USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume II > Part 5
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
Manufacturing Company in order to give his undivided attention to real estate operations. He keeps informed concerning the property that is upon the market and is well known for his operations in this line, from many of which he has realized a handsome profit.
Mr. Farren was married in 1887 to Miss Josie Jordan, of Louisville, Ken- tucky, and unto them have been born three children : a daughter, Adele, who grad- uated from the Academy of Mt. St. Vincent on the Hudson; William E., who is now attending Niagara University, New York; and Walter, who is attending the common schools. He is a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Columbus and is councilman of St. Bridget's Roman Catholic church, of which his wife is also a communicant. In politics he has always been a democrat and in former years was judge and clerk in the twelfth ward for a considerable period. Mrs. Farren is a member of the Catholic Aid Society and of the Leonardo Society, and they are also contributing members to the Young Woman's Catholic Asso- ciation and to the Holy Cross House. Enterprising and determined, Mr. Farren has made steady progress along business lines and the success which he is now enjoying is the merited reward of his labors.
JOHN FRANK KURTZ.
John Frank Kurtz, a retired merchant, deriving his income largely from sub- stantial real-estate investments, was at the age of fourteen years an employe on a "bob-tail" train running out of Cleveland. From that humble position he has made gradual and substantial advancement, until the success of his later years has enabled him to put aside business cares and now rest in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. He was born in Sandusky, Ohio, July 4, 1849, and was a youth of about six years when brought to Cleveland by his parents, Jacob and Dora (Wymiller) Kurtz. The father engaged in railroading throughout his entire life and passed away on the 22d of August, 1893.
At the usual age John F. Kurtz entered the public schools, wherein he con- tinued his studies until he reached his fourteenth year. He then felt compelled to seek employment, which he secured on one of the local trains running out of Cleveland, commonly called "bob-tails." For two years he thus served, after which he was employed on the southern division of the Lake Shore Railroad for six months. He then went to the Nippero, Atlantic & Western Railroad and af- terward made his way to Oil City, Pennsylvania, where he was employed by an oil firm and afterward as fireman on the railroad. About a year later he secured a position at three and a half dollars per day, which was a liberal wage at that time. He was thus employed, saving not a little from his earnings and he re- mained in that position until 1872, when he felt that the capital which he had ac- quired as the result of his industry and economy was sufficient to justify his em- barkation in business in Cleveland. In 1873 he became a general contractor in this city and continued in that. line of business with growing and gratifying suc- cess until 1891, when he retired and established a grocery store. For fifteen years he engaged in merchandising but disposed of his grocery store in 1906 and has since lived retired, enjoying a rest which he has well earned and richly merits.
In 1871 Mr. Kurtz was united in marriage to Miss Levina Snyder, and unto them were born two children, but both died in infancy. Following the death of his first wife he wedded Susan Baker, who was born in Germany and became his wife in 1883. By this marriage there were born five children, four of whom are still living : Alfred; John Hugo, who is married and has one child; Henry H .; and Oliver Clair.
Mr. Kurtz owns a nice residence at No. 2141 West Forty-fourth street, S. W., and also has other property in the same neighborhood, from which he derives a substantial income. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and is a
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member of Franklin Circle Church of Christ, with which his family are also con- nected. In politics he votes for the candidate whom he regards as the best man for the position and does not seek political preferment for himself. His has been a busy life, in its close application and devotion to business interests, to which he has given his time and attention, and now, at the comparatively early age of sixty years, he is in possession of a handsome competence that is the visible evi- dence of his life of well directed energy and thrift. In all his undertakings his integrity has been above question, and his life is an exemplification of the fact that success and an honored name may be won simultaneously.
WILLIAM J. CARTER.
William J. Carter, consulting civil engineer of Cleveland, was born in this city in 1870. The first representative of the family in this state was Major Lor- enzo Carter. Henry Carter, the father of our subject, is likewise a native of Cleveland, his birth having occurred on the 13th of December, 1832. He was one of the nine children born unto Alonzo and Julia (Aikens) Carter, both of whom are deceased. His education was obtained in the common schools of this city and when sixteen years of age he put aside his text-books and devoted his attention to the work of farming under the direction of his father. Subsequently he began farming on his own account and continued an active and successful rep- resentative of agricultural interests until the time of his retirement in 1903. He owned a rich and productive tract of land near Newburg, Ohio, but since putting aside the work of the fields has made his home in a handsome residence at No. 3602 East Ninety-third street, Cleveland. He likewise has considerable other property in the immediate neighborhood and is well known and highly esteemed as one of Cleveland's prosperous and respected native sons.
On the 15th of September, 1858, Henry Carter was united in marriage to Miss Julia McNanie, who was born in Ohio in 1837. They have no children of their own but adopted a son, William J., who is the subject of this review. Henry Carter is independent in his political views, supporting the men and measures that he believes will best conserve the general welfare. Neither is he an adherent of any one religious sect or creed but contributes liberally to all charitable and re- ligious organizations.
William J. Carter, whose name introduces this review, attended the public schools of Cleveland in his youthful days and afterward entered the Case School of Applied Science, from which institution he was graduated as a civil engineer in 1891. Subsequently he spent about a year in maintenance of way work for the Pennsylvania Railway Company and then entered the service of the Osborn En- gineering Company, being largely engaged in bridge engineering during his two years' connection with that concern. He was afterward at the Canal street power station with the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company and was then employed by the Brown Hoisting Machinery Company for over two years. He next entered the government service as superintendent of construction in the quartermaster's department and was stationed at Portland, Maine, having charge of building construction at Fort Preble and Fort Williams. In this position of responsibility he remained for one year. From 1901 until 1908 he served as chief engineer of public works in Cleveland and since retiring from that office has been accorded a liberal and representative clientage as a consulting civil engineer. In addition to his interests in this connection he is likewise a stockholder in a number of busi- ness concerns, and he enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the successful, enterprising and progressive residents of the city.
On the 26th of June, 1895, Mr. Carter was united in marriage to Miss Cora Doolittle, of Cleveland. He has attained the thirty-second degree in Masonry and also belongs to the Mystic Shrine. He is likewise a member of several college
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fraternities, the Colonial Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Cleveland Society of Civil Engineers. His close ap- plication and unwearied industry have brought him goodly success, while his superior skill and ability have gained him recognition as one prominent in engineering circles.
JOHN J. BERG.
John J. Berg, known in the business circles of Cleveland as proprietor of the Model Meat Market at 5308 Franklin avenue, is also prominently connected with mining interests in Colorado and elsewhere. He resides at 1794 West Fifty- fourth street and in the section of the city where he makes his home has many warm and admiring friends. Cleveland is the place of his nativity and the date of his birth is December 31, 1867. His parents were George and Caroline (Fueller) Berg, both of whom were born in Germany, whence emigrating to America, they established their home in Cleveland and here reared their family.
John J. Berg was educated in the parochial schools of this city, which he attended until 1881, when he put aside his text-books and began earning his own living as a lock fitter. In this work he continued for three years, on the expira- tion of which period he started west and became identified with mining interests in the Rockies. He was successful in working the Smuggler mine at San Juan, Colorado, a paying investment, and he has there continued a factor in mining in- terests, having recently been elected a director of the Manhattan Gold Range Min- ing Company, the stockholders of which are mostly Cleveland men. Returning to Cleveland, Mr. Berg in 1889 established the Model Meat Market, of which he is proprietor and which has a liberal patronage. In addition to his other interests he is a director in the Pennsylvania Rubber Supply Company, of which he was one of the organizers.
On the 3d of February, 1891, Mr. Berg was united in marriage to Miss Kate Felten, and unto them have been born three children, who are yet living: Nor- bert, Edmund and Walter. Their two daughters, Lenora and Annetta, both died in infancy.
Mr. Berg is independent in his political views and keeps well informed on the issues and questions of the day, so that he is always able to support his posi- tion by intelligent argument. He concentrates his time and attention upon his business interests and his home life, in which he finds great enjoyment. A laud- able ambition has been the stimulus of his efforts as the years have gone by and has constituted the foundation of the substantial success which he now enjoys.
MAX LEVI.
Max Levi, secretary and treasurer of the German-American Savings Bank and equally well known by reason of his extended charities, was born in Lauter- burg, Germany, January 1, 1857. He came to Cleveland in 1863 with his parents, Isaac and Rosalia (Hermann) Levi, who were also natives of Germany. The father was for many years interested in the restaurant business in this city and the mother still lives in Cleveland at the age of seventy-nine years.
Max Levi was but six years of age when he arrived in this city, and its public schools afforded him his educational privileges. In 1871 he became connected with the De Forrest Dry Goods Company, beginning as cash boy. There he re- mained for a few months, after which he entered the employ of the Mahoning Railway Company as office boy and represented that firm for two years. He next became entry clerk for D. Black & Company, but his ability was soon
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
recognized there, and he was promoted to the position of bookkeeper, while later he became cashier, thus serving until 1887, when he became interested in the organization of the German-American Savings Bank Company and was ap- pointed teller in 1897. Later he was elected secretary and treasurer, which posi- tion he still fills. For years he has practically controlled the bank's affairs and has been the leading factor in placing it among the city's leading financial insti- tutions, his efforts resulting in the increase of its volume of business over four hundred per cent. The consensus of public opinion places him with the ablest financiers of the city called upon to deal with affairs of great magnitude and to solve difficult and complicated financial and economic problems.
On the 26th of January, 1883, Mr. Levi was married to Miss Tillie Freeman, a daughter of Jacob and Rachel (Levi) Freeman, of Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Their children are five in number : Milton Freeman, who is with the United States Candy Company ; Rena, who is the wife of Edward A. Katz, of Honesdale, Penn- sylvania, their daughter Kathryn enjoying the novel distinction of having three living great-grandmothers; Linda and Stella, who are graduates of the Central high school ; and James. The family residence is at No. 2391 East Fortieth street. Mr. Levi is a man of domestic tastes, finding his greatest happiness at his own fireside. He also derives much pleasure from travel. His political support is given to the republican party, where state and national questions are involved, but at local elections he casts an independent ballot. He holds membership with the Temple congregation and is greatly interested in charitable work, being treasurer of the Hebrew Relief Association, treasurer of the Hebrew Free Loan Association, treasurer of the Infant Orphans Home, and gives liberally of both his time and means to these charitable organizations. To make his native talents subserve the demands which conditions of society impose at the present time is the purpose of his life, and by reason of the mature judgment which charac- terizes his efforts at all times he stands today as a splendid representative of the prominent financiers to whom business is but one phase of life and does not ex- clude active participation in and support of the other vital interests which go to make up human existence.
CHARLES WHEELER PRATT.
In the department of engineering Charles Wheeler Pratt gives his attention to the civil and landscape branches, and his professional services have been an important element in the adornment and improvement of the city of Cleveland. His birth occurred in Nashua, New Hampshire, in 1865, and he comes of a family of English lineage. His father, Charles W. Pratt, Sr., was also a native of New Hampshire and for many years sailed the seas, becoming captain of a ship. He enlisted in the navy at the time of the Civil war and was placed in command of a vessel. He continued in the service for some years after the close of hostilities between the north and the south and eventually retired. He died in 1899 and is still survived by his widow, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Ann White. She is a native of Massachusetts and comes of Puritan stock.
Charles W. Pratt, of this review, spent his early life in Boston and vicinity and benefited by the thorough instruction of the public schools there. He after- ward had the advantage of lectures in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and had training with Professor Currier as his tutor. He thus qualified for his present profession, continuing to study for some time until his research and in- vestigation had brought him broad and comprehensive knowledge. In 1881 he began practice in the office of E. W. Bowdich, of Boston, as an employe, con- tinuing there until 1891, during which time he was principally engaged on the construction of sewers and waterworks and in landscape gardening. He was very efficient in his work, his ability winning him promotion from time to time.
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In 1893 Mr. Pratt came to Cleveland and in 1894 entered the employ of the old park board as chief engineer, at which time Mr. Buckly was president of the board and later was succeeded by J. H. McBride. During this time all the present existing public parks were built under the supervision of Mr. Pratt, who continued in charge of the same until 1900. In that year he took up the pri- vate practice of his profession, but in the meantime he had gained a wide acquaintance during his official service that enabled him to win an extensive clientage alone. His patronage has shown a steady, healthful increase with each year, and he is now doing a large amount of work as a civil and landscape en- gineer. He has many commissions to lay out new allotments and parkways, to- gether with sewers and macadam work. He designed the Ambler Heights effects and the Euclid Heights and was the designer of the original "group plan" as adopted by the Chamber of Commerce. Much credit is due Mr. Pratt for this project, which was recommended by the Chamber of Commerce June 2, 1900. In the practice of his profession he has always looked beyond the exigencies of the moment to the possibilities and opportunities of the future, laboring along lines which have wrought for practical benefit and for permanent beauty, and his work has received the endorsement of others high in the profession.
In 1902 occurred the marriage of Mr. Pratt and Miss Frederika Bailey, of Cleveland. He is a member of the Country Club and is fond of golf and motoring. He was formerly a member of the Massachusetts National Guard. While by no means a politician in the sense of office seeking, he has consented to serve as road commissioner and engineer in the village of Brahanaw and is now filling the office. With a nature that can never be content with mediocrity, he has worked his way steadily upward, a laudable ambition prompting his attain- ment of marked proficiency in his profession. His work indeed is of a most credi- tably character, and he well merits the success that has come to him.
JAMES J. TRACY.
James J. Tracy, one of the well known and influential financiers of Cleveland, where for nearly three-quarters of a century he has been engaged in the banking business and who, despite his advanced age of ninety years, is punctual at his office and conducts his business affairs with a clearness and vigor of a man many years younger, is a native of Lansingburg, Rensselaer county, New York, where his birth occurred December 3, 1819, his family having been among the early settlers of that part of the country. His father, Gardner Tracy, was a native of Connecticut, born in 1777, and passed away in 1849. The son began his education in his native city, but at the age of six years accompanied his parents on their removal to Utica, New York, where he attended school, early in life developing his talents for the transaction of commercial affairs and upon leaving the Empire state in 1836, he located in Cleveland, which at that time was in its infancy. He soon afterward entered the institution which was known as the Bank of Cleve- land, and he remained with that concern until it closed its doors in 1842.
His second financial venture in this city was with the T. P. Handy Brokerage Company, with which he remained greatly to the advantage of the business for several years and upon severing his connection with the firm he became teller of the commercial branch of the State Bank of Ohio, in which institution he per- formed the duties of teller until the year 1850, when he resigned his position and has since been associated with a number of industrial enterprises, particularly real-estate. His conservative business judgment and talent for handling large affairs have won him recognition as a financier throughout the city and enabled him to prosper. Perhaps no man here has been so useful and influential in the affairs of the community, his ambition leading him into many walks of life, in all of which he met with success and proved beneficial to those with whom he was
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JAMES J. TRACY
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
associated. He was one of the founders of the Case School of Engineering, a well known and thorough institution of its kind, which has turned out many students who have attained to positions of prominence in business and profes- sional careers and since its establishment he has been a member of the board of trustees. Mr. Tracy is vice president of the Society of Savings and at one time was a director of the City Bank, one of the most substantial and influential finan- cial concerns in the state. He was also one of the founders of the original Brush Electric Company of Cleveland.
Mr. Tracy was united in marriage to Jane A. Foote, a native of Detroit, Michigan, born in 1857, by whom he had two children: James J. Tracy, Jr., whose birth occurred in 1884; and Catherine S., whose birth occurred in 1888.
Throughout his long business career Mr. Tracy has always been a supporter of the republican party and in all his experience he has never found occasion to induce him to become disloyal, believing firmly that the policies set forth by its principles are in every particular adequate to subserve the country's highest finan- cial and industrial interests. His many years of prosperity in this city bear ample evidence of his business ability and unremitting energy, and he deserves the excellent reputation he sustains throughout the business circles of the com- munity.
MYRON BOND VORCE.
Myron Bond Vorce, president of the Vorce Engineering Company, in which connection he has taken large contracts for important work, was born in Cleve- land, August 14, 1871. His father, Charles M. Vorce, was a native of Collamer, Ohio, and died in December, 1901. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Evelyn Cornelia Marshall, is a sister of the discoverer of the Marshall Pass over the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, while her great-uncle was the discoverer of gold in California. She was also a descendant of Chief Justice Marshall. She is a native of Illinois and is still living.
Myron Bond Vorce spent his early life in Cleveland, pursuing his education in the public schools to the age of seventeen years, when his desire to become a factor in the business world led him to accept a clerkship in a store, where he remained for a few months. He then secured a position in connection with a surveying party and was fortunate in being under the orders of a very bright man, who took pains to interest Mr. Vorce in engineering. He began studying along that line, and his researches and his experience constantly augmented his ability, so that he was promoted from time to time to various positions in en- gineering offices. Being a natural mathematician and possessing as well good mechanical skill, he made rapid progress. While in Tennessee he accepted a position with E. W. Bowdich, of Boston, one of the most distinguished land- scape and civil engineers of the country, in whose employ he was sent to Cleve- land to develop Euclid Heights, Clifton Park and do other work of that char- acter. He afterward accepted the position of assistant engineer with the park board, developing and making the present park and boulevard system of Cleve- land. The city has reason to be proud of her advantages in this direction, and in large measure the work in this line shows forth the skill and ability of Mr. Vorce, who continued in the position until the summer of 1897. He then with- drew to engage in the private practice of his profession, but in 1898 he entered the city engineering department as assistant engineer in the work of intercepting sewers. Subsequently he was made assistant engineer in charge of the sewer maintenance department and was the real organizer of that department. In Feb- ruary, 1904, he was promoted to the position of pavement engincer of Cleveland and in this connection originated several valuable innovations. Later he was chosen inspector of buildings, which was another promotion, and served under the new building code from February, 1905, until March, 1907. In that month
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he formed and organized the Vorce Engineering Company, of which he is the president and general manager. In this connection he has erected several large steel bridges in various parts of the United States and has also put up several factories and manufacturing plants. He likewise enjoys a wide reputation as a consulting engineer, and he is chairman of the grade-crossing damage commis- sion. He is likewise the president of the Vorce City Investment Company and in these various connections is building up extensive and important business in- terests.
In 1903 Mr. Vorce was married to Miss Ethel Ridgley Stearns, of Detroit. Mr. Vorce is a member of the Civil Engineers' Club of Cleveland and also of the Cleveland Auto Club. He was at one time commodore of the Lakewood Yacht Club, of which he is now a director, is a member of the council of the Yacht Racing Union and is a very enthusiastic yachtsman. This constitutes his chief source of rest and recreation from the onerous duties of a profession in which he is making continuous advance and already occupies a position of considerable distinction.
FRANK P. BELLE.
Frank P. Belle, one of the oldest market gardeners of Cuyahoga county, was born in Bavaria, Germany, near the river Rhine, December 14, 1836. Peter and Barbara Belle, his parents, emigrated to the United States in 1846, arriving in the city of Cleveland on the 8th of August of that year. They were accompanied by four sons and one daughter. The father purchased a tract of land in Inde- pendence township, Cuyahoga county, consisting of fifty-six acres, which he placed under excellent cultivation. He had crossed the sea to a strange country and had settled among a strange people, hoping to make life an easier thing for himself and his children, and in his ambition he was wholly successful. He and his wife were members of the Roman Catholic church and were very devout in their religious faith. His father was a Catholic and his mother a Protestant. They had three sons and three daughters, and the former embraced the religion of their father, while the daughters were adherents of the Protestant faith. All are living in peace and harmony, each accorded the privilege of a choice in faith according to the dictates of conscience. The death of Peter Belle occurred in 1879, when he had reached the age of seventy-seven years, while his wife passed away in 1857, at the age of fifty-two years. They were the parents of five chil- dren: Adam, who died soon after coming to America; Frank P .; Peter, de- ceased; John; and Elizabeth, the wife of Paulus Keck.
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