USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume III > Part 18
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On the 23d of September, 1896, in Chicago, Mr. Aborn was married to Miss Florence Louise Higgins, a representative of the old colonial Higgins family of Wellfleet, Massachusetts. Her mother was a Litchfield of the Litchfields of Co- hasset, Massachusetts. Their children, Mary Louise and John Russell, are both attending the Hathaway-Brown school.
Mr. Aborn is deeply interested in various projects and organizations having to do with the social, municipal, material, educational and fraternal interests of Cleveland. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Builders Ex- change. In Masonry he has taken the degrees of Salem Commandery, K. T., and of Al Koran Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to the Hermit, Euclid and Cleveland Athletic Clubs, the University Club of Boston, is vice president of the Dartmouth Club of northern Ohio, a trustee of the Tucker Fund of Dart- mouth College and a member of the National Geographic Society. These varied interests bring him into close touch with questions that are engaging the attention of the best thinking men of the age and, while he has won recognition as a re- sourceful and alert business man, he is also recognized as one of wider interests, meeting the obligations as well as enjoying the privileges of citizenship and taking his stand with those men who throw the weight of their influence on the side of general progress and improvement.
VICTOR J. CONRAD.
Victor J. Conrad, one of the younger members of the bar of the Forest city, whose comparative youth, however, seems no detriment to his progress in his chosen vocation, was born in Cleveland, December 23, 1886. His father, Joseph Conrad, was born in Germany, March 19, 1840, and was a son of Jacob Conrad, who came to the United States about thirty-five years ago, living retired in this country. His ancestors were active in the wars of the old country, the grand father having been a brigadier general in the Polish army, serving with the revolutionists who fought for freedom. His military spirit was ever a dominant quality with him and throughout his life he showed the effect of his military training.
His son, Joseph Conrad, came to the United States forty years ago and made his way direct to Cleveland, where he engaged in the cooperage business in con- nection with the Standard Oil Company. In his later years, however, he turned his attention to real-estate dealing and as a representative of that business became widely known. He was the owner and publisher of the Morning Star, the lead- ing Polish newspaper of Cleveland. He founded that journal, which is still in ex- istence, although he sold out before his death, which occurred November 29. 1908. He was active in politics and exerted a wide-felt influence among his fellow
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countrymen. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Josephine Lewitsky, was born in Germany in 1848 and died June 9, 1892.
In the public schools of Cleveland Victor J. Conrad began his education, and for a year was a pupil in the Central high school, but was graduated from the East high school. He is also a graduate of the Central Manual Training School of the class of 1904 and of the Western Reserve University Law School, which he at- tended for three years. In 1908 he was admitted to the bar and began practice, making a specialty of criminal law, for which his keen analytical mind, his ready understanding of the relation of cause and effect and his superior gift of oratory well qualify him. His pleas are characterized by a terse, decisive logic and in argument he employs the gifts of oratory to elicit his points, which, however, are always based upon a thorough understanding of the law.
On the 28th of January, 1909, Mr. Conrad was married to Miss Nora B. Swearingen, a daughter of Robert and Martha (Brock) Swearingen, of Midvale, Ohio. Mrs. Conrad is a graduate of the Western Reserve University of the class of 1908, winning there the Bachelor of Arts degree.
Mr. Conrad belongs to the Knights of the Modern Maccabees. Politically he is an unfaltering republican and in 1909 was the candidate of the twenty- fourth ward for the city council. This seems to be preeminently the age of young inen, for it is those whose years of manhood are comparatively few who seem to be shaping the destinies of city, state and country in matters commercial and po- litical. While he has but passed the twenty-third milestone on life's journey Mr. Conrad has already wielded considerable local influence in public affairs and if he continues his activity in political lines will undoubtedly become a strong factor in political circles of Cleveland.
STEPHEN S. CREADON.
Stephen S. Creadon, president and manager of the Standard Brewing Com- pany and also of the Lake City Ice Company, is a splendid example of the pro- gressive and successful business man of the present, who, when he believes in the possibility of success for a project or undertaking, never hesitates to give to it the assistance of his energy, effort and careful management.
A native of Cleveland, Mr. Creadon was born in 1865 and when a lad began sailing on the Great Lakes, devoting about eight years to that department of labor. The opportunity for advancement, however, was not sufficient to ren- der such work attractive to one of his ambitious nature and, turning his attention to other lines, he was, for about four years, in the employ of a gasoline stove manufacturing concern. While his work in that connection was that of a skilled mechanic in the ornamental department, the financial return was not in keeping with what he felt he was able to earn. Therefore with the capital that he could command at that time he entered upon his first business venture, turning his attention to mercantile lines. This was in 1893, and the succeeding six years, during which he conducted a retail business at the corner of Detroit and West business capacity and foresight, enabling him to detect opportunity for industrial Twenty-fifth streets, not only added to his financial resources but developed his development.
In 1904 Mr. Creadon promoted the Standard Brewing Company, of which he became president and manager, a relation that he has borne to the company ever since. The success of this enterprise has been such as to place it in a foremost position among the leading breweries of the city. Entering the field against formidable competition, the growth of his undertaking has been re- markable. With a most modern equipment and a product noted for its purity and excellence, and with management that is able and competent, the success has been well merited. The bottling department of this plant is one of its special
STEPHEN S. CREADON
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features and contains all of the apparatus necessary for the conduct of that branch of the business. The well known brands, Erin Brew and Ehren Brau, originated here and, while the most popular brands in the city, are suggestive of the nationality of the stockholders of the company. The prominent part that Mr. Creadon has taken in the success of this industry reflects no small amount of credit upon him. He organized the Lake City Ice Company in 1906 and has been its president ever since. He has shown himself to be a man of unusual business capacity and adaptation, for whatever he has undertaken he has carried to success.
In 1894 Mr. Creadon was married to Miss Catherine A. Mclaughlin, of this city, and they have one son, George E., born May 2, 1895, who is a student in St. Ignatius College. The family are identified with St. Patrick's church. Mr. Creadon holds a life membership in Cleveland Aerie, No. 135, F. O. E., and is also a member of the Auto Club.
JOHN GEORGE SPENZER, M. D., PH.D., F. C. S.
Dr. John George Spenzer, a distinguished chemist and physician of Cleveland, whose contributions to chemical and medical literature have also brought him wide reputation and high professional honors, was born on Webster avenue, in Cleve- land, September 6, 1864, the second son of Dr. Peter I. and Mary T. (Molloy) Spenzer. He attended the Brownell street and Central high schools in the ac- quirement of his preliminary education, and also received thorough private in- struction. On the 15th of September. 1880, he matriculated in the medical de- partment of the Western Reserve University, from which he was graduated with the M. D. degree, but according to the state laws could not be granted a diploma until he attained his majority. From 1880 until 1884 he acted as lecturer and lab- oratory assistant to Professor Edward W. Morley at the medical school. From 1884 until 1887 he was post-graduate lecturer and laboratory assistant in chemis- try and mineralogy for the same at Adelbert College of the Western Reserve Uni- versity, and during the summer course of 1886 he lectured on chemistry at the medical school. From 1887 until 1888 he busied himself with private research chemical work in his own laboratory on Central avenue, and from 1888 until 1891, owing to financial reverses, he filled a position as chief prescription clerk in the pharmacy of Fred W. Schueller at Rich and High streets in Columbus.
On the 4th of November, 1891, Dr. Spenzer matriculated as candidate in chem- istry at the natural science faculty of the Imperial University at Strassburg, Al- sace, Germany, and was graduated therefrom on the 24th of October, 1893, with the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, completing the course in a shorter time than any student of chemistry in that institution. From October, 1893, until March, 1894, he did research work in pharmacology and physiologic chemistry in the medical department of the same, and from the latter date until July, 1894, he was. a student at the University of Paris in the following schools: "Ecole pratique : Faculté de Médecine ;" "Musee l'Histoire Naturelles;" the "Sorbonne;" and "Ecôle des Mines."
In September, 1894, upon his return to Cleveland, Dr. Spenzer was elected in- structor in experimental therapeutics and pharmacology at the medical depart- ment of the Western Reserve University, where he remained until May, 1896. In 1895 he was also elected professor of chemistry in the dental school of the same university but refused to serve, although his name was kept on the faculty for two years. From May until September, 1895, he did research medical chemistry at the Medical-Chemical Institute, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Dr. Spenzer is widely known as one of the leading medical educators of the country. From 1896 to the present time he has been professor of general and medical chemistry and pharmacology in the Cleveland College of Physicians and
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Surgeons, the medical department of Ohio Wesleyan University. Very early he was regarded as a great toxicologist, and is considered in this country an authority on legal chemistry in criminal courts. Besides the degrees of Doctor of Medicine and Philosophy, he is a member of the Philomatic Society of Alsace-Lorraine, Germany, (Strassburg, 1892) ; German Chemical Society (Berlin, 1893) ; Fellow of the English Chemical Society (London, 1894) ; member of the American Asso- ciation for the Advancement of Science (Cleveland, 1888) ; Fellow (Springfield, Massachusetts, 1895) ; member Ohio Pharmaceutical Association (Columbus, 1888, honorary, Cleveland, 1897) ; Cleveland Pharmaceutical Association, hon- orary (1894) ; Cleveland Chemical Society (1894) ; Cleveland Medical Society (1895); Ohio State Medical Society (1896) ; American Medical Association (1898).
Being the son of an apothecary and later a physician, he was early initiated into the rigid discipline of the pharmacy of the period of his youth, and took a deep interest in its various departments in a practical way until he left it per- manently in 18914 His first laboratory instruction in chemistry was received at the old Wooster Medical College in the summer of 1878, later at the Central high school under H. C. Foote, probably the best teacher of chemistry which Cleveland ever had, then for seven years he was student and assistant under Edward W. Morley. Besides the foregoing Dr. Spenzer has benefited by the instruction of Buecking, Chantemesse, Drechsel, Fittig, Fournier, Friedel, Goltz, Hoppe-Seyler, Kohlrausch, Parker, Schmiedeberg, Scott, Solms-Laubach, Weber and Widal.
Of his experimental researches the following are especially noteworthy, hav- ing attracted universal attention and are widely accepted as authority by the pro- fession :
1881-1882. Crystalline glycerine, noticed for the first time in America and the second case described (Proceedings Ohio State Pharmaceutical Association, 1882).
1887. Ethyl nitrite, color, boiling point and specific gravity (Proc. O. S. P. A.).
1891. Phenol-delicacy of tests for (Proc. A. S. P. A. and American Asso- ciation for the Advance of Science).
1891-1893. On the behavior of allylmalonic, allylacetic and ethylidene pro- pionic acids when boiled with caustic soda solutions ; contributions to the knowl- edge of propylidene acetic acid (Dissertation, Strassburg, Germany). Published in Liebig's Annalen, Transaction of the German Chemical Society, (Journal Amer- ican Chemical Society, etc., etc.). Theoretically, at least, a research of great value in explanation of the shifting of the double bond in unsaturated organic acids. Pioneer in character and repeatedly corroborated as regards the assertions and explanatory evidence therein contained.
1892. Crystallography of oxethyl dibrom methyl ketone naphthalin (Strass- burg, Groth's Zeitschr. F. Mineralogie.)
1893. Crystallographic study of B-Bromvalerianic acid (Strassburg) (in American Journal of Science, February, 1895) (Groth's Zeitschr, fuer Mineral- ogie, 1893).
1894. The grade of ethernarcosis in relation to the amount of inhaled ether vapor. (Strassburg ; Archiv. Experimentelle Pathologie and Pharmakologie Vol. 23, 1894 and Proc. A. A. A. S., 1894.)
1895. On antidotes for hydrocyanic acid.
1898. On the production of a carbohydrate from egg albumen ; being a re- search work in opposition to the theories of Dr. F. W. Pavy of England, 1895.
Besides these Dr. Spenzer has published some fifty papers of a scientific char- acter on chemistry, hygiene, pharmacy, pharmacology and toxicology and is the author of "The Principles of Pharmacology," 1899, A. 7.
On the 15th of June, 1898, Dr. Spenzer was married at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, to Miss Minnie Elizabeth Kittelberger, a daughter of Christian Kittelberger, now deceased, who was owner of a tannery at Cuyahoga Falls. They reside at No. 1825 East Ninety-third street. Dr. Spenzer is always busily employed with the
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duties of his profession as a practitioner, as a lecturer and with his scientific re- searches and investigations, together with the preparation of articles for the press and for various medical societies. He has wisely used the powers and talents with which nature has endowed him and which have carried him into important pro- fessional relations, winning him distinguished honors and successes.
PETER IGNATIUS SPENZER, M. D.
Dr. Peter Ignatius Spenzer, to whose efforts was largely attributable the founding of the School of Pharmacy at Cleveland and who for many years con- tinued in the active practice of medicine and surgery in this city, was born on the 6th of August, 1837, in the little hamlet of Aschhausen, romantically located in the valley of the Jagst, and nestled in among the foothills of the Black Forest mountains, in the kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany. He was left an orphan when quite young and when sixteen years of age his independent character re- belled against an unjust and severe guardian, who insisted that he become a cob- bler. He was the son of a shepherd but he had ambitions higher than cobbling and because of the insistence of his guardian he departed friendless and almost penniless for America when but sixteen years of age. Making his way to Hull, England, he sailed directly for the western world and located first in New Jersey, where he remained for one year, working on a farm and also putting forth every possible effort to acquire a knowledge of the English language. The following year he went to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and took up the study of pharmacy with the firm of Fleming Brothers. Arriving in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1856, he served in succession in the pharmacies of Parker & Butler, Benton & Dunham, Dr. C. O. Benton and Hugo Hensch, acting as manager of the last named.
Following the outbreak of the Civil war Dr. Spenzer joined the Union army as a member of the First Ohio Light Artillery, but was soon detached and ap- pointed hospital steward at Louisville, Kentucky, by Colonel, now General Bar- nett. This position he filled for a year and was then honorably discharged because of failing health. On his return to Cleveland he entered into partnership with Louis Smithnight, under the firm name of Smithnight & Spenzer, which was dis- solved in 1869, when he opened the first pharmacy in Central avenue, then Garden street. Dr. Spenzer took up the study of medicine in 1870 and was graduated in 1873 from the medical department of the University of Wooster at Cleveland. He at once entered upon the active practice of his profession and so continued until his death, which occurred in 1896, at the age of fifty-nine years. He enjoyed a large and lucrative practice and was the house physician to the Little Sisters of the Poor for twenty-five years. To his efforts may largely be attributed the found- ing of the School of Pharmacy, of which he became one of the incorporators. He was also a member of the local, state and national medical and pharmaceutical so- cieties, in which he ever took a deep interest. He became a member of the Amer- ican Pharmaceutical Association in 1871 and joined the Ohio State Pharmaceu- tical Association on its organization. He was also a chief factor in the formation of the Cleveland Pharmaceutical Association. He was also very active in numer- ous fraternal orders, and especially in the Independent Order of Foresters, in which he held high official rank.
Dr. Spenzer was united in marriage to Miss Mary T. Molloy, a native of Ire- land and a daughter of a landowner of County Dublin. Brought to America when twelve years of age, she acquired her education in the Rockwell school of Cleve- land and is still living in this city at the age of seventy-two years. Dr. and Mrs. Spenzer became the parents of nine children, six of whom are now living and who were provided with excellent literary and scientific educations. These are : Dr. John G. Spenzer, Mary H., Dr. Eugene A., Mrs. J. I. Peckham, Ida and Maude. The life record of Dr. Spenzer stands as a splendid example of the combination of
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individual ambition and ability with American opportunities. Arriving in a coun- try where he had no friends and was without knowledge of the language of the people, the force of his character, his firm determination and his high ideals car- ried him continuously forward, while his study and research brought him promi- nence in the field of labor which he chose as a life work. His entire life was a manifestation of the intelligent appreciation and utilization of opportunities. He knew that the riches of learning may be secured by any who have persistency of purpose to seek them, and soon overcoming the lack of advantages of his earlier years, he climbed continuously to heights far beyond those which the majority of mankind gains.
CHARLES L. F. WIEBER.
Charles L. F. Wieber, vice president and general manager of the Rauch & Lang Carriage Company, manufacturers of electric pleasure cars, having one of the most extensive plants and manufacturing the finest electric vehicles in the world, has come to be widely recognized as one of the successful business men of Cleveland. A native of this city, he was born February 15, 1861. He is the son of Jacob B. and Salome Wieber. The father was a native of Baden, Germany, and came to America at the age of nineteen years, locating in Cleve- land, where he engaged in the tailoring business until his death, which occurred here in 1870 at the age of thirty-six. On arriving in Cleveland, he entered the employ of Mr. Moley, a tailor occupying a shop at the corner of Detroit and Pearl streets, and after two years he bought out his employer. Several years later he erected one of the first business blocks on Detroit street, near that corner, remaining there until the present Detroit block was built, to which he removed. Jacob Wieber continued to conduct a high class tailoring estab- lishment until his death, after which his wife carried on the business until their son Charles was old enough to take active charge. Mrs. Jacob Wieber, who was Miss Salome Zipf, was also a native of Baden Baden and still survives her husband.
Charles L. F. Wieber is the only surviving son in a family of five children, three of whom are living. He was the third in order of birth and was educated in private schools until the age of thirteen years, when he pursued a course in the Spencerian Business College. Educated for a business rather than a pro- fessional career, after leaving school he became associated with his mother in the conduct of the business which the husband and father had established. Shortly afterward he assumed active charge.
Mr. Wieber early in life began to learn the practical side of business affairs and displayed from the beginning unusual ability for his years. That he was fully competent to assume the responsibilities incident to the general manage- ment of the business, was shown by its subsequent success and development. Conducted in keeping with the most progressive spirit, it soon outdistanced all competitors not only in volume of trade but also in the personnel of its patrons. This growth necessitated a more central location. In 1902 the business was in- corporated as the Wieber Company, merchant tailors, with Charles L. F. Wieber as president and treasurer, and for the succeeding years until 1910, the business was carried on in the Lennox building at No. 919 Euclid avenue. As the prac- tical head of the company, Mr. Wieber shaped its policies and originated its methods. Through his exceptional management, the business became the lar- gest and most exclusive men's tailoring establishment west of New York. This house set the standard for workmanship and style in Cleveland and had the patronage of the best clientele of the city.
As the years passed and success attended his efforts, Mr. Wieber branched out into other fields. His sound business judgment and active cooperation
CHARLES L. F. WIEBER
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soon became valuable factors in the successful and profitable control of dif- ferent undertakings. As a result of the magnitude and importance of such enterprises, Mr. Wieber on February 1, 1910, disposed of his interests in the Wieber Company, thus severing his connection with a business that had been conducted by the family for a half century. At that time the Cleveland Leader, in mentioning Mr. Wieber's change in business, said in part :
"On February Ist, Charles L. F. Wieber, who has been identified as the head of the Wieber Company for many years and due to whose exceptional management the business has become one of the greatest west of New York, will retire from that firm. Much of the success that he has enjoyed in the busi- ness was due to the men with whom he surrounded himself. To these men he has given over his interests. They will in the future try to emulate the policy which has made the Wieber Company one of the best known in the United States. This move was deemed wise, in fact was made necessary, through the remarkable growth of the Rauch & Lang Carriage Company, of which he is vice president and general manager. Three years ago Mr. Wieber joined the force of the Rauch & Lang Company and since that time he has given more or less time to the management. This growth of the business since he entered the firm has, however, made the devoting of his entire time and energies neces- sary. Mr. Wieber's business career has been most successful but of all the enterprises in which he has an interest, none have grown with such rapidity as has the electric vehicle business of the Rauch & Lang Company. Much of the success of that concern is due to his business acumen, shrewdness and activity. The methods which made the Wieber Company so remarkably successful have been applied the past three years by Mr. Wieber in the Rauch & Lang Carriage Company. The fruits of his labors have proved so remarkable that his entire time and energy is demanded, which he will begin to devote to the further promoting and developing of the Rauch & Lang Carriage Company. A big in- crease of business is expected to be the result of this change in which Mr. Wieber will become actively the financial and managerial head of the Rauch & Lang Company."
Mr. Wieber is also president of the Lakewood Realty Company, president of the Detroit Street Investment Company, a director and member of the finance board of the Forest City Savings & Trust Company, a director of the George P. Faerber Company, a director in the Workingmen's Collateral Loan Company, and interested in various other financial and industrial enterprises. All of these connections are but tangible proof of the marked business ability of Mr. Wieber, who has wrought along well defined lines of labor and has made most judicious investments. In all of his business activities he has followed where keen dis- crimination and rare judgment have led the way and there are few, if any, points in his business career where he could have accomplished larger things at that given point. Mr. Wieber's greatest success lies in his ability to master details. He has always believed in the old adage: "Take care of the little things and the large ones will take care of themselves." The spirit of this saying has characterized his every move and especially since entering the Rauch & Lang Company, the success of which depends upon a constant and careful supervi- sion of details. In a concern of this size such a task is no sinecure, especially when it is taken into consideration that the business is now capitalized at one million dollars. Twice since Mr. Wieber has joined the company the capital has been increased-a fact which to the thinking man proves conclusively that the course Mr. Wieber has pursued is not only logical but demonstrates also the soundness of his deductions.
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