USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume II > Part 22
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During his banking career Mr. Moore became interested in many of the cor- porations in which Henry A. Everett and his associates were factors, and his duties along this line became so numerous and important that he resigned his position in the bank in order to devote his whole attention to the affairs of the syndicate. He is still connected with many large interests covering a wide range of industry, but the principal holdings of the Everett-Moore Syndicate are street railway and suburban electric railway properties. He made his first investment in street railways in 1889 by the purchase of stock in the East Cleveland Railroad Company. Two years later he was one of a syndicate which purchased and re- equipped the Wheeling Traction Company, of which he became a director, retain- ing his financial interest therein for ten years. In the same year he also became interested in a syndicate which purchased the Toronto Street Railway, intro- duced electric power there and assisted in its refinancing.
In the year 1893 Mr. Moore became a member of the syndicate which bought out the Syracuse Rapid Transit Company, and, becoming vice president of the new organization, he assisted in its development. In 1893 he also made extensive investment in the Montreal Street Railway and was active in changing its motive power from horse to electricity. About the same time he made investments in the Winnipeg Street Railway and in the Montreal Park & Island Railway Com- pany. In 1894 he was a member of the syndicate, headed by Green Pack and Henry Everett, which built sixty-two miles of street railway in Detroit, called the Detroit Railway. After this road was operated for two years it was consolidated with the Detroit Citizens and with the Detroit, Fort Wayne & Belle Isle Rail- ways, forming the Detroit United Railway. The Everett-Moore interests were in the minority after this consolidation, but later the Wilson interest was purchased, which placed the syndicate once more in control of the Detroit United. In the interests of the latter, the Northwestern, the Detroit & Flint, the Pontiac lines, the Detroit & Port Huron Shore line and the Sandwich-Windsor & Amherstburg lines were purchased, all of which were consolidated with the Detroit United Sys- ten1.
The business operations of Mr. Moore in 1894 also included the purchase of the London ( Ontario) railroads and the institution of electricity for motive power. The Everett-Moore people still own this property, the business of which has had marvelous development, Mr. Moore acting as vice president for several years. In 1894 Messrs. Everett and Moore formed a syndicate and built the Akron, Bedford & Cleveland line, and later purchase was made of the street rail- ways and illuminating plants of Akron, the Akron & Cuyahoga Falls Rapid Transit Company, a city and suburban line extending from Barberton through Akron to Cuyahoga Falls and Kent. These properties were all consolidated with
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the Akron, Bedford & Cleveland line, and the new company was known as the Northern Ohio Traction Company. Mr. Moore practically financed the entire deal, which has been one of the most successful factors of the Everett-Moore syndicate. In 1895 he was associated with Mr. Everett in the construction of the Cleveland, Painesville & Eastern road, to which was afterward added the Shore line division of this road. Mr. Moore was the most prominent factor in building and financing the Lorain & Cleveland, a trolley line extending between the two cities, and afterward purchased the Toledo, Fremont & Norwalk, an electric line extending between Toledo and Norwalk. He was also a member of the syndicate which built the Sandusky & Interurban and also purchased the Sandusky City Railway. The negotiations which resulted in the merger of the Lorain & Cleveland, the Toledo, Fremont & Norwalk, the Sandusky & Inter- urban and the C. D. Barney & Company properties, consisting of the Sandusky White Line and the Sandusky, Milan & Norwalk, were conducted by. Mr. Moore, and the properties were consolidated under the name of the Lake Shore Electric Railway Company, Mr. Moore being the leading factor in financing this enter- prise, having much to do with the sale of the securities which made possible the organization of the present Lake Shore Electric Railway Company. Messrs. Moore and Everett were also holders of Cleveland Electric stock, which had been a consolidation of various Cleveland traction lines, including the East Cleveland line. In 1898 the Tom Johnson interest in these lines was purchased by Mr. Moore, and an active campaign was started for control of this property, in which the Everett-Moore people were successful.
In 1901 the Everett-Moore Syndicate purchased the traction and allied in- terests of Toledo, which were consolidated under the name of the Toledo Rail- ways & Light Company, Mr. Moore being a principal spirit in financing this un- dertaking and continuing to the present as one of the large stockholders. He headed the syndicate which purchased the Lima Street Railway line and re- equipped it in 1895, acting as president of the company for three or four years. He also held the presidency of the Detroit & Toledo Shore Line Railway Com- pany, owning a double track which the Everett-Moore Syndicate built between Toledo and Detroit.
In the passing of the years Mr. Moore had also become interested in the pro- motion of other traction properties, including the Aurora, Elgin & Chicago, the Scioto Valley Traction Company, the Washington, Baltimore & Annapolis and the Cleveland, Painesville & Ashtabula. He has large holdings in the Detroit United Railway, Toledo Railways & Light, Northern Ohio Traction & Light, London Street Railway, Cleveland, Painesville & Eastern, Lake Shore Electric and the Eastern Ohio Traction Companies, in all of which he is a director, and of the Lake Shore Electric and of the Cleveland, Painesville & Eastern he is the president and of the Detroit United is vice president.
The Independent Telephone lines controlled by the Everett-Moore Syndicate form the largest system in opposition to the old Bell system in the world, and the street railway and suburban lines operated and controlled by them form the first great trolley system in the country. Mr. Moore was a special partner in the banking firm of Moore, Baker & Company, of Boston, Massachusetts, and there is hardly a bank or trust company organized in Cleveland in the promotion of which his aid is not solicited. He has a quick and a strong grasp of details, readily perceives the intrinsic value of properties and is a man who quickly reaches a decision. He has unbounded faith in his associates, and they in him. Generous and kind to his employes, he well merits the honor, respect and love which they so uniformly tender him.
In 1891 Mr. Moore was united in marriage to Miss Louise Chamberlin of Cleveland, a daughter of Franklyn L. Chamberlin. Their children are now five in number, namely : Margaret, Franklyn, Kathryn, Edward W., Jr., and Elisa- beth.
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At the polls Mr. Moore casts his ballot in support of the men and measures of the republican party, but he has never sought nor desired the honors and emoluments of office, finding his time fully occupied in the control of his extensive financial interests. He belongs to the Union, Athletic, Country, Euclid Clubs and Chagrin Valley Hunt Clubs of Cleveland; the Detroit Club of Detroit, Michi- gan; the Toledo Club, of Toledo, Ohio; and the Transportation, Metropolitan, New York and Lawyers Clubs, of New York city. His happiest hours, how- ever, are spent at his own fireside in the companionship of his wife and children. They spend the winter seasons at their beautiful residence at No. 11129 Euclid avenue and during the warm months make their home in Mentor, Ohio, where Mr. Moore owns an estate of nine hundred acres. Charitably disposed, he con- tributes generously to the support of the needy, and, though his gifts are always unostentatiously made, it is known that many have reason to bless him for his timely assistance. His career seems almost phenomenal, and yet there is not in his business life an esoteric phase. His path has never been strewn with the wreck of other men's fortunes, his whole course being marked by business integ- rity and probity, his success resulting from his unremitting industry, his keen discernment and his excellent executive ability. In his life are the elements of greatness because of the nise he has made of his talents and his opportunities, because his thoughts are not self centered but are given to the mastery of life problems and to the fulfillment of his duty as a man in his relations to his fellow- men and as a citizen in his relations to his city, his state and his country.
THOMAS J. HOLMDEN.
Thomas J. Holmden is the treasurer of the State Banking & Trust Company, and his record indicates what may be accomplished when effort is stimulated by laudable ambition. One of Cleveland's native sons, he was born April 4, 1871. His father, Elbridge J. Holmden, was born near Oil City, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Thomas Holmden, who came from England to America. He set- tled in the oil district of Pennsylvania and on his farm were developed some rich oil wells. Elbridge Holmden was reared in Oil City and, having arrived at years of maturity, married Miss Ellen, daughter of Jacob Rohrer. They are now liv- ing on the Scranton road in Cleveland, where they reared a family of eight chil- dren : Effie, Nannie, Thomas, Nellie, Lewis, Judson, Annie and Wilbert. Of these Nannie and Wilbert are now deceased, while Lewis and Judson are engaged in the banking business.
Thomas J. Holmden pursued his education in Cleveland public schools and after putting aside his text-books engaged in various duties. His ambition, how- ever, was to become a factor in financial circles, and he labored always with this end in view, utilizing the opportunities that led him in that direction. In 1887 he entered the Union National Bank as runner and there remained for four years. He was next employed with the Cleveland Gas Company, acting as assistant cashier for two years, after which he became associated with the First National Bank as general utility man. He remained there for about two years and was afterward offered the position of secretary and treasurer of the Clark Avenue Savings Bank. In that position he displayed keen discernment and business abil- ity in handling the affairs of the institution, increasing the deposits from forty thousand dollars to four hundred thousand dollars during the two years and seven months in which he was connected therewith. In December, 1907, he was offered and accepted the position of treasurer of the State Banking & Trust Company, which position he still occupies. This was accorded him in recognition of his marked ability without any influence being exerted on his behalf. He has made steady progress in business lines, winning success which is the merited reward of perseverance, diligence and capability. He also acted as assignee of
THOMAS J. HOLMDEN
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the Farmers & Merchants Bank and in the same capacity for the Bank of Cleve- land.
Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. Holmden was married June 6, 1896, to Miss Magdalena Teufel, a daughter of Christian and Margaret Teufel. She is a representative of one of the old families of Cleveland, Christian Tenfel hav- ing been the trusted and confidential representative of the Armour interests in this city. He was a man of influence and wealth, his enterprise, keen discern- ment and executive force carrying him into important business and public rela- tions. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Holmden has been blessed with one son, Thomas Elbridge, now six years of age, who is with his parents at No. 3170 West Fourteenth street. They own a motor car, and in driving his machine Mr. Holm- den finds his chief source of recreation. He also, at times, indulges his love for hunting and fishing. Both he and his wife are members of the Free Will Baptist church and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. . He is public- spirited in matters of general interest and has done effective work for the general good through his membership in the Chamber of Commerce and is one of the directors of the Chamber of Industry. His record indicates that the field of labor which he chose in his youth, as one in which he desired to exert his activities, was undoubtedly the one for which nature intended him, as throughout the period of his association with financial affairs he has made continuous advancement, his labors being of signal usefulness to the companies which he has represented, while at the same time his ability has enabled him to command lucrative positions.
SAMUEL DOUGLAS DODGE.
Samuel Douglas Dodge, a distinguished representative of the Cleveland bar, was born in this city August 25, 1855, and comes of English lineage. His grand- father, Samuel Dodge, a native of Westmoreland, New Hampshire, died in Cleve- land in 1854. He came to this city in 1797, being one of the four original settlers here. He was a ship carpenter by trade, but as there was no opportunity to fol- low his business he turned his attention to the building of houses and in 1801 built a frame barn, thirty by forty feet, on the south side of Superior street, a lit- the back of the old building so long occupied by the Cleveland Leader and just east of the American House. It was built for Samuel Huntington and is said to have been the first frame barn erected in the city. Tradition says that Mr. Dodge was obliged to take land in payment for his work, but in course of time this land be- came quite valuable. He was deeded eleven ten-acre lots, embracing a strip of land extending from what was called in the deed the "middle road." It was after- ward known as Central highway and is now Euclid avenue and extended to the lake on each side of East Seventeenth street, then known as Dodge street. One hundred feet of frontage of this same property on Euclid avenue is now worth four hundred thousand dollars. The frame building which Mr. Dodge erected stood near the corner of Champlain and Seneca streets, and the land was sur- veyed by Moses Cleveland. The city owes its establishment to Lorenzo Carter, Judge James Kingsbury, Nathaniel Doan and Samuel Dodge, who in the order named became residents here. The last named assisted very materially in the development and upbuilding of the embryo city and maintained his home on Euclid avenue near the Kaiserhof hotel.
George C. Dodge, father of Samuel Douglas Dodge, was born at the family home on Euclid avenue in July, 1813, and died June 6, 1883, when almost seventy years of age. For some time he engaged in merchandising but retired from that field of activity rather early in life and devoted himself to real-estate operations. He had large interests on Euclid avenne and also on Dodge street, which was named in honor of the family but is now called East Seventeenth street. This street was cut through his father's property from Euclid to the lake. In the dis-
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posal of his real-estate holdings George C. Dodge acquired a handsome capital and was not only well known in business circles but was also recognized as one of the prominent democratic leaders of the county. The fact of his popularity is indicated in that he was the only democrat ever elected to the office of county treasurer until 1903, his election standing also as proof of the confidence re- posed in him by his fellow townsinen. He must have enjoyed to the fullest ex- tent the good will and trust of his fellowmen to have been elected to an office which usually gave a large republican majority. He was elected in 1854, and he also served as postmaster under President Tyler. He married Lucy A. . Burton, a daughter of Dr. Elijah Burton, who came to Ohio from Vermont and estab- lished his home in East Cleveland, where he engaged in the practice of medicine. His daughter was born in Manchester, Vermont, in 1817 but largely spent her girlhood days in Ohio.
Samuel Douglas Dodge, son of George C. and Lucy A. (Burton) Dodge, acquired his early education in private schools of Cleveland and afterward attended Graylock Institute at South Williamstown, Massachusetts, subsequent to which time he matriculated in Williams College, from which he was gradu- ated with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1877. He prepared for a professional career as a pupil in the Columbia Law School of New York city and was grad- uated with the Bachelor of Law degree in 1879. Returning to Cleveland, he entered upon active practice in the office of Virgil P. Kline and later was with Judge E. J. Blandin. He always practiced alone, however, and though engaging in general practice has devoted much time to real-estate law. He has also dealt quite largely in real estate, making his purchases and sales, however, mostly on his own account. He has charge of the business of the Euclid Heights Realty Company, and few men are better informed concerning the real-estate market and the opportunities for advantageous purchase or sale than is Mr. Dodge. At the bar he is recognized as a strong and forceful member, his knowledge of the law is comprehensive, while his preparation of his cases is thorough and ex- haustive, and his presentation before the courts clear and cogent. He acted as assistant district attorney under appointment of President Cleveland for four years, beginning in 1886. He then practiced law individually from 1890 until 1895, when under President Cleveland's second administration he was appointed United States district attorney and served until 1900. He then resumed private practice, in which he has since engaged, and the consensus of public opinion accords him a prominent position at the Cleveland bar, which has numbered many dis- tinguished members.
On the 25th of October, 1882, Mr. Dodge was married to Miss Jeannette Groff, a daughter of Henry R. and Mary (Sutherland) Groff, of this city. They became parents of a son and daughter. Henry Groff, born October 24, 1883, was graduated from Yale College with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1905 and received from that institution the Master of Arts degree in 1908. He entered the Harvard Law School as a member of the class of 1909. The daughter, Janet, who was a student at Briarcliff on the Hudson, completed her course in 1909.
Mr. Dodge is a member of the Alpha Delta Phi, a fraternity of Williams College. He is well known in club circles of the city, being connected with the prominent organizations of that character in Cleveland, including the Union, University, Euclid and Country Clubs. He has been closely identified with many movements of value to the city, is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and for two terms served as a member of the city board of education. His political allegiance has always been given to the democratic party, which he strongly endorses, and few men outside of those who hold office have such a comprehensive knowledge and keen understanding of the political issues of the day. He has been a member of the Ohio state board of pardons since 1905 and was a member of the sinking fund commission of the city of Cleveland. In 1900 he was elected secretary of the Cleveland Humane Society and filled that posi-
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tion for seven years, since which time he has been its president. He attends the Presbyterian church and is deeply interested in the various questions-political, sociological and economical-which affect the welfare of the race and are ele- 'ments in fashioning the civilization of the country. He is keenly alive to the interests and questions of the day, and his position upon such is never an equiv- ocal one, but on the contrary his influence is always found on the side of devel- opment, improvement and progress.
GRANT W. DEMING.
Grant W. Deming, of The Deming Realty Company, has largely set the stand- ard for real-estate operations, his enterprise instituting new and successful ideas, while his initiative spirit has brought forth original plans that have been effective forces in the improvement of the city in many ways. He was born in Ruthven, Essex county, Canada, November 6, 1872. His father, Hubert V. Deming, was a native of Watertown, New York, born July 3, 1830. He was a son of John Deming, a representative of an old New England family that was established by English ancestors in Wethersfield, Connecticut, in 1641. In the year 1849 Hubert V. Deming came to Cleveland and remained only a year, during which time he served as conductor on the Atlantic Railway between Cleveland and Pittsburg. In 1850 he removed to Canada, where he engaged in the mercantile and lumber business for a time, while subsequently he became connected with the govern- ment customs department, serving in an official capacity there for thirty years, or until his death, which occurred October 5, 1903. His wife bore the maiden name of Susan B. Wigle. She was a daughter of Windle and Hannah ( Hear- sine) Wigle. Mrs. Deming was born February 4, 1835, and passed away April 3, 1879.
Grant W. Deming was therefore less than seven years of age at the time of his mother's death. He was educated in the Windsor and Sarnia public schools of Canada and was graduated from the high school in the latter place with the class of 1888. After leaving school he came to Cleveland in 1889 and learned the trade of pattern maker, which he followed for four years. He next became city salesman for the Ohio Rubber Company, so continuing for a year and a half, after which he went upon the road as traveling salesman for Scofield, Shurmer & Teagle, in the oil business, continuing in their employ for a year. He was afterward with the Patterson-Sargent Company, remaining on the road for two and a half years, when he became head specialty salesman for the Pittsburg Plate Glass Company, covering northern Ohio for three years. In 1903 he assisted in organizing the Schatzinger Consolidated Realty Company, of which he was elected president, while afterward he became its secretary and for eight months was its sales manager. He resigned to become the vice president and manager of the Deming Brothers Company, which was organized in 1904. In 1905 he organized the Deming Realty Company, opening the Grantwood allotment com- prising Grantwood, Pasadena, Drexel, Tacoma and Massie avenues. The fol- lowing year, 1907, they opened the Columbia allotment, comprising Columbia, Empire and Kempton avenues. The year witnessed the opening of Hyde Park allotment and Cleveland Heights, and in 1909 they opened Forest Hill allotment on Cleveland Heights, containing about one hundred and twenty-three acres of the most beautifully situated land in greater Cleveland, at Superior street and Lee road. The Deming Realty Company enjoys the distinction of being the largest real-estate advertisers in America. Another feature of their business is that they handle and develop only their own holdings. Cleveland owes much to their efforts, for they have opened some of the finest residence districts in this city, having contributed substantially to its growth, improvement and adornment.
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On the 20th of May, 1896, Mr. Deming was married to Ristori Davis, a daughter of Ellis and Addie Davis, of Cleveland. She died September 5, 1898, leaving a son, Douglas Davis. On the 10th of July, 1900, Mr. Deming was again married. the second union being with Miss Susan R. Brown, the daughter of W. H. and Jennie (Rennick) Brown, of Ashtabula, one of the leading families of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Deming now have two sons, Barton Russell and Clif- ford Lewis. They hold membership in the Epworth Memorial church, of which he is a charter member. He has served on its board of officials, contributing generously to its support, and both he and his wife take an active part in the church work, Mrs. Deming being particularly helpful in the missionary work. Politically a republican, Mr. Deming gives earnest support to the party at the polls and uses his influence for its upbuilding but doesn't seek the honors and emoluments of office. He stands, however, for reform and progress in municipal affairs and does everything in his power to promote the best interests of Cleve- land along the lines of its material, intellectual, social, moral and political prog- ress. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and of the Cleveland Ath- letic Club and also of the Cleveland Commercial Travelers. Motoring, tennis, baseball and hunting afford him pleasurable moments in the midst of an active business career. He has long since left the ranks of the many and stands among the successful few, a fact evidenced in his attractive home at No. 10600 Pasa- dena avenue and in his country place at Lee and Cedar streets, where he has an land along the lines of its material, intellectual, social, moral and political prog- lems which come to him and in carrying forth to success the plans which he formulates. His close application has been one of the salient features in his career, and, moreover, in all his business life he has learned the lessons which each new experience contained and has used these for practical ends. Knowl- edge is of little avail unless it is assimilated, and Mr. Deming has learned to glean what is most worth while from the various interests with which he became associated. Difficult business problems stimulate him to put forth his best effort, and he never falters in the accomplishment of an honorable purpose until the end is achieved. His family is one identified with the finest interests of the city, and Mr. Deming by the consensus of public opinion is accorded a place with the men of highest rank in his adopted city.
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