USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume III > Part 50
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Louis Shields, father of our subject, was born in Korback, Germany, in Jan- uary, 1848, and was educated in Leipsic University, and later was graduated from Heidelberg University when only twenty years old, coming afterward to New Castle, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the oil business. Later he was a job- ber in cigars, coming to Cleveland in 1890, where he continued in that business until 1893, when he began manufacturing them with his son James under the name of J. B. Shields & Company. In 1904 the present company was incor- porated and he was made vice president of the corporation as it now exists.
Until he was seventeen years old, James B. Shields attended school in New Castle and after his graduation he went to New Willington College for a year. Following this the young man came to Cleveland and learned the cigar and to- bacco business, later forming a partnership with his father. Upon the organiza- tion of the present company he was elected its president. They have a five-story brick building, modern in every respect and strictly sanitary. This is the largest plant west of New York and employment is given to three hundred and fifty people, the greater number of whom the company have brought direct from Cuba. At first Mr. Shields found difficulty to induce the Cubans to come to Cleveland but now there is a good settlement of them and they do not feel so lonely. The company own four plantations on which their tobacco is grown in Cuba, and they manufacture one brand of cigar, in forty-two different styles, the output for 1908 having been fifteen million cigars. One feature of the work in this plant is that the workers are read to in both Spanish and English. This is a custom that prevails in Cuba, and the natives of that island when they come here insist upon its being done. Mr. Shields is much in favor of this for he believes it educates the employes and gives them something to think about while their fingers fly in their skilled work. Some of the authors chosen by them are Victor Hugo, Balzac, Dickens, American history and Don Quixote. The present
JAMES B. SHIELDS
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modern factory bears but little resemblance to the modest one in which this company had its beginning, but the same spirit has always existed and it accounts for the remarkable success which has been attained. Mr. Shields and his father worked from the beginning to give the public a good article, exactly as repre- sented, and at the same time to treat those under them with consideration. As a result the product of this factory is eagerly sought the country over, and busi- ness is constantly increasing with steady and healthy strides. The main office and factory are at Nos. 2480 to 2490 East Twenty-second street, and the officers are James B. Shields, president ; Louis B. Shields, vice president; A. C. Wertheim, secretary and treasurer ; and J. C. Leverance, second vice president. Mr. Shields is also president of the Southern Coal Mining Company.
On March 5, 1902, Mr. Shields was married in Cleveland to Miss Fanny Meissel, and they have two sons : Earl, aged three years ; and James B. Jr., born July 31, 1909. The family residence is at No. 2066 East One Hundred and Second street.
Mr. Shields is a member of the Wilson Avenue Temple and the order of B'nair B'rith, and belongs to the Chamber of Commerce. He is an Elk, a member of the Western Reserve Club and of the Cleveland Travelers Association. Po- litically he is a republican. He is a shrewd, keen business man and one who un- derstands thoroughly every detail of the work. His energy, experience and ability have proven important factors in his ultimate success.
CHARLES W. SOMERS.
Charles W. Somers, president of the Roby Coal Company, one of the founders and ever since a leading factor in the firm of J. H. Somers & Company, is one of the best known in their line of industry of any of the younger business men of Cleveland. Mr. Somers is the third generation in direct line to maintain a prom- inent identification with the bituminous coal trade of this section of the country. His grandfather was one of the pioneer coal operators of Ohio, while his father, J. H. Somers, was one of the best known men of his time as a mine owner and shipper. A sketch of him will be found elsewhere in this work.
Charles W. Somers was born in Newark, Ohio, October 13, 1868, a son of J. H. and Philema (McCrum) Somers. He was but a child when his parents removed to Columbus, Ohio, where he pursued his education in the public schools until 1883, when the family removed to Cleveland. In this city his schooling was completed. Selecting a business rather than a professional career, he took a course in a commercial college and almost immediately afterward entered into the active business field with his father. He early showed adaptation and from the beginning displayed business capacity that rendered him a valuable lieutenant. Mr. Somers was always a student of conditions and imbued with a progressive spirit that brought a familiarity and knowledge of the business that contributed materially to its success.
In 1896 he became an active member of the firm whose business his labors have been largely instrumental in building up. Mr. Somers took a prominent part in the management and supervision of his father's interests for a number of years prior to the latter's death. While comparatively a young man, not yet in his period of acquisition, he has taken rank with the leaders in his field of endeavor. He is now actively associated with the Somers Mining Company, the Massillon & Run Coal Company, the Massillon Navarre Coal Company and the firm of J. H. Somers & Company. Thus he is closely associated with important coal interests in the marketing of the bituminous product offered by the mines of this part of the state. Mr. Somers devotes the greater part of his time and attention to the upbuilding of his business, yet he has various other interests that indicate his well rounded nature.
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From boyhood a lover of outdoor sports, prominent among which has been the great national game, he was one of the founders of the American League of Baseball Clubs in 1901, when it became a major organization, of which he is vice president and was one of the prime factors in securing in that organization the Cleveland franchise, of which he is also vice president. Mr. Somers is a member of the Cleveland Athletic Club, also of the Masonic fraternity. He delights in motoring and is connected with interests which contribute to pleasure rather than to financial success, but at no time is he neglectful of his business interests, which under his guidance have grown in volume and importance. In all of his business career he has wrought along lines leading to success and his prosperous achievement represents not only the fit utilization of his innate talents but his ability to foresee and take advantage of opportunities.
CHARLES TILLES.
Charles Tilles, who derives his income from well managed real-estate opera- tions and from the rental of property which he now owns, was born in eastern Austria in 1862 and his life is an excellent illustration of the possibilities of the new world that lie before the youth of foreign birth who, coming to America, adapts himself readily to altered conditions and wins the prosperity that follows earnest and persistent effort. Mr. Tilles, educated in the public schools of his native country, was a young man of twenty years when he came to the United States in 1882. He located in Newark, New Jersey, where for five years he was employed in a tannery and in 1887 arrived in Cleveland. Here he learned the barber's trade, which he followed for three years, or until 1890, when he aban- doned that pursuit and established a cigar store on Lorain avenue where he remained for two years. While in the cigar business he became interested in real estate, making some very wise and profitable investments and has since been engaged in buying and selling property. He owns today some excellent business property on Lorain avenue, including an apartment house and residence. By his foresight, honesty and energy he has become a most substantial citizen.
In 1892 Mr. Tilles was married to Miss Rose Heller, a native of Cleveland They have two children, Samuel B., a youth of sixteen being now a junior in the West high school, and Anna, twelve years of age, who is still in the grammar school. Mr. Tilles belongs to Cleveland City Lodge, No. 15, F. & A. M., Webb Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M., and Washington Lodge, No. 10, Knights of Pythias, which organizations find in him an exemplary representative. He came to this country a poor boy, but the opportunities of the new world pointed to him the way of success, wherein he has since walked until he has advanced far toward the goal of substantial prosperity.
SAMUEL REID HARRISON.
Samuel Reid Harrison, purchasing agent and one of the directors of The Grasselli Chemical Company, was born in Cleveland on the 15th of April, 1860. He is a son of William and Abigail (Reid) Harrison, of Scotch-Irish descent and long residents of the Forest city. As a public-school student Samuel Reid Har- rison mastered the branches of learning which usually constitute the curriculum, while later he attended the Spencerian Business College. He has been continu- ously connected with The Grasselli Chemical Company since 1880, or for thirty years, being first employed as assistant bookkeeper, in which position he demon- strated his ability and thereby won promotion to the position of private book- keeper, thus serving for eight years. He was afterward advanced through inter-
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mediate positions from time to time until in 1890 he became purchasing agent and he has also been elected one of the directors of the company. In all these years there have been comparatively few leisure hours. Labor-earnest, per- sistent, self-denying labor-has constituted the foundation upon which he has built the success which he now enjoys. His position is one of responsibility in connection with one of the most important enterprises of the city.
In 1884 Mr. Harrison was married to Miss Ada Jessie Stephens, a daughter of Edward Stephens of this city. They have eight children, two sons and six daughters. Mr. Harrison is a man of modest demeanor, display and ostentation being utterly foreign to his nature, while indolence as well has no part in his make-up. On the contrary he is a man of diligence and his unabating energy has carried him to the position which he now occupies.
LOUIS NAPOLEON WEBER.
Louis Napoleon Weber is the president of the Weber, Lind & Hall Company, art decorators and furnishers, in which connection he has gained success and prominence as a representative of this department of mercantile activity. He was born at Keokuk, Iowa, October 26, 1854, a son of Frank Anthony and Jen- nie (Wiggins) Weber. In 1861 the parents removed to Cleveland and in the public schools of this city Louis N. Weber pursued his studies for a brief period but at the age of nine years was employed by William E. Tascott, a decorator of Cleveland, remaining in his and others' employ for ten years. At nineteen years of age he entered business on his own account under the name of Lind & Weber, his associate being Martin Lind, the father of his present partner. He was quite young to establish an enterprise of this character but had already had ten years' experience in this field of labor and the knowledge that he had gained thereby, combined with his firm determination to succeed, made the new enterprise a prof- itable and growing one. The first place of business was on the present site of the Society for Savings, while subsequently a removal was made to the present site of the Williamson building. Mr. Weber continued actively and successfully in business until 1880, when on account of his wife's health he disposed of his inter- ests in Cleveland and removed to Denver, Colorado, where he established a dec- orating business under the name of Willmore & Weber, which he carried on in a prosperous way for three years. His wife's recovery then enabled him to return to Cleveland and disposing of his western interests he again established business in the Forest city in 1883, being joined by Andrew Lind, under the firm name of Weber & Lind, with the store on the public square. Later William Lind was admitted to the partnership and Charles G. Hall, now deceased, also became a member of the firm. In 1894 they erected a building known as the Pythian Temple on East Ninth street and Huron road, and the business was there installed and conducted until 1902, when they sold the building. They then erected the Merchants building on East Ninth street, remaining there until 1907, when they again sold their building and at that date removed to their present quarters at Nos. 1612-14 Euclid avenue. The company today enjoys the largest business of the kind in Cleveland and theirs is a standard in art decoration and furnishings here. They also handle a large line of draperies and all those things which are needed for the adornment of the home. Mr. Weber has himself made a close study of all that produces the finest factors in interior decoration and artistic furnishing and that splendid results have been achieved is proven in some of the most beauti- ful homes of Cleveland. Year by year the patronage of the company has in- creased until it exceeds that of any other house of this character in the Forest city and is yet growing. Mr. Weber is also the president of the Cleveland Leas- ing & Investment Company, owning valuable real estate in different parts of Cleveland, and the president of the Cleveland Leasing & Construction Company,
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thus being identified with the city's improvement along architectural lines. The company now has one hundred employes and secures its stock from the art cen- ters of the world, handling the finest imported and domestic products of art decorations and house furnishings.
In 1876 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Weber and Miss Addie M. Thomas, who was born in Warren, Ohio, in 1857, and is a daughter of Rufus and Ruth (Fowler) Thomas. Their children are: Gertrude, now Mrs. Lee E. Wy- man, of Cleveland; Adelaide Louise, the wife of James Cleland, of this city ; and Chesney L., of Denver, Colorado.
Mr. Weber is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, is a public-spirited citizen whose interest in the welfare and progress of Cleveland is evidenced in many tangible ways, especially in his generous support of all those projects which work for its material, intellectual, social and moral advancement. He is a recog- nized local leader in the republican party and for four years served as a member of the county central committee, while for two years he was a member of the city committee. He has attained high rank in Masonry, belonging to Iris Lodge, F. & A. M., Webb Chapter, R. A. M., Cleveland Council, R. & S. M., Holyrood Commandery, K. T., and the Scottish Rite consistory, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree. He is also a noble of the Mystic Shrine and at one time was president of the Masonic Club. He is in hearty sympathy with the basic principles of this organization, based upon mutual helpfulness and brotherly kindness.
EUGENE C. PECK.
Eugene C. Peck, general superintendent of the Cleveland Twist Drill Com- pany, with offices and factory in Cleveland and branch salesrooms in New York and Chicago, is one of the active and keen-sighted business men of this city and a native of the state, having been born in Akron, December 20, 1867, a son of Hubert C. and Lydia Peck.
Mr. Peck attended school until he was seventeen, but since then has been dependent upon his own efforts for his support. After leaving school he engaged with the Akron Iron Company as an apprentice machinist and spent four years learning his trade. Following this he worked as a machinist and later took charge of the machine shops of Whitman, Barnes & Company, and operated them for five years. Realizing, however, the necessity for better technical knowledge, he studied mechanical engineering for two years, taking a special course in the Stevens Institute. With the further advantage of the knowledge thus gained, he went to Danbury, Connecticut, to take charge of the shops of the T. & B. Tool Company, but after two years moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he put a plant into operation, which took him six months. For the follow- ing year he had charge of S. W. Cards Tap and Die Works. Severing his con- nection with this firm, he came to Cleveland to become the mechanical engineer of the Cleveland Twist Drill Company, and so satisfactory was his work and so keen his interest in it that in 1904 his zeal was rewarded by his appointment as general superintendent.
On May 1, 1899, Mr. Peck was married in Akron, Ohio, to Ivy Kessler, and they have one son : Lionel S., nineteen years old, who is attending high school. The home of the family is pleasantly located at No. 6719 Euclid avenue. Mr. Peck has been very prominent as a Mason, belonging to Union Lodge No. 40, Danbury, Connecticut; Eureka Chapter No. 23 of the same place; Oriental Commandery, No. 12, K. T .; and Al Sirat Grotto No. 17, M. O. V. P. R. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce, the Cleveland Engineers Society, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and takes a prominent part in all. His political ideas make him support the republican party but he has been too busy to look for office. While not connected with any church, Mr. Peck is a
E. C. PECK
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protestant in religious belief. He is a man who can always be depended upon to carry out his promises to the letter, and while looking after the interests of his company to the utmost he has the welfare of his men at heart and is regarded by them as a friend of labor.
DICKRAN 'ASADORIAN.
Dickran Asadorian was born in Armedan, Armenia, on the 6th of September, 1879, a son of Bagdasar Asadorian, who was an oriental merchant, dealing exten- sively in grain, wool and rugs. The son acquired his education in the schools of his native country and was associated with his father in business until 1896, when he came to America, settling first in Detroit, Michigan, where he remained for a few months, and then came to Cleveland. Here he soon established himself in the oriental rug and carpet business, becoming the pioneer merchant in this city in that field of commerce. He deals exclusively in those lines and his expert knowledge of oriental carpets, combined with splendid business ability and clear discrimination, have made his venture a success from the beginning and consti- tuted his investment a profitable one. His reputation as a connoisseur has made his establishment at 1244 Euclid avenue the headquarters for Cleveland's dis- criminating rug collectors. He has with the utmost facility assimilated American ideas and is a most loyal citizen of that country in which he has found greater freedom, independence and opportunity than his native country afforded him.
On the 5th of February, 1907, Mr. Asadorian was married to Miss Brownie Vliet, a daughter of Peter and Sarah (Hansel) Vliet, of Canton, Ohio. They now have one child, Adeline Belle. The family residence is at No. 10621 Detroit avenue, with a country home at Myers Lake near Canton, Ohio. Mr. Asadorian is a member of the Episcopal church. He finds recreation in fishing and boating and is a congenial, affable man who by reason of his enterprise, perseverance and business capacity has taken a prominent place among Cleveland's successful adopted sons.
REV. STEPHEN SOLTESZ.
Rev. Stephen Soltesz, pastor of St. Emeric's church of Cleveland, was born in Hungary, January 12, 1880, a son of Frank and Katherine (Kardos) Soltesz. The former was born in Hungary, May 15, 1840, and died in 1908. He was a landowner and very successful business man, as was his father, who also bore the name of Frank and in early life was a school teacher. The mother was born in Hungary in 1857 and passed away in 1896. Father Soltesz has a brother, Frank, who is in business at Chicago, Illinois.
The education of Father Soltesz was begun in the parochial schools and was continued by the Jesuit and Premonstreuses Fathers at their gymnasium and academy in Hungary. He then went to the Kassa and Budapest Seminaries for his philosophical and theological courses, coming to the United States on February I, 1904, at the request of the Archbishop of New York for he needed Hungarian priests here. Father Soltesz was ordained to the priesthood at Rochester, New York, May 11, 1904, by Bishop Kane at St. Bernard's cathedral. He said his first mass at St. Elizabeth's church in Cleveland, May 18, 1904, and was appointed assistant priest of that church, October 24, 1904. Since then he organized his present parish, built a frame church with a seating capacity of five hundred peo- ple. which was finished January 22, 1905. He also built a school home for his four teachers, three of whom are English, and they have two hundred pupils under them. There are twelve hundred families in the parish and all have come
,
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from Hungary. There are about eight thousand souls in the charge of Father Soltesz, who understands the needs of his people thoroughly and is constantly striving to improve their condition. He has several societies and organizations which have for their object the advancement and education of the members. Father Soltesz also has societies for the benefit of the sick. Although his parish is a new one, Father Soltesz has it firmly established and is beloved by the people among whom his life is spent. He is also the editor of a Hungarian Catholic newspaper called the "Haladas."
REV. LADISLAS NECID.
Rev. Ladislas Necid, pastor of St. Ladislas church of Cleveland, was born in Franco-Zhorec, Moravia, December 17, 1875, a son of Anton and Mary (Bradac) Necid, farming people in Moravia. Father Necid was educated at the gymna- sium of Trebic and the Brunn Seminary (Alumnat), being ordained July 26, 1899, at the seminary by Bishop Dr. Francis Bauer. He celebrated his first mass Au- gust 6, 1899, in Exaltatio S. Crucis church at Uhrinov. He was then appointed assistant priest in the parish of St. Laurentii in Bystric Pernstyn, remaining there for five years. At the expiration of that time Father Necid came, in 1904, to the United States, direct to Cleveland.
Upon his arrival in this city he was assigned to the Nativity church and was there from November, 1904, to November, 1907, when he was placed in charge of his present parish. He has four hundred families under him and there are three hundred children in the school who are taught by five teachers. The church edifice has a seating capacity of nine hundred people. The parish church school- house is built of wood and contains five rooms. The parish house is a good one and there is a house for the use of the Sisters. Father Necid uses the old church as a hall for services not of a sacred nature.
Young, enthusiastic, imbued with a love for his people and a thorough com- prehension of their wants, Father Necid has been able to effect many desirable changes and to bring his parish to an excellent condition. The people are all hard working but he never finds any difficulty in obtaining the money necessary to carry on the work he deems best and as a consequence he is recognized as a good organizer and faithful executive who not only can plan but follow up his ideas to a successful termination.
JAMES S. SMITH.
Among the young men who are occupying notable positions of executive con- trol in connection with important business concerns of Cleveland is James S. Smith, the secretary and treasurer of The J. D. Smith Foundry Supply Com- pany. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, December 24, 1882, and is a son of James D. Smith, who twenty years ago organized The J. D. Smith Foundry Sup- ply Company, which has had a continuous and prosperous existence to the pres- ent time. During his youthful days, spent in his parents' home, he pursued his education in the public schools of Cincinnati, graduating from the high school with the class of 1901. He then entered mercantile circles in Cleveland in con- nection with the hardware enterprise, but soon afterward became associated with his father's business. He had been with the company for two years when his father died and the son was then elected his successor in the office of secretary and treasurer, in which capacity he has since served. The business has been one of the growing productive industries of the state and has assumed mammoth proportions. It was formerly carried on in Cincinnati under the name of The
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Fitzmaurice & Smith Foundry Facing and Supply Company, which later was changed to The J. D. Smith Foundry Supply Company. In 1900 the Cincin- nati plant was destroyed by fire and rather than rebuild in Cincinnati, Cleveland was chosen as a more centrally located city for the business and one with a much larger local field. The original intention was to construct a plant here, but a com- bination between the Cleveland Facing Mill Company and The J. D. Smith Foundry Supply Company took place, whereby the interests of the two concerns were joined and the business was continued under the style of The J. D. Smith Foun- dry Supply Company. Rapid progress was made and the firm broadened out in the line of manufacture undertaking several new lines, including the construction of foundries and the building of foundry equipment for iron, steel, malleable brass and aluminum foundries. Each forward step has been carefully planned and systematically executed and the business is conducted with no loss of time, labor or material, so that substantial and gratifying results are achieved. F. H. Chamberlin continued in the presidency until 1908, when upon his death he was succeeded by F. A. Coleman, who has since remained in the position with James S. Smith as secretary and treasurer. The company started with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, which sum has been increased until the capi- talization is now one hundred thousand dollars. The company makes a specialty of equipping foundries with modern core room equipment and has built core ovens for some of the largest foundries in the country. The enterprise now oc- cupies the original plant of the Variety Iron Works and is well equipped with the latest improved machinery with which to carry on the line which constitutes the output of the enterprise.
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