USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume III > Part 42
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In December, 1857, in Cleveland, Mr. Backus was united in marriage to Miss Lena Strobel. They are the parents of a son, William, who is now forty-eight years of age and is a practicing attorney of Mexico.
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In his political views Mr. Backus is independent and, not being bound by party ties, casts his ballot as his judgment dictates. He belongs to the Loyal Legion and is honorary president of the German-American Central Bund. His residence is at No. 2600 Carroll avenue. The hope that led him to leave his native land has been more than realized, for in this country he has found the opportunities he sought and through their wise utilization has gained a measure of prosperity that well entitles him to recognition among the substantial and prominent residents of the city in which he has made his home for more than a half century. Though now past the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey, he is still an active factor in business circles and in spirit and interests seems yet in his prime.
JAMES NORMAN ELLIOTT.
James Norman Elliott, whose high courage and undaunted perseverance have resulted in his becoming one of the successful business men of Cleveland, his name appearing in the firm of the Elliott Thompson Electric Company with gratifying prominence, was born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, on the 20th of June, 1871. His parents were David Rankin and Nancy (Hood) Elliott. The former was born February 7, 1844, in Pennsylvania, where he has always lived and been a successful farmer. He is now also notary public and United States claim agent for his district. Prominent politically, his loyalty to his party has been rewarded by a number of important offices. During the Civil war he served for three years in the Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry. His wife, whose birth occurred in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, on the 15th of November, 1845, passed away in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, on the 25th of October, 1884. Both the great-grandfathers of our subject came to the Keystone state from the north of Ireland, one of them locating in Mifflin county and the other in Indiana county. The paternal great-grandfather sub- sequently removed westward to Clarion county, where occurred the birth of James N. Elliott.
After attending country school James N. Elliott began working on the farm for his father and thus continued until 1889, when he came to Cleveland and secured employment with the Brush Electric Company, there gaining his first knowledge of the electrical business. At the end of two years he became identi- fied with the Elliott Electric Company, also remaining with that concern for a couple of years, when he entered the service of the Bullick Electric Com- pany of Cincinnati. Later he went to the Westinghouse Electric & Manufactur- ing Company of Pittsburg. After a short time Mr. Elliott was sent to Chicago and then to Milwaukee to represent the firm, returning to Cleveland in 1895 to enter the Walker Manufacturing Company. Here he remained until the con- cern was bought by the Westinghouse Company. He had charge of all the electrical work of the old firm until, in association with W. H. Elliott, he or- ganized what is now the Van Dorn Electric & Manufacturing Company, acting as manager of the concern for some years. From very small beginnings Mr. Elliott built this business up to gratifyingly large proportions, but in 1907 he left it to establish his present concern. The company manufactures a general line of electrical repairs. By degrees the territory has been extended over the northern and central states, its growth being steady and healthy.
On January 20, 1896, Mr. Elliott married Martha Belle Lewis, who was born in Cleveland on the 12th of August, 1876, her parents being Alfred and Mary Lewis. They have two children : Marian N., born May 9, 1902; and Warren Lewis, whose natal day was December 31, 1905.
Fraternally Mr. Elliott is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, belonging to lodge No. 605 at West Freedom, Pennsylvania. He is like-
J. N. ELLIOTT
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wise a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Wood- ward Lodge, No. 508, at Cleveland. He is exceedingly liberal in local affairs, being chiefly interested in securing good men in the offices and those who will work for the general prosperity of the city. His life has been a hard one, for he has worked unceasingly, bending every energy towards attaining his ends. As a result he has a business that is ever advancing, and he has estab- lished his reputation as a sterling and reliable man who can be absolutely trusted in everything.
HERMAN LAHRHEIM.
Herman Lahrheim of H. Lahrheim & Company, conducting a general in- surance business, came to the United States as a young man of twenty-nine years, seeking the opportunities which report had told him were found on this side the Atlantic. He was born in Hessen, Nassau, Germany, in 1847, and pur- sued his education in the public schools of his native city and also at Frank- fort-on-the-Main. He continued a resident of the fatherland until 1876, in which year he came to America, coming at once to Cleveland, and he shortly became associated with the dry-goods house of Hyman & Company in the capacity of bookkeeper. The firm were the predecessors of Strauss Brothers Company, and Mr. Lahrheim continued with the firm for ten years, or until he determined to devote his energies to the general insurance and brokerage business in 1886, since which time he has been prominently identified with the business, making him one of the oldest insurance men in Cleveland. With an intimate knowledge of the business in its various branches, he has established and developed a large agency, the extent and importance of his business making him one of the successful insurance men of Cleveland.
Mr. Lahrheim was married in 1886 to Miss Lena Loeb, of Cleveland. They are members of Scovil Avenue Temple and Mr. Lahrheim is a member of the Cleveland Gesang Verein and also of the Board of Fire Underwriters. The hope of bettering his financial condition which induced him to come to America has been more than realized, for on this side the Atlantic, as the result of earnest effort, unhampered by caste or class, he has made steady progress in the attainment of that success which is the goal of all business endeavor. The fam- ily residence is at 2183 East Eightieth street.
JOHN MUELLER.
John Mueller is the vice president of the Brookside Brass Foundry & Manufacturing Company, in which official connection he has ably represented the concern since 1905. He was born in Hanover, Germany, on the 8th of June, 1869, his parents being John and Elnora Mueller. The public schools of the fatherland afforded him his early educational advantages and when four- teen years of age he put aside his text-books to work on a farm with his uncle, being thus engaged for about eighteen months.
On the expiration of that period, Mr. Mueller came to Cleveland, Ohio, and entered the services of the Cleveland Burial Case Company, remaining with that concern for a year. During the following three years he was engaged in cut- ting bolts in the employ of the Upson Nut Company and afterward spent a similar period in the employ of Thomas Manning, under whose direction he learned the machinist's trade. Subsequently he worked for the Variety Iron & Steel Works for one year and then secured a position as tool maker in the Steel Motor Works, being thus engaged for three years. Afterward he spent
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a year and a half in the employ of the Hill Clutch Company, running a boring mill, and then for three years worked as a tool maker for the Sanitary Com- pany. He next spent six months on a pleasure trip, traveling from coast to coast. On his return to Cleveland, he purchased a milk route but after six months abandoned the enterprise as unprofitable and went into partnership with Frank Lukan for the conduct of a brass foundry business. In 1902 a stock company was formed and Mr. Mueller was elected general manager thereof. In 1905 he was made vice president of the Brookside Brass Foundry & Manufacturing Company, manufacturing a general line of high grade plum- bers' brass goods. Employment is furnished to a force of twenty-six men.
In June, 1897, in Cleveland, Mr. Mueller was united in marriage to Miss Elenore Lange. Their children are five in number, namely : Ruth, eleven years of age; Louisa, a maiden of nine; Edna, who is seven years old; and Elmore and Marie, aged five and three years respectively. The three oldest children are now attending the German Lutheran school. The home of the family is at No. 4434 Pearl road.
In exercising his right of franchise Mr. Mueller invariably supports the men and measures of the democracy. Religiously he is a devoted member of the Lutheran church. The period of his residence in Cleveland now covers almost a quarter of a century and he enjoys the high regard and esteem of many with whom he has come in contact. He is a man of good business ability and executive force and what he has accomplished represents the fit utilization of his business talents.
EDWARD A. MERRITT.
Edward A. Merritt, secretary and treasurer of the Cleveland Stone Com- pany, has been continuously connected with the industrial interests of this city since July, 1888, and, bending his energies to the accomplishment of every task that has been assigned him, he has continuously worked his way upward until he is now recognized as a prominent factor in the business activity of Cleveland. His life record began on the 12th of February, 1862, in Mar- quette, Michigan. His parents, Daniel H. and Harriett L. Merritt, are still residents of Marquette, where they have made their home continuously since 1860. For a period of about five years prior to that time the father resided in Cleveland and was in the employ of the Cleveland & Pittsburg Railway Company. He was continuously connected with railroad interests until 1875, since which time he has been interested in the iron industry in the Lake Supe- rior district, from which region comes more than half of the iron produced in this country.
Reared in the state of his nativity, Edward A. Merritt at the usual age en- tered the public schools and mastered the branches of learning taught in the consecutive grades until he became a high-school student at Marquette. Sub- sequently he attended Racine College at Racine, Wisconsin, for a period of five years and was graduated in the preparatory school in 1879. In prepara- tion for a practical business career he came to Cleveland in the following October and pursued a course in the Bryant & Stratton Business College of this city. He then returned to Marquette, Michigan, and in 1880 became asso- ciated with his father in business, the relation being maintained until July, 1888, when Mr. Merritt returned to Cleveland and accepted the position of auditor and assistant treasurer with the Cleveland Stone Company, also taking stock in the business. Since that time he has concentrated his energies upon the upbuilding of the enterprise, the success of which is attributable in no small measure to his unfaltering efforts, business discernment and unflagging diligence. In January, 1889, he was elected a director of the company and
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still serves on the board. He is also secretary and treasurer of the company at the present time and is bending his energies to executive control and admin- istrative direction, from time to time introducing new methods for the im- provement and extension of the business. Practical and thorough in all that he undertakes, his labors are proving resultant factors in the success of the company, with which he has now been connected for twenty-one years.
On the 15th of December, 1886, Mr. Merritt was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Huntington, a daughter of John Huntington, of Cleveland, and they have long occupied a prominent position in the social circles of the city. Their only child, a daughter, Jane Huntington Merritt, was born May 6, 1889, and died in 1892.
While Mr. Merritt has never sought to figure in any public connections outside the strict path of business, the range of his activities and the scope of his influence have reached far beyond this special field. He belongs to that class of men who wield a power which is all the more potent from the fact that it is moral rather than political and is exercised for the public weal rather than for personal ends. He belongs to that public-spirited, useful and helpful type of men whose ambitions and desires are centered and directed in those channels through which flow the greatest and most permanent good to the greatest number.
REV. WILLIAM McMAHON.
The Rev. William McMahon, pastor of St. Bridget's church of Cleveland, was born in County Wicklow, near Dublin, Ireland, February 9, 1847, and was brought to the United States by his parents when four years old. He is a son of Michael and Mary (Powers) McMahon, the former of whom was born Septem- ber 29, 1801, and died in 1890. Leaving Ireland, his native land, he came to Cleveland in 1851, and being a blacksmith by trade, he worked at that calling until his removal to Olmsted Falls, fifteen miles from the city. His wife was born in Ireland in 1818 and died in 1903. Father McMahon has two living brothers : Michael, a farmer of Indiana ; and Timothy, also an Indiana farmer.
After attending the parochial schools of Cleveland and those of Olmsted Falls, Father McMahon entered St. Mary's College of this city, and later attended St. Louis College at Louisville, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1869. Following this he entered St. Mary's Seminary of Cleveland and was ordained July 21, 1872, by Bishop Gilmour, being the first priest ordained by that bishop. He said his first mass at St. Mary's church at Olmsted Falls. After this he was appointed pastor of several missions in Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood counties, thus spending two years. In August, 1874, he was appointed assistant priest of St. John's Cathedral, and in 1876 pastor of St. Bridget's church, with which he has since been connected. Father McMahon built the church, school and parish house and also bought additional land. The three buildings cost about one hundred thousand dollars. Both the church and school are built of stone and brick, the parish house being of sandstone, one of the most substantial in Ohio. There are two hundred and fifty families in the parish now because of a removal of many to the east end of the city, and there are two hundred and eighty pupils in the school. This school took the highest prize awarded by the Columbian Exposition at Chicago in 1893, and the diploma, blue ribbon and bronze medal were much appreciated. There are eight teachers and the school is an excellent one. So good is the school that many outsiders attend to obtain its advantages. The course is strictly first class and the music lessons are specially good.
Father McMahon is prominent in various church orders, having been chap- lain of the Knights of St. John, chaplain of Division No. 7 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and also of the Catholic Order of Foresters (Prairie Court).
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For ten years he has been editor of the Catholic Universe, a weekly church paper established at Cleveland in 1874, by Bishop Gilmour. It is one of the leading church newspapers and has a large circulation. In 1898 Father McMahon took a trip around the world and wrote a book entitled "A Journey With the Sun Around the World," comprising seven hundred and eight-six pages. This was well received and went through four editions. Father McMahon also contributes to the daily papers and church publications, although he prefers his work in connection with the Universe.
Being a strong speaker he is often called upon to make addresses at the laying of cornerstones and similar occasions. He is very strong in his views with re- gard to temperance matters and has done considerable lecturing on this ques- tion. He has been connected with the work in other directions, having been for ten years treasurer of the national organization of the Catholic Total Abstinence Union, as well as president for two terms of the state organization. Father Mc- Mahon is a man of wide influence, being a member of the bishop's council and the defender of the marriage bond. He is also a member of the infirm priests' fund board, and is among the most prominent of the Catholic clergy of our city.
WILLIAM J. LUCK.
William J. Luck, illustrator, engraver and sound business man, has won his present position among the progressive citizens of Cleveland through indomitable will and clear-sighted knowledge of his work. He was born in this city, July 16, 1874, being a son of Charles Henry and Mary (Wamser) Luck. The Luck fam- ily originated in Germany and has produced many physicians and chemists. The father of our subject was a chemist and soap manufacturer, who was conveniently located in business on West Twenty-fifth street and the Big Four tracks for twenty-one years. He began his business career by manufacturing wax candles. So successful was he in this that he applied the knowledge gained from that bus- iness with that acquired from a constant and intelligent research into the realms of chemistry to making soap with the result that he was the first to manufacture a soap that would float, and the factory he founded is now operated by the Cleve- land Soap Company. His death occurred twenty years since.
In 1859 Charles Henry Luck married Mary Wamser, a daughter of Jacob Wamser, an old settler of what was then known as Ohio City, and they located on the west side and it was there, on Lorain avenue, that their son William J. was born. After an uneventful boyhood spent in attending school, at the age of fifteen, he started to work for the Schmidt, Mugler & Kraus Engraving Company, as an office boy, with aspirations to learn the work, which eventually materialized for by constant study he developed an ability which was recognized by his employers, who placed him in their art department. Then followed a busy period for the young man, for he worked hard all day and attended art school at night, pursuing his studies at the Cleveland Art School and the Young Men's Christian Association for four years and securing a number of prizes for his exceptionally fine work.
In spite of several changes in the firm, Mr. Luck remained with Mr. Mugler until he, John W. Bowles and Emil Steeb formed a partnership known as the L. S. & B. Illustrating Company with offices in the American Trust building. During his connection with the old firm he developed a remarkable capacity for securing orders on account of his own ability in drawing, and this came into good play when he went into business for himself. He is widely known by many prom- inent business men in the city, and they respect him and place implicit confidence in his skill. His employes look up to him, knowing that from him they will always receive a square deal. A self-made man, he has secured his present prosperity through hard, persistent work, and so can appreciate the struggles of others try- ing to succeed.
WILLIAM JJ. LUCK
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Mr. Luck has formed some pleasant associations outside his business life, be- longing to Elsworth Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; and Hillman Chapter, R. A. M., which he joined thirteen years ago. . For eight years he has been a member of the Cham- ber of Commerce. In lodge work he is as popular as in business connections, for he is recognized as a man who lives up to his promises and is always willing to do more than his share in promoting anything.
REV. GEORGE JACOB PICKEL, S. J.
The Rev. George Jacob Pickel, S. J., president of St. Ignatius College of Cleveland, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, July 6, 1867, being a son of Jacob and Catherine (Schmidt) Pickel. The father was born in Cottenheim, Ger- many, in 1832, and the mother was born in 1843 in the same country .. He came to the United States about 1850 and located in St. Louis, where his death occurred in 1904, after a long and useful life as a contractor and builder. His widow survives and lives at Warrenburg, Missouri.
Father Pickel first attended St. Joseph's parochial school, following which he was at Prairie du Chien for four years, attending the Sacred Heart College there. He also spent one year at the St. Louis University. For the next two or three years he was at home, being engaged with his father in a cut-stone busi- ness, but he then entered the Jesuit order at Blyenbeek, Holland, having been in Europe for about fifteen months, and on his return to America he reentered the Sacred Heart College at Prairie du Chien, where he spent two years more in study. For the following three years he taught school, one year at Buffalo and two in Cleveland, and then in 1893 he returned to Holland and was in St. Igna- tius College at Valkenburg for seven years, studying philosophy and theology. On August 28, 1900, he was ordained priest in the chapel of the college and said his first mass August 29, 1900, in the same chapel. Father Pickel then studied physics and chemistry at Goettingen, Germany, after which he returned to the United States and for a year was at Brooklyn, Ohio. For the next three years he was professor of physics at St. Ignatius College of Cleveland and was then made prefect of studies there in 1905, finally becoming president of the college January 6, 1906.
St. Ignatius College is under the Jesuit order and established in 1886. The following studies are taught there: Latin, Greek, French, English, German, Mathematics, natural science, philosophy and religion. There are twenty-three teachers in the college and the course, which as the list of branches taught show, is strictly classical and very thorough.
GEORGE W. ALCOMBRACK.
George W. Alcombrack has for a number of years enjoyed an extensive and profitable trade as a stationer, conducting a store of this character at No. 5122 Woodland avenue in Cleveland. He was born in Whitby, Canada, on the 2d of August, 1874, his parents being Lyman and Eliza Alcombrack. His grand- father, whose birth occurred in Vermont in 1807, followed general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career and passed away in 1881. Lyman Alcombrack, the father of our subject, was born in Canada on the 16th of Au- gust, 1849, and in early manhood followed the profession of school teaching, while subsequently he had the agency for the McCormick Harvester Company. In 1881 he went to Detroit, Michigan, where he was engaged in the paper busi- ness until 1883, when he came to Cleveland and conducted a similar business on Detroit avenue until the time of his retirement.
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In his youthful years George W. Alcombrack pursued his studies in the schools of Canada and Cleveland, Ohio, supplementing his preliminary educa- tion by a high school course. When sixteen years of age he put aside his text- books and secured a position as bookkeeper with the Cleveland World, being thus employed for three years. He next entered the employ of John Kirkpat- rick, a stationer, whom he served in a clerical capacity for four years. On the expiration of that period he embarked in business on his own account as a dealer in stationery, opening an establishment of this charater at No. 5122 Woodland avenue, where he has since handled a general line of periodicals, kodaks and stationery. He also conducts a branch office for the Plain Dealer and is widely recognized as an enterprising, progressive and prosperous citizen.
In October, 1898, in Cleveland, Mr. Alcombrack was united in marriage to Miss L. M. Seager. Their home is at No. 5912 Woodland avenue. In his political views Mr. Alcombrack is independent, while his religious faith is in- dicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church. Fraternally he is iden- tified with the Knights of Pythias and the Royal League. The rules which govern his conduct and shape his life are such as command confidence and regard in every land and clime and in the city where the greater part of his life has been passed George W. Alcombrack is respected and esteemed by all who know him.
JAMES T. HUNT.
James T. Hunt is the president and sole proprietor of the Hunt & Dorman Manufacturing Company, located at Nos. 2102-2110 Superior avenue in Cleve- land. He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, on the 10th of November, 1845, his parents being William and Martha (Mayo) Hunt. On the maternal side he is a representative of an old colonial family, one of his ancestors being Captain Mayo, who was in command of a privateer during the Revolutionary war. The Hunt family was founded in Massachusetts in the early part of the eighteenth century.
Mr. Hunt supplemented his preliminary education by a high-school course and when sixteen years of age started out in the business world as an apprentice with the firm of Simpson & Clark, tinsmiths. Subsequently he was made fore- man and remained in the employ of the concern until 1869, when he went to Fiskdale, Massachusetts, where for three years he was engaged in the tinsmith- ing business on his own account. He then came to Cleveland and in association with his brother established a business of similar character at the corner of Seneca street and Champlain avenue, there remaining for nine years.
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