USA > Ohio > Lorain County > A Standard History of Lorain County, Ohio: An Authentic Narrative of the. > Part 5
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mobile factories in the land. In 1902 Mr. Garford went to France and reorganized, with a commission for the owners, The Cleveland Machine Screw Company, under the name of The Cleveland Automatic Machine Company. This corporation has an extensive plant in Cleveland and controls a large business throughout the United States and the European continent and England."
In 1903 Mr. Garford organized The Columbia Steel Works of Elyria, where he built its fine plant, and also built the plant of The Worthington Company, of which he is president. In 1895 he organized the Fay Manufacturing Company, of which he became president, this being succeeded by The Worthington Manufacturing Company, and in 1905 he was a prime factor in organizing The Perry-Fay Manufacturing Com- pany, of which he is still a director. He owns the controlling interest in The Cleveland Automatic Machine Company, a $1,000,000 corpora- tion. He secured. the controlling interest in The Republican Printing Company of Elyria in 1898, this company publishing The Elyria Evening Telegram, one of the leading dailies of Northern Ohio. In 1907 Mr. Gar- ford assisted in organizing The American Lace Manufacturing Company of Elyria. It is apparent that he has not only the technical genius which underlies all successful manufacturing, but also has developed to a high degree the executive and organizing faculty, and has never touched an enterprise without making a success of it.
Of his character as a business man the article from which quotation has already been made speaks as follows: "Mr. Garford is of the best type of the successful business man. He finds time not only to build up his material fortunes but also to build up his city and to do his duty as a citizen. The story of his career is an object lesson for ambitious, courageous young men. It shows what may be accomplished by the man of energy in a comparatively few years by means of push and vigor and without deserting the hearthstone about which he played as a boy. The home in which he was born is within the city limits of Elyria. In his early youth his parents removed to a farm, now also a part of Elyria. It was on this farm that young Garford was reared. The frame house in which he lived when first married stands upon it today, and on the same farm is the commodious and artistic modern stone residence which is now his home. Mr. Garford believes the secret of accomplishment is the economy of time and energy. He always finds time to do what he has in mind. He methodically divides his time, and thus manages to give necessary attention not only to his varied business enterprises but also to politics, to church and to various interests of the community. Mr. Garford is a long-distance thinker. He has a creative mind. When he looks into a proposition he analyzes it thoroughly and draws a logical deduction of what there is in the future for it. When he makes up his mind to go ahead with a venture, be it business or political, he puts common sense and industry behind it."
Taking up his varied interests outside of manufacturing, Mr. Gar- ford assisted in organizing and was the first president of The Elyria Chamber of Commerce, and also was the organizer of the old Elyria Board of Commerce and at one time was its president. He is now chairman of the board of trustees of the public library of Elyria, and is president of the Elyria Y. M. C. A. and a member of the board of trustees of the Y. W. C. A. He is a member of the National Civic Federation, a member of the Ohio Society of New York, member of the Engineers Society of New York, belongs to the Union Athletic Club of Cleveland, the Cleveland Athletic Club, is a charter member and was first president of the Elyria Country Club, is a life member of the Republican Western Reserve Club, and he and his wife are active in the First Congregational Church.
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It was Mr. Garford who called the first meeting of local citizens to promote the movement to secure a pure water supply from Lake Erie, and was one of the leaders in the long campaign of seven years which was required to accomplish the result. This is a sample of his distin- terested work and public spirit in local affairs, and he has carried the same ideals and practical honesty into the broader field of politics.
At three different times Mr. Garford was elected delegate to repub- lican national conventions from the Fourteenth Congressional District, and was a member of the State Central Committee nine years. He was a delegate to the convention of 1896 when Mckinley was nominated, and in 1908 was in the convention at Chicago which nominated President Taft. He was already recognized at that time as one of the leaders in the Ohio movement for the securing of important reforms within the republican party organization, and this progressive stand led him naturally into the ranks of the national progressive party in 1912. He was chairman of the Ohio delegates at the republican convention in 1912, and was a candidate for governor before the Republican State Conven- tion at Columbus a couple of weeks later as a progressive republican. For several ballots his name led all others, and his nomination was apparently assured, but on the next ballot he was defeated by a com- bination of all other reactionary candidates, who concentrated on Judge Dillon of Columbus as a dark horse. Later he joined the progressive party and his name was placed on the Ohio State ticket as candidate for governor. He had already been prominently mentioned for several years as a possibility for that office, and had it not been for the break in the party alignment, as a result of which the original republican vote was divided between the republicans and progressives, he would undoubtedly have been elected governor of Ohio in that year. Mr. Garford still claims allegiance to the progressive party, and in 1914 was its candidate for the United States Senate.
December 14, 1881, Mr. Garford married Miss Mary Louise Nelson, daughter of the late Thomas L. Nelson of Elyria, a prominent citizen whose career is sketched on other pages of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Garford have two daughters: Mary Katherine, now Mrs. James B. Thomas of Elyria; and Louise Ely, now Mrs. E. Lavagnino of Pasadena, California.
CHRISTIAN PARSCH. Something more than half a century ago the late Christian Parsch was known in Lorain County only as a very industrious and capable carpenter. He subsequently brought the scope of his activi- ties to work as a building contractor, and from that developed one of the largest establishments for the supplying of lumber and other building materials, and for work in building contracting lines in the entire county. Christian Parsch was a splendid type of the man who comes up from small things to large accomplishments, and his record whether in busi- ness, in private life, and in his attitude toward public concerns is one that should be remembered in this county.
When he died at his home in Elyria, July 17, 1905, he had reached the age of seventy-two. Though nearly all his life was spent in Lorain County, he was born at Lammersdorf on the River Rhine, near Cologne, Germany, January 17, 1833. When only ten years of age he came with his family to the United States, and after a brief residence at Buffalo, New York, they came on to Cleveland. It was in Cleveland that Christian Parsch, who in the meantime had gained an education partly in the schools of Germany and partly in those of America, took up the carpen- ter's trade. From there he moved to Avon in Lorain County, was a journeyman worker in that section, and in 1857 removed to Elyria. Not long afterward he began taking independent contracts for building, and
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out of that grew the large establishment which still bears his name in Elyria.
The late Mr. Parsch was for many years one of the active members and liberal supporters of St. Mary's Catholic Church of Elyria, to which his family also belong. ITis wife, Mrs. Catherine (Hurbert) Farsch, died at her home on East Broad Street in Elyria, July 20, 1907. She was at that time seventy-one years of age, was a native of Ireland, but had lived continuously in Elyria for fully forty years. She became the mother of nine children. six of whom survived her. There are now three sons and one daughter living: William T., president of the Parsch Lumber Com- pany ; Alexander P., vice president of the company ; John C .; and Mrs. Joseph Tyler of Elyria. The daughter Mary, who married C. Esker of Elyria, died after her mother, and the other daughter, now deceased, was Lucy, Mrs. James McCarvel. The son William is also a director of the Machine Parts Company of Elyria.
For a great many years the lumber and building business was con- ducted under the simple name C. Parsch, but in 1900 it was incorporated as the Parsch Lumber Company, at which time Christian's sons, William, Alexander and John, took an active share in the business.
JOHN C. PARSCH. A product of Elyria by birth, education and train- ing, John C. Parsch has passed his entire career in this city, where he is not only known as a leading factor in business circles, but as a citizen who has contributed of his fine talents to the welfare of the community as the incumbent of official position. He was born August 16, 1870, and is a son of the late Christian and Catherine (Hurbert) Parsch, highly re- spected old-time citizens of Elyria, a sketch of whose careers will be found elsewhere in this work.
John C. Parsch was educated in the Elyria public schools and St. Mary's parochial school, following which he took a course at the Oberlin Business College. In 1900 he secured an interest in the business which had been founded by his father many years before, and at the same time his brothers, William T. and Alexander P., became members of the con- cern, the name of which was at that time changed from C. Parsch to the Parsch Lumber Company, Inc., although the father retained an interest in the business until his death, in 1905. The present officers are W. T. Parsch, president; A. P. Parsch, vice president; and J. C. Parsch, secre- tary and treasurer. The Parsch Lumber Company deals in lumber, coal and builders' supplies and maintains a planing mill, the office and mill being located at Mill and Lodi streets, while the yards are at Cedar and Tremont streets. In addition to this concern, Mr. Parsch is a director of the Elyria Foundry Company. He is known as one of the progressive, enterprising business men of the city, with large and important interests, but has not allowed his private affairs to interfere with the performance of his duties as a good citizen. He entered politics in 1908, when he became the republican candidate for the office of councilman-at-large, and was elected and served two years, and in the following election ran for president of the council. He has been elected to that office three times, his present term expiring January 1, 1916. In regard to his candidacy for the mayoralty, the Elyria Chronicle of May 15, 1915, had this to say editorially : "As announced in our columns the other day, John C. Parsch will be a candidate for the office of mayor of Elyria, subject to the republican primary. His candidacy is one upon which all classes of our citizens may well unite. He is the candidate of no clique, no faction, nor, in the broadest sense, will he be a mere party candidate. The citi- zens of Elyria are to be congratulated that he has been prevailed upon to allow the use of his name in connection with the mayoralty. We have said that he will not be a mere party candidate and this is true. The
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day of such has passed. Mr. Parsch's qualifications for the mayor's office are not on the political order. He is no politician. He is primarily a business man mainly concerned in the conduct of one of Elyria's princi- pal enterprises. As his contribution to the civic spirit of our community life he has indeed held public office. He has for some years occupied an honorable niche in our city government. At first as a member and then for several terms as president of the council, he has with conspicuous success discharged his obligations to our municipal government. His time and his trained business judgment have ever been unstintedly placed at the disposal of the city legislature and his wise counsel has ever been gladly availed of by his colleagues in that body. His course has pre- eminently been that of the business man applying the powers of his mind to the public business. In this he may have neglected the arts of the politician, but we believe that the people will think none the less of him for that deficiency. Mr. Parsch was born in Elyria forty-five years ago and has always lived here. His life is an open book. He is known to his neighbors, friends and associates as a man of kindly spirit and generous impulses. Upright and devout in his private life he is in public affairs a man of liberal and enlightened views; no narrow bigotry or sectarianism · bounds his intellectual horizon. His place in the estimation of his fellow citizens is secure. Although the candidacy of Mr. Parsch is urged on the score of his business qualifications, he is and always has been a staunch republican. It is through the instrumentality of that party that he has been called to the public posts he has hitherto filled. He therefore nat- urally turns to his fellow republican electors to endorse his candidacy, nor makes any apology in so doing. It will be as the republican candi- date for mayor that he will make the run or not at all." At the primaries, held August 10, 1915, Mr. Parsch was nominated for mayor on the repub- lican ticket by a comfortable majority, the vote standing 640 to 452. He defeated his opponent in every precinct of the city, as shown by the following figures: First Ward, Precinct A, Parsch 66, Boyden 37; First Ward, Precinct B, Parsch 36, Boyden 17; Second Ward, Precinct A, Parsch 59, Boyden 37; Second Ward, Precinct B, Parsch 65, Boyden 52; Second Ward, Precinct C, Parsch 20, Boyden 15; Third Ward, Precinct A, Parsch 73, Boyden 46; Third Ward, Precinct B, Parsch 43, Boyden 25; Third Ward, Precinct C, Parsch 84, Boyden 75; Fourth Ward, Precinct A, Parsch 91, Boyden 73; Fourth Ward, Precinct B, Parsch 53, Boyden 48; Fourth Ward, Precinct C, Parsch 50, Boyden 27. But even with the above flattering majority Mr. Parsch was defeated at the election held November 2, 1915.
Mr. Parsch is a valued and popular member of Elyria Council No. 774, Knights of Columbus, in which he has occupied all the chairs; of Elyria Lodge No. 465, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; of Elyria Lodge of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, in which he has held a number of the offices; and of Elyria Lodge No. 431, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and also holds membership in the Elyria Chamber of Commerce and the Elyria Automobile Club. With Mrs. Parsch, he is affiliated with St. Mary's Catholic Church of Elyria, and has been a leading member of the church choir for twenty-eight years, or since he was seventeen years of age.
At Cleveland, Ohio, December 28, 1898, Mr. Parsch was united in marriage with Miss Lottie M. Greesheimer, who was born and reared at Elyria and here educated in the parochial schools. She is a daughter of the late Edward and Mary (Becker) Greesheimer, early residents of Elyria, both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Parsch, like her husband,; is a general favorite socially and actively interested in religious and club work.
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MRS. EMMA S. OLDS. Believing firmly in woman's political, social and industrial freedom, Mrs. Emma S.' Olds for many years has la- bored effectively in support of her convictions. There is scarcely a body of representative women in Ohio in which she is unknown, and her unusual talents have been recognized, utilized and appreciated in many other states. Of most pleasing personality, endowed with versatile talents, possessed of remarkable executive ability and gifted both as a speaker and writer, Mrs. Olds has indelibly impressed herself upon the developing pages of the history of her times.
Mrs. Olds was born at Florence, Ohio. She is a great-granddaughter of Reuben and Pearl (Smith) Allen, and of Jasper Miles, all very early pioneers of Lorain and Erie counties. In 1817, Reuben Allen with wife and children left Vermont and journeyed by wagon to Lorain County, Ohio, selecting a site for a home in the forest that then covered Amherst Township. As the covered wagon had provided a shelter during the long journey it was further used as such until logs were hewed and a primitive dwelling was erected on what was then the frontier. On the original site was later built the comfortable farm-house which was one of the first if not the very first, frame houses in Amherst Township and is yet standing, the accompanying illustration showing its present con- dition, it being one of the old landmarks of the county.
In childhood Mrs. Olds attended the village school at Birmingham, Ohio, and afterward was prepared by private tutors for college and at the age of fourteen years became a student in Berea College, Kentucky, where she spent a year and at the age of fifteen taught a mountain school. When sixteen years old she taught school at Birmingham and then returned to Berea College for two years, afterward continuing special studies with tutors and again teaching school for two more years.
Mrs. Olds was twenty years old when she married and for some time found her time sufficiently taken up in managing her home, but later her old ambitions asserted themselves and she returned to the educa- tional field and continued to teach school until 1896, and so valuable were her services considered by the people of Birmingham that she was elected a member of the board of education and served two years as its president before coming to Elyria, in which latter city, in 1911, she was elected a member of its board of education and her efficient service in that capacity covered three years.
Although Mrs. Olds has been prominently identified with many for- ward movements for women, perhaps she is best known in her important connection with the order of the Ladies of the Maccabees of the World, with which organization she united in 1893. Her first official position was as record keeper of the local hive and when, in 1896, she was sent as a delegate to the order's state convention, at which she was elected state commander, she resigned her position in the public schools in order to take up this new work for women with which she was in full sympathy.
In 1898, when the great hive was organized in Ohio, Mrs. Olds was elected great commander and filled that office and managed the affairs of the Maccabees in Ohio continuously until June, 1915, when she was advanced to a position on the National Conference board and also was appointed deputy supreme commander. In consideration of her many years of successful and loyal service, at the Supreme Review of the order, held in New York at that time, she was given a year's vacation, after which she again resumed national work. Under Mrs. Olds' leadership the membership of the order in Ohio increased from 7,392 to 28,661. At the above named convention several important changes were made in the plans of work of the organization, including the abolishing of the inde- pendent state hives and the changing of the name to the Woman's Benefit
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ONE OF THE FIRST FRAME HOUSES BUILT IN AMHERST TOWNSHIP, LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO Built by Ruben Allen sometime in the '20s and standing unoccupied.
PEARL (SMITH) ALLEN
Who with her husband Ruben Allen were among the very first settlers in Amherst Township, Lorain County, Ohio, in 1817.
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Association of the Maccabees. Mrs. Olds is a member of the present advi- sory board of the association and formerly served one term as supreme lieutenant commander of the Maccabees. Repeatedly, as a delegate from this organization, she has addressed the National Council of Women.
Few women of the present day have led busier or more fruitful lives than has Mrs. Olds almost from girlhood. In addition to the responsi- bilities which she carried so many years as the Ohio head of the organiza- tion above mentioned, she has been concerned and interested in many other forward movements of her sex and has been helpful and sustaining to a wonderful degree, very often giving herself unselfishly but always conscientiously. For several years Mrs. Olds was vice president of the Ohio Woman's Suffrage Association; for many years was chairman of the standing Resolution Committee of the National Council of Women; for some years was a member of the Finance Committee of the National Fraternal Congress and for two years was chairman of the Committee on Ethics; and is a member of the Ohio Federation of Clubs. On invita- tion she has made addresses before the Akron Council of Women; the Cuyahoga County Women's Christian Temperance Union; the Toledo Peace Association; the Toledo Federation of Clubs; the National Council of Women; the National Fraternal Congress and other gatherings. She has appeared before committees from the State Legislature in the interests of shorter working hours for women, and also in the interests of adequate rates for fraternal organizations. She served two terms as a trustee of the Ohio Fraternal Congress and was a delegate from this congress to the National Fraternal Congress, representing all the Ohio fraternities at the national body. For one year she filled the office of president of the Political Study Club, which she founded and which is the largest woman's club at Elyria, devoted to civic and social improvement, and several times was sent as a delegate from Ohio to the National Suffrage Association.
The above recital by no means covers all Mrs. Olds' useful activities and notable achievements. Of a decided literary bent, had not circum- stances led her into executive position with its many strenuous claims, she might have had leisure in which to cultivate her talent still farther than has been possible. As it is she has numerous stories and poems to her credit, which have appeared in the magazines and the newspapers. Mrs. Olds is the author of the ritual for children, called the "Order of the Rose." which has been adopted for the use of the Junior Auxiliary Branch of the Maccabees, and she also wrote many of the songs and charges used in the ritualistic work of the order. After a year of rest and recreation, her friends and admirers hope that she will again be found among the workers for those helpful things to which her life has been dedicated.
ALLISON HILL BABCOCK, president of the A. H. Babcock Company, is a native of Lorain and so much impressed with its business, residence and other advantages that, like thousands of others, he has never been able to see that he could better himself by making a change of location. A product of the public schools, his business career, which commenced when he was but a lad, has been one of constant and consistent advance- ment. and his present connection with some of Lorain's leading enter- prises makes him a leader in business and realty circles.
Allison H. Babcock was born at Lorain, Ohio, January 21. 1874, and is a son of Allison H. and Mary (Hill) Babcock. His father, who came to Lorain in 1873, was originally a merchant and subsequently became a large owner of real estate. He was also one of the prominent men of the city in public affairs and for several terms served Lorain in the capac- - Vol. II-3
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ity of mayor. Allison H. Babcock, of this notice, attended the public schools until reaching his seventeenth year, at which time he entered the tobacco business, a line with which he was connected for seven years. In 1898 he became the organizer of the A. H. Babcock Company, a real estate and insurance concern, of which he has continued as president and manager to the present time and which, under his capable management and direction, has assumed large proportions. From time to time he has entered other lines of business endeavor, to which he has been called by reason of his fine organizing and executive abilities, and at the present time is president of the Hoffman Heater Company, of the Fidelity Realty Company, and of the Troike Muffler Company, all well known concerns of Lorain. While not a politician, he has discharged the duties of citizenship in a public spirited and conscientious manner, and during three terms was city treasurer of Lorain. He belongs fraternally to the Masons, in which he has reached high degrees, being a Knights Templar and a member of the Mystic Shrine at Cleveland, and to the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His outside relations are eminently agreeable and helpful, and he is the sharer in many friend- ships, as well as the general good will of a community of which he is ac- counted one of the leading and influential citizens.
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