Canton Township (part 49 of 62)

William F. Beatty, father of the subject, was a native of the Old Dominion state of Virginia, where he was born in the year 1814, being a son of Wyburnce Beatty, who was born on the Emerald Isle, where he was reared tomaturity. Shortly after his marriage he emigrated from Ireland to America, settling in Virginia, where he remained luitil 1820, when he came to Carroll county, Ohio, and cast in his lot among the early settlers of Rose township, entering claim to a quarter section of government land, which was heavily timbered and entirely unimproved, the deed to the property being signed by James Monroe, who was then President of the United States, and this interesting document is now in the possession of the subject of this review, who is the owner of the land thus entered by his grandfather, the property having never passed out of the possession of the family. On this old homestead, where the subject still resides, his father passed the residue of his life, passing to his reward June 3, 1890. at the venerable age of seventy-six years. He brought about tlie effective development of the farm, and became one of the highly honored and influential men of this section, enjoying the esteem of all who knew him.

Rachel (Miller) Eeatty, mother of the subject, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, being a daughter of Wallen Miller, who was one of the first settlers in that county, where he passed the residue of his life, as did also his wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Jackson, a relative of Stonewall Jackson. The mother of Mrs. Beatty died in the year 1849, and the father, about nine years later, consummated a second marriage, being then united to Miss Isabelle Carson, no children having been born of this union. The father was summoned into eternal rest in June, 1890, having lived a life of signal usefulness and honor and having been one of the representative men of this section of the state. He inherited the homestead farm, and to its cultivation and improvement devoted his attention throughout his active business career.

Wallen M. Beatty, whose name initiates this sketch, was reared on the ancestral farmstead, which is now his home, and early began to assist in its cultivation, while his educational discipline during this time was such as was afforded by tlie public schools of the locality.

His youthful patriotism was roused to the point of definite action at the time when the integrity of the nation was menaced by armed rebellion, and in September, 1863, having been unable to gain his father's consent to tender his services in defense of the Union, he took matters into his own hands and ran away from home, and at Alliance, Ohio, he enlisted as a private in Company D. Twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he proceeded to the front, having been with Sherman on the ever memorable march to the sea, and having participated in all the engagements incidental thereto. He received his honorable discharge in Charlestown, South Carolina, in August, 1865, as corporal of his company, having shown true soldierly qualities and having rendered faithful and valiant service in the greatest internecine war known in the annals of history.

After the close of the war Mr. Beatty returned home and resumed his work on the farm. His father insisted that he become a student in Mount Union College, but he was disinclined to follow this course, preferring to take up the active duties of life, and his lather finally permitted him to have his way, and he purchased a team of horses and soon practically assumed the entire management of the homestead, his father's health being impaired, so that he was not able to do much active labor. After the death of his honored sire, in 1890, Mr. Beatty purchased the interest of the other heirs, and thus came into sole possession of the farm, which has ever since been his home, as, indeed, it has been during the entire course of his life. In 1895 he purchased a contiguous tract of eighty-seven acres, so that the aggregate area of his finely improved landed estate is now two hundred and fifty-two acres. On this farm, adding in marked degree to its value, are found practically inexhaustible deposits of the finest of clay for manufacturing purposes and as early as 1869 clay was shipped from tine farm to Canal Dover, where it was utilized in the manufacture of fire-brick. At the present time the clay beds are being developed under the most favorable conditions. In 1892 Mr. Beatty organized the Beatty Fire Clay Company and a fine plant w'as equipped for the manufacturing of hollow building blocks and fire brick. In 1900 the Whitacre Company became the operators of the plant and Mr. Beatty still continued his interest in the enterprise, and in the following year it was sold to the syndicate known as the American Fire Proofing Company for a consideration of two hundred and twenty-one thousand dollars in cash. In the spring of 1902 Air. Beatty associated himself with Clarence S. Greer in the organization ! of the Greer-Beatty Clay Company, and they will have completed and have in operation by the time this publication is issued one of the model plants of this section of Ohio, utilizing the clay from Mr. Beatty's farm. Mr. Beatty is essentially public-spirited in his attitude and takes a deep interest in all that tends to conserve the advancement and material prosperity of the community. In his political proclivities lie is an uncompromising advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party and has been an active and efficient worker in its cause, having served as delegate to state and county conventions of the party. Fraternally he perpetuates the more kindly memories of his army life through his membership in Sandy Valley Post No. 728, Grand Army of the Republic, at Magnolia, and he is at the present writing adjutant of the post. He is also identified with the Knights of Pythias, holding membership in Sandy Valley Lodge No. 725. He has never sought political office, but in 1890 he acted as census enumerator for Rose township.

In 1868 Mr. Beatty was united in marriage io Miss Maggie Whitacre, daughter of Dr. Thomas and Catherine (Elson) Whitacre, the latter of whom was a daughter of Richard

Elson, one of the most honored and prominent pioneers of this section and one to whom specific reference is made in the sketch of his son, Anthony R. F!lson, appearing on another page of this work. Mrs. Beatty passed away in 1872, and is survived by her two children, Rachel, who is the v.ife oi a Mr. Barnes, of Texas county. Missouri, and Belle, who is the wife of Belden Brothers, of Pike township, Stark county, Ohio. On the 3d of July, 1873, j\Ir. Beatty was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Holmes, who was born in Carroll county, Ohio, being a daughter of William Holmes, who was an influential farmer of said county, where his death occurred in 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Beatty have five children, all of whom remain at the parental home except the second son, John, who is a g;radnate of the Cleveland Medical College, lieing a member of the class of 1903, and is now located in the city hospital at Grayston. The names of the children, in order of birth, are as follows : William, John, Milo, Blanche and Verne.

GEORGE COOK, late of Canton, was born in Summit county, Ohio, on the 2d day of February, 1827. In his youth he enjoyed only such limited educational advantages as were afforded by the common schools of his native place, but, possessing a studious nature, he made the best of his opportunities and in due time mastered the branches which in those days constituted the curriculum. Thrown upon his own resources at an early age. he turned his attention to mechanical pursuits and, entering a wagonmaking shop, soon became an efficient workman at that trade. While working at Greentown he early developed mechanical skill of a high order, which, coupled with executive ability rare in one of his age, led him in due time to outgrow the limited environments of the shop and embark in a mncli hirj^'er and mure inii)ortaiit undertaking. About the year 1849, '" partnership with Cornelius /Uiltman, Jacob Miller, Ephraim Ball and others, he established at Canton a small concern for the manufacture of reapers and mowers, which, under the firm name of E. Ball & Company, soon became one of the leading industries of the city. These gentlemen liegan operations with a limited capital, but the demand for their output increased to such an extent that within a couple of years the capacity of the plant was greatly enlarged, necessitating the employment of a strong force of skilled artisans. In 1865 the establishment was reorganized as a stock company under the name of C. Aultman & Company with a capital which was gradually increased with the growth of trade until it finally amounted to one million five hundred dollars. From the above years dates the most rapid and substantial advancement of this mammoth enterprise and since that time it has continually increased in magnitude and importance until becoming not only one of the largest industries of the kind in the state, but in the United States, besides earning an international reputation. It is not the province of an article of this kind to give in detail eitlicr the history or present status of the great and farreaching enterprise with which Mr. Cook" was so long and so actively identified. Suffice it to state, however, that the various agriculture machinery manufactured by this company, such as the Buckeye mower and reaper, the improved Sweepstakes thresher and the Monitor threshing engine, have achieved, as already stated, wide repute in every civilized country of the globe, while the standing of the establishment in the United States is second to that of no other similar industry. As may be inferred from this brief reference to the plant and its extensive operations, the gentlemen who estal)]ished the concern and brought it to its high position were men of remarkable ability and superior judgment whose enterprising spirits no difficulties could discourage. Among these men, George Cook occupied no secondary place. With a tenacity of purpose rare as it was admirable, he seems to have possessed the peculiar faculty of moulding circumstances to suit his ends and to his sagacity and wise executive ability is the establishment indebted for a large measure of the success which has marked its history from its inception to the time of his decease. He was one of the heaviest stockholders of the company, as well as a member of the board of directors, and as assistant superintendent he took an active part in the practical management, earning while serving in that capacity the iinljounded confidence of his associates as well as the universal good will of the employes. The history of the Aultman Company is but a page in the life of this enterprising and farsighted business man. Beginning with no capital save the sterling qualities of an honorable and industrious manhood, he gradually forged to the front, rising step by step until reaching the goal of success to which but few attain. He possessed strong mentality, was rarely mistaken in his judgment of men and things and foresaw with remarkable clearness future possibilities relative to his business interests, determining with a high degree of accuracy their probable bearing. In all of his transactions he manifested the most scrupulous integrity and gentlemanly demeanor and Ijy reason of large success, unblemished character and a just and liljcral life, he earned the universal esteem of his fellow citizens. In addition to his connection with the establishment at Canton, Mr. Cook served as director of the Aultman Miller & Compan\'s works and iron company at Akron, and for a number of years was a director of the First National Bank in the former city. He was also ofiicially identified with the Valley Railroad Company and it may be said that to liim more than to any other man is the city of Canton indebted for the remarkable Indus- trial growth which marked its history during the period of his residence. He was actively interested in nearly every industrial enterprise and gave to those with which he was not directly connected his sanction and, when necessary, liberal financial encouragement.

Without invidious distinction, Mr. Cook was pre-eminently one of Ohio's most enterprising and public spirited men of affairs. In every walk of life his aim was to do his Avhole duty and the people of Canton and .Stark county felt justly proud of him as a high minded citizen and useful member of society. While giving personal attention to his large and varied business interests and discharging conscientiously all the duties of citizenship, he found time amid all these claims to devote to the higher duties growing out of man's relation to his fellow man and to his Creator. He prospered greatly in worldly things and gave largely of his wealth for the founding of and fostering of worthy institutions, secular and religious, besides expending in private charities sums which t-o the majority of people would be independent fortunes. His benevolent spirit was practically unbounded in the extent of his benefactions and the vast amount of good which he accomplished through the medium of his wealth will only be fully known in that day when the books are open and every man rewarded according to his deeds. Among his many liberal donations the following are cited as specific instances, to-wit : Thirty thousand dollars for the erection of the beautiful Baptist church building in Canton, which for years to come will stand as a monument to his generosity and Christian manhood ; the sum of twelve thousand dollars to Dennison University at Granville, of which he was for some years a trustee, besides liberal endowments to other public institutions, while his private benefactions to different benevolent and charitable enterprises as well as to individuals are said to

Religiously, Mr. Cook subscribed to the Baptist church faith and two years and a half prior to his death united with the church in the city, donating, as already stated, a large sum towards the erection of its beautiful temple of worship. His was that broad catholic spirit which saw good in all religious movements and he supported churches, irrespective of creed, with the liberality which characterized his other efforts in behalf of humanity. Believing that the gospel should be preached to all men throughout the world, he was a liberal patron of missionary societies, especially those under the auspices of his own church, to which he gave large sums from time to time. Mr. Cook had a heart overflowing with love and good will for his kind and he used his ample fortune as a means to elevate humanity and develop a higher standard of citizenship. His greatest delight consisted in making others happy, in carrying sunshine into homes darkened by misfortune and bereavement, in binding up wounds received in unequal battles with adversity, in scattering blessings- around him, thus imitating the adage that "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Notwithstanding all of his large wealth and the commanding position he occupied in the business and social world, Mr. Cook was one of the most modest men, easily accessible to the humblest of his fellows and ever ready to lend a listening ear to the cry of need. Politically he was a Republican, but the pressing claims of his business and the nature of his benevolent work prevented him from taking a very active interest in party affairs. Believing that a good name was more to be desired than riches or public distinction, and with no ambition for official station, he was governed from his youth bv those fixed principles of honor and rectitude which through life stamped him as an honest

Mr. Cook was married, December 5, 1857, to Miss Mary Weary, of Stark county, the union resulting in the following children : Charles C, of Alliance, Ohio; George E., of New York city, who married Miss Carrie Peters, but is now a widower; Helen R. married Conrad Schweitzer, of Canton, and is the mother of eight offspring, Conrad, Helen N., Mary M., Margaret, George C, Frederick, Robert and Herman. Grace E., the fifth of the subject's children, died in infancy; Mary A., the next in order of birth, is the wife of Willifim Kuhns, of Raltimore, Maryland, and has had three children, George W. (deceased), Margaret and Elizabeth; Ralph Weary, the youngest member of the family, married Miss Catherine Maloney and lives in New York city.

George Cook finished his earthly life in the city of Canton, dying on the 3d day of May, 1879. ^ leader in industrial circles and preeminently a man of noble aims and high ideals, he lived up to his high standard of excellence, and departing left behind him a name which for years to come will be enshrined as a priceless treasure in the hearts of the people among whom he so nobly acted his part in the world's affairs.

Mr. Cook's father moved to Huron county, this state, a number of years ago, as a contractor and builder, and made his home near the city of Clinton. He worked at his trade at different places throughout that county and elsewhere and was accidentally killed while putting up a new building. Additional to the subject of this review, he had the following children : Rachel, who married a Mr. Miller and departed this life in Summit county; Mrs. Elizabeth Swinehart, who died some years ago near Uniontown, this state; Lena married and removed to Indiana, where her death subsequently occurred, and Michael, who also died in the latter state.

Mrs. Mary Cook, wife of the subject of this sketch, is the daughter of Samuel Weary and was born in Marlborough township, Stark county, Ohio, June 7, 1833. She received her educational training in the district schools and after her mother's second marriage lived with a sister until becoming the head of a household of her own. Mrs. Cook is a lady of many marked traits of character and as long as her husband lived she heartily co-operated with him in his charitable and benevolent work, proving a blessing to hundreds of poor and unfortunate people in the city of her residence and elsewhere. A sincere and devout Christian, she exemplifies her religious convictions in a life of practical service, and in many ways has been an influential factor in the church circles of Canton. Her life has been fraught with great good and in the social as well as the religious world her presence has been the means of moulding the characters and directing into proper avenues the lives of those with whom she has been associated. Her father was born about 1790 near Bloomfield, Perry county, Pennsylvania, and there married Miss Maiy M. Smith, whose birth occurred in the same county on the ist day of September, 1794. Some time after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Weary moved to Trumbull county, Ohio, but after a brief residence in that part of the state changed their abode to the county of Stark, purchasing a farm in Marlborough township, on which the former's death occurred at the age of forty-two. Mrs. Weary was one of sixteen children constituting the family of Adam Smith, an early settler and prominent citizen of Perry county, Pennsylvania. She bore her husband eleven children, the oldest of whom was Margaret, wife of Peter Rue, who died near St. Paul, Minnesota; John, the second, was accidentally killed by felling a tree; Simon, the third in order of birth, resides in the city of Akron at the present time; Catherine, now Mrs. Amos Johnson, hved at Uniontown, this state; Daniel married Sarah Taylor and departed this life in Chicago, Illinois; Sarah married J. P. Smith and lived in Stark county ; Jacob died in Akron ; Henry, of Oil City, Pennsylvania, married Rosella Inman ; Elizabeth is deceased and after her comes Mrs. Cook, the tenth in succession; Benjamin, the youngest of the number, was a soldier in the late rebellion, responding to the first call in 1861, and serving until the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox; he was the last Union man killed after the surrender, meeting his death at the hands of the bushwhackers the day following that event.

WILLIAM H. GREER, who bears the full patronymic of his father and who is incumbent of the position of ticket and freight agent of the Cleveland & Pittsburg division of the Pennsylvania Railroad in the village of Magnolia, was born in said village, in the old homestead, in the Carroll county portion of the town, on the 26th of May, i860, and as a boy he began to render assistance in the mer- establishment of his father, in the meanwhile pursuing his studies in the public schools of the town. At the age of nineteen years he was matriculated in Hiram College, where he <rompleted his more peculiarly literary education and amply fortified himself for the labors and duties of an active business career. In 1 88 1, when but twenty-one years of age, he appointed ticket and freight agent of the Cleveland & Pittsburg branch of the Pennsylvania system in his native town, and he has teen consecutively in tenure of this position ever since, - a period of more than two score years. Within this interval there has been a marked growth in tlie population and business of the town and tributary territory, so that the

Mr. Greer has exercised his right of franchise from the time of attaining his majority, in the support of the principles of the Republican party, and he has taken a lively and intelligent interest in the questions of the day, but has never sought the honors or emoluments of public office, though such has been his loyalty to his native town that he has not refused to serve as a member of the town council and the board of education, while he has also given most effective service as village clerk and treasurer. Fraternally he is a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias, being identified with Sandy Valley Lodge No. 725, of which he is the past chancellor. He and his wife hold membership in the Lutheran church.

On the 29th of July, 1886, Mr. Greer was united in marriage to Miss Addie Ross, who was born in Waynesburg, Stark county, being a daughter of I. N. Ross, a well known and honored pioneer of the county, and of this union have been born three children, namely: Helen H., William R. and Margaret A. Mr. Greer has an attractive home in his native village, and the family take a part in the best social life of the community.

AUGUSTUS R. ELSON was born on a farm in Sandy township, Stark county, Ohio, on the I St of August, 1829, the old homestead being located one mile north of tlie present thriving little city of Waynesburg. He was the fourth in order of birth of the three children of Richard and Frederika (Beogle) Elson, and is now the only surviving member of the immediate family. Richard Elson was born in Brooke county, ^'^irginia (now West Virginia), on the 1 2th of July. 1797, being a son of John H. and Margaret (Wiggins) Elson. As a boy he was independent and .-imbitious, and, having had a slight dispute with his father, he left home and crossed the Ohio river, to Steubenville, Ohio, not far distant from his home, where he began an apprenticeship at the shoemaker's trade, but within two or three weeks his better judgment prevailed and he returned to his home. Owing to the conditions and exigencies of the time and locality he was denied more than the most limited educational advantages in his youth, but he became a man of broad information and gained success in the face of the handicap of circumstances. His sturdy self-reliance and progressive spirit was early manifested, for at the age of nineteen years he constructed a flat-boat and engaged in trading on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, loading his rude craft with pork, flour, whiskey and other products and floating the same down to New Orleans, where he would dispose of his cargo, after which he would walk back to Steubenville, a distance of about fifteen hundred miles. He thus made the trip alone on five different occasions and had to traverse a country which to a large extent was an untrammeled wilderness, inhabited only by Indians and the beasts of the forest. He continued in this line of enterprise about seven years, within which on one occasion he found on his arrival in New Orleans that the scourge -of yellow fever was raging and that all business was at a standstill, so that he could find no market for his cargo. He showed himself a master of expedients, as did he many times in later life, for he placed his products on board the brig "Native" and thus transported the same to Savannah, Georgia, where he sold his goods at a profit and then proceeded on another vessel to New York city, where he passed a few days and then returned to liis home by the primitive means of conveyance in vogue at that time. While he was devoting his attention to this migratory trading his parents and the other members of the family had left their home in

West Virginia, coming across the river into. Ohio and taking up tlieir abode in Stark county, the change having been made at his advice and solicitation. He abandoned his trading business in 1823 and joined the family in this county. - He purchased forty acres of land in Sandy township, later selling this and purchasing a greater section in the same township, which is owned by Charles Long, and this he also sold and then took the quarter section now owned by his son by a second marriage, Corwin C, in Sandy township. This tract was government land and was entirely unreclaimed, so that there fell to him the task of instituting the work of felling the forest and instituting the work of cultivation. He later purchased an adjoining forty acres of school land, so that the homestead comprised two hundred and forty acres.

About the year 1833 Richard Elson associated himself with John W. Smith in purchasing from Benjamin Tappan the southeast quarter of section 30 and the southwest quarter of section '29, in Sandy township, Stark county, on the line of Carroll and Stark counties, the consideration being twelve hundred dollars. In 1834 they here platted and laid out the town of Magnolia. There were some forty names selected from which to finally decide upon the title which should be given the embryonic village, and the name of Magnolia was finally adopted, Mr. Elson having been impressed with the name from having seen the magnolia tree in full bloom in the south. In 1847 ^'^^ town, and also the town of Zoar, were incorporated through a special act of the legislature, and this was the first postoflice of the name in the United States, while by reference to the official postoffice guide the writer finds there are now twenty-three postoffices in the Union to which the name Magnolia is applied. Having thus been instrumental in founding a new town, Mr. Elson spared no pains to promote its progress. In 1S34 he erected the original Magnolia Mills,

In politics Richard Elson was originally an old-line Whig, but upon the organization of the Republican party he ardently espoused its cause, holding it as the avowed enemy of the institution of slavery, of which he had seen sufficient during his trading trips to the south to cause him to protest against it with all the ardor of his noble and loyal nature. He remained a radical Republican until his death, which occurred on the 28th of August, 1879, at which time, among other words of high appreciation, the Canton Repository spoke as follows "Richard Elson, who died at his home in Magnolia, on the 28th ultimo, at the advanced age of eighty-two years, was a remarkable man, whose life is worthy of emulation, and his name should be revered and honored as one of the pioneers of this county, who during his younger days contributed largely toward transforming this section, then a howling wilderness, into a garden of civilization and beauty. Commencing life poor, by his sagacity, industry, frugality and energy, he acquired a competency, and he died as he had lived, honored and respected by all who knew him. May he rest in peace."

About the year 1827 Richard Elson was united in marriage to Miss Frederika Beogle, of Waynesburg, this county, and she died about three years later, leaving three children, of whom the immediate subject of this sketch is the only survivor. A few years later he married Miss Sarah Ann Brandon, of Holliday's Cove, Virginia (now West Virginia), and of this union three children were born, there being three sons and three daughters in his family. Of the children of the last niarriage those living are Corwin, a resident of Sandy township, Stark county ; Richard, of Magnolia ; and Mary, of Oskaloosa, Iowa. Mrs. Sarah Elson died about 1847. John Harris Elson, the paternal grandfather of the subject, was born in that section of Virginia which is now comprised in West Virginia, the original American ancestors having come hither from Wales and located in Maryland, in the colonial qpoch. John H. was a captain in the war of 18 12, and he died when a young man, his remains being now laid to rest at Mapleton. this county.

Augustus R. Elson, to whom this sketch is dedicated, grew to maturity under the parental roof, and is indebted to the primitive district schools of the pioneer epoch for the early educational privileges which came to his portion. He continued to work on the farm for his father until he had attained his legal majority, and in 185 1 he began work in the mill owned by his father in Magnolia, being associated in the operation of the same as a partner for one year. By this time the niili was badly run down through long and constant use, the machinery being in poor condition, and our subject thus took the mill into his own charge, entering into a contract with his father with a view to ultimately acquiring the property, and he forthwith instituted the work of improvement, gradually putting in new machinery and making every effort to turn out a product of superior grade. Thus he was enabled to build up a good business and was clearing an average of five thousand dollars a year when, in 1867, he tore out all the old machinery and installed new throughout, while he ever kept abreast of improvements in mechanical equipment and methods of operation, and thus, in 1881, found it expedient to again practically equip his mill anew once more. At this time he put in a complete roller-process outfit, and today the plant is one of the most modern in Stark county, turning out a flour of unexcelled quality and having a productive capacity of one hundred barrels a day. From the time when Mr. Elson took charge of the mili it was his ambition to make it second to none in the quality of its products, and it is certain he has realized this desideratum. The superior excellence of the flour has gained to the mill an extensive patron in the person of a wholesale baker at Trenton, New Jersey, whose baking secured gold medals at Centennial exposition, in Philadelphia, in 1876, and later at the Paris exposition of 1900, the exhibit being made of artilces in which the flour from the Elson mills was utilized. This one customer demands a shipment of from four to five car loads of flour from this source each month, and his patronage has covered a long term of years. In 1898 the business was incorporated under the title of the A. R. Elson Company, with the subject of this sketch as president, and his son Richard R. as secretary, while the two younger

To Mr. Elson is due much of the credit for the present prosperity and the material upbuilding of Magnolia. It was through his instrumentality that the depot of the Chicago & Pittsburg Railroad was built here, and he personally bought the right of way and presented the same to the railway company for the branch of the Valley Railroad, which was thus built to this thriving little town, which is also indebted to him for many of its earlier improvements. Mr. Elson owns a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, under excellent cultivation and highly improved, the same adjoining the town of Magnolia, while he has other important capitalistic interests, being a stockholder in the First National Bank of Canton, a stockholder and member of the directorate of the First National Bank of Canal Dover, of which he was one of the organizers, and a member of the directorate of the Miller Pasteurizing Company, of Canton, of which he is a large stockholder. In politics he has ever been stanchly arrayed in support of the principles and policies of the Republican party, and he was for two years trustee of Sandy township, and for many years a member of the board of school directors. He was president of the school board and also of the building committee at the lime of the erection of the present attractive and substantial Union school building in Magnolia. Through not formally identified any religious organization, he is a liberal contributor to all church work, without regard to denomination.

On the 20th of December, 1S55, Mr. Elson was united in marriage to Miss Margaret E. Rose, who was born in Waynesburg, Sandy township, Stark county, being a daughter of the late John and Sarah Rose, and to them have been born seven children, namely: Austin; Richard R., who is individually mentioned elsewhere; Emma, who remains at the parental home; John R., who is the subject of a sketch elsewhere; Margaret, who is the wife of Dr. Clement R. Jones, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania ; Frank, who is also associated in the ownership and operation of the mills; and Harry, who resides in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, being a chemist by profession.

RICHARD E. GREER was born in the family homestead in Magnolia, on the 3d of April, 1865, and he is indebted to the excellent public schools of this place for his early educational advantages, of which he duly availed himself, while his initial business experience, like that of his brothers, was received in connection with the pioneer mercantile establishment here conducted by their father. At the age of eighteen years Mr. Greer became acting agent of the Cleveland & Pittsburg division of the Pennsylvania Railroad in Magnolia, taking the place of his brother William H., and the subject remained incumbent of the position during the two years and four months his brother was in the west. At the expiration of this period he resumed his school work, attending during the winter term following, and on the ist of September, 1887, he was tendered and accepted the position of bill clerk in the freight office of the same railroad company at East Liverpool, Columbiana county, later being promoted to the position of chief clerk and finally being transferred to the thriving town of Waynesburg, Stark county, as ticket and freight agent, an incumbency which he retained until April i, 1890, his services having been faithful and able, as is evident from his retention in the important capacity. He then resigned the agency and went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, to accept the position of bill clerk in the offices of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad at that point. On the 1st of January, 1891, he resigned his position, by reason of the fact that a ten per cent, reduction was made in the salary of every employe of the system and he did not feel it necessary to submit to the same. After a short visit with relatives in Iowa and Nebraska he returned to his home in Magnolia, and about two months later he entered upon a position to do extra work in the employ of the Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad, and thus continued until April i, 1892, when he was appointed freight agent of this road at Bedford, Cuyahoga county, filling this position until January I, 1894, when he was appointed extra agent, his duties being to serve as temporary agent at various points, in case of removals, illness or other contingencies. In this important and exacting capacity he continued to efficiently serve until the ist of December, 1898, when he came to the paternal home, in response to the earnest request of his venerable father, who was living alone with his only daughter at the time, and who, as the result of a small burglary which had been perpetrated in the home, felt the need of having his son with him ; the subject resigned his position and resumed his place in the old homestead. After about four months the alarm felt by his father lost its insistency and our subject then resumed his association with railroading, in which his long and varied experience had made him a valued officer. At this time he became chief clerk in the executive office, in Wellsville, of the superintendent of the Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad, being called to fill the temporary vacancy caused by the illness of the regular incumbent. Three months later Mr. Greer resumed his former position as special agent with the same road and continued in such until the 15th of October, 1899, when he resigned the office, and on the 19th of the same month was solemnized his marriage to Miss Winona Pickering, of Wellsville, Columbiana county, where she was born, being a daughter of Milton and Theresa Pickering, an influential family of that place. After a wedding tour extending to leading eastern cities Mr. Greer returned with his bride to Magnolia, and on the 23d of November, 1899, the present banking firm of WilHam H. Greer's Sons was organized and the Bank of MagnoHa was estabhshed, and our subject became an executive officer in the same, assuming the position of cashier. The bank is further mentioned in the sketch of Clarence S. Greer. Of the Greer-Beatty Clay Company, organized in April, 1902, William Beatty was made president and superintendent; Richard E. Greer, vice-president ; and Clarence S. Greer, secretary and treasurer, and this enterprise, with its fine facilities, is certain to become one of the most prominent industrial concerns in this section. In politics Mr. Greer is a stanch Republican and fraternally he is a member of Sandy Valley Lodge No. 725, Knights of Pythias, while he is popular is railroad, business and social circles, having a wide acquaintanceship throughout the state by reason of his long identification with railroading interests.

JOHN C. CORNELL. - In connection with the review of the career of George F. Knight, the founder and present head of the Knight Manufacturing Company, as incorporated on other pages of this volume, is given adequate description of the important industrial enterprise, and without recapitulation of the data we may here proceed to a consideration of the life history of the able and valued superintendent of the concern, John C. Cornell, through whose efforts much has been done to forward the rise of the enterprise to its present important standmg among the leading manufacturing industries of the city of Canton, the output of the plant being sawmill, well drilling and prospecting machinery.

Aultman Company, while in 1897 he accepted his present position, of which he has since been incumbent, coming to the same well equipped with technical ability and with excellent executive capacity, as his services have amply demonstrated.

John C. Cornell is a native of the old Empire state of the Union, having been born in town of Honeyoye, Ontario county. New York, on the i8th of September, 1856, and being a son of Stephen S. and Sarah (Bigelow) Cornell, both of whom were born in the state of New York, while the former was a distant relative of Ezra Cornell, the distinguished founder of the university which bears his name. I'hc Bigelow family was early founded in America, the original progenitors having located in Massachusetts, with whose annals the name has long been identified, and his family, as well as the Cornell, is of stanch English extraction. When the subject was but four years of age his parents removed from New York to Ohio, locating in Huron county, where his father was engaged in mercantile business until 1868, when they removed to Iowa City, Iowa, our subject being at the time a lad of twelve years. Stephen S. Cornell died in Canton, in the year 1895, and his wife passed away, in Canton, in 1888. They became the parents of four children, of whom two are living at the present time, he to whom this sketch is dedicated having been the second in order of birth. The subject received his rudimentary educational training in his native town, and thereafter continued his studies in the schools of Huron count}', Ohio, and Iowa City, and he learned the trade of machinist in Iowa City and thereafter worked as a journej^man until 1877, when he came to Canton, and since that time his career has been already outlined in preceding paragraphs. In politics he accords a stanch allegiance to the Republican party, having cast his first presidential vote in support of James A. Garfield, and fraternally he is idenii86

On the 14th of June, 1888, Mr. Cornell was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Black, who was born and reared in Canton, being a daughter of J. L. Black, who is now a resident of Canton. The subject ajid his wife have one son, Clifford, who was born on the 8th of August, 1872, and who is now eleven years old.

JACOB MUSKOPF. - He of whom we now write is a worthy scion of sterling pioneer stock in Stark county, and has himself contriljuted a due quota to the work of progi'ess through his well directed efforts in connection with the great basic art of agriculture, being now one of the representative farmers of Sugar Creek township, and it is certainly consonant that he be given a place in this volume.

Jacob Muskopf comes of a stanch lineage on both the paternal and maternal sides. He is a native son of Stark county, having been "born on a farm in Bethlehem township, on the 17th of March, 1852, and being a son of John and Mary (Zintsmeister) Muskopf, both of whom were born in the kmgdom of Bavaria. Germany, the date of the former's nativity having been 181 7. They were married in Stark countv, having cast in their lot with the early settlers of Bethlehem township, where the father of the subject has developed one of the valuable farms of this section of the state, having a landed estate of three hundred and seven - tv-two acres and having attained his success entirely through his own efforts, while he has lived a life of industry and utmost honor, commanding the uniform confidence and esteem of the community in which he has so long maintained his home and lieing now one of the venerable pioneer citizens of the county. He is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and for a number of years has been a valued memlier of the school board of his district. He and his devoted wife have long been worthy and zealous members of the Evangelical church. Jacob Muskopf, to whom this sketch is dedicated, came to Sugar Creek township \\hen one year old. Pie early became familiar with all the details of that vocation to which he has ever since devoted his attention, and his educational advantages were such as were afforded in the district schools of the pioneer era. He continued to assist his father in the operation of the home farm until he had attained years of maturity, and his independent career has been one of signal success and honor. In 1874 he effected the purchase of his present fine farm. of two hundred and twenty acres, in section twenty-six, Sugar Creek township, and here he has since given his attention to diversified agricultuie, to the raising of excellent grades of live stock and to the timber business, from whicli last department of his enterprise he has reilized excellent profits, as has he also from his more specific farming industry, which he has conducted with marked discretion and energy, being known as one of the model farmers of this section of the county. He takes .a lively interest in public affairs of a local nature and is stanchly arrayed in support of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, though he has never been an office-seeker. For the past seventeen years he has rendered effective service as a member of the school board, the catise of education finding in him a progressive supporter. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, affiliating with Lodge No. 520, at Beach City. The parents of Mrs. Muskopf were John and Catherine (Garver) Ricksecker, both of whom were born in Switzerland, whence they emigrated to the United States about the year 1834, and became numbered among the pioneers of Stark countv, where the former died at the age of eighty- four yenrs, while his wife lived to attain the age of eightyseven years. Six of their children are still living. In 1874 Mr. Muskopf married their daughter Sarah, who was born in this county, where she was reared and educated, and of this tuiion have been born seven children, namely : Clara, Arie, Vesta, Ruth, Kate, John C. and Walter.

URIAH C. WARD is a native of the state of Pennsylvania, having been born in Fayette county, on the 28th of August, 1846, and being a son of Frederick C. and Mary Ann (Lane) Ward, both families having been estal)lished in the old Keystone state at an early period in its history, both families bemg of German extraction. The father of the subject was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, on the 6th of April, 1809, and in that same county occurred the birtli of his de^-oted wife, the date of her nativity having been February 28, 18 18. Both were reared to maturity there and there they remained several years after their marriage, Mr. Ward having been a boatbuilder by trade and vocation, while he was also identified ,with agricultural pursuits in his native state. In 1852 they emigrated to Ohio and took up their residence on a farm, partially improved, in Sugar Creek township, Stark county, where they passed the remainder of their lives and W'here the father developed his place into one of the valuable farms of this .section, the area of the same being one hundred and thirty-five acres. On this homestead his death occurred. on the 9th of March, 1898, at which time he had attained the venerable age of eighty-seven vears, while his wife preceded him into eternal rest by exactly four years to a day, having passed away on the 9th of March, 1894. at the age of seventy-three years. None of the pioneers of the community were held in higher esteem and none lived lives of more signal usefulness and honor. Mr. Ward was originally a Democrat in his political proclivities, but transferred his allegiance to the Republican party soon after its formation, and ever afterward continued a .stanch advocate of its principles. Though a firm believer in the verities of Christianity he was never formally identified with any religious body, his wife having been a member of the United Brethren cliurch. They became the parents of four children, namely : Morgan, who is engaged in farming in .Summit county; Jesse, who is a resident of Missouri, where he is engaged in farming; Melissa, who died at the age of ten years; Uriah C, who is the immediate subject of this review ; and Laura B., who died at the age of fifty years.

Uriah C. Ward was a lad of six years at the time of his parents' removal from- Pennsylvania to Stark county, and thus he has practically passed his entire life in this section ;ind is known as one of its most loyal citizens. He was reared under the sturdy discipline of the farm and early became inured to hard work, which always exercises valuable functions in character building. As a youdi he conned his lessons in the district schools of the pioneer days, and there laid the foundation for that broad and practical knowledge which now denotes his intellectual equipment. He has ever continued to be activeh' identified with the the great generic industry of agriculture, and on his fine farm of one hundred and forty-six acres, in Sugar Creek township, are found the most pronounced and unmistakable evidences of thrift and prosperity, the place being equipped with substantial and commodious buildings, including a spacious and attractive residence. Mr. Ward gives his attention to diversified farming and also to the raising of a high grade of live stock. He was one of those most prominently concerned in the organization of the Beach City Banking Company, in which he is one of the principal stockholders, and he has been president of the company siixe 1898, and as such gives most able service in directing the affairs of the bank, bringing to bear that same mature judgment and that business acumen which have been the conservators of his individual success. In poHtics Mr. Ward is a stalwart Republican and while he takes a deep interest in all that touches the general welfare of the community he has never manifested the slightest ambition for political preferment. He has been for a number of years a member of the school board of his district and is incumbent of this office at the present time. The family attend the United Brethren church in Beach City.

On the 5th of December, 1878, Mr. Ward was united in marriage to Miss Irene Rosetta Breninger, who was born in Noble county, Indiana, being a daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Weimer) Breninger, the former of whom was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and the latter in Sugar Creek township, Stark county, where her father, David Weimer, was one of the early settlers. The parents of Mrs. Ward removed from this county to Noble county, Indiana, where they passed the remainder of their lives, her father being there engaged in farming. In the family were eight daughters and two sons, and of the number eight are living at the present time. Mr. and Mrs. Ward have two sons, Harry B., who was born on the 23d of February, 1884, was graduated in the Beach City high school as a member of the class of 1901 and is now employed in the bank of which his father is president; and CuUen Artemas, who was born on the 13th of January, 1886, remains at the parental home, having received his educational discipline in the public schools.

FREDERIC S. HARTZELL. - Throughout the civilized world the name of the city of Canton, which was his cherished home and the present residence of his devoted wife, is inseparably associated with that of the lamented and martyred President McKinley, and in no quarter is his name held in higher reverence than in his home city. It is thus fitting that it should be the portion of a native son of Canton to be so prominently identified with the- McKinley National Memorial Association as is the subject of this review, who has the distinction of being a secretary of the same, to thefurthering of whose noble object, in the erection of an appropriate monument to the memory of the nation's distinguished and martyred executive, eminent statesmen and noble patriot, his services are being given with zeal and energy. Of the ancestral history of the subject we need not enter into detail at this point, since on other pages of this work appears a personal sketch of his honored father. Dr. Josiah Hartzeil, one of the prominent citizens of Canton.

Frederic S. Hartzell was born in what is known as the old Lovett homestead, in North Market street, Canton, on the 22d of August, i860, and through both paternal and maternal lines and through his marriage he is identified with prominent pioneer families of Stark county. He was reared to maturity in his native city, receiving his early educational discipline in the public schools, after which he entered the Canton Collegiate Institute, of which William H. H. Avery was president, and here he continued his studies under most efTective direction until he had attained the age of sixteen years. He then went to North Platte, Nebraska, which was then a bustling little frontier city, where he secured a clerical position in a bank, retaining this incumbency two years, and thereafter being identified with the same line of enterprise in several of the new towns in Colorado, including Canon City, Silver Clifif and Leadville, where he became familiar with the scenes and incidents characteristic of life in the mining towns. He remained in Colorado until 1884, when he returned to Canton, and on the 5th of December of that year he was there united in marriage to Miss Helen Whiting, a daughter of the late Julius Whiting, one of Stark county's most distinguished citizens and one to whom a me-

for three years engaged in lousiness in Cleveland, then removing to Wooster, this state. Here and in Canton he was identified with manufacturing interests until 1898. His wife's health had in the meantime become seriously impaired, and thereafter he traveled with her for several years for the purpose of recuperating her energies. In 1.90 1, when the McKinley National Memorial Association was organized, Mr. Hartzell was made secretary of the Ohio auxiliary of the same, and when the national organization was perfected he was chosen assistant secretary of the association, and has since continued in this capacity.

From the time of attaining his legal majority Mr. Hartzell has rendered a stanch allegance to the Republican party, and has been an advocate of the principles and policies for which it stands sponsor. He is well known in his native city and county, and his friends may well be said to be in number as his acquaintances. Mrs. Hartzell was summoned to eternal rest on the 28th of January, 1901, in New York city, and is survived by her only son, ' Donald Whiting Hartzell, who was born on the 3d of January, 1886, and who is at the time of this writing a student in the University

GEORGE H. LEGGETT. - Among those prominently identified with railroading interests and maintaining headquarters in the city of Canton is Mr. Leggett, who is here incumbent of the office of local freight agent of the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad. He has risen to this responsible preferment through his own efforts and is known as an able and discriminating official. Mr. Leggett came to Canton in 1880, as a young man, and here became a messenger and student in the employ of the Connotton Valley Railroad Company, the same being now operated by the Wheeling & Lake Erie Company and the line being known as the Cleveland, Canton & Southern division. In 1885 he was appointed station agent at Canton for the Connotton Valley Railroad, receiving this promotion in April of that year, and he served in the capacity noted until 1S91, from which time until 1899 he was paymaster and traveling auditor for the Cleveland, Canton & Southern. In the meanwhile this line had been absorbed by the Wheeling & Lake Erie system, and in the year mentioned our subject was advanced to his present position, of which he has ever since been incumbent. He is known as a thorough railroad man, having been a close student of the intricate methods and systems involved, and he has the confidence and esteem of his superior officers and of the people with whom he is thrown in contact in his executive capacity.

George H. Leggett is a native of the Buckeye state, having been born on a farm in Brown township, Carroll county, Ohio, on the 3d of January, 1858. There he was reared to the age of about twelve years, having in the meanwhile secured his rudimentary education in the district schools, and he then accompanied his parents on their removal to the state of Virgnia, this being in the year 1873. Later they took up their abode in Barnesville, Charlotte county, that state, where the subject eventually engaged in the mercantile business, in company with his brother John, and there he continued to make his home until 1880, when he came to Canton, as has been duly noted in the opening paragraph of this sketch, while his later course has also been adequately outlined from that time to the present. In politics Mr. Leggett is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republican party, having cast his first presidential vote for James A. Garfield, and his religious views are to a large degree domi- nated by the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, under whose influence he was reared, his parents having been devoted members of the same. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, being affiliated with Canton Lodge No. 60, Free and Accepted Masons, in Canton.

On the 5th of April, 1887, Mr. Leggett was united in marriage to Miss Rose A. Menches, of Canton, where she was born and reared, being a daughter of Jacob Menches. Of this union has been born one son, George Raymond, who is now a student in the Canton city schools.

Sutton Leggett, the father of the subject, devoted the major portion of his active life to farming, and he now lives retired in the city of Canton. He was born, it is thought, in Carroll county, Ohio, being of stanch English lineage, while his wife, whose maiden name was Mary- Tressell, is of German extraction. She was born in Carroll county, Ohio, and is a sister of Dr. John Tressell, a representative physician of Alliance, Stark county, while her brother Leonard was formerly a prominent business man of Canton, where his death occurred several j-ears ago. Mr. Leggett is vice- \ mayor and president of the city council of the city of Canton, being elected for two years at the last April election.

PAUL GSCHWEND. - On other pages of this work is given, in connection with the sketch of Gustavus Elbel, an adequate description of the important enterprise conducted by the Elbel Company, of which Mr. Gschwend is vice-president, and thus it is not requisite that we enter at this point further detail in regard to this well known manufacturing industry of the city of Canton. Mr. Gschwend arrived in Canton on the 12th of January, 1881. and became a partner in the concern of which he is now vice-president and general manager, having been previously identified with the enterprise during the time its plant was located in the city of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, his capitalistic interest in the business thus dating from the year 1875, while it was originally conducted under the title of the Crawford Manufacturing Company.

Mr. Gschwend was born in the town of Butler. Butler county, Pennsylvania, on the 27th of August, 1848, and was there reared to the age of eight years, initiating his educational work in the public schools of that place and completing his studies in the schools of Allegheny City, whither his parents removed in 1858. In 1862 Mr. Gschwend began work in the establishment of the old firm of OInhausen, Crawford & Company, of that city, his initial duties being those of a filer in the fitting department, while his emolument at this time was the princely stipend of two dollars a week. He thus started at the foot of the ladder and his rises through the various grades of promotion through his own energy and ability, until he has become one of the principals in a large and important industrial enterprise, while his intimate knowledge of all details of the work justifies his retention in his practical executive office of genera] manager, aside from the otlier position which he holds more particularly by reason of his capitalistic investment. He is a progressive and public-spirited citizen and is loyal to the interests of his home city in every way. His political allegiance goes forth in an unequivocal way to the Democratic party, and his religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church, both he and his wife being communicants of St. Peter's church, in Canton. Fraternally he is identified with the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association.

age on the sailing ship "Oceanic" and being forty-two days on the ocean. In Germany he learned the trade of shoemaker, and for some time after his arrival in America he followed the same in the city of Allegheny, after which he became tollkeeper on the Butler plank road, retaining this incumbency until 1874, when he died, at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife, whose maiden name was Rosa Hess, accompanied him on his emigration to the new world, their eldest child having been born in the fatherland, while ten were later added to the family circle, the subject of this review having been the seventh in order of birth, while of the number six are living at the present time. The venerable mother still maintains her home in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, and celebrated her ninety-first birthday on the 13th of September, 1903. The father of the subject was for six years a soldier in the German army.

In Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, on the 29th of October, 1872, Paul Gschwend was united in marriage to Miss Cecilia Zirhut, who was born in that city, and of this union have been born ten children, namely: Edward G., who died at the age of eleven years; William Bennett, who is a traveling salesman for the Elbel Company; Cecilia R., who is the wife of E. C. DePutron, of Canton; Lawrence J., who remains at the parental home, being employed in the office of the Elbel Company ; H. Norbert, who is assistant bookkeeper for the company; Helen G., who remains at home; Grover E., who died at the age of twelve years; and Leo J., Marie B. and Ferdinand A., who are attending school in Canton.

CHARLES P. DUFF. - One of the important industrial entei-prises of the city of Canton is that conducted by the Elbel Company, manufacturers of saddlery hardware, and of the same Mr. Duff' is one of the stockholders and a member of its directorate, while he is also serving in the executive capacity of secretary of the company. Mr. Duff came to Canton in iSSi as bookkeeper and cashier of this concern, and upon the reorganization of the same, at wliicli time the oimpany was duly incoiporated under the laws of the state, he was elected to the office of secretary, a position of which he has ever since remained incumbent. Charles P. Duff is a native of the dominion of Canada, having been born in the picturesque old city of St. John's, New Brunswick, on the roth of September, 1837. Three years later, in 1840, his parents removed to the city of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he received his early educational discipline in the public schools, later attending Westminster College, at Wilmington, Pennsylvania, where he completed his purely scholastic education at the age of nineteen years, after which he was engaged as bookkeeper and cashier with various firms in Pittsburg, where he remained until his removal' to Canton, as already noted. His father, Peter Duff, was a native of Scotland and possessed of the dominating traits which have ever indicated the canny Scotsman, - integrity, marked pragmatic ability and well balanced mentality. He emigrated to America when a young man and engaged in mercantile pursuits in St. John's, New Brunswick, where he remained until his removal to Pittsburg, \\-here he founded and long continued what was and is yet known as Duff's Business College, an institution which attained a high reputation and one which many residents of Canton attended in the early days, as is shown by various references in the sketches appearing in this compilation. After taking up his abode in Pittsburg Peter Duff also compiled and published a standard work on bookkeeping, while he attained marked precedence in educational circles. He died in Pittsburg, in 1869, at which time he was about sixty-seven years of age. In St. John's, New Brunswick, was sol- eninized his marriage to Miss Eliza Jane Marter, a daughter of General Thomas P. Marter, of the British army, who was then stationed in that place, the family being of stanch English lineage. Of this vinion were born seven children, of whom five are living at the present time.

In the city of Pittsburg, on the 19th of March, 1S62, the subject of this sketch was imited in marriage to Miss Lizzie Edgar, who was born in that city. She was summoned into eternal rest at the family home in Canton, in 1888, at the age of forty-eight years, and her funeral services were conducted from the First Methodist Episcopal church, of which she was a devoted member. On the 22d of November, 1890. Mr. Duff consummated a second marriage, being then united to Miss Etta B. Snyder, of Canton, and they now reside in an attractive home at 3150 West Tuscarawas street extension. In politics Mr. Dufif gives his allegiance to the Republican party, and fraternally he is affiliated with Center Avenue Lodge No. 124, of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, in the city of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

EDWARD S. RAl' F. late president of the , Central Savings Bank, and during life one of Canton's most prominent and progressive citizens, was born in Canton, Ohio, November 17, 1858. and was the son of the late Judge George W. Raff. His preliminary education was obtained at the Canton Union school, after which he attended the Canton Academy. Graduating from the academy in 1877, he entered Wooster University the same year, from which he was graduated with the class of 1881. While in the university he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and of the Irving Library Society. He took first prize in the Junior contest for an original declamation, and first prize in the inter-society oratorical contest, the latter at the end of his senior year. During the winter of 1881-82 Mr. Rafif was for a short time in the employ of the First National Bank of Canton, and afterwards for some months was engaged in the office of the Peerless Reaper Works. In the spring of 1882 he went to Omaha, Nebraska, and shortly afterwards was appointed assistant cashier of the Omaha Savings Bank, then newly organized. He retained the position until October, 1885, when he resigned it and accompanied his parents into California, where he remained until March, 1886, spending his time in San Jose and Los Angeles, when he returned to Omaha and occupied a position in the Union Trust Company of that place. This position he held until October, 1886, when he surrendered it, and after a trip to New York and other points in the east, returned to California and remained with his parents in that state for some time. He then returned to Canton and soon afterwards he and his father established the Central Savings Bank of this city, with Judge Rafif as president and the subject as cashier. The success of the bank was assured from the very beginning and continued, the institution becoming the leading banking house in Canton. In 1900, following Judge Raff's death, Edward S. was chosen president of the bank, a position he held until the time of his deith, which occurred at Tucson, Arizona, on February 2,_ 1901. During the above period Mr. Raff was actively interested in a number of local enterprises and manufacturing concerns, and also with several local institutions. He was a director of the M. C. A., and a director of the Canton Library Association. He was a prominent member of the Trinity Lutheran church, and a member of the council of that congregation. He was a trustee of the Hartford Poor Fund, and an administrator of the estate of Mrs. Aultman ; also left large sums to Canton institutions. He was also a director in the Congress Lake Outing Club. Mr. Rafif was a

Democrat in politics, and was prominent in the councils of that party both locally and in the state organization. In 1894 he was the Democratic candidate for congress in this district, in the three-cornered fight between himself, Taylor and Coxey. The district was largely Republican, but it is more than probable that had Coxey been eliminated from the contest Mr. Raff would have been elected, as Coxey drew the most of his votes from the Democratic party. Mr. Raff became a member of the Democratic state committee. In igoo he was an elector on the Bryan presidential ticket. He was closely associated with the leaders of his party throughout the state, including such as John R. McLean and John H. Clarke, the present Democratic candidate for the United States senate.

GUSTAVUS ELBEL is a worthy representative of that valued type of men whom the German fatherland has given to America and through whose efforts the march of progress has been distinctively accelerated. He is a native of the kingdom of Saxony, Germany, where he was torn on the 24th of June, 1835, and in his native land he attended the excellent -schools until he had attained the age of fourteen years, when, in the year 1849, he accompanied his parents, Henry and Sophia (Bowers) Elbel, on their emigration to America. They embarked, in the city of Bremen, on the sailing vessel "Beethoven," and after a voyage of forty-nine days' duration the ship dropped anchor in the port of the city of Baltimore, Maryland, where the family remained for a few weeks. The father of the subject found it impossible to there secure a satisfactory position in the work of his trade, that of tanner, and he accordingly proceeded to Jefferson <:ounty, Pennsylvania, where he purchased a tract of land and turned his attention to agri- -cultural pursuits, becoming one of the prosperous and honored farmers of that section of the old Keystone state, where he passed the remainder of his long and signally useful life, passing away in 1S74, at the age of seventyfour years, while his devoted wife died in the same county in 1882 or 1883, both having been zealous members of the Lutheran church, while Mr. Elbel espoused the cause of the Republican party after attaining the right of franchise. This worthy couple became the parents of five children, all of whom were born in Germany, and all of whom came to the United States with their parents, three of the number surviving at the present time.

The subject of this review remained in the city of Baltimore about ten months after the remainder of the family had removed to Pennsylvania, having secured work in setting up ten pins in a bowling alley, and receiving in compensation the munificent sum of two dollars per month, with board included. At the expiration of the time noted he made his way on a canal packet-boat to the city of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he entered the employ of his uncle, Augtist Bowers, who was there engaged in the manufacture of scales. Mr. Elbel was thus engaged for several years, and thereafter he devoted his attention for a time to setting up stoves in a local factory. His next move was to serve an apprenticeship at the trade of patternmaking, in which he attained marked efficiency, and through this facility he was led to become identified with the line of enterprise through which he has attained so marked success. In the year 1847 the firm of Eaton, OInhausen & Company had established a manufactory of saddlery hardware in the city of Pittsburg, and in 1850 a reorganization took place, the title of the firm being then changed to OInhausen, Crawford & Company. Of this concern Mr. Elbel became an employe, while in 1868 the business had another change and was thereafter conducted under the title of John Crawford & Company, the subject becoming a member of this fimi in the year 1869. In 1880 it was reorganized under the name of Elbel, Gilham & Company, while the present title of Elbel & Company was adopted in 1884, the business having in the meanwhile been removed from Pittsburg to Canton. In January, 1881, the headquarters were established in Canton, the original plant having been the old printing-press works, on Mulberry street, alterations on the building having been started in September, 1880. in order to fit the same for the new uses to which it was to be devoted. The building at the time extended across the present line of East Ninth street. The plant was destroyed by fire in the year 1884, and the municipal government, in order to provide for the opening of the street mentioned, agreed to give the company two lots in East Ninth street in exchange for that portion of their ground upon which the former buildings liad been located, the stipulation being made that the company erect their new plant back to the building line of-East Ninth street, and through this arrangement the street mentioned was opened to the line C'f Mulberry street. The first plant of the Elbel Company was ready to be put into practical operation in the middle of March, 1S81, while on the corps of employes were to be found many of the men who had formerly been employed by the company in their plant at Allegheny City, Pennslvania, a large proportion of them having secured houses in Canton. At the time of the destruction of the plant, in the month of December, 1884. arrangements were immedately made for the rebuilding of the works upon a more extensive scale, and by August of the following vear the new and finely equipped plant was ready to be put in operation, while since that time extensive additions have been made and many improvements inaugurated, the buildings now covering about two acres, while the grounds owned and utilized by the company comprise two acres, and the best of transportation facilities are afforded, the lines of several railroads being in close proximity to the plant, which has special connections. The manufactory was kept in active operation about three hundred days in the year until the financial panic of 1893, and thereafter, for a short period, the same was operated on half time, but at the present time the business is running at full capacity. The executive corps of the Elbel Company is as follows : Gustavus Elbel, president and treasurer; Paul Gschwend, vice-president and general manager; and Charles P. Duff, secretary. Mr. Elbel is a man of fine executive and initiative ability, broad-minded and progressive in his policy, and all this is well and significantly indicated in the greaf enterprise at whose head he now stand?, while he enjoys unlimited confidence and esteem in the business world and the high regard of all who know him in a personal way. In politics he accords a stanch allegiance to the Republican party, and his religious faith is that of the Swedenborgian church, of which his wife likewise was a devoted member. The wife died in 1895.

In the city of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1862, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Elbel to Miss Elizabeth Enderegg, of that city, and they became the parents of four children, namely : Louisa, who is the wife of Christopher' Fultheimer. of Canton ; Henry, who is identified with the business of the Elbel Company ; Caroline, who is the wife of John Hobusch, of Canton ; and Kate, who remains at the parental home.

JOHN M. STEWART is a native of the old Keystone state, where the family has been established for many generations, the original ancestors liaving come hither in the colonial epoch of our national history, being of Scotch and Irish blood, while the name has stood ever as exponent for sterling character and distinc- tive" usefulness in connection with civic life and productive utilities. Mr. Stewart was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, on the 4th of April, 1873, being a son of Richard D. and Matilda (Moore) Stewart, whose six children are all living at the present time, while the immediate family has been signally favored, in that death has never invaded its circle. Of the six children we incorporate brief data, as follows : Mamie is the wife of James McCready, of Ottawa county, Kansas; Margaret remains at the parental home in Pennsylvania ; Nannie is the wife of James Stewarts, of East Liverpool, Columbiana county, Ohio ; John M., of this sketch, was the next in order of birth ; and Frank and Harry remain beneath the old home rooftree.

Richard D. Stewart was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and was reared to the sturdy discipline of the farm, while the common schools of the locality and period afforded him his early educational privileges. He was married in his native county, where his wife was likewise born, and he continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1875, when he took up his residence in Hookstown, Beaver county, that state, where he established himself in the undertaking business, in which he has ever since consecutively continued, - a period of more than a quarter of a century, while he simultaneously became identified with the coal business, and he still continues to own and operate his mines. In politics he is an uncompromising advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party. He and his wife are both prominent and devoted members of the Presbyterian church, in which he has served for many years as trustee and treasurer.

John M. Stewart was a child of two years at the time when his parents removed from the farm to Hookstown, and there he acquired his early education in the public schools, while as a boy he began to assist his father in the undertaking business, in which he literally "grew up," becoming familiar with all details and gaining that professional discrimination, sympathy and delicacy which are so essential in the proper handling of this branch of industry, and when he was but sixteen years of age he was given an interest in the business conducted by his father, and from that time forward assumed a large portion of the duties and responsibilities involved. In 1895 he was married, and in the following year he came to ]\Tinerva, Stark county, where he purchased the undertaking business conducted by T. H. Carpenter, while later he also acquired the stock and business of P. W. Arnold, who was here engaged in the same line of enterprise in connection with the handling of furniture, so that Mr. Stewart thus added this analogous and consistent department to his original business, and since that time he has conducted the only furniture and undertaking business in the city, while for one year after coming here he also retained his interest in his father's establishment in Pennsylvania. He has a well equipped establishment in Minerva, carrying a complete and select stock of furniture in all lines and having an undertaking department which will compare favorably with those of many of the far more populous towns and cities. He is a thoroughly skilled embalmer and funeral director, and his consideration and kindliness in the sad hours when his services are in demand in this department of his business have been fully appreciated in the community and have given him a high place in popular confidence and esteem. From the time of attaining his legal majority Mr. Stewart has exercised his franchise in support of the principles of the Republican party, taking an active and intelligent interest in the questions and issues of the hour and in public affairs of a local nature, but never seeking the honors or emoluments of public office. Fraternally he is an appreciative member of the time-honored and beneficent or- der of Freemasonry, in which he has attained the degrees of the York rite, being identified with Tubal Lodge No. 551, Free and Accepted Masons, of Minerva; Minerva Chapter No. 123, Royal Arch Masons, of Carrollton, in the adjoining county of Carroll; and Canton Commandery No. 38, Knights Templar, in the of Canton, while he is also a member of Minerva Council No. 21, Junior Order of United American Mechanics. In religion he has ever held to the faith in which he was reared, being a prominent and valued member of the Presbyterian church in his home town of Minerva, in which he is at present serving as a member of the board of trustees, while he has also been treasurer of the church and superintendent of its Sunday school for several years, his wife likewise being a devoted member of the church, in whose work she takes an active part.

On the 5th of September, 1895, Mr. Stewart was united in marriage to Miss Eva R. Duff, who was born and reared in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, being a daughter of the late William B. Duff, a prominent oil operator in that state and Ohio, and a man of wealth and influence at the time of his death, which occurred in the fall of 1902, as the result of injuries received in a fall down a staircase. His wife, whose maiden name was Margret Hassen, still resides in the old home in Darlington, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have no children.

CLARENCE S. GREER. - In the old homestead in which he now resides, in the village of Magnolia, across the line in Carroll county, Clarence S. Greer was ushered into the world on the 8th of July, 1852, being a son of William H. and Charity Margaret (Elson) Greer, of whose five children he is the -eldest of the four surviving, the others being William H. and Richard E.. who are individually mentioned elsewhere; and Margaret A., who is the wife of Charles E. Beck, Massillon, Stark county, where he is engaged in the banking business. William H. Greer, Sr., came of stanch old Scotch-Irish stock and was bom near the village of Cookstown. county Tyrone, Ireland, on the 24th of June, 18 14, being a son of James and Elizabeth (Harkness) Greer, the former of ^^'hom was a tenant on a small farm in the Emerald Isle, where he died in early manhood, leaving his young wife with four small children and dependent upon her own resources. The problem which faced the brave woman was a serious and critical one, but she showed her devotion by making the best possible provision for her little family, bringing to bear a self-abnegation which should ever cause her name to be held in reverence by her descendants, in whatever station of life. When the father of our subject was fourteen years of age he entered upon an apprenticeship in what was there known as a cloth shop (the same would in this country be designated as a select dry-goods store), and when his brother Samuel, who was two years younger, had likewise reached the age of fourteen he too began an apprenticeship in the same line, the stipulation in the connection being that each was to thus serve for a period of seven years, receiving only their lx)ard in compensation for their services. William H. served out his term and then went to the city of Dublin, where he secured a position as a journeyman, but a short time later his brother Samuel, who had quit his place, persuaded him to emigrate to America, and they decided to join their uncle, William Harkness, who was residing in Magnolia, Stark county, being one of the pioneers of this section. In course of time they reached their destination, in the year 1837, and their uncle advised them to take the best available means of becoming acquainted with American customs and methods, and he thus secured for Samuel a position in a dry-goods establishment in Spring-field, Ohio, while the father of the subject secured a place in the city of Wheeling, West Virginia. After there remaining for a brief interval he returned to Magnolia, where he was given an interest in his uncle's business, while his brother Samuel proceeded to Wheeling, where the uncle likewise had property, and there Samuel was assisted to establish himself in business. William Harkness, who had thus so kindly aided and directed the efforts of his young nephews, died in the early '50s, and Wilham H. Greer succeeded him in the control of the large business which they had built up as pioneer merchants, the firm having been one of the most prominent in this section. They bought cargoes of coffee from New Orleans, while their dry goods and other lines of merchandise were transported overland from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, by means of wagons. The members of the firm made annual trips to the city mentioned, making the journeys on horseback and carrying the gold requisite foi; their purchases in their saddlebags. William H. Greer continued to be actively engaged in the mercantile business in Magnolia until the time of his death, covering a period of almost sixty years. In later years he paid less personal attention to his store and gave his time more particularly to the extending of financial loans and to real-estate transactions, through which mediums he was not only helpful to others but also increased his financial resources materially, becoming one of the most substanatial capitalists of this section and wielding a marked influence in local affairs. His death occurred on the 8th of August, 1899, and the community as an entirety mourned the loss of one of its valued citizens, able business men and honored pioneers. In his early life Mr. Greer exercised his franchise in support of the Democratic party, but at the time of the war of the Rebellion his uncompromising advocacy of the Union cause led him to transfer his allegiance to the party which stood as its avowed sponsor.

and thereafter he was known as a stanch adherent of the Republican party. He was without personal am.bition in a political way, but was chosen mayor of Magnolia, while he was the incumbent of the office of postmaster here for about thirty years. Thomas Greer, a cousin of William H., Sr., was a member of the English parliament, and another cousin, David Greer, was an eminent clergyman of the Presbyterianchurch. Ihe Sinclair, Stanton and Kluff families were also related to the Greers. William H. Greer was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church, and his religious views were ever in harmony with its tenets. His mother passed her entire life in Ireland, where slie died prior to the emigration of her sons to America. Charity Margaret (Elson) Greer, mother of the subject, was a native of Stark county and a member, of one of its earliest pioneer families. She was born in Sandy township, on the family homestead one mile north of the village of Waynesburg, on the 29th of January, 1828, and was one of triplets, two of whom survived, she and her sister Catherine E., who became the wife of Dr. T. H. Whitacre and who is now deceased. The two sisters resembled each other so closely that even their intimate friends often mistook one for the other. They were children of Richard Elson, who came to- .Stark county as a pioneer from Virginia, where the family was established in the pioneer days. Mrs. Charity M. Greer was summoned into eternal rest on the loth of March, 1896, having been a woman of noble and gracious character and having held the affectionate regard of all who came within the sphere of her influence, while she was a devoted wife and mother.

Clarence S. Greer, whose name initiates this sketch, was reared in his native town and received his early business training under the effective direction of his able father, while his educational discipline was gained in the public schools of Magnolia. He continued to assist in the management and work of his father's store until two years after his marriage, which had teen solemnized in 1882, and then removed to a farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres, one mile north of Magnolia, the property belonging to his mother. Here he continued to be actively and successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock-growing until the death of his father, when he removed to Magnolia and soon afterward effected the establishment of a private banking business, under the firm name of William H. Greer's Sons, his brother being associated with him, while the enterprise is specifically designated as the Bank of Magnolia. The bank was organized in November, 1899, while it is recognized as one of the solid and ably conducted financial institutions of the county and its business is constantly expanding in scope and importance. In April, 1902, Clarence S. Greer became associated with Wallen M. Beatty in the organization of the Greer-Beatty Clay Company, and they now have in operation a fine modern plant in which are manufactured hollow building blocks and fire brick. They have recourse to beds of a very superior quality of Hint clay on grounds owned and controlled by the firm, and thus have facilities which excel those of the greater number of concerns engaged in a similar line of enterprise in the state. Mr. Greer is a popular and valued citizen of Magnolia, of which he is at. the present time mayor, giving an intelligent and thoroughly businesslike administration of municipal affairs. In politics he has ever accorded a stanch adherence to the Republican party, but his office-seeking proclivities are noticeable only from their absence. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias.

On the 7th of September, 1882, Mr. Greer was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Cable, who was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, being a daughter of David Cable, a prominent and influential farmer of that county, residing one mile north of .Sandyville, and of this union have been born three children, Ada B., Mary E. and Richard C. The Greer family, as may be inferred, is one of prominence in the social as well as the industrial life of this community, and the family homestead, which is occupied by Clarence S. and his family, has long been known as a center of gracious hospitality.

FRANKUN R. YARGER. - The earliest definitely known fact in regard to the Yarger family is that the paternal great-grandfather, whose Christian name was either Michael or John, was a resident of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, in early life but later removed to Venango county, that state. He was a blacksmith by trade and highly respected by all who knew him. His sou, Henry Yarger, the subject's grandfather, was born in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, about 1777, and died in Pike township, Stark county, Ohio, in 1824, at the age of fortyseven years. In his youthful years he learned the trade of a blacksmith, which vocation he followed throughout his later years. In October, 1 81 6, he came to Ohio, locating in Sandy township, Tuscarawas county, subsequently locating across the line in Pike township, Stark county. He was united in marriage before coming to this state and became the father of seven children. Adam Yarger, the father of the subject, was born in Sandy township, Tuscarawas county on the nth of November. 181 6. Tie was a lad of but eight years at the time of his father's death and his mother, with her seven children, had a hard struggle to get along. She was determined to rear them to honorable manhood and womanhood and de- \oted her every thought and action to that end. One son, Paul, was bound out, but the mother managed to keep the other children under the parental roof and succeeded in implanting in them those sterling qualities and traits of character which enabled them to attain to respected and honorable stations in later years. The sub- ject's maternal grandmother was Sarah Lower, whose father, Adam Lower, came from Germany to the LTnited States in 1772, his naturahzation papers bearing the date of 1775. He enhsted in the colonial army during the Revolutionary war and served throughout the struggle. Lie was a weaver by trade and a man small in stature. His death occurred in September, 1804, and he was interred at Williamsburg, Elair county, Pennsylvania. Adam Yarger, as he grew to manhood, learned the trade of carpentering and after his marriage he located at Sandyville, where he resided until his death, e>'cepting two years' residence at Navarre. His death occurred on the loth of April, TS64, at the age of forty-seven years, and his remains lie buried at Sandyville. It is Avorthy of note that his father died at the same age and that with one exception all of his brothers and sisters died between the ages of forty and fifty years. The mother of the subject bore the maiden name of Mary A. Revell and was born in New Philadelphia, Ohio, the house in which she was born standing where the public sciuare now is. Her birth occurred in August, 1823, and she is the daughter of Thomas C. and Eve (Hiple) Revell. Her father was a native of England and came to this country some time prior to 1827, Masonic records showing that he paid dues in his lodge in that year. He located in New Philadelphia, Ohio, where he was employed at his trade, that of contracting and building. After a residence there of some years, he contracted that dread disease, consumption, and Ijecame convinced that by going back to England he might recover. His daughter, the subject's mother, intended accompanying him. but prior to his departure her mother induced her to remain here. The father was in very poor physical condition when he embarked and on reaching Liverpool he v.role back to his wife, announcing his arrival and his frail condition. This was the last heard of him for seven vears.

and his wife thinking him dead, married William Fisher. Subsequently, when she was on her death bed, her first husband returned, but, while he wished to show affection for the dying woman, the second husband would not allow it. Mr. Revell claimed that he had been captured and held a prisoner by pirates, thus explaining his long silence. .Some years afterward he was again married. Lie built the first court house! in New Philadelphia and for many years was one of the prominent builders of that section of the state. He finally succumbed to his old ailment, consumption. Grandmother Eve Lliple was a nati\e of Pennsylvania and accompanied her parents upon their removal to Stark county about 1 81 5, they locating in Pike township.