A history of Cleveland and its environs; the heart of new Connecticut, Part 4

Author: Avery, Elroy McKendree, 1844-1935; Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago, New York The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 904

USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Cleveland and its environs; the heart of new Connecticut > Part 4

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His birth occurred in Scotland, March 10, 1808, and he died at his home on Superior Street, where he had lived continuously for twenty-seven years, November 8, 1883, when past seventy-five years of age. He was reared and educated in his native land and immedi- ately after his marriage in 1833 came to America and in 1842 removed to Cleveland. His first home in this city was an old frame house that still stands on St. Clair street near Perry street.

Alexander McIntosh was an expert nur- seryman and conducted a business which sup- plied fruit and ornamental trees throughout Cleveland and a large section of Northern

Lembrou · Swassy

CLEVELAND AND ITS ENVIRONS

Ohio. He was very capable as a gardener and also as a landscape artist and made that his business until 1873, when he retired.

Ostentation was no part of his character, but in a quiet effective way, characteristic of the true Scotchman, he did much that may be estimated as of public value. Politically he was a democrat of the old school. Different positions of official responsibility and honor were thrust upon him and he might have held many other offices had he so desired. In 1849 he was elected from the old second ward to the city council. At that time Flavel V. Bing- ham was mayor, William Case was president of the council, and among his colleagues were such well known old timers as D. W. Cross, Arthur Hughes, Azariah Everett and Abner C. Brownell. At that time Cleveland had a bicameral system of government, with a board of aldermen as well as a council. The city had only three wards. During the second year of Mr. McIntosh's service in the council Wil- liam Case was mayor and Alexander Seymour president of the council, and other aldermen and councilmen were John Gill, L. M. Hovey, William Given, George Whitelaw, Buckley Stedman, William Bingham, Samuel William- son, Arthur Hughes, Abner C. Brownell and Levi Johnson. Alexander McIntosh served in the council for three years. Later he was elected street commissioner and for four years was a member of the board of improvements under Mayors Buhrer and Payne. He was for forty years an active member of the Masonie Order, and his fellow Masons had charge of the burial services.

In the words of a newspaper editorial at the time of his death Mr. MeIntosh "was a man of great force of character, firm in his judg- ment, but not hasty to form an opinion nor seeking to obtrude his views upon others. His integrity was beyond question and he was possessed of these traits of character which command esteem and inspire respect. Truly a good man has been taken from among us.'

In May, 1833, in Scotland, he married Miss Agnes Nicol. She was born in Fedden, Scot- land, and died at the old home at 1090 Su- perior Street in Cleveland September 18, 1892, when nearly eighty-three. Hers was a life of usefulness, of sound health and great vitality and was lived peacefully and happily until its close. As a bride she accompanied her hus- band to America and they lived at Astoria, New York, for five years, removing in 1838 to Twinsburg, Ohio, and to Cleveland in 1842. She is remembered for her charitable deeds as

well as for the ability with which she reared a family of capable sons and daughters. For many years she was an active worker in the Dorcas Society and at one time filled the office of vice president. Eight children were born to their marriage. In order of age they are mentioned as follows: Eliza Maria, who died in infancy; Mrs. J. S. Cleland, who died in Alliance, Ohio, in 1870; Mrs. F. H. Baldwin, deceased ; Mrs. R. W. Teeters, who died in 1916; John L. McIntosh, who at one time served as city elerk of Cleveland and died in 1877; Alexander McIntosh, Jr., a New York City merchant ; Henry P. MeIntosh, president of The Guardian Savings & Trust Company, one of Cleveland's largest banking houses ; and George T. McIntosh, secretary of The National One-Cent Letter Postage Association.

HENRY PAYNE MCINTOSH. The presidency of such an institution as The Guardian Sav- ings & Trust Company of Cleveland carries with it some of the finest dignities and honors of American financial life.

Henry Payne McIntosh, its president, has attained this eminence through a long service. It is a fulfillment of many years of careful and conscientious performance of those duties that lay nearest him at consecutive periods since hoyhood. His has not been a spectacular rise to fortune. There is romance attaching to the careers of all successful business men, but with few exceptions it is romanee of prosaic, unremitting and undramatic industry and fidelity.

Mr. MeIntosh, a son of the late Alexander and Agnes (Nieol) MeIntosh, whose plain and substantial careers have been noted elsewhere, was born at Cleveland October 27, 1846. He acquired his edueation in the Cleveland publie schools. He became a telegrapher when that science was in its infancy and from 1860 to 1868 was in the employ of the Cleveland & Erie Railway Company in its telegraphic department. When he resigned from the rail- way company he was its chief operator. In March, 1868, Mr. MeIntosh moved to Alliance, Ohio, in which city he lived for about twelve years. He became bookkeeper for E. Teeters & Sons, bankers, and was also secretary of the Alliance & Lake Erie Railway Company. Mr. McIntosh returned to Cleveland in November, 1876, to take charge of the business interests of Hon. Henry B. Payne, and retained the management of the extensive Payne properties in this city until he resigned to become presi- dent of The Guardian Savings & Trust Com-

CLEVELAND AND ITS ENVIRONS

pany in 1898, when its resources were about $1,500,000. At present, July, 1917, its re- sources are about $53,000,000.

This banking institution was only four years old when he took charge. It was established and opened for business on December 10, 1894, its first quarters being in the Wade Building at 108 Superior Street. Mr. McIntosh became president of the institution while it was still in that building, and subsequently it was moved to a more commodious structure which it erected at 322 Euclid Avenue. Since Mr. McIntosh became president The Guardian Savings & Trust Company has become one of the largest financial and fiduciary institutions of Ohio. In 1916 it completed a home appro- priate to the strength and resources of the bank. This is known as The Guardian Build- ing. a lofty banking and office structure occu- pying the former site of the New England Building and acknowledged to be one of the finest banking homes in the United States. In this building The Guardian Savings & Trust Company has had its home since December 11, 1916, the removal having been made just twen- ty-two years after the opening of the bank for business in the Wade Building. It has com- plete facilities and resources for every depart- ment of general banking and as a trust com- pany. Its officers and directors comprise al- most a directory of the foremost business men and capitalists of Cleveland.

Mr. MeIntosh's position as a financier is directly the result of an ever widening knowl- edge of business conditions gained during half a century of contact with commercial affairs in the Middle West. Besides his office as presi- dent and director of this company he is presi- dent and director of the Cleveland & Eastern Traction Company and the Cleveland & Chag- rin Falls Railway Company, director of the Chicago, Lake Shore & South Bend Railway Company, the Cleveland Metal Products Com- pany, the Cleveland Railway Company, chair- man of the board of directors and director of The Cleveland National Bank ; director of The Hydraulic Pressed Steel Company, The Inter- lake Steamship Company, The Standard Parts Company ; vice president, treasurer and direc- tor of The Standard Tool Company ; president and director of The Trumbull & Mahoning Water Company. He is a member of the American Bankers Association, and during 1909-1910 he served as president of the trust company section of that association.

Mr. McIntosh is one of the leading Masons of Ohio. IIe is affiliated with Iris Lodge No.

229, Free and Accepted Masons, Cleveland Chapter No. 148, Royal Arch Masons, Holy- rood Commandery No. 32, Knights Templar, of which he is a past eminent commander, and is also past right eminent grand commander of the Knights Templar of Ohio, is a member of Elidah Lodge of Perfection, Bahurim Coun- cil, P. J., Ariel Chapter, Rose Croix, H. R. D. M., Lake Erie Consistory, S. P. R. S., Supreme Council Sovereign Grand Inspectors General and has attained the thirty-third and supreme degree of Scottish Rite Masonry with the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States. He is also a member of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, the Country, Masonic, Rowfant, Union and Bankers' clubs and the Old Time Telegraphers' Association.

The family residence is at 7341 Euclid Ave- nue. January 19, 1871, while a bank employee in Alliance, Mr. McIntosh married Miss Olive Manfull, daughter of C. C. and Hannah J. (Shonrds) Manfull. Mrs. McIntosh died March 14, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. McIntosh were active members of the Calvary Presbyterian Church, in which he has long been an official, while Mrs. McIntosh found constant oppor- tunity to exercise her charitable deeds through the church and also through other local organ- izations, particularly the Dorcas Invalids' Home and the Home for Aged Women. In politics Mr. MeIntosh is a democrat, though a voter for the best candidate regardless of party and never an aspirant for public honors. He and his wife were the parents of six chil- dren : Ralph, deceased ; Fanny, who married John Sherwin, president of The First National Bank of Cleveland ; Alexandrine, who married Robert D. Beatty, secretary and general man- ager of The Cleveland & Eastern Traction Company; Olive Marie, wife of Edwin H. Brown, vice president of The General Alumi- num & Brass Manufacturing Company; Henry Payne, Jr., now one of the vice presi- dents of The Guardian Savings & Trust Com- pany ; and John Manfull.

HENRY PAYNE MCINTOSH, JR., vice presi- dent of The Guardian Savings & Trust Com- pany, is one of Cleveland's young men of col- lege training and prominent social affiliations who have made a notable success in business affairs. Mr. McIntosh is a son of Henry Payne and Olive (Manfull) MeIntosh, of whom reference is made on other pages of this work.

Mr. MeIntosh, Jr., was born at Cleveland November 23, 1884. He was educated in the

CLEVELAND AND ITS ENVIRONS

University School of Cleveland and completed his training in the Wharton School of Eco- nomies at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of Sigma Chapter of the Zeta Psi of Philadelphia.

During several vacations and while still in college Mr. McIntosh was employed as a mes- senger in The Guardian Savings & Trust Company. From college he went directly into the bank, in the real estate department, and for several years served as assistant real estate officer. In April, 1916, he was made assistant secretary of the bank and in July of the same year was promoted to vice president.

Besides his active official relations with this bank Mr. McIntosh is vice president and di- rector of The Hydraulic Pressed Steel Com- pany, secretary and director of The General Aluminum & Brass Manufacturing Company, treasurer and director of The Cleveland Brass & Copper Mills Incorporated; and is also a director in the following well known institu- tions: The Cleveland National Bank, The Standard Parts Company, The Standard Tool Company, The Cleveland & Eastern Railway Company, and The Cleveland & Chagrin Falls Railway Company.

For three years Mr. McIntosh was a member of Troop A of the Ohio National Guard. He is a member of the Union Club, the Hermit Club, the Country Club, the Cleveland Cham- ber of Commerce, the Cleveland Bankers Club and Cleveland Automobile Club.

February 19, 1908, he married Miss Isabel Strong, daughter of Harry B. and Jennie (Gregory) Strong of Cleveland. Her father is a member of the firm C. H. Strong & Son, general contractors. Mr. and Mrs. McIntosh have two children, both born in Cleveland, Henry P. MeIntosh III, and Gregory Strong McIntosh.

CHARLES FRANCIS BRUSH. Cleveland will always take a special pride in the fact that the first successful application of the electric fluid to the illumination of streets, and the first successful application of electric power to the propulsion of street cars was performed in this city. This pride is heightened by the fact that the inventor and scientist responsible for both these achievements was born in the environs of Cleveland and has made this city his home all his life.

The early home of the Brush family was in Euclid Township of Cuyahoga County. There Charles Francis Brush was born March 17, 1849. His parents were Col. Isaac Elbert and

Delia Wisner (Phillips) Brush. Mr. Brush is thoroughly an American. His first American ancestor in the paternal line, Thomas Brush, came from England in 1652 and settled near Huntington, Long Island. In the maternal line huis lineage goes back to Rev. George Phillips, an Episcopal clergyman who came with Governor Winthrop and settled near Boston in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. Col. Isaac E. Brush was a manufac- turer of woolen goods in Orange County, New York, but after he came to Ohio in 1846 fol- lowed farming near Cleveland.

Charles F. Brush was educated in the pub- lic schools of Cleveland. While in high school he invented a device for automatically turn- ing off the Cleveland street lights. His apti- tude for scientific studies was pronounced from early yonth. While a student in the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in 1869, he pursued special courses in scientific and technical lines, and was grad- uated with the degree of mining engineer. Because of his subsequent distinguished serv- ices MIr. Brush has been the recipient of many honorary degrees. His alma mater conferred upon him the degree master of science in 1899 and doctor of science in 1912. He was given the honorary degree doctor of philosophy by Western Reserve University in 1880 and LL.D. in 1900, and has the honorary degree doctor of laws from Kenyon College.

After his university degree Mr. Brush lo- cated at Cleveland and for three years was an analytical chemist and consulting expert and from 1873 to 1877 was engaged in the iron ore and pig iron industry. He took up the study of electricity from a practical stand- point in 1873. He soon invented a dynamo and from 1877 he devoted his time entirely to the development of electric lighting. The in- candescent electric light had already been given to the world, but its practical utility was confined to the illumination of buildings. Mr. Brush sought to improve upon the prin- ciple of electric lighting so as to adapt it for street illumination. In 1878 he perfected and gave to the world the Brush electric are light.

The first public demonstration of this new light was given on April 29, 1879, when twelve are lights, invented and made by Mr. Brush, flashed their dazzling illumination over the public square in Cleveland. It was a wonder- ful triumph for Mr. Brush, and the arc light's use was rapidly extended, at first in the down- town District of Cleveland, and then to New York and soon all over the world. By 1881

CLEVELAND AND ITS ENVIRONS

the light was introduced into England and on the European continent. The essential prin- ciple of the Brush are light is still retained through all the numerous minor modifications and improvements. In 1880 The Brush Elec- tric Company was formed and a large plant established for the manufacture of the arc lights and of Mr. Brush's other electrical in- ventions.

The first electric motor street car was put in operation at Cleveland July 26, 1884. The car itself was only one of the ordinary horse cars of that period, with a box bolted under- neath containing a dynamo, the invention of Mr. Brush, and a motor from which the power was communicated to the wheels by pulleys. The Brush system of electric propulsion also grew rapidly in favor, though his lasting fame will rest most securely upon his invention of the electric are light.

Recognition of his achievements was not long delayed. In 1881 the French Govern- ment, in recognition of his discoveries in elec- tricity, decorated him as a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. In 1899 the American Academy of Arts and Sciences awarded him the Rumford medal for "the practical develop- ment of electric are lighting." He was awarded the Edison medal in 1913 by the American Institute of Electrical Engineers.

Mr. Brush largely withdrew from the active management of the technical side of his busi- ness in 1891, but has ever since maintained a laboratory at his home and in it he has spent many of his happiest hours. For many years Mr. Brush has been president of The Cleve- land Arcade Company and was organizer and first president of The Linde Air Products Company.

He has contributed numerous papers to scientific societies and publications embodying the results of his investigations, and he has membership in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and of the British Association (life member) of the Royal Society of Arts, the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, the National Electric Light Association, the Archaeological Institute of America, the American Historical Associa- tion, the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, the American Chemical Society, the American Philosophical Society, and the American Phy- sical Society.

Mr. Brush is a trustee of the Western Re- serve University, the Adelbert College, the University School, Cleveland School of Art,

and the Lake View Cemetery. He was one of the incorporators of the Case School of Applied Science, is a warden of Trinity Cathedral, and a member of the Sinking Fund Commission of Cleveland. He is also a life member and former president of the Cleve- land Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Ohio State Board of Commerce, of the Na- tional Board of Trade and of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States. His mem- bership in clubs include the Union Club, of which he was president two terms, the Uni- versity, Country, and Mayfield clubs of Cleve- land; is a member and president of the Winous Point Shooting Club and a member of the University Club of New York City and the Royal Societies Club of England.

Mr. Brush married in 1875 Miss Mary E. Morris, of Cleveland. Their three children are : Edna, Mrs. R. G. Perkins ; Helene ; and Charles Francis Brush, Jr., who graduated from Harvard in 1915.

WILLIAM S. LOUGEE, one of the best known architects of Cleveland, has practiced his pro- fession in this city for over a quarter of a century. Of the architectural profession more than any other, perhaps it is possible to say, "By their works shall they be known." The work of Mr. Lougee at Cleveland can be esti- mated by a large number of practical in- stances, both in public and private archi- tecture.

During 1901-05 Mr. Lougee was assistant architect of the Board of Education. On April 4, 1905, he was appointed deputy inspector of buildings and on March 4, 1907, was made chief building inspector. This office he re- signed at the close of the Johnson administra- tion on January 1, 1910. Thus he gave nearly ten years of his professional service to the school board and the municipality. Most im- portant of the work which he did in this time was the supervision of the erection and com- pletion of the New City Hall.

A more adequate estimate of his professional practice and ideals would be based upon the following partial list of buildings for which he has drawn plans and supervised construc- tion. Of public or semi-public buildings there are Cuyahoga County Criminal Court and Jail Buildings, the Marshall Buildings on the Pub- lic Square, West Twenty-fifth and Lorain, West Twenty-fifth and Denison ; Cleveland and Buffalo and Detroit and Cleveland Boat Ter- minals; The William Edwards Company Warehouse, Factory and Office Building; Wil-

Um S. Jorge

CLEVELAND AND ITS ENVIRONS

liam Edwards Canning Factory; Morgan Lithograph Studio; Royal Motor Car Build- ing; Temple Motor Car Building; the Weide- man Company Warehouse and factory addi- tion; Cadillac Service Station; Loyal Order of Moose Building; St. John's Hospital; Woodland Avenue Bath House; Cuyahoga County Detention Home; Colonial Woolen Mills Factory ; Clarke-Kessler Chemical Fac- tory ; Towell Building; Vlehek Tool Company Factory; Cleveland Bronze and Brass Fac- tory ; D. C. Hnrcheroft Factory ; Osborn-Crew Factory ; Albert Strauss Warehouse; Tacoma Garage; Engine House; Luna Park Dancing Pavilion and Luna Park Skating Pavilion; Park Theater at Youngstown ; Summit-Cherry Market House at Toledo; St. Philomena's Parish House; and Russell Hall Apartments.

William Samuel Lougee was born at Buck- field, Maine, January 29, 1867, son of Samuel C. and Catherine Lougee. He received his early education at Boston, in the common schools and one year in high school, and in 1884 began the study of architecture in the office of Tristram Griffin at 172 Washington Street in Boston. He remained a student and apprentice with Mr. Griffin six years, and in 1890 came to Cleveland and was associated with the well known architect John Eisen- mann until 1900. Following that he became connected with the Board of Education and the city government and since resigning his position as chief building inspector has prac- ticed architecture privately at 500 Marshall Building.

In his office hangs a large fine picture of the late Tom L. Johnson, showing that Mr. Lougee is one of the many followers and ad- mirers of that notable figure in Cleveland politics. He is a democrat, a member of the Athletic Club, the Gentleman's Driving Club, the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, the Loyal Order of Moose, Cleveland City Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and Cleveland Chapter, Royal Arch Masons.

O. P. AND M. J. VAN SWERINGEN are a firm of Cleveland business men with offices occupy- ing the twelfth floor of the Marshall Building on the Public Square. Their stationery bears this simple combination of names, which con- tains little hint of the extraordinary activities and energies which emanate from the com- bination. It is significant, however, that the press and the general public seldom refer to the firm by their exact title but merely as """ the Van Sweringens" or the "Van Swerin-

gen interest." Thus these two young brothers, among the keenest and most resourceful busi- ness men and real estate operators in the Middle West, have attained to that dignity where they are referred to somewhat as an institution or a big corporation, which in fact they are.

These young men began their operations in the local real estate field in 1907. They pos- sessed not only the aggressive energy and ability associated with the ablest men of their class, but more important they had visions and ideals and the power to translate those visions into practical achievement.

It is probably unnecessary to speak here at length of that marvelous transformation and improvement which Clevelanders generally re- fer to as Shaker Heights Village and its immediate connection with the heart of the Cleveland business district. The site chosen for their big work was a tract of wooded and rugged acreage just outside the city limits of Cleveland. It took its name from being occu- pied by a colony of Shakers from 1826 to 1889. Its topography was such that it had never been in the direct line of suburban de- velopment. The Van Sweringens had a vision that it might be made to become in time the fashionable residence district of the sixth city in the United States. Young men, with only a moderate amount of capital between them, and with no influential financial connections, they took their plans to men of money. Men of money are proverbially conservative and practical. They insisted that Shaker Heights was too far from the city and that the land was practically inaccessible by street car or automobile road. The Van Sweringens brought against this argument their indi- vidual faith and enthusiasm and an astonish- ing number of practical arguments. Capital was won over and in time they had platted more than 4,000 acres as a high grade resi- dence allotment. They built two street car lines into the city, gave Cleveland some hun- dreds of acres for public parks, built miles of winding boulevards and started the con- struction work on what has since grown into homes worth millions of dollars. Within fonr years Shaker Heights Village had begun to as- sume the concrete expression of the dreams and visions of the Van Sweringen Brothers.

The site of this village possessed every ideal of situation and topography for the desired purpose. The primary obstacle to its develop- ment was its comparative inaccessibility to the business center of the city. In overcoming

CLEVELAND AND ITS ENVIRONS

this obstacle the Van Sweringens have over- turned all precedence and have achieved their real distinction among real estate operators. The success of the enterprise depended upon real rapid transit connection. The primary route which they desired to utilize was the Nickel Plate Railroad. Unable to get satis- factory terms for the use of this right of way, the Van Sweringens and other associates bought outright the entire railroad. This is probably the only instance in which a group of real estate developers have acquired an en- tire railroad to serve their purpose. They gradually acquired right of way throughout the distance from Shaker Heights Village to the Public Square of Cleveland, and at the present writing the Van Sweringens are erect- ing a large internrban passenger station, freight terminal and hotel on one of the cost- liest downtown sites in Cleveland.

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A history of Cleveland and its environs; the heart of new Connecticut, Part 4

Author: Avery, Elroy McKendree, 1844-1935; Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1918 Publisher: Chicago, New York The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 904

Author: Avery, Elroy McKendree, 1844-1935; Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago, New York The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 904