A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume II, Part 58

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 58

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With all his business responsibilities, Mr. Allen gave much time and thought to semi-public and civic affairs and charitable institutions. He was a life mem- ber of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce and was always interested and ac- tive in its work. He was the second president of the chamber, serving from April, 1894, until April, 1895. During his term of office was begun, largely through his exertions and administrative ability, the accumulation of a fund for the erection of the building which is now the home of the chamber. The mem- bership seat plan was adopted during his administration and there was much activity in river and harbor improvements, and numerous other matters of great importance, in all of which Mr. Allen took an active part and exerted large in- fluence.

He was a republican in politics and while in no sense a politician, was elected a presidential elector from the twenty-first Ohio district in 1892 and 1896, voting direct for the presidential candidates. He was elected a member of the board of trustees of Huron Road Hospital in 1896 and served as first vice president from 1899 until his death.

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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

In 1878 Mr. Allen became a member of the Cleveland Gatling Gun Battery, enlisting as private. He advanced through many offices to that of captain, which he held during 1892, resigning this office at the end of one year to become chair- man of the battery's executive committee. He was a member of the Union and Country Clubs, but was thoroughly domestic in his tastes.

On the 25th of October, 1877, Mr. Allen was united in marriage to Miss Julia Sanford Bingham, a daughter of Edward Bingham, one of Cleveland's most representative men and long identified with the hardware, street railroad and banking interests of the city. Mr. Allen is survived by his wife and three chil- dren, Edward Bingham Allen, Lois Augusta Allen and Kenneth Leland Allen.

During his long years of residence in Cleveland Mr. Allen remained one of its representative, worthy and honored citizens. He won enviable success in bus- iness and no man's history indicates more clearly the value and power of close application, of concentration, of earnest and honorable purpose and the wise util- ization of opportunity.

EDWARD PARKINSON ROBERTS.

Edward Parkinson Roberts, president of The Roberts & Abbott Company, mechanical, electrical and civil engineers, has through the successive steps of an orderly progression reached a conspicuous position in professional circles. He qualified for his chosen calling in Stevens Institute of Technology and since 1877 has successfully practiced, his broadening experience promoting his promotion until he is now a recognized leader in the ranks of his profession in Cleveland. He was born in New York city in 1857, a son of John P. and Ann (Roofe) Rob- erts, both of whom were natives of England. The father came to America when twenty-three years of age and took out his naturalization papers in time to vote for President Grant. He was a dry-goods merchant and after coming to America lived nearly all of his life in the state of New York. In 1854 he mar- ried Ann Roofe, to whom he was engaged in England. She was a relative of the unfortunate Major Andre. The death of Mr. Roberts occurred in 1892, while his wife passed away in 1899.

Edward Parkinson Roberts pursued his early education in a private school at Elizabeth, New Jersey, and afterward entered the Stevens Institute of Tech- nology, from which he was graduated as one of a class of ten in 1877, with the degree of Mechanical Engineer. During the next four years he was employed as lathe hand in the tool-room of the Singer Sewing Machine Company and was afterward draughtsman with Thomas Crane, patent attorney, of Newark, New Jersey. Later he became draughtsman and finally superintendent in the machine shop of George Yule at Newark and was then draughtsman with Hewes & Phillips, of Newark, and later assistant to Hiram S. Maxim, electrical engineer to the United States Electric Company of New York. He served successively as assistant to Edward Weston, electrical engineer for the above company ; elec- trician and shop superintendent of the American Electric Company of New York; engineer in the west for a Boston electric light syndicate, and then re- turning to New England, was electrician with the Swan Lamp Company of Bos- ton. He was afterward erecting engineer for the Brush-Swan Rocky Moun- tain Company and in 1883 went to Cheyenne, Wyoming, as superintendent of the Cheyenne Electric Light Company, with which he was connected until 1888, serving during a portion of that time as general manager. He became superin- tendent of the Cheyenne Gas Company in 1885, so continuing until 1888 and was also vice president of the Fort Collins (Colo.) Electric Company. In 1888-9 he was associate professor of electrical engineering at Cornell University and then became assistant engineer with the Brush Electric Company and superin- tendent of the Swan Lamp Manufacturing Company at Cleveland, Ohio, these

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two being at the time allied interests. Eventually he became general manager of the latter company, so continuing from 1888 until 1893, since which time he has been established in Cleveland as a consulting engineer. He at first fol- lowed his profession here as senior partner of the firm of E. P. Roberts & Company and when the business was reorganized was chosen to the presidency of The Roberts & Abbott Company, mechanical, electrical and civil engineers. He is also vice president of the Prentiss Clock Improvement Company of New York city.

In 1883 Mr. Roberts was united in marriage to Miss Jessie B. Boardman, of Vermont, and unto them have been born a son and daughter, Arthur Boardman and Eleanor Ruth. The family attend St. Paul's church, in which Mr. Roberts holds membership. He is a member of the Union Club and of the Chamber of Commerce and has been identified with many movements relative to civic af- fairs. He has served as chairman of the Smoke Prevention Committee of the Chamber of Commerce and is identified with various scientific societies, includ- ing the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Institute of Electrical Engineers and the Cleveland Engineering Association. He is an associate mem- ber of the American Street & Interurban Railroad Association and was sec- retary of the Section of Practice of International Electrical Congress held in Chicago in 1893. He was also a member of the electrical jury for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition and these positions indicate the high standing accorded him by the profession in circles in which his judgment is largely accepted as conclu- sive where any important question is involved. Thorough research, broad ex- perience and deep interest have carried him to a position of distinction in en- gineering circles in the country.

WARNER L. WEBSTER.

Warner L. Webster is a prominent building contractor of Cleveland who chiefly confines his activity within the limits of the county and who has made an excellent record in building lines, having constructed a number of substantial edifices here. He was born in Quaker City, Ohio, August 12, 1867, a son of John Webster, also a native of that city, born November 29, 1837, who followed agriculture all his life, death terminating his useful career in 1906. The mother of our subject who still survives, is a native of Noble county, this state, born in 1840, and was married October 29, 1858.

Warner L. Webster spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, where he passed through the usual experiences common to the country lad, availing him- self of the educational advantages of the district school, where he obtained his preliminary training. Subsequently he became a student at the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, from which he was graduated as a civil engineer with the degree of B. S., C. E., and following his commencement he taught school for several years, finally giving up that occupation and becoming employed in the office of C. N. Griffen, building contractor, with whom he remained until 1899. In the meantime he acquired considerable practical experience in that line of work, and in 1899 started in business for himself. In 1891 he became as- sociated with Mr. Griffen as partner, remaining with him until 1894, when this partnership was dissolved and he incorporated the present company, which transacts business under the name of Webster & Newman. Mr. Webster is an expert in his. line and his excellent reputation has won him considerable popu- larity. He has executed a number of important contracts here, among which are the Pennsylvania Railroad depot at Euclid avenue and Fifty-fifth street, the addition to the Cleveland branch of the National Biscuit Company, the Collin- wood high school and a number of apartment houses and private buildings, notably William Greif's, Lake Avenue residence.

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On November 29, 1890, Mr. Webster wedded Susan E. Smith, a native of Creston, Ohio, by whom he has three children: Agnes Irene, Caroline Lucile and Susan Geraldine. He is prominent in Masonic circles and the Knights of Pythias, being also a member of various social organizations, but is more widely known as a socialist, his views being pronounced. Having given deep study to the question he is conversant with every phase of the situation and is an able de- fender of socialistic principles. Mr. Webster is an enterprising business man, whose energy, patience and perseverance have placed him in the comfortable circumstances he now enjoys and, his transactions being conducted on the basis of honesty, he has the confidence of all and rightly merits honorable mention as one of the city's representative men.

ABEL FISH.

Abel Fish, living retired in Cleveland, his substantial income being derived from agricultural interests and real-estate investments, still resides on a part of the farm on which his birth occurred, February 8, 1832. The family homestead consisted then of a considerable tract of land in Brooklyn township, now a por- tion of the populous west side of Cleveland. The family has been distinctively American in both its lineal and collateral branches through many generations and at a more remote period was resident of England, the line being traced back, however, in this country to one John Fish, who was known to be living in Con- necticut in 1654. George Fish, the grandfather of Abel Fish, was born in 1763 and in 1785 married Sarah Hinckley. He was a prominent landowner of Con- necticut and there reared his family, which included Jonathan Fish, who in early manhood wedded Sarah B. Young. In 1817 this worthy couple traveled from New London, Connecticut, on horseback to Cleveland, settling on what is now the west side of the city. Jonathan Fish was a prosperous and well known farmer and squire for many years. At the time of the war of 1812 he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the American army and saw active service.

Abel Fish attended the district schools until the age of eighten years, after which he spent one term in Merrill's Academy, located on Pearl street. He con- tinued assisting his father on the farm until the death of the parent in 1870, when the farm was divided between him and his brother Jefferson. His entire life has been passed on the old homestead, for his present residence is on a part of the land that was included within the original farm property that his father secured more than nine decades ago. He conducted agricultural pursuits along the most progressive lines and continued to engage in farming until 1899, when he retired from active life. He has in his possession the first poll tax book that was ever issued in Brooklyn township, and also other evidences of pioneer life and ex- periences.

Mr. Fish enlisted in Company C, of the Brooklyn Light Artillery, under Cap- tain Andrews, at the time of the Civil war. There were six companies all told in charge of Colonel Barnett, and their service covered three months in West Virginia, three months on Johnston's Island and three months on detached duty. Mr. Fish has always maintained pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in Brooklyn Post, G. A. R. He became an Odd Fellow in 1855 and his life has been an exemplification of the basic principles of that or- der. He is also a member of the Early Settlers Association and of the Methodist Episcopal church on Twenty-fifth street, in which he has served as steward and recording steward. His devotion to the church has been manifest in his hearty cooperation with movements for its growth and the extension of its influence and also by his generous financial support. His political allegiance has been given to the republican party since he cast his first presidential ballot for Fremont in 1856.

ABEL FISH

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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. Fish was married December 30, 1858, to Miss Emeline M. Brainard, a daughter of Willard and Harriet (Young) Brainard. The Brainards are of an old pioneer family who came to Ohio from East Haddam, Connecticut, in the early '20s and settled on the west side of Cleveland. Mrs. Fish was born in Brooklyn township, January 9, 1836. Her brothers, George M. and Edward V. Brainard, were both in the Civil war, the latter being a member of the same company as Mr. Fish under Colonel Barnett, while George was in the regular service and remained at the front throughout the war. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fish were: Jessie M., now the wife of G. A. Cook, a contractor ; S. P. Fish, who is a market gardener ; and Josephine, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Fish celebrated their golden wedding Decem- ber 30, 1908. Both were born and reared in the locality where they still make their home. They now live on Jennings road and represent two of the oldest families of Cleveland-families that have taken an active and helpful part in the city's upbuilding and development as the years have gone by.

LEVI JOHNSON. -%

Levi Johnson, who erected the first frame building in Cleveland and owned the first ship launched at this port, was in many other ways as closely connected with the events which have left their impress upon the history of the city and have there- fore constituted factors in the world's progress. No student could carry his investi- gations far into the annals of Cleveland without learning that Levi Johnson figured prominently in the public life of the city during its early days. A native of Her- kimer county, New York, he was born April 25, 1786, and lessons of industry, diligence and integrity were early impressed upon his mind. Being left an or- phan in his youthful days, he was taken into the home of an uncle, with whom he remained until he reached the age of fourteen, working on the farm and also attending school as opportunity offered. A desire to become a carpenter and joiner led him at that time to take up the trade in the shop and under the direc- tions of Ephraim Derrick, with whom he remained for four years, during which time he gained comprehensive knowledge of the business. During the suc- ceeding three years he was employed by Laflet Remington. He then worked for one year at barn building in connection with Stephen Remington and it was during that year that an event occurred which shaped his future life. Consider- able interest had been excited by the onflowing tide of emigration to Ohio and the west and the brother of Stephen Remington made his way to that section of the country to investigate the land and report upon its fitness for occupancy. Com- ing to Ohio, he visited Newburg, Cuyahoga county, and, being strongly impressed with the advantages of the place, made favorable reports concerning his inves- tigations with the result that many were thereby induced to emigrate westward.

Stephen Remington then quit barn building, shut up his shop, packed his tools and in the fall of 1807 started for Cuyahoga county, his example being followed in the succeeding spring by Mr. Johnson, who on reaching Bloomfield, New York, tarried there through the summer season, working at his trade. A few months later he set out with his knapsack on his back for Ohio. He walked to Buffalo, where he found employment and there worked during the winter. In February, 1808, his uncle reached Buffalo on his way to the Buckeye state, and Levi John- son joined him on his westward way. They arrived in Cleveland on the 10th of March, 1809. The party made their way in sleighs to this city but because there was no longer snow the sleighs had to be abandoned here and on horseback some of the party proceeded to Huron county, where they met Judges Wright and Ruggles, who were agents for the "fire land." A desire was expressed that a sawmill should be built in the vicinity and Levi Johnson contracted to build one at the town of Jessup, now known as Wakeman.

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Later Mr. Johnson returned to Cleveland and was fortunate in finding a home in the family of Judge Walworth, for whom he engaged to build an office. Hith- erto all the houses in Cleveland were built of logs, but Judge Walworth's office was a frame building, the first that was built in Cleveland. At that time Euclid was a flourishing settlement and rejoiced in the important feature of a sawmill, from which came the lumber that was used by Mr. Johnson in the building of the little frame office on Superior street on the present site of the American House. When he had completed his contract he returned to Huron county for the purpose of fulfilling a contract made with his uncle for the erection of a sawmill. This work required three or four months, after which Mr. Johnson again came to Cleveland, taking up his permanent abode here. The next two or three years of his life were devoted to the building of houses, barns and other buildings in Cleve- land and in Newburg, and it was while he was engaged in the construction of a saw mill on Tinkers Creek for Mr. Jessup that he formed the acquaintance of Miss Margaret Montier, who had the distinction of being the first white girl that landed in Huron county, there living with a family of the name of Hawley. The young couple became acquainted and plighted their troth and when Mr. Johnson returned to Cleveland she accompanied him and was given a home with the family of Judge Walworth, the leading citizen of the then thriving village of sixty inhabitants.

In 1811 Mr. Johnson and Miss Montier were married and he settled down to the task of building in the little hamlet, his usefulness and skill in this direction be- ing evidenced throughout the city in both public and private edifices. He built for himself a log cabin on Euclid near the square. In 1812 he took a contract to build the courthouse and jail at the northwest corner of the square opposite where the First Presbyterian church now stands. The material was to be of logs laid with their broad sides together for greater security. About noon, on the 12th of September, 1812, Mr. Johnson and his men were just putting the finishing touches on to the building when there was heard, as it was believed, the roar of distant thunder which, however, proved to be the reports of distant cannon. At once he and his workmen hastened to the banks of the lake, where they found nearly all the inhabitants of the village eagerly looking westward, whence the sounds came. They proved to be the reports of the cannon used in the naval battle wherein Commodore Perry won immortal fame by his brilliant victory. A few days afterward Levi Johnson and a friend of the name of Rumidge picked up a large flat boat that had been built by General Jessup for the conveyance of troops and had been abandoned. The two men then purchased one hundred bushels of potatoes and with this flat boat took the tubers to the army at Put in Bay, where the potatoes were sold at a handsome profit, Mr. Johnson thus gaining his first substantial financial start in life. Later he and his companion loaded the flat boat with supplies which were taken to the army at Detroit, and again the sale price was far in advance of the purchase price, so that they again cleared a hand- some profit. Mr. Johnson then contracted with the quartermaster of the post to bring a cargo of clothing from Cleveland to the army at Detroit. As it was late in the season, the boat was obstructed by ice and a landing was made at Huron. The venture, however, proved successful and through this means Mr. Johnson became a man of considerable capital. His success in this direction probably gave him a taste for navigation, for he now took to the work of building a vessel of his own. The keel was laid for a ship of thirty-five tons to be named the Highland, and under many difficulties this ship was finally finished and the great difficulty of launching it was overcome by hoisting it on wheels and drawing it to the water's edge with twenty-eight yoke of oxen.' It was launched upon the river at the foot of Superior street amid the cheers of a great crowd who had as- sembled to see the first ship launched at Cleveland. This was not only the begin- ning of navigation for Cleveland but was also the beginning of a series of great successes for Mr. Johnson.

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In the meantime, however, Mr. Johnson through his buildings operations was closely associated with early features of Cleveland's history. He built the gallows on which the Indian, O'Mic, was hung and in 1811 he built the Buckeye House and soon afterward several other houses and barns in Newburg township. The little ship which he built was immediately requisitioned for army purposes and the army stores were transported between Buffalo and Detroit aboard the vessel and two loads of soldiers were taken that way from Buffalo to the command of Major Camp at Detroit. On his return trip the guns left by Harrison at Mau- mee were taken to Erie. Mr. Johnson received rather a severe blow at this time in that the quartermaster absconded with three hundred dollars of his money. In 1815 he resumed the carrying of stores to Malden, reaching there on his first trip on March 20th: On the second trip to Detroit he was hailed when passing Mal- den, but no attention was given and a shot was fired upon the vessel from the fort. The shot passed through the foresail. A second shot was then fired and this caused Mr. Johnson to bring his vessel into shore. When he went ashore they demanded the mail but he refused to give it up, saying that he was not so instructed. Then a party of men from the fort made for the vessel but Mr. Johnson boarded her, spread sail, and being favored with a good breeze drew away from his pursuers and proceeded on his journey to Detroit, where he placed the mail in the postoffice. In 1815 he built the schooner Neptune, with sixty-five tons, and after making a trip to Buffalo he returned with a cargo of merchandise for Jonathan Williamson. In 1817 the vessel made a trip to Mackinac for the American Fur Company and operated in the fur trade until the fall of 1819. In 1824 Captain Johnson, in company with others, built the first steamer constructed at Cleveland, known as the Enterprise, which was of about two hundred tons burden. It was afterward used in making lake trips between Buffalo, Detroit and Cleveland until 1828, when Captain Johnson sold his interest in that vessel and left the lake. In 1830, in company with Goodman and Wilkeson, he built the Commodore on the Chagrin river, and the construction of this vessel closed his shipbuilding career. He had realized from his efforts thirty thousand dollars clear profit, and this he invested in real estate. He then contracted to build for the general government the old stone lighthouse, on the site of the present one. He afterward built the lighthouse at Cedar Point and set the buoys mark- ing the channel to and in Sandusky bay. Later he built seven hundred feet of the east government pier in this city and Cleveland contains many other substan- tial evidences of his enterprise and good judgment.

Aside from his business connections Mr. Johnson was prominently asso- ciated with affairs of importance in Cleveland. In 1812 he was chosen coroner of Cuyahoga county, being the first to occupy that office and he was also the first deputy sheriff. With the passing of the years he invested his capital in real estate and his judicious placing of his funds, together with the steady rise in property values, had brought him to the millionaire class. In 1816 he became a director of the Commercial Bank of Lake Erie. He erected many fine build- ings in Cleveland, thus contributing largely to the improvement and growth of the city. He remained an active factor in its life and interests until December 19, 1871, when he was called to his final rest at the age of eighty-six years.

The family of Captain Levi Johnson numbered three children : Harriett, Peri- ander A. and Philander L. The last named was born in Cleveland June 23, 1823, and spent his youthful days in his parents' home in this city, where his education was acquired as a public school student. Early in life he became asso- ciated with his father in business and they were closely identified in all of their interests from that time forward. P. L. Johnson was a man of keen discernment whose judgment was seldom, if ever, at fault. He was thus enabled to correctly value life's opportunities and experiences and in all of his business affairs he was remarkably successful. He made many advantageous investments which contrib- uted to the enlargement of his father's estate during the latter years of his father's life and after his father's death his successful career continued, owing

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A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume II, Part 58

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