A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume II, Part 26

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

USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume II > Part 26

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Mr. Horner is today classed with the active and leading representatives of Cleveland and in the spring of 1903 was elected a member of the city council from the twenty-fifth ward, was reelected in November, 1904, and again in November, 1907. He has done active work in the council in support of many measures which he deems of value to the municipality and also as a member of the committees on appropriations, taxes, assessments and ordinances. On the first named he has served as chairman, and he has also been on other committees of importance. In the work of the council he stands on the street railway ques- tion for an immediate settlement at the lowest possible fare, probably seven tickets for twenty-five cents with general transfers. He regards this as the low- est fare consistent with good service, which would allow a reasonable return on money invested. He has stood at all times for the conduct of city interests in a business-like and economical manner, believing that the same principles of busi- ness should be brought to bear upon municipal affairs as are used in private con- cerns. He is opposed to the use of public funds for expounding fads and fancies.

In September, 1903, Mr. Horner was united in marriage to Miss Eleanore Melville, daughter of William and Mary Melville, of Toronto, Canada. They hold membership in the Second Presbyterian church, in the work of which Mr. Horner takes an active part. He has addressed the Men's Club of the church on several occasions and at all times keeps informed on questions of vital public in- terest, reading broadly and thinking deeply. His membership relations are with the Delta Kappa Epsilon and the Theta Nu Epsilon, both of Cornell University, and he also became a chancery, the honorary scholarship organization in the senior class of Cornell. He likewise belongs to the Masonic lodge, the Knights of Pythias and the Sons of Veterans. His political associations are with the Tippe- canoe, Western Reserve, Union League and Twenty-fifth Ward Republican Clubs. Few men who do not give their whole time and attention to politics are so thoroughly informed upon the questions and issues of the day as Mr. Horner, and none is more loyal to the principles in which they believe. His service in behalf of his party is of a most practical character and has been productive of good results.

JOHN EDMONDSON CHAFER.

John Edmondson Chafer is the president of the Chafer Company of Cleve- land, who conduct an extensive business as steam and hot-water fitters and also make a specialty of exhaust steam heating. His birth occurred in Massachu- setts on the 17th of April, 1844, his parents being William and Faith (Haber- croft) Chafer, both of whom were natives of England, in which country they were married. In early manhood William Chafer crossed the Atlantic to the United States, settling in Massachusetts, where he devoted his attention to gen- eral agricultural pursuits. Subsequently he returned to his native land and there passed away in 1870. The demise of his wife had occurred about 1866.

John E. Chafer obtained his early education in the schools of the old Bay state and when about ten years of age accompanied his parents to England,

JOHN E. CHAFER

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where he completed his studies. His father paid a premium to have him learn the profession of engineering in the railroad shops, and in 1870 he returned to the United States, locating at Buffalo, New York. He was employed as en- gineer on the lakes from Buffalo to Green Bay and in the latter part of 1871 came to Cleveland, here securing a position with a firm which was engaged in the manufacture of steam fittings. At the end of about two years he became first assistant engineer in the city water works, acting in that capacity for four years, or until a change in the administration. He next entered the service of the Stan- dard Manufacturing Company as an expert on ice machinery and after a short time went to Buffalo, where he spent about a year in the erection of ice machines. On returning to Cleveland in 1879 he embarked in business for himself, estab- lishing a steam fitting and engineering enterprise under the name of John E. Chafer. When about a year had passed the style of the concern was changed to the Chafer-Buck Company, and at the end of another year it became the Chafer-Doughty Company. In 1882 the name was changed to the Chafer, Becker & Doughty Company, and the firm thus conducted business for a little over a year, when the name of Chafer & Becker was adopted and was retained for about twenty-three years. At the end of that time the concern was incorporated as the Chafer-Becker Company and was thus known for about two years or until April, 1907, since which time the business has been conducted under the style of the Chafer Company. They are engaged in the general manufacture of steam fittings, with contracting and engineering departments to the business as well, and their patronage in this connection has extended over the entire country, the business having steadily grown along substantial lines. Mr. Chafer is one of the oldest representatives of this line of activity in Cleveland and has long occupied a foremost position in industrial circles.

In the year 1864, in England, Mr. Chafer was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Leah Thorp, a native of that country. Unto them have been born seven children, as follows: John E., whose birth occurred in 1865 and who is now the vice president of the Chafer Company; Mrs. Fanny Brown, who was born in 1868; Arthur, whose birth occurred in 1872 and who passed away in 1907; Mrs. Lillian Grady, who was born in 1876 and died in 1904; William E., born in 1878, who is the secretary and treasurer of the Chafer Company; Mrs. Margaret Geckler, who first opened her eyes to the light of day in 1880; and Herbert. who was born in 1882 and is likewise associated with his father in business.

Politically Mr. Chafer has always been a stanch republican and formerly was an active worker in the local ranks of the party. Fraternally he is identified with Bigelow Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; the Royal Arcanum; and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is likewise a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Builders' Exchange and the Cleveland Engineering Society. His life record has exemplified many sterling traits which constitute an upright, honorable man- hood, and with the leading residents of Cleveland he well deserves mention.

OSCAR BROWN.

One of the earliest representatives of business life in Cleveland was Oscar Brown, who was born in Elyria, Ohio, in 1818, and died in 1849. His parents were James and Esther Brown, who were among the early residents that New York sent to the Buckeye state. They established their home at Elyria in 1817, and there the father followed the occupation of farming, at a time when it was with difficulty that the soil of Ohio was converted into fertile fields owing to the heavy growth of timber which covered it and had to be cleared away before the plowing could be done.

Oscar Brown acquired his education in Elyria and was a well informed man for that early day, having attended Oberlin College. He often filled the pulpit

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in the absence of the minister, although he never studied theology, his good edu- cation and his thorough understanding of the principles of Christianity enabling him to speak earnestly and eloquently to the people upon religious questions. On coming to Cleveland in the days of its early business development he established a blacksmith and wagon shop in what was then Collmer, now East Cleveland. He continued the business, however, for only a short time, for his death soon afterward occurred, when he was but twenty-seven years of age. His political support was given to the whig party, and his religious faith was that of the Pres- byterian church, of which he was a devoted member.

In 1838 Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Eveline S. Meeker, a daughter of Stephen B. and Elizabeth (Chips) Meeker, who came to Cleveland from Elizabeth, New Jersey, at an early day. Timothy Meeker, her grand- father, was one of the eighteen sons of Josiah Meeker, all of whom served with distinction throughout the Revolutionary war. The Meeker family, which has long figured prominently in connection with the annals of this country, was of Holland origin, and representatives of the name went from Antwerp to England in 1500. Two brothers braved the dangers of an ocean voyage two and a half centuries ago in order to establish homes in the new world. They arrived in America in 1639 and settled in New Haven, Connecticut. One of these brothers, William Meeker, a short time afterward purchased one hundred and fifty-two acres of land from the Indians and established the city of Elizabeth, New Jersey. The old homestead which he erected near Newark, New Jersey, in 1658, is still standing and is occupied by descendants of the family. It was used during the Revolutionary war by Josiah Meeker and his eighteen sons.

Mrs. Brown is one of the oldest living residents of Cleveland, having been born on the Mayfield road in 1820. She is remarkably well preserved for one of her years and is a valued and honored member of the Old Settlers' Association. Her children are: William S. Brown, now living retired; Amelia, who died at the age of twelve years; Mrs. Sarah Erying, the widow of Frank Erying; and Lottie F., the wife of H. G. Boone, a direct descendant of Daniel Boone, of Kentucky.

ROBERT BURTON NEWCOMB.

Robert Burton Newcomb, attorney at law, was born in New York city Octo- ber 26, 1872. His parents, G. L. and Elizabeth Newcomb, are both now de- ceased. The father, a physician of New York city, died there in 1884, in which year Robert B. Newcomb and his younger brother, Adrian G., came to Cleve- land with their mother and have since made this city their home. Preparing for a professional career with the original intention of making the practice of med- icine his life work, R. B. Newcomb was graduated from the Western Reserve Medical College in 1893 with the degree of M. D. He afterward attended Ober- lin College for one year and subsequently matriculated in Baldwin University, from which institution he was graduated in 1897 with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. In 1899 he completed a course in the Western Reserve Law School and the Bachelor of Law degree was conferred upon him.

Admitted to the bar in June of that year Mr. Newcomb began practice in Cleveland as a member of the firm of Hopkins, Cobb & Newcomb, his associates being W. R. Hopkins and F. M. Cobb, while later B. P. Bole was admitted to a partnership that was maintained until January 1, 1907. On its dissolution the present firm of R. B. & A. G. Newcomb was formed. The senior part- ner has confined his attention exclusively to medico-legal practice. In 1892, while in college, he founded the Western Reserve Medical Journal, later the Journal of Medicine and recently the Cleveland Medical Journal. He has been an occasional contributor to various periodicals.

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On the Ist of September, 1898, Mr. Newcomb wedded Faith Warner, a daughter of Dr. M. F. Warner, president of Baldwin University, and they have two sons, Millard W. and Robert B., aged respectively ten and five years. Mr. Newcomb is a republican but only votes the straight ticket when he has reason to believe that the candidates named thereon are men who will be loyal to the best interests of good, wholesome government. His relations in nonpro- fessional lines are with the Masons, the Chamber of Commerce, the Hermit Club, the Euclid Club, and the Academy of Medicine-associations which indi- cate much of the nature of his interests.

EDWARD L. DEAN.

Edward L. Dean, who for many years was an enterprising and successful representative of industrial interests in Cuyahoga county, being engaged in bus- iness as a carriage manufacturer, passed away on the 31st of August, 1894. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, on the 26th of March, 1833, his parents being David and Olive C. (White) Dean, who celebrated their marriage in the year 1828. They made their way from Utica, New York, to Columbus, Ohio, and in 1834 came to Cleveland, locating on Superior street, where David Dean con- ducted business as a carriage manufacturer. In 1852 he retired and took up his abode in Newburg, there purchasing a tract of eight acres of land. Subse- quently he laid it out in lots and disposed of the greater portion thereof. Both he and his wife belonged to the famous Old Stone church, which is still standing in the square.

Edward L. Dean attended the district schools of Cleveland until sixteen years of age and then began learning the trade of carriage making under the direction of his father. He accompanied his parents to Newburg and there en- tered business as a carriage manufacturer in partnership with his cousin Charles Midlam, which association was maintained until 1856, when they sold out. Making his way to Wilmington, Ohio, Mr. Dean there became foreman in the carriage works of Justus Taylor, in which capacity he served for two years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Cleveland and here again became identified with industrial interests as a carriage manufacturer in partnership with his father-in-law, Nehemiah Knapp, which relation was con- tinued from 1858 until 1861. In the latter year he turned the business over to his father-in-law and removed to Gallipolis, Ohio, with his family, there acting as foreman in the carriage works of Charles Vanden until 1865. He then again returned to Cleveland and successfully conducted a carriage-making establish- ment until the time of his retirement in 1880, when he converted his factory into a double dwelling house. On the 29th of August, 1874, a disastrous fire destroyed a number of the buildings in that locality, but these were afterward replaced by more modern structures.

On the 5th of November, 1856, Mr. Dean was united in marriage to Miss Amantha C. Knapp, whose birth occurred in Newburg, Ohio, on the 12th of November, 1838, her parents being Nehemiah and Mary (Harbaugh) Knapp. The father was born on the 20th of June, 1809, and the mother, at Sandyville, Ohio, on the 14th of November, 1815. Nehemiah Knapp, who came to Cleve- land from Liberty Corners, Steuben county, New York, in 1831, here followed the trade of blacksmithing. The earliest records of the Knapp family date back to the fifteenth century, at which time representatives of the name were living in Sussex county, England, where they were regarded as people of wealth and standing, having their coat-of-arms, etc. Many of them also became famous as warriors of that day. The first representatives of the family in this country came here in 1630 with a colony of farmers under command of Winthrop and Salstanstall. Two brothers, Roger Nicholas and William Knapp, who located

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in different parts of Massachusetts, are the direct ancestors of Mrs. Dean. The representatives of the name are now widely scattered over the United States, and many of them hold very prominent official positions. Nathaniel Knapp, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Dean, was a member of Washington's life guard during the Revolutionary war. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dean were born four chil- dren, as follows: George D., whose birth occurred August 27, 1858, and who passed away on the 29th of August, 1905; Edward L., born March 12, 1861, who was called to his final rest on the 4th of March, 1875; Jeanie, born Febru- ary 24, 1865, who gave her hand in marriage to William J. Townsend, of Cleve- land, on the 5th of November, 1885; and Allen C., whose birth occurred August 5, 1882, and who is now connected with the American Steel & Wire Company.

Mr. Dean was a charter member of Masonic Lodge No. 379, at Newburg, which was chartered on the 16th of October, 1867. His widow belongs to the Early Settlers' Association and, having lived in Cleveland during her entire life, has a host of friends throughout the city.

PER LEE ALVIN LIEGHLEY.

Per Lee Alvin Lieghley, at one time county prosecuting attorney of Cuyahoga county and now practicing at the Cleveland bar, was born in Navarre, Ohio, March 9, 1872. For almost a century the family has been represented there. The paternal great-grandfather becoming a pioneer of Ohio, settled in Navarre about 1812 and three generations of the family have there been represented. His son, David Lieghley, was born near Navarre, devoted his life to general agri- cultural pursuits and died in 1887. Frank B. Lieghley, the father of our sub- ject, was born at Navarre, April 14, 1843, was also reared to agricultural pur- suits and throughout his life has carried on general farming. He has also held various township offices, was active in the ranks of the democracy and in various ways is an influential factor in community life. He was too young for service in the Civil war, and his father was too old, but two of the paternal uncles of our subject, Eli B. and Jacob Lieghley, served throughout the entire period of hostilities. The mother of P. L. A. Lieghley bore the maiden name of Barbara R. Lonas and was born near Navarre, Ohio, June 27, 1844. Her father, John D. Lonas, was born in Mount Jackson, Virginia, devoted his life to farming and became a justice of the peace. He had two sons in the Union army, one of whom was killed in battle. Other relatives on this side of the family were in the Con- federate army. The only brother of P. L. A. Lieghley is William F. Lieghley, now a farmer at Navarre. His sister Etta is the wife of Frank Ingleman, living near Navarre.

In the district schools Mr. Lieghley pursued his early education and after- ward attended Marsgall's Business College at Delaware, Ohio, from which he was graduated with the class of 1889. He was for six months with the McIn- tosh-Huntington Hardware Company of Cleveland and afterward entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, in which he pursued a three years' special course. He prepared for his profession in the Cincinnati Law School, which he attended in 1894-5 and in 1895 entered the Kent College of Law in Chicago, from which he was graduated with the Bachelor of Law degree in 1896. He likewise prac- ticed law in Chicago for three years, when his health failed, and he returned to Ohio. He then accepted the principalship of the schools at Strasburg, Ohio, near his old home, and to some extent practiced law, serving also as justice of the peace for three years. Desiring the broader field offered in city practice, he came to Cleveland on the Ist of August, 1902, and has since practiced alone. In 1905 he was solicitor of South Brooklyn, filling the position until about the time of its annexation to Cleveland. Although a democrat he was elected to the office by a republican council-a fact which is indicative of the confidence re-

P. L. A. LIEGHLEY

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posed in his ability and loyalty. On the Ist of January, 1906, he was appointed the first assistant county prosecutor and served until January 9, 1909, when he resumed the practice of law in the American Trust building, giving his attention now to general practice. In 1906 he tried all the cases in the common pleas court brought against the bucket shops and convicted all persons tried. Some of the cases went to the supreme court, and that court rendered its first decision on the bucket law in Ohio. Mr. Lieghley also secured the conviction of Soloy for mur- der in the first degree, and he was the first criminal to be sentenced to electrocu- tion in eight years. Associated with other attorneys he prosecuted Leo Czech- owski et al for blackmailing a Catholic priest, and the trial, which lasted for sev- enteen days terminated in conviction. He has been interested in many murder cases and other cases of equal importance. He is recognized as one of Cleve- land's strong trial lawyers, neglecting no point which has any bearing upon the case in any way and at the same time never neglecting to keep in prominence before court or jury the important points upon which the decision of every case finally turns.

On the 17th of January, 1895, Mr. Lieghley was married to Miss Clara Marie Alexander, a daughter of J. Smith Alexander, of Marysville, Ohio, a lumber manufacturer and merchant, who also deals extensively in hay. Her mother bore the maiden name of Clara Marie Wood. Mr. and Mrs. Lieghley have two chil- dren, Helen and Phyllis. Mr. Lieghley belongs to the National Union, the Owls, the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Beta Theta Pi, a college fraternity. His social qualities render him popular in these various organizations. His abil- ity at the bar is evidenced in many notable verdicts which he has won, and he is particularly strong in trial practice, for his careful analysis enables him clearly to determine the relation between cause and effect, to recognize every point that may have possible bearing upon his case, and at the same time his oratorical abil- ity and his logical trend of thought enable him to present his cause with notable force before the courts.

BENJAMIN PARMELY.

Benjamin Parmely, a well known representative of the legal fraternity in Cleveland, his natural and acquired ability winning for him a creditable position as a member of the bar, was born in Ashland, Ohio, October 9, 1869. He rep- resents one of the old families of the state. His grandfather, Sylvanus Parmely, came to Ohio from Vermont in 1805 and located at Sullivan where, seventy years ago, he built the old home, there spending his last days. He was a prominent figure in state politics and served as a member of the Ohio state legislature in the '40s. His father, M. B. Parmely, was a native of Lorain county, this state, and at different times engaged in merchandising in Ashland and Dayton, being connected with that line of business until his retirement about twenty years ago. He died on the old Parmely homestead in Sullivan, Ohio, September 13, 1908, at the age of eighty-two years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Eliza- beth Porter, was born at Lisbon, Ohio, and died in 1893. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Parmely were six children, of whom three are yet living, the others being: Mrs. Myron T. Herrick and Mrs. Ralph Gray, of Cleveland.

Benjamin Parmely supplemented his public school education, acquired in Dayton, by a two years' course of study in Garfield University, at Wichita, Kan- sas. Having determined upon the practice of law as a life work, he then entered the University of Michigan and won the Bachelor of Law degree upon his grad- uation with the class of 1892. Admitted to the bar in 1893 he at once began practice in Cleveland. For a year and a half he was attorney for the Fidelity & Casualty Company and then practiced with the law firm of Estep, Dickey. Carr & Goff and later with Kline, Carr, Tolles & Goff. In 1896 he organized the law

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firm of Wilcox, Collister, Hogan & Parmely, which maintained a continuous ex- istence until 1903, since which time Mr. Parmely has been associated with James J. Hogan in a general practice, although they largely specialize in corporation law, in which department of jurisprudence Mr. Parmely is thoroughly familiar. His devotion to his clients' interests is proverbial, and he gives to them the ben- efit of unwearied industry and wide legal learning. He served as assistant United States attorney from May, 1901, until September, 1905, and had pre- viously served as United States commissioner for six months.

On the 16th of November, 1904, Mr. Parmely was married at Columbus, Ohio, to Miss Mary E. Tolford, a daughter of Colonel W. O. Tolford, of that place. She was a reigning belle in social circles of the capital city and has taken a prominent position in the social life of Cleveland. Mr. and Mrs. Parmely now have a little daughter, Elizabeth, who is a year old. Mr. Parmely belongs to the Phi Delta Phi, a college fraternity, to the Country, Union and Hermit Clubs, to the Cleveland Young Republican Club, the Nisi Prius Club, the Exclusive Legal Club, of Cleveland, and to the Cleveland Bar Association. These membership relations indicate clearly the nature of his interests. He recognizes the duties and obligations as well as the privileges of citizenship and is appreciative of the social amenities of life, yet he makes his profession his chief concern, and his devotion to his clients' interests is a salient feature in his successful professional career.

OSCAR JAMES CAMPBELL.

Oscar James Campbell, whose thorough preparatory training coupled with his laudable ambition foretokened the success which he has won as a member of the Cleveland bar, was for some time engaged in practice in partnership rela- tions but is now alone, and a good clientage is accorded him, connecting him with many of the litigated interests of the district. He was born in Cuba, New York, April 27, 1846. His father, James More Campbell, was born in Cherry Valley, New York, May 28, 1801, and died April 27, 1876, after devoting many years to active farming. He was a son of Robert Campbell, also a native of Cherry Valley. The ancestry is traced back to the Campbell clan in Scotland, and representatives of the name, leaving the land of hills and heather, estab- lished their home in Ireland at the time of the Monmouth rebellion, in which the great-great-grandfather of O. J. Campbell took active part, his identification therewith causing him to flee the country. Robert Campbell, the grandfather, also had an interesting military chapter in his history, for he served as a captain in the war of 1812. The mother of O. J. Campbell was Melinda Morey, who was born in Fabius, New York, April 25, 1808, and died in 1886. Her family numbered three sons. Edwin, who was born in 1829, became a teacher of Alle- gany county, New York, and served as county superintendent of schools. He died in 1866. Francis, born in 1837, was for many years identified with mining and ranching in California but is now living retired.

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A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume II, Part 26

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

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