A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume III, Part 76

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 76

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In April, 1841, Mr. Gillette was married to Miss Mary Branch, who died four years later. He subsequently wedded Susan M. Branch, a sister of his first wife and a daughter of Seth and Rachel (Herd) Branch, who made the overland trip from Connecticut to Cleveland with an ox-team in 1818. They were six weeks on the journey, traveling through the forests and over roads that at times were almost impassable for this was before the era of railroad trans- portation. They settled on what is now known as the south side of the city, where Mr. Branch owned a large tract of land. He was the pioneer shipbuilder of Cleveland, entering upon that line of work here when the city was but a small village and gave little promise of rapid future development. He lived, however, to witness the remarkable changes and always rejoiced in the growth and progress of the community. His daughter, Mrs. Gillette, was born in Cleve- land in 1822 and well remembers the days when the Forest city had but a few thousand inhabitants scattered over the present territory that now lies within the corporation limits. Unto the marriage were born two daughters and a son : Mrs. Mary H. Clark; Rachel, deceased ; and Frank H. Gillette.

In his political views Mr. Gillette was a stalwart republican and kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day, supporting the party until his death, which occurred January 14, 1876. He was a member of the Congrega- tional church located on the west side, and his life was an upright and honorable one that gained for him the unqualified confidence and good will of those with whom he was associated. There is one point in his career as a Cleveland busi- ness man, covered many years, to which all old settlers refer and that is, whether as a merchant or in other relations of life, he was always the same genial and courteous gentleman, whose ways were those of refinement and whose word no man could question.

WALTER L. McCASLIN.

Every line of commercial and industrial activity is well represented in Cleve- land, and many of the large concerns of the city are headed by men of superior ability who have lent their assistance in maintaining the city's prestige in so many directions. Walter L. McCaslin, president of the Buckeye Stereopticon Company, is one of the younger business men whose energy, enthusiasm and knowledge of conditions make them so valuable in the conduct of affairs here. He was born in Plain Grove, Pennsylvania, September 9, 1879, being a son of Robert and Mary Jane (McKee) McCaslin.

From earliest childhood Walter L. McCaslin displayed ability of no mean order, finishing a common-school course at thirteen years and graduating from the high school at Emporium, Pennsylvania. Following this the ambitious lad took a two-years' course at the Grove City College at Grove City Pennsylvania. For the next two years he was in the Princeton preparatory school of Blair Hall. Having thus well fitted himself for the battle of life, he came to Cleveland and in order to learn business methods became a clerk for the Rating & Col- lecting Company of this city, remaining with them for two years. His abilities were then recognized and he was given the responsible position of cashier for the Perry Savings Bank, a branch of the Central Trust Company, now the Cleveland Trust Company. Following this Mr. McCaslin was assistant cashier for the internal revenue office for three years.

During all this time his active mind had been busy studying out some plans of his own, and he organized the Buckeye Stereopticon Company, with himself as president. The company are responsible for a number of very remarkable articles by means of which entertainment can be obtained at a low price and small effort .. Predominating them all is the Mirroscope which will reflect post cards, photos, clippings, drawing and similar objects without any preparation.

W. L. MCCASLIN

...

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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

It has an educational value as well, for with it can be shown historical, geo- graphical or travel views to illustrate daily lessons; or it can be used to teach color values, spelling and drawing, as well as for many other purposes designed to amuse and instruct.

The company have issued a booklet giving suggestions for the use of the Mirroscope, compiled by various people whose experience and views ought to prove helpful. Among these suggestions are the following: personal draw- ings from any well known work, projected in the Mirroscope; the projection of a collection of valuable post cards; the projection of cards made by putting the heads of one illustration upon the bodies of another picture; the kodak views taken on a vacation projected by this valuable invention and many others equally good.

There are several grades and sizes of this remarkable projector, including the Electric Mirroscope, the Gas, the Acetylene, the Electric Mirroscope Magic- Opaque, and the Buckeye Special Stereopticon, which can be attached to any electric light, or the Acetylene Buckeye Special Stereopticon suitable for use with acetylene gas. All of these are in different sizes, and all guaranteed to be of the best quality in every particular.

Through the energetic efforts of Mr. McCaslin the company has been ex- ceedingly successful. Their goods are all that is claimed for them, and as the public is becoming educated to the uses of them, they appreciate their full value and demand them of their dealers. With one of these projectors it is very easy to entertain a gathering of friends or to provide amusement for the chil- dren and keep them from seeking similar entertainment abroad.

While Mr. McCaslin is a young man, he understands his business thoroughly and as the executive of the company has been mainly instrumental in getting the goods exploited on the market. On January 4, 1910, Mr. McCaslin was united in marriage to Millie Robinson, of Lakewood, Ohio, and they reside at The Regent, 10359 Euclid avenue. He is a member of the Rosedale Club, and politically favors neither party, voting for the measures that make for the best interests of the community. His religious affiliations are with the Pres- byterian church.

JOHN G. DORN.

The Dorn Dry Goods Company of this city is known all over Cleveland be- cause of its reliability, the quality of its goods and the prices it quotes which are always as low as is consistent with the merits of the stock carried. John G. Dorn, the head of this important mercantile house, was born in Cleveland, June 22, 1857, a son of Nicholas Dorn, who was born in Germany in 1827 and came to America when a young man. He located in Kenton, Ohio, where he worked as a carpenter and contractor for a short time, and then settled in Cleveland, where the growing city gave him plenty of opportunity for securing large con- tracts in his building operations. He continued in active business until a few years before his demise, which occurred in 1904. His wife was Maria Krause, who was also born in Germany. She came to Cleveland and here met her future husband. Her death occurred in 1893. Mr. Dorn is a brother of Julius C. Dorn, who was secretary of the board of county commissioners of Cuyahoga county for sixteen years. Another brother, Philip H. Dorn, was superintendent of the Cleveland workhouse for four years.

After securing a good common-school education, John G. Dorn began work- ing for the J. K. Dorn Shoe Company on Woodland avenue, where he continued two years. His next association was with Alcott Horton & Company, wholesale dry-goods merchants, where he clerked until they sold to E. M. McGillian & Com- pany, Mr. Dorn continuing with the new house until the firm went out of busi-

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ness. While with them he became a commercial traveler. Following this he was with several firms until 1888, when he went to Philadelphia and became a commercial traveler for Hood, Foulkrod & Company, sustaining that relation for seven years, with Cleveland as headquarters and Ohio as his territory. When he left that house, he started in business for himself in a modest way at his present location. The business has developed so that now the handsome store on Kinsman Road is the largest of its kind in that section, as well as one of the first to be established in the locality. A full line of dry goods, notions and ladies' and men's furnishing goods is carried, and so complete and far-reaching are the connections of the house that many advantages are offered customers. The ser- vice is as nearly perfect as Mr. Dorn's efforts can make it, and the volume of trade is constantly growing.

In February, 1878, Mr. Dorn married Anna Stead, a native of Cleveland. They have had three children : George J., born in August, 1880, travels for The Clawson Willson Dry Goods Company, of Buffalo; William F., born September 14, 1882, is also a traveling salesman; and Bessie P., born January 31, 1886, is the wife of Dr. William Gernhard, of Cleveland.

Mr. Dorn is a member of the Knights of Pythias and has held many of the offices in that organization. He is also a thirty-second degree Mason and a Shriner, and belongs to the Cleveland Commercial Travelers Association. He was chairman of the executive committee of the Kinsman Road Improvement Association, being one of the organizers of this association, and for thirteen years he has done much to bring about the needed improvements in his locality. In addition he is president of the Kinsman Road Merchants Association. A repub- lican in his political views, he gives earnest and hearty support to his party.

Mr. Dorn has a strong personality, is firm in his likes and dislikes, and has gained his present position through devotion to his business and the interests related to it. He has taken a public-spirited part in the welfare of his community but has not desired political office. His contributions to church work and re- ligious enterprises have been liberal, he believing in the efficacy of whatever tends toward a general uplift. His long experience in almost every branch of his line of business has made him peculiarly fitted to carry on an enterprise of the size his has attained to.

COLONEL STOUGHTON BLISS.

Colonel Stoughton Bliss, whose demise occurred in Cleveland on the 19th of September, 1896, had been a resident of this city throughout his entire life and was widely recognized as one of its most respected and prosperous busi- ness men and citizens. He was born on the 18th of February, 1823, in a little house on lower Superior avenue, his parents being William and Cynthia (Wol- cott) Bliss, whose family numbered four children. The mother was a direct de- scendant of Oliver Wolcott, the first governor of Connecticut and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. William Bliss, the father of our subject, came to Cuyahoga county in 1815 and took up his abode among the pioneer residents of Cleveland, embarking in business here when the town con- tained but five hundred inhabitants.

In his youthful days Colonel Stoughton Bliss received such educational advan- tages as the schools of the locality afforded, though at that early day the methods of instruction were somewhat crude as compared to those of modern times. 'Af- ter putting aside his text-books he became a clerk in the postoffice and later was elected city marshal, discharging his official duties in a most prompt and capable manner. In 1846 he became associated with T. S. Paddock in the conduct of a hat and fur business, the partnership being maintained for two years. In 1850 he formed a partnership with J. B. Smith and turned his attention to the productión

COL. STOUGHTON BLISS

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of malt, successfully conducting the enterprise for several years. At the time of the outbreak of the Civil war he offered his services to the government in de- fense of the Union and was made assistant quartermaster general with the rank of colonel, serving in that capacity during the period of hostilities. When the country no longer needed his military aid Colonel Bliss returned to Cleveland and again became a factor in business circles, purchasing an interest in the Dia- mond Stone Quarry at Berea. A man of sound judgment and excellent busi- ness qualifications, his efforts proved an important element in the successful control of the enterprise and also brought to him a gratifying competence. At the time of his death he was the treasurer of the Grafton Stone Company.

In 1849 Colonel Bliss was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Sweet, who passed away two years later and to whose memory he remained faithful, never marrying again. For forty years he made his home at the Kennard House and there died, being called to his final rest during the night of September 19, 1896. Death came to him unheralded and gently, as he passed from the sleep of fatigue to the eternal one without intervening consciousness. He was a very reserved man, quiet and methodical in his habits and warm-hearted and gen- erous by nature. All who knew him-and his acquaintance was a wide one- recognized his many excellent traits of character and he was uniformly loved and respected as a good citizen and a steadfast friend. His near relatives are a nephew, Harry A. Bliss, whose biography appears on another page of this work, and Mrs. C. P. Horr, of La Grange, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

BENJAMIN J. SAWYER.

Benjamin J. Sawyer is descended in direct line from Noah Sawyer, who came from England to the new world and was the founder of the family on this side the Atlantic. His son, William Sawyer, was born in Vermont, where he spent his entire life, following the occupation of farming. His son, Noah Sawyer, was born in a little Vermont town on the bank of Lake Champlain in 1801 and died in 1873. He had come to Ohio in 1829 and settled in Bedford township, Cuyahoga county, where he followed the occupation of farming. He was one of the early settlers and had much to do with the development of the country. He cut the timber from which he built his own house and later he en- gaged in the canal boat business. Subsequently he purchased the Morning Star, the canal boat on the Ohio for which President Garfield acted as driver when a boy. His son, William H. Sawyer, was born in Bedford, Ohio, April 11, 1835, and died on the 17th of September, 1904. He became a wholesale butcher of Bedford and successfully carried on the business for a number of years, but in his later life retired. His kindly nature and spirit of assistance ultimately caused his death. It was his habit to take across the railroad tracks a number of children who were pupils in the lower grades in order to insure their safety. While returning across the track for others he was struck by a locomotive and killed. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Morse, was a native of Bedford, Ohio, born July 1, 1844. She still survives and now lives in Collin- wood, a suburb of Cleveland. Her father, Flavel Morse, was born in Connecti- cut in 1806 and died in 1888. He came to Ohio about seventy-four years ago and devoted his life to the trade of shoemaking. The family history dates back to the early settlement of Connecticut and it was to this family that Samuel F. B. Morse, the founder of the telegraph, belonged. The wife of Flavel Morse belonged to the Franklin family and was reared among the Indians at Ravenna, Ohio, for the family had become residents of this state in pioneer times, at which period the red men were far more numerous than the white settlers.

At the time of the Civil war William H. Sawyer responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting in 1861 as a member of Company A, Twenty-third

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Ohio Regiment, with which he served for four years and four months under Major Mckinley. He was a train master, while Major Mckinley was then a quartermaster and Mr. Sawyer rode with Mckinley at the battle of Antietam. After the first day of the engagement Mckinley asked for volunteers to cook for him. Mr. Sawyer offered his assistance and started the next morning to feed the boys. When going down the hill one of the mules was shot by the rebels, who, having run out of bullets, had made their bullets out of railroad iron. At that time Major Mckinley and Mr. Sawyer were riding together. They had altogether six mules. The former, getting down from his seat, cut out the middle team, one of which was killed, hitched up the first team to the rear team and then Mr. Sawyer drove on in a few minutes as though nothing had happened.

Benjamin J. Sawyer, whose name introduces this review, was born in Bed- ford, Ohio, January 29, 1868. He attended the public schools of his native city until he was graduated from the high school with the class of 1885 and then entered Hiram College, from which he was graduated in 1890 with the Bachelor of Philosophy degree. In 1893 his alma mater conferred upon him the Doctor of Philosophy degree. In the meantime he had begun upon the lecture platform and for several years devoted his time to lecturing upon such popular subjects as The American Citizen, The Boy and His Drum and What is Truth. Eight years were given to that field of activity, but in the meantime he studied law and in 1898 was admitted to practice in the Ohio courts. Opening an office in Cleve- land, he has since engaged in general practice and the same analytical mind and gift of oratory which made him an attractive speaker on the lecture platform have made him a logical debater in the courts. He is seldom, if ever, at error in the application of a legal principle and a retentive memory prevents him from losing sight of any point in his case. He gives to each fact its due prominence and the correctness of his application of legal principles has often excited the surprise and won the approval of his colleagues.

On the 10th of June, 1890, Mr. Sawyer was united in marriage to Miss Laura Sencabaugh, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Barkwill) Sencabaugh. The children of this marriage are: Marie E .; Ruth and Esther, twins; Ben Morse ; and Marcus Myron, who was so named in honor of Marcus Hanna and Myron T. Herrick, the former being elected state senator and the latter governor in the year of his birth, while at the same time Mr. Sawyer was chosen to the legislature.

In politics Mr. Sawyer is a stalwart republican and has been a delegate to various conventions of his party, while in 1904 he was elected to the state legis- lature. He attends the Disciples church but is a member of no clubs or societies, being very domestic in his tastes and preferring to devote his time to the pleasures of his own household.

REV. JOHN FRANCIS McINERNEY.

The Rev. John Francis McInerney, pastor of St. Mary's Church of the An- nunciation at Cleveland, Ohio, was born in Danbury, Connecticut, June 1, 1873, a son of Daniel and Catherine (O'Gorman) McInerney. Daniel McInerney, his father, was born in Kilballyowen, County Clare, Ireland, in 1849, a son of John and Margaret (Haugh) McInerney. His mother, Catherine (O'Gorman) Mc- Inerney, daughter of Patrick and Bridget (McMahon) O'Gorman, was born in Moveen, County Clare, Ireland, in 1852.

The parents of the priest prized education highly and gave special attention to the training of their children. Every opportunity was afforded each of them not only in the common studies but in the higher branches of education and in music. Five of the daughters are accomplished musicians. One son, Daniel, com-

REV. JOHN F. MCINERNEY

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pleted a three-year course of study at Niagara University. The parents of Father McInerney can both speak and write the Irish language.

Daniel McInerney came to the United States when only sixteen and settled in Danbury, Connecticut, where he became eventually a manufacturer of stiff and soft hats. There he married Catherine O'Gorman and she bore him fourteen children, twelve of whom are living. Two of Father McInerney's paternal uncles, the Rev. Thomas McInerney and Rev. Michael McInerney, were in the priest- hood in Ireland.

The family born to Daniel McInerney and wife consisted of nine daughters and five sons, those other than Father McInerney being : Margaret, Bridget, Cath- erine, Patrick, Mary, Daniel, Josephine, Elizabeth, Louise, Agnes, Edward, Ce- cilia and Ambrose. Patrick died with pneumonia at the age of two years. Mary died at the age of nine with pneumonia. Father McInerney is the third oldest in the family and the eldest of the boys. The youngest boy, Ambrose, is now pre- paring himself for the holy priesthood in St. Thomas' Preparatory Seminary at Hartford, Connecticut. Daniel and Edward are engaged with their father in the manufacture of stiff and soft hats.

Father McInerney began his studies in the South Centre District public school in his native town. He entered St. Peter's parochial school when it opened there for the first time in September, 1886, and was graduated from that institution in June, 1888. He has the honor of being the first parochial schoolboy to take the entrance examination from St. Peter's parochial school to the Danbury high school and passed with a very high average, thereby entitling him to free access to the Danbury public library at that time. In September, 1888, he entered the Danbury high school and graduated with high honors in June, 1891. In Sep- tember, 1891, he went to Niagara University, Niagara county, New York, and finished the collegiate course there in two years, graduating in June, 1893. En- tering the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels of Niagara University the following September, he studied philosophy for one year and in September, 1894, went to the Grand Seminary of Philosophy at Montreal, Canada, where he completed the second year of his philosophical course. He then spent two years in the Grand Seminary of Theology at Montreal in the study of sacred theology. In Septem- ber, 1897, he returned to the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels, Niagara Univer- sity, Niagara county, New York, and finished the remaining two years of his theological course.

On May 27, 1899, he was ordained priest in St. Joseph's Cathedral at Buf- falo, New York, by the Rt. Rev. James Edward Quigley, D. D., then bishop of the Buffalo diocese, now archbishop of Chicago. He said his first mass May 28, 1899, at the seminary, and the following Sunday said his first public solemn high mass in St. Peter's church at Danbury, Connecticut, his home town. Rev. Henry J. Lynch, the rector of St. Peter's church, preached a memorable and im- pressive sermon at the mass. Father McInerney was the first parochial schoolboy ordained priest at that time in Danbury, Connecticut. On June 9, 1899, he was appointed by the Rt. Rev. Ignatius F. Horstmann, D. D., then bishop of the Cleveland diocese, pastor pro-tempore of the Church of SS. Peter and Paul at Doylestown, Ohio, remaining there until July 5th, when he came to Cleveland, Ohio, and was appointed assistant to the Rt. Rev. Mgr. T. P. Thorpe, pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception. In June, 1901, he was transferred to Youngstown, Ohio, where he became assistant to the Rev. Edward Mears at St. Columba's, but within a month he was made pastor of St. Joseph Calasanc- tins' church at Jefferson, Ohio, with charge of South Thompson as a mission. While in charge of Jefferson he made extensive repairs on the church property and also at the South Thompson mission. He remodeled and practically built anew the present beautiful pastoral residence at Jefferson. Here he labored for two years and three months or until October 4, 1903, when he was transferred to the pastorate of Holy Angels' church at Sandusky, Ohio. Here, as elsewhere, he worked zealously and most successfully for three years and three months.

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On January 5, 1907, he received his appointment to St. Mary's Church of the Annunciation in this city. The church edifice is a large stone and brick struc- ture and seats nine hundred people. The congregation is English speaking. The pastoral residence and school are built of wood. There are one hundred and seventy-five school children, taught by four Sisters of The Holy Humility of Mary Community. Father McInerney has various church organizations and societies and believes in them to interest and advance his people. He is an eloquent speaker and is often called upon to make addresses upon special oc- casions. Energetic, scholarly and understanding his people and their needs, he ministers to them in a way to win their love and make his influence felt for their good.

F. B. GUINAN.

F. B. Guinan, engaged in the real-estate and insurance business, in which field he has operated independently since 1906, was born in Manchester, Michi- gan, in 1872, and is a graduate of the high school of that city. His education completed, he turned his attention to railroad interests as a telegraph operator and ticket agent, representing the Lake Shore Railroad Company for three years in those capacities at various places. For a decade he was connected with the Nickel Plate Railroad Company and spent three years of that time as agent and telegraph operator at the Euclid avenue station. He felt that his efforts and opportunities were circumscribed, however, in that field and desiring to enter business which would give him broader scope for his energy and industry -- his dominant qualities-he turned his attention to real estate and has been op- erating along general lines since 1906. He has secured a good clientage that has enabled him to place various investments and control many sales and he annually writes a large amount of insurance.

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A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume III, Part 76

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