USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume III > Part 104
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Mr. Rackle is prominent in Masonic circles, being a thirty-second degree Mason and a Shriner, and he also belongs to the local Builders Exchange and the Lakewood Yacht Club. He is a man whose character commends him to the respect
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and confidence of all with whom he comes into contact and, in his particular line of work being one of the most skilled, his prosperity and the enterprise which he conducts justly entitles him to a place among Cleveland's representative citi- zens.
SAMUEL S. BERGER, M. D.
Dr. Samuel S. Berger is one of the promising young physicians of Cleveland, where he has been engaged in practice for the past five years. He was born in Kis Dobra, Zemplén, Hungary, April 14, 1881, a son of Samuel and Rose (Goodman) Berger, both natives of Hungary. The father was an agriculturist and a dealer in lumber, who spent all of his life in the land of his birth, dying there in 1887. His widow is still living, making her home with her son Samuel, for she came to the United States in 1903.
Dr. Berger attended the public schools of his birthplace and then went to the gymnasium, which corresponds to the high school and academy here, specializing in the classical departments. In 1896 he came to America, locating in Cleveland, and with that desire for thoroughness which has ever characterized his life, became a pupil in the first grade of the public school, as he was determined to become fully familiar with the English language. Because of his previous training in his native land, Dr. Berger made rapid progress and it was only four years after his arrival here, in 1900, that he was able to enter the medical department of the Western Re- serve University, from which he received his diploma in 1904. During the last year of his course, however, he was house physician of Mt. Sinai Hospital, being the first to occupy that position. It was in 1904 that Dr. Berger embarked in gen- eral practice in this city, and in the years that have passed by he has been successful beyond the average young man, who with determination and enthusiasm devotes himself to his profession. He has pleasant offices at 1946 St. Clair avenue, where he also resides. In addition to his private practice he discharges the duties of as- sociate visiting physician at Mt. Sinai Hospital and of visiting physician at the Jewish Infant Orphans Home.
Dr. Berger is independent of party allegiance in political matters, placing the greatest importance upon worthy men and progressive measures. He belongs to the national college fraternity of Alpha Omega Alpha, which is an honorary medi- cal society ; The Cleveland Academy of Medicine; the German Medical Society ; the Ohio State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. He attends the religious services of the Scoville Avenue Temple, of which Rabbi Wolsey is at the head. A young man of much ability fully conversant with all phases of his profession, of high ideals of honor and integrity, he enjoys the respect not only of the members of his own race but of all who have come in contact with him throughout the city.
REV. JAMES JOSEPH QUINN.
Rev. James Joseph Quinn, pastor of St. Catherine's church of Cleveland and enthusiastic in his labors for Catholicism in this city, was born in Ballindine, a suburb of Tuam, Ireland, January 10, 1860. His father, Thomas Quinn, died in Ireland on the 5th of January, 1905, having survived his wife exactly one year. The family consisted of four sons and one daughter: Thomas F., rector of St. Mary's church at Clyde, Ohio ; John S., rector of St. Carthagh's church at Tweed, Ontario; one who is a bookkeeper in the city hall; Father Quinn of this review ; and Mother Juliana, principal of the Ursuline Academy in Father Quinn's parish. A niece, Mary Catherine, is one of Father Quinn's teachers. He has many other
DR. SAMUEL S. BERGER
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relatives-cousins, nieces and nephews-who are priests or sisters, the family having contributed many priests and faithful workers to the church for centuries.
After acquiring his preliminary education in the parochial schools Rev. James Joseph Quinn entered St. Jarlath's College at Tuam, from which he was graduated in 1877, and from there went to Paris to pursue a theological course in the Irish college of that city. In time he was graduated from that institution and through the succeeding two years was a professor in the college, teaching classics, French and history. On the 20th of August, 1882, he was ordained at Tuam by Arch- bishop McEvilly and said his first mass August 27, 1882, in his native parish in St. Joseph's church, after which he was made curate at Clifden in County Galway, there remaining for three years. The succeeding two years were spent at Clare island, and in 1888 he came to the United States on the invitation of Bishop Gil- mour, under whom he was an assistant priest at the cathedral. Within three months, or in September, 1888, he was assigned to St. Columba's, at Youngstown, Ohio, as assistant priest, remaining there until August 20, 1891. At that date he was sent to St. Mary's church at Wakeman, Ohio, and continued in charge until November 12, 1893. He was next assistant priest at the church of the Immaculate Conception of Cleveland until September 16, 1897, when he was transferred to St. Mary's church at Norwalk, Ohio, and there remained until January 7, 1900.
In that year Father Quinn organized his present parish. The land had been purchased and the church built, and there was a debt of fourteen thousand five hundred dollars on the property, nor were there any city improvements on the property. The church is a frame structure and has seating capacity for five hun- dred. A schoolhouse was built by Father Quinn in the summer of 1900 and is a four-room frame structure, while a hall with a seating capacity of four hundred and fifty is attached to the school. The school was opened September 1, 1900. The parish house is of pressed brick with sandstone finish. The grounds surround- ing the church property are graded and the buildings are in good condition. There are two hundred and twenty families in the parish and two hundred and forty pupils attend school under the care of four teachers. All of this work has been accomplished by Father Quinn, who not only carefully lays his plans but has the ability to see that they are faithfully carried out. He is noted for his powers of organization : while at Clare he built three schools; at Wakeman he rebuilt the church ; at Norwalk he reorganized the parish and considerably reduced the debt ; and while with the Church of the Immaculate Conception he was largely instru- mental in having the debt reduced one half. Whatever he undertakes he does thoroughly. If the building lots belonging to St. Catherine's church, which now have all city improvements and are almost all paid for, were disposed of, the parish property would be practically out of debt.
RALPH E. FISHER, M. D.
Dr. Ralph E. Fisher, a promising young physician and surgeon of Cleveland, is one of Ohio's native sons, having been born in Mansfield, September 10, 1879, a son of Edward S. and Arabelle (Van Nest) Fisher. His paternal grandfather, Philip Fisher, came to America from Germany at the age of sixteen years and located in Wooster, Ohio. He became prominent in the affairs of that village, and was the sexton of the Wooster cemetery, which was noted as one of the most beau- tiful in the state, largely as the result of Mr. Fisher's labors. His maternal grand- father, John Van Nest, Esq., of Rowsburg, Ashland county, Ohio, was born in Dillstown, Pennsylvania, December 1, 1814, and came to Rowsburg in 1839, where he organized the First Lutheran church. He and his estimable wife, Sarah (Wei- ler) Van Nest, were constant members of same until removed by death, she at the age of seventy-seven years and he at the age of eighty-eight years and six
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months. Mr. Van Nest was postmaster and justice of the peace continuously for a period of thirty-five years.
Edward S. Fisher, father of our subject, was born in Wooster, Ohio, in 1850, and when he reached manhood became a machinist by trade and a builder of en- gines. For a period of eighteen years he traveled throughout the United States selling the product of the Mansfield Machine Works, until he became a member of Roderick Lean Company, of Mansfield, manufacturers of agricultural imple- ments. In 1874 he was united in marriage to Miss Arabelle Van Nest, who was born in Rowsburg, Ohio, in 1854. Three sons and one daughter were born unto them, but only two of the sons now survive. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher are also living, making their home at Mansfield, Ohio.
Dr. Ralph E. Fisher attended the common and high schools of Mansfield, Ohio, graduating from the latter in 1898. He then engaged in the study of medicine, a preference for which he expressed very early in life, first under the direction of Dr. J. A. McArthur, of Mansfield, for a year and a half, after which he entered the Cleveland College of Physicians and Surgeons, receiving his degree from that institution in 1904. The next two years Dr. Fisher spent in post-graduate work in the Cleveland General Hospital, in 1906 engaging upon his private practice in the office in which he is now located, No. 946 Rose building. He has made a spe- cialty of surgery, although he engaged in general practice, meeting with a deserved success in both fields of his work.
Dr. Fisher has always been very fond of and is a strong advocate of athletic sports, in which he has himself attained some degree of proficiency for he holds a record of sixteen and one-fifth seconds for the one hundred and twenty yard hur- dles. He belongs to the Cleveland Revolver and Rifle Club and fraternally is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a member of the Cleve- land Medical Society, of the Ohio State and American Medical Associations. He is a republican in regard to national issues but in local affairs votes independently of party allegiance, giving support to the most worthy man or cause. He has taken no active part in public life but his interest is ever vital in promoting the welfare of his fellow citizens.
CLARENCE L. BARTSHE.
Clarence L. Bartshe, whose intense and well directed energy has gained him favorable recognition among the prosperous and enterprising business men of Cleveland, has been manager of the Western Reserve Condensed Milk Company since the Ist of January, 1909. His birth occurred in Litchfield, Ohio, on the 7th of March, 1872, his parents being Johnson and Mary Bartshe. He attended the public schools of Kent, Ohio, until seventeen years of age and then secured em- ployment as a clerk in a grocery store at that place, being thus engaged for one year. Subsequently he came to Cleveland and entered the service of the wholesale grocery firm of S. F. & F. H. Haserot & Company as an employe in the shipping department, while later he was made department manager and salesman for the Haserot Company, as the concern was then known. Afterward he was elected vice president and sales manager of the company, thus remaining an active factor in the control of the enterprise uutil he severed his connection therewith to become manager of the Western Reserve Condensed Milk Company. He entered upon the duties of his present position on the Ist of January, 1909, and his sound judgment and excellent executive ability have already contributed in large measure to the success of the concern which he represents. He is also manager of the Cleveland Mercantile Company, wholesale brokers and operators of the Cleveland Ware- house.
In September, 1893, in Kent, Mr. Bartshe wedded Miss Addie Louise Minnick. Their union has been blessed with three children, namely: Glen E., thirteen years
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of age, who attends the public schools; Dorothy M., a little maiden of eight, who is likewise a public school student; and Ruth H., who is five years old and attends the kindergarten. The family residence is at No. 1763 East Ninetieth street.
Mr. Bartshe gives his political allegiance to the republican party and in relig- ious faith is a Methodist. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and also holds membership relations with the Cleveland Commercial Travelers, the Cleve- land Athletic Club and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In business life he has displayed that close application and unremitting diligence which consti- tute a safe basis upon which to build the superstructure of success.
CHRISTIAN GIRL.
Christian Girl, president and general manager of the Perfection Spring Com- pany, with offices at No. 2414 Superior avenue, Northwest, is a son of Joseph and Catherine Girl, of Elkhart, Indiana, both of German lineage. He was born on his father's farm at Elkhart and in the district schools acquired his preliminary edu- cation, while later he continued his studies in the high school. He came to Cleve- land in 1895 and accepted a position as letter carrier, serving in that capacity until 1906. He then organized and became president of the Auto Livery Company at No. 92 Ontario street, and when he sold out that business he organized the Perfection Spring Company, manufacturers of and dealers in auto springs. This business has since been successfully conducted and the house enjoys a large trade.
On the 15th of September, 1909, Mr. Girl was united in marriage to Miss Hettie A., a daughter of John and Alvilla (Green) Schottler, of Eldred, Florida. Her mother is now deceased but her father is still living near Eldred where he has a pineapple plantation.
Mr. Girl is a member of the Cleveland Auto Club and the Cleveland Athletic Club. He is also a charter member of the Cleveland Areo Club and a member of the Chamber of Industry. He attends the Unitarian church and is interested in all that pertains to the progress and development of the city along intellectual, moral, material and political lines. In his business affairs he has manifested a ready adaptability that has enabled him to use each opportunity as it has been pre- sented and the passing years have brought him a success which places him among the substantial business men of Cleveland.
ARTHUR C. ROGERS.
Arthur C. Rogers has long been known in the military circles of Cleveland, a city which has every reason to be proud of her military organizations. He was among those who responded to the call for troops in the Spanish-American war. He is, perhaps, even better known in connection with business interests, having from January, 1899, been actively engaged in the advertising business. He was born in Maysville, Kentucky, January 26, 1864, a son of John Gassaway Rogers, a grandson of George W. Rogers and a great-grandson of Charles Rogers, one of the pioneer settlers of Kentucky. The family came originally from Virginia, and the first homestead was built of bricks hauled over the mountains from the Old Dominion. George W. Rogers was united in marriage to Charlotte Carrel, a daughter of Sanford and Jane (Byers) Carrel. This family is a branch of the same family as that of Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
John G. Rogers, the father of 'Arthur C. Rogers, was born in Louisville, Ken- tucky, and served in the Union army during the Civil war, becoming a captain in the Tenth Kentucky Cavalry, and later lieutenant colonel of the Fifty-fourth
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Kentucky Mounted Infantry. For a time he commanded the military post at Leb- anon, Kentucky, and saw much active service in the mountains of east Ten- nessee and western Virginia as well as in his native state. He took an active part in the defense of Cincinnati during General Bragg's invasion of Kentucky and also aided in the pursuit of Morgan's raiders. He was in command of the Fifty-fourth Kentucky at the third and successful raid on Saltville, Virginia-an expedition famous for continuous fighting and extreme suffering from cold. He was officially complimented on numerous occasions for acts of conspicuous gal- lantry. He died in 1865 as the result of his army service. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sallie Arthur, was a daughter of George W. and Lydia (Hunt) Arthur, and died in 1880 at the age of thirty-eight years.
Arthur C. Rogers began his education in the schools of Maysville, Kentucky, but came to Cleveland in 1871 and here attended the public schools until fif- teen years of age, when he returned to his native city and entered the Maysville high school, studying under Professor Richeson, who had been General Grant's instructor in the old Maysville Academy. Returning to Cleveland in 1881, Mr. Rogers began business life as office boy with the Standard Oil Company. He organized the printing department of the company, conducting it until 1890, when he resigned to enter the printing business on his own account. In this he continued until 1898. At the beginning of the Spanish-American war in that year he volunteered with the First Ohio Cavalry, and was appointed regimental adjutant with the rank of captain. He had previously served for six years with Troop A, and was second sergeant of the troop when it was mustered into the United States service. During part of the war he was acting assistant adjutant general of the Second Provisional Cavalry Brigade of the Fourth Army Corps, and when the war was brought to a close was mustered out in October, 1898. He retained his membership in Troop A, serving to the end of his enlistment in 1900, and during the latter part of the term he was first sergeant. In 1899 he was complimented by appointment to a captaincy in the Forty-seventh United States Volunteer Infantry, which appointment he declined, however.
On the 3d of February, 1886, Mr. Rogers was married to Miss Lauretta Ray- mond Plumer, a daughter of DeWitt Clinton and Lauretta (Raymond) Plumer, of Franklin, Pennsylvania. She traces her ancestry to the Plumers of Massa- chusetts, who were first represented in that state in 1635. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers reside at No. 2077 East Eighty-eighth street. Mr. Rogers belongs to the Euclid, Hermit and Cleveland Advertising Clubs, having served as president of the last named. He also belongs to the Military Order of the Loyal Legion and to the Military Order of Foreign Wars. In politics he is an independent republican. He finds pleasure in golf, in music and in books, and has some very rare and beautiful editions. He is widely known in military, business and club circles, and his salient qualities are such as have brought him the high regard and warm friendship of the great majority of those with whom he has been brought in contact.
JAMES W. FRAZIER.
James W. Frazier, a member of the firm of Frazier & Fox, consulting en- gineers of Cleveland, was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1870. His pa- rents, George G. and Sadie B. (Smith) Frazier, were both natives of Pennsyl- vania, the former having been born in Butler, and the latter in Pittsburg, both of that state. The father was for many years a well known and successful contractor of Pittsburg but died October 13, 1909. The mother passed away August 5, 1873.
James W. Frazier attended the public schools of Pittsburg and Allegheny until sixteen years of age and then worked for his father for a short time.
J. W. FRAZIER
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Subsequently he entered the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, New York and won the degree of Civil Engineer in 1894. He then became engineer for the Federal Street & Pleasant Valley Railway Company of Allegheny and Pitts- burg, acting in that capacity until 1896, when he entered the service of the West- inghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company and remained with that corpora- tion for a year. On the expiration of that period he became identified with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as engineer in the offices of the Chief En- gineer, holding that position until 1899.
In the fall of that year Mr. Frazier came to Cleveland, Ohio, as engineer for the Brown Hoisting Machinery Company, having charge of the estimating and designing of coal and ore handling machinery until 1905. On severing his connection with that concern he formed a partnership with J. H. Fox under the firm style of Frazier & Fox and they have since conducted an extensive and profitable business as consulting engineers. Mr. Frazier has made steady prog- ress in his chosen field of labor, continually broadening his efficiency by investi- gation and experience until he is largely regarded as authority upon questions of civil engineering. He is vice president of the Cleveland Engineering Society, and is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce and the Cleveland Athletic Club.
In 1895 Mr. Frazier was united in marriage to Miss Jennie H. Van Dusen, of Troy, New York. They now have two daughters, Ruth and Helen. Mr. Frazier is a consistent and devoted member of the Euclid Avenue Congregational church. His interests are thoroughly identified with those of the city and at all times he is ready to lend his aid and cooperation to any movement calculated to benefit this section of the country or advance its wonderful development.
CORDIE R. DE LAND.
Cordie R. De Land was born in Syracuse, New York, May 18, 1874, a son of Jerome S. and Mary U. (Barnes) De Land. His parents are both living and are residing in Syracuse, New York, where for a number of years the father conducted a boiler shop. His mother is a hairdresser of that city, having followed that occu- pation more or less since ten years of age. On his mother's side he is descended from an old English family, some members of which came to this country about eighty years ago.
Cordie R. De Land entered the public schools of his native town but he attended only until he was twelve years of age, when he went to work in the Syracuse Boiler Works as an apprentice at fifty cents a day. He remained there about three years and then became assistant engineer to his father, who at that time was engineer of the Bee Hive building in Syracuse. Later he became engineer in the Clean Towel Supply Company, remaining there about two years. The next year he spent working upon his grandfather's farm, after which he accepted a position in the Syracuse Plaster Mill, which he held for about two years. Then he removed to Fayetteville, New York, to work in a furniture factory, but after thirteen months he found employment in the Stewart Iron Works as iron ram worker. A few months later he returned to the plaster mill, working there until ten years ago, when he entered the service of the H. E. Mills Manufacturing Company with which he is now associated. Soon afterward he was made superintendent of the Syracuse plant and in October 1, 1907, was transferred to Cleveland and made general manager of the Cleveland plant. In the past two years he has fulfilled his duties with honor and credit to himself and to the complete satisfaction of his employers. He has recently returned to Syracuse to take charge of a more modern plant than the one in Cleveland, belonging to the same company.
On the Ist of November, 1904, Mr. De Land wedded Miss Mildred G. Haffen- den, a daughter of George Haffenden, a farmer and butcher of Syracuse, New
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York. She was but sixteen and a half years old when she married and is now the mother of two sons; Cordie Edward, and an infant. They lost a daughter at the age of seventeen months.
About eleven years ago Mr. De Land was enrolled as a member of Fayetteville (N. Y.) Lodge, No. 578, A. F. & A. M., and about the same time at Syracuse joined the Order of American Mechanics, Salt City, No. 72. He is a man, how- ever, who is sincerely devoted to his home and finds his greatest relaxation from work in the companionship of his wife and sons, and he was also devoted to his mother during the years in which she needed his care.
COLONEL LOUIS SMITHNIGHT.
Colonel Louis Smithnight, for fifty-nine years a resident of Cleveland, is widely known throughout the state in connection with its military interests, hav- ing been the organizer of its artillery forces, which he represented for five years. Since enlisting at the president's first call for troops in 1861, he has been active as a representative of army life and his military bearing still gives evidence of the service which he has performed for his country. In Cleveland he was long promi- nently known as a druggist and is still owner of a store, the management of which, however, he leaves to others. He was born in Saxony, Germany, December 16, 1834, his parents being Frederick and Aurelia (Woolford) Smithnight, also of that country. In his youthful days he was a pupil in the public schools and at the age of fifteen he crossed the Atlantic to the western world, being sixty-one days on the voyage. For a time he resided in Columbus, Ohio, and in 1850 came to Cleveland. His lack of financial resources rendered employment an immediate necessity and he secured a clerkship in the wholesale dry-goods house of A. J. Wenham on Mervin street, there remaining for seven years. On the expiration of that period he went to Pike's Peak, Colorado, attracted by the discovery of gold. This was in 1858, and after making the long and arduous trip, he was un- successful in his search for the precious metal and returned to Cleveland to seek his fortune in the slower but surer methods of trade. He opened a drug store on Woodlawn Road and there conducted business until 1892, when he removed to his present location at No. 2511 East Ninth street. He still owns this store but has placed it in charge of a manager, while he is practically living retired, enjoy- ing a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves.
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