A Standard History of Lorain County, Ohio: An Authentic Narrative of the., Part 45

Author: Wright, G. Frederick (George Frederick), 1838-1921, editor
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago, New York, Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 805

USA > Ohio > Lorain County > A Standard History of Lorain County, Ohio: An Authentic Narrative of the. > Part 45

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Johnson was born at Marathon, Iowa, December 17, 1884, a son of Charles X. and Hulda A. Johnson. He received his preliminary training in the grade and high schools at Hot Springs, South Dakota, where his parents still reside. In 1909 he graduated bachelor of science in the electrical engineering course from the University of Nebraska, and starting at the bottom in his profession has rapidly advanced to his present place of responsibility.

His first practical experience after leaving the university was as a cadet engineer performing all kinds of work from rough labor to office

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duties with the Denver Gas and Electric Company. He began there in July, 1909, and in December, 1910, was transferred to Fremont, Nebraska, as distribution superintendent in charge of the rebuilding of gas and electric distribution system. In May, 1912, Mr. Johnson was transferred from Fremont to Massillon, Ohio, as superintendent of the Massillon Electric and Gas Company. In March, 1914, the company sent him to Elyria as superintendent of the property now included in the Lorain County Electric Company, and he was made general manager of this extensive business in September, 1915.

Mr. Johnson is a republican, a member of the Masonic Order and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and while in college belonged to the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and is a member of the Phi Gamma Delta Club of New York City.

HENRY W. WURST. One of the most easily identified citizens of Lorain County is Henry W. Wurst, whose name is associated with a number of the most familiar and important business enterprises and industries of the cities of Elyria and Lorain, and who for many years has helped to supply the capital, the energy and the enthusiasm required in the upbuilding of a prosperous city. Mr. Wurst has not been num- bered among the wealthy and fortunate all his life, and truly began his career at the bottom of the ladder, climbing slowly up by industry, faithfulness and integrity.

Born in Hesse Cassel, Germany, November 7, 1849, he is a son of Eckert and Elizabeth (May) Wurst. His father was born and reared in Germany, and before leaving that country became an expert stone cutter. In 1859 he brought his family to the United States, and from Amherst, his first location in Lorain County, he moved in about a year to Elyria, where his death occurred in 1855 at the age of thirty-three. His widow subsequently married John Brell, and lived in Elyria until her death at the age of eighty-three December 11, 1908. Henry W. was the oldest of the three children born to his father, while his brother Samuel E. is a poultry breeder of Elyria and Mary is the wife of John Daney of that city.

From the age of eleven Henry W. Wurst became dependent upon his own efforts. He was only six when his father died, and when his mother married about five years later he determined to shift for himself and make his own way in the world. His education in the meantime had consisted of a few months of district schooling each winter. In 1861 he entered upon his first stage in business, working for Charles A. Parks, an Elyria grocer, for only board and clothes. The agreement was that at the end of four years he was also to have $5 in cash, but in lieu of this payment he took a swarm of bees. After the close of the war he worked on a farm in Ridgeville and attended school in the winter, and was also employed by Mrs. Charles Arthur Ely for a time. At the age of seventeen Mr. Wurst made arrangements with Daniel M. Fisher by which he was to get wages of $15 per month and board during the summer, and in the winter was to get board and the privilege of attending school. As a result of all this work and self denial he finally acquired the equivalent of a common school education.

His most important start as a business man came when he entered the employ of Baldwin, Laundon & Nelson, one of the leading mercantile firms of Lorain County at the time, his wages being $75 for the first year and board. For the second year the firm raised his salary to $150, and continued to promote him financially and in responsibilities each succeeding year. Mr. Wurst continued four years as the firm's suc- cessors, Hannan & Obitts. His career as an independent business man

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began October 2, 1875, when he and Henry M. Andress bought out the grocery and crockery department of Hannan & Obitts. The firm of Andress & Wurst continued about six months, when Mr. Wurst bought his partner's interest and continued as a crockery and grocery merchant for five years. He bought the frame building on West Broad Street which occupied the site on which the Wurst Block now stands, and moving his store to that locality continued his business five years, until the building was destroyed by fire in 1885. At that time he replaced the frame structure with the substantial Wurst Block, and continued mer- chandising until 1892.

A large part of Mr. Wurst's success has been in handling and im- proving real estate. His record as a builder includes the construction of something more than 150 residences, many of which are still under his ownership. The largest and best hotel of Elyria is the Andwur Hotel, in which Mr. Wurst owned a third interest for a number of years, and in that time he twice remodeled and enlarged the building. He finally sold his interest to Charles E. Wilson. This hotel gets its name by a combination of the first three letters in the names of both Mr. Wurst and Mr. Andress. Mr. Wurst was also one of the incorpora- tors of the old Elyria Block, but sold his interests before that structure was burned in 1909. In the City of Lorain his enterprise has been equally important, and he was one of the builders of the Lorain Block, the largest store and office building in that city, was also one of the builders of the Kent Block and owned part of the Chapman Block in that city. He is one of the proprietors of the tract of 155 acres known as the Lorain Realty Company's Addition to Lorain. As a banker Mr. Wurst is treasurer of the Elyria Savings & Loan Company, a director in the Elyria Savings Deposit Bank & Trust Company, and a stock holder in the Penfield Avenue Savings Bank of Lorain. He was one of the incorporators of The Perry-Fay Manufacturing Company of Elyria, and is vice president and director of The Fay Stocking Com- pany, being one of the leading men in this organization, and is sole owner of the Ohio Nursery & Supply Company. He is a director of the Elyria Telephone Company and works actively with the Elyria Chamber of Commerce. In November, 1909, he was made a member of the Board of Appraisers of real property, which early in the follow- ing year began the revision of the valuation of real property for taxa- tion purposes at Elyria, with Mr. Wurst as chairman of the board. In politics he is a republican.

November 27, 1873, he married Miss Ella J. Robson. She is a native of Ridgeville, and a daughter of John and Sarah (Tong) Robson, who came from England. Earl H. Wurst, the oldest son of Mr. Wurst, is a successful young business man of Elyria, Ohio, and by his marriage to Ella M. Hirsching of Elyria has two children named Gertrude V. and Nellie L. Charles J. Wurst, the younger son, a jeweler, married Mabel L. Quayle of Elyria, and they have one child, John H.

STEPHEN M. COLE. One of the veteran citizens and business men of Oberlin is Stephen M. Cole, president of the S. M. Cole & Sons Lumber Company. The Cole family has lived in Oberlin practically seventy years. Mr. Cole himself has been in business there the greater part of his active career. He is one of the survivors of the great Civil war and has also manifested a sterling patrotism and public spirit in all his civic relations. He was born in Delaware County, Ohio, September 29, 1839, a son of Stephen W. and Elizabeth (Cockran) Cole. The grand- father was also Stephen Cole, a native of Connecticut, whence he moved to Fredericktown, Ohio, in the early days, and acquired a large tract of

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land there. The Coles came to America from England during the colonial period of settlement. Mr. Cole's maternal grandfather, Samuel Cockran, was a native of Pennsylvania, but afterwards settled on a farm and died near Fredericktown, Ohio. He was of Scotch-Irish descent. Five of his children attended Oberlin College, four of them graduating, and two sons, Samuel and William Cockran, became ministers, one of them died young while the other lived to be ninety-three. Stephen W. Cole was born in Connecticut in 1802 and died in 1879. His wife was born in Pennsylvania in 1805 and died in 1900. They were married at Frederick- town, Ohio, where they had been reared from early youth. Stephen W. Cole brought his family to Oberlin in 1845, and his name was associated with that section of Lorain County for many years. He helped build the First Congregational Church of Oberlin, of which he was an active mem- ber for many years. He was a farmer by occupation and owned a good farm in this county. First a whig and later a republican, he was a very strong abolitionist before the war and he did much to elevate the standards of schools, and of all institutions in his locality. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, and three now living are: Stephen M .; Frances, wife of Chambers D. Reamer, a well to do retired clothing merchant of Oberlin; and Samuel Cole, a real estate man at Chattanooga,' Tennessee.

Stephen M. Cole grew up in Lorain County and was a student in Oberlin College, but, to quote his own words, graduated while in the army. In 1861 he enlisted in Company C, Seventh Ohio Infantry, and saw an active service covering three years, three months. He was in a great many campaigns and important battles. At Cross Lane, West Virginia, he was captured and was held in Confederate prisons for ten months, at Richmond, New Orleans and Salisbury, North Carolina. After being exchanged he rejoined his regiment, in time to fight at Chancellors- ville and Gettysburg, and was in many other well known conflicts of the war. He was several times slightly wounded, and at Chancellorsville sustained quite severe wounds.

After the war he returned to Oberlin and entered college with the intention of completing his course. However, after his army experience had rapidly matured him, he changed his mind and instead of getting a complete education went to Gibralter, Michigan, and took up a new farm, to which he gave his work for three years. He then went to Northwest Missouri, spent some time at Kidder and then bought a farm at Hamilton. After three years of this experience he then went to Oberlin and has since been engaged in the lumber and building material business. He has furnished supplies for a great many of the homes constructed in Oberlin.

In the way of public service Mr. Cole served six years as street com- missioner at Oberlin, has been a member of the council, and is in many ways a booster for his home town. In politics he is a republican, is an active member of the Grand Army Post, and he and his wife and daughter are members of the First Congregational Church of Oberlin.

In 1864 Mr. Cole married Rose A. Kelley, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Their family consists of three children : Edith M., who graduated from Oberlin College and was principal of the Academy for several years, but is now the wife of H. C. Shattuck, a Cincinnati attorney ; Percy C., who is actively associated in business with his father at Oberlin; and George, who is engaged in the lumber business in the West.

ALBERT MONROE is a Lorain County citizen well known for his activities in different cities and towns, and for the past six years has been one of the enterprising factors in the village of Grafton, where he is now serving as mayor. By trade he is a baker, an occupation he

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learned back in his native England, and he has the chief establishment in that line at Grafton.

Born in the City of Boston, England, February 16, 1863, he is a son of Henry and Mary (Wingad) Monroe.' With a common school educa- tion, at the age of fifteen he began learning his trade, and for three years worked hard as an apprentice without wages. Mr. Monroe was seventeen years of age when he came to America in 1880. Arriving at Lakeside, Ohio, where an aunt lived at the time, he was employed during the following summer by the Lakeside Company, and then moved to Elyria, where for six years he was a journeyman baker.

On June 30, 1884, Mr. Monroe was married in Elyria to Miss Cora Trask. She was born at Ripon, Wisconsin, but at the time of her mar- riage was living at Elyria. Her parents were Lowell and Marietta (Demming) Trask.

In 1887 Mr. Monroe moved to Oberlin, and there began business for himself and for a time was a partner with G. W. Preston. In 1893, on account of his wife's poor health, he moved his family out to California and located at San Bernardino, where he was in business for two years. Returning to Oberlin, he resumed the baking business there but at the end of twelve years found his health greatly depleted, and for that reason he gave up the confining work of his trade and bought a grocery store. Afterwards he sold out and purchased a farm in Troy Town- ship of Portage County, where he remained an active agriculturist for two years. By outdoor work he completely recovered his health, and then sold out and moved to Grafton in 1910. Here he bought the well- established bakery of J. H. Andrews.

Mr. and Mrs. Monroe are the parents of six children, four of them still living : Myrta, born in Elyria, married J. H. Andrews, and they have a child, Helen, and the family reside at Colton, California. Clara, who was born at Lima, Ohio, married Harlan Cordrey, and they live at Gar- rett, Indiana, and have two children Cyril and Albert. Edmond, who was born in Oberlin, is a graduate of the Grafton High School and is now learning his father's business. Mary, born at Oberlin, is a member of the 1916 class in the Grafton High School.

A republican voter since he cast his first ballot for James G. Blaine, Mr. Monroe has always been a loyal and public spirited citizen in every community where he lived. Since coming to Grafton he has served as a member of the city council, was president of that body for more than a year, and when Mayor Finlayson resigned to become postmaster he accepted the vacancy, and in 1915 was elected for the regular term of two years as chief executive of this little city. Mr. Monroe is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as are also his wife and children. He has a prominent part in church affairs, has served in church offices and also as superintendent of Sunday School. Besides his property interests at Grafton he owns a residence in Cleveland.

MAURICE E. HENDRICKS. Elyria since becoming an industrial city has attracted to its citizenship many capable technical men from all over the country. Among these is Maurice E. Hendricks, who has since lived at Elyria since 1902, has been identified with several of the Garford enterprises here, and since 1908 has been superintendent of The Machine Parts Company. He began his career as a watchmaker in Elgin, Illinois, and for fully a quarter of a century has filled responsible positions in various industries in different parts of the country.

Born at Elgin, Illinois, December 23, 1868, he is a son of Albert R. and Anna Elizabeth (Russell) Hendricks. His father was born in the old Baltic seaport of Danzig, Prussia, and when twelve years of age

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Maurice E. Hendricks

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came to the United States with his parents, who settled at Palestine, Illinois. However, he grew to manhood in the home of an uncle, who took him to New Orleans, Louisiana, and there he learned the machin- ist's trade. He was a particularly competent tool maker and mechanical engineer, and is now living retired at Monrovia, California. After finishing his apprenticeship, he became a journeyman, and as is not infrequently the rule in the ranks of that profession he lived in many different localities during his active career. He was working at his trade in Philadelphia when he met and married Miss Russell, who was born in Philadelphia, of an old Dutch family. She died in July, 1896, while they were living at Erie, Pennsylvania. There were five sons and one daughter, Maurice being the third in age, and all are still living.

The only one of these children now living in Ohio, Maurice E. Hen- dricks as a boy attended the public schools of Elgin, Illinois, and from school entered the Elgin watch factory as an apprentice. He learned a trade there and remained in that city for about six years. Having become an expert watch tool maker, he finally left Elgin and went to Canton, Ohio, where he spent about three years in making watch cases and watches in the great Dueber-Hampden Watch Factory in that city. From Canton he returned to Elgin, later entered a watch factory at Aurora, Illinois, moving from there to Chicago, and finally to Erie, Pennsylvania, from which city he came to Elyria in 1902. His early employment was altogether in watch factories, but at Erie, Pennsyl- vania, he became connected with the Black Manufacturing Company, builders of the Tribune bicycles. On coming to Elyria in 1902 Mr. Hendricks entered The Federal Manufacturing Company's plant, manufacturers of bicycle saddles and pedals. The Federal Manufac- turing Company was the big corporation which for a time largely con- trolled the output of bicycle saddles and had plants at different cities in the country, and the enterprise at Elyria was largely the outgrowth of the business of A. L. Garford and subsequently the concern was in- corporated in the Garford Company, and its product largely changed to the manufacture of automobile parts. In this plant Mr. Hendricks became foreman tool maker. Later he went with The Machine Parts Company when that firm was organized in 1907, and has been with it continuously for eight years as superintendent. The Machine Parts Company manufactures wheel goods, screw machine products and fine reed furniture.

During his residence in Elyria Mr. Hendricks has also identified himself closely with the civic and social life of the city. He is a member of the Elyria Chamber of Commerce, and of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. On January 3, 1890, at Elgin, Illinois, he married Miss Jennie I. Ellmore, daughter of William C. and Elmira (Dedrich) Ellmore, both of whom are now living at South Bend, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks became the parents of two sons. Albert Ellwood, who was born at Elgin, is a mechanical engineer and lives in Chicago, Illinois. William Ellmore, the younger son, was born in Canton, and died at the age of twenty-three in Elyria January 20, 1913. He was also a mechan- ical engineer, and both sons were educated in the public schools of Erie, Pennsylvania, and Elyria, Ohio. William E. Hendricks at his death left a widow, whose maiden name was Miss Hazel Salisbury of Elyria, and two children, named Maurice Charles and Maxine Eleanor.

JAMES M. KELLY. Forty years ago James M. Kelly was a hard work- ing mechanic engaged in operating an engine at Amherst in Lorain County. Hard work has brought its reward and for a number of years he has lived at Oberlin and from that place has directed the management of two fine farms in Lorain County.

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He was born in Russia Township of Lorain County October 11, 1851, a son of Nathan and Jane (Davis) Kelly. Nathan Kelly was born in Vermont in 1830 and died in September, 1914, being a son of Richard Kelly, a native of the same state, who in the early '40s brought his family to Lorain County and located in Henrietta Township. The grand- father cleared up a small farm and lived there until his death. Nathan Kelly was married in Lorain County to Miss Jane Davis who was born in Michigan in 1835.

James M. Kelly was one of six children and as a boy he spent his time on the farm and attended country school. His first regular occupa- tion as already noted was in running an engine at Amherst, an employ- ment he followed four or five years. He then managed to buy a small tract of land in Henrietta Township, and he made that the scene of his farming industry and his home until twenty-four years ago. He then rented his farm and bought another place in Russia Township. Mr. Kelly still owns both of these farms, but in 1903 moved to a comfortable town home at Oberlin and from that point has directed the management of his farms.

In January, 1878, he married Mary Bell, daughter of Henry Bell. Her father was a native of West Virginia and came to Ohio before the Civil war and in 1864 bought a farm in Lorain County, which he occupied until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have two children : Eura is the wife of Paul Wood, foreman of the Dean Electric Company at Elyria, Ohio; and Otta, a druggist at Oberlin, who completed a course in pharmacy at the Ohio Northern University at Ada.

Mr. Kelly is well known both in business and social affairs, is a republican in politics, was elected township trustee in 1907 and has held that office ever since, and is also a director in the Oberlin Banking Com- pany. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

D. S. HUSTED. One of the oldest active members in the dental pro- fession in Lorain County is Dr. D. S. Husted of Oberlin. He was gradu- ated in dentistry thirty years ago and for fully a quarter of a century has been continuously at work in his profession at Oberlin.

Born at Clarksfield, Huron County, Ohio, March 17, 1861, he repre- sents some early pioneer stock in Ohio. His parents were Hoyt and Anna C. (Stone) Husted. His grandfather Samuel Husted came to Ohio from Connecticut and was an early farmer. The maternal grand- father Daniel Stone was born at Danbury, Connecticut, and followed the trade by which Danbury has become famous as an industrial center, being a hatter, but in 1829 he came west to Ohio, making the journey by the Erie canal, which had been in operation then only about four years. After coming to Ohio he followed farming. Hoyt Husted was born in Connecticut in 1813 and died in 1866. By his first marriage to Sarah Gray he had four children, and two of his sons, Henry and Evelyn, were both soldiers in the Civil war. Henry was reported missing at Goldsboro, North Carolina, while Evelyn was wounded at Gettysburg and died soon afterward. Hoyt Husted was married at Clarksville, Ohio, after the death of his first wife to Anna Stone, who was born at Danbury, Con- necticut, November 6, 1823, was brought to Northern Ohio by her parents when about six years of age and she died September 23, 1909. After the death of her first husband she married Samuel Gray. Hoyt Husted and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and in politics he was a republican. He was a miller and carpenter by trade.

Doctor Husted, who was the only child of his parents, acquired a liberal education, having attended Oberlin College three years, after

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In January, 1878, he married Mary Bell, daughter of Henry Bell. Her father was a native of West Virginia and came to Ohio before the Civil war and in 1864 bought a farm in Lorain County, which he occupied until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have two children: Eura is the wife of Paul Wood, foreman of the Dean Electric Company at Elyria, Ohio; and Otta, a druggist at Oberlin, who completed a course in pharmacy at the Ohio Northern University at Ada.

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A Standard History of Lorain County, Ohio: An Authentic Narrative of the., Part 45

Author: Wright, G. Frederick (George Frederick), 1838-1921, editor Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Chicago, New York, Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 805

Author: Wright, G. Frederick (George Frederick), 1838-1921, editor
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago, New York, Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 805