A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume II, Part 1

Author: Orth, Samuel Peter, 1873-1922; Clarke, S.J., publishing company
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago-Cleveland : The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume II > Part 1

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Gc 977.102 C590 v.2 1214043

M. L

GENEALOGY COLLECTION

SEN

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02279 7820

Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016

https://archive.org/details/historyofclevela02orth

A HISTORY

CLEVELAND,

OHIO

BIOGRAPHICAL

ILLUSTRATED

VOLUME II.

CHICAGO-CLEVELAND THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING CO. 1910

1214043

JAMES BARNETT

BIOGRAPHICAL

GENERAL JAMES BARNETT.

An enumeration of those men of the present generation who have won honor and public recognition for themselves and at the same time have honored the state to which they belong would be incomplete were there failure to make promi- nent reference to the one whose name initiates this paragraph. He holds dis- tinctive precedence as a leading banker and merchant of Cleveland and as a valiant and patriotic soldier, who in every relation of life has borne himself with such signal dignity and honor as to gain him the respect of all. He has been and is distinctively a man of affairs and one who has yielded a wide influence. At the present time his relation to the public life of the city is that of director of the First National Bank and of president of the extensive hardware business con- ducted under the name of The George Worthington Company.

General Barnett was born June 20, 1821, at Cherry Valley, New York. His father, Melancthon Barnett, was born in Amenia, Dutchess county, New York, in 1789, and when six years of age was taken, with others of the family, to Oneida county, New York, where he remained until 1812. He then located at New Hart- ford, near Utica, New York, where for two years he was engaged as a clerk in a general store. From there he went to Cherry Valley, Otsego county, where he followed merchandising in connection with a partner until 1825. In the latter year he removed with his family to Cleveland to accept a clerkship in a store just opened by a Mr. May. Later he was admitted to a partnership under the firm style of May & Barnett, which existed until 1834, when they closed out their mercantile interests and began dealing in real-estate, continuing in that line very successfully for many years. In 1844 Mr. Barnett was elected a member of the city council and the same year was elected treasurer of Cuyahoga county and proved himself to be a most capable and scrupulously honest official. He was elected in 1846 and again in 1848. The duties not occupying his entire time, he also filled the office of justice of peace and conducted his real-estate transactions. Almost immediately after leaving the office of county treasurer he was elected a director of the City Bank and from that time until, his death took a prominent part in the affairs of that institution. He was one of the best known citizens of Cleveland in his day. Plain in manner, he made no pretense at display and de- tested sham and trickery. The wisdom of his counsel in business circles was highly regarded. A man of wonderful vitality and vigor, he lived to the advanced age of more than ninety-two years and at his death was as active as most men twenty years his junior. His death occurred July 1, 1881. At Cherry Valley, New York, on the 18th of May, 1815, he had married Miss Mary Clark, a daugh- ter of Captain Clark, who participated in the battle of Bunker Hill and other en- gagements of the Revolutionary war, so that General Barnett came to his mem- bership with the Sons of the American Revolution. The death of Mrs. Mary Barnett occurred April 21, 1840. By her marriage she became the mother of five children: William Augustus, Martha, Melancthon, Mary and James, but only William A. and James lived to adult age.

HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

The youthful days of General Barnett were spent in Cleveland, which at the time of his arrival contained a population of about seven hundred. He was then four years of age. In due course of time he entered the public schools, where he pursued his education, and when he put aside his text-books his activities and ener- gies were directed to the accomplishment of such tasks as were assigned him in the hardware store of Potter & Clark, where he was employed for three years. On the expiration of that period he entered the employ of George Worthington, owner of a hardware store of this city, and through gradual stages of promotion worked his way upward until he was admitted to a partnership under the firm style of George Worthington & Company. The business grew and expanded with the growth of the city and he was elected president after the incorporation a few years ago. The death of Mr. Worthington made him senior partner of the firm, of which he is now president.

His military record forms an interesting chapter in his history and he is today one of the oldest representatives of the militia. Having become a member of the Cleveland Grays, he was detailed to artillery service in the gun squad of the com- pany in 1839 and served in that capacity until the formation of the Cleveland Light Artillery. He was promoted from time to time until, in 1859, he was com- missioned colonel of the regiment. The previous year he had been appointed division inspector of the Fourth Division, Ohio Volunteer Militia. Five days after the fall of Fort Sumter the order came from Governor Dennison: "Report with your six guns, horses, caissons at Columbus; you to retain colonel's rank." Colonel Barnett lost no time in obeying the command and with his troops went to Marietta, Ohio, remaining at the post there until May, when they were ordered to West Virginia and participated in the battle of Philippi, June 3, 1861, their guns firing the first artillery shots on the Union side in the great Civil war. A contem- porary biographer, in speaking of General Barnett's service in defense of the Union, said : "He and his men were at Laurel Hill, June 7th, through the West Virginia campaign July 6th to 17th, which included Belington, July 8th, Carrick's Ford, July 13th and 14th, and the pursuit of Garnett's forces July 15th and 16th. The three months' term of service having expired, the command was ordered to Columbus, Ohio, for muster out late in July. Upon returning to Cleveland the command was received with highest honors and the city council unanimously ten- dered General Barnett and his men a testimonial vote of thanks for their gallant services.

"In August, 1861, General Barnett was commissioned by Governor Dennison to raise a regiment of light artillery, twelve batteries of six guns each, and he at once began the work of recruiting and equipping. Upon the organization of the regiment he was commissioned its colonel, September 3, 1861. He reported to General Buell, commanding the Army of the Ohio at Louisville, with four bat- teries, in January, 1862, and was assigned to the command of the Artillery Re- serve, Army of the Ohio. He participated in the movement to Nashville, Ten- nessee, February 17, 1862, and in the occupation of that city a month later. He was at Duck River, March 16th to 21st, and was thence sent to Savannah, Ten- nessee, to reinforce the Army of the Tennessee. With his command he was en- gaged in the terrific battle of Shiloh, April 6th and 7th, and participated in the siege and occupation of Corinth. He then marched his command to Tuscumbia, Florence and Huntsville, Alabama, in June, 1862.

"On July 18, 1862, General Barnett was ordered to Ohio to recruit men for the batteries, which had become much depleted. Returning with four hundred and four recruits, he was assigned to the staff of General C. C. Gilbert, com- manding the Third Corps, Army of the Ohio, as chief of artillery. He was en- gaged in the pursuit of Bragg to Crab Orchard, Kentucky, October Ist to 15th, and in the battle of Perryville. After this battle he was appointed chief of artil- lery on the staff of General A. McD. McCook, commanding the right wing, Four- teenth Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, until assigned to duty as chief of artillery, Army of the Cumberland, November 24, 1862. He then participated in

HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

the Murfreesboro campaign, serving also as chief of ordinance, and was in the great battle of Stone River, December 28th to 30th, and of Murfreesboro, De- cember 31, 1862, and January Ist, 2d and 3d, 1863. Then came the Tullahoma campaign, the Chattanooga campaign, the battles of Chattanooga, Orchard Knob, and Missionary Ridge, in all of which General Barnett served with bravery and distinction. For his gallant and efficient conduct in these actions he received spe- cial commendation from General Rosecrans. General Thomas, General Rose- crans' successor, also held him in high esteem and placed implicit confidence in his military skill, judgment and bravery.

"At the close of these operations he was assigned to the command of the Re- serve Artillery, Army of the Cumberland, requiring organization. He organ- ized two divisions and was engaged in this duty at Nashville until mustered out of service October 20, 1864. He then became a volunteer aid-de-camp to Gen- eral George H. Thomas and participated in the battle of Nashville in November and December of that year. On March 13, 1865, he was brevetted brigadier gen- eral 'for gallant and meritorious service during the war.'"

When General Barnett returned home he again became an active partner in the hardware house of George Worthington & Company and contributed largely to its success through his capable management and unflagging industry. This remains as one of the oldest and most important commercial enterprises of the city and his name was therefore a prominent factor in the wholesale hardware trade here. His resourceful ability also enabled him to carry his efforts into other fields, so that he became prominently connected with iron manufacturing interests and also with banking. In 1872 he was elected a director of the First National Bank and in January, 1876, was chosen to the presidency of that important finan- cial institution, which position he retained until May, 1905, when the bank was reorganized and he withdrew, continuing as a director. In May, 1882, he became a member of the board of directors of the Merchants National Bank. He was also identified with railway interests, having in March, 1875, been elected a di- rector of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railway Company. He was also a director of the Cleveland Iron Mining Company until a few years ago. He is now vice president of the Society for Savings; president of the Gar- field National Memorial Association ; and a director of the National Commercial Bank, upon consolidation with the Merchants National Bank, and of the Guar- dian Savings & Trust Company.

On the 12th of June, 1845, General Barnett was united in marriage to Miss Maria H. Underhill, a daughter of Dr. Samuel Underhill, of Granville, Illinois, and they became parents of five daughters, three of whom are now living: Mary B., the wife of Major Thomas Goodwillie, by whom she had three children ; Laura, the wife of Charles J. Sheffield, and the mother of one son; and Carrie M., the wife of Alexander Brown, vice president of the Brown Hoisting Company, by whom she has a son and a daughter.

No citizen has ever lived in Cleveland of whom every one speaks so highly as they do of General Barnett who is often referred to as "the grand old man of Cleveland." He is most democratic in spirit. Kind hearted and sympathetic, his aid has never been denied to a worthy charity. During all the years of his resi- dence in Cleveland he has taken an active and helpful interest in the various meas- ures of public moment. On the Ist of May, 1865, he was appointed by Governor R. B. Hayes one of the police commissioners. He was also appointed one of the early directors of the Soldiers & Sailors Orphans Home established at Xenia, Ohio, and upon the reorganization of the board he was reappointed one of the trustees by the governor in 1870. From Governor Allen he received appointment to the directorate of the Cleveland Asylum for the Insane and was one of the trustees of that institution for seven years. He has held few elective political offices, yet in March, 1878, was chosen by popular suffrage as a member of the city council and served for two years. In 1880 he was a delegate to the republican national convention in Chicago, when General James A. Garfield was nominated

HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

for the presidency. They had been friends from boyhood and had served together on General Rosecrans' staff. In 1900 he was delegate to the National Convention at Philadelphia when Mckinley was renominated for president. In 1881, by a joint resolution of congress, General Barnett was made a member of the board of managers of the National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers and so served until the 21st of April, 1884. His interest in military affairs has neved ceased and since its organization he has been a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and also of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion since its establishment in Ohio. He was a member of the monument committee and of its executive committee for the Cuyahoga county soldiers' and sailors' monument and so served until its com- pletion. Various municipal interests have benefited by his cooperation and his

influence. For many years he has been president of the Associated Charities and also of the Cleveland Humane Society. There is only one other living of the original trustees of the Case Library and General Barnett has served continuously since its establishment. He is one of the trustees of the Western Reserve His- torical Society and has cooperated in every movement that he has deemed essen- tial to the welfare of his city or the promotion of its interests along lines of material, political and moral progress. He is a member of the Chamber of Com- merce and of the Union Club. A strong mentality, an invincible courage and a most determined individuality have so entered into his makeup as to render him a natural leader of men and a director of public opinion and while he has now passed the eighty-eighth milestone on life's journey, he still retains a deep interest in public affairs and keeps well informed on all important questions of the day. With a business career extending over more than seventy years his record is with- out blemish. The simplicity of his manner, his honorable life and his high type of citizenship cannot be pictured in too glowing colors. On the occasion of the presentation of his portrait by Samuel Mather, to the Chamber of Commerce in April, 1907, he was proclaimed "the first citizen of Cleveland."

MORRIS A. BRADLEY.

To accumulate a fortune requires one kind of genius, to retain a fortune already acquired, to promote its growth so that it shall constitute a source of public benefit as well as of individual enjoyment. requires quite another kind of genius. Morris A. Bradley belongs to the younger generation of Cleveland's business men upon whom have devolved responsibilities very different from those which rested upon their predecessors. It is true that in his business career he had the benefit of entering into buiness activities instituted and promoted by his father, but in their control and enlargement he has had to solve difficult problems such as are the outcome of the conditions of modern life. In this he has displayed the strength of his character and his ability in the capable management of affairs of great magnitude, and is today recognized as one of the leading business men of the Forest city. He is a descendant of one of the oldest families of New Eng- land that for nearly seventy years has also been prominently identified with the vessel interests of the Great Lakes.

His father, Captain Alva Bradley, was born in Ellington, Tolland county, Con- necticut, November 27, 1814, his parents being Leonard and Roxianna Bradley, who left New England when their son Alva was nine years of age, seeking a more fertile soil than could be found among the rocky, sterile hills of New Eng- land. Their journey was made by wagon as far as Albany, New York, thence by canal to within fifty miles of Buffalo, at which point they embarked on a sailing vessel which brought them to Cleveland. They then proceeded to Brownhelm, Lorain county, and settled on a farm. Here commenced the arduous toil insepara- ble from pioneer life, that section of the country being then almost an unbroken

M. A. BRADLEY

3 1833 02279 7820

HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

forest. Educational advantages were extremely meager and hardships were to be endured, but they shrank not from their duties. With willing hearts and hands they subdued the forest and made for themselves a home. At this homestead Alva remained for ten years but, being inclined toward a marine life, he left the farm and with his worldly effects in a bundle started out to seek and make his fortune. On reaching port he skipped aboard the schooner Liberty, a Lake Erie vessel, and subsequently sailed successively on the Young Leopold, Edward Ban- croft, Express and Commodore Lawrence, being master of the last named in 1839. He sailed as master of that vessel for two seasons and such was his prosperity that in 1841, in company with Ahira Cobb, he built the schooner South America of one hundred and four tons. Captain Bradley then took command and sailed her for three seasons. Disposing of that vessel in 1844, he built the Bingham of one hundred and thirty-five tons; in 1848 the Ellington of one hundred and eighty-five tons; the following year the Indiana of three hundred and fifty tons. The last named sailed between Buffalo and Chicago. Three years later he built the schooner Oregon of one hundred and ninety tons. All these vessels Captain Bradley commanded, covering a period of fifteen years, after which he retired from a seafaring life and employed others to command his crafts. He then set- tled at his home in Vermilion, where he continued to build new vessels for the lake trade, sometimes by himself and sometimes in connection with others. In 1853 he built the Challenge of two hundred and thirty-eight tons; in 1854 the Bay City of one hundred and ninety tons; in 1855 the C. C. Griswold, three hun- dred and fifty-nine tons; in 1856 the schooners Queen City and Wellington, of three hundred and sixty-eight and three hundred tons respectively ; and in 1858 the schooner Exchange, three hundred and ninety tons. He then rested for three years before again resuming active work.

In 1859 Captain Bradley changed his residence to Cleveland but continued his shipbuilding on the Vermilion river until 1868, when he removed his shipyards to this city. In 1861, in company with others, he built the S. H. Kimball, of four hundred and eighteen tons; in 1863 the Wagstaff, four hundred and twelve tons; in 1864 the J. F. Card, three hundred and seventy tons; in 1865 the schooner Escanaba, five hundred and sixty-eight tons; and in 1866-7 the schooner Nagan- nee, eight hundred and fifty tons. This splendid vessel cost over fifty-two thou- sand dollars. From the time of his removal to Cleveland in 1868 until 1882 Mr. Bradley built eighteen vessels, constantly increasing their tonnage. He con- tinued to build and float lake vessels at the rate of one each season until his fleet became formidable both in the number and size of the ships, so much so that he deemed it economy to carry his own insurance and never insured a vessel. He was remarkably fortunate in the matter of casualities, losing but five vessels in his entire career.

Captain Bradley was of a genial, happy, easy temperament, combined with which were thorough business qualifications, making his character one that com- manded the respect and esteem of all. It is a remarkable fact that with all his numerous and important business enterprises, bringing him constantly into rela- tion with many people, he never had but one case of litigation and that was with an insurance company many years ago. Prudent and enterprising in his affairs, he was a man of the strictest integrity and highest sense of honor-a man whose word was as good as his bond. He was also largely interested in the iron trade, a branch of commerce and manufacture in which Cleveland has an immense amount of capital invested. He was also a heavy owner of real estate, which since his death has greatly increased in value. Captain Bradley retained his activity until the last and could have passed for a man many years his junior. He died November 28, 1885. His career was a splendid example of the possibilities which this country affords to worthy and persevering men. Starting in the world with- out a dollar, he died possessed of millions.

In 1851 Captain Bradley was married to Miss Ellen M., daughter of John Burgess, of Milan, Ohio, and unto them were born four children, one son and

HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

three daughters, of whom two survive: Morris A. and Elizabeth, the latter the wife of N. S. Keller, of Cleveland. Mrs. Bradley died in 1896.

Morris A. Bradley was born in Cleveland, August 15, 1859, and acquired his education in the public and private schools of his native city. In 1880 he entered his father's business and a few years after the death of Captain Bradley assumed the entire management of the large estate, which under his able and careful con- trol has greatly increased in value. He is one of the most extensive owners of real estate in the city and has erected a large number of buildings, many of which have been intended for manufacturing purposes. His business interests are man- ifold and of an important character, contributing to the commercial and indus- trial activity of the city as well as to his individual prosperity. He is the presi- dent and treasurer of the Bradley Transportation Company, president and treas- urer of the Ohio Transportation Company, secretary and treasurer of the Erie Building Company, vice president of the United States Coal Company, president of the Cleveland & Buffalo. Transportation Company, secretary and treasurer of the Alva Realty Company, secretary and treasurer of the St. Clair Street Realty Company, a director of Wickliffe-on-the-Lake Club Company, and president and treasurer of the Bradley Electrical Company, which concern owns an electric light and power plant furnishing light and power for the buildings owned by Mr. Bradley, and of this plant he is sole owner. He is also a member of the University School Corporation.

On the 10th of May, 1883, was celebrated the marriage of Morris A. Bradley and Miss Anna Leiminger, a daughter of Charles Leiminger of Cleveland, and they have five children: Charles L., who married Miss Gertrude Baker; Helen M .; Eleanor F .; Katharine A .; and Alva, who married Marguerite Andrews, and has one child, Caroline. Mr. Bradley is prominent socially, being a member of the Union, Euclid, Roadside, Country and Gentlemen's Driving Clubs. He is very fond of horses and an expert amateur reinsman. He stands today as a splendid example of the man of wealth, to whom business is but one phase of existence, who understands the obligations and responsibilities of life and is appreciative of its social amenities.

JOHN H. CLARKE.

John H. Clarke, lawyer and man of affairs, is widely known as a distinguished attorney and in the political life of Ohio. He was born at Lisbon, then New Lisbon, Ohio, September 18, 1857. His father, John Clarke, was born in Ire- land and came to America about 1830, when sixteen years of age, settling at New Lisbon, where he lived for over fifty years. He was a finely educated and widely read man, and his life was characterized by efficient service at the bar and on the bench. He died in October, 1884, at the age of seventy years. For many years he was one of the most distinguished lawyers of the Ohio bar and enjoyed a large general practice. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Me- lissa Hessin, was a daughter of one of the earliest settlers of Columbiana county, Ohio, and a prominent citizen of Lisbon. She passed away at Youngstown, Ohio, in May, 1907, at the very advanced age of eighty-eight years. The family of Judge and Mrs. John Clarke numbered five children, of whom two died in infancy, while three are living : Dr. Ida Clarke, a prominent physician of Youngs- town, the president of the public library and largely influential in the philanthropic and charitable work of that city; Miss Alice Clarke, also a resident of Youngs- town ; and John H. Clarke, who is the youngest of the family.

In the public schools of his native city John H. Clarke began his education, which he continued under the instruction of private tutors who prepared him for college. At the age of sixteen years he entered Western Reserve College at Hudson, Ohio, and was graduated with honor in 1877. In 1880 his alma mater

HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

conferred upon him the Master of Arts degree. During his senior year and fol- lowing his graduation he studied law with his father as his preceptor and in Octo- ber, 1877, was admitted to the bar. Soon afterward his father retired from prac- tice, and John H. Clarke became associated with John McVicker, who had for many years been his father's partner. He practiced law at Lisbon until 1880, when he purchased a half interest in the Youngstown Vindicator, a weekly news- paper, removing to Youngstown, where he took up the practice of law and at the same time wrote the political editorials for his paper. His partner in the Vindi- cator was Judge L. D. Thoman, now a leading lawyer of Chicago. The Vindica- tor, under the editorial direction of Mr. Clarke, was the only Ohio democratic newspaper to support the civil-service reform principles then reported by Senator Pendleton, of Ohio, and as a result, in 1882, Judge Thoman was appointed by President Arthur as one of the first three United States civil-service commission- ers and did much valuable work in inaugurating and systematizing the merit system, constituting what is popularly known as civil-service reform.

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A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume II, Part 1

Author: Orth, Samuel Peter, 1873-1922; Clarke, S.J., publishing company Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago-Cleveland : The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1150

Author: Orth, Samuel Peter, 1873-1922; Clarke, S.J., publishing company
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago-Cleveland : The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1150