USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Cuyahoga County and the City of Cleveland, (Vol. 3) > Part 29
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Doctor Zinner is a popular member of the Cleveland Academy of Medicine, and is actively identified also with the Ohio State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He is affiliated with Army and Navy Post No. 54, American Legion, and takes deep interest in this splendid Cleveland organization.
In December, 1917, was solemnized the marriage of Doctor Zinner and Miss Erma Brobst, who was born at Brimfield, Portage County, Ohio, a daughter of William and Caroline (Catline) Brobst, both deceased. Doctor and Mrs. Zinner have a fine little son, Theodore Lee, who was born February 22, 1919, and who has much of autocratic sway in the attractive home circle.
ALDEN BUERKIN HARE. Since his university career and his service in the navy during the World war, Alden Buerkin Hare has had time in which to achieve definite recognition among the business men of his native City of Cleveland. Though only twenty-seven, his indomitable energy and judgment have put him among the leaders in the real estate field.
Mr. Hare was born at Cleveland April 7, 1897, son of William A. and Wilhelmina (Buerkin) Hare. His mother's people came from Baden, Germany, about 1865 and located in Wood County, Ohio, where her father was a farmer. William A. Hare was born in Cleveland, in 1867, and is of English and Irish ancestry. As a youth he attended West Point Military Academy, studied engineering, and for many years has been a building contractor. He was formerly associated with local politics with the late Tom L. Johnson. He is also a veteran of the Spanish-American war, having been on duty in Cuba.
Alden Buerkin Hare was liberally educated, attending the Mayfield grade schools, East High School and graduating from Shaw High School in 1914. He then entered Ohio State University, graduating in 1918. Immediately after graduating in June he went into the service as a second class seaman of the navy and was immediately transferred to the Great Lakes Officers Training School. "He remained there three months, and after passing a successful examination for Officers Mate- rial School was given two months' training at the Municipal Pier in Chicago, was then assigned to Pelham Bay for two months, and went
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on convoy duty out of New York and back for four weeks. On the United States Steamship "Republic" he was shipped to Cuba and Chili, South America, and on June 4, 1919, returned to New York and was granted his honorable discharge. Mr. Hare returned to Cleveland July 4, 1919, and the same day saw Dempsey knock out Willard at Toledo.
For a few months after the war Mr. Hare had charge of the sales of the Paco Chemical Company, and is still a stockholder in that cor- poration. He was also associated with the Building Service Company, general contractors, and from there entered the real estate field with the Van Sweringen Company, his success with that organization encour- aging him to go into business for himself.
Mr. Hare's first notable achievement was his execution of his ideas of forming Lyndhurst Village out of Mayfield Township and Euclidville, and subsequently he opened up and developed Lyndhurst Manor. About that time he incorporated the Alden B. Hare Company, with his father, William A. Hare, president; M. Hare, vice president, and Alden B. Hare, secretary and treasurer. The Lyndhurst Manor developed by this organization is one of the most perfect residence subdivisions around Cleveland. The Alden B. Hare Company is now a company offering every facility of service, including allotment and subdivision develop- ment, real estate brokerage, financing, architectural division and construc- tion. Mr. Hare has kept in view throughout the idea of making his company an auxiliary factor in city planning and a thoroughly public service medium. It is the company's policy at all times to place its real estate operations on a high professional scale. Through the Building Service Company in which Mr. Hare is also a stockholder, a large number of fine homes and business structures have been constructed in and around Cleveland. The company has more recently undertaken projects in Youngstown and Toledo, which will run to a value of around a million dollars.
Mr. Hare has been an active member of the realty board. He is a member of Glenville Masonic Lodge, and of Navy Post No. 54, Amer- ican Legion; is affiliated with Americus Lodge, Knights of Pythias, belongs to the Ohio State University Chapter of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and is a member of the Aviation Athletic Club and the Business Men's Club. He is a Lutheran in religious belief, and a republican.
WILLIAM ROBERT POWELL is a Cleveland architect, and by education and experience is deeply versed in both the ancient and modern technique of the art. His offices are in the Rose Building, and he is a native of Ohio.
He was born at Radnor, in Delaware County. His father was John Powell, a native of Llanafan, Breconshire, Wales. The grandfather was owner of three small farms in Breconshire, but in 1845 sold his property and with his wife and two children came to America, landing at Phila- delphia. After a short time he proceeded westward by wagon and team to Newark, Ohio, where he opened a general store. His goods bought in New York were brought west by canal and lake. He conducted a successful business there for two years, then moved with his family to Radnor, Ohio, where he continued as a merchant.
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His two children were John and Margaret Powell. John Powell acquired his first advantages in the schools of Wales, and afterward attended public schools at Newark, and also Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. He was a teacher, and later became associated with his father in business at Radnor, a village located on the old Indian trail that passed through Delaware County. He conducted his business there until his death in 1902. John Powell married Sarah L. Watkins, who was born at Radnor, Ohio, in 1846. Her father, William Watkins, a native of Llanervil, Wales, came to America as a young man and located in Delaware County, Ohio. He was a pioneer in that district, and estab- lished his home on the old Indian trail where he purchased a tract of timberland. He was a cabinet maker by trade, and used his skill in making furniture, since all furniture was then made by hand, and he also did much building construction as a carpenter. Mrs. John Powell was one of eleven children, and is the only one now surviving. She became the mother of four children, named William Robert, John Wat- kins, David Harvey and Edward K.
William Robert Powell was well educated, first attending the public schools at Radnor, then spending two years in the Oberlin Preparatory School and two years in the Case School of Applied Science at Cleveland. Following that he was graduated from Columbia University, and then spent two and one-half years as a student in the School of Fine Arts at Paris. On returning to America he located at Cleveland, where as an architect he has gained a high standing in his profession. He is a member of the Beta Theta Pi college fraternity and Hiram Lodge of Masons at Delaware.
JAMES BARNUM SAVAGE became a resident of the City of Cleveland in the year 1869, and in the passing years he here built up one of the largest and most important general printing establishments and enterprises in the Ohio metropolis. His interests ever centered in his home and his large and prosperous business, he had no desire for political activity or public office, but in a quiet and unassuming way he stood exponent of the most loyal and public-spirited citizenship and of personal rectitude that marked him as the object of unqualified popular confidence and es- teem in both business and social life. He was one of the veteran and honored business men of Cleveland at the time of his death, which occurred February 3, 1922.
Mr. Savage was born at Saratoga Springs, New York, July 25, 1841, and was a son of James and Eunice (Barnum) Savage, who were residents of Cleveland at the time of their death. Mr. Savage received in his youth the advantages of private schools in his native state, and was nineteen years of age at the inception of the Civil war. He soon received appoint- ment as assistant paymaster in the army, and in this capacity he continued his effective service until the close of the war. He then received appoint- ment to the position of collector at the port of Shreveport, Louisiana, and while he was absent from home his parents had in the meanwhile estab- lished their residence in Cleveland. In 1869 he here visited his parents, and while here he formed the acquaintance of Scott Robison, who owned and conducted a general commercial and job-printing establishment. Mr.
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Savage returned to Shreveport, but later in the same year he came again to Cleveland, where he purchased an half interest in the printing business of Mr. Robison. About two years later he assumed full controll, by pur- chase of the interest of his partner, and eventually, while continuing sole owner, he found it commercially expedient to incorporate the business, to which was then applied the title of the J. B. Savage Company. At the time of allying himself with this enterprise Mr. Savage had no tech- nical knowledge of the printing business, but his powers of absorption and assimilation came effectively into play, he familiarized himself with the various details of the business, and by his energy and progressive policies eventually developed one of the largest and most modern general printing establishments in the city. Erecting a six-story brick and stone building at 1395 Third Street, 50,000 square feet of floor space, and employed about 150 people. He built up a business of broad scope and unqualified financial solidity. In this establishment he provided the best of facilities for the handling of all kinds of commercial printing, book and catalogue work, etc., and the invariably efficient service was the basis on which was built up a large and important business. Mr. Savage always maintained his establishment free from union domi- nation, and as an "open shop" his place gained its corps of loyal and efficient employes, many of whom had been there engaged for many years prior to the death of the honored proprietor.
Mr. Savage was an appreciative student and reader during the course of his entire adult life, and became a man of broad intellectuality and mature judgment, even as he stood sponsor of high ideals in all of the relations of life. His political allegiance was given to the republican party, he was a member of the Union Club of Cleveland, and was an earnest member of Saint Paul's Church, Protestant Episcopal, as is also his widow.
On the 9th of November, 1886, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Savage and Miss Mary Tisdale, daughter of the late George A. Tisdale, to whom a memorial tribute is dedicated in the following sketch, so that further review of the family history is not here demanded. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Savage has retained control of the business which he built up ably and faithfully, and her attractive home is at 3410 Euclid Avenue, she having been reared in the family home on this same avenue, but in a locality that is now given over to business. Mr. Savage is not survived by children.
GEORGE A. TISDALE gained prominence and influence as one of the early executive officers in a pioneer fire-insurance company in the City of Cleveland, and later made his technical ability and administrative resource- fulness distinctly potent in the development of the business of the Mer- cantile Insurance Company of this city, of which he continued the secretary and manager until about a year prior to his death, ill health having been the cause of his retirement. Aside from the success and prestige gained by Mr. Tisdale, it is pleasing to record that those who knew him remember him as a man of noble and well poised character and most gracious per- sonality. Without desire for political activity or public office, he wielded the benignant influence of a loyal and progressive citizen, and had a secure
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Lemmy. A. Tisdale.
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place in the confidence and good will of all who knew him, as business associate, as friend and as man among men. His strength was as the number of his days, and he was one of the venerable and honored citizens of Cleveland at the time of his death, in 1893, at the age of seventy-two years.
At Sacketts Harbor, at the foot of Lake Erie, in Jefferson County, New York, George A. Tisdale was born October 3, 1821, a son of George L. and Amelia Maria (Graham) Tisdale, the former of whom was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, and the latter in Dutchess County, New York, and were representatives of families early founded in America. Mr. Tisdale received good educational advantages, as gauged by the standards of the locality and period, and was a student in an excellent school at Caze- novia, New York, at the time of his father's death, in 1838. As a young man Mr. Tisdale made an extended tour through the West, and in April, 1852, he established his permanent home in Cleveland, where he became secretary and treasurer of the Commercial Mutual Insurance Company. He continued his able and successful administration of the affairs of this corporation until, like many others, its business was swamped by losses entailed in connection with the great Chicago fire of 1871, and it passed out of existence. Within a short time thereafter, with virtually the same directorate as that of the former company and with Mr. Tisdale as secretary, treasurer and manager, the Mercantile Insurance Company was incorpo- rated with its general offices in Cleveland. Concerning the connection of Mr. Tisdale with this corporation the following record has been given: "This position he held until a year or so before his death, when failing health made it necessary for him to retire from active life. By reason of this enforced retirement, the Mercantile Insurance Company decided to liquidate the business while Mr. Tisdale was still able to manage its affairs. Thus he had the satisfaction of seeing his life work brought to a successful close after nearly forty years of strict and unremitting attention to business. He may be called a pioneer in the insurance business of Cleveland. He was well known along the shores of the Great Lakes as a man who was thor- oughly informed in both fire and marine insurance, and he was also con- sidered an authority in the matter of insurance law."
Mr. Tisdale was a stalwart advocate of the principles of the republican party, was distinctly liberal and public-spirited in his civic attitude, was kindly, tolerant and considerate in all human contacts, was a loyal steward in his support of charitable and benevolent work and agencies, and made his life count for good in its every relation. He and his wife were earnest communicants of St. Paul's Church, Protestant Episcopal, in which he served many years as a member of the vestry and of which he was senior warden at the time of his death. His widow survived him a number of years, and her memory is revered by all who came within the sphere of her gentle and gracious influence. The family home was maintained for more than thirty years in that section of Euclid Avenue that is now the business center.
In his old home town of Sacketts Harbor was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Tisdale and Miss Caroline M. Burt, and their surviving child is Mrs. James B. Savage. Miss Caroline A. Tisdale died November 13, 1919. To the late James B. Savage a special memoir is dedicated in the preceding sketch.
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CLARENCE SHERIDAN METCALF, of Cleveland, was born at McCon- nelsville, Morgan County, Ohio, September 17, 1878, and is a son of Frank F. and Ada (Wynn) Metcalf, both likewise natives of that county and respectively of English and Scotch ancestry. That the Metcalf family was founded in Morgan County in the early pioneer days is assured by the fact that Joseph Metcalf, grandfather of the subject of this review, was likewise a native of that county, where his parents settled in 1805 or 1806, upon removal from one of the eastern states. Thomas Wynn, maternal grandfather of Mr. Metcalf, entered service as a loyal soldier of the Union in the Civil war, and sacrificed his life in the cause, as he was killed in battle.
Frank F. Metcalf became one of the prominent lawyers and influential citizens in his native country, where he was for many years established in the practice of his profession at McConnelsville, the county seat, and where he served as prosecuting attorney of the county. He died in the year 1887. His widow resides in Cleveland.
After leaving college Clarence S. Metcalf went to Columbus and took a position in the offices of the Hocking Valley Railroad. Later he was employed in the offices of the Sunday Creek Coal Company at Columbus, and in Ohio's capital city he still later held the position of auditor of the Bruce Electric Company. His next clerical incumbency was in the offices of the auditor general of the state, and the auditor, Mr. Gilbert, thereafter assigned him to special service as traveling auditor of the electric light and water plants of the state, while still later he was assigned to service as examiner of city accounts.
In 1916 Mayor Davis appointed Mr. Metcalf commissioner of accounts for the City of Cleveland, and in 1920 he was appointed director of finances for this city, an office from which he retired January 1, 1922, upon change of the municipal administration.
In 1921 Mr. Metcalf became one of the organizers of the First Savings & Loan Company of Cleveland, of which he was elected the first presi- dent. He resigned this office in the spring of 1922, when he became treasurer of the Fidelity Mortgage Company. The year 1922 recorded him also as a director of the Cleveland Chamber of Industry, and he is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Exchange Club. In May, 1924, he was elected secretary and treasurer of the public library, elected by the library board. Mr. and Mrs. Metcalf are zealous members of the Old Stone Church, in which he is serving as a deacon, and he is also affiliated with Roosevelt Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
In Columbus was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Metcalf and Miss Alice Boltman, daughter of the late C. F. Boltman, of Columbus. Mr. and Mrs. Metcalf have three daughters: Margaret, Frances and Alice.
JOHN G. TOMSON, superintendent of streets for the City of Cleve- land, was born at the family home on Pearl Road, now in the City of Cleveland, March 17, 1879. His grandfather, Martin Tomson, was born in France and after his discharge from the French army came to the United States and bought a farm in Wyoming County, New York. In 1860 he moved to Iowa, where he spent his last days. Barney Tom- son, father of John G., was born in Wyoming County, New York, in
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1845. In 1861, at the age of sixteen, he enlisted, and performed his first duty as a soldier as body guard for General Scott, and subsequently was with the One Hundred Eleventh New York Cavalry in continuous and hard service in the Army of the Potomac, participating in Gettys- burg and other battles. At the close of the war he returned to Warsaw, Wyoming County, New York. He had served an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade, and after the war he set up in business as a carriage maker and blacksmith. In 1870 he removed to Cleveland, purchasing property on Pearl Road, then a partially settled region, where he operated a blacksmith shop and conducted it until he retired from active life. He died in 1910. His wife, who was Pauline Schneckenberger, was born in Switzerland in 1845, and came to America when seventeen years of age in company with her brother Jacob. Barney Tomson and wife reared six children: Edward, Albert W., Barney W., Lydia (wife of Jack Healy), John G. and Otto.
John G. Tomson attended public schools at Cleveland, but at the age of thirteen was working to earn his own living, and he also learned the trade of blacksmith. He engaged in business as a general blacksmith and horseshoer, with shop on Carnegie Avenue, and continued there until 1910. In that year he was appointed assistant to the superintendent of streets, serving one year, and was then made superintendent of sidewalks during Mayor Bayer's administration. For four years he resumed his business as a blacksmith, until January 1, 1916, when Mayor Davis appointed him commissioner of streets, with offices in the City Hall. He has been retained in that office continuously, having charge of street repair and street cleaning and street permits.
Mr. Tomson married in 1902 Miss Louise Westfall, a native of Switzerland and daughter of John Westfall. She died at Cleveland, November 3, 1916, leaving one daughter, who was born September 26, 1903. Mr. Tomson married at Cleveland, November 8, 1917, Miss Carrie MacTavish, daughter of Alexander and Ella (Jorson) MacTavish. Her father was a lake captain.
Mr. Tomson has been prominent in republican politics, serving as president of the Western Reserve Club, a republican party organization, and he represented the Twenty-first Ward in the city council in 1911. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, John Corwin Chapter No. 205, Royal Arch Masons; Forest City Commandery No. 39, Knights Templar ; Al Sirat Grotto No. 17; Al Koran Temple of the Mystic Shrine, is past chancellor of Forest City Lodge Knights of Pythias, past dictator of Cleveland Lodge of Moose, and a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Lakewood Lodge of Elks.
JAMES MATHEW SELISKAR, M. D. Not a few physicians of foreign birth have attained high standing at Cleveland, and among these none are held in greater esteem than Dr. James Mathew Seliskar. The career of this physician has been what may be spoken of as remarkable, for not alone has he risen to distinction in the ranks of his profession in a city in which such a position denotes the possession of much more than ordi- nary abilities, owing to the presence of so many practitioners of splendid
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talents, but he has also advanced himself to a prominent place among the bankers of the city, being president of the North American Banking and Savings Company.
Doctor Seliskar is a native of what is now Jugo-Slavia. He was born in Laibach, a city of that country, June 10, 1880, a son of the late Joseph and Gertrude Seliskar. The father died in the old country, while the mother came to America after her husband's death and passed away at Cleveland. Doctor Seliskar was seventeen years of age when he came to the United States, settling at St. Paul, Minnesota, where several of his relatives were living. In his native town he had acquired the rudi- ments of an education, and after some preparation he entered St. Thomas' College, St. Paul, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts as a member of the class of 1900. He followed this with a course in philosophy at St. Paul's Seminary, St. Paul, and after a year spent in the study of medicine at the University of Minnesota, in 1903 he came to Cleveland and entered Western Reserve University. He was graduated therefrom in 1905 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and during the remainder of 1905 and a part of 1906 served as interne at the Cleveland City Hospital. On completing this preparation he embarked upon the practice of medicine and surgery, with an office at 6129 St. Clair Avenue, where he has since continued. Doctor Seliskar is a thorough master of his profession and keeps himself fully abreast of all of its advancements, devoting a large part of his time to study and research when not busily engaged with his large and constantly growing practice. He is an active and valued member of the Cleveland Academy of Medicine, the Ohio State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and bears an excellent reputation in the ranks of his calling.
Aside from his profession Doctor Seliskar is one of the well-known bankers of Cleveland, and is president of the North American Banking and Savings Company, one of the strong junior banks of the city. This institution was organized and chartered in 1920 by the doctor and the following associates: Frank Paulin, vice president; John Breskvar, vice president; Frank Jaksic, secretary and manager, and August Haffner, treasurer. The bank was capitalized at $125,000, and in four years' time its surplus has grown to $125,000, while it has over 6,000 depositors, whose deposits amount to $3,000,000. The bank is a member of the American Bankers Association. Doctor Seliskar belongs to the Knights of Columbus, and his religious connection is with St. Jerome's Catholic Church.
Doctor Seliskar married Miss Fredericka Kline, a daughter of Henry Kline, of Medina, Ohio, and to this union there have been born the following children: James Frederick, John A., Elizabeth, Paul Joseph, Richard Thomas, Carl and Mary Catharine. The pleasant and attractive family home is located at 17820 Nottingham Road, Cleveland.
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