A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume II, Part 92

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

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W. H. FAY

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a specialty is made of moving and erecting machinery. Mr. Fay is one of the best and most reliable men in the business and his success is well merited.

On December 25, 1880, Mr. Fay married Amelia Ortli, who was born in Cleveland, her parents being old settlers of the city who still survive, although Mrs. Fay died January, 27, 1909. She bore her husband five children : Carl J., who is with Westinghouse Company of Pittsburg; Raymond, formerly with the Colliver Ocean Steamship Company of Cleveland, but now associated with his father in business; Harvey W., who has just graduated from the Case School of Applied Science in electrical engineering and is now with the National Elec- tric Lamp Company; Harry B., who is attending Hiram College; and Olive Amelia, attending high school.

Mr. Fay is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Honor, the Tribe of Ben Hur, the Improved Order of Red Men and to the Team Owners Association. Politically he is a republican. A keen business man, thoroughly practical, with a wide experience in several lines, he is conducting his enterprises by methods certain to insure success.

JOHN W. THOMPSON.

The building trade of Cleveland has associated with it a number of excellent men whose workmanship has won them popularity and commended them to an extensive patronage. Among them is John W. Thompson, who is engaged in general contracting, and during the brief period in which he has been thus en- gaged he has been wonderfully successful and attained a prominent place in the industrial and financial circles of the city.

His birth occurred here, December 18, 1879, a son of Walter I. and Olive (Quayle) Thompson, who are still residents of Cleveland. The father is also a native of this city, born in 1854, and one of the first building contractors here, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this volume. The paternal grandfather of the subject of this review was a native of England and came to the United States when a young man. For many years was associated in bus- iness with John D. Rockefeller. His maternal grandfather was also a resident of the United States and served on the Union side throughout the Civil war.

The public school system of Cleveland afforded John W. Thompson his edu- cational advantages and after passing through the successive grades he consid- ered himself amply equipped to cope with the world. Desiring to become inde- pendent in life and enter the commercial arena, he engaged in business with his father, with whom he learned the trade of bricklayer, for four years following that occupation as a journeyman. In 1898 he became intimately associated with his father in the contracting business and in 1903 the firm name was changed to Thompson & Son, under which style the business is now being transacted. He is an energetic, industrious young man, who gives his undivided attention to the business and, being familiar with every phase of the undertaking, he is one of the most prominent factors in general contracting lines in the city. Aside from having erected a number of apartment houses he has also executed con- tracts for public school buildings, the technical high school structure, several large factory buildings, a number of Lakewood school buildings, two large buildings for the Cleveland Twist Drill Company, the city ice delivery struc- tures and a new plant for the Aluminum Casting Company.

On September 20, 1905, Mr. Thompson wedded Alice O'Mara, a native of this city, and the couple have since been residing here in an elegant residence provided with all of the conveniences requisite to domestic happiness. He is prominent in fraternal organizations, being a member of the Masonic order, in which he is a Shriner, and he also belongs to the local Builders Exchange, in which he takes an active interest. Being a man whose earnestness and devotion

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to his business is widely acknowledged and which have thus far enabled him to become very popular, the future undoubtedly has in store for him a still more prominent position in the industrial and financial circles of the city.

CHARLES W. HOTCHKISS.

Charles W. Hotchkiss, who throughout the entire period of his business career has been connected with the National Malleable Castings Company, of which he is now the superintendent, was born in Cleveland, October 12, 1869. His parents, Eldridge W. and Mary L. Hotchkiss, were natives of Connecticut and in 1868 came to Cleveland, where they are still residing. For thirty-six years Eldridge W. Hotchkiss was connected with the National Malleable Cast- ings Company, his identification with that business continuing up to the time of his retirement from active life. An extended sketch of him appears elsewhere in this volume.

At the usual age Charles W. Hotchkiss became a pupil in the public schools and afterward attended Kenyon College, where he completed his literary course. His business training was received in connection with the company which he now represents and his success is undoubtedly due in part to the fact that he has continued with this house for twenty-one years, utilizing in each advanced posi- tion the knowledge that he had previously gained of the business. His increas- ing ability led to successive promotions until five years ago he became superin- tendent of what is today one of the most important branches of the iron industry of Cleveland. Thoroughly conversant with the business in principle and detail he is particularly qualified for the duties of management that now devolves upon him, and in this connection he is contributing materially to the success of the company.

On the 3Ist. day of October, 1899, occurred the marriage of Mr. Hotchkiss and Miss Elizabeth Conrad, of Philadelphia, who died February 15, 1908. The life record of Mr. Hotchkiss has at all times been in accord with those upright principles which command universal respect. He has made no ostentatious display of ability, nor has he sought honors beyond his own deserving, but his conscientious toil has brought him well earned recompense, and he is worthy to be numbered among the substantial citizens of Cleveland. While in college he was prominent in athletics as a sprinter and distance runner, being a member of the track team, and he is still interested in outdoor sports and motoring. Religiously he is connected with Emmanuel church, and socially is a member of the Euclid, Union, Roadside and Mayfield Country Clubs.

HENRY S. PICKANDS.

To accumulate a fortune requires one kind of genius; to retain a fortune already acquired, to add to its legitimate increment and to make such use of it that its possessor may derive therefrom the greatest enjoyment and the public the greatest benefit, requires another kind of genius. Henry S. Pickands be- longs to that younger generation of business man of Cleveland called upon to shoulder responsibilities differing materially from those resting upon their pred- ecessors. In a broader field of enterprise they find themselves obliged to deal with affairs of greater magnitude, to solve more difficult and complicated finan- cial and economic problems. Henry S. Pickands, however, has proved himself equal to the occasion and the demands made upon him and is today recognized as a forceful and valued factor in the business life of the city. He is a son of Colonel James Pickands and was born October 4, 1875, in Marquette, Michigan.

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C. W. HOTCHKISS

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In pursuing his education he attended the public schools at Cleveland and also the University School of this city, after which he entered Yale University and was graduated with the Bachelor of Philosophy degree in the class of 1897. He pursued a course in civil engineering there and immediately afterward entered the firm of Pickands, Mather & Company, which his father had founded and of which he had been the head until his death.

On the 27th of December, 1899, in Marquette, Michigan, Mr. Pickands was married to Miss Jeanne Call, a daughter of C. H. Call of that city. They now have four children : Elizabeth, Caroline, James and Henry S., Jr. The family residence is at Euclid, and Mr. Pickands has taken a prominent part in the affairs of that town, being allied with all those progressive movements which are working for wholesome reform in the social, political and civic life of the community. He served as mayor of Euclid for five years, from 1903 until 1908, giving a most progressive and business-like administration, characterized by retrenchment in expenses and by practical improvements as well. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is a member of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, while, appreciative of the social amenities of life, he holds membership in the Union, Country and University Clubs.

JAMES H. ROSE.

James H. Rose is the president and general manager of the Enterprise Pav- ing & Construction Company of Cleveland, which was organized and incorpor- ated in 1905. His birth occurred at Independence, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in 1866, his parents being Harry and Rosanna (Dunlap) Rose. The father, who was born in England in 1840, was brought to America when eight years of age, coming direct to Cleveland, Ohio. Throughout his active business career he was successfully identified with industrial interests as a bricklayer and mason contractor but is now living retired, enjoying in well earned ease the fruits of his former toil. During the period of the Civil war he loyally fought for the interests of the Union as a member of the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His wife passed away on the 3d of October, 1866, at the comparatively early age of twenty-eight years.

James H. Rose obtained his early education in the public schools of Cleve- land and subsequently returned to Independence, where he completed his studies. He remained on his father's farm until twenty-one years of age, when he came to Cleveland and for about four years worked in the mills at New- burg. On the expiration of that period he once more returned to Independence, where for seven years he was identified with the brick and tile manufacturing business. Subsequently he again came to Cleveland and after working in a wire mill for a short time he entered the service of the M. F. Bramley Company, paving contractors, remaining with the concern for about five years. This en- terprise is now known as the Cleveland Trinidad Paving Company. Mr. Rose entered the employ of the company in a humble capacity but was gradually pro- moted as he demonstrated his faithfulness and capability and during the last two years of his connection therewith he acted as superintendent. For one year of that time he was located at Saginaw and Bay City, Michigan. In 1905 he embarked in business on his own account, organizing the Enterprise Paving & Construction Company for paving, cement and concrete work. The concern was incorporated in the same year and the following officers selected: Peter Young, president; James H. Rose, vice president and general manager; and Edward H. Green, secretary and treasurer. In 1908 Mr. Young sold his inter- est in the company and the officers of the company are now James H. Rose, president and general manager; Lewis Prehn, secretary and treasurer. The firm has been awarded many important contracts in Cleveland and its vicinity

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and their work has been largely of a public nature, including the construction of state roads and also city work.

In 1886 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Rose and Miss Nettie Ackley, a native of Cleveland. Their son, William Elroy, is now associated with his father in business. Mr. Rose gives his political allegiance to the republican party, believing that its principles are most conducive to good government. His fraternal relations are with the Masons and the Knights of Pythias, and he also belongs to the Ohio Association of Contractors. Practically his entire life has been spent in this county and the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood days to the present is an indica- tion that his has been an upright and commendable career. He possesses the strong force of character and unfaltering determination which enable him to carry forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes, utilizing at the same time business methods which neither seek nor require disguise.

PETER W. DITTO.

Peter W. Ditto, a representative of the New York Life Insurance Company, is one of the solid men of Cleveland and has earned a prominent place in the city's commercial and civic life. He was born in New Philadelphia, Ohio, Sep- tember 26, 1856, being a son of Joseph and Mary J. (Osborn) Ditto. The father was born December 17, 1814, at Tulpahankas, Berks county, Pennsyl- vania, but came to Ohio when seventeen years of age and settled at Akron, where he engaged in the contracting business. Later he went to New Philadel- phia, where he pursued the same line of business, finally settling in Cleveland, where he retired from active business, dying in 1899. His wife was born in Connecticut about 1827 and was brought to Ohio by her parents, who located at Akron where she was married. Her death occurred December 5, 1891. The Ditto family is an old one in Pennsylvania and Mrs. Mary J. Ditto was con- nected with the Hopkins family of Connecticut.

Peter W. Ditto attended school and after finishing his education worked for his father for about five years. In 1879 he came to Cleveland, and became fore- man for the Sherwin-Williams Company, manufacturers of and dealers in paints and varnishes, having charge of their shipping department for two years. Following this he was with the HP Nail Company, as shipping clerk for one year. In 1882 Mr. Ditto entered the United States mail service, running be- tween Cleveland and Pittsburg for two years, but in 1884 he returned to Cleve- land and became agent for an accident insurance company. Later he was made assistant state agent for the Travelers' Insurance Company, and discharged the duties of that position for five years, when he became state agent for the Pacific Mutual Insurance Company and continued thus for ten years. On 1904 he be- came a representative of the New York Life Insurance Company, his territory being national. He has been very successful in this line of work, and his busi- ness shows a steady and healthful growth. He is also interested in the Ludlow Typograph Company.

On October 6, 1887, Mr. Ditto was married to Annie McKee, who was born in Cleveland and belongs to one of the old families of the city which originated in New York. She is a daughter of Patrick M. and Anne (Huggins) McKee, pioneers of Cleveland. Mr. and Mrs. Ditto have two children: Pierre McKee, born October 30, 1888, and now attending the Culver military academy; and Jeannette, who was born December 27, 1891, and will finish her education in the Bradford school at Bradford, Massachusetts, in 1910. The family reside at Chagrin Falls where Mr. Ditto has an estate of thirty-three acres.

Mr. Ditto is a Blue Lodge and Chapter Mason. He was one of the founders and formerly president of the Century Club and belongs to the Cleveland Auto

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Club as well. He is a stanch republican and has taken an extremely active part in politics, although he has never accepted office, preferring to use his influence as a private citizen. His literary taste is evidenced by his extensive library, with the contents of which he is largely familiar, and his motor car indicates his chief source of recreation.

CHARLES SHEPARD HULING.

Charles Shepard Huling was born September 20, 1870, at Cleveland, Ohio, being the oldest son of Bruce Huling and Mary Elizabeth Shepard. His an- cestry is traced to prominent English, Scotch and French families and in the maternal line to an English shipbuilder who settled at Middle Haddam, Connec- ticut, and to Dr. Nicholas Ayrault, a French Huguenot who came early to this country and is mentioned as one of those who first espoused the cause of Ameri- can independence. His great-grandfather, Edward Shepard, was a prominent furniture manufacturer of Wethersfield, Connecticut. The old homestead, two doors north of the historical Webb mansion, which was the stopping place of Gen- eral George Washington, still remains in possession of the family. The house is a fine example of colonial architecture and is in a splendid state of preservation. Charles Lewis Shepard, the grandfather, removing westward to Cleveland, re- sided until his death just east of the Colonial Arcade on Prospect. He was one of the pioneer furniture manufacturers of this city. He came to Cleveland from Connecticut when the population of the city numbered about thirty-five hundred, arriving in the year 1833. It required sixteen days to make the journey from New York city. He took passage to Albany on one of the night boats of the Vanderbilt line, proceeded thence by the omnibus coach cars of the new railroad to Schnectady, on to Utica by packet boat, by line boat to Buffalo and thence by vessel to Fairport, Ohio. From that point the trip was made by ox-cart and stage and for several miles it was necessary for the passengers to alight fre- quently and with fence rails pry their vehicle out of the deep mud. At that time the navigation of the Cuyahoga river extended only to Vineyard lane, now known as South Water street, and there had been few attempts made at build- ing docks. The method of crossing the river was by means of dugouts or log canoes. Shortly after arriving at Cleveland they had the pleasure of meeting the late Isaac Hinkley, who had settled in Brooklyn township. Nineteen years before, in 1815, Charles and Daniel Shepard, little boys in Wethersfield, Con- necticut, had received their first inspiration to go west from "the canvas cov- ered wagon which stopped in front of their old homestead for rest on its way to Cleveland"-a forty days' journey, as it later proved. It was drawn by two yoke of oxen and a horse, while the cow was tied on behind and from the rear axle-tree hung the pails and kettles. The wagon contained the family of Isaac Hinkley, consisting of nine persons. Although Charles L. Shepard encountered many hardships both on his trip and after getting to Cleveland they were light compared with those experienced by the early settlers who had preceded him. The first winter Mr. Hinkley spent here the pioneers had nothing to subsist on much of the time but Indian corn, pulverized in a hand mortar. Bruce Huling, the father, a German druggist of this city, died in 1881, leaving the mother with three sons, the youngest only four years of age. One brother of our subject, Bruce W. Huling, is still a resident of Cleveland.

Charles S. Huling received his first business training from his mother's uncle, the late D. A. Shepard. When a mere boy he collected rents, paid taxes and looked after city property. He was educated in the public schools and with the exception of about two years has always lived in what is now the tenth ward.

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In June, 1897, Mr. Huling married 'Addie Augusta Dart of Hartford, Con- necticut, a daughter of Warren T. and Annie M. (Cook) Dart. Her father was born in Glastonbury, Connecticut, February 26, 1852, and is now living in Hartford, that state. His wife, who was born in Franklin, New York, April 9, 1852, died July 12, 1895, in Hartford, Connecticut. Their family numbered three children: Mrs. Huling; and Clifford W. and Georgiana, who are both deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Huling has been born one daughter, Annie Eliza- beth, whose birth occurred July 15, 1898. Mrs. Huling is eligible to the Daughters of the Revolution through her great-grandfather, Israel Lucas, who fought in the American army. Her great-grandfather, Abiel Dart, fought in the war of 1812, serving on the frigate Confederacy. The family also claim descent from the great chief Miantonomo of the Narragansett tribe.

Mr. Huling for a number of years has been engaged in the real-estate and brokerage business, his offices being now located in the Williamson building. He is a member of the Cleveland real-estate board and of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, and his political allegiance has always been given to the republican party.

F. A. COLEMAN.

F. A. Coleman, president of The J. D. Smith Foundry Supply Company was born at Oconto, Wisconsin, in 1869. During the period of early colonization in Ohio the family was established in this state by Dr. Elijah Coleman, the grand- father, who was one of the first physicians and surgeons of the Western Reserve, coming from Vermont in 1809, when Ohio was almost an unbroken wilderness, the trees standing in their primeval strength, with uncultivated prairie land, un- bridged streams, and roads that were, in places, little more than an Indian trail. He settled in Ashtabula and at the time of the war of 1812 served in the army as a surgeon. He was a nephew of James W. Witherell, who was the first terri- torial judge of Michigan, with headquarters in Detroit.

Spencer Albert Coleman, father of F. A. Coleman, was born in Ashtabula, in 1822, and, following in the professional footsteps of his father, took up the study of medicine under the direction of Doctors Kirtland and Ackley. In the Western Medical College he applied himself diligently to the mastery of the prin- ciples of medicine and surgery and zealously and conscientiously performed every duty in connection with his practice. In 1850 he removed to Wisconsin, where he practiced his profession until 1880 when he retired, and returned to Cleveland in 1883. He was a nephew of Platt R. Spencer, the originator of the Spencerian system of penmanship.

When a lad of six years F. A. Coleman began his education, which he pursued in the public schools of Oconto, Wisconsin, and later attended Racine College Preparatory School. In 1883 he came to Cleveland and entered the Central high school wherein he mastered advanced branches, while in 1887 he was matricu- lated as a student in the Case School of Applied Science. He left that institution in 1889 and in 1890 entered Lehigh University, being graduated in 1892 with the C. E. degree. He then entered upon the active work of the profession, in which he continued until 1900. At Belington, West Virginia, he accepted the general superintendency of the Belington & Northern Railroad, which is now a part of the Wabash system, and was also superintendent of the Valley Coal & Coke Company of the same place until 1904, in which year he returned to Cleve- land to become a factor in the management and control of The J. D. Smith Foundry Supply Company, of which he was elected president in May, 1908. The business was formerly carried on in Cincinnati under the name of the Fitz- maurice & Smith Foundry Facing & Supply Company, which later was changed to The J. D. Smith Foundry Supply Company. In 1900 when the Cincinnati

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F. A. COLEMAN

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plant was destroyed by fire, Cleveland was chosen as a more favorable site be- cause of its central location, having also a much larger local field. Removing to this city, the interests of the company were consolidated with those of the Cleve- land Facing Mill Company under the name of The J. D. Smith Foundry Supply Company. From the beginning rapid progress was made and the business was extended in scope, several lines being added, particularly the construction of foundries and the building of foundry equipment for iron, steel, malleable, brass and aluminum foundries. On the death of F. H. Chamberlin, in 1908, Mr. Cole- man was elected to fill the vacancy. Something of the growth of the business is indicated in the fact that at its inception it was capitalized at twenty-five thou- sand dollars, while today the capital is one hundred thousand dollars.

Mr. Coleman is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He also belongs to the Cleve- land Engineering Society and has other membership relations which are indica- tive of the well developed social side of his nature, of his fraternal spirit and of his public-spirited citizenship. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce, to the University and Athletic Clubs, to the Zeta Psi fraternity and to the Tau- Beta-Pi, an honorary scientific society. He also became a member of Roman Lodge, No. 223, F. & A. M., of Rome, New York.

In 1894 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Coleman and Miss Lucie W. Abbott, of Pennsylvania, and they have two children, Spencer Albert, who at the age of twelve years is attending the Sibley street school; and Elizabeth Abbott, a little maiden of six summers.

JOSEPH M. WEITZ.

Joseph M. Weitz, who, in the years of his connection with the active busi- ness interests of Cleveland, was largely identified with the leather trade of the city, is yet well remembered by his associates in commercial circles and in social life althought more than a decade has passed since he was called to his final rest. He was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, January 12, 1832, and came to Cleveland in 1844, residing here until 1851 when he felt it impossible to longer resist the attractions of the mining interests of the far west. Accordingly he went to California to seek his fortune and began work in the gold fields of that state. He started to open up a mine and in so doing was working in the immediate vicinity of what was afterward the famous Dutch Flat mine. As he carried on his work, however, he turned in the wrong direction and became discouraged. Had he turned in the opposite direction he would have discovered one of the richest mines in that section of the country. As it was his labors brought him but little result and after remaining in California for a short time he returned to Cleveland and soon afterward went to Iowa. He was not pleased with that state, however, and again came to Cleveland. Here he turned his attention to the leather business, becoming a member of the firm of Muerman, Harkness & Weitz, which afterward was Muerman & Weitz. Subsequently he was associated with John Fetzer in the same line of business, and so con- tinued up to the time of his death. His close application, undaunted perse- verance and unfaltering diligence constituted forceful factors in the attainment of success and as the years passed he acquired a handsome and well merited competence. He was also for many years prior to his death a director in the Cleveland National Bank.

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A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume II, Part 92

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