A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume III, Part 85

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 85

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).

In the public and night schools of Belmont county, Ohio, James B. Hoge pur- sued his education, and at the age of eighteen years entered railroad work as a telegraph operator at Flushing, in his native county. After serving for three years in that capacity, he was promoted to chief clerk at Lorain, Ohio, for the Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling and the Nickel Plate Railway Companies. He eagerly sought the opportunity for the conduct of an independent business and when the opportunity presented itself, in 1891, he organized The Lorain Savings & Banking Company, of which he was elected secretary and treasurer, which posi- tion he filled until 1898. In the meantime he had become connected with gas, electric light and telephone enterprises and had been one of the builders of the Lorain & Cleveland Railway. He was also president of the Citizens' Gas & Elec- tric Company, of Lorain and Elyria, secretary and treasurer of the Black River Telephone Company of Lorain, and secretary of the Lorain & Cleveland Railway Company.

848

HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

Seeing the opportunities for the continued expansion of business in those lines, Mr. Hoge came to Cleveland in 1898, after resigning the position in the bank, al- though he still retained his financial interest in that and other enterprises of Lorain and vicinity. Upon his removal to Cleveland, he helped organize the United States Telephone Company, a long distance service with lines throughout the state, con- necting the various independent exchanges. Of this company he became secretary and later vice president. He is likewise still interested in various street and elec- tric railway enterprises and other interests to which he gives his time in a general way. For three years, from 1904 until 1907, he was president of the International Independent Telephone Association.

Mr. Hoge and his family occupy one of the fine homes for which Cleveland is noted on Wade Park, in one of the most attractive residence localities of the city. He was married at Lorain, Ohio, December 16, 1891, to Miss Anna I .. Wallace, of Lorain. She was educated at Oberlin College, class of 1880. The four chil- dren of the family are: Rachel M., Eleanor A., Wallace Wright and Pierre Wil- liam.

Mr. and Mrs. Hoge hold membership in the Congregational church. His po- litical allegiance is given to the republican party and, desirous for the adoption of its principles, he labors for its success but not to the extent of seeking office for himself. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, to the Union and Euclid Clubs and is also identified with the Chamber of Commerce. Driving and horseback riding are his principal recreation, while he spends his summer in close conimunion with nature in the country on the lake front west of Cleveland. His record is that of notable success, achieved through the recognition and utilization of oppor- tunities, through powers of organization and executive force. Moreover, in all of his work the public has been an indirect beneficiary.

J. DOANE PELTON.

J. Doane Pelton, president of the Buckeye Fixture Company, a flourishing in- dustry of Cleveland, was born in Euclid, Ohio, January 24, 1875. His parents were Marcus L. and Kittie M. (Merrill) Pelton, in whose family were six chil- dren, namely: Myron J .; J. Doane .; May, the wife of Frank Ellsworth, of Willoughby, Ohio; Libbie, the wife of Allen Brown, of Euclid, Ohio; Effie B. and Marion G., who live at the old home at Euclid.

Mr. Pelton was fortunate enough to have that experience in which not only a remarkably large part of the substantial citizens of the country but many of the eminent men as well have shared-a preliminary season spent upon the farm. Early rising, the daily tasks and the economical habits of the country boy pre- pare him for the struggle that must precede ascendency. In 1900 Mr. Pelton concluded to try life in its more cosmopolitan aspects, and in the pursuance of this idea he came to Cleveland, where the Buckeye Fixture Company was or- ganized for the manufacture of metal display fixtures. In this he was associated with his brother Myron J. Pelton and S. F. Cheheyl. The Forest city has nu- merous concerns of this kind, some of them the most prominent in the country, and it is a fact indicative of the executive ability and sound .judgment of Mr. Pelton and his associates that this newer industry has gained recognition and suc- cess. Myron J. Pelton, who was the senior member of the Buckeye Fixture Com- pany, died May 28, 1906, leaving a widow and two children: Myron Russell and Alice Kittie, who reside at Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

On June 6, 1905, Mr. Pelton was united in marriage to Miss Helen Grubb, a daughter of A. K. Grubb, of Decatur, Indiana. The birth of two sons, Marcus Doane and Ralph Francis Pelton, has blessed their union. Their residence is pleasantly located at 1308 East Ninety-first street, Northeast.

J. D. PELTON

851

HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

Politically Mr. Pelton gives loyal adherence to the tenets of the democracy and although he takes keen interest in public affairs, as the ideal citizen must, he has no desire for the honors and emoluments of office. He finds time for the execution of his duties as a good church member, being Methodist in belief. His fraternal relations extend to the Knights of Pythias lodge, in which he is a popular member. By the employment of sound commercial virtues Mr. Pelton has achieved success, though still counted among the younger generation.

HUNTER SAVIDGE.

The name of Savidge has long been a synonym for large activity and enter- prise in connection with the lumber trade, for Hunter Savidge is of a family that for many years has been prominent in the development of lumber interests in what was formerly known as the Northwest Territory. He is now a partner in the firm of Putnam & Savidge, wholesale dealers in lumber in Cleveland.

He was born at Spring Lake, Michigan, August 23, 1873. His father, Thomas Savidge, was a native of Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, born January II, 1839, of the marriage of Benjamin and Esther (Hunter) Savidge. The family is of English origin and was founded in Connecticut by representatives of the name who settled in New England in colonial days. Members of the family took an active part in the Indian wars and in the Revolutionary war, and one of the number engaged in the manufacture of gunpowder during the struggle for inde- pendence.

The great-great-grandfather of our subject was Thomas Savidge, who removed from Connecticut to Pennsylvania shortly before the outbreak of hostilities with the mother country. He was the father of John Savidge, who was the father of Benjamin Savidge and the latter was the parent of Thomas Savidge, who removed to Michigan in the late '50s and with his brother Hunter and D. Cutler engaged in the lumber business on the Grand River in Ottawa county under the firm style of Cutler & Savidge. The development of their interests made their business one of the most extensive lumber enterprises of Michigan. It was the land of this county that was the scene of Stewart Edward White's story of the lumber region called "The River Men." Thomas Savidge died March 15, 1907. He was a well known horseman and a prominent democratic politician, who served as a delegate to several conventions of the party and was one of those who nominated Grover Cleveland for the presidency. For eleven years he filled the office of mayor at Spring Lake, Michigan, and was one of the leading and influential residents there, taking active part in promoting all public improvements, especially the building of streets and roads. The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Mary Davison, was a daughter of William Davison. She was born August 3, 184I, and died May 10, 1877.

Hunter Savidge, whose name introduces this review, pursued his early educa- tion in the public schools of Spring Lake and of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and afterward attended the Phillips Andover Academy, at Andover, Massachusetts. Leaving school in 1893, he entered the employ of the Cutler & Savidge Lumber Company as general utility man and assistant to his father. After a year, however, he became connected with the W. H. White Company, of Boyne City, Michigan. in the office and as yard manager and when a year had thus passed came to Cleve- land, in 1900, as the representative of Bliss & Van Ankens, of Saginaw, Michi- gan, by whom he was employed as traveling salesman and later built for them a mill near the west coast of Florida. Mr. Savidge spent three years in their em- ploy and afterward traveled for two years for the Advance Lumber Company, of Cleveland. In 1904 he formed a partnership under the firm name of Putnam & Savidge and in that connection is now engaged in the wholesale lumber business. His entire life has been devoted to the lumber trade and he is one of its foremost

852

HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

representatives in Cleveland, the extent and importance of their business being an ample evidence of his capability and thorough familiarity with the trade in all its phases.

Mr. Savidge enjoys association with various fraternal organizations and clubs. He holds membership with the Commercial Travelers, the Knights of Pythias, the Elks lodge, of Grand Rapids, the Cleveland Athletic Club and the Erie Club and Erie Yacht Club, both of Erie, Pennsylvania. All this indicates much of the nature of his interests and the sources of his recreation and pleasure. He enjoys hunting, fishing, boating and all outdoor sports and is found as a genial com- panion in outdoor excursions, always ready to take what the occasion offers. His political allegiance is given to the democracy save at local elections where municipal affairs have no relation to political issues. He is a typical young man of the present day to whom success at the outset of his career meant close application and unfaltering diligence. Moreover, he made it his purpose to thoroughly ac- quaint himself with every phase of the lumber trade and, continuing in this field of activity, he has reached the position to which careful management, thorough understanding and close application always lead.

PHILO SCOVILL.

The Scovill family in Cleveland was founded there by Philo Scovill and is a branch of one of the old and historic families of New England, whose history can be traced back to Arthur Scovill, who was born about 1638 and died at Mid- dletown, Connecticut, February 7, 1706. The line of descent is through his son Stephen, who was born in 1680-'84; his son Stephen, born in 1706; his son Tim- othy, born in 1737; his son Timothy, who was born in 1762 and was a Revolu- tionary soldier ; and his son Philo, who settled in Cleveland in 1816.

The name of Philo Scovill is indelibly imprinted upon the pages of Cleve- land's history as one of the city's foremost pioneers and the promoter of many business interests and public enterprises which gave shape to the city's early development and constituted a stimulus for its later progress.

Philo Scovill was born November 30, 1791, in Salisbury, Connecticut, and was a boy of nine years when his father removed to Cornwall, Connecticut, whence he later went to Chenango, New York. Subsequently the family resi- dence was in Seneca county, that state, on the banks of Seneca lake. Afterward they removed to Buffalo, from which place Philo Scovill came to Cleveland in 1816. His father was a millwright by trade and had brought up his son to the use of tools. However, Philo Scovill's early connection with Cleveland was that of a merchant and he was one of the first merchants of the city. Here he established himself in the drug and grocery business near the present site of the 'American House. The business proved distasteful, however, and the sharp practice of his partner having made it unprofitable Mr. Scovill disposed of his interest and, finding himself worth several hundred dollars less than nothing, he set out at once upon another venture by which he hoped to retrieve his for- tunes. In company with Thomas O. Young he began building a sawmill on Big creek, a little stream which empties into the Cuyahoga near the present village of Brooklyn. Before starting upon the mill work the partners in the entrprise had to build a hut in which to live. They were alone in the wilderness and a shelter was necessary. A hard day's work sufficed to complete the hut and, wearied with their exertions, the two friends prepared to go to sleep. Mr. Scovill, more prudent than his partner, constructed a "bedstead" by placing a hewn slab upon two pegs driven into the ground. Mr. Young thought the bare ground was good enough for him, but when disturbed in the dead of night by the warning hiss of a well-developed rattlesnake he concluded that Mr. Scovill had adopted the wiser

PHILO SCOVILL

855

HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

plan and made haste to take a similar precaution. At length the mill was built and operated successfully for some time.

Mr. Scovill was a carpenter and joiner by trade and in addition to the pro- duction of lumber at his mill he began to engage in business as a builder and contractor, having Levi Johnson as his only competitor at first. At the time of his arrival here Cleveland could hardly be called a hamlet and there were only twenty-seven families within the limits of Cuyahoga county. Settlers had be- gun to come in, however, in considerable numbers and Mr. Scovill soon had the erection of many stores and dwelling houses upon his hands. It was not long before he was doing what was thought at that time a large business and which, by energy, honesty and application, was being constantly enlarged. In 1825 he built the Franklin House on Superior street, on the next lot but one west of the site of the Johnson House. He opened this hotel and managed it successfully for twenty-three years with the exception of an interval of five years, when it was leased by B. Huntington. The original Franklin House was a frame build- ing, but in 1835 Mr. Scovill removed it and erected a brick structure in its place. While conducting the hotel he did not altogether relinquish his interests as a builder but took many contracts during that period. Among them were con- tracts for the erection of a lighthouse on Bois Blanc island in the straits of Mackinac and another at the mouth of Maumee Bay, both of which were faith- fully and successfully carried out. About the year 1835 Mr. Scovill removed to a farm which he had purchased in Parma, where he remained about two years. It was during his residence in Parma that he was elected to the state legislature on the whig ticket. Although strong in his political convictions, he was in no sense of the term a politician and the election was an honor unsought and un- wished for. The legislator of those days had to "work his passage" to the capital, riding either in a lumbering stage coach over execrable roads or going on horseback. Mr. Scovill's term of one year satisfied him with legislative honors and he declined to run a second time.

Perceiving that Cleveland was bound to grow, Mr. Scovill made judicious purchases of real estate from time to time, investing his entire savings in land. One of these purchases consisted of a tract of one hundred and ten acres, which he bought of the Connecticut Company in 1834. This tract extended from what is now the corner of East Ninth and Woodland avenue to Greenwood street, now East Twenty-eighth street. To show the wonderful increase in the value of this property, Mr. Scovill used to tell how, a number of years after his pur- chase, he sold a lot at the corner of Brownell and Garden streets, which was the only one unsold, for exactly what he paid for the original tract of one hun- dred and ten acres.

Mr. Scovill was frequently called to positions of local trust, serving as town- ship trustee in early days and then as a member of the city council when Cleve- land had been advanced to the dignity of a city. While serving as town trustee with the father of Leonard Case, the purchase of ten acres for a new cemetery was effected by the two trustees and this purchase cost them their office. They selected the land now known as the Erie Street cemetery and bought it for six dollars an acre. The people, declaring that it was absurd to "go into the woods to bury their dead," refused to reelect them when their term expired, basing their opposition upon that purchase. In 1858, finding that his rapidly augmenting real-estate interests demanded his entire attention, Mr. Scovill relinquished all else and devoted himself entirely to their development. Streets were laid out on his property and inducements offered to purchasers that insured a ready sale and aided materially in the growth of the city. He also interested himself ac- tively in several important enterprises which have been of great benefit to the city. He was one of the first directors of the Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad Company and was one of the founders of the First National Bank, of which he was elected president after the death of George Worthington. Mr. Scovill's integrity, resolution and energy gave him the fullest confidence of all with whom

856

HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

he was connected. His life was one of well-directed usefulness and may well be taken as an example by the young men of today. His business cares were never allowed to sour his genial, social qualities and he enjoyed not only the respect but also the love of his associates.

Mr. Scovill was married February 16, 1819, to Miss Jemima Bixby, who was born in 1800 and who, with two sons and a daughter, survived him. His death occurred June 5, 1875, at his residence at what was then 20 Euclid ave- nue. His widow survived him until 1888. She shared with her husband in his good work in behalf of the city, was the founder of the Old Women's Home of Cleveland and was one of the first members of Trinity church. It was mainly through her efforts that the first Trinity church in Cleveland was built.

HON. DAVID MORISON.

The realty transactions of a city like Cleveland are of such magnitude that it would be impossible for any individual or firm to control them all. However, the Morison Realty Company, of which David Morison is the president, has been connected with some of the most important property investments and transfers in the city, involving large sums of money. His efforts in this direction, however. do not entirely compass Mr. Morison's activity in business circles. In fact, he is identified with various corporate interests in which his keen discrimination and capable management have constituted important features of success.

Mr. Morison was born in Cleveland, October 16, 1848, a son of David and Charlotte C. (Bidwell) Morison. The father was a native of Inverness, Scotland, and came to the United States in 1833, at which time he located at Albion, Cuya- hoga county, Ohio, and turned his attention to farming in Strongville township. Later he came to Cleveland, where he conducted a ship chandler's store, continuing in that business until his retirement in 1854. His death occurred in April, 1868. He was twice married and by each marriage had six children. His second wife, the mother of David Morison, was born in Hartford, Connecticut. They were married in 1844. She was descended from an excellent New England family who trace their ancestry direct to the Mayflower, while many of the name at a later day were soldiers of the Revolution and prominent and loyal citizens of Connecticut. Her uncle, George L. Hill, built the first courthouse at Lincoln. Mrs. Morison during her residence in Cleveland took an active interest in the moral development of the city and was one of the founders of the Old Stone church standing at the corner of the Square and Ontario street. She survived her husband from April until October, 1868. By her marriage she became the mother of six children, of whom David Morison is the second. The others are : Anna M., now deceased; Helen N., who became the wife of T. C. Rucker and died leaving two children, Mrs. Frank Mead and Mrs. Arthur M. Smith; Char- lotte C., deceased; Martha L., who was a twin sister of Charlotte and is now living with her brother David; and Thomas C., a resident of Rocky River, Ohio, now retired. He is married and has two sons.

After acquiring a common-school education, David Morison turned his at- tention to the real-estate business in 1872, and through his knowledge of values and ripe experience has gained control of extensive interests, while at the same time he has demonstrated the thorough worth and high standing of the company. He is today one of the most prominent factors in real-estate circles in Cleveland. But though his interests in this connection are most extensive and important, his resourceful ability has enabled him to become equally prominent and influential in other lines and he is now associated with some of the leading corporations of this city and state. He is the president of the Manufacturing Realty Company, the Cleveland & Illinois Mining Company, the West Godyke Mining Company and the Cleveland, Alliance & Mahoning Valley Railroad Company. He is also the

------- --

857

HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

vice president of the Electrical Building Company, located at Alliance, Ohio, and the Stark Electric Railway Company, also of Alliance. He is a director of the Northern Timberland Company, which owns lands in the state of Louisiana and is also interested in timberlands in eastern Kentucky and West Virginia. Of the Western Reserve Fire Insurance Company he is a stockholder and thus, operating in various fields, he has risen to the position of prominenece which he now occu- pies as a representative of Cleveland's business men.

Mr. Morison has also been prominent politically. For eight years a represen- tative of the old second ward in the city council, during that time he was president for one term and throughout the period of his incumbency as an alderman he exercised his official prerogative in support of many progressive measures. For three years he was a member of the board of city improvements and in 1887 be- came a member of the state senate, sitting in the legislative councils of Ohio until 1899, when he resigned to accept the position of director of charities and correc- tion under Mayor Rose, which position he filled for two years. He has also been active fraternally, belonging to the Forest City Lodge, No. 388, A. F. & A. M .; Webb Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M .; and Oriental Commandery, No. 12, K. T. He belongs to the Euclid Club and the Second Presbyterian church, while in lines having direct influence upon Cleveland's development he is a member of the Chamber of Commerce. There are few men in this city who have had the wel- fare of Cleveland more at heart or have understood more clearly what is needed for its development and improvement and the opportunities that can be secured for work along this line. Having studied realty values for many years and com- ing constantly into contact with the leading financiers controlling immense capi- tal and securing proper investment for it, Mr. Morison is in a position to give good advice and his influence is a pwerful factor in securing its adoption. His public-spirited devotion to the city is well known and that his efforts have been of far-reaching benefit none question.

AUGUSTUS HARTWELL.

Augustus Hartwell, whose knowledge of and love for horses make him a successful dealer in draft and driving horses as well as liveryman, is conveniently located at No. 7814 Detroit avenue, and has been for three years. He was born in Burling, Massachusetts, September 1, 1862, a son of Daniel P. and Susie Hart- well. The father was born in Clinton, Massachusetts, in 1837, and by trade was a carpenter, working at that occupation all his life.

Mr. Hartwell left the public schools when twelve years old to work on the farm for four years. At the age of sixteen he went to Malberry, Massachusetts, where he was employed in a box factory for four years, and then came to Cleve- land to enter the employ of Dr. Armstrong. When he arrived in this city he had only four dollars and he loaned two of them to a Mr. Barrett. After two years spent with Dr. Armstrong, Mr. Hartwell entered into partnership with Mr. Grosy in a livery business on Mechanic street, continuing for five years in that location, and then moving to the corner of Taylor and Lorain streets, where he carried on business for seventeen years, when he disposed of the livery. Mr. Hartwell then started in business at No. 7814 Detroit avenue, where he has since continued, building up a very large trade, and making a specialty of dealing in horses of all kinds and for all purposes.

On October 21, 1890, Mr. Hartwell married Miss H. Eilenburg of Rochester, Michigan, the ceremony being performed in Cleveland. They make their home in the Mckinley apartments, Eighty-first and Dertoit avenue. Mr. Hartwell is a republican in politics, and a Protestant in religious belief. Fraternaliy he be- longs to the Elks and is on the board of directors for the new building of this

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 85

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