USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume II > Part 110
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FRANK BUETTNER.
Self-supporting at the age of thirteen years, Frank Buettner became known as one of the leading wholesale butchers of Cleveland, and in matters of citizenship he was the exponent of high ideals opposing, during his service as alderman, all graft or under-handed practices that would not bear close investigation and scrutiny. He was recognized as one of the most upright and honest men that has been connected with the city government and was prominent in public affairs in Cleveland for a considerable period.
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As the name indicates, Mr. Buettner was a native of Germany, his birth hav- ing occurred in Oppenheim, Hesse-Darmstadt, April 30, 1841. His parents, John and Barbara Buettner, lived for many years in Oppenheim where the father was prominent in the public life of the community, serving for a time as street com- missioner. Frank Buettner attended the public schools of his native country un- til eleven years of age, at which time he accompanied his parents on their emigra- tion across the broad Atlantic to America. For a short time the family lived in New York city and during that period the son spent one term as a pupil in the night school. In 1852, the father having died, the family continued on their west- ward way to Cleveland. Frank Buettner, then thirteen years of age, had saved enough money with which to purchase a horse and wagon. The necessity of pro- viding for his own support confronted him and he assisted his brother-in-law in the manufacture and sale of sausages, whereby he was enabled to support his mother and sister, who were dependent upon him. He continued in the. sausage business with George Roesch, his brother-in-law, until 1859, and then went south. When the war broke out in 1861, he returned to Cleveland and here established a wholesale and retail butchering business, which he conducted with continuous and growing success for twenty-two years, or until 1883. He built up an extensive trade and his large annual sales brought to him success that was honorably earned and therefore richly merited. From 1888 until 1894 he was the senior partner of the firm of Buettner & Orley, contractors, and later was associated with the firm of Brennen & Buettner, building and street paving contractors. His business affairs were always capably conducted and his sound judgment and unfaltering enterprise constituted the forceful elements in his success.
The political chapter in the life history of Frank Buettner is one that is en- tirely commendable and worthy of emulation. In 1870 he was elected a member of the city council and served for five years. During his connection therewith he caused the expulsion of two members of the council for accepting bribes. He stood at all times for honesty in public affairs and was opposed to anything like misrule in the municipal life. In 1883 he was elected street commissioner by a large majority that attested his personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him. That he proved capable in office is indicated in the fact that in 1887 he was re- elected, continuing to serve until 1891. He was one of the most upright and hon- est men connected with the affairs of the city and was very prominent for many years in matters relative to municipal interests.
On the 16th of January, 1861, Mr. Buettner was married to Miss Caroline Zurlinden, a daughter of Charles and Walburga (Turin) Zurlinden, of Strasburg, Germany. The father was a tailor there and came to America in 1848, at which time he settled in Cleveland where he continued to engage in the tailoring busi- ness. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Buettner were born two sons and three daughters: Johnnie, who died at the age of fourteen years; Clara, the wife of Frank Dillen- hoefer; Carrie, the wife of Benjamin Hungerford; Lillie, the wife of Dr. P. S. Snigel; and Eddie, who died at the age of five years.
Mr. Buettner was a Catholic in his religious faith, belonging to St. Joseph's church. He also held membership with the Knights of St. John, the St. Joseph Benevolent Society, the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Mutual Benefit Asso- ciation and other benefit associations. He never wavered in his allegiance to the republican party nor faltered in his support of any cause which he believed to be right. He was a very charitable man and gave freely of his means to the poor and needy, ever extending a helping hand where assistance was worthily sought. He belonged to that class of men who wield a power which is all the more potent from the fact that it is moral rather than political and is exercised for the public weal rather than for personal ends.
The death of Mr. Buettner occurred October 9, 1902, and was the cause of deep regret to many who had found in him a benefactor, to his business associates who had found in him a trustworthy colleague, to the city which recognized in him a progressive citizen, and to his family, to whom he was a devoted husband and
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father. Mrs. Buettner, who yet makes her home in Cleveland, is associated with many Catholic societies. She is a very prominent and well known woman, devot- ing much of her time to the welfare of the poor and needy and to the advancement of the interests of St. Anthony's Home for Boys, of which she is vice president. She is also associate treasurer and on the board of managers of the Girl's Home and is associated with many Catholic societies, doing good work among the people of that faith.
WILLARD J. CRAWFORD.
Willard J. Crawford stood prominently forth as one of the leading business men of Cleveland. His breadth of view, however, not only recognized possi- bilities for his own advancement but for the city's development as well, and his public spirit prompted him to utilize the latter as quickly and as effectively as the former. Few men rivaled him in the extent and importance of his real-estate operations and yet there were other factors equally as pronounced in his life record. He was known to the flower lovers as the possessor of the finest collec- tion of flowering plants in the state. Varied interests, therefore, constituted his a well balanced nature and yet he was preeminently a successful, progressive and enterprising business man.
A native of Cleveland, Mr. Crawford was born June 20, 1859, a son of Ran- dall and Mary E. (Welch) Crawford. His grandfather, Willard Crawford, was born in Union, Connecticut, February 5, 1796, and died August 28, 1864, at Milan, Ohio. With his brother Benjamin he came to Cuyahoga county in 1815 and here followed the millwright's trade. He possessed superior mechanical genius and was the inventor of many improvements in saw and gristmill con- struction and operation. He was a forceful and influential character of the early days and to his energy and ability was due much of the prominence attained by Cleveland at an early day as an important manufacturing center. He was the original owner of the tract of land now included in Wade Park, which he sold for five dollars per acre and which his grandson, Willard J. Crawford, bought for improvement and home development purposes for five thousand dol- lars per acre.
The father, Randall Crawford, who was born in this city, February 27, 1827, died June 12, 1879. He was long favorably known throughout Cleveland and this part of the country and belonged to that coterie of men who had much to do with establishing and promoting Cleveland's commercial greatness. He served for twelve years as commissioner of Cuyahoga county and in all public relations his labor was effective because of his earnest investigation into condi- tions that existed and also into the needs of the city. He was a member of the city council and of the city board of improvements and was one of the foremost factors in the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce. He did not hesitate to support or cooperate in any movement which his judgment sanctioned as of value to Cleveland, and he was the pioneer of the lumber transportation business on the Great Lakes, having fitted out the first boat from this city engaging in lumber trade of the northern forests. For many years he was associated with his father in the millwright business and his qualities of perseverance and determination enabled him to carry forward to successful completion whatever he undertook. When the Civil war was inaugurated he enlisted in the three months' service and went out with the First Ohio Light Artillery, participating in the Virginia cam- paign, where he received so serious an injury that he was compelled to retire from active service in the field. He afterward became quartermaster, having charge of the local camps and also of the erection of government barracks on the south side. His political allegiance was given to the republican organiza- tion and he took a prominent part in the counsels of the party, his opinions car-
WILLARD J. CRAWFORD
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rying weight with the local and state leaders. He wedded Miss Mary E. Welch, a daughter of John Welch, whose homestead was on the farm now included in the John D. Rockefeller estate. Mrs. Crawford still survives.
In the public schools of Cleveland Willard J. Crawford acquired his early education, attending first the old St. Clair school and later the Rockwell school. He pursued a preparatory course in Hudson, Ohio, and then entered the Univer- sity of Michigan, from which he was graduated with the class of 1879, the de- gree of LL.B. being then conferred upon him. Admitted to the bar, he entered upon active practice in the offices of Judges Samuel E. Williamson and J. E. Ingersoll, there remaining for about three years. About this time he became in- terested in Cleveland real estate and from that time until his demise devoted his attention largely to the handling and development of property, erecting over five thousand homes in Cleveland during that period. In 1882 he became one of the organizers of the firm of Herrick, Parmelee & Crawford, his associates being ex-Governor Myron T. Herrick and James Parmelee. He continued in that connection up to the time of his death. He probably had more to do than any one man with the development of the splendid east end district. He opened the Crawford road allotment and later purchased the historic Glenville race-track property, which he was converting into a modern residential district. Not long before his death he organized the Crawford Realty Company and admitted his sons, Randall and Willard J., Jr., to a partnership. With Myron T. Herrick, James Parmelee and J. B. Perkins, he was interested in the Cuyahoga Valley Realty Company, which owns five hundred acres of undeveloped land on the river, where it is purposed to widen the stream. He was a man of immense energy and dynamic force. He not only kept pace with the trend of progress in recent years but was a leader in building operations and his work largely set the standard for advancement in that line.
Moreover, Mr. Crawford took an active and helpful interest in the work of general progress. He was a member of and was one of the leaders in the reor- ganization of the Chamber of Commerce and cooperated in all of its evolutionary activities resulting in the building of Cleveland along modern lines, Appreciative of social amenities he held membership in the Union and Roadside Clubs and was the founder of the Western Reserve Club. In politics he was a republican but never sought nor held office. However, he took an active interest in political affairs because of his belief in the principles of the party and was prominent in the campaigns of Presidents Garfield and McKinley. He was Governor Herrick's advisor for appointments in northern Ohio, was a member of the Tippecanoe Club and fostered the League of Republican Clubs. He also labored untiringly in behalf of the republican party in municipal affairs, not because of any desire to advance his own interests but because he believed that the democratic policy and principles were utterly wrong.
One who knew him well said: "An ardent partisan, he raised up many strong enemies as well as created many stanch friends. He was one of the fast disap- pearing number who honestly believed that no good can come out of the democratic party. He was especially strong in his opposition to Tom L. Johnson because he believed that Johnson's methods were inimical to the public welfare. It was this opposition which led him several years ago to take an active interest in the creation of a county board of review in order to prevent the democratic leader from gaining control of the tax machinery. This awakened the opposition of the Johnson faction who made charges and insinuations that his activity in tax matters was due to a desire to secure financial benefits for himself. Neverthless it is an absolute truth, easily established by the records, that Mr. Crawford did not and could not profit so much as a single dollar by any action of the board of review which he was popularly supposed to have created. Contrary to the general belief, he was not the owner of a single share of stock in any public service corporation in Cleveland. His wealth was invested in real estate and he had no financial interests which would be passed upon by the board of review.
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It was one of the peculiarities of his temperament that he never publicly re- sented these charges which he could so easily have proved false. An ardent and untiring fighter in behalf of a cause or of his friends, he would not lift a hand in his own defense. He believed that he had done right, that he had performed a patriotic service and he was content with the approval of his own conscience."
Mr. Crawford was married January 4, 1882, to Miss Bessie Taylor, a daughter of Alfred W. Taylor, who was a son of Elisha Taylor, one of Cleveland's ear- liest merchants and most prosperous citizens. Their children are two in number: Randall attended the Michigan University for two years as a member of the class of 1907 and then became associated in business with his father. He married Miss Florence Nadolleck, of Detroit, and they have one son, Willard Randall, born July 27, 1908. Willard J., Jr., was graduated from Cornell University with the class of 1907 and was also associated with his father.
The family residence is at No. 2148 East Forty-sixth street and the country home is at Chagrin Falls, where Mr. Crawford had a splendid estate of fifty acres, stocked with fine horses, cattle and poultry, in which he felt a genuine and deep-rooted interest. A lover of the beautiful, he had the finest private collec- tion of flowers in Ohio. He found recreation in driving and fishing and it was also a matter of genuine pleasure to him that his own success enabled him to assist others but while his charities were extensive they were all of a private nature for, modestly inclined, he avoided notoriety or ostentation in connection therewith. The simplicity and beauty of his daily life was seen in his home and family relations constituted an even balance to his splendid business ability, re- sulting in the establishment of one of the largest real-estate enterprises of this city.
ROY E. CURTIS.
Roy E. Curtis who has risen to his present position of responsibility through individual effort and natural ability, is assistant manager of The J. M. & L. A. Osborn Company, a position he has occupied for the past five years. He was born in Niles, Ohio, August 6, 1880, a son of Charles H. and Alice J. Curtis. The maternal grandfather, Alonzo Willey, was born in Vermont and there learned the blacksmithing trade. In 1901 he came to Cleveland, but later moved to Bris- toville, where his death occurred in 1908.
Charles H. Curtis was born at Bristoville, Ohio, but went to Niles, this state, where he formed the Curtis Steel Roofing Company, later moving the entire plant at Zanesville, where he organized the Muskingum Valley Sheet & Steel Company, of which he was president and manager. After coming to Cleveland, he associated himself with The J. M. & L. A. Osborn Company, as its vice president, continuing thus until his death in August, 1902. He was a born organizer, developer and producer and everything he undertook, he completed successfully.
Roy E. Curtis attended the public schools until he was eighteen, when he pursued a year's course at Mount Union College at Mount Union. Following this he went to the Ohio State University for two years, and afterward spent a year in the Case School of Applied Science. Having thus thoroughly prepared himself for business life, Mr. Curtis engaged with the Wellman, Sever & Mor- gan Company, as receiving clerk, but at the expiration of three months was made assistant general manager of The J. M. & L. A. Osborn Company. He is also president and general manager of the Merwin Manufacturing Company, and brings to bear in the conduct of his affairs a carefully trained mind and acutely developed faculties, as well as an excellent knowledge of conditions rela- tive to his business. In addition to other interests he is also a director of the Shaw Mantel & Tile Company.
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On March 7, 1907, Mr. Curtis was married in Cleveland to Miss Ethel C. Andrews, and they have one child: Lois Kathryn. The pleasant family resi- dence is located at No. 7210 Linwood avenue. Mrs. Curtis is a daughter of Charles G. and Anna (Simpson) Andrews. Her father is a well known rail- way man of this city, being connected with the Pennsylvania lines. Mr. Curtis is a republican and is much interested in the success of the party although he has never aspired to public office, his time being largely engaged with his business. A thirty-second degree Mason, Mr. Curtis is interested in the affairs of his lodge and is a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. Some years ago he joined the Methodist church, and is one of its earnest supporters. A capable, steadfast business man, devoted to his family, prominent in his church, fond of all manly out-door sports, Mr. Curtis is a fine type of the intelligent, cul- tivated progressive citizen of today, in which Cleveland abounds.
FRANK BERNARD ALEXANDER.
The business record of Frank Bernard Alexander constitutes an integral chapter in the commercial history of Cleveland and also of other sections of the country. His name is a familiar one in many cities, for he is the president of the Alexander Optical Company, owning fifty stores in various sections of the United States. The main offices are at No. 907 Euclid avenue, where he has been located since 1905.
A son of Louis and Satie Alexander, he was born in Boston, Massachusetts, July II, 1876, and pursued his education in the excellent public schools of that city to the age of thirteen years, when, ambitious to provide for his own sup- port, he began canvassing for magazines and other publications. He displayed notable energy and ability for one of his years and his ambition prompted his careful expenditure until he had saved a sufficient sum to engage in business on his own account. He was still very young when he established an optical store at Newark, New Jersey, having acquainted himself with the science under the direction of his father, who was a well known oculist. The new venture was not long in securing a profitable trade and as the business increased he opened up many branch houses in different parts of the country until the Alexander Optical Company now owns and controls fifty stores located in many parts of the leading cities of the United States. Newark, New Jersey, was one of the first branches, and Mr. Alexander, because of the substantial growth of the business here and the excellent location of the city as a trade center, resolved to make Cleveland his home. From a small beginning the business has developed along substantial lines until now one thousand people are employed in his stores and in the factories at New York city and Cleveland. His knowledge of the scientific principles underlying the work and the excellent service rendered by his representatives under his direction have made the output of the Alexander Optical Company a standard to the trade. As his business increased he saw the necessity and value of establishing factories that the goods handled in the stores might be received when demanded and that it might be of the quality de- sired. Factories were then opened and are now operating with large forces. The gigantic enterprise that has been built up is due to the marked energy and executive ability of Mr. "Alexander, who has constantly broadened the angle of his activities and has brought to play a strong initiative spirit in founding and developing the different mercantile and industrial enterprises that are now conducted under his name. He is also heavily interested in the jewelry busi- ness, having made extensive investment in that line.
On the 10th of September, 1902, Mr. Alexander was married to Miss Carrie Simon, a daughter of Isaac Simon, one of New York city's wealthiest mer- chants, and they have one child, Selma. Mr. Alexander belongs to Acacia
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Lodge, No. 327, F. & A. M., of New York. He is independent politically but not unmindful of the duties of citizenship. On the contrary he is greatly in- terested in Cleveland and its welfare and has been a cooperant factor in many projects which have been of inestimable value in the city's growth and deveiop- ment. Such in brief is the history of Frank Bernard Alexander. Who would have thought when he started out in the business world at the age of thirteen that he was to become the founder of one of the leading optical enterprises of the entire country, for he was a boy with no pretentions to fame or fortune. On the contrary, he was practically unknown outside of the community in which he lived and his financial resources were limited. However, he manifested in- telligent appreciation of opportunity and utilizing the advantages at hand he has built up a business of mammoth proportions, the splendid growth and develop- ment of which is an indication of his ability, enterprise and strong purpose, while his record is one which reflects credit upon the city of his adoption.
J. J. CARROLL.
J. J. Carroll, superintendent of the National Malleable Casting Company and thus prominently identified with the iron industry, which constitutes one of the chief sources of Cleveland's growth and prosperity, was born July 24, 1861. His birth occurred in Rutland, Vermont, and his youth was spent in the Green Mountain state to the age of nine years, when his parents, Patrick and Alice (Merrick) Carroll, came to Cleveland. They were born in Ireland and came to America in 1860. The father is now foreman of the company with which our subject is connected.
After coming to Cleveland, J. J. Carroll resumed his education, which had been begun in the schools of his native city, and enjoyed the opportunities for in- tellectual training until thirteen years of age, when, deciding to give his time to the task of providing for his own support, he entered upon an apprenticeship as core maker with the National Malleable Casting Company. He next entered the employ of the Gordon Lamp Company, where he continued for three months, on the expiration of which period he returned to the National Malleable Casting Company, entering the molding department. There he continued until 1884, in which year he became pitcher on the Pittsburg baseball team. The season was spent as a professional representative of our national game and afterward he entered the employ of the Eberhard Manufacturing Company as pattern maker, filling the position for a year. Once more returning to the National Malleable Casting Company, he acted as molder for a year and then with the Eberhard Manufacturing Company took charge of the cupola department and to that work gave his attention for a year and a half. A year was also spent with the Standard Foundry Company and in 1892 he was offered and accepted the position of assistant superintendent of the National Malleable Casting Com- pany. Ten years ago he was promoted to the superintendency and is now in charge of the actual work of the plant, his long and varied experience in mechanical lines splendidly qualifying him for the onerous duties that devolve upon him. Knowing the value of the work, his services are of recognized value to the company.
The marriage of J. J. Carroll occurred November 13, 1890, on which day Miss Eugenie Bruggeman, a daughter of John B. Bruggeman, became his wife. Her father at one time was a member of the city council from the fifteenth ward. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Carroll have been born three children: J. Eugene, who is attending the technical high school ; Charles A., a pupil in St. Agnes school ; and Edward B.
Mr. Carroll is a democrat in his political views and a Catholic in religious faith, being a member of St. Edward's church. He belongs to the Benevolent
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J. J. CARROLL
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and Protective Order of Elks; the Royal Arcanum; the Cleveland Athletic Club; and the Quinnebog Fishing Club. He finds his recreation principally in motor- ing and fishing and is very fond of outdoor sports, particularly of baseball. His vacation periods are spent in fishing, but the most of the year is devoted to the responsible duties that devolve upon him as superintendent of the National Malleable Casting Company, the large plant of which constitutes one of the chief productive industries of the city. From the age of thirteen he has been providing for his own support and the diligent spirit that he has displayed con- stitutes the source of his gradual advancement.
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