operating his first-class dairy, keeping twenty-six head of cows.

On May 20,' 1858, Mr. Frederick was married to Ellen Viers, who was reared in Norton Township, Summit County, and who is a daughter of James McClintock Viers. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick have three children, namely: Charlotte, residing at home; James McHenry, who is a graduate of Amherst College, and resides at Lakewood, where he is superintendent of the schools, and Ulysses Grant, who is secretary of the U. G. Frederick Lumber Company, of which his father is president.

Mr. Frederick has long been prominent in township and county affairs. From 1876 until 1882 he served as a member of the County Board of infirmary directors; he has frequently been township trustee and a mem- Vier of the School Board, and in 1889 he was elected county commi.ssioner. He is a member of the First Church of Christ and ha« served for years on its Board of Trustees.

R. E. ARMSTRONG, .secretary imd treasurer of the L. W. Camp Company, manufacturers of all kinds of tile, at Akron, has been a resident of this city for the past decade. He M-as born at Kent, Portage County. Ohio, and is a son of the late William Armstrong. He was reaa'ed and educated in his native place,, and after leaving school learned the printer's trade. For about seven years he was in the employ of the AVerner Company, at Akron, and later was with the H. B. Camp Company, manufacturers of tile, for .scvei'al years. When the I^. W. Camp Comjiany in the same line, was organized, in 1902, he became its .secretary and treasurer, and has continued as such ever .=;ince. He is also secreta.ry in the Akron Fireproofing Company, vice president of the Colonial Sign & In.sulator Company, and vice president of the Factory Oil Company. He is a man of system, having an easy grasp of business, and performs the duties attendant upon his responsible position with ready efficiency. In 1900 Mr. Armstrong wa.s married to (Trace Camp, daughter of H. B. Camp. He has two cliildren : Dorothy and AHce.

CAPT. GEORGE BILEOW, president of the Akron Masonic Temple Company, has been established since 1875 in an undertaking business at Akron, which is now conducted under the firm style of Billow & Sons. He was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, April 2, 1833, and accompanied his parents to the United States in 1844.

He was reared to the age of sixteen years on his father's farm near Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio, and then learned the trade of wagon and carriage making, which he followed at Tallmadge and Akron until July, 1862, when he enlisted for service in the Civil war. From a private in the ranks of Company I, 107th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, he was regularly promoted, for efficient service and soldierly qualiti&=, to the captaincy of the company, and did duty as brigade and post commissary at Fernandina, Florida, and as local provost marshal at Jacksonville, lie received his discharge at Charlestown, South Carolina, July 10,'l865, and was mustered out of the service at Cleveland, Ohio, July 26th, following.

After the honorable termination of his military service, Captain Billow returned to Akron, where he wns engaged in a grocery business for some two years. Later he took charge of another grocery enterprise, subsequently going on the road as traveling salesman for about eighteen months in the interests of a .stoneware house. About this time he wa= led to make investments in Alabama which proved unprofitable. He returned in April. 1875, to x^kron, where shortly afterward he engaged in the undertaking busine.-s, subsequently admitting his sons to partnership. In connection with the mortuary department, an ambulance and invalid carriage service is also conducted. The firm's

On September 19, 1854, Captain Billow was married to Mary Fink, of Akron, and they have had eight children, namely: Anna, George W., Charles Fernando, Ida, Albert C, L., Edwin M., and Claire. The family home is located at No. 110 Beck avenue. For his services in behalf of Ma.sonry, Captain Billow has been honored with the 33d degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. He is also an Odd Fellow.

FRED ZINDEL, president of the Ornamental Iron AVork Company, of Akron, has been a resident of this city for eighteen years, and during this time has been connected with a number of its great manufacturing enterjDriscs. Although a comparatively young man, Mr. Zindel has reached a prominent position in the city's commercdal life and stands high in his special line of work. He was born in 1876, in Aastria, and was twelve years of age when he came to America and located at Akron.

IMr. Zindel's first industrial connection wawith the Diamond Match Company, with which organization he remained for five years, during this period heing placed in charge' of diff'erent departments succes-sively and acquiring an excellent knowledge of the business. From the Diamond Match Company he went to the Burger Iron Company, where he was employed for eleven years. Here, even before he had completed his apprenticeship, he was made foreman anrl continued in that responsible position mi til he severed his relations with that concern. With this much experience behind him, Mr. Zindel decided to go into business for himself, and in February. 190S, he organized the Ornamental Iron AVork Company at Akron. It was incornorated with a capital stock of $10,000, with Fred Zindel as president; H. G. Brnndau, vice pre=iden1 ; W. A. Boc^che as sccretnry find treasurer. Tlie company is enffatred in the manufacture of nil kinds of ornamentel iron and wire work. The success which has been achieved by these young men in their enterprise is proof both of their ability and of the fact that the business field was open to just such a concern at the time they launched it. In 1898 Mr. Zindel was married to Lizzie Weirath, of Akron, and they have one child, Edna.

SOLOMON KOPLIN, one of Portage Township's best-known and most highly esteemed residents, resides on his valuable farm of sixty-nine acres, which is situated on the Merriman road, one-half mile northwest of Akron. He was born at Wadsworth, Medina County, Ohio, March 3, 1828, and is a son of Christian and Magdalena (Baughman) Koplin.

Christiajn Koplin accompanied his father, Mathias Koplin, from Maryland, and they settled on a farm in Chippewa Town.ship, Wayne County. The Koplins were very early settlers there, and on that farm the grandfather died. Christian Koplin remained there until after his marriage to Magdalena Baughman, who was born in Pennsylvania, and who was a daughter of Lorentz Baughman, an early settler in Medina County. After his marriage, Christian Koplin moved to Wadsworth Township, Medina County, where he bought a farm, but he died in the following year, when only thirty-three years of age. He left his widow with three chiMren, namely: Solomon, subject of this .sketch; David, who resides in Florida, aged seventy-seven years, and Anna Maria, who is the widow of Nicholas Edick and resides in New Mexico.

The father's death left the little family badly off. They secured but $100 from the farm, but Mrs. Koplin purchased five acres of land, and she had learned the weaver's trade, so her efforts supported the family until the sons were able to a.sisist. The little log cabin home was never without bread. She was a woman of great capacity and well deserved the gratitude of her children.

When he was eighteeai years of age, Solomon Koplin left home to learn wagon-making, hi^ brother leaving about the same time to learn the tanning business. During the first year, Solomon received seven dollars a month, and he was thus able to relieve his mother of his support, purchase good clothes and to show a balance of $44 at the end of the year. On September 7, 1850, he wa-i married to Sarah ISIiller, who is a daughter of George Miller, who owned 237 acre-s of land in Summit County. The Miller and Koplin families came to Portage Township together, and together they farmed this large tract of land. For two years after marriage Mr. Koplin and wife lived at Wadsworth, but in 1853 they came to their present farm, which was a part of the Miller property. George Miller later bought the interest of the heirs of his father, Jacob Miller, in the farm in Medina County of 114 acres. Solomon Koplin then moved to Wad<worth and lived on that farm for twenty-one years, but in 1866, Mr. Koplin returned to the farm in Portage Township, and in the year following was elected a jastice of the peace, in which office he sei-ved for fourteen years. The large residence which fonnerly stood on this farm, was destroyed by fire in 1902, and was replaced by the present comfortable and commodious house. Mr. Koplin is no longer active in farm work, having delegated duties of that kind to younger hands. He continues, however, to be interested in all that goes on, and important matters are usually referred to his judgment.

Mr. and Mrs. Koplin have had the following chiildren : Editha, who died aged two years and nine months;' Mary, who Avas the wife of William Shays, and died at the age of thirty-seven years; Charles M.. who married Catherine Wolf, and resided in Akron, is the active farmer on the hoimestead, and by a former marriage has one child, Claude R., residing in Wyoming; George A., who married Hattie Miller, has one daughter, Mrs. Beulah -Tohnson, wife of Dr. Robert L. .Johnson, residing at Wadsworth; Rolland Fon-est, residing on the home farm and assisting in its management, married Sarah .lackson, and has two children, Forrest and Wade; Homer

S., residing on Portage Path, niarried Clara Bailej'; Walter S., employed in the rubber works at Akron, resides at home; and a son who died in infancy. Mr. and Mr.s. Koplin have one great-grandchild, Charlotte, the daughter of Dr. and ]Mrs. Johnson.

Mr. Koplin is one of the olde.-;t Masons in Summit County, and belongs to the first Alasonic lodge established in Akron. Both he and u'ife are valued members of Grace Reformed Church. They have a wide circle of friends to whom they delight to offer the hospitality of their home.

WILLIAM P. McFARLAND, ftorist, who.-e greenhouses are at No. 491 Wooster Avenue, ^Vkron, is a thoroughh' experienced man in this business, having devoted his attention to it since he wa.s a boy of nineteen years. He was born in Greene County, Ohio, in 1880, and when a lad of thirteen set out from home to make his way unaided in the world. During his boyhood he had few educational opportunities, but he made the most of tho.-e he had, and worked for his own support. He had a natural taste for floriculture, and at nineteen years of age he entered the florist's establishment of C. A. Reeser, of Springfield, with whom he remained for nine years. Thence he went to a florist at Youngstown, with whom he remained for several years, and he later worked at the business at Erie. Pennsylvania, for one year. In 1806 Mr. McFarland came to Akron, and after working for some time with two different florists here, he embarked in the business for himself, securing his present location at No. 401 Wooster Avenue. Here he has a finelyequipped plant, with about 7,000 square feet under gla<w. He does a very large business in cut flowers, and in his cooling department keeps on hand rare blooms at all sea- -sons, to .supply festive occasions or funeral demands.

In 1899 Mr. McFarland wa> married to Mrs. G. B. Kendall, of Akron. Lewis C. Mc- Farland, son of Mr. McFarland, was bom October Ifi, 1887, has been educated in the business \\nth his father and e.xpects to succeed him. Politically, he is a Republican, and always takes an active interest in local matters. For five years he has been a member of the precinct election board. Fraternally he is a Mason, a Woodman, a Maccabee and a Knight of Pythias, in the latter organization being a member of the board of directors. He is also a member of the Protected Home Circle.

W. A. BOESCHE, secretary and treasurer of the Ornamental Iron Work Company, of Akron, has been a resident of this city since he was nineteen years of age. He was born in 1883, at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was educated and had his first practical business experience.

After leaving school Mr. Boesche became identified with newspaper work and for several years was connected in a reportorial capacity with the Cincinnati Enquirer. He then came to Akron, seeking a wider field of effort, and became connected with the B. F. Goodrich Company, with which he continued for three years. In February, 1906, when the Ornamental Iron Work Company was organized and incorporated at Akron, lie became interested therein and was offered and accepted the pasition of secretary and treasurer of the company. The enterprise has proved very successful, and its prospects indicate that in the near future its facilities will have to be enlarged to keep up with the increasing demand for the company's product. The president and vice president of this company, Frederick Zindel and H. G. Brandau, are both practical and experienced men in the iron business. The output of the works include all kinds of ornamental ironand wire-work. Mr. Boesche is a Knight Templar Mason and he belongs to the Masonic Club.

WILLIAM H. SMITH, a leading contractor and lumber dealer of Clinton, and one of the substantial business men of the locality, was born at the home farm east of Clinton, Franklin Town.«hip, Summit County,

John Adam Smith, the grandfather of William H., was a substantial citizen of his native town in Germany, where he was mayor and also professor in the High School. He came to this comitry ATOth his three children, of whom Le'iA'is, the youngest, was thre« years old, landing at Baltimore. Mr. Smith brought with him $7,000 in gold, which, in the few hours at night that were spent on the boat at the docks in Baltimore, was stolen from him, and he was compelled to begin all over again, in the new countrj'. SiLstaining this misfortune with a brave heart, this sturdy emiigi'anit settled for a short time in Pennsylvania, whence he came to the vicinity of Canton, Ohio, and located for a. time on a farm. A small place was then purchased near Canal Fulton, Ohio, where he s]ient the remainder of his life, his death occumng at the age of eighty-nine years. In spite of his great lo.5S in early life, Mr. Smith had liccome a very .successful man, and at the time of his death was rated one of the substantial men of his community. He had three children : Caitherine, Elizabeth and I^ewis.

Le^A-is Smith, father of William H., being the only son of hLs parents, was compelled to spend his youth in hard labor on the home farms, a.nd his schooling was vei'y limited, la.sting in all about eighteen months. After his [marriage he lived for several years on a rented farm north of Canal Fulton. He then purcha.sed eighty-one acres of fine land cast of Clinton, Franklin Township, Summit County, where he resided for about thirtythree years. His next and last purchase was a farm of 160 acres west of Clinton, where his death occurred after twenty years, when he was in his eighty-first year. His wife, Elizabeth Croft Smith, was born in Stark County, Ohio, and died at the age of fiftyseven years. To them were born eight children: Adam, who lives on the home place in Franklin ToT\-n?hip; AYilliam H., whosi' name begins this sketch: .Tacob, who died in 1901 ; David C, of CHnton. Ohio, and four who died in infancv. After the death of

William H. Smith secured his education in dLstiiot school No. 8, in his native township, and was reared on his father's farm, Avhere he remained until his marriage, in 1881. In that year he removed to Clinton, and for a number of year.s was engaged in the hardwood lumber business with his brother, David C. In 1889 they opened a planing-^mill, which Mr. Smith has operated ever since, having purcha.sed his brother's interests therein about six months after entering into busine.ss. He also engage^ in all kinds of contracting and building, and has various other business interests which include a directorship in the Clinton Savings Bank and the Franklin Industrial Company of Warwdck. Mr. Smith's fine home, a frame residence of fourteen rooms, was erected bv him in 1901.

On November 31, 1881, Mr. Smith was married to Annie Mueller, who' is a daughter of Peter and Mary Mueller, and three children have been born to this union, namely: Elsie, Jessie, who married Archie Dunmead, and resides at Barbcrton, Ohio, and Effie.

In political matters ilr. Smith is a Republican, and he has always taken an interest in the succe.s.s of his party, although he has never cared for public office. He belongs fraternally to the Knights of the Maccabees. He attends the Lutheran Church, in which he is an elder, and to which hi? family also belongs.

C. C. WARNER, a member of the Board of Public Safety, at- Akron, is one of the city's prominent men, who has been identified with itvS business, political and social interests for a long course of years. Mr. Warner was born in 1860, in Germany, and is a son of the late FredcTick Warner.

C. C. Warner was about ten years of age when he caime to Akron, and here he was reared and educated. He left school to enter the employ of the E. H. Merrill Company, with whom he remained for twenty-three yeans, going then to the Robinson Clay Product Company, where he stayed four years. Since then Mr. Warner has been connected with the Akron Gas Company. He owns a considerable amount of real estate, and a large part of his time is taken up in looking after these intereists. For many years he has been more or less prominent in Democratic politics and has sen-ed a numl>cr of times as a member of the City Comicil, showing the careful interest in civic affaii-s that betokens the good citizen. He served two years also as a trustee of Portage Townsiiip, and three years as a member of the Board of Public Safety, and is the Democratic nominee for the Board of Public Service.

In 1890 Mr. AVarner was married i<> Louise Knapp, of Massillon, Ohio. His home is a beautiful residence at No. 373 Wooster Avenue. Mr. Warner is a member of the Akron lodge of Odd Fellows, of which he has been treasurer for eight years, and he belongs also to several of the leading German benevolent societies.

G. F. KASCH, president of The Portage Park Land Company, of Akron, was born in 1867, in Germany, but accompanied his father, "\A"illiam Kasch, and his mother, Ernestine Kasch, to this city in childhood, where he was reared and educated. With his father, he learned the tinner's trade, and was only eighteen years of age when he went into the roofing l>usiness on his own account In 1S90, when the subject of this sketch was twenty-two years of age, the firm of Ka*ch Brothers (Roofers) was organized, its members being F. C. Kasch and G. F. Kasch, and the latter remained a member until 1893, when he disposed of his interest and went into real estate. This firm was afterward organized as The Kasch Roofing Company, and so continues until the present time.

lentil 1900 Mr. Kasch operated independently, handling only his own property, buying land, and platting and improving the same. During this period he platted two allotments in the Cobb farm on West Hill - one on West Market Street at the intersection of Portage Path Road, and Kasoh's Glenwood Allotment on the north side of the citv.

in 1900, with Will Christy and J. R. Niitt, two prominent local capitalists, he organized the West Hill Land Company, which was incorporated for $75,000. They received from the ccwnmissi oners of Summit County fifty-five acres of land of the Summit County Infirmary farm, on West Hill (which land lays between West Market and West Exchange Streets), in exchange for 122^ acres of other land lying west of the present County Infirmary and immediately adjoining the County Farm. The fifty-five acres obtained by The AA'est Hill Land Company was all the land the county owned lying between the Infirmary and the city, the greater portion of it lay within the city limits. In 1900 and in 1902 the remaining portion was annexed to the city.

The West Hill Land Company h;^ opened up this fine pro]ierty, making it the choicest residence section of the city, providing it with every city improvement. A number of the avenues in this allotment were named for some of Akron's most distinguished citizens, among them being Senator Charles Dick (Dick Avenue) , former Congressman David R. Paige (Paige Avenue), former Mayor Richard P. Marvin (Marvin Avenue), and H. C. Corson, philanthropist, (Corson Avenue) . The removal of this beautiful allotment far from Akron's industriai plants, for which this city is world famous, insures the absence of all smoke in that section, and the phrase, "West-of-the-Smoke," which Mr. Kasch originated, tells the story of its greatest advantage for home purposes.

Mr. Kasch and his a.s,sociates have shown great public spirit and deserve the thanks of all Akron for the gift of three beautiful parks, namely: Christy Park, Portage Park (consisting of three and one-half acres), and Watershed Park. The latter is situated on the watershed of Ohio from which the water is deflected to Lake Brie and the Gulf of

While prominently connected with The West Hill Land Company, Mr. Kasch has been busy in other realty enterprises. He opened up the Rubber Works Allotment at the corner of East Exchange and Fountain Streets, located midway between the great rubber manufacturing plants of the city. He is also at the present time opening The KaschA^iall Allotment at the intersection of Beaver and Gage Streets, near the indu.<trial section of the city.

In September, 1906, Mr. Christy, Mr. Nutt and Mr. Kasch divided their interest in the West Hill Land Company, Mr. Kasch taking over one-half of the West Hill property. He then incorporated the Portage Park Land Company, taking its name from the Allotment, "Portage Park," with a capital stock of $50,000. The following are the officers; G. F. Kasch, jiresident and trea.surer; Charles F. Wallraff, vice president, and W. H. Kasch, secretary. On this property valuable improvement.s have recently been made, including the paving and introduction of sewer and water pipe's and concrete sidewalks the entire length of IMai-vin Avenue. This avenue has the unique distinction of lying right along "The Watershed" ridge of Ohio, with a mean elevation of 1,130 feet above sea-level. The view of the surrounding country from this avenue is superb, as from the roofs of the residences located thereon, every township in Summit County, except Green, is visible to the naked eye. The lots here offered for .«ale have all city improvement, and at a price that has formerly been asked for lots without any improvements. The advantage.s for acquiring a comfortable home in i)k'!isanl surnuniding- at such ])ricc's has never been before equalled and there are manj- satisfied hou.seholders who are under many obligations to Mr. Kasch and his associates for their enter]) rise.

His time has been entirely taken up with his own projects and he has never engaged in real estate brokerage. The Indian monument standing on West Market Street was erected by liim on July 4, 1905, to commemorate the spot where the old Indian trail cios.sed the watershed, in the days when the Connecticut Yankees first came into The Western Resei-ve. The above date is exactly a century since the LTnited States commissioners met the representatives of all the Indian tribes tben living between the Portage Path and the Ml si.ss'ppi River, at Toledo, and purchased from them for $20,000 their rights in this immense tract of land. The title of the United States to this vast domain then became perfect, and purchasers of land at Portage Park, west of the Portage Path, have the assurance that they not only have a good legal title to their land, but a perfect moral title as well. This cannot be said of the land lying east of The Portage Path, as the Indians were driven west by the settlers, and they made their last stand at the line formed by The Cuyahoga River, the Portage Path and The Tuscarawas River.

In 1895 Mr. Kasch was married to Mis-> Augusta Wallraff, a lady who was formerly a teacher in the public schools of Akron. They have one son, Allan Wallraff Ka.sch.

ilr. Kasch is a member of the Arlington Street, or "Old Forge" Congregational Church, and for sixteen years ha? been identified with its Sunday School, duriuQ- the mo t of this time being the superintendent. He is a man of great energy and remarkable business foresight, and these qualities, combined with the virtues of honesty and personal integrity, have contributed to his busine.ss success. He is one of Akron's first advocates of political independence in local affairs, and does not hesitate to urge the election of men for office whom he believes best fitted for the positions, regardless of his personal feelings or party lines.

interests of thi^ city throughout ahnost the entire period of his business career. He was born at Norton Center, Summit County, Ohio, in 1873, and is a son of William li. Lahr.

William H. Lahr was born at Norton Center in 1850 and for a number of years was a leading farmer of Norton township, where he now lives retired. His father, John Lahr, was one of the early settlers of the township and the family has always been one of more or less prominence in this section.

Charles H. Lahr was reared on his father's farm and after completing the High School course at Norton Center, came to Akron, entering the office of the J. F. Seiberling Company, where he remained a short time. He then entered the employ of the Akron Street Railroad .Company, from 1892 until January 1, 1907, serving as cashier of that corporation. At the date last mentioned he became auditor of the Northern Ohio Traction and Light Company, in which he is a stockholder.

In April, 1900, Mr. Lahr was married to Elizabeth May Seeger, who is a daughter of Jacob Seeger, of Akron. They are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Lahr is affiliated fraternally with the Elks.

HARVEY BALDWIN, president of the Buckeye Sewer Pipe Company at Akron, for many years was one of the city's most active business men, and is identified still with a number of its leading enterprises, although he ha-s been retired from active participation in business life for fully twenty-five years. Mr. Baldwin was born August 29, 1822, at Goshen, Connecticut, and is a member of a family which has been one of importance there since the time of the early settlements. He is a son of Erastus and Lucretia (Austin) Baldwin.

In 1844 Mr. Baldwin came to Ohio, locating first at Hudson, and in 1857 at Middlebury, where he engaged in the match business and the manufacture of stonewai'c. He later entered into the sewer pijie industry, with which he has been identified ever since. He is a director in the Permanent Savings and Loan Association, of wliich his brother, the late

In 1855 Mr. Baldwin was married (first) to Cordelia Mather, who died .soon after. In 1859 he was married (second) to Margaret L. Hawn. By the first marriage he had one daughter, Delia Louisa, who is the wife of George W. Ruckel, of Akron. Mr. Baldwin resides in a handsome mansion at No. 797 East Market Street.

Under appointment from Governor David Tod, Mr. Baldwin served for .seven years as a justice of the peace, and he was also for some time clerk of the Board of Infirmary Directors. He has been a resident of Akron since 1857, and is one of its best known and most highly respected citizens. An ample fortune and plenty of leisure have served to broaden his life, and he has taken advantage of many opportunities to advance the moral and material interests of the city. He has been affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for more than a half century.

JOHN F. MILLER, a general farmer, residing on his valuable farm of forty-eight acres in Portage Township, was born at Wadsw'orth, Medina County, Ohio, July 29, 1844, and is a .son of George and Rebecca (Baughman) ^liller.

Jacob Miller, the grandfather of John F., was one of the earliest settlers in Medina County, locating at AVadsworth in 181(5, and purchasing a farm one mile east of the village. In journeying from Pennsylvania, Mr. Miller and family pa&sed through. Middlebury, then the infant Akron. They stayed for one year at Oanfield, MaJioning County, before pursuing their journey farther west. Jacob Miller, anxious to secure good land, examined its quality in .several .sections before purchasing. He was offered a farm for $3 per acre, which is now in the very heart of Akron, on the site of the Perkins public school. He was not satisfied, however, and went on to Medina County, where he invested his money. The maternal grandfather of

George Miller was born in Pennsylvania, and was a boy when his parents came to Ohio. His older brother, John Miller, went into partnership with John Pardee, in a morcantile business at Wadsworth, which was one of the earliest enterprises there, and when the brother died, George assumed his interests and continued in partnership with Mr. Pardee for some time. A few years later he bought a fai-m on Silver Creek, near Wad-;- worth, on which he lived for a few year.-, selling it at a later date. In 1853 he bought 240 acres, and on a part of this property Jolm F. Miller now lives. George Miller carried on farming and .stockraising on this land quite extensively. In 1856 he built the substantial stone house which is still standing. He was a very just man, and divided his land so that all his children were provided for. He made three farms of the 240 acres he owned in Portage Township, and the old Miller homestead in AVadsworth Township he left to the heirs of his davighter, ]\Irs. Springer. There he died, four days after his 80th birthday.- George Miller married Rebecca Rauarhman and they had four children: Sarah, Paul, Martha and John F. Sarah, residing in Portage Township, married Solomon Koplin, Paul has lieon a resident of California since 1860. Martha, now deceased, was married, first to Dr. F. F. Falk, wlio died at Western Star, aged twenty-eight years. She married, second. Frank Springer. The mother of the subject of this sketch died in 1868 on the home farm.

John F. Miller wa^ eight vears old when his parents came to Portage Township, and, althouah he ha.s .spent some time away from here, on various occasions, thi-^ has always rcniained his home residence. For two years in early manhood he followed railroading and mountain teaming alona; the Pacific coast, but for many years he has been enoiaged in agricultural pursuits on his fine propeiiv here. This land is well improved, and its value mav be estimated from the fact t'-at

Mr. Miller recently sold twelve acres of it, for which he received $1,000 per acre, the purchaser being W. B. Miller, of Akron. Mr. Miller also owns another farm of sixty-four acres in Medina County, Ohio.

In October,- 1868, Mr. Miller w<is married (fir.st) to Charitv Brouse, who died in February, 1892. They had four children: Ellon Harry, Paul and Laura, of whom Laura died when aged fourteen montlis. Elton Miller, who resided on the farm in Wadsworth town- .ship, wliich is owned by his father and sons, was accidentally killed there September 13, 1900, by an accidental explosion of the steam pipes in a saw mill. He married Nellie Blackford. Harry Miller is foreman of the ship]iing department of the Quaker Oatmills at Akron ; Paul Miller assi.sts on the home farm. On October 20, 1897, Mr. Miller married (second) Mrs. Chri.steen (Mohn) Palmer.

For twenty-five years Mr. Miller was identified with the Prohibition party, and then united with the Democratic party. For four years he served as tnistee of Portage Township. He has long been a prominent member of the AVest Congregational Church at Akron. In 1904 he and his wife took a trip to California, where he revisited .scenes made familiar to him in his first trip. On the way they visited the exposition then in progress at St.. Louis.

HIRAM and HAYES AVHEELER BREAVSTER, uncle and nephew, residing on the old Brew.'ter evstate, which extends throneh (both Coventry and Springfield Townships, and 'was settled in 1811, are representatives of one of the old, prominent and wealthy families of Summit County.

Hiram Brewster, who lives retired from business activity, was formerly an extensive farmer, coal producer and active business man. He comes of New England ancestry, but wa-< born on his present farm, June 8, 1835, and is -a .'^on of James G. Brewster, and a grand'^on of Stephen Brewster, who was the founder of the family in Ohio.

nectdcut, and jirobably could trace his ancestry back to the landing of the Mayflower colonists. He mai'ried Lydia Bellows, also of Groton, who had been a childhood playmate and school mate, and they had the following children born to them : James G. ; ]\Irs. Lucinda ilurray; Hannah, who married David Dunbar; Charlotte, who married Martin Howell; Alexander, and Hiram. The latter died in 1813 and his grave is marked by a stone still .standing on the farm.

Stephen Brew.siter was a carpenter and millwright and he probably followed his trade at Groton initil short after the birth of his elder children, when he moved to the State of New York, doubtless with the idea, of securing a permanent home in an agricultural region, Ijut not finding what he desired there, in 1811. he came to Ohio, securing 160 acres in Sunnnit County, nt a very low rate, from the Connecticut Land Company. The Brewsters came as early jiioneers to this section. making the long journey in covered wagons, as at that time no railroads had been built or canal.i constnicted. Their way often led over different roads, through unbridged streams and dense forests, but at last they reached their destination. At that date there had been not a single house erected between their wild farm and Akron, which was then but a village, with no appearance of ever becoming the home of more than 42,000 souls, and all their surroundings were of the M-ildest description. A little log cabin was .=oon constructed in the mid.^^t of the forest, And the appearance of human beings in the.se dense woods caused the deer to run in herds, like flocks of .sheep, at the sound of the ax on the heavy timber. Game was .so plentiful and so easily obtained that the family never wa.s in danger of .starvation until they were able to raise grain in the rich land which quickly responded to their efforts of cultivation, Viut they went through many of the inevitable hardships which belonged to pioneer life. On this farm both Stephen Brewster and ^-ife died, he at the age of eighty-eight, and she aged seventy vears.

born in 1797, at Groton, Connecticut, and was yet young when the family came to Summit County. He had few educational advantages and his early life was completely filled with the hard work of clearing the farm and putting it under cultivation, the fact of his being the eldest son placing heavy responsibilities on him. These circumstances probably assisted in developing a strong and sturdy character, for Mr. Brewster was known far and wide for his integrity, foresight and soimd business judgment. His active years were given to farming and improving the part of his father's estate which he had inherited, and to which he added until he owned 320 acres, situated on both sides of the public highway. He died in June, 1842. He was married in Columbiana County, Ohio, to Martha Has.*en, who was born in Pennsylvania and accompanied her parents to Columbiana County, where the family was a prominent one among the pioneer .settlers. They had five children : Stephen, who married Charlotte Meeeh (both deceased) ; Jonathan H. and James G., twins, both now deceased, the latter of whom married Mary Davey; Hiram ; and George, who married Maria L. Kent, and died May 25, 1907.

Hiram Brewster, who is the only sur\-ivor of the above -mentioned family, was reared on his present farm, and, with the exception of a period of three months, which he spent with his brother .Jonathan, in Florida, during lOOfi, he has never resided elsewhere. He went to school in a frame building which had .succeeded the old log one, remains of which still stood, and others of its kind can .«till be found through this section. There he secured a good, common-school education, which has served him well through years of active business life, Mr. Brewster has a wellimproved place, and he assisted in building all the houses and barns which are necessary here for the carrying on of the work on 750 acres, which, with his nephew, Hayes Wheeler Brcw.ster, he operates. Although no longer active in extending its interests. Mr. Brewster is a member of the firm of tlie Buckeye Sewer Pipe Company, and is al*o a stockholder in the Summit Sewer Pipe Company. Mr. Brewster has been interested more or less for years in the developing of coal lands. He has never taken any very lively interest in politics, absolutely refusing to hold local offices, and has contented himself with merely performing those duties which appeal to him as a good citizen. Hiram Brewster never married.

Hayes Wheeler Brewster, who is associated with his uncle, Hii-am Brewster, in the luanagement and operation of about the largest farm in Summit County, is one of the bes'tknown agriculturists of Coventry and Springfield Townships. Mr. Brewster was born on the farm on which lie has spent his whole life, the old Brew.-^ter homestead, June 25, 1876, and is a son of Stephen, a grandson of Jaimes G. and a great-grandson of Stephen Brewster, who settled on this land in 1811.

Stephen Brewster, son of James G., married Charlotte i\Iceeh and they had four children, namely: Ephraim, who is e.staHished in the far West; Hayes; Stephen, who is also in the West; and John. The father of Mr. Brewster died in January, 1887, but the mother survived until December, 1903.

Hayes Wheeler Brewster was married in October, 1899, to Susan Dodd, who is a daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Griffith) Dodd, well-known residents of Summit County. They have two children, a son and daughter, Hiram and Charlotte,

]\Ir. Breiw.ster, in the management of the large family estate, displays the judgment and capacity for business which has marked the Brewster family, and which has made them so long prominent factors in all that concerns this section. He takes an active interest in public matters that concern the general welfare, but, like his uncle, has always had a dista.ste for public office. His interests al- having centered here, he stands a« one of the section's truly representative men.

LOUIS SKYBOLD, treasurer and manager of the Akron Germania Company, with offices at No. 148 South Howard Street, Akron, has been a resident of this city for the past

Mr. Seybold was educated in the excellent schools of his native land, and at the age of eighteen years he crassed the Atlantic Ocean, hoping to find more favorable opportunities for advancement here than in Germany. Shortly afterward he came to Akron and secured employment in the rubber works, and later engaged as clerk in a grocery store. This was all preliminary to his real work, for Mr. Seybold's abilities were recognized as soon as he became acquainted with men of prominence in the community, who were seeking intelligent and reliable p.ssistance. He shortly became a member and then a director of the old German Harmonie Society, at the same time interesting himself in politics to some degree, and was also engaged to write a few editorials for the German newspaper published by Mr. Werner. An acquaintance thus established led to his further continuance with the paper, of which he subsequently became editor and proprietor. With the exception of a few years, when otherwise employed, Mr. Seybold has since continued ni his editorial pasition, and also owns the controlling interest in the Germania Company. He wields a facile pen and has devoted close study to public questions and is a wise adviser to his army of readers.

In 1879, Mr. Seybold was married to Louisa Doppstaedter, who was born at Ashland, Ohio. They have eight children, namely: Clara, who is secretary of the Akron Germania Company; Carl, who is advertising manager of the same company; Louis, who lives in the city of Chicago; Elsie. Edith, Paul and Margaret, all of whom rc.-iili' witli their parents.

Mr. Seybold is a man of musical talent and social tastes, and is a popular meml)er of the Fellows, the Elks, the German club, the Liebertafel, Turn Verein, the German Rifle club, the Pilsener club, and the Akron Sangerbund, and an honorary member of the German Militarv Socictv.

Hon. George W. Grouse

HON. GEOKtJE W. CROUSE, a ])roiniiient resident of Akron, whose i)ortrait accompanies this article, is now enjoying a life of ease, after having been one of the city's most effective business men for many years. He is identified with such great industries as the Buckeye Mower and Reaper Works, the Whitman & Barnes Manufacturing Conipanv. The B. F. Goodrich Company, (Akron Rnliljcr Works), The Thomas Phillips Company Paper Mills, the Akron Iron Company, the Woolen & Felt Companj', the Diamond Match Works, the Stove Works, the Sclle Gear Works and many other succe.ssfiil concerns.

]\Ir. Crouse is a native of Summit County, born at Tallmadge, Novendier 23. 1832, and is a son of George and Margaret H. (Robinson) Crouse. He is of German and Irish ancestry. His grandfather fell in battle in the War for Independence. The family appeared in Ohio at a very early day, and it was in Summit County, on a farm he had developed from the forest, that George Crouse reared his family of ten children.

George W. Crouse assisted in the clearing and cultivation of the above mentioned farm until he was seventeen years of age, while securing a fair connnon-school education. He continued to spend the summers in farm work, but was occupied in teaching through the winters for the next five years, in the meantime making so good an impre.ssion on his fellow-citizens that in 1855 he was. profi'ered the position of deputy county treasurer, with office at Akron, and until 1858 he also performed the duties of deputy county auditor. He was then elected county auditor, and was re-elected in 1860, but before his second term expired he was called upon to fill out the term of county treasurer. All the important interests connected witli these offices were placed mider his control while he was still a young man, and the manner in which his every duty was performed but added to the esteem in which he was already held.

his official capacity and as a private citizen did all that lay in his power in support of the Union cause. He was very active in securing recruits, and saw that they were well provided for by obtaining favorable action from the Board of County Commissioners. Finally, he himself enlisted, entering Company F, 164th Reg., Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for the 100-days'' service; he received his honorable discharge in 1864. After the war, upon the organization of the Commandery of Ohio, Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, he became a Third Degree member, and today is the only member of the Commandery of this degree. Naturally he takes pleasure in wearing the tri-color button. The Soldiers' Memorial Chapel at Akron, one of the most beautiful structures in the city, was secured mainly through his f'fforts.

In 1863 Mr. Crouse was made .secretary of the Akron Board of Trade, and subsequently became very active in encouraging -the location of manufacturing industries in this city. He became in the same year financial manager for C. Aultman & Company, of Canton, in the erection of a branch factory here, and later was the financial manager of what is named as the initial manufacturing plant of what is now one of the greatest manufacturing centers of the State - the great Buckeye Mower & Reaper Works. When a stock company was formed in 1865, Mr. Crouse was first secretary and treasurer and later its very able president. There can scarcely be named any important business enterprise at Akron, of substantial standing, that has not in some way benefitted by his assistance or advice. In 1870 ho helped to form the Bank of Akron, and was a director and officer of that bank until 1890, when he became president of the Citv National Bank, and served as such until 1893. For a period he was proprietor of the Akron Beacon.

Politically, Mr. Crouse is closely affiliated with the Republican party, and his efficiency has been recognized by his succes.sive elections (o important stations. In 1872 he ^va."^ elected count v commis.«ioner. in 1885 he was elected to the State senate, and in 188(5 he was elected to Congre.ss, from the Akron district, in all these honorable positions bearing himself with dignity and showing himself thoroughly capable. In civic affairs Mr. Grouse has also always "taken a deep interest, and has served as a member of the City Council, and as president of the Board of Education. He is one of the trustees of Buchtel College, to which institution the Crouse Gymnasmm was one of his gifts.

Mr. Crouse was married October 18, 1859, to Martha K. Parsons, a daughter of Edward and Clementine (Lingsley) Parsons, and they have four daughters - Martha P., Julia M., Mary R. and Nellie J. - and one son, George W., Jr., who is a prominent manufacturer of Akron. The family home i.? located at No. 263 Ea.st Mill street.

JOHN FRANKLIN WEYGANDT, a successful farmer and substantial citizen of Portage Township, owns a residence adjoining the grounds of the Akron Country Club, on the old Portage path, which was the boundary line in early days, between the United States and the Indian Nations. Mr. Weygandt was born in Ashland County, Ohio, September 24. 1840, and is a son of Jonathan and Miriam (Baughman) Weygandt.