A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume III, Part 54

Author: Orth, Samuel Peter, 1873-1922; Clarke, S.J., publishing company
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago-Cleveland : The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1106

USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume III > Part 54

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ness of his judgment and the entire sanity and reliability of his methods. * * The late president of the Citizens Savings & Trust Company was one of the men who have given his city the kind of banking support and service which every large and growing town greatly needs, and for that reason, aside from the many other activities of his busy life and his admirable qualities as a man and a citi- zen, he fairly won the high place which he held in the esteem of his neighbors and fellow townsmen. No city has many men of the ability and solid usefulness of H. R. Newcomb. Cleveland is fortunate in that he was a type of its best business leaders and its solid, absolutely reliable financiers."

JACOB BABIN.

Jacob Babin is one of the enterprising young real-estate men of Cleveland who has made a close study of the conditions of the real-estate market and has therefore been enabled to meet the situations that have arisen and to im- prove the opportunities that have offered. He is farsighted and progressive in all of his business movements and his labors have proven of signal benefit to various sections of the city, as well as a source of attractive individual income.

Mr. Babin was born in 1872-a native of Prussia. He acquired his educa- tion in the public schools of that country and on crossing the Atlantic to the United States made his way direct to Cleveland, where he arrived in 1886. Here he entered the jewelry house of Charles Stein, with whom he continued for three years and during that period in order to fit himself for business life in this country he attended the Eagle night school and also a private school, thus gaining a good knowledge of the English language as well as an under- standing of the text-books which constituted his curriculum. His next position was with Charles Ettinger, with whom he continued for three years, when, feel- ing confident that his experience as well as his careful expenditure was suffi- cient to enable him to engage in business on his own account, he started out upon an independent venture with broad knowledge of the jewelry trade and of watchmaking. In 1893 he opened a store in the Stribbinger building, at the corner of Ontario and Broadway, where he was located until 1895, when he removed to the William A. Howe building on Ontario street. He was quite successful in this venture, so much so that in 1896 he opened a second store at No. 172 Superior avenue, continuing in the jewelry trade with gratifying suc- cess until 1905, when he sold out to his brother Isidor.

While engaged in the jewelry trade Mr. Babin became interested in the real- estate business, making some very successful deals. He then determined to devote his entire attention to this line and, withdrawing from mercantile inter- ests, he has since negotiated some very important realty transfers of his own in- vestments, dealing largely in business property. He owns property of this char- acter in Ontario, Bolivar and Oregon streets and Central viaduct, having a ninety- nine year lease on the property at the corner of Prospect and Bolivar, and on Prospect avenue a piece of property near the Rockefeller homestead. He erected the handsome building at the corner of Fifty-fifth street and Hough avenue.

522

HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

which contains seven store-rooms and eight suites for offices. This is an excellent improvement for that locality.

Mr. Babin was united in marriage to Lucy Newdorfer, a native of New York city, whose father was an importer and manufacturer of ladies' apparel. Two children grace this marriage: Elmer, seven years of age, attending the Sibley school ; and Myrtle, five years of age. The family are members of the Willson Avenue Temple. Mr. Babin belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and is a charter member of Knights of Joseph, No. I, of which he served as treasurer for three terms, while for one term he was its commander. He likewise belongs to Cleveland Lodge, No. 16, of the Cleveland order of B'nai B'rith. He is a man of broad mind and has never concentrated his energies solely upon his private business affairs to the exclustion of active participation in public movements. He is a member of the Federation of Jewish Charities, of Cleveland, which in- cludes such beneficiary institutions as the Cleveland Council of Jewish Women; Council Educational Alliance; Council Educational Alliance Camp Wise; He- brew Free Loan Association ; Hebrew Relief Association; Hebrew Shelter Home ; Jewish Infant Orphans' Home; Jewish Orphan Asylum; Mount Sinai Hospi- tal; National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives at Denver ; and Sir Moses Mon- tefiore Home for Aged and Infirm Israelites. Coming to America at the age of fourteen years, Jacob Babin has utilized the excellent opportunities offered in the new world for advancement and through close application, indefatigable energy and an aptitude for successful management has reached a creditable and satisfactory position in business circles in Cleveland.

DANIEL EDWARD GIESSEN.

Daniel Edward Giessen has since 1897 been engaged in the hardware business on his own account in Cleveland and since 1905 has been located at No. 215 Prospect avenue. Since entering commercial circles he has been almost con- tinuously connected with this line of trade and therein lies one factor of his suc- cess for he has not dissipated his energies over a wide field but has concentrated his efforts on the work of thoroughly acquainting himself with the trade and of studying the public taste so as to handle the most salable articles. He is now accorded a liberal patronage that is indicative both of his progressive methods and the reliability of the policy which he pursues.

Mr. Giessen is a native son of the Forest city, born June 25, 1867. His parents, Frederick and Appolonia (Hoffman) Giessen, were both natives of Bavaria, Germany, but in early life sought the freedom, appreciation and oppor- tunities of the growing western world. Becoming residents of Cleveland, they here reared their family, and Daniel E. Giessen attended the public schools until he had reached the sixth grade, when he put aside his text-books to provide for his own support. He was first employed in a humble capacity by H. A. Stevens & Sons, remaining with that firm for two years, after which he entered the em- ploy of the Lockwood & Taylor Hardware Company as order boy. This was a wholesale hardware establishment, with which he was connected for two years. He was afterward employed in several retail hardware stores, spending much of the time, however, with the firm of H. W. Luetkemeyer & Sons, whom he rep- resented as city salesman for several years. This brought him broad knowledge of the trade and the demands of the public and when industry and careful ex- penditure had secured for him capital sufficient to enable him to engage in bus- iness on his own account he started for himself in 1897 at Nos. 28 and 30 Broad- way, dealing in cabinet hardware and upholstery supplies. On several occasions he has outgrown the quarters in which he has been located and finally he incor- porated the business and removed to his present location at No. 215 Prospect avenue in 1905. Here he carries a large and well selected line of goods and the

D. E. GIESSEN

525

HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

neat and tasteful arrangement of his store, the excellence of the products which he handles and the reliability of the business methods of the house are the chief concomitants in his success, which is altogether desirable. The business is now conducted under the firm style of the D. E. Giessen Company with Daniel E. Giessen as the president and treasurer; and his brother Fred M. Giessen vice president and as secretary.

In 1894 Mr. Giessen was married to Miss May Chatterton, a daughter of Joseph Chatterton, an iron merchant of Cleveland. They now have two chil- dren, Helen May and Evelyn Dorothy.

Mr. Giessen votes with the republican party and is in thorough sympathy with its principles and policy. He belongs to Bigelow Lodge, No. 243, F. & A. M., and heartily endorses its basic purposes concerning mutual helpfulness and brotherly kindness. He is likewise connected with the Knights of Pythias and belongs to the Commercial Travelers Association and the Chamber of Commerce. An alert and enterprising man, while he is prompted by laudable ambition to attain success, he never sacrifices the interests of others to his personal ends and has, therefore, made for himself a creditable name as one of Cleveland's mer- chants.

STONEMAN.

Few concerns in the city of Cleveland are conducted along more progressive and enterprising lines than is the hardware business of The Stoneman Com- pany, Incorporated. The owners of the business are Frank S., George C., William H. and John S. Stoneman, brothers, who have instituted many new and progressive ideas in the development and expansion of their trade, the worth of their business methods being proven in the success which has been accorded them. Their father, Jabez Stoneman, was born in Liverpool, England, and when twenty-five years of age came to the United States, settling in the vicinity of Cleveland, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising, finding his labors well repaid by the good prices which he received for the products of the farm. He wedded Miss Ann Spear, a native of Devonshire, England, and both are still living. They became the parents of seven children, six sons and a daughter : Frank S., Annie, William H., George C., John S., Arthur and Albert L.

The eldest son and senior partner in The Stoneman Company was born Sep- tember 15, 1859, while George C. was born January 1, 1867, William H. on the 24th of April, 1870, and John S. on the 24th of September, 1872. They ac- quired their education in the public schools of Cleveland, acquainting them- selves with the fundamental branches of English learning and assumed many of the serious responsibilities of life at an age when other boys are engrossed with books or with the pleasures of the playground. This self-dependence so early developed was productive of a readiness to seize opportunities and the ability to profit by experience which has distinguished their commercial life. It was about fifteen years ago that George Stoneman saw a chance for advancement in purchasing a bankrupt stock of hardware. Accordingly he associated his brothers with him in a partnership and the present company was organized and inaugurated under the title of The Stoneman Company, with Frank Stoneman as president ; George C. Stoneman as general manager; William H. Stoneman as vice president ; and John S. Stoneman as secretary and treasurer. Notwith- standing the fact that they opened a hardware store where there were already many substantial firms established. they have been able to meet competition through the diligent exercise of good management, energy and genuine ability to cope with the numerous problems that are continually presented. The com- pany was originally incorporated for fifty thousand dollars but they have re- cently taken over the business of the Schorndorfer Company, a twenty-five thou- sand dollar corporation, thus largely increasing their facilities. From the be-

526

HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

ginning they have conducted a profitable enterprise, making it a valued factor in the commercial life of Cleveland. As opportunity has offered, the different members of the firm have also invested extensively in real estate, thus giving another evidence of the wise foresight which has been distinctive of them. The members of the firm are all married. Frank S. Stoneman, now living at 10618 Drexel avenue, wedded Rose Bennett and has three children: Maude, Harry and Jessie. William H. married Rose Ellicott and with their son, Percy, they reside at No. 8701 Whitethorn avenue. George C., living at 10615 Drexel avenue, mar- ried Ella Clark and has two children, Louis and Ruth. John Stoneman married Marie Batchelor and resides at 2689 East Sixty-first street. Their sister Annie is the wife of George Lowe, of Chicago. The two younger brothers of the family, Arthur and Albert L., reside at the old family home, No. 848 Lakeview Road. The latter married Ella Barker and has one son, Lester. The brothers are all republicans in their political views and John Stoneman is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Their interests, however, center in business and their well developed and carefully executed plans have brought them substantial suc- cess in the fifteen years of the existence of the firm and have established their reputation as representative, reliable and progressive merchants.

ALFRED WILLIAM RUPLE.

Alfred William Ruple, manager of the safe deposit department of the Citi- zens Savings & Trust Company of Cleveland, was born in the Forest city, Feb- ruary 29, 1864. His father, Ferdinand S. Ruple, was a mechanical engineer and manufacturer and his family were among the early settlers of what is now known as Collinwood. The great-grandfather, Samuel Ruple, was one of the pioneer settlers of Collinwood and Euclid, establishing his home there when the greater part of the territory now included within the corporation limits of Cleveland was covered with its native forest growth. Ferdinand S. Ruple died at the com- paratively early age of forty-two years as the result of an accident. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Elizabeth Pankhurst, was a daughter of John Pankhurst, a native of England, who settled in Cleveland in 1835 and. was here engaged in soap manufacture at the time of his death.

At the usual age Alfred W. Ruple entered the public schools and after at- tending the high school became a pupil in the Case School of Applied Science, from which he was graduated on the completion of a civil engineering course with the class of 1886. From his early youth until his graduation from college he was kept continually in school. He preferred philosophy to literature, his mind being of a scientific rather than a literary trend. He was fond of outdoor life and traveled considerably. As his father died when he was but twelve years of age, his experiences in the world taught him to be self-reliant and in- dependent and early developed in him those latent forces of character which have made for strong manhood. On leaving college he immediately began the prac- tice of civil engineering. Professional experience was a necessary factor at that time, for the professions were not specialized then as now, and on putting aside his text-books he entered the service of the Vierling, McDowell Iron Works Company at Chicago, there remaining until June, 1887, when he left their employ to accept a position on the construction of the Colorado Midland Railway-an important piece of engineering owing to the mountainous district traversed by that line. Later he was engaged on the construction of the double track of the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad, being made division engineer on the Mahoning division, this work occupying his attention for two years. On its completion he went immediately to the Pennsylvania Railway Lines west of Pittsburg as assistant engineer and so continued until February, 1894, when on account of illness in the family he returned to Cleveland. Here he accepted the

527

HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

position of manager of the safe deposit department of the Savings & Trust Com- pany, later merging with the Citizens Savings & Trust Company, and in this position he has since continued.

On the 27th of September, 1893, at Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. Ruple was mar- ried to Miss Ellen Cordelia Newcomb, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. R. New- comb. They are prominent socially in the city and Mr. Ruple is well known as a stanch republican. In the field of finance as well as in the department of his chosen profession he has proven his worth and ability in business and enjoys in fullest measure the esteem of those with whom he is associated.

JOHN W. MCARDLE.

The path has at times been a difficult one which John W. McArdle has trav- ersed from the position of office boy to that of vice president of the Fred G. Clark Company, refiners and distributers of lubricating oils, the extent of their business being second only to that of the Standard Oil Company in America. No fortunate circumstances or favoring environment have constituted forces in his advancement. He has won his promotion by earnest effort and capability and now occupies an enviable position among Cleveland's prosperous business men. 'A son of Frank Michael and Bertha McArdle, he was born in Cleveland, Oc- tober 7, 1871, and the public and high schools afforded him his educational privileges. He then entered the service of the Merrian & Morgan Paraffine Com- pany in the capacity of office boy and worked his way steadily upward until he was in charge of the sales department, resigning that position to become con- nected with the Fred G. Clark Company as traveling salesman. He traveled from coast to coast, spending five years on the road and winning many patrons for the company, thus contributing in substantial measure to the growth and devel- opment of the business. On the expiration of that period he was made manager of the lubricating department and so continued for four years, formulating and instituting the plans which led directly to the growth of the business in that department. In 1906 he was elected a vice president and one of the directors of the company and the volume of the trade makes his official position one of large responsibility. His foresight and sagacity enable him to look beyond the exigencies of the moment to the possibilities and responsibilities of the future and he has wrought along lines which have constituted forceful factors in the expansion of the trade of the house. He is also interested in various companies and finds quick and ready solution for intricate business problems.

Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. McArdle was married June 3, 1900, to Miss Myrtle Barkdull and they have one son, John W., Jr., five years of age. He has always maintained his residence in Cleveland and that his life has been well spent is indicated in the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood to the present time.

JAMES BOGGS.

James Boggs, president of The Columbia Bolt & Forging Company of Cleve- land, was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, on the 13th of February, 1872, his parents being Thomas and Nancy Boggs. He was but a year old when brought to this city and at the usual age entered the public schools, being graduated from the grammar grades when a lad of fourteen. Subsequently he spent two years as a student in the West high school and afterward attended the Ohio Business College for a similar period. He then entered the employ of the Lamson & Sessions Company in the capacity of billing clerk, remaining with that concern

528

HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

for fourteen years. On the expiration of that period he organized The Co- lumbia Bolt & Forging Company and, being elected president, has since con- trolled and managed its affairs with signal success. The factory of the company is located at the corner of Willey avenue and Walworth street and their ship- ments extend all over the United States and Canada. They are manufacturers of Norway T head shaft bolts, step bolts, whiffletree bolts, special bolts, forg- ings, etc., and employment is furnished to a force of twenty men.

On the 30th of August, 1893, in Cleveland, Mr. Boggs was united in mar- riage to Miss Lotta J. Bishop. They have two children, Chester A. and Martha I., aged nine and six years respectively. Both are public school students. The family residence is at No. 1705 Mentor avenue.

Mr. Boggs gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is in- terested in matters of progressive citizenship relating to national progress and local advancement. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Pilgrim Congregational church. He is a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fra- ternity and belongs to Halcyon Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and Hillman Chapter, R. A. M. He is fond of all manly outdoor sports and is especially interested in baseball, hunting and fishing. In the city where practically his entire life has been spent he has a most wide and favorable acquaintance and has long been numbered among its prosperous and enterprising business men and re- spected residents.

RUFUS P. RANNEY.

Among all the illustrious names preserved in the records of the supreme court of the state, none is higher, nobler or purer than that of Rufus P. Ranney. He died at his home in Cleveland on the 6th of December, 1891, at the age of seventy- eight years. The sketch of his life, together with the analysis of his character and the estimate of his public services here presented, is the collaboration of Allen G. Thurman, Richard A. Harrison, Jacob D. Cox, Francis E. Hutchins and Sam- uel E. Williamson. The memorial prepared by Judge Williamson for the State Bar Association in 1892 furnishes the material relating to Judge Ranney's work in the constitutional convention and some of his important judicial decisions. As a man, as a lawyer, as a judge and as a statesman, he left a record without a blemish; a character above reproach; and a reputation as a jurist and a states- man which but few members of the bar have attained.

Judge Ranney came from New England, a land of robust men of wonderful physical and mental fiber and endurance. He was born at Blandford, Hampden county, Massachusetts, on the 30th of October, 1813. His father was a farmer of Scotch descent. In 1822 the family moved to Ohio, which was then a "western frontier." They settled in Portage county. In the son the old blood of New England had forceful inheritance; and his hard struggles with pioneer life were favorable to the full development of his great natural endowments, his inherited characteristics and the attainment of the highest excellence. The means of pub- lic instruction were quite limited; but the stock of intelligence in the family, with a few standard books brought from Massachusetts, coupled with an active, pene- trating and broad intellect, aroused in the son a desire to get an education. And he had one of those exceptional minds that take to learning by nature, as Shakes- peare and Columbus did. Not until he had nearly arrived at man's estate was he able to manage, by means of manual labor and teaching in backwoods schools, to enter an academy, where in a short time he prepared himself to enter college. By chopping cord wood at twenty-five cents per cord, he earned the money to enter Western Reserve College but, for want of means, he could not complete the col- lege course. He made up his mind to study law, and at the age of twenty-one years entered the law office of Joshua R. Giddings and Benjamin F. Wade and

RUFUS P. RANNEY

531

HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

began his preparation for the bar, to which he was admitted in 1836. Mr. Gid- dings having been elected to congress, the firm of Giddings & Wade was dissolved, and upon Mr. Wade's suggestion he and young Ranney entered into partnership. This firm was the leading law firm in northeastern Ohio. In 1845 Mr. Wade was elected judge of the court of common pleas. Shortly afterward Mr. Ranney re- moved to Warren, Trumbull county, which was the chief center of business and wealth in that section of the state. He at once commanded a large practice. In 1846, and again in 1848, he was nominated as a candidate for congress but, his party being hopelessly in the minority, the opposing candidate was elected. In 1850 he was elected, as a delegate from Trumbull and Geauga counties, to the con- vention which had been called to revise and amend the constitution of the state. In this convention he served with distinction on the committees on the judiciary, on revision, on amendments and others. His associates on the committee on the judiciary were Stanberry, Swan, Groesbeck and Kennon. Although he was then a young man, he was soon recognized as one of the leading members of the con- vention. In this body of distinguished lawyers, jurists and statesmen, there were few members who had so thorough a knowledge of political science, constitutional law, political and judicial history and the principles of jurisprudence, as Judge Ranney displayed in the debates of the convention. There was no more pro- found, acute and convincing reasoner on the floor of the convention, and in the committee rooms his suggestive and enlightened mind was invaluable. The amended constitution conforms very nearly to the principles and provisions advo- cated by him. In March, 1851, he was elected by the general assembly judge of the supreme court to succeed Judge Avery; and at the first election held under the amended constitution in 1851, he was chosen to be one of the judges of the new supreme court. He was assigned the longest term and served until 1856, when he resigned and removed from Warren to Cleveland, where he resumed the practice of his profession as a member of the firm of Ranney, Backus & Noble. In 1859 he was the unsuccessful candidate of his party against William Dennison for governor of the state. Three years afterward he was nominated, against his expressed desire, as a candidate for supreme judge. One of his partners, Frank- lin Backus, was nominated by the opposing party for the same office. To his own surprise, Judge Ranney was elected. He qualified, but resigned two years after- ward and resumed the practice of law in Cleveland. The demands upon his pro- fessional services were now more than he could comply with. Anything like a selfish regard for his own pecuniary interest would have induced him to select for his attention the most important and lucrative business that was offered, but the needs of a man or woman in difficulty or distress were more likely to secure his devoted services than the offer of a large fee. When the Ohio State Bar Association was organized in the year 1881, he was unanimously elected its presi- dent.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume III, Part 54

Author: Orth, Samuel Peter, 1873-1922; Clarke, S.J., publishing company Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago-Cleveland : The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1106

Author: Orth, Samuel Peter, 1873-1922; Clarke, S.J., publishing company
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago-Cleveland : The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1106