USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume III > Part 102
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
Gustave Scharmann obtained his education in the common and high schools at Hessen and afterward entered a polytechnic school at Darmstadt, where he completed a course in architecture in 1901. For a year following his graduation he was employed in the offices of architects at Frankfort-on-the-Main and Dissel- dorf, but in 1902 he came to the United States and made his way at once to Cleveland, Ohio. Here he worked for various architects until March, 1906, when, feeling that his experience justified him in embarking in business on his own account, he opened an office in the Schofield building. Many of the sub- stantial and attractive structures of the city now stand as monuments to his labor and skill in the field of his chosen endeavor, for he has erected a large number of residences and apartment houses as well as some business blocks.
In 1902 Mr. Scharmann was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Manss, of Frankfort, Germany. They now have a daughter, Brunhilda. Fraternally Mr. Scharmann is identified with the Woodmen of the World. He came to the new world when a young man of nineteen years and in the comparatively brief period which has since elapsed has won a creditable position in the business circles of his adopted city by reason of his unwearied industry, unfaltering perseverance and unabating energy.
HARRY W. SANFORD.
Harry W. Sanford, who has been closely identified with the building interests of Cleveland since 1892, is well known as an architect of marked skill and ability. He is a native of Clinton, New York, where his birth occurred in 1868. His father, William H. Sanford, who was born in Ohio in 1837, was but seven years of age when he located in the state of New York. During the period of the Civil war he valiantly served for four years with the Twenty-sixth New York Light Artillery, holding the rank of first lieutenant. Throughout his active career he was successfully engaged in business as a dealer in iron ore. His demise occurred in 1901. In 1865 he had wedded Miss Katie B. Barker, whose birth occurred in New York in the year 1847. She was called to her final rest in 1884.
Harry W. Sanford obtained his education in the public schools and after putting aside his text-books devoted his attention to the mastery of the carpenter's trade. When seventeen years of age he left Clinton and took up his abode in Rochester, New York, there remaining for a short time. He next came to Cleve- land and here worked at his trade in the employ of others until 1892, when he embarked in business on his own account. He has erected many substantial and attractive structures in Cleveland and vicinity and has won a gratifying measure of prosperity in his operations as an architect and builder.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Sanford has cast his ballot in support of the men and measures of the republican party, believing that its principles are most conducive to good government. His interests and in- fluence are always on the side of right, progress, justice and improvement and his position in regard to anything that affects good citizenship as well as individ- ual progress is never an equivocal one.
EDWARD L. FRANTZ.
Edward L. Frantz, an enterprising and prosperous business man of Cleve- land, is a jobber and dealer in brick of all kinds and other clay products. He was born in New Berlin, Ohio, on the 23d of November, 1883, a son of Frank and Jennie Frantz. He attended the public schools until sixteen years of age and then spent two years in a business college, being thus well qualified for the
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
practical and responsible duties of life. Removing to Akron, Ohio, he there accepted a position as bookkeeper with the Frantz Body Manufacturing Com- pany, of which his father was the proprietor.
After spending five years in that employ Mr. Frantz came to Cleveland and for two years served the Warner & Swasey Company in the capacity of purchas- ing agent. Subsequently he entered the employ of the Frantz Carriage & Wagon Company on Prospect avenue and thus again served under his father for a year. On the expiration of that period he started out in business life on his own account as a jobber and dealer in bricks and has since had the general agency for northern Ohio for the National Glass Brick Manufacturing Company of Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania. He deals in face brick-pressed, wire cut and enameled-also hollow, shale, sewer, common, fire and paving brick and likewise sells cement, fire proof- ing, terra cotta and sewer pipe, hollow clay blocks, flue lining, partition tile, etc. His leading brand is the Bulldog brick. He has already built up an extensive and profitable business in his line and, although still a young man, has attained a meas- ure of success which many a man of twice his years might well envy.
In his political views Mr. Frantz is independent, always casting his ballot for the candidate whom he believes best qualified, regardless of his party affiliation. He is a faithful communicant of the Catholic church and fraternally is identified with the Knights of Columbus. His home is at No. 1725 East Eighty-ninth street, and his business address is 1006 Garfield building.
RUSSELL HALL BIRGE, M. D.
Energy and ability will eventually win and no other qualities enter into success in the profession where advancement must depend upon individual merit. Having studied broadly and read deeply, Dr. Birge has made his work of worth in the world and is, moreover, honored by reason of his close conformity to a high standard of professional ethics. He was born in Northampton, Massa- chusetts, December II, 1872, and comes of an old family of English lineage, founded in America by his great-great-grandfather who came from England to the new world in 1636 and settled in Windsor Connecticut. His great-grand- father, Jonathan Birge, was a captain of the Revolutionary war and was killed at the battle of White Plains. Edward Birge, the father of the Doctor, was a well known manufacturer of Providence, Rhode Island, and died in 1903. He is still survived by his wife, who bore the maiden name of Cornelia Day and is a representative of an old New England family that was founded in Spring- field, Massachusetts, in 1640. Representatives of the name have since lived in New England and Mrs. Birge is now a resident of Boston.
The youthful days of Dr. Birge were passed in Providence, Rhode Island, where he acquired his early education as a public-school student. He mas- tered the branches of learning taught in the consecutive grades and eventually was graduated from the high school with the class of 1890. His collegiate course was pursued in Brown University, where he won the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1894 and then, determining upon the practice of medicine as a life work, he matriculated in the Harvard Medical School and was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1898. While at Brown he became a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and the Delta Upsilon and was graduated cum laude at Harvard. Having qualified for the onerous duties of the profession, he acted as resi- dent surgeon in the Boston City Hospital from 1898 until 1900 and in the latter year became resident surgeon at the Lakeside Hospital of Cleveland, where he remained for two years. He next entered upon the private practice of general surgery, in which he has since continued. He possesses not only broad knowl- edge of the scientific principles of his profession but also a delicacy and pre- cision of touch that is an essential element in the work of the successful surgeon.
DR. R. H. BIRGE
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
He has been instructor in surgery at the Western Reserve University Medical School since 1902 and is now assisting visiting surgeon to the Lakeside Hospital, having acted in that capacity for three years. He has also been visiting surgeon to the Lakeside Hospital Dispensary from 1902 until the present time. He is likewise assistant visiting surgeon to the German Hospital and was visiting physician to Rainbow Cottage from 1900 until 1902. In his professional ca- pacity he is a representative of the American Steel & Wire Company, is also surgeon for other corporations, chief examiner for the New York Life In- surance Company and alternate medical referee for the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. He has been an occasional contributor to the current literature on surgery and is a member of the American Medical Association, the Ohio State Medical Society, the Cleveland Academy of Medicine and the Cleveland Medical Library Association.
On the 16th of August, 1903, in Toronto, Canada, was celebrated the mar- riage of Dr. Birge and Miss Edith Clarke, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter O. Clarke. Her father was then superintendent of the eastern division of the Grand Trunk Railway, but now retired. Her grandfather was manager of the London, Brighton South Coast Railway Company, with offices in London. Dr. and Mrs. Birge have two children: Russel C., now four years of age, and Margaret J., born May 24, 1909, who are with their parents at No. 1913 East Sixty-ninth street.
Dr. Birge belongs to the University and Tavern Clubs and is popular with his fellow members of those organizations. In manner he is unassuming, in temperament genial but, while modestly inclined in all non-professional rela- tions, his worth as a man and surgeon is widely recognized. In his chosen call- ing he has won well merited fame, standing as one of its leading representatives in Cleveland.
H. LINDALE SMITH. 1
H. Lindale Smith, a prominent attorney of Cleveland, who is influential in financial circles, being affiliated with a number of the foremost commercial enterprises, was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, January 23, 1872, and is de- scended from a family in which have been many esteemed professional men. His paternal great-grandfather, S. Stuart Smith, was a native of Ireland and a local preacher, licensed by the famous John Wesley, but his principal vocation in life was school teaching. In early life he came to the United States and set- tled on the site of what subsequently became Fort Red Stone, Pennsylvania, that redoubt afterward taking the name of Fort Duquesne. The original farm taken up by him during pioneer days is still in possession of the family. Some of its members participated in the Indian wars during the early days, and he served as a soldier in the Colonial army during the struggle for American in- dependence.
Among his children was the Rev. Wesley Smith, the grandfather of the sub- ject of this review, whose birth occurred in Virginia and who entered into his eternal rest in 1889. He was influential in church circles prior to the Civil war, being a strong factor on the abolitionist side, who spent much time traveling from place to place along the border country, preaching against the institution of slavery. His influence as an orator, particularly in upholding the high ideals of Christianity, gained for him a universal reputation as a man of unquestioned integrity. He spent much time in profound investigation of Biblical themes and became the author of Smith on Baptism, a work widely known and today highly valued as an authority on the scriptural meaning and significance of that rite. In addition to this excellent production, which evidences the acme of scholastic attainments and as well evidences the superior logic and reasoning
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ability of its author, his name is also found on the title pages of a number of other literary works which are of like merit and value. During the Civil war he served as chaplain of a regiment from Pennsylvania, being in the military ranks for ninety days.
Two paternal uncles of H. L. Smith also participated in the Civil war, Lee S. Smith, who enlisted from Pennsylvania, having been sergeant of artillery, while Rev. Charles W. Smith was chaplain of a regiment from that state. His father, Dr. Homer J. Smith, also a native of the Keystone state, was born in Fayette county, and is pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Co- lumbus, Ohio. He is widely known in church circles and one of the most in- fluential men in his denomination. He is a scholar of great merit, having had the advantage of everything in higher educational lines and has been granted the degrees of Master of Arts, Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Divinity, from colleges of high standing. Among the pastorates which he formerly held are : the Scovill Avenue Methodist Episcopal church; Second Street Methodist Episcopal church, of Zanesville, Ohio; St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church, of Delaware, Ohio; Spencer Street Methodist Episcopal church, of Trenton, Ohio; all of which are large and influential organizations. Dr. Smith's activities reach throughout every department of religious and moral work, his ambition in life being to do all he can to promote the ethical life of the Christian system. He is a trustee of the Anti-Saloon League, chairman of the board of examiners of the Ohio conference and upon the whole is one of the most valuable and prominent characters in the ranks of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. His brothers, Bishop Charles W. Smith, is also a man whose activities have contributed much toward the betterment of humanity, and he is now at Portland, Oregon, having charge of the interests of the brotherhood throughout the west, while his brother-in-law, Dr. Allen H. Norcross, is presiding elder of Columbus and adjacent district. Dr. Smith has another brother, who is president of the Chamber of Commerce of Pittsburg, which position is considered one of the most responsible in the United States inasmuch as the business interests of that city are more extensive and of greater financial import than of any city in the country. Dr. Smith is prominent in fraternal organizations and is a thirty-sec- ond degree Mason, being also a member of Cleveland Consistory. His wife was Arcadia Lindale, whose birth occurred at Wyoming, Delaware, in 1852, death terminating her career on May 18, 1907. Her father, William Purnell Lindale, was born in 1827 and now resides in the last named city, his family being more or less related to a large percentage of the families in the state of Delaware. Both the Smith and Lindale families are largely represented through- out Pennsylvania and West Virginia. To Dr. and Mrs. Smith were born four daughters and one son, namely : Helen A., the wife of T. C. Morris, of Columbus, Ohio, where he is associated with the Central Ohio Paper Company, in which he is a heavy stockholder and also a director ; Bertha O., the wife of Frank A. Miller, vice president of the Central Ohio Paper Company ; Mabel Edith, wife of Dr. J. C. Cooper, a specialist on epilepsy residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Ag- nes Lee, the wife of Harold Tallmadge, who is engaged in the insurance business in Columbus and is a descendant of a very old family, for whom the city of Tallmadge, Ohio, was named; and H. Lindale.
The public schools of this city afforded H. Lindale Smith his preliminary course of training and after completing a course of study in the high school he spent three years in Mount Union College at Alliance, Ohio, being graduated in 1893 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. Later he attended the Ohio State University, where he studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1895. He began the practice of his profession in Cleveland and makes a specialty of corporation law, doing much work in this line, and has rendered legal services in incorporating many local commercial companies. At present he is president of the Cleveland Spark Plug Company, manufacturers of ignition specialties, and the Windermere Plumbing Company ; treasurer of the American Realty and
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
of the A. C. Rogers Printing Company; and he is also a director in a number of others, among the more important of which are the John C. Lowe Company, the Union Wire & Iron Company, the Engineers Review & Publishing Company, the Hollyrood Terrace Company, the Standard Graphite Company, the National Law Book Company and the Union Realty Company. Mr. Smith's extensive business relations require his entire time and attention and make him one of the most active men of the city. He has also been admitted to practice law in the patent office of Washington, D. C., and also in all of the state and federal courts.
On May 30, 1893, he was united in marriage to Mattie M. Badgley, a daugh- ter of Rev. Orlando and Malinda (McIntyre) Badgley, her father being pastor of the Brooklyn Methodist Episcopal church of this city. The couple have two children : Homer Badgley and Curtis Lee.
Mr. Smith is a republican in politics, active in the affairs of his party, is sec- retary of the Scotch-American Republican Club and has been chosen as delegate to a number of county and state conventions. He belongs to the Masonic order and also to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon society, of Mount Union College, of which he is president, and took part in the initiation of the late President William Mc- Kinley and also of Senator P. C. Knox, secretary of state under President Wil- liam H. Taft. Mr. Smith is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, be- longing to the Windermere organization, and is a member of the official board and also secretary of the building committee. His excellent services and su- perior ability as attorney together with his noble purpose in life make him one of the representative citizens and valuable professional men of this city.
CHARLES E. J. LANG.
Charles E. J. Lang, secretary and treasurer of the Rauch & Lang Carriage Com- pany, has been identified with the business since 1878 and his industry and energy --- his dominant qualities-have been substantial forces in the successful control of the enterprise. Cleveland numbers him among her native sons, as his birth oc- curred here July 14, 1858. His father, Joseph Lang, was born in Germany in 1832 and in 1855 heard and heeded the call of the new world, coming to America in that year. He lived for a short time in Galena, Illinois, but in 1856 removed to Cleve- land, where he was actively identified with business interests until 1899, when he retired. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Caroline Greiner, is also of German birth.
Charles E. J. Lang was educated in the public schools of the west side and after completing his education was employed as bookkeeper by the firm of Hermann & Pfarr for one year. In 1878 he became associated with Charles Rauch in the carriage manufacturing business and in 1884 became a partner under the firm name of Rauch & Lang. In 1888, on the incorporation of the business under the name of the Rauch & Lang Carriage Company, he was chosen secretary and treasurer and now for almost a third of a century has been active in the development and control of this business. The company has for fifty years set the standard of excellence in fine carriage building in this part of the country and more recently has become extensively engaged in the building of automatic vehicles, the same expert craftsmanship that gave their carriages reputation throughout the United States being employed now in producing some of the most luxurious electric car- riages to be found anywhere in the market. The trade of the house has reached large proportions and the extent of its annual output makes the business not only a source of gratifying income to the stockholders but also a factor in the commercial and industrial development of Cleveland. Mr. Lang is also known as secretary of the Lakewood Realty Company and is classed with the substantial business men of his native city.
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
On the 17th of May, 1883, Mr. Lang was married to Miss Katherine E., a daughter of Fred and Katherine Schweitzer, of Cleveland. They had two children but the younger, Carl, died at the age of ten years. The surviving son is Elmer J., who, after being graduated from the West high school in 1904, entered the auto- mobile business with the Rauch & Lang Carriage Company. Mrs. Lang is a mem- ber and active worker in the Second Church of Christ Science. The family residence is at No. 6520 Franklin avenue and is the abode of a warm-hearted hos- pitality.
Mr. Lang is interested in municipal progress, which prompts his cooperation with the movements of the Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Industry, in both of which he holds membership. His appreciation for the social amenities is indicated in his connection with the Clifton, the Cleveland Athletic and the Cleve- land Automobile Clubs, and he, likewise belongs to Halcyon Lodge, A. F. & A. M., the Commandery and the Mystic Shrine. Politically he is independent. He de- lights in motoring nor does he relegate driving to the past, for he is fond of horses and also greatly enjoys outdoor sports.
WILLIAM STRANGWARD.
William Strangward, president of the Forest City Foundry & Manufactur- ing Company, is numbered with those men who have given stability to business conditions in Cleveland, following in his active career such business principles and methods as constitute forceful and resultant factors in commercial and in- dustrial circles.
A son of a farmer in England, he was born in Northamptonshire, February 5, 1848. His father, John Strangward, died in England in 1890. He was only nine years of age when he lost his mother, and from early youth he has largely been dependent upon his own resources. He pursued his education in common and private schools, his periods of vacation and leisure hours being devoted to all kinds of farm work during his school days, while to similar tasks he con- tinued to give his attention until twenty-one years of age.
Mr. Strangward then sought a home in the new world and made his way direct to Cleveland. This was in 1869. Here he entered business life as a day laborer in the employ of the American Fence Company, with whom he con- tinued for some time. Later, in order to better his condition, he learned the molder's trade with Craine & Gaylord. In 1876 he went to Detroit, where in connection with a Mr. Thompson he established a small foundry. The venture was not very successful, however, and Mr. Strangward returned to Cleveland. Here he worked at his trade as a molder for the Union Foundry Company until the last week in December, 1880, when he joined Anthony Carlen and John Ennis in establishing the Viaduct Foundry, which they conducted until 1888. In that year they were joined by John Stuber and established the Standard Foundry and the Standard bought out the Viaduct Foundry. Mr. Strangward became a director of the latter company and so continued until 1890, in which year he formed a partnership with Charles Selbach, and they organized the Forest City Foundry & Manufacturing Company, of which Mr. Strangward became president and general manager. In 1904 they took over the business and plant of the Walworth Run Foundry Company; have since greatly enlarged the plant, and of this company Mr. Strangward is also the president and man- ager. His practical experience in the iron trade well qualifies him for the care- ful management and control of the important and growing interests which are now under his direction. He has not confined his attention to the iron business entirely for he is the president of two incorporated agriculture companies. the Indiana and Sylvester Fruit Companies of Sylvester, Georgia, their combined
WILLIAM STRANG WARD
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
acreage covering nearly two sections of land. This is devoted to the cultiva- tion of cotton, cantaloupes and small fruits.
While in Detroit, in 1878, Mr. Strangward was united in marriage to Miss Mary Reese, of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, and they have four sons: William James, who is associated with his father in business, being now superintendent of the Forest City Foundry & Manufacturing Company; Charles William, who is also an associate of his father in business, acting as resident manager of both the Indiana and Sylvester Fruit Companies; P. J., who is timekeeper with the Forest City Foundry & Manufacturing Company; and Thompson Wallace, who is furnace salesman for the company.
Mr. Strangward is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and is interested in all its projects for the upbuilding of the city along business lines and also equally favors its projects for the city's adornment and improvement. He ranks high in Masonry, holding membership in Bigelow Lodge, F. & A. M .; Cleveland Chapter, R. A. M .; Holyrood Commandery, K. T .; Lake Erie Consistory, S. P. R. S .; and Al Koran Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. Fearing not that close and laborious attention to business which is the foundation of all success, Mr. Strang- ward has worked his way upward, gaining the confidence and trust of his busi- ness associates and contemporaries through his reliability and honorable busi- ness methods and winning trade as the result of his enterprise and initiative labors. His record presents many creditable phases and is no less commendable because of its success than for the honorable, straightforward business policy he has ever followed. Mr. Strangward resides at 1105 East boulevard, in a beauti- ful and commodious residence.
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