USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume III > Part 88
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C. E. THOMPSON
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hundred and fifty men. Almost his entire business experience has been in electrical lines and from each connection he has mastered the lessons therein to be learned and passed on better equipped for the duties that were to devolve upon him in a new position. He has thus become a man of marked ability in his line, occupying a foremost position in electrical circles as the general man- ager of the Electric Welding Products Company.
On the 3d of January, 1900, Charles E. Thompson was married to Miss Maora H. Hubbard, a daughter of Jerome and Leanna Hubbard, of Kipton, Ohio. Mrs. Thompson died September 21, 1903, leaving a son, Edwin Groot, born October 30, 1900, in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Thompson finds his chief sources of pleasure and recreation in motoring, golf and yachting. He belongs to the Lakewood Yacht, the Cleveland Athletic, the Hermit and the Singers Clubs, where he finds pleasant associations with men of congenial tastes. His politi- cal views concerning the questions and issues of the day are in accord with republican principles and his religious faith is that of the Episcopal church, his membership being in St. Paul's.
JOHN SHERWIN.
John Sherwin, president of the First National Bank of Cleveland, the largest bank in the state of Ohio, has been connected with the banking business since his boyhood, his first position being with the old National City bank as messenger boy. He worked his way up through various grades of promotion and finally was made cashier of the National Bank of Elwood City, Pennsylvania. Remaining there for two years, he returned to Cleveland to organize the old Park National Bank, of which he was made cashier and director. This was later consolidated with several others into the First National Bank of this city. It is one of the strongest and largest financial institutions of the state and has just taken posses- sion of new quarters erected in 1909 on Euclid avenue. This building, owned by the bank, is a magnificent structure, perhaps the finest of its kind in the United States.
President Sherwin has every reason to be proud of what he has accomplished in the evolution of his bank. He is one of the youngest bank presidents in the country. His long experience and excellent judgment fit him for his position, while his connections are such as to insure an immense volume of business as well as absolute security for the depositors. He is one of the promoters of The Northern Texas Traction Company, of which he and George T. Bishop were trustees for the stockholders; was also one of the promoters of the Washing- ton, Baltimore & Annapolis Traction Railroad; and has been associated with many other large ventures. Mr. Sherwin is a member of the Union, the Gen- tlemen's Driving and Tavern Clubs, is president of the latter, and is very promi- nent in social life. He is a notable example of the energetic, forceful men of today, who although young in years are old in their experience of existing con- ditions and the demands of the restless, exhausting twentieth century civilization.
HARLAN POMEROY, M. D.
There has been much fantastic theorizing as to the cause of success, but care- ful analyzation will in every instance show that progress is secured through per- sistent and intelligently directed industry and the fit utilization of one's innate talents and powers. The highest success, however, is not that which can be achieved in material ways, but which is a factor in the world's advancement, and while Dr. Pomeroy has received substantial recognition of his ability in his
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chosen field of labor, the profession acknowledges its indebtedness to him for original ideas that have proven of practical benefit in advancing the great work of the medical fraternity.
A native of Strongsville, Ohio, Dr. Pomeroy was born June 27, 1853. His father, Alanson Pomeroy, a native of Massachusetts, came to Ohio in 1819 and located in Strongsville, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, while later he gave his attention to mercantile lines until his death, which occurred in 1877 when he was seventy-two years of age. He was a lineal descendant of Eltweed Pomeroy, who came from England in 1630 in the ship "Mary and John" and settled at Dorchester, Massachusetts. The name of Pomeroy as borne by his descendants has been an honored and conspicuous one throughout successive generations. The origin of the family has been traced, according to a recent genealogy of the Pomeroy family, without a break through long lines of war- riors and barons of England and Normandy to Sir Ralph de Pommeraie, 1030 -1066, chief-of-staff to William the Conqueror and his companions on the bat- tlefield of Hastings. In the division of the Saxon lands in England to the com- panions of the Norman Duke, Sir Ralph received as his proportion large estates in Devonshire and Somerset. The family coat of arms bears the inscription, "Virtutis fortuna comes." In the maternal line Dr. Pomeroy is a representative of one of the old families of Strongsville, Ohio, his grandparents having set- tled there at an early period in the development of that part of the state. His mother, who bore the maiden name of Kezia Pope, was a native of Massachu- setts and died in Strongsville in 1893 at the advanced age of eighty-four years.
Dr. Pomeroy spent his boyhood in Strongsville, his time being devoted to clerking in his father's store, to work upon the home farm and to attendance at the public schools, wherein he pursued his education to the age of seven- teen, when he entered Oberlin College. There he remained for five years, from 1870 until 1875, though during the winter of 1873-4 he taught a district school in Columbia, Ohio, and his more specifically literary learning served as a substan- tial foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of professional knowledge when, in 1876, he came to Cleveland and entered the Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College, where he continued his course until his graduation in 1879. He received the "Diploma of Honor" for highest scholarship in the class. He has remained throughout the intervening years a close and discriminating stu- dent of the profession and has constantly broadened his knowledge through experience as well as reading and investigation. His ability has carried him into important professional relations and has brought him to a prominent position as a distinguished representative of the medical fraternity in Cleveland. During the summer following his graduation he acted as house physician at the Protes- tant Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, and in the winter of 1879-1880 pursued a post- graduate course in the Bellevue Hospital College in New York city. In 1892 he attended Professor Pratt's course in orificial surgery.
In the spring of 1880 Dr. Pomeroy located in Cleveland for the general practice of medicine and surgery but has devoted his attention principally to internal medicine and obstetrics. Conscientious in all that he does, most careful in the diagnosis of his cases and readily understanding the relation of cause and effect, he has achieved distinction as one whose professional labors are in the main attended with splendid results. He is frequently called in consultation by other members of the medical profession.
Moreover, Dr. Pomeroy is well known in connection with the educational work of the homeopathic school. He was the lecturer on materia medica in the Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College from 1881 until 1884, when he be- came a member of the faculty, being elected professor of physiology, hygiene and sanitary science, occupying that chair until 1891. In the year designated he was chosen professor of obstetrics. He has also been dean for the Training School for Nurses of the Huron Street Hospital since 1894 and a member of its faculty since its inauguration in 1884. He has done much hospital work of an
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important and varied character. He was attending physician to the Good Sa- maritan Dispensary for two years ; was attending physician to the Dorcas Invalid Home from 1885 until 1894; was for several years attending physician to the Bethany Home for Invalid Children; is one of the consulting staff of the Ma- ternity Hospital and was its first attending physician after its establishment. He is also physician to the Actors' Fund of America, to which he was appointed in October, 1888, representing Cleveland in that organization. He is one of the examining physicians for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, having been appointed in 1895, has been a member of the American Institute of Homeopathy since 1885; and a member of the Ohio State Homeopathic Medical Society, of which he was treasurer from 1887 until 1890; and belongs also to the Cleveland Homeopathic Medical Society and was one of the founders of the Cleveland University of Medicine and Surgery, acting as its treasurer for sev- eral years after its establishment. He was president of the Homeopathic Col- lege, was also secretary of the Cleveland Academy of Medicine for a time and a member of the old Medical Round Table Club. He is likewise a member and one of the council of the Cleveland Medical Library Association and since 1880 has served continuously as secretary of the Homeopathic Hospital Society and has been a member of the medical staff during that period, was secretary of the staff for several years and was elected president of the staff of Huron Road Hospital in 1909.
Dr. Pomeroy is perhaps equally well known as a contributor to medical litera- ture, for he has written for the Homeopathic System of Medicine and for sev- eral journals, and is the author of literature on the medical use of electricity, of which he has made a special study for more than twenty years. He has like- wise prepared articles for publication on the subject of nursing, all of which are recognized as of value to the profession and to the laity. There is perhaps no profession so little commercialized as is the practice of medicine and Dr. Pom- eroy stands as an able exponent of the tendency of the time, which is to prevent rather than to cure disease through the general inculcation of knowledge con- cerning sanitary and health conditions.
Aside from his practice Dr. Pomeroy is a director in the Cleveland South- western & Columbus Electric Railway Company and is connected to some extent with other business enterprises. He is also interested quite largely in Cleveland real estate and has a fine home at No. 1934 East Seventy-fifth street, also own- ing the old homestead at Strongsville, which he occupies as a summer residence, finding interest and recreation in conducting agricultural pursuits there through the summer months.
On the 20th of December, 1880, Dr. Pomeroy was married at Elyria, Ohio, to Miss Frances L. Pomroy, a daughter of R. W. and Lodema Pomroy, of that place. Her father has been engaged in merchandising and in the insurance business at Elyria for forty years or more. Mrs. Pomeroy is active in social, church and charitable circles, her interest in her own friends never precluding her active labor for the unfortunate ones of the world. Dr. and Mrs. Pomeroy have a son and daughter: Dr. Lawrence Alson Pomeroy, who was born in 1883, was graduated from the Cleveland University School, from Yale College and from the Western Reserve University Medical College and is now interne in the Lakeside Hospital; and Gertrude Mary, who was born in 1893 and is a student in the Hathaway-Brown school for girls in Cleveland.
Dr. Pomeroy has always affiliated with the republican party and his fraternal relations are with the Masons, his membership being in Forest City Lodge, No. 388, F. & A. M .; Webb Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M .; and Oriental Conmmandery, No. 12, K. T. He belongs to the Union Club and is a member and trustee of the Plymouth Congregational church. He has traveled in Europe, spending sev- eral months in visiting places of modern and historic interest abroad and also in visiting numerous medical centers and clinics, thus coming into touch with the most modern methods of the eminent practitioners of the old world. His
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life is broad in its scope and its purposes, and high in its ideals. Continuously striving toward perfection, his ability has carried him far beyond the ranks of the many to stand among the more successful few, and today as practitioner, educator and author of medical literature he is well known to the profession.
REV. ALEXANDER NICOLESCU, D. D.
Dr. Alexander Nicolescu, cooperator pastor of St. Helena's church of Cleveland, was born in Gyergyo-Tolgyes, Transylvania, in Hungary, July 6, 1882, a son of John and Helen (Dobreau) Nicolescu. The father was born at San Miclaushul-Roman, Hungary, in 1839 and died in 1889. In 1863 he wedded Helen Dobreau, who survived him for about seven years, passing away in 1896.
Their son, Alexander Nicolescu, acquired his education in the elementary church schools of his native place between the ages of six and nine years, after which he entered the lower gymnasium at Szasz-Regen, there continuing his studies to the age of fourteen. He afterward spent two and a half years in the upper gymnasium at Blaj (Balassfalva), after which he went to Rome and at- tended the Propaganda Fide College and Polyglotta University, from which he was graduated in 1899 with the Doctor of Philosophy degree and in 1903 with the Doctor of Divinity degree. He was ordained to the priesthood at Blaj, Oc- tober 30, 1904, by Archbishop Victor Mihalya, an archbishop of eastern India, and held his first mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Baj, October 31, 1904. He afterward spent one year in the chancery office in Blaj and for two years and three months was professor of moral and pastoral theology in the Archiepiscopal Seminary in Blaj. On the expiration of that period Dr. Nicolescu came to America, in January, 1908, on two years' leave of absence and accepted the pastorate of St. Helena's church during the absence of the regular pastor, Father Epaminondas Lucaciu, D. D., who had been granted a leave of absence to organize a parish among the Hungarians of Aurora, Illi- nois. Father Nicolescu is doing good work in Cleveland in the extension of the Catholic influence in the district of the city where he is located.
VICTOR E. LOWE.
While many men win success, the number is yet so small as compared to the great majority, that the record of such a one is worthy of comment and atten- tion, indicating, as it does, the course that is followed in order to win advance- ment. The record of Victor E. Lowe is that of one who, recognizing his own capabilities and powers and utilizing his advantages and opportunities, has reached a prominent and creditable position in the business circles of Cleveland, being now secretary of the Comey & Johnson Company.
He was born in this city, December 24, 1872, a son of Chester and Evelyn Lowe. At the usual age he entered the public schools, wherein he pursued his studies to the age of fifteen years, after which he had the further advantage of a year in an electrical institute at Hillsdale, Michigan. Returning to Cleveland, he secured a position as bookkeeper with the Nickel Plate Railroad Company but after six months he left to go with the Ammon & Stevens Company, whole- sale milliners. For four years he held a responsible position in that house and following the failure of the firm, he became a commercial traveler in the employ of Renwick Brothers, wholesale milliners of Pittsburg, with whom he con- tinued for a year. He next engaged with Comey & Johnson and in 1905, upon the death of Mr. Johnson, was elected secretary of the business, which was re- organized under the name of the Comey & Johnson Company. Mr. Lowe has
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been very successful in all his business operations and has every reason to be proud of what he has accomplished.
On the 20th of May, 1894, Mr .Lowe was married in Clyde, Ohio, to Miss Mary L. Thorpe, and they have one son, Chester N., a bright little lad of twelve years, who is attending the public schools. The family reside at No. 4139 East One Hundred and Fourteenth street. Mr. Lowe belongs to Bedford Lodge, No. 375, F. & A. M .; Summit Chapter, No. 74, R. A. M .; and Oriental Commandery, K. T., thus taking the highest degree in the York Rite. His vote and his influ- ence are always cast for the candidates of the republican party but he has ever been too occupied with business affairs to take active part in public matters. He is widely and favorably known and has many friends not only in this state but throughout the east.
GEORGE PIERCE WELCH.
A successful business career covering a period of forty-four years has brought George Pierce Welch to a prominent position in the commercial circles of Cleve- land where, as vice president of The Sterling & Welch Company he is conduct- ing an extensive business in carpets, rugs, furniture, and interior decorations. He was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, October 12, 1841, and after mastering the branches of learning that constituted the curriculum of the public schools there entered Williston Academy at Williston, Vermont.
On the 20th of August, 1862, when twenty years of age, he responded to his country's call for military aid and joined the boys in blue in Company D, Tenth Vermont Infantry. He was promoted to sergeant major January 1, 1863, and on the 3d of March, 1864, was commissioned second lieutenant, while on the 9th of August, 1864, further promotion made him first lieutenant of Company K. He took part in the campaign at Arlington Heights and was ac- tively engaged in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Spottsylvania Court House, Bloody Angle, North Anna River, Topopotomy, the battles around Cold Harbor, Bethesda Church and before Petersburg. He was present in the engagement at Weldon Railroad, at Ream's Station and Snicker's Gap, was in Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley campaign and participated in the battles of Stras- burg, Summits Point, Charlestown, Leetown, Smithfield, Opequan, Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Mount Jackson and Cedar Creek. On the 19th of October, 1864, he was severely wounded at Cedar Creek and because of disability caused by the wounds received in action was honorably discharged on the 5th of January 1865. On the 19th of May following he was reappointed first lieutenant and adjutant of the Tenth Vermont Infantry and was mustered out at Washing- ton, D. C., June 28, 1865.
Mr. Welch at once returned to his home in New England, and in September of the same year came to Cleveland, where he has since been engaged in busi- ness. For a brief period he was in the employ of others and in 1867 became a partner in the carpet, drapery and rug house of Beckwith, Sterling & Company. This subsequently became The Sterling & Welch Company with Mr. Welch as vice president, in which position he has since continued. Theirs is the largest exclusive carpet, rug and drapery house in the state and their annual sales reach a large figure, while their stock contains fine specimens of domestic and foreign manufacture. Mr. Welch is also a trustee of the Society for Savings and is interested in other financial and business enterprises, all of which profit by his sound judgment, business insight and unfaltering enterprise-qualities that have made him a leader in the commercial activity of Cleveland.
On the 25th of June, 1873, at Woburn, Massachusetts, Mr. Welch was mar- ried to Miss Maria Howard Oliphant, a daughter of James W. and Maria (Mc- Allister) Oliphant, of that place. Mrs. Welch died March 1, 1905, leaving a
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son, Henry James, who is associated with his father in business. The family residence is at No. 8806 Euclid avenue.
Mr. Welch gives his political endorsement to the republican party but has never been an aspirant to office. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and is interested in its various movements for municipal progress. He is a member of the Union, Country, Colonial and Euclid Clubs. On the 5th of December, 1883, he was elected by the Ohio Commandery a member of the Loyal Legion No. 122, Insignia No. 2036, and a few years ago was elected senior vice com- mander of the order.
Such in brief is the life history of George Pierce Welch, one of the best known merchants of Cleveland, having a military and business record that any man might be proud of. He has never made engagements that he has not kept nor incurred an obligation that he has not met. The methods that he has fol- lowed in his career commend him to the confidence, good will and thorough re- spect of his business associates and contemporaries.
ABNER H. BEDELL.
Abner H. Bedell, who is a conspicuous figure in the business and social life of Cleveland, was born in Shalersville, Ohio, July 29, 1872, and is a son of H. C. and Sarah L. Bedell. The father was well known in insurance circles, for he had established an important business in that line in Cleveland. He died about twenty years ago, and his wife is also deceased.
In the public schools of Cleveland Abner H. Bedell obtained his education, and when he put aside his text-books he became associated with Mr. Stafford, who, after the death of Mr. Bedell, Sr., had bought the insurance business he had established. He has since been connected with that firm and as the years have passed he has steadily advanced on the road of success. He was made a member of the firm of O. M. Stafford & Goss Company, who deal in general insurance and have offices at 601-607 Century building, and became secretary and treasurer of the company. He was also made treasurer of the Coventry Road Land Company, of Shaker Heights, and in February, 1910, was elected president of the Cleveland Fire Insurance Exchange.
Mr. Bedell is a well known figure in the club life of Cleveland. When the Athletic Club of this city was organized he was elected treasurer and in this capacity has been instrumental in enlarging the scope of its activities and pro- moting its success, while he is also conspicuous in the life of the Hermit, Union, Euclid and Mayfield Country Clubs. During the Spanish-American war he served as quartermaster in the Tenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry with the rank of captain and previously had been paymaster of the Ohio Battalion Naval Reserves. In exercising his right of franchise he steadfastly adheres to the principles of the republican party, ever casting his ballot for its men and measures but has never cared to enter the arena of public life. A man of unquestioned integrity, of energy and of business sagacity, he is also endowed with those attractive so- cial qualities, among which may be mentioned his geniality and tactfulness, that make him popular among the constantly increasing circle of his friends.
ERNEST J. BAGNALL.
Ernest J. Bagnall, a prominent and well known representative of the busi- ness interests of Cleveland, has for the past ten years acted as manager of the Adams-Bagnall Electric Company at No. 7218 Stanton avenue. He was born in Wednesbury, England, on the 5th of August, 1855, his parents being Thomas
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and Hannah Bagnall. The maternal grandfather, John Johnson, who was like- wise a native of Wednesbury, England, passed away in 1868. He was actively engaged as a mining operator throughout his entire business career. Thomas Bagnall, the father of our subject, was born in Sherfield, England, on the 31st of December, 1824, and in the year 1858 crossed the Atlantic to the United States. From New York city he made his way to Troy, New York, and there followed farming for about a year, when he came to Cleveland, Ohio. Here he devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits until the time of his retirement in 1906, winning a gratifying measure of success in his farming operations.
Ernest J. Bagnall obtained his education in the public schools of Cleveland, Ohio, and Vineland, New Jersey, continuing his studies until he had attained the age of seventeen years. Returning to Cleveland at that time, he was here en- gaged in business as a florist for a year and later began work as an apprentice for the Novelty Iron Works, with which concern he remained for five years. Subsequently he was with the Cleveland Machine Company for two years and afterward had charge of the machine shop of the Brush Electric Company for five years. At the end of that time he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he leased the electric lighting plants, successfully operating the same for ten years. On again returning to Cleveland he organized the Adams-Bagnall Electric Company, of which he has served as manager for the past ten years, and under his capable direction the business has been gradually expanded and de- veloped until it is now one of extensive proportions.
As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Bagnall chose Miss Anna M. Dutton, whom he wedded in this city. She is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William P. Dutton and granddaughter of Jacob and Susan Dutton, early settlers of Cleveland and prominent "Friends." Mr. and Mrs. Bagnall are the parents of three children, as follows: Alonzo E., who is manager of a poultry farm in New Jersey ; Ethel M., who is now attending the Ogontz Private School at Ogontz, Pennsylvania; and Walter D., fifteen years of age, who is a student in the University school of Cleveland. The family residence is at No. 2049 East One Hundredth street.
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