USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume III > Part 16
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WILLIAM JOSEPH AKERS.
William Joseph Akers is entitled to threefold prominence-as a business man, as a political leader and as a philanthropist. His efforts in any one line would entitle him to more than passing notice, while his continued activity in these fields has made him a forceful factor in the world's work, the consensus of public opin- ion being that he is one of the most active and valuable of Cleveland's citizens. Mr. Akers was born in England, August 2, 1845, a son of John and Catherine (O'Leary) Akers. His parents came to America and located in Cleveland during the infancy of their son and remained residents of this city until called to the home beyond, the father dying in 1858 at the age of forty-three years, while the mother survived until 1894. The father was a prominent contractor here and erected many of the large buildings of his day in Cleveland.
William Joseph Akers pursued his education in the public schools of Cleve- land and at the age of thirteen began working in a blacksmith shop, but since 1865 has largely been identified with hotel interests. It was in that year that he be- came office boy in the old Union depot restaurant and eventually he became clerk, cashier and partner, while in 1880 he became sole proprietor. During the early years of his business career he was associated with John A. Wheeler and L. G. Russell, which connection continued until they were called from life. With them he opened the Gibson House in 1875 and the Continental Hotel in 1877, both at Crestline. At the same time Mr. Akers was interested with John A. Wheeler and L. G. Russell in the operation of two flourmills, one at Crestline and the other at Nevada on the Fort Wayne Railroad. He has long been recognized as a man of resourceful business ability, various enterprises making demand upon his time and energy, his enterprise and diligence, however, being at all times equal to this demand. He found hotel management and control a particularly congenial pursuit and in 1882 he opened the Russell House at Alliance, while in 1888, in connection with' S. T. Paine, who is still his partner, he purchased the Forest City House, one of Cleveland's leading hostelries, which he is still conducting. In 1890 he also became part owner of the Sagertown Inn at Sagertown, Pennsylvania, and extended his efforts to industrial interests, becoming proprietor of the bottling works at that place. Mr. Akers has also controlled many railroad eating houses and in 1884 established the first dining car service in this part of the country on the old Bee Line, now the Big Four. In all of his work he has displayed much of the spirit of the pioneer, instituting new methods and seeking out and incor- porating new ideas of benefit to the trade. He organized the Cleveland Hotel
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Men's Association, was its first president and is acting as its chief officer at this writing, in 1909. In association with Clifton D. Shears, of the Grand Hotel of Cincinnati, Mr. Akers organized the State Hotel Men's Association and served as its second president, Mr. Shears being the first incumbent in that office.
Mr. Akers has occupied a very important part in local politics for over forty years and has been identified with almost every movement for the advancement of Cleveland during that period. It would be to give a detailed history of the city if one were to enumerate the list of public enterprises and movements with which Mr. Akers has been helpfully associated. Never neglectful of the duties of citi- zenship, he has been well qualified for leadership in political circles and in 1896 the republican party named him as its nominee for mayor in opposition to Robert Blee. He would undoubtedly have won the race had not General Myers entered the field as an independent republican candidate, thus dividing the republican forces and resulting in the election of the latter by a very small majority. He was again the republican nominee in 1892 with Tom L. Johnson as the opposing candidate. Mr. Akers has always taken a deep interest in the public schools, for many years assisting in their management as a member of the board of education, his labors being at all times practical, embodying too the spirit of reform and progress. He served as a director of the library board and in 1900 wrote and published a valuable history of the Cleveland schools, covering the ground from their establishment until that year.
In connection with charity work Mr. Akers is also widely known, his broad humanitarian spirit being manifest in his earnest and continuous labor toward promoting interests leading to the amelioration of hard conditions of life for the unfortunate. For over thirty years he was a director of the Cleveland Associated Charities and a director of the board of charities and correction for the city. He acted as assistant secretary of the relief committee for Chicago fire sufferers and as a member of the committee had charge of the shipment and accounting of all supplies. He was also a member of the committee having in charge the relief work for the sufferers from the Ohio flood, the Michigan fire, the Johnstown flood and the Kentucky cyclone and in 1892 he was appointed by President Mc- Kinley to visit and aid the Hocking Valley mine sufferers. He is the financial trustee of the Dorcas Invalid Home, a trustee of the Boys Industrial School at Lancaster, Ohio, and from 1880 until 1890 was the president of the Cleveland General Hospital. For many years he has been the commissary of the Cleveland Grays, a military organization of the city, and he has at all times been in hearty sympathy with the beneficent spirit of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has been honored with the thirty-third degree. He has held the office of deputy grand master of the Masons of Ohio and commander in chief of northern Ohio of the Scottish Rite Masons. He is a trustee and was chairman of the building com- mittee of the Masonic Temple and has been a trustee of the Masonic Home at Springfield, Ohio, since its inception. His helpful spirit and his generous assist- ance in lines of charity have their root in his membership and belief in the Meth- odist church.
In Cleveland Mr. Akers was married to Miss Maud M. Miller, of Brooklyn, New York, who is prominent in the highest social circles of this city and for years has been a leader in charitable work. She is now the vice president and corres- ponding secretary of the Dorcas Home and chairman of its mission committee and is equally active in the Sorosis Ladies Literary & Educational Society and other organizations.
Mr. Akers has always been a lover of athletics and manly outdoor sports. As a youth he was a wrestler, an excellent rifle shot and a member of the old Rail- way Union baseball team, and he is still notable as a pedestrian, which is no doubt responsible in a large measure for the fact that now, in his sixty-third year, he is a vigorous man, strong and athletic, presenting the general appearance of a man of forty-five years. Nature is kind to those who do not abuse her laws and he has at all times followed closely her guidance. Moreover, he possesses a kindly, genial
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nature, which keeps one young in spirit. To see him in the management of his extensive hotel interests one would think that he was wholly engrossed with busi- ness cares; to see him in the engagement of charitable work one might imagine that he had no interests outside of this realm ; in politics too he is equally zealous and earnest. The fact remains that he has the ability to concentrate his energies for the moment entirely upon the work at hand and in this lies the secret of his extensive and successful accomplishment. While he deserves much credit for what he has done in business circles and in citizenship, his work in charitable lines has won him the enduring gratitude of many, making his a well balanced character.
HARRY J. COLLIER.
While engaged in business as a general contractor, Harry J. Collier has gained distinction in the field of railway and bridge building and in other difficult work demanding superior ability and thorough understanding of mechanics and sci- entific principles. His record has been characterized by an orderly progression that has resulted from the wise and intelligent use of every opportunity. He was born March 4, 1847, in Avoca, Steuben county, New York, and is a son of Joel R. and Keziah (MacWhorter) Collier. The father was in early life a sailor and became captain of a vessel on the Hudson river, but devoted the later years of his life to farming and for some time lived in Illinois. Both he and his wife have now passed away.
Harry J. Collier began his education in the schools of New York and was twelve years of age at the time of the removal of the family to Illinois, where he continued his studies. The periods of vacation were devoted to the work of the fields and he was his father's assistant and associate in farming operations until about seventeen years of age when, aroused by the call of the country for military aid, he abandoned the plow and joined the Union Army as a member of Company F, One Hundred and Fortieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. His youth had precluded his previous enlistment but he joined the army in 1864 and was mustered out in Chicago just prior to the close of the war.
When the country no longer needed his aid Mr. Collier returned to the home farm whereon he continued for two years, but feeling that his opportunities were limited in agricultural life he turned his attention to other pursuits. Beginning work at the carpenter's trade, he followed it for a brief period in Illinois and then went to Michigan, spending three years at carpentering in Benton Harbor and St. Joe. Ere he left that state he began contracting on his own account. Later he worked at carpentering in Missouri until 1889 when he went to Ten- nessee and also to Kentucky and to different points in the south, being engaged on railroad contract work and bridge construction until 1893. In that year he returned to Indiana, having been awarded the contract for construction of the belt line at Bedford. While thus engaged he made his headquarters at Louis- ville, Kentucky, until 1895, and then went to the West Indies, where he erected buildings for the Jamaica Railroad. He spent fourteen months in that tropical country, after which he returned to New York city and for two years was engaged on building construction in the eastern metropolis. He afterward spent a year in railroad work in Richmond, Virginia, and subsequently was in Chicago until 1902. He then went to Pittsburg, having been awarded the contract for the build- ing of the Wabash terminal, which included the construction of sixty thousand yards of masonry. Coming to Cleveland he built the masonry of the Newburg & South Shore Railroad and later in Indianapolis constructed the masonry and bridge work in the Indianapolis Southern Railway. At the same time he was engaged on bridge work for the Illinois, Iowa & Minnesota Railroad between Rockford and De Kalb, Illinois, and also on the bridge work between Lorain
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II. J. COLLIER
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and Berea, Ohio, on the Lake Erie & Pittsburg Railway Company. Other evidence of his skill is found in the Cincinnati terminal building, which is con- structed of concrete. He erected the Herbivora building at the zoological gardens of that city and did much work for the Big Four Railroad Company on the St. Louis division, erecting the concrete bridge at Marshall, Illinois, contain- ing thirteen thousand yards.
In August, 1906, Mr. Collier returned to Cleveland for the execution of a contract for work on the Lake Erie & Pittsburg Railway Company, now a part of the Lake Shore Railway, building thirty-seven thousand yards of masonry. He also did the masonry work on the bridge at Asheville, North Carolina, and is now engaged on bridge work at Spartanburg, South Carolina. He began some large masonry contracts at Winston Salem, North Carolina, in August, 1909, in which twelve thousand yards were involved. He has ever made a specialty of railroad and bridge work and in the execution of important con- tracts has been called to all sections of the country. In 1909 he constructed and completed the largest wooden bridge in Cleveland, at East Sixty-fifth and Kingsbury Run, as an evidence of local work. The forgoing record will in- dicate much of the extent of his business and the superior ability which he dis- plays. He has made steady advancement in his chosen field of labor and among the representatives of the field in which he has put forth his efforts he is recognized as a most skilled and efficient contractor. Mr. Collier is secretary, treasurer and director in the Cleveland Material Company, wholesale dealers in builders' and contractors' materials.
On the 18th of January, 1872, Mr. Collier was married to Miss Alice Jay, a native of Illinois, and unto them have been born two children: Mrs. Van R. Norred, of Chattanooga, Tennessee ; and H. J. Collier, Jr., who married Myrtle Barber, of Cleveland, and is associated with his father in business. Mr. Col- lier is a member of the Masonic fraternity and also of the Grand Army of the Republic. His life has been an extremely busy one and knowledge which he has displayed in accomplishing various tasks and the ability with which he has adapted himself to the demands of the situation, constitute salient forces in the success which he has achieved and which places him in a prominent posi- tion among Cleveland's leading contractors.
JOHN G. BETTCHER.
John G. Bettcher was born in the capital city of the German empire, January 24, 1858, and there spent his early boyhood. His parents were Gottlieb and Rosie Bettcher. The father, also a native of Berlin, was born January 16, 1811, and was a carpenter by trade, but like so many of his countrymen believed in the larger opportunity of a newer land and in pursuance of this idea, he severed his old associations and brought his family to America in 1871. They located in Cleveland, where he continued to work at the carpenter's trade.
The career of the son has amply justified the father's conclusions over a quar- ter of a century ago. Having attended the German schools until his change of residence, he spent his first five years in Cleveland in learning the carpenter's trade with his father. Having qualified sufficiently, he was engaged by the Bourne & Knowles Manufacturing Company as carpenter and patternmaker. That his services were satisfactory is amply attested by the fact that he remained with them for twenty-three years and then only severed his connection with them to organize a manufacturing concern known as Bettcher & Company, which upon its incorporation three years later became known as the Bettcher Manufacturing Company. Mr. Bettcher, however, sold his interest in 1907 and organized the Cleveland Wrought Washer Company, whose specialties are wrought iron and
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steel washers, tire bolt washers, riveting burrs and kindred commodities. Good fortune has attended the new enterprise which now employs thirty-one men.
Mr. Bettcher is a member of Garfield Union. He adheres to the policies of the republican party and in religious conviction is a Protestant. He was married in Cleveland, May 20, 1887 to Miss Augusta Krause. They have four children as follows: Bertha, aged nineteen years, staying at home; Elsie, aged seventeen years, employed as a stenographer in the office of Benton, Hall & Company, wholesale druggists ; Stella, who is fourteen years old and is attending the Metro- politan Business College ; and Wilbur, aged twenty-two months. The family resi- dence is at 2078 West Fifty-third street.
FRANCIS FLEURY PRENTISS.
Francis Fleury Prentiss is president of the Cleveland Twist Drill Company and a prominent representative of the industrial interests of the city. His busi- ness career has been characterized by consecutive progress along well defined lines of labor, carrying him into important commercial relations and today he is recog- nized as one of the strong and resourceful business men of the city.
A native of Vermont, he was born in Montpelier, August 22, 1858, and be- gan his education in the schools of that city, where he pursued his studies to the age of twelve years, when in 1870 he accompanied his parents on their removal to Winona, Minnesota. There he completed his education in 1876 and at the age of eighteen years entered a bank at Winona as office boy. From the outset he dis- played the industry and adaptability which have characterized his entire business career and during the four years of his connection with the bank he worked his way steadily upward through consecutive promotions until he rose to the position of assistant cashier. In 1880 he came to Cleveland, where he embarked in busi- ness on his own account as junior partner of the firm of Davies & Prentiss, or- ganized for the manufacture of padlocks. Not long afterward the firm of Cox & Prentiss was organized for the manufacture of twist drills, and in 1904 the pres- ent company was formed under the style of the Cleveland Twist Drill Company with Mr. Prentiss as its president. This is a well equipped plant, supplied with the latest improved machinery for the conduct of the business and the product is now large, extensive shipments being made to all sections of the country.
On the Ist of January, 1900, Mr. Prentiss was married in Cleveland to Miss Delight Sweetser, a daughter of James D. Sweetser, of Marion, Indiana. She died July 14, 1903, and her death was deeply regretted by many friends. Mr. Prentiss attends the Episcopal church and belongs to the Masonic fraternity. He is well known in the city where he has now made his home for twenty-nine years and where his course has ever been characterized by qualities of honorable man- hood and commendable business activity. There has been no esoteric phase in his commercial career, which on the contrary represents the fit utilization of his opportunities and the result of industry that has never flagged.
FRANK C. SMITH.
Frank C. Smith is one of those citizens whom Cleveland can claim by right of nativity as well as by present residence for it was within her limits that this progressive business man was born, November 9, 1869. His father and mother, Casper and Annie M. (Sauer) Smith, are both by nativity subjects of the kaiser, but they sought the land of the stars and stripes in youth and in Buffalo, New York, were united in marriage. During his active years the father engaged in the cooperage business. Both parents are now deceased.
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Frank C. Smith is today secretary and treasurer of the Empire Marble Com- pany located at 3159 West Sixty-eight street, and his ascent to his present ex- cellent position in the world of affairs is a record of steady advancement. Edu- cated in the parochial schools and the Edmondston Business College he began his career as a basketmaker. He worked at this trade for some time and then en- tered the employ of the C. N. E. Lamp Company, his labors being expended in the brass shop. From this concern, which was owned by W. J. Gordon, he went to the Bishop & Babcock Company and after a term of efficient service there severed his association to form a more permanent one with the Cleveland Faucet Company. His connection with this business was of eight years duration and was finally severed to return to Bishop & Babcock. In 1896 he made a somewhat radical change by becoming a traveling salesman for a concern in Buffalo, New York, engaged in the manufacture of bar supplies, but the attraction of Cleveland proved too strong and in a year he returned. It was in July, 1902, that Mr. Smith became connected with the Empire Marble Company.
Mr. Smith laid the foundation of a happy home life by his marriage on June 2, 1898, to Miss Dorothy Naegele, a daughter of Jacob Naegele, formerly a part- ner in the Scranton Avenue Wagon Works.
Mr. Smith's lodge affiliations fill an important place in his life and in these fraternal circles he has won no small amount of popularity. He is especially well known from his connection with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, hav- ing held membership for fifteen years in Amazon Lodge, No. 567, and filled all the offices in that body, being past noble grand. He also belongs to Guyer Lodge, No. 728, Knights of Pythias, and is a past chancellor commander in that organiza- tion. In politics he is independent, believing in the infallibility neither of men nor of party and casting his vote for whatever issue appeals to him as just. He and his wife attend the German Evangelical church on Jennings avenue, to whose good works they give both interest and support, and in short enjoy that popular esteem which always accrues to right living and altruistic endeavor.
WILLIAM P. CHARD.
Thirty years' service in the employ of the Lake Shore Railroad stands in in- controvertible evidence of the fidelity and capability of William P. Chard as a representative of railway interests. At the present time he is giving his attention to the real-estate business and is also the treasurer of the Brooklyn Building & Loan Association. He was born at Prince Albert, Canada, October 28, 1846, a son of James J. and Ann (Parry) Chard, who were married in the year 1830. The father was a native of Wales and following his emigration to America in 1827, engaged in farming in Euclid, Ohio. In 1832 he took up his abode in Cleveland and established a general leather business on Superior avenue near Seneca street, being one of the pioneer merchants of the city, for Cleveland at that time was just emerging from villagehood and had as yet but little industrial or commercial importance. About 1836 or 1837 he removed to Canada and was ac- tive in the Mckenzie annexation scheme for annexing the Dominion to the United States-a plan which terminated in disaster. In 1849, attracted by the discovery of gold in California, he started for the Pacific coast but died at Independence, Missouri, while en route, leaving his widow with five small children : James, Sarah, Mary, Ellen and William P. The family home had been established in Cleveland in 1849 and here Mrs. James J. Chard passed away on Huntington street, her last years being made comfortable and happy by the filial love, devotion and care of her son William.
William P. Chard was only about three years old when brought to Cleveland. The occasion of his father's death, whereby the family was left in limited financial circumstances, necessitated his beginning work at the early age of twelve years,
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when he entered the employ of the Lake Shore Railroad Company as caller in the freight department. From that position he was promoted to tallyman, eventually became assistant foreman and later foreman of the freight department. He re- signed in 1892 after completing thirty years' service with that company, being regarded as one of its most faithful representatives. It was his purpose on his retirement to give his entire attention to his real-estate investments and he is now busily employed in looking after his property interests, making further pur- chases as favorable opportunity permits. His holdings are now a source of sub- stantial profit and he is further known in business circles as the treasurer of the Brooklyn Building & Loan Association, which office he has filled for the past fourteen years.
In 1892 William P. Chard was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hawkins, whose condition in the days of her girlhood and early womanhood was similar to that of her husband, as upon her devolved the care of a widowed mother and the six children who were left by the death of her sister, the youngest being a babe of a little more than a year old. Mrs. Chard was able to meet her obligations and discharge her duties in this direction by obtaining employment in various offices in the county courthouse and spent twenty-five years in the recorder's office. She became wealthy in her own right through her knowledge and transaction in real estate.
In politics Mr. Chard has always been a stalwart republican and his per- sonal popularity is indicated in the fact that he has represented in the city council the old fifth ward, which was the strongest democratic ward in Cleveland at that time. He served one term as alderman when the board was established and was elected to represent the second district in the board and was appointed a member of its fire committee. The next public office to which he was called was that of deputy director of public works, thus serving for four years under Robert E. McKisson. While acting as a member of the city council and as alderman he was made a member of numerous important committees, in which connection he did valuable public service. He was also president of the decennial board of equalization in 1891. He belongs to the Tippecanoe and Western Reserve Clubs, two republican organizations, and he is also a member of the Union League Club, of which he is now treasurer. Fraternally he is connected with Tyrian Lodge, No. 370, A. F. & A. M., and is identified with other departments of Ma- sonry. He is entitled to wear the Grand Army button by reason of active service in the Civil war and now holds membership in Memorial Post, G. A. R., and also in the Elks Lodge, No. 18. His is an approachable, genial nature, which has won him warm friendship and many of his most congenial companions are those who have known him from his youth to the present time.
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