Canton Township (part 54 of 62)

MILLARD FILLMORE TAYLOR is a native of the old Keystone state, having been born in the town of Leechburg, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, on the 24th of December, 1856. He was reared to manhood in his native place, where he received excellent educational advantages, having completed the curriculum of the public scliools and therafter supplemented this discipline by a course of study in the Leechburg Academy, while he also studied the higher branches and took a special commercial course while prosecuting his regular course in this institution, being thus able to well fortify himself for the active responsibilities of life. Mr. Taylor left school at the age of eighteen years and then entered a drug store and began to devote careful attention to the study and practical work of pharmacy. He was employed as a drug clerk for several years, and in 1879 he engaged in the general merchandise business in Leechburg, continuing the enterprise until 1886, when he established himself in the drug business in the same town, conducting the same most successfully until 1894, when he became associated with other citizens of Leechburg in the organization of the Canton Rolling Mill Company, of which he was chosen secretary, the headquarters and mill of the concern being established in Canton, Ohio, within that year. He continued to be actively identified with this concern, in the capacity noted, until the absorption of the business by the American Sheet Steel Company, in 1899, and he then liecame an interested principal in the Carnahan Stamping & Enameling Company, of which he is at the present time secretary and treasurer, the enterprise being one of the important industries of the city. Mr. Taylor is a man of initiative power and has shown progressive spirit by identifying himself witli other enterprises. He is vice-president of the A. P. Gould Dental Chair Manufacturing Company, of Canton, and is national secretary of the Lincoln Insurance Company.

Mr. Taylor is intrinsically public-spirited, taking an active interest in all that concerns ' the moral, intellectual and material welfare of his home community. He has ever given a stanch allegiance to the Republican party, and while a resident of his native town in Pennsylvania was called upon to serve in various offices of public trust. He is a member of the Republican Club of Canton and takes a lively interest in the party cause, while he was a member of the speakers' committee on the memorable occasion of the birthday banquet tendered in honor of the late President McKmley in his home city in 1903. Fraternally Mr. Taylor has completed the circle of York rite Masonry and has advanced to the fourteenth degree (Grand Lodge of Perfection) in the Scottish rite, while he is also identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World. He was reared in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church and from his youth up has been a devoted member of the same. He is at the present time a member of the board of trustees of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Canton, having been elected to this position in 1895, at which time President McKinley was likewise chosen a member of the board. He is also a member of the board of managers of the Canton Young Men's Christian Association. In the First Methodist Episcopal church he is chairman of the committee on music and also has charge of the music in the Sunday school, while he takes an active part in all departments of the church work. He has a cultured musical taste, as have also the other members of his family, and their attractive home, at 120 West Lake street, is a center of gracious hospitality, the refined amenities being there ever in distinctive evidence, while the entire family are devoted members of the Methodist church. In Leechburg, Pennsylvania, Mr. Taylor was prominently concerned in effecting the erection of the present fine edifice of the Methodist Episcopal church, his father having been one of the pillars of the church from the early days, and his home having been ever open to the ively engaged in church work. He erected the first Methodist church in Leechburg and was a man who commanded the most unequivocal confidence and esteem in the community in which practically his entire life was passed.

In Leechburg, Pennsylvania, on the 19th of September, 1878, Millard Fillmore Taylor was married to Miss Anna Maria Schwalm, who was born in that place, being a daughter of John and Sarah (Small) Schwahn, representatives of old and honored Pennsylvania, families. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have three children, Royal and Raymond, who are twins, the latter being organist of the First United Brethren church in Canton; and Helen Marie, who likewise remains at the parental home, the family being prominent in the social life of the city.

Mr. Taylor's father, John Taylor, was born in the western part of Pennsylvania, and resided in the town of Leechburg from liis boyhood days until his death on Monday of the week of President McKinley's death, in 1902, at the age of seventyseven years. He was a man of fine intellectuality and spotless integrity of character, wielding a beneficent influence in the community where he lived and labored to so goodly ends. In his youth he learned the trades of tanning and harnessmaking, and to the same he devoted his attention for a long term of years, while he became knovvu as one of the prominent and influential business men of the town. His wife, whose maiden name was Julia Bair, was likewise a native of the Keystone state, where she passed her entire life, her death occurring in 1885, at which time she was fifty-two years of age. She was a noble and devoted Christian woman, and the family home was one which fully justified the name. This worthy couple became the parents of seven children, concerning whom we enter the following brief record : George B. is a resident of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania ; Mary C. is the wife of Jacob H. Parks, of Leechburg; Millard F., of this sketch, was the next in order of birth ; Harriet C. is the wife of Samuel M. McCracken, of Leechburg; Charles G. is a resident of Canal Dover, Stark county, Ohio; William L. is engaged in business in Canton, this county; and J. Siebert is a resident of Janesville, Wisconsin.

Matthew Taylor, grandfather of the subject, was born and reared in England, whence he emigrated to America as a young man, his birth having occurred in the year 1797. He was a merchant tailor by trade and was engaged in this line of work in Leechburg for a number of years, but in later life was identified with various other lines of enterprise. He died at the age of eighty-eight years, while his wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Crawford and who was born in Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irsh .descent, passed away at the age of seventy-five years.

ATLEE POMERENE. - An able and representative member of the bar of Stark county, Mr. Ponierene comes of distinguished French ancestry in the agnatic line, his greatgrandfather having come to America as a member of the staff of General Lafayette and having served most valiantly until the close of the war of the Revolution, after which he established his home in the state of Pennsylvania, where he secured a grant of land. There was born his son Julius, grandfather of the subject, and he was reared to agricultural pursuits which he followed in the old Keystone state up to the time of his emigration to Ohio, where he became a pioneer farmer of Holmes county. He married Miss Elizabeth Piersol, and both died in Holmes county, honored by all who knew them. Peter P. Ponierene, M. D., the father of him whose name initiates this paragraph, was born in Holmes county. Ohio, in the year 1832, and was there reared to maturity. He became one of the leading medical practitioners of that section of the state, where he continued in practice for forty years, while in the early period of professional labors he prosecuted the same under circumstances which called for the utmost self-abnegation and devotion. He was reared under the discipline of the pioneer farm and received his early educational discipline in the district schools of Holmes county and in a seminary in Medina county, after which he was for a time engaged in teaching school. Fie studied medicine under the direction of his older brother, Dr. Joel Pomerene, who was later a surgeon during the war of the Rebellion, having been thus attached to the regiment commanded by General Garfield. Later Dr. Peter P. Pomerene continued his technical studies in Cleveland, Ohio, and eventually was matriculated in Jefferson Medical College, in the city of Philadelphia, where he was graduated. He was a man of fine intellectual and professional attainments and was one of the influential and honored citizens of Holmes county, where he died in 1892, having been for some time a member of the faculty of the Ohio Medical University, in Columbus, of which position he was incumbent at the time of his demise. He was reared in the faith of the Baptist church, with which the family has long been identified.

In his native county Dr. Pomerene was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Wise, who was born in the same county in 1841, and who still maintains her home in the village of Berlin, where she has resided for so many years and where she is sustained and comforted by the affection of a wide circle of friends. Dr. Pomerene ever gave an uncompromising allegiance to the Democratic party, taking a deep interest in local affairs of a public nature and being particularly active in promoting the cause of education. He was twice married, the maiden name of his first wife having been Loretta Maxwell, and of his eleven children

Atlee Pomerene was born in the parental homestead, in Berlin, Holmes county, Ohio, on the 6th of December, 1863, and after availinghimself of such advantages as were afforded in the public schools of his native village he entered the \^ermilion Institute, at Hayesville, Ashland county, where he also acted as tutor for one year. He thereafter secured admission to the junior class in Princeton College, New Jersey, where he was graduated in 1884, as one of the honor men of his class. He then located in the city of Cincinnati, where he began the reading of law under the direction of General Durbin Waid, later being matriculated in the Cincinnati Law School where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1886, and while a student in this institution he secured the prize in a debating contest. Soon after graduating from this college Mr,. Pomerene came to Canton, and entered into a professional partnership with Major Charles R. Miller, who is now a resident of the city of Cleveland, and this alliance continued until July, igoi, after which Mr. Pomerene conducted an individual practice about six months, at the expiration of which he entered into partnership with Robert S. Shields, under the firm name of Shields & Pomerene, which association still obtains, the firm having well equipped offices in the Eagle Block.

Mr. Pomerene is one of the leaders in the local ranks of the Democratic party and is a prominent worker in the cause of the same, while he has been called upon to serve in positions of trust and responsibility in the gift of the voters of Stark county and touching the technical work of the profession for which he has been so thoroughly well trained. Tn 1887 he was elected city solicitor of Canton, in which office he served two terms of two years each. In 1896 he was elected prosecuting attorney of .Stark county, with a majority of six hundred and twenty. The county is strongly Republican and he being the only candidate elected on the Democratic ticket since 1892. He was incumbent of this office until 1900, and within hi.s term as prosecutor he was identified with manyimportant cases, including the trial of the murderer of George B. Saxton,in which he handled the prosecution with marked ability and discrimination, adding much to his prestige as an advocate. He served one year as a member of the board of education and has at all times shown a marked interest in all that makes for the well-being of his home city and county, while his course has been such as to retain to him the unequivocal confidence and regard of his professional confreres and also of the general public. Mr. Pomerene is president of the William R. Hearst Democratic Club, of Canton, and fraternally he is identified with the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which he has the distinction of being past exalted ruler. Mr. Pomerene is a stockholder of the Canton Steel Roofing Company and a member of its board of directors, thus representing one of the important industrial enterprises of the county.

On the 29th of June, 1892, Mr. Pomerene was united in marriage to Miss Mary Bockius, daughter of Lewis V. and Caroline (Graham) Bockius, of Canton, and they are prominent in the social life of the city.

JUDGE HENRY A. WISE was born on the old homestead farm, near Middlebranch, Plain township, Stark county, Ohio, on the nth of September, 1845, and there also occurred the birth of his father, Aaron S. Wise, on the 25th of Janu.-iry, 1819, this fact indicating- that the family came to the county in the early pioneer q^och. Aaron S. Wise was reared to maturity under the invigorating discipline of the farni, and his educational advantages were such as were aft'orded in the district schools of llic lime and locality. In 1843 '^^ was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Houser, who was b(5ni in Nimishillen township, this county, on the 5th of January, 1825, being a daugiiter of Martin Houser, who was one of the pioneers of that township, and who was a son of Martin Houser, Sr., who was located in Pennsylvania, prior to the war of the Revolution, in which he was an active participant. He was taken prisoner by the Indians, in company with a companion, and they were held in captivity for a period of three years, when they effected their escape by secreting themselves in a hollow log until the Indians hatl passed. The father of the subject passed his entire life in Stark cuuiity, where he wa"s engaged in agricultural pursuits and also ran a general store and flouring mill and tannery, and here his death occurred in the year 1858, his funeral services being held on the 4th of July of that year. There his parents also died, having been folk of sterling character and having lived lives of honor and usefulness, as did also their children, who did not depart from the lines of rectitude along which they had been so carefully and conscientiously trained. The mother of the subject is still living, and resides in Canton. Of her five childrai we enter the following brief record : Phoebe, who became the wife of Philip E. Thompson, died in i8qi, leaving one child, Catherine, who is now the wife of Joseph Hartzell, of Canton ; Henry A., of this sketch, was the next in order of birth; Aurelia died in infancy; Amanda is also deceased; and Ella is the wife of \Valter S. Chance, of Washington, D. C.

Henry A. Wise passed his boyhood days on the old homestead farm, securing his early educational training in the district schools and thereafter attending the high school in Canton. Pie later entered the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he was a student for two years, taking the scientific course. In 1867 he was matriculated in the Dennison Universitv at Gran\ ille, Ohio, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1870, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. After leaving college he began reading law in the office of and under the direction of Alexander Bierce, an able member of the Canton bar, and two years later he was admitted to the bar of the state. He fortliwitli established himself in the practice of his profession in this city, associating himself with Anson Pease, who was subsequently elected to the bench of the court of coninum pleas. They continued to be associated in practice about ten years, the firm gaining marked precedence and retaining a representative clientage, while Mr. W^ise gained a high reputation both as an advocate and a safe and conservative counsellor. He has in the past appeared in connection with much important litigation, and has shown himself well versed in the law and facile in the application of his broad and exact knowledge of the science of jurisprudence. In July, 1882., Judge Wise was appointed to serve out the unexpired term of Timothy .Sullivan in the office of county treasurer, and at the end of the term, in September of the following year, he accepted the position as cashier of the City National Bank, remaining incumbent of the same until the autumn of the year 1S90, when he resigned the office and was engaged in the practice of his profession until the following- spring, when he was elected vice-president of the Earmers' Bank, to which institution he ga\-e his attention until taking his seat as judge of the probate court in Eebruary, 1894, having been elected to that office the previous November. He was incumbent of this office until February, 1900, and his administration was one of signal discrimination and; ability. The popular appreciation of his efforts in this connection was signified by his having been re-elected for the second term. Since his retireinent from the office Judge Wise has not been engaged in the practice of his profession, devot- ing his time and attention to his various financial and real estate interests. During the year 1901 he was secretary and treasurer of the Canton & Malvern Fire-brick Paving Company, remaining in tenure of this dual office until the plant and business was sold. For fifteen years he was treasurer of the Stark County Agricultural Society, in whose promotion he took a most zealous interest. He is president of the Canton Cemetery Association and vicepresident of the Dime Savings Bank, of this city, and also has farming interests in Jackson township and other real-estate investments of importance. Since 1862 he has made his home with his widowed mother in Canton.

In May, 1S64, Judge VVi.se enlisted as a private in Company B, One Hundred and Sixtysecond Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he -continued in service until -the expiration of his term of enlistment, whei: he received an honorable tlischarge. In politics he has ever accorded an uncompromising allegiance to the Republican party, his first presidential vote having been cast in support of General Grant. The Judge has attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish-Rite Masonry, affiliating with the consistory at Cleveland, Ohio, while he had the distinction of being the first eminent commander of Canton Commandery No. 38, Knights Templar. He is also identified with Canton Lodge No. 68, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Nimishillen Lodge No. 39, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Mc- Kinley Post No. 25, of the Grand Army of the Republic.

ISAAC N. DAGER. - Jacob Dager, father of the subject, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on the 29th of Sei)tember, 1814. His parents were Jacob and Catherine (Hewitt) Dager, of Pennsylvania, while his grandfather, Martin Dager, was a native of 'Germany. Jacob Dager was reared under the parental roof and remained there until his twenty-eighth year. In the meantime he had acquired a good i)ractica] education and became (|ualified for the profession of teaching, which he followed for about five years in the home locality. He was ambitious to broaden his knowledge and between his terms of school applied himself to the study of the higher branches in Washington College, in his native state. In 1840 he came to Carroll county, Ohio, teaching during the winter months and de\-oting the summers to the arduous toil of clearing the heavy growth of timber from his nev.dy-j)urchased farm. In the spring of 1853 he purchased the farm which his son, John IL, now owns and added to it from time to time until he at length possessed a splendid tract of two hundred and eighty acres. The locality was remarkal)Iy well adapted to stockraising and Mr. Dager combined this with farming, and it may be said with perfect truthfulness that no other man in al.l this part of Ohio did so nuich to advance the interests of sheep breeding and raising as did Mr. Dager. He first introduced Merino sheep into his township and at all the fairs and exhibits for a number of years carried off all the premiums on this breed of sheep. He was financially successful in all his operations, particularly in connection with his sheep industry. On the 8th of November, 1838, Mr. Dager and Miss Eleanor Hastings were united in the holy bonds of wedlock, a union which was blessed by the birth of five children, of whom two survive, John H. and the subject. Jacob Dager died on the 4di of March, 1889. In all political matters he allied himself with the Democratic party and, though nex'er v\'hat might be termed an oflicc seeker, he served sc\'eral terms as trustee of his township and for many years filled the office of justice of the peace. All in all, he was widely known and highly respected and few men exerted so potent an influence in his township as did he.

Isaac X. Dager was born in Carroll county, Ohio, on the 17th of December. 1846, and Avas reared under the parental roof. He acquired his preliminary mental discipline in the common schools and supplemented this with attendance at Mt. Union College. At the age of nineteen years he commenced teaching school, continuing this occupation four winters. About the time of his marriage, in 1868, he settled upon the farm on which he now resides, it then comprising one hundred and twenty acres and havinsj been given him by his father. He continued to teach school for two winters after his marriage, attending to his farm duties during the summers, but has since then devoted almost all his attention to agriculture. He is thoroughly up-to-date in his methods and is accounted one of the substantial farmers of his township.

Jn t868 Mr. Dager was united in marriage with Miss Rachel Gibler, also a native of Carroll county. To them have been bom four children, of whom three survive, as follows : Ida Viola, wife of Byron B. Bowman, of Robertsville, Ohio; and Eleanor F. and Hannah R., at home. The subject is a Democrat in his political adherency, has taken an active part in advancing the interests of his party and for many years served as a member of the school board. Fraternally he is a member of Juilliard Lodge No. 460, Free and Accepted IMasons, and in his daily life exemplifies the beneficent principles of that time-honored fraternity. As an agriculturist Mr. Dager has long enjoyed the reputation of being a leader among his fellow citizens of Osnaburg township. He cultivates the soil according to the latest and most improved methods, and, believing husbandry to be a science worthy of the most careful thought, is very thorough in all he attempts and seldom fails to reap abundant harvests as a reward for the care and toil expended.

JOHN F. SPITLER comes of stanch German ancestry in both the agnatic and maternal lines, and the name which he bears became early identified with the annals of the state of Pennsylvania, from which commonwealth his grandfather. Christian Spitler, emigrated to Summit county. Ohio, in the pioneer epoch of its history, having been a cabinetmaker by trade and vocation and having become the pioneer undertaker of Greensburg, Summit county, where he died when well advanced in years. Darius Spitler, father of the subject, was born in that town, in 1846, and there learned the trade of cabinetmaker under the eiTective direction of his honored father, while, being 'the eldest of three sons, he carried on the business after the death of his father. At the age of sixteen years, against the wishes of his father, he tendered his services in defense of the Union, joining three other boys of Greensburg and going to Indiana, where they enlisted, Mr. Spitler becoming a private in Company F, Twelfth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he rendered valiant service during two years of the war of the Rebellion, being then discharged by reason of physicial disabihty and having been taken prisonar at Richmond, Virginia, being held in captivity for some time and then released on parole. His regiment participated in many important campaigns and he had his full quota of hard service. His father died soon after Darius returned home, and the latter then assumed charge of the undertaking and cabinetmaking business in Greensburg, where he remained until 1862, when he came to Canton, where he was for a time engaged in the same line of enterprise, after which he was employed in the plow factory of Ephraim Ball, of this city, and later in the wood-working department of the Aultman shops, while at the present time heis incumbent of a responsible position with the Ohio Table Company, at Massillon, this coun- ty. In politics he has been a stanch supporter of the principles of the Reptibhcan party from the time of attaining his majority, and his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife likewise is a devoted member.

In the city of Canton, on the i8th of September, 1864, Darius Spitler was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Boom, who was born in Canton, in 1848, being a daughter of Conrad and Mary Boom, both of whom were born and reared in Germany, where they married, and shortly after this event came to America and located in Canton, where their seven children were born. Here Mr. Boom was a pioneer shoemaker and cobbler, having been for many years engaged in business on East Tuscarawas street, and here he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives. Darius and Margaret (Boom) Spitler became the parents of hve children, namely : Elta, who is the wife of Charles Diebold, of Cleveland, Oliio; John F., who is the immediate subject of this sketch; Forest, who is in the employ of the Albrecht Company, of Akron, Ohio; Oscar, who is stenographer at the Best Street Light Company, of Canton ; and Howard, who is likewise a resident of this city and employed as estimating clerk in the office of the J. H. Eller Company, of this city.

John F. Spitler was born in the city of Canton, on the 23d of May, 1868, and here he attended the public schools until he had completed the studies of the eighth grade. He then determined that it was expedient for him to initiate his independent career, and accordingly he secured a position in the cabinet department of the Diebold safe works, where as a boy of fifteen years he secured six cents an hour in recompense for his services, while later he supplemented his educational discipline by taking a thorough course in the Canton Business College in bookkeeping and stenography. In 1890 Mr. Spitler became clerk

;aid stenographer in the office of Baldwin & Shields, a representative law firm of Canton, at the same time taking up the study of law with the Sprague Correspondence School of Law, of Detroit, Michigan. With this law finn he remained for the long period of ten years, at the expiration of which the fimi was dissolved, Judge Baldwin having been appointed by President McKinley consul to Nuremberg. In the meanwhile Mr. Spitler had acquired an excellent knowledge of the law and of the various publications pertaining thereto, so that he was distinctively eligible for the preferment which then came to him in his appointment by the court, F'ebruary i, 1900, over ten other applicants, to his present office of librarian of the Stark County Law Library Association, in which capacity he has rendered most efficient service, his management of the library having gained him the unequivocal commendation of the members of the bar, who have not failed to manifest their appreciation of his fidelity and scrupulous care. In October, 1902, Mr. Spitler was appointed by the trustees of Canton township, justice of the peace, to fill out the unexpired term of T. C. Snyder, entering upon the discharge of his official duties on October 16, 1902. He has devoted no little attention to the reading of law in the past few years, and is thus specially well qualified for the handling of this judicial offi.ce. In April, 1903, Mr. Spitler was elected-by the people to succeed himself as justice of the peace, for a term of three years, receiving the largest plurality of any of the candidates on the Republican ticket at said election. In politics he gives a stanch allegiance to the Republican party, and fraternally he is identified with several of the prominent fraternal orders in Canton.

On the 2d of September, 1891, Mr. Spitler was united in marriage to Miss Rose L. Bechele, who was bom and reared in Canton, being a daughter of John Bechele, a well

PROF. EDMUND A. JONES is one of Ohio's distinguished educators and for over a quarter of a century he has been at the head of the public schools of Massillon, of which city he is an honored and influential citzien. He is a New Englander l)y birth and an Ohioan by adoption. He was born February ii, 1842, at Rockville, Massachusetts, and is a son of Elisha Adams and Rhoda (Ellis) Jones. His great-grandfather was Simpson Jones, a nati\-e of Medway, Massachusetts, and an agriculturist by occupation. Elisha Adams Jones, grandfather of the Professor, was born in Massachusetts in 1 78 1 and died in i860. He was well educated, taught school many years, and in later life was a farmer. He was prominent in his community and served as a captain of the Massachusetts militia. Elisha Adams Jones, second, the subject's father, was born in October, 181 5, and died in October, 1899. He was also a teacher and followed farming. Rhoda Ellis, the Professor's mother, was born in Medway, Massachusetts, in 1820 and was the daughter of Moses Ellis, also a native of Massachusetts, and a descendant of one of the old families of that commonwealth. She was a iady of more than ordinary intelligence and education, having been a student of the old Bradford Academv. Her death occurred in

Professor Jones received his earlv education in the common schools, and was fitted for college at Mt. Hollis Academy. In i860 he entered Amherst College, where he pursued his studies for two years, leaving the college in the fall of 1862 to enlist in Company B, Forty-second Massacluisetts Reg'iment of Infantiy. With the Forty-second he was sent first to New Orleans to join Banks' expedition.

The first battle he participated in was Bayou LaFourche, in June, 1803, in which engagement he was seriously wounded in the left shoulder. While the wound was most painful and needed attention, he was compelled tO' remain on duty for three days thereafter, before he was ordered to New Orleans to have it properly dressed. He held the rank of fifth sergeant, and was recommended by his lieutenant-colonel for promotion for meritorious service. He was honorably discharged and mustered out of service at Boston, in July, 1863. He soon resumed his studies at Amherst College, where, in 1865, he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts and three years later received the degree of Master of Arts. While at Amherst he was president of the sophomore class of '64, and of the senior class of '65.

Professor Jones began his educational work in 1865 as professor of Latin and gymnastic instructor at Lake Forest, Ilinois. At the close of his second year he was made associate principal, and so continued until the fourth year, when he was advanced to the post of principal of the academy. In October, 1869, he came to Massillon as superintendent of the city schools, in which position he served for four years, then resigned to accept a similar position at Marietta, Ohio, to which he had been elected without solicitation on his part and without ever having even met a member of the board of education of that city. But so pleased had been the people of Massillon with his administration of school affairs in their city that in 1875 he was elected and induced to accept the superintendency at this place again, and from that time on he has continued at the head of the city schools, his administration proving so uniformly successful and satisfactory that he has been re-elected from time to time practically without opposition. For ten or twelve years Professor Jones was a member of the board of examiners for Stark county, and was president of the board several years. In 1889 he was elected principal of the West Cleveland high school at an advanced salary, but the Massillon board of education, unwilling to relinquish him, promptly met the raise and retained his services.

Professor Jones was a member of the Ohio state board of examiners from 1887 to 1895, of which board he was made president. He assisted in the organization of the State Teachers' Reading Circle in 1883, and for several years was corresponding secretary and treasurer. He has been a member of the board of control continuously to the present time. He is a member of the Ohio Teachers' Association and in 1892 was president of the same. He has been secretary of the board of trustees of the Charity Rotch School for many years, and treasurer of the McClymonds Public Library. He has been a trustee of the Presbyterian church for twenty years or more, also an elder, and for more than a quarter of a century was superintendent of the Sunday school. He is an active member and past commander of Hart Post No. 134, Grand Army of the Republic, and has been president of the Stark county soldiers' relief commission for sixteen years. He was a delegate to the Grand Army of the Republic national convention at Boston in 1890. He helped to organize the Massillon lx>ard of trade, and has served as its secretarv- from the time of its organization. On June 4, 1903. Professor Jones received the Republican nomination for state commissioner of common schools.

December 23, 1873, Professor Jones married Flora Richards, who was Ixjrn in ISIassillon. She was a daughter of Warren C. and Helen (Ford) Richards. One son, Walter Elisha. was Ijorn March 4, 1893. There was also a daughter. Flora Ellis, born in December, 1879, but who died the same year. The son graduated from the Massillon high school, afterward attending the Hudson Preparatory

School and is now at Amherst College, from which he will graduate in 1904. Professor Jones has long been a popular lecturer before county institutes and teachers' associations. In June, 1903, he received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the Ohio University at Athens.

JOHN H. SPRANKLE. - The paternal grandparents of the subject were Michael and Elizabeth Sprankle, the former a well known and influential resident of Bedford county, Pennsylvania. He was the owner of the Bedford mills and was reputed to be the wealthiest man in his native county. Selling his property there in 181 5, he removed to Stark county, Ohio, with the declared purpose of becoming the wealthiest man in that county also. But his ambition was not to be realized, as a short time after his arrival he was killed by a falling tree. Upon coming to this county he had entered a large tract of fine land, which upon his death was inherited by his sons. Jacob Sprankle, the father of the subject, after his father's death made his home for two or three years with his brother Michael, when he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Drushal. Soon after his marriage he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land which, is now within the city limits of Canton and is the property of Mr. Deuber, the watch manufacturer. Here he resided up to within about a year of his death, when he removed down into the city. He was tw-ice married, there being no issue to the second union. To his marriage with Margaret Drushal were born ten children, of whom but three survive, Anna, the wife of Emanuel Cover, of Michigan; Catherine, wife of Abraham Murphy, of Canton, and the subject.

new party and remained faithful to its principles until his death. He was notably successful financially, owning two residences in Canton, and besides his home farm he also owned a farm of one hundred and forty-eight acres in Pike township. He was the owner of the Eagle Woolen Mills, but did not operate this enterprise himself, having rented it to other parties. Religiously he was a member of the German Baptist church and lived a life consistent with his profession. His death occurred in April, 1887.

John H. Sprankle was born in the city of Canton, the date of his birth being September 7, 1829. He was reared under the parental roof and received his education in the common schools of his neighborhood. In May, 1849, at the age of twenty years, the subject went to work in the Eagle mills, where he was employed until 1854, when he left the mill and purchased his present farm, the tract at that time comprising one hundred and ten acres. During subsequent years he added to this tract until eventually he became the possessor of three hundred and twenty acres. He has since sold one hundred and ten acres of this to his sons, now owning two hundred and ten acres. In 1885 he purchased the Osnaburg grist mills, but in December, T887, they were utterly destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of over eight thousand dollars. Mr. Sprankle has been very successful in his various financial operations and is now one of the heaviest tax payers in his township. For the past fifteen years he has not taken a very active part in business matters, having rented his farm to other parties, though he still makes his home there.

On tlie 20th of November, 1852, Mr. Sprankle was united in marriage to Miss Anna E. Frey, a native of Osnaburg township and the daughter of Frederick Frey. The latter was a native of Germany, but when a young man tied to this country in order to escape army service, which is compulsory in his native country. Upon his arrival in this country he was the possessor of but six dollars in money, but was energetic, ambitious and economical, and at the time of his death was considered a wealthy man. For a number of years he ran a cooperage shop and a distillery in connection with his farm, making much money in both enterprises. He has also for many years practiced veterinary surgery, with marked success. To the subject and his wife were born six children, four sons and two daughters, of whom those surviving are Henry, a resident of Osnaburg township; Florence, the wife of Louis Loutzenheiser, of Louisville, this county; and John G., who is employed by the American Bridge Works, of Chicago. In politics the subject is a stanch and uncompromising Republican and served one term as trustee of the township, refusing to accept the office longer, though importuned by his friends to do so. Mr. Sprankle is one of the oldest native born residents of Stark county and his life has been closely interwoven with the growth and development of the county. He early realized the necessity of good citizenship and with strong mind and determined purpose addressed himself to the bringing about of this result. He has always been optimistic enough to look upon the bright side, and, unlike the majority of old men, he still retains much of his youthful spirit and is popular with all who know him.

JONATHAN BOWMAN was born in the township in which he now resides, the date of his birth being December 13, 1821. His parents were Samuel and Mary M. (Klinger) Bowman. His father was probably born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, and in 1817, in company with two brothers, Jacob and John, and a sister, Mrs. Clark, he came to Stark county, Ohio. Here Samuel entered eighty acres of land in Osnaburg township, that is now owned by his son Isaac ; Jacob entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in Pike township, and John, after remaining in this county nearly a year returned to his home in Pennsylvania. Samuel Bowman resided upon this farm until his death, which occurred when he was in his seventy-fourth year. He was a Whig in politics and a Lutheran in religious belief. His wife was a native of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and survived her husband about seven years, dying at the age of about seventy-seven years. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom three now survive, Benjamin, a resident of Iowa ; Isaac, who resides on the old homestead, and the subject.

Jonathan Bowman was reared under the parental roof and secured his education in the common schools. The school facilities at that time were crude and scant in comparison with the splendid system in operation at the present day, but such as it was it was eagerly taken advantage of by the subject, who proved an apt pupil. This education has since been supplemented by a wide and liberal course of reading, covering a long line of topics, and a close observation of men and events, so that today there are in Osnaburg township but few better informed men than the subject. At the age of twenty-one years Mr. Bowman became apprenticed to the carpenter's trade and for some ten years followed that occupation, meeting with a fair degree of success. About 1850 Mr. Bowman settled upon the farm whereon he now resides and has since made that his home. This farm was formerly owned by his father-in-law, who died some two years before the subject's marriage.

On the 20th of October, 1850, Jonathan Bowman was united in marriage with Miss Eliza A. Kelly, the daughter of Colonel Richard Kelly, in his day one of the most prominent men in Stark county and at one time a candidate for the legislature on the Whig ticket. He came to Stark county from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, about 1819, buying the farm which is now the home of the subject, on which he resided until his death. He bore an honorable military record, having enlisted for service during the war of 1812 and rose to the rank of captain. To the subject and his wife have been born six children, four of whom survive, namely : Mary is the wife of Isaac Clapper, of Osnaburg; Sadie is the wife of Daniel Myers, of Osnaburg; John B., who is a teacher at Mt. Union College, this state, was for three years superintendent of the Northeast Ohio College at Canfield; Homer is a farmer and has charge of the home farm. In politics the subject is a stanch advocate of Republican principals, believing them to be the most conducive to the welfare of the American people. He possesses sound and well-founded convictions on all public questions and has the courage to express himself upon them when occasion requires. He takes a deep interest in educational matters and for fourteen years was a member of the school board, four years of the time being its president. Religiously he is identified with the Methodist Episcopal church and lends his support to all movements having for their object the welfare of the community and society at large.

JOHN D. FRANK is of the third .generation of the family in the United States, his grandfather, George Frank, having been born in the province of Alsace, France, now an integral portion of the German empire, whence he came tn America as a young man and located in Washington county. Pennsylvania, where he married and where he continued to reside until 180S, when he came as a pioneer to Stark county, Ohio, taking up a tract of heavily timbered land in Lake township, where he developed a good farm and became one of the

John Frank, father of the subject, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1806, and as a boy accompanied his parents on their removal to Stark county, being reared on the pioneer homestead in Lake township, while his educational advantages were such as were afforded in the common schools of the period. He was self-reliant and independent and gave manifestation to the possession of these attribute.^ by marrying against the wishes of his father, believing that this should be a matter for he himself to decide and having confidence in his ability to make his own way in the world. He accordingly was imited in marriage to Miss Margaret Thompson, daughter of John Thompson, who was of Scotch-Irish descent and who was one of the sterling pioneer farmers of Lake township, where his daughter was born and reared. After his marriage Mr. Frank located on a tract of land in Lake township and in course of time he reclaimed a valuable farm and became one of the substantial and representative citizens of that section of the county, where he commanded the high regard of all who knew him. He retired from the farm in i860 and took up his residence in the village of Uniontown, where he passed the remainder of his life, being summoned into eternal rest in 1886, at the age of eighty years. His first wife, mother of the subject, passed away in 1855, at the age of forty-seven years, having been a devoted member of the United Brethren church. She was survived by her six children, concerning whom we enter the following brief record : Keziah became the wife of George K. Bolander and she died in Michigan ; Lewis, deceased ; Isaac died in Lake township; Mary Ann, the wife of Ezra Harris, died in Medina county, Ohio; David T. is a resident of the city of Massillon, Stark county; John D. is the immediate subject of this sketch; and Milton F. is a resident of East Liverpool, Columbiana county. After the death of his first wife John Frank married Miss .Savilla J. Reynolds, of Springfield, Summit county, by whom he had one child, Elva, who is the wife of William F. .Shoner, of Uniontown. Mr. Frank was a Democrat in his political proclivities and his religious faith was that of the United Brethren church, of which he was a corisistent and valued member.

John D. Frank was born near the \'illage of Uniontown, Lake township, this county, on the 20th of June, 1847, ^"^ he early began to lend his quota in the work of the homestead farm, while his educational opportunities were above the average accorded to the farmer boy of the day, his father being fully appreciative of the value of discipline in this line, so tliat he did not deny his son such privileges as were in his power to offer. John D. attended the village school in Uniontown, later was a student in the academy at Greensburg, Summit county, and thereafter was matriculated in the Iron City Business College, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he was graduated at the age of eighteen years, being thus thoroughly equipped' for the practical duties of life. In May, 1864, when but seventeen years of age, Mr. Frank showed his intrinsic loyalty and patriotism by enlisting as a private in Company G, One Hundred and Sixty- second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for a *.erm of one hundred days. Colonel Ephraim Ball commanding the regiment. The company was raised at Osnaburg and Mapleton. The regiment was assigned to duty in Covington, Kentucky, doing guard duty, and after the expiration of his term of service, having received his honorable discharge, at Camp Chase, in September, 1864, Mr. Frank returned home and for a time assisted his brother, David T., who was at the time engaged in the grain business at Uniontown, and later he was employed as clerk in mercantile establislimeiits at Canaan, Wayne county, and in the city of Sandusky. In 1870 Mr. Frank entered the employ of the firm of Cutter & Howe, in Akron, Ohio, who were there engaged in the shoe business, and he remained with this concern about five years, within which time he gained a thorough knowledge of the business in all its details, while for a time he was a clerk in the shoe store of S. E. Phinney, in the same town. In 1877 he came to Canton and engaged in the shoe business on his own responsibility, his original quarters being one-half of his present store, on the east side of the public square, while the other half was occupied by Calvin and Alfred Herbruck, who were engaged in the jewelry business. Mr. Fi'ank's business rapidly expanded in scope and importance and he soon required the entire store in which he had fu^st located, while in 1889 he also added the store on East Tuscarawas street. His establishment is now one of the most metropolitan and well stocked shoe store in the county, and he caters to a large and representative patronage, being known as one of the reliable, progressive and publicspirited business men of the city, while the extent of his enterprise mdicates the personal esteem in which he is held in the community. In politics Mr. Frank gives his allegiance to the Republican party, and his religious faith is indicated by his holding membership in Trinity Lutheran church, of which Mrs. Frank is likewise a devoted adherent. Fraternally he is identified with McKinley Post No. 25, Grand Army of the Republic, and with the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In 1882 he erected his present commodious and attractive modern residence on North Market street, the same being one of the many beautiful homes of which Canton may well be proud.

where she was reared and educated, and of this union have been l;iorn five children, Nellie, Grace, Fred, Margaret and Katherine, all of whom remain at the parental home.

MICHAEL MOTTS was born in Germany on the i6th of February, 1S35, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Wingert) Motz. These parents had three children, all of whom survive, as follows : Jacob, of Paris township, this county, the subject, and Elizabeth, wife of John Zwahlen, of Louisville, this county. The father was born in Germany in 1803, was reared upon a farm "and in 1836 came to the United States, settling in Paris township, just north of Paris. He bought fifty-two acres of land, to which he added until he possessed one hundred and fifteen acres. Upon that place he lived the remainder of his days, dying at the age- of eighty-one years. His first wife, the mother of the subject, had passed away at the age of fifty-three years and he later married Mrs. Elizabeth Gugkeman. The latter had two children by her first husband, of whom one survives, Frank, of Paris township.

The subject was reared at home and was given the advantage of such schooling as was then available, but which at best was but limited. He was early inured to the hard toil incident to the life of a pioneer farmer and was taught the mysteries of successful agriculture. He followed farming as a vocation and after his marriage he purchased sixty acres of his present farm. Subsequently he bought additional tracts of fifty-five, forty-one and forty acres respectively, making an aggregate of one hundred and fifty-six acres. In 1881 Mr. Motts purchased the grist mill in Paris and, removing to the town, ran the mill for about four years. He was unfitted for this business, however, and lost about six thousand dollars in the venture. He finally disposed of the place to his sons and returned to the farm, where he has since remained. Mr. Motts was united in marriage February 27,. 1857, with Miss Mary Fahl, also a native of Germany. Her parents died in their native land and she came to America in company with a sister. To the subject and his wife were born nine children, seven of whom survive. They are briefly mentioned as follows : Eli lives in Cleveland ; David is a mill man at Paris, this county; Emanuel and John are residents of this township; William and Elizabeth are at home, the former conducting the home farm ; Rose is the wife of Edward Hay, of Canton.

In politics the subject is a firm and uncompromising Democrat, ever taking a keen and intelligent interest in the success of his party and keeping closely in touch with public questions. On national questions he votes in line with his party, but frequently in local elections he casts hi? ballot for those men whom, he considers best qualified for the offices sought. In religion he is affiliated with the Reformed church and endeavors to live a life in harmony with the teachings of the man of Nazareth. He is an energetic, industrious gentleman who ha'i made a success of life by his persistent efforts. His farm is well cared for, the soil having been enriched until it is one of the most productive and fertile in the township, no part of which is permitted to lie in idleness.

LAWRENCE ALEXANDER was born in the city of Dublin, in the year 181 5, where he was reared, availing himself of such educational advantages as were presented and early becoming dependent upon his own resources. He entered a woolen mill in his native city for the purpose of learning the trade, and was thus employed until about fifteen years of age, when he came to America, landing in the port of Boston, from which place he proceeded to Lowell, Massachusetts, where he soon found employment in one of the leading woolen mills of the place. He mastered the tiade in all details and continued to work in Lowell until 1835, when he came west to Ohio, locating in Steubenville, where he lemained a short interval, after which he came to Stark county, working in Massillon for a short time, and taking up his residence in the village of Waynesburg. He worked at his trade iluring his residence in these places and eventually accumulated a sufficient sum from his earnings to justify him in the purchase of a small woolen factory at Lexington, Stark county, where he carried on a successful business until the industrial prestige of the town began to wane, when he disposed of his interests there, and in 1857 came to Canton, where he established the Alexander Woolen Mills, which, under his management came to represent a prosperous industry, while he continued to be actively identified with the same until his death, which occurred in the year 1889, ?ince which time the enterprise has been continued under the same title.

In the city of Boston, Massachusetts, Mr. Alexander, in the year 1836, was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Fitzgerald, who was born in Dublin, Ireland, in i8t8, her mother, whose maiden name was Mary McCarty, having died shortly after the birth of Mrs. Alexander. In the year following that of her nativity her father, Richard Fitzgerald, brought her to the United States, his other two children remaining in the Emerald Isle. He located in Lowell, Massachusetts, and there Mrs. Alexander was reared to maturity, and there met him who was to be her companion on the journey of life. She survived her husband by a number of years, her death occurring in Canton, in 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander became the parents of twelve children, of whom three are living at the present time, all of whom reside in Canton.

priesthood of the Roman Catholic church, and entered upon the duties of his holy office as a member of the order of the Passionist Fathers, his title being that of Father Augustine. He was a young man of brilliant intellect and bade fair to live a long life of distinguished usefulness, but that inscrutable Providence whose ways are past finding out, ixmoved him in the bloom of j'oung manhood to another and better sphere. His remains were interred in the vault of St. Paul's monastery, in Pittsburg. Pennsylvania, with those of other consecrated members of his order, they will lie until the resurrection morn. Lawrence and Hannah (Fitzgerald) Alexander were devoted members of the Catholic church, and during their many years' residence in Canton were valued members of St. John's church. Mr. Alexander was an enterprising and broadminded business man, and one who ever commanded unequivocal confidence in the community, while he manifested his loyalty to the duties of citizenship by a deep interest in affairs of a local nature. During his residence in Lexington he served for six years as a member of the board of county commisisoners, and for some time he >vas a member of the Canton board of health, ind also board of education. He . also held membership on the board which had charge of the poor fund of the Hartford estate, through which provision is made for the care of the indigent of Canton, and in many other capacities he proved his usefulness as a citizen and his sterling worth as a man among men. Earnest in all he attempted, he carried to successful issue the enterprises to which he gave his attention, whHe his social qualities made him popular among all classes of persons. He was a fine type of the intelligent, large-hearted and progressive business men of the day, and he impressed himself upon the various communities in which he lived, while he left to his descendants the most valuable of all heritages, an honored name. A life-long Democrat in policies, he supported the principles of this party with earnestness but never was a seeker of pubfic office, notwithstanding the fact that he was called upon at various times to serve in positions of trust and responsibility in this line. Mr. Alexander died in 1883.

GEORGE RANK. - The Rank family is of stanch German origin, the original orthography of the name having been Reinke. The first representatives of the family in America emigrated from the fatherland in the colonial epoch of our history and took up their abode in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, so that the name has been identified with pioneer annals in more than one generation, while it has ever^ stood exponent of lofty integrity, well directed industry and distinctive loyalty and patriotism. George Rank, whose name initiates this review, was born in Canton township, in May, 18 10, being a son of Abraham and Susan (Wertenberger) Rank, who took up their abode in Canton in 1807, so that the entire life of the subject was passed in this county. It may be consistently noted in the connection that the celebrated German historian, Reinke, was of the same lineage as he of whom he write, the family having been one of distinction in Germany for many generations.

Abraham Rank, grandfather of the subject, was born in Reading, Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, where he was reared to maturity and where he learned the carpenter trade, becoming a fine mechanic, and this he there followed, in connection with agricultural pursuits, until the time of his removal to Ohio. As he came from the productive districts of the old Keystone state he was naturally prejudiced against the level land or plains in the vicinity of Canton, and thus secured a wooded tract, his dictum being that land which would not produce timber would not produce wheat. He became the owner of about fifty acres of land in the imme- diate vicinity of Canton, a portion of the city beings located on the same, and he reclaimed his farm to cultivation, having that energy and thriftfulness so typical of the Pennsylvania farmers of German type from the early days to the present time. He erected the first log cabin on the meadow to the east of the little pioneer village of Canton and neat natural springs, the same being constructed of round logs and having two rooms. Later he built another house, two hundred feet distant from his original cabin, and in building the new residence he utilized hewed logs, while it was located on higher ground. Here he dug a well, which he eventually equipped with a pump, Avhich constituted a marked event in the family affairs and the history of the neighborhood, since so modern a facility was very unusual in the locality at that time. The family were devoted members of the Lutheran church, and in the primitive pioneer home was reared the famil)' altar and the daily worship was never neglected, divine guidance being asked in connection with all labors and duties. Abraham Rank was an old-line Whig in his political proclivities and was a man of decided opinion but never intolerant or arbitrary. He died on his homestead farm December 15, 1851, at the age of seventy-three years, and his loved companion did not long survive him, her death occurring on October 25th of the following year, at the age of sixty-seven. His wife's maiden name was Susan Wertenberger and she was a woman of fine presence and noble attriluites of character. They endured the privations and hardships of pioneer life but were ever sustained and encouraged by mutual love and sympathy, theirs being the faith that makes faithful. Abraliani and Susan Rank became the parents of eleven children, concerning whom we are able to offer the following brief data: Nancy, who became the wife of Rev. Benjamin Faust, died in Canton ; Betsey, the wife of Jonas Weidner, died in Marlborough township, this county; Salome, the wife of Samuel Essig, died in Canton township; Magdalena, who never married, is deceased; Susan, the wife of George Schweir, died in Perry township: Lydia, the wife of Peter Sell, who died in Canton; Kate, the wife of Eli .Sipes, died in Canton ; George was the father of the subject of this memoir; John married Elizabetli Hull and his death occurred in Canton township; AJary, the wife of John J. Trump, (lied in Canton; Abraham, who married Mary Rahn, likewise died in this city.

George Rank was born on the old homestead farm, in Canton township, in May, 1810, and here his death occurreil on the 17th of June, iS/"^. Tic was for many years prominently engaged in the work of his trade, that of carpenter and cabinetmaker, and he erected the Monitor block, which he utilized as a sash, door and blind factory, having purchased twothirds of the block where the city library is now being built, in 1858, for "one thousand dollars. He became one of the most prominent and influential business men of Canton, commanding unequivocal confidence and esteem in the community and being called upon to serve in ofifices of public trust and responsibility. He was for a number of years incumbent of the office of township trustee and was also a valued and efficent member of the city council. In politics he was a stalwart advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and during the Civil war he ardently upheld the cause of the Union, having on more than one occasion stripped his shop of lumber, which he utilized in setting up temporary tables upon which he set forth food for the volunteers assembled in the city. He was reared to the strenuous life of the pioneer farm and early began to lend his aid in its reclamation and cultivation, while for his educational discipline he was indebted to the primitive district school, which he attended during

On the 20th of May, 1S30, George Rank was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Emich, wlio was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, on the 15th of September, 181 1, and who came to Canton with her parents in 181 5. She was a daughter of George and Dorothy (Smith) Emich, both of whom were born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, and Mr. Emich was a man of means at the time of his emigration to Stark county. Here he took up a tract of land and turned his attention to farming, becoming one of the influential citizens of the pioneer community. His wife died about 1825, and he thereafter passed his time in the homes of his children, his death having occurred at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Kimmel, in Waynesburg. Mrs. Henrietta Rank died at her home, 534 West Seventh street, Canton, on the 24th of April, 1901, at the venerable age of nearly ninety years, her death resulting from the infirmities incidental to advanced age, while she was one of the few remaining representatives of the pioneer epoch in the history of the county, loved for her gracious womanhood and her unvarying kindliness in all the relations of life. At the time of her death a local publication spoke of her as follows : "Pier life for many years was typical of the epoch in which she lived, and with a memory that never failed she could entertain her grandchildren and their children with reminiscences of a wild country, long walks to school - a part of the time to the old academy where the central high school now stands - when her path often showed the footprints of wolves and Indians. She was familiar with the flax field, the raw wool, the spinning wheel, the old-tirrje fulling mill and the loom, from all of which the needs of life called for industry and self-sacrificing patience."

came the parents of eleven children, concerning whom we offer brief record, as follows: Jefferson, who was born in 1831, and who served four months during the Civil war as a member of the One Hundred and Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, married Amanda Hilderbiddle and he died in Canton in 1875 ; William, the next in order of birth, is individually mentioned in appending paragraphs; Adalinc is the widow of O. J. Hardgrove, of Canton; Amos, who married Rebecca Wright, resides near Chattanooga, Tennessee; Sarah is the widow of Dr. J. H. Estep, of Canton ; Amanda is the wife of L. E. Hake, of this city; John, who married Martha Wright, is likewise a native of Canton; Ellen is the wife of L. P. Farnham, of Canton; Mary is the widow of J. F. Johnston, of this city; Orlando, a resident of Canton, was first married to Rebecca Ewart and after her death to Alice Krider; and Ada is the wife of F. F. I'rimble, a prominent citizen, of Salem, Ohio.

William Rank was born on the old homestead farm in Canton township, on the 20th of September, 1832. Plis first educational discipline was received in the school house located on East Tuscarawas street, and his instructor was Philip Everhard, while later he conned his lessons under the guidance of Hon. B. F. Lester, who eventually was chosen to represent this district in the halls of congress. Mr. Rank's early schooling comprised an attendance of about two months in each year, this being in accord with the laws of the state, while it was also the custom at that time for the average youth to learn a trade. ATr. Rank completed his specific educational work in the old Union school, on West Tuscarawas street, under Prof. Ira M. Allen, and he was eighteen years of age when he left school to devote his undivided attention to the practical duties of life. At the age of fifteen he began an apprenticeship at the carpenter trade, under the effective direction of his father, who was for many years, in connec- tion with his other business enterprises, the leading undertaker in this section, and from his boyhood days William Rank assisted in this special department of his father's business. After leaving school, having a disinclination for carpenter work, he turned his attention to ornamental painting, and at the age of nineteen he went to the city of Cleveland, where he engaged in sign painting, while later he followed the same line of work in various other cities and towns of the state, being recognized as an expert workman and having distinctive artistic taste in the connection, so that he found a ready -demand for his services. In the summer of 1855, through t!ie interposition of a representative mercantile firm in Alassillon, he was enabled to establish himself in the furniture business in Canton, conducting a branch establishment here for one year, after which he resumed the trade of painter. In 1859 he returned to Canton and assumed the position of foreman in the painting department of the C. Aultnian Company, and he contiinied to be thus identified with this great manufactvn-ing concern for the long period of tliirty-one years.

At the time of the Rebellion Mr. Rank tendered his services in defense of the Union, enlisting as a member of Company B, One Hundred and Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantrv, which was recruited in Canton and vicinity, and he was made first sergeant of his company, in which capacity he served until the close of his term of four months, receiving his honorable discharge, at Camp Chase, in Columbus, on the 4th of September, 1864, aftei; which he resumed iiis duties in the .A.ultman works. In April, iS8q, Mr. Rank was elected to the office of secretary and superintendent of the Canton Cemetery Association, in which capacitv he has ever since continued to render efficient and discriminating service, the duties involved demanding ])ractically bis entire time and attention. In politics, while without personal' ambition for office of any sort, he ha.s accorded a stanch support to the Republican party from the time of its organization, his first presidential vote having been cast for John C. Fremont for the presidency, in 1856. He was a charter member of the first post of the Grand Army of the Republic organized in Canton.

On the 19th of January, i860, was solemnized the marriage of William Rank to Miss Mary ]\I. Chilson, who was born in Conneaut, Ohio, in 1837, a daughter of Abel and Mary (Gould) Chilson, the Chilson family having come from Virginia and the Goulds from Connecticut.. Mr. and Mrs. Rank have one child, Warren A., who was born in Canton, on the 28th of January, 1S61, and who was educated in the public schools of his native city, being graduated in the high school when eighteen years of age. After leaving school he secured employment in the machine shops of the Aultman Company, where he remained until 1881, when he accepted a similar position in the city of Cleveland, wdiere he remained nine months, during which interval he completed a commercial course in a night school. In 1882 he returned to Canton and here took a position in the advertising department of the Aidtman Company, later being assigned to the shipping department and finally being promoted to the office of collector for the company. He .served his connection with this concern in 1888 and in tlie following year became a clerk in the census office in Washington, D. C, retaining this incumbency until 1894, and passing the following two and one-half years in Canton, after which lie returned to Washington, in 1896, where he continucf] in goxcrnment employ, in a clerical capacity, until June, 1902. In the national capitol, in 1891, Warren A. Rank was united in marriage to Miss Minnie M. Clinton, daughter of Jesse and Helen M. Clinton, anil a lineal descendant of DeWitt Clinton, at one time governor of New York and known in his-

ADAM LOTZ is descended from German parentage, his father lieing Peter H. Lotz, who was born in 1780, and his mother's maiden name being Elizabeth Nets, both of whom were born in Prussia, Germany. Peter Lotz was reared upon a farm in his native country, and when twenty-one years of age came to America with his mother, brother and two sisters. His future wife was also in the party, and as they were all too poor to pay tlieir ocean passage in advance they were, upon their arrival in this country, bound out for three years to pay for their passage. They first settled in Wilmington, Delaware, but in 1803, shortly after their marriage, they removed to Washington county, Pennsylvania, where they resided until 1 8 18, when . they came to Stark county, Ohio, where they made their home, became well known and well liked people, and there died at advanced ages, the father at ninetythree years and the mother at eighty-eight. They were the parents of fourteen children, of whom but three survive: Elizabeth, the widow of Daniel Allen, of Carroll county, Olho; Maria, the wife of John Pottorff, of Columbiana county, Ohio, and the subject. The father had entered eighty acres of land upon locating in Ohio, in what was then Stark county, it later being made a part of Carroll county. and had later by purchase added to this until he had in his possession one hundred and seven acres. He -was an active Democrat in politics, and in religion a member of the Reformed church. He was an entei prising and progressive man, and one highly esteemed by all who knew him. For a number of years he conducted a saw mill upon his farm.

January, 1S16, and his youthful years were passed under the parental roof. liis education was somewhat limited, -having been sucli as was obtainable in the old-fashioned pioneer log school houses of that early day. These schools were crude in the extreme when compared with those of the present day, and the subject well remembers the old slab benches and the greased-paper windows. But these were the best facilities that could be provided at that time, and of these the subject took full advantage. After his m.arriage, in 1842, Mr. Lotz settled on a farm of one hundred and ten acres in Carroll county, which he had purchased a long time previously. In 1867 he disposed of this place and purcha.sed his present farm, consisting of two hundred and forty acres in Osnaburg township, where he has since resided. Mr. Lotz has all his life been a hard workingman. For some years prior to his marriage he worked at the carpenter's trade, and he was also employed for five years in clearing land, about the hardest toil imaginable. He received the first three crops off his land as his pay, and this largely enabled him to make the payments on his first purchase of land.

In 1842 Mr. Lotz was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Hanck, a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, who died .\prit 5, 1898. .She was of foreign ancestry, her parents having come to this country from Wurtemburg, Germany. This union was a most happy and congenial one, and was blessed by the birth of fifteen children, thirteen of whom survive, as follows: Simon Z., a carpenter of Canton, Ohio; Alpheus J., of Labette county, Kansas; Reuben, of Carroll county, Ohio: Elizabeth A., the wife of John Ritz, a blacksmith of Canton; Margaret J., Belinda C. and Willis W. are at home; Maretta I. is the wife of Frank Shirk, of Canton ; Alvin K. is a farmer of Osnalwrg township ; Alvina L. married John P. Richen, and lives in Canton; Flora I. is the wife of Frank Henning, of this town-

Pohtically the principles of the subject are those embodied in the platform of the Democratic party, and he has for many years taken a keen and intelligent interest m the trend of public events. He has done much active campaign work for his party, though he has never been an office seeker, lie was, however, at one time elected to the office of township trustee, the duties of which he discharged efficiently for several years. Religiously he is a member of the Reformed church, and has lived a life strictly in accordance with the teachings of that society.

JAMES C. BURNHEIMER, as the name implies, is of German descent, although his family has been represented in America for many years, his great-grandfather emigrating from old country and settling in Pennsylvania at an early period in our national history. Samuel Burnheimer, the subject's grandfather, was born and reared to manhood in tiie Keystone state, and there married a lady of the name of Bechtel, whose ancestors also came from the Fatherland. Shortly after his marriage he moved to Stark county, Ohio, settling in Pike township, but later changed his abode to Indiana, in which state he lived for several years. Returning to the county of Stark at the request of his son, he spent some years here, but afterwards went back to Indiana, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying there in 1897 at the advanced age of eighty. His wife died in Stark county in the year 1880.

John Burnheimer, father of the subject, was born in Pike township, this county, and in early manhood worked at various occupations, finally turning his attention to agricultural pursuits. He married, in his native township. Miss Margaret Carnes, and later purchased the old Henry Keety farm, one of the first settled places in the township. Mrs. Burnheimer died on this place at the early age of thirty-seven years, and Mr. Burnheimer subsequently married the widow of John Briggle, of Sparta. Moving from his farm to Sparta, he remained in that town until 1886, when he emigrated west, locating at Breckenridge, Colorado, where for sevral years he was engaged in mining and dealing in live stock. Subsequently he moved to Oregon, in which state his death occurred on the isth of October, 1896, his wife dying there in the year 1900. By his first marriage John Burnheimer was the father of children as follows: Flora, deceased, married John Muckley; Ida, wife of D. S. Van Vorhis, of Van Wert, Ohio; James C, of this review; Maggie, now Mrs. Robert Foote, of Colorado; and Cora, who married Peter Cummins, also a resident of the latter state. Two children resulted from the second union: Edward, who died at the age of four years, and Charles.

The birth of James C. Burnheimer occurred in Pike township. Stark county, Ohio, on the 9th of May, 1862, and he received his early educational discipline in the village of Battlesbtn-g. He attended school in the winter time until the death of his mother, after which he started in the world to make his own living, spending the first three years as a farm laborer. Realizing that the future held out little promise to one who depended upon poorly remunerative labor as a tiller of the soil for others, he took up the carpenter's trade, and being naturally skillful in the use of tools it was not long until he became an efficient workman at liberal wages. In the year 1880 Mr. Burnheimer was married, in Sparta, to Laura, daughter of James Sanford, and shortly thereafter took up his residence in Mineral City, where he soon found remunerative employment at his trade. During the greater part of the ten years following he was in the employ of the Valley Railroad as a bridge builder, later devoting his attention to contracting and building at that town and elsewhere, meeting with good success in his undertakings. In the year 18S7 he moved to Canton, and from that date to the present time he has been actively plying his trade, taking numerous large contracts for buildings in this city and other structures in different parts of the country.

Mr. Burnheimer is a master workman, as is attested by his workmanship on the many buildings which today stand as monuments to his efficiency and skill. He was early thrown upon his own resources, but has succeeded in spite of the many obstacles in his way, occupying a conspicuous position at this time among the leading contractors and builders in this part of the state. As a citizen he is respected by the people of Canton, and in industrial circles he has long been an influential factor, being one of the leaders in his own craft besides taking an active interest in behalf of organized labor of wliatever name or character so it is honorable. In politics he is a staunch Republican, and ever since old enough to cast a ballot he has earnestly defended the soundness of his principles and labored zealously for the party's success. In November, 1902, he was elected for the important office of county commissioner on the Republican ticket by a majority of twenty-four hundred, having previously served two terms on the board of education of the city of Canton.

For a number of years past Mr. Burnheimer "has been prominently identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in its several departments, joining the fraternity in 1883. Fle has held high official stations in the subordinate lodge, encampment and Rebekah degree, in addition to which he is also a member of the Order of Eagles, belonging to Society No. 143. He has pronounced religious views, and is a firm believer in Christianity, belonging, with his wife, to the Simpson Methodist

Episcopal church of Canton. Mr. Burnheimer is a gentleman of progressive ideas and in many ways has done much to elevate his fellow workmen and improve their social and moral condition, assisting to the extent of his influence and ability all enterprises with these objects in view. The pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Burnheimer is brightened by the presence of two children, a son and daughter whose names are Blanche L. and Dennis M.

LEONARD M. LEAS was born in Osnaburg township. Stark county, Ohio, on the 14th of January, 1846, being a son of Jacob and Maria (Strayer) Leas, of whose nine children six are living at the present time, namelv: Leonard M.. who is the immediate subject of this sketch ; Lucy, who is the widow of J. S. Bissell, of Wooster, Ohio; Elizabeth, who is the widow of William Montgomery, and resides in Osnaburg tov\ nship ; Margaret, who is the wife of Isaac N. Kinney, a hardware merchant in Wooster, this state; Josephine, who is the wife of Joseph Firestone, who is identified with the Columbus Buggy Company, in the capital city of the state; and Alice, who is the wife of W. S. Earseman, a successful member of the Stark county bar, residing in the village of Louisville. The father of the subject was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, in the year 181 7, which date is significant as indicating how early was the period at which the name became identified with the annals of the Buckeye commonwealth. He was a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Zimmerman) Leas, and he was reared on the old homestead farm and received a common-school education. After his marriage, which occurred about the year 1840, he came with his bride to Stark county, and located on the farm now owned by his daughter, Elizabeth, Mrs. Montgomery, one-half mile north of the village of Osnaburg, the land having been previously entered from the govern- ment by his grandfather, John Leas, who came here in an early day, and secured this property and also the farm now owned by the American Fire Proofing Company. He placed his son John on the first farm and his son Leonard on the second, but the former pro-\-ed tinsuccessful in the connection, and his father then sold the farm to his son Jacob, grandfather of the subject, and from him it came to the father of our subject. John Leas, the original representative of the family in this section of the state, after securing the two farms in Stark county, passed on through Carroll count)' and thence to Jefferson county, where he acquired extensive tracts of land. His son Jacob located in that county, and also a sonin-law in the immediate vicinity, and they all became prominent in the pioneer community. The son Leonard later removed to Carroll county, where he located on a farm and where he also conducted a tannery. The father of our subject boarded with his cousin John for about eighteen months after coming to Stark county on the first occasion, and then returned to Jefferson county and married, after which he came again to Stark county, and with his bride located in a small log cabin on his farm, W'hich was practically a virgin forest at the time. He set to himself the task of reclaiming the land to cultivation, and was successful in his efforts, eventually becoming one of the representative farmers of the county and retaining the high regard of all who knew him. Here he passed the residue of his life, his declining years being spent in the home of his son, the subject of this review, and his death occurring on the 30th of May, 1900. He was a stanch supporter of the Republican party, but never sought the honors or emoluments of public office. He was a member of the Lutheran church, having been active in its work and having been an officer in the same for a long term of vears. His wife was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, in August, 182 1, being a daughter of Samuel Strayer, who was a prominent farmer and teamster in that county for manyyears, doing a large freighting busi'ness to Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburg and other eastern points in the pioneer days, while he wielded a large influence in his section, his death occurring in Jefferson county when he was well advanced in years. The mother of the subject was summoned into eternal rest on the 20th of March, 1885.

Leonard M. Leas was reared on the old homestead farm on which he was born, and after completing the curriculum of the district schools became a student in Mount Union College, where he completed his literary education. In 1867 he went to Waterloo, DeKalb county, Indiana, where he was for two years employed in a drug store, after which he purchased a half interest in a livery business in that city, the same being conducted imder the firm name of Leas, Zwilling & Company, and while he was thus concerned he was employed in the dry-goods store of his partner to offset the latter's work in connection with the livery. The enterprise, however, proved a financial failure, and after a period of three years had elapsed Mr. Leas disposed of his interest in the same and returned to Stark county, where he had charge of the home farm for the ensuing three years, after which he passed a similar period on other farms in the vicinity, renting the same, while during this interval he also did a quite extensive business in the buying, feeding and shipping of live stock, in which connection his energetic and discriminating efforts were attended with marked success. In 1873 ^""^ P'-"'- chased his present home farm, which is located in sections 5 and 8, Osnaburg township, the same comprising seventy-eight and one-half acres. During the financial panic which followed matters did not present a flattering outlook to Mr. Leas, but by working assiduously- and with characteristic sagacity and energy he kept forging forward and finally developed one of the valuable farm properties of the county and attained a position of independence and definite prosperity. He has erected substantial and attractive farm buildings and kept the soil of his farm up to the highest state of productivity, and today he is referred to as one of the model farmers of this section. He still continues to devote much attention to ytock-growing, and not only feeds the major portion of the products of his own farm but also purchases much grain from outside sources, making this department of his farming enterpiise a source of excellent revenue. In politics Mr. Leas upholds the principles of the Democratic party, but is liberal in his views and is not insistently partisan in public affairs of a local nature. He is a consistent and valued member of the Lutheran church, as is also his wife, and fraternally he is identified with Osnaburg Grange, Patrons of Husbandry.

On the 5th of March, 1871, Mr. Leas was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Farr. who was born in Orleans county. New York, being a daughter of Chesterl Farr, who died six months after his removal to Kansas, his Vvidow later removing to Waterloo, Indiana, where our subject formed the acquaintanceship of the family, and Mis. Farr later removed to Bryan, Ohio, where she was residing at the time of Mr. Leas" marriage to her daughter. I'o Air and Mrs. Leas have been born three children. namely : Alberta, w ho is the wife of I^^ee Housley, of Canton, this county ; Lucy, who is a student of osteopathy, in DesMoines, Iowa, and who was a companion to Mrs. Angel, wife of a well-known attorne}- of the city of Cleveland, on a European lour in 1898, Mr. Angel later starting to join them and meeting death on the ill-fated steamer, "La Burgoyne," which went to the bottom, entailing the loss of nearly six hundred lives; and Elizabeth, the third daughter, remains at the parental home.

CHARLES F. NARWOLD is a native son of the Buckeye state, having been born in the city of Cincinnati, on tlie 28th of August, 1867, and having been there reared to maturity. He began the battle of life on his own responsibility at an early age, having attended the public schools until he was fourteen years old, and having thereafter been variously employed until he had attained the age of sixteen years, when he began an apprenticeship at the trade of confectioner, learning the same thoroughly in all details.. With this line of industry he has ever since been consecutively identified, and through the same he has gained definite success and precedence as a business man. In i8gi he came to Canton from Cincinnati, and here engaged in the confectionery business on a modest scale, at the corner of Fifth and Cherry streets, utilizing rooms in the basement of the Flickering block. The superior character of his products as conjoined with his energetic and enterprising methods brought about a rapi^i expansion in his trade, and he was soon compelled to seek more commodious quarters. In 1892 he purchased a building on Mahoning street, and there he continued operations until 1898, when he purchased his present commodious and eligible headquarters, where he has the best of facilities for the manufacturing of high-grade confections, and from which he transacts a large and important business, his trade extending throughout the wide area of country naturally tributary to Canton as a wholesale center, while the products of the establishment have attained the highest popularity wherever introduced. In i8go Frederick Narwold. a brother of the subject, became associated with the enterprise, but was later succeeded by C. C. Palmer, who withdrew from the business in 1894, at which time Frederick Narwold again became associated with the business, though he was not a partner in the same until April, 1902, when the business was incorporated under the title of

C. F. Narwold & Company, the interested individuals being Charles F. and Frederick Narwold; John F. Diebel, \\ho had formerly been bookkeeper for the concern ; and Jacob Hawk, of Bolivar. The Messrs. Narwold are both stanch supporters of the Republican party, and both are valued members of the First Reformed church, in Canton. Fraternally the subject is prominently identified with the Woodmen of the World, the Knights of Pythias and the United Commercial Travelers.

In the city of Canton, on the i6th of September, 1 89 1, Mr. Narwold was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Lammers, who was born in Cincinnati, being a daughter of Frederick Lammers, of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Narwold have had four children, namely : Carl, Lewis, Alfred and Marion, the last named having died in infancy. Frederick Narwold, the brother of the subject, was born in Cincinnati, on the 14th of May, 1870, and he married Miss Matilda Beneker, of Cincinnati, where, like his brother, he has gained a i eputation of being an able and straightforward young business man. Their parents, Richard and Louisa Narwold, were born in Germany, and both still retain their residence in Cincinnati, where they located soon after coming to America.

JAMES A. SAXTON was born in Canton May I, 1812, in the old family home, a brick house which stood in a part of the present site of the McKinley Hotel, on South Market street. He was the son of John and Margaret (Laird) Saxton. He received his early education in the village schools, having for his classmates a number of lads who, like himself, afterwards Ijecame prominent in the affairs of the city, county and stat^. His early training was such as to foster habits of industry and self-reliance, as is attested by the fact of his having engaged in business for himself at the age of eighteen.

when he opened a hardware store in a building which stood on part of the present court house site, adjoining what was formerly known as Laird's Tannery. After conducting this line of trade for some years with liberal financial profits, he founded the Stark County Bank, of which he was made president, and which under his efficient management became one of the most successful and popular institutions of the kind in the eastern part of Ohio. ~Slr. Saxton devoted much attention to the study of monetary questions and became familiar with every phase of finance, theoretical and practical, and continued at the head of the above bank for a number of years, during which his reputation as a sound, conservative and eminently honorable business man added greatly to the standing of the institution in the financial circles of the state. Subsequently Mr. Saxton retired from the bank and went to New York, where, in addition to other business enterprises, he settled up the estate of his old friend and former partner, Mr. Schweitzer, who for a number of years had conducted a large hardware house in the city of New York. After satisfactorily adjusting the affairs of this important undertaking he returned to Canton, where he spent the remainder of his days, having by diligent attention to business during a long and active career, acquired an ample competence, which enabled him to pass his closing years in the enjoyment of the fruits of his well directed toil. Mr. Saxton was a man of mark in the business and social circles of Canton, and his life, eminently honorable and upright, was crowned with useful labors and efficient service. During his active years there were few enterprises or movements appealing to public spirit in which he was not a conspicuous, constant and worthy co-laborer. He was originally a Whig in politics, later became a Republican, and while always zealous in upholding the principles of his party and untiring in his efforts to promote its success, he never aspired to of-