A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume III, Part 71

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 71

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THOMAS H. GEER.

The name of Thomas H. Geer is not only widely known because of the extent of the clientage which he has secured in the conduct of a general insur- ance business, but also because of the honors that have been conferred upon him in his election to office in the various organizations whose membership is formed of those connected with the insurance business. Starting upon life's journey on the 3d of September, 1840, his boyhood days were spent in Ledyard, New London county, Connecticut, the place of his nativity, where resided his par- ents, Captain Nathaniel Bellows and Julia (Davis) Geer. For him, their oldest son, they provided excellent educational advantages and after receiving a good foundation in the educational training of the public schools of his native town he entered Irving Institute at Tarrytown, New York. Later he became a student in the State Normal School at Westfield, Massachusetts, from which he was graduated in 1859. At that time he regarded the teacher's profession as his life work and began teaching in the Haskell grammar school, at West Gloucester, Massachusetts, meeting with unqualified success both as an instructor and as a disciplinarian. In 1860 he was elected to the principalship of the high school at Rockport, Massachusetts, and in the spring of 1862 became a teacher in Burlington College at Burlington, New Jersey, where he remained for three years. Close application to study and his professional duties undermined his health and he was obliged to give up his school work and seek some other avenue of usefulness.

It was about that time, in April, 1866, that Mr. Geer turned his attention to the insurance business, becoming special agent in Massachusetts for a life in- surance company. So well did he meet the demands of the position that in the following October he became resident agent for the company at Cleveland, Ohio, and in 1876 extended the scope of his labors to include fire insurance, since which time he has continued in business in this city in general insurance. He has built up one of the largest agencies in Cleveland, representing a number of the oldest and most reliable companies. Mr. Geer is one of the best known local agents in the country, and has always been interested in associations organized

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THOMAS H. GEER

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for the benefit of the various branches of insurance. He has been secretary and president of the Cleveland Life Underwriters Association, secretary of the Life Underwriters Association of the State of Ohio, and acted as president of the Cleveland Board of Underwriters in 1894-5, of which he had previously been treasurer and vice president. He was active in the organization and served as first chairman of the executive committee of the Ohio Association of Local Fire Insurance Agents for three years. In 1903 he served as president of the National Association of Local Fire Insurance Agents, having previously served as vice president of that body.

Politically Mr. Geer is an uncompromising republican, deeming the principles of the party as sufficient to meet the demands of good government. At the age of eighteen he was confirmed in St. James Episcopal church at Poquetanuck, Connecticut, by the late Rt. Rev. John Williams, bishop of Connecticut. Dur- ing his residence in Cleveland he has been a communicant of Trinity cathedral and for many years a member of the vestry and cathedral chapter. He takes an active and helpful interest in the church work and its charities.

On the 30th of June, 1868, Mr. Geer was married at Poquetanuck, Connecti- cut, to Miss Fanny Halsey Brewster, a daughter of the Hon. John and Mary Esther (Williams) Brewster. To this marriage was born a daughter, Mrs. Mary Brew- ster (Geer) Thurston, who has one son, Thomas Brewster Thurston. In spite of the fact that for more than four decades Mr. Geer has been a resident of Ohio, he still has a great love for the home of his youth, to which he is a frequent visitor. Success has attended his efforts and today he stands at the head of his profes- sion, honored and respected as a man whose word is good and whose character is above reproach.

CHARLES T. RICHMOND.

There are few things more gratifying to a man active in the business world than a recognition of his abilities and the opportunity for the larger exercise of them. Charles T. Richmond, who is a consulting engineer with the National Carbon Company of Cleveland, started upon his business career with the deter- mination to learn the minutia of the business of every firm with which he was connected and has the satisfaction of knowing that in the course of years his policy has been well rewarded.

He was born in Johnsonville, Rensselaer county, New York, June 13, 1856. He is eligible to become a member of the famous Order of Cincinnatus for his great-grandfather was an officer in the Revolutionary army under Washington and he is the oldest son of the oldest son in the direct line. His father, Theo- dore C. Richmond, now deceased, was also a native of Johnsonville, New York, and was a farmer and commission merchant, who played no inconsiderable part in local affairs. He espoused the cause of the republican party and during the eighty-five years of his life voted at seventeen different presidential elections. His wife, who was Miss Caroline Baucus, was born in the same town as her husband and son and died at the age of sixty-nine years.

Charles T. Richmond received his preparatory education at Greylock Insti- tute, South Williamstown, Massachusetts, and then entered Yale College. He was graduated from that institution in 1878, a member of the same class as President Taft, but he had taken the scientific course, while the President had pursued the academic. Mr. Richmond also somewhat resembles his illustrious classmate and has on several occasions been mistaken for the latter. When he received his degree from Yale Mr. Richmond entered the First National Bank, of North Adams, Massachusetts, in order to familiarize himself with the banking business. He accepted no salary and in the six months he remained there filled every position from messenger to cashier. Then he became local manager of an

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iron mine at Mineville, New York, but after two years' service resigned his position in order to become a deputy collector of internal revenue in the tenth district of Massachusetts. In June, 1885, he was deposed by President Cleveland, being of opposite political faith, but, far from considering this a calamity, Mr. Richmond regards it as one of the best things that ever happened to him. Thereupon he went into the carbon business, then an entirely new industry, in association with his cousin, at North Adams, Massachusetts. In 1889 they sev- ered their partnership and sold their interests to the Thompson-Houston Carbon Company of Fremont, Ohio, Mr. Richmond joining this latter concern, becom- ing its president and general manager. He held this position until about 1893, when the firm was consolidated with the National Carbon Company, of Cleve- land, and Mr. Richmond came to this city. In 1896 he was made superintendent of the National Carbon Company of New Jersey, filling that office for the next ten years. In 1906 he was appointed consulting engineer of the same company, in which capacity he is still serving. He is also interested in other industries but devotes his time mostly to the manufacture of carbon products.

On the 28th of January, 1891, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Richmond and Mrs. Addie Noble, who is a daughter of Frank W. Gallagher, of Fremont, Ohio. He was a large wholesale tobacco merchant there. Mr. Richmond has one stepson, twenty-five years of age, who is now engaged in insurance broker- age and in general contracting business in New York city.

Through his membership in the Chamber of Commerce and the Athletic Club Mr. Richmond exhibits the sincere public spirit which is ever exerted in behalf of his fellow citizens. He is a man who has devoted his life conscien- tiously toward advancement and as he has held to high standards of upright manhood he enjoys the respect and esteem of those who have come in contact with him. He resides at No. 3III Prospect avenue.

DR. DAVID LONG.

The first physician to settle in Cleveland was Dr. David Long, a son of a phy- sician and Revolutionary soldier. Born at Hebron, Washington county, New York, September 29, 1787, he studied in Massachusetts with an uncle, Dr. John Long, and afterward graduated from a medical school in New York city. The village of Cleveland presented in 1810 only a prospect to a physician, a prophecy of development, with sufficient physical ills to engross the time of a practitioner. In seeking to attract such professional skill into their midst, leading citizens showed how a young man, equipped for medical practice, might teach school or till a piece of ground for partial support.

Dr. David Long came to Cleveland in June, 1810, and at once identified himself with the interests of the place. The following year he married the daughter of Judge John Walworth, whose earlier home had been in Aurora, New York. Judge Walworth had come to Cleveland as a civil engineer employed by the state of Con- necticut to lay out northern Ohio into counties. The young physician and wife were in full sympathy with the struggles of the early settlers, and their home was a refuge for the suffering, for whom no hospital existed. He was a surgeon in the army during the war of 1812 and the battle of Lake Erie brought wounded soldiers and sailors to their doors, and the gratitude of the convalescents was quite as much for the gentle nursing of Mrs. Long as for the surgical skill of her patriotic husband. At the time of Hull's surrender, the doughty Doctor brought the good news from Black river to Cleveland, a distance of twenty-eight miles, in two hours and fourteen minutes. The news was most welcome, there having been fear of an Indian uprising at British instigation.

Dr. Long's medical practice extended over a territory of fifty miles. profes- sional calls taking him by day and by night, with saddlebags on horseback, over

DR. DAVID LONG

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almost impassible roads. Upon one occasion, after midnight, he crossed the deep gorge of Rocky river in response to a call. In 1823 Dr. Long and a Mr. Sears drove from Sandusky in a one-horse sleigh. A heavy rain caused the sudden disappearance of the snow, and so the travelers started homeward on the ice of Lake Erie. After many thrilling experiences, the sixty miles were traversed and the sleigh entered safely the mouth of the Cuyahoga river.

The first home of this pioneer physician was on Water street near the site of the old lighthouse, but soon residence was taken in a double log house back of the present American House. This log structure had been erected by Gover- nor Huntington. At that time Dr. Long was also proprietor of a dry goods and notions store on Superior street, John P. Walworth managing the business.

Later Dr. Long built a brick house on that site and afterward a stone house at the southeast corner of Superior and Seneca streets, where he had his residence and office. In 1836 he removed to what was Kinsman Road, but afterward Woodland avenue, where at the corner of Linden street, he had constructed a stone residence, afterward occupied by Erastus Gaylord, Esq., but at the present time a carriage-shop. The final residence of Dr. Long was on Woodland, corner of Longwood avenue, now East Thirty-fifth street.

Dr. Long was a public-spirited citizen. His election as county commissioner brought the county courthouse to Cleveland instead of the proposed site in New- burg. Like many other citizens, he suffered financial reverses in constructing a section of the Ohio canal, an enterprise of considerable benefit to Cleveland. Hon. Harvey Rice said of this pioneer physician : "He was a generous, kind man and a friend to every one. He was a leading business man and his position in the community and church was an influential one."

ALBERT M. ALBRECHT.

Albert M. Albrecht, a very successful florist at No. 811 Prospect avenue, this city, while a product of Cleveland, comes of good old German stock, inheriting from his father those sterling traits of character which have made the fatherland famous for so many years. Mr. Albrecht was born in Cleveland in April, 1868, being a son of Herman and Thresa (Rebman) Albrecht. The father was born in Baden, Germany, and served in the army there for eight years. About 1865 he came to America and located in Cleveland, where he soon built up a good business as a contracting stone-mason, pursuing his calling until his death April 13, 1893. His wife was also a native of Baden, Germany, and she still survives.

Albert M. Albrecht was educated at St. Joseph's school in Cleveland and began working in boyhood with the Cleveland Paper Company. Later he en- tered the Spencerian Business College and was graduated therefrom when eighteen years old. Having thus obtained some knowledge of business methods, he engaged with C. M. Wagner, the florist, when only nineteen and continued with him for fourteen years.

By this time Mr. Albrecht had thoroughly mastered all the details of the business, and in September, 1908, he organized the firm of Albrecht & Smith, florists, on Erie street. On January 1, 1909, the business was moved to the store now occupied by Mr. Albrecht. On August I of this same year, he pur- chased the interest of his partner and is now alone. Although the business is yet in its infancy, being but a year old, he has been very successful, even beyond his highest expectations. His store is the most elegantly equipped of its kind in the city, and Cleveland may well be proud of such an establishment. which in its arrangements and decorations reflects the artistic ideas of the proprietor. Mr. Albrecht supplies the retail trade with cut flowers and set pieces and has a splendid line of customers.

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Mr. Albrecht was married in August, 1900, to Katie Becker, daughter of Charles and Catherine (Fiedler) Becker, of Cleveland. They have two chil- dren: Albert Carl, aged seven years, and Alice Louise, aged three years. Mr. Albrecht is a member of the Tribe of Ben Hur, the Royal League and the Royal Arcanum. He is very fond of the country, and during the summer he has his family on a farm at West Richland, Ohio, and spends as much time with them there as his business duties will permit. His business career as an independent business man has but commenced, although from the beginning of his work he has shown his worth and made friends everywhere. However, as he possesses indomitable courage, a thorough knowledge of the business and true artistic perceptions, the future appears bright for him and the successful continuance of his business.

REV. JOHN THOMAS CARROLL.

Rev. John Thomas Carroll, pastor of the Holy Name church of Cleveland, Ohio, through whose efforts and Christian zeal the parish has been placed in its present prosperous condition, was born in New York city, August 17, 1852, a son of Michael J. Carroll, a native of Ireland, whose birth occurred August 15, 1824, and Mary (Coughlan) Carroll, also a native of the Emerald isle, born in 1823. They passed away in April, 1902, and January, 1903, respectively. The father emigrated to the United States when a boy and about the year 1855 came to Wooster, Ohio, from New York state, for the purpose of managing a large farm, which he operated for some time. He then purchased land, upon which he engaged in agricultural pursuits until he retired, living in the city of Wooster until the time of his death. He was prominent throughout the county both as a business man and politician and was twice elected to the state legislature, in which honorable body he acquitted himself with great distinction and won an envia- ble reputation for his administrative ability. The old homestead is still in pos- session of the family and occupied by a son William. The mother had a brother, the Rev. William Coughlan, who was a priest, having charge of a con- gregation in New York, while a nephew, Father Morton, is also a priest and pastor of the church in her native village. She also had another brother who is living on the old homestead in Ireland and in 1908 celebrated his one-hun- dredth birthday, the entire family being noted for the longevity of its members.

To Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Carroll were born : the Rev. John Thomas; and Martha, a nun in Ursula Convent, in Youngstown, Ohio. Rev. Carroll also has a cousin, Sister Scholastica, a nun at St. Michael's Convent in Toronto and Sister Scholastica, another cousin, who is studying in a convent in Ireland. The family is prominent in ecclesiastical circles, its members being noted for their devotion to the church, many of them being members of the priesthood.

Rev. John Thomas Carroll acquired his early education in St. Mary's Col. lege, Chicago, Illinois, later attending St. Mary's Seminary at Cincinnati, Ohio from which he was graduated and on July 5, 1876, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Gilmour. He said his first mass on July 9, of the follow- ing week, at St. Mary's church in Wooster, Ohio. Following his ordination he was appointed assistant pastor to Father Brown in Youngstown, Ohio, whom he assisted for about one year, when Father Mears succeeded to the pastorate of the congregation and Rev. Carroll remained as his assistant for three years. He was then assigned as pastor of St. Mary's church, at Berea, Ohio, in which church he officiated for seven years. While pastor of that congregation he remodeled the church building and purchased property for school and residence purposes, completely furnishing both the school buildings and parsonage, and bought a large tract of land to be used as a cemetery. He attended a mission at Olmsted Falls near Berea, this organization being an adjunct of St. Mary's

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church, and he left the congregation entirely out of debt and with money in the treasury.

On February 14, 1886, Father Carroll assumed his present pastorate. This parish is one of the most prominent in Cleveland, having been organized and the first church building erected about 1854. A new church edifice had been started when Rev. Carroll took charge, but was far from completion and, upon assuming his duties here, he entered at once enthusiastically into the work of the parish, his first endeavor being to complete the building. He has since been instrumental in erecting an elegant parish residence, an auditorium with a seat- ing capacity of one thousand, and he also remodeled and refurnished the old school building and built a new twelve-room school. In addition to this work his activities have gone much farther and he has succeeded in erecting a chapel beside the main church building and also in having constructed eight buildings including a large store, all of which are equipped with the latest improvements and are rented with great advantage to the exchequer of the church. The church building proper is one of the finest in the city, its seating capacity being twelve hundred. The parishioners number about three thousand, while nine hundred children attend the parish schools, which are presided over by fourteen teachers. The parish is in excellent financial condition, Father Carroll having performed remarkable work since taking charge of the congregation. The par- ish is thoroughly organized, among the organizations being the Knights of St. John, the Catholic Foresters, Knights of Columbus, three divisions of The An- cient Order of Hibernians and the Holy Name Society. There are more than five hundred men among these organizations

Father Carroll is a man of remarkable executive ability, being at the same time a zealous and enthusiastic Christian, beloved by the members of his con- gregation and in fact by the entire community. Being a forceful orator, he has often been called upon for addresses at dedication ceremonies of the churches of his denomination. His energies and activities have reached outside of his particular congregation and eleven years ago he initiated the work of St. Cath- erine's church and purchased nine acres of land, upon which he was instrumental in erecting a church building, which was burned down three months after its completion, but he immediately rebuilt the structure together with a hall. He looks after the spiritual interests of, the Catholic inmates at Northern Ohio Hos- pital for the Insane. About three years ago he began regular services at Bed- ford, adjoining his parish, and erected a church and school building for the ac- commodation of the congregation there. His immediate congregation is one of the largest in the city, requiring the assistance of two priests. Father Carroll aside from the spiritual duties incumbent upon him as pastor of the congrega- tion, has taken a deep interest in that portion of the city in the vicinity of his church and was one of the original promoters of the park system and is one of the most active members of the South Cleveland Improvement League, of which he is president. He is one of the most telling factors in the spiritual and moral uplift of the city and is not only highly esteemed by the members of his imme- diate church but is well known and beloved for his earnest Christian zeal and exemplary character throughout the entire city.

CHARLES F. DIETZEL.

Charles F. Dietzel, who since January 1, 1909, has been a partner in the Cleveland Couch Company, with which for more than two decades he has been associated in the line of his trade-that of upholstering-was born in Cleve- land, on the 30th of September, 1873, and is a son of Charles and Katharine Dietzel. As the name indicates, the family is of German descent. The paternal grandfather was a school teacher in Germany and after coming to the United

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States engaged in teaching school in Cleveland, being a man of liberal educa- tion and of marked ability in the line of his chosen profession. Charles Dietzel, Sr., also a native of Germany, crossed the Atlantic to the United States in the early '50s and made his way direct to Cleveland, where he secured employment as a machinist in the shops of the Lake Shore Railroad Company. Later he was employed by the American Steel & Wire Company and after many years of diligent and well directed effort he retired in 1905 to spend his remaining days in the enjoyment of well earned rest.

Charles F. Dietzel, born and reared in the Forest city, pursued his education in the public schools, which he attended until fourteen years of age. He then started in business life and was employed in upholstering by the Frelke Manu- facturing Company for two years. He has always continued in this same line of business, for in 1889 he engaged as upholsterer with the firm of Janssen & Loeblein, conducting business under the name of the Cleveland Couch Com- pany. He has since been associated with this enterprise and his proven worth and ability led to his promotion and eventually brought him into partnership relations, for on the Ist of January, 1909, he joined Mr. Loeblein as a partner and the relationship has since been continued. His ability and sound business judgment are contributing to the success of the undertaking and the growth of the business has brought a substantial financial return to the partners.

Mr. Dietzel is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity and has many warm friends among his brethren of the order. In his political views he is in- dependent, preferring not to bind himself by party ties. His religious views are in accord with the teachings of Protestantism. In matters of citizenship he is progressive and desires the welfare and progress of the city to the extent of giving active cooperation whenever he can to the projects for Cleveland's pro- motion and improvement. He was married in this city to Miss Winters, on the 23d of June, 1900, and is pleasantly located in a home at No. 1510 East Sev- enty-first street.

E. G. HOLLMAN.

It may justly be said that on such sound and thriving industries as the Cleve- land Machine Knife Company is the strength of the city founded. The gen- eral management of this concern is vested in the person of E. G. Hollman, who is also secretary. He was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, December 22, 1859, his parents being Frederick and Anna Hollman. The former was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, in 1826. Believing that America was richer in promise for the man of modest birth and circumstance, he came across the sea in 1848 and settled in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he was engaged as superin- tendent of the shop of Singer & Nimick. Later he became superintendent of the LaBelle Steel Works, of which he also was stockholder. He died March 1, 1865.

Mr. Hollman received his education in the common and high schools, from which he graduated at the early age of fourteen. His first position was as a traveling salesman for the Himmelrich & Sons Shoe Company and he remained with them for a dozen years, an unmistakable comment on his efficiency. His next step was to engage in the shoe business in Pittsburg and he continued at this for the next twenty years. Upon going to Cleveland he made a radical change in his business and organized the Cleveland Machine Knife Company, of which he was elected secretary and general manager. Each year Mr. Hollman travels over a territory wide in extent and embracing a large portion of the United States and Canada. The fame of these "sweet tempered blades" is growing so fast that how to fill orders fast enough has become a problem. Among their products is a knife ten and even fifteen feet long for the purpose of cutting fancy wood veneering.

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A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume III, Part 71

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