Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 112

Author: Doyle, William B., b. 1868
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Ohio > Summit County > Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens > Part 112

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Mr. Welton was married (first) in New York, to Sarah Stricker, and they had five children, namely: Francis, who is deceased; George W., who lives at Akron; William H. H., also a resident of Akron; John N .; and Ellen E., who is the widow of Andrew Oz- mun, of Bath Township. On March 17, 1852, Mr. Welton was married (second) to Louise Thompson, who is a daughter of Mills and Catherine (Allen) Thompson, who was born at Hudson, Ohio, January 14, 1831. The following children were born to this marriage: Frank E., who is a railroad con- ductor, residing at Akron, married Ella IEan- cock, and they have had three children, Park and Harry, living, and Clara, deceased; Cora A .. who married Walter Hunt, who carries on the home farm, has one son, Elwin Wel- ton; Emma C., who married Ira O. France, residing at Akron; Hattie J., who married Bert Lee, residing in Boston Township, has one child, Chester; Ira Glenn, residing at home; and Jessie and Alice, both of whom are deceased.

The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Welton

was the first physician to settle in Summit County. Mills Thompson, her father, was born at Waterbury, Connecticut, but at the time of his marriage he lived at Akron. Dur ing the building of the Ohio Canal, he was an overseer of a part of the work for a time, but his life was mainly spent as an agricul- turist.

Allen Welton made two trips to Kentucky and Nashville, Tennessee, to visit his sons, who contracted serious illness during their service in the Civil War, and on one of these trips brought his son John home with hin. He had many thrilling experiences, and on a number of occasions narrowly escaped cap- ture by roving bands of guerrillas. A stanch Republican in politics, Mr. Welton was often elected to positions of trust, and served as county commissioner and township trustee. During his long and useful life he was very active in church and charitable movements, and was the founder of the Congregational Sunday-school, which is still in existence in the neighborhood of his former home.

EDWARD ROEPKE, a highly esteemed retired farmer of Portage Township, Sum- mit County, Ohio, whose comfortable home is on the Dayton Street extension, just across from the new Caldwell school, was born No- vember 10, 1841, in Zemmen, Prussia, and is a son of William and Frederica (Dittben- ner) Roepke.

Edward Roepke was reared to manhood in his native country. During his youth he worked as a hired man on a farm, receiving twenty-two dollars per year and his board, and also spent two years as a waiter in a pri- vate house in Berlin, for which service he re- ceived four dollars per month, his board and washng.

When he was twenty-one years of age, with his parents and their other children, Mr. Roepke started for America, from Hamburg, Germany, in the sailing vessel Washington, and after a voyage of fourteen weeks landed · at Quebec, Canada, in September, 1862, In April, 1863, they removed to Ottawa, where

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the men of the family endeavored to secure employment on the new Government build- ings being erected there, but failing in this they came to Akron, Ohio, Mr. Roepke hav- ing seen in an advertisement that men were needed in the construction of the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad. On arriving in this city difficulty with the language embar- rassed them as none of the family could read or write in English, nor could they speak or understand it with the exception of an oc- casional common word. They already had suffered misfortune. Their passage had been paid to Akron by way of Oswego and Cleve- land, but between Hudson and Akron they lost all of their belongings. even their bed- ding and household effects, which they had brought that far from Germany, and their sole possessions were the clothes they wore. However, here the father and five sons found work, each receiving eleven shillings per day for eleven hours' labor. After three months, they entered the employ of George Wolven as quarrymen, and here their wages were one dollar and fifty cents for ten hours' work, and they continued for two years working in the quarries. In 1864, Albert Roepke, the second eldest brother, enlisted in the Sixth Ohio Cavalry, and served nine months in the Federal Army, and as in addition to his monthly salary of sixteen dollars he received a bounty of $500. he felt almost rich, and hastened to better the family fortunes. With this sum four acres of land were purchased in Akron, on which was situated a stone quarry, and Edward and Albert Roepke and a half-brother, William Moss, engaged in business, the firm going into debt for an ad- ditional $500. The stone quarry was oper- ated for five years, stone selling at one dol- lar per load, and at the end of this time they engaged in contracting, and Edward Roepke was made superintendent of the business. which proved very successful. Later this land was sold off in lots and Edward Roepke pur- chased a farm of 108 acres in Portage Town- ship, on which he built a fine house and barn and engaged in general agricultural pursuits,

although he still continued his contracting operations, and did much road construction work for the county. In 1900, Mr. Roepke sold his farm and took a trip to California, where he remained several months. After re- turning to AAkron, he went to Detroit, Michi- gan, where he spent three summers, his win- ters being passed in Florida. In November, 1905. the present Mrs. Roepke purchased from Robert Turner the lot on which they now reside. at Cuyahoga Falls, and Mr. Roepke erected here a beautiful home, in which they have since lived.

In 1864 Mr. Roepke was married (first) to Caroline Myers, who died in 1894. She was a daughter of Ernest Myers. To this union there were born eleven children, as follows: Charles, who lives at Akron ; Rosa, who is the wife of John H. Rice, of Mansfield, Ohio; Edward 1., who is in the fertilizing business at Akron : Emma, who married Richard Dohl. a stove and furnace merchant of Ravenna. Ohio: William, whose death occurred An- gust 31, 1905: Clara, who is the wife of L. B. Jennings, a baker, of Ravenna, Ohio: George, who for three years was a member of the United States Army in the Philippines; John, who lives at Ravenna, Ohio; Mary, who is the wife of Adam Fichter, an architect of Akron ; Ida, who is a stenographer at Mans- field. Ohio; and Ilarry, who also resides in Mansfield. In 1905 Mr. Roepke was united in marriage with Henrietta Huge.

Mr. Roepke has been much interested in public matters in his township, and for nine- teen years served on the School Board, and for four years in the office of road superin- tendent. He is a Republican and is Town- ship Committeeman of his party. He is an excellent example of a self-made man.

JOHN M. FOUSE, general farmer and well-known citizen, residing on his valuable farm of twenty-five acres, which is situated on Dan Street, just east of the city limits of Akron, and in Portage Township, was born in Lake Township, Stark County, Ohio. Oe-

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tober 7, 1851. He is a son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Gaerte) Fouse.

Frederick Fouse was born on the old Fouse homestead in Stark County, which his father, John Fouse, bought from the Government, when he came as a young man pioneering in Lake Township. He was a native of Blair County, Pennsylvania, and died on the farm he had worked so hard to secure and improve when his son Frederick was three months old. His widow remained on the farm which consisted of 140 acres, where she reared her two children, Frederick and Savilla, the lat- ter of whom later married Isaac Madlem, and is now deceased. Grandmother Fouse subse- quently came to Portage Township, where she lived until her death, at the age of eighty- seven years ..

As soon as Frederick Fouse attained suf- ficient strength and judgment he took upon himself the management of the farm and when he reached manhood, he married Eliza- beth Gaerte, who was a daughter of Jacob Gaerte and was reared in Lake Township. All of their nine children were born and reared on the Stark County farm, as follows: Malinda, who married Philip Fulmer, resides in Portage County; John M., of Portage Township; Reuben, Jacob, Edward P., Mil- ton W., Fernando and William F., all reside in Portage Township; and Ira, who died at the age of twenty-seven years.

In 1873, Frederick Fouse sold the farm in Stark County and bought 107 acres in Sum- mit County, John M. Fouse's farm being a part of this tract. Mr. Fouse lived on his new purchase until his death in January, 1884. He erected new buildings and im- proved his land in many ways. His widow survived until April, 1904. They were worthy people in every way and enjoyed the esteem of all who knew them.

John M. Fouse was trained in agricultural pursuits from his boyhood and has never turned his attention to any degree to anything else. For twenty-eight years he was in the milk business and had an Akron route, but in January, 1907. he discontinued his dairy.

He married Susan Royer, who is a daughter of Abraham Royer, of Stark County, and they have a fine, intelligent family of ten children, namely: Bertha, Aquilla, Austin J., Fred- erick, Clarence, Claude, Mabel, Floyd, Gladys and Elva. The eldest son, Aquilla Fouse, married Edna Sprague, and they have three children : Ruth, Helen and Harold.

When the home farm was divided at the time of the father's death, John M. Fouse purchased twenty-five acres of the land, which is exceedingly valuable on account of being so desirable for city building extension, to- gether with the buildings, the substantial barn having been put up in 1880, and the fine frame dwelling, in 1881.

Mr. Fouse is one of the recognized lead- ing men of the township and is a member of the Board of Education together with the following prominent citizens: John Mc- Dowell, president, Roland Koplin, W. W. Washburn and Abner Caldwell. Mr. Fonse belongs to the order of Pathfinders.

FRANK A. WILCOX, capitalist, who has been a resident of Akron since 1882, is exten- sively engaged in a general contracting and real estate business here and is identified with a large number of the successful enterprises from which the city has gained its name as an important commercial center. He was born at Richfield, Summit County, Ohio, May 17, 1852, and is a son of Dr. J. C. Wil- cox, one of the county's pioneers.

Frank A. Wilcox remained at Richfield until he was eighteen years of age, securing his preparatory education there, and then en- tered Oberlin College. Here he was gradu- ated in 1878, and immediately afterward be- gan the study of law in the office of T. E. Burton, at Cleveland, Ohio. After one year there he accepted the position of superintend- ent of the schools of Glenville, which he filled for three years. Mr. Wlicox then bought the abstract books of Summit County and from 1882 to 1898, he did the abstract, real estate and insurance business which is now controlled by the firm of Bruner. Good-

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hue & Cook, being associated the most of the time with A. H. Noah. He still retains an interest in the business. He was then secre- tary of the India Rubber Company for one year, and in 1899 took charge of the Penn- sylvania Rubber Company, serving as vice- president, treasurer and general manager. He remained with this company until March 1, 1907, and is still on its board of directors. Mr. Wilcox is now engaged in a general con- tracting and real estate business. His large real estate interests occupy much of his time. He is a stockholder in the Akron Selle Com- pany and in other concerns, being treasurer and general manager of the Arcturus Lithia Springs Company.

In 1893, Mr. Wilcox was married to Della M. Doyle, who is a daughter of the late Wil- liam B. Doyle. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox lost an interesting little son, Doyle, who died at Erie, Pennsylvania, aged but six years. They have one daughter, Margaret, and an adopted daughter, Elizabeth L.

While residing at Glenville, Mr. Wilcox served as a member of the City Council, and from 1885 until 1887, he served on the Akron City Council. He was the founder of the order of Maccabees at Akron and is past mas- ter of the order here, and he is also past grand of Akron Lodge, No. 547, I. O. O. F., and was sent as a representative to the Grand En- campment of the state of Ohio. He belongs also to the Akron lodge of Elks. At Jean- nette, Pennsylvania, he united with the First Presbyterian Church. Akron has few more progressive, enterprising and public-spirited citizens than Mr. Wilcox.

CLINT W. KLINE, Clerk of Courts, was born in Green Township, Summit County, Ohio, January 14, 1860; he is the second son of David and Elizabeth (Chisnell) Kline, now living in Greensburg, Ohio.

Mr. Kline was reared on his father's farm and obtained the usual country school edu- cation ; subsequent to this he was a student in the Akron High School, and was a student at Buchtel college and also at Hiram college.

At the age of seventeen he began teaching country schools, which profession he followed for seven years, after which he took a course in stenography at Springfield, Ohio.

In 1885 he came to Akron and engaged in the retail grocery business with his brother, Oliver J. Kline, under the firm name of Kline Bros., which partnership continued until 1903 when Mr. Kline entered upon his duties as Clerk of Courts, thus terminating the partner- ship.

Mr. Kline has always been a Republican and has always been active in local politics, having served as chairman of the Republican City Central Committee for a number of years and vice-chairman of the Summit County Executive Committee. In 1895 he was elected to the Board of Education from the famous Old Fourth ward, the Democratic stronghold of the city, in which capacity he served during 1895 and 1896; he did not stand for re-election, having received the Re- publican nomination for member of the Gen- eral Assembly of Ohio.

Mr. Kline was elected to the office of Clerk of Courts at the election of 1902 and assumed his duties as such in 1903; in 1905 he was re- elected to a second term, which will expire in August, 1909. Mr. Kline is connected with a number of our banking institutions and is vice-president of The Dime Savings Bank. He is also a stockholder in a number of Akron's flourishing enterprises.

In 1886 Mr. Kline was married to Minnie E. Burnham, a popular teacher of the Akron public school; they have two children, Vera B. and Helen B. Mr. Kline is prominent in fraternal matters, affiliating with a great many fraternal bodies.

CHARLES TSCHANTZ. a highly es- teemed citizen of Portage Township, Sum- mit County, Ohio, who resides on the old Good farm and is engaged in farming and dairying, was born September 21, 1855, in Switzerland, and is a son of John and Chris- tina Tschantz, both of whom died in the old country. Charles Tschantz was reared in his

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native country, where he received a good edu- cation, his father being a school teacher, and at the age of sixteen years he came to Amer- ica, locating at once on the farm of Abe . Mosier in Wayne County, Ohio. After re- maining there for two years Mr. Tschantz removed to Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where for two years he worked in a dairy, and subsequently went to Putnam County, Ohio, where he lived for seven years. After his marriage, Mr. Tschantz went to Ashta- bula, Ohio, where he continued to reside for six years, and in 1897 located on the old Sacket farm in Copley Township. Two years later he purchased forty acres of land in Cop- ley, where he resided for three years, at the end of which time he purchased a residence and ten building lots in Akron. Mr. Tschantz removed to his present home in 1899, and in 1905 purchased thirty acres of land, which he farms in connection with the 298 acres that he rents from Edward Good. He makes a specialty of dairying, having for this pur- pose a herd of from twenty-five to thirty finely bred cattle.

Mr. Tschantz was married in Putman County, Ohio, to Anna Vungunton, and to this union there have been born seven chil- dren: Lena, who married Allen Wright; William, who married Margaret Hodgson, and has one child, Buelah Margaret; Otto, who resides in Oregon ; John, also a resident of Oregon : Charles, who lives at home: Anna, who is a stenographer of Akron: and Lizzie. With his family Mr. Tschantz attends the Christian Church.

C. H. PALMER, who is identified with a number of Akron's greatest business enter- prises, is still in the vigor of middle age, hav- ing been born in 1850. in old Middlebury, now. Akron, and is a son of Albert and Ann Elizabeth (Hoye) Palmer.

Stephen Palmer, the grandfather of C. II .. was one of the earliest manufacturers of this section. He established a fanning mill factory which his son, Albert Palmer, con- tinued to operate until about 1850, in which

year he to went to Tennessee, where, for a time he was engaged in the same business. In early manhood, Albert Palmer was a school teacher. He still survives, and resides -

at Akron, having reached his eighty-third year, while his wife has rounded out her seventy-seventh.

C. H. Palmer was educated at Kingsville Academy. He was only twelve years old when he was sent out on his father's wagon, to sell matches, and thus from boyhood he has been connected with the great corporation now known as the Diamond Match Company. From the humble position of match boy, Mr. Palmer, through diligence and industry worked his way up, step by step, through the different grades of service until he now occu- pies the responsible positions of vice-president and general superintendent of the Diamond Match Company, as well as a director in the same. Mr. Palmer is largely interested in many other flourishing enterprises of this prosperous city and section. He is president and director of the Granite Clay Company; treasurer and a director of the Akron Smok- ing Pipe Company ; a director of the First Na- tional Bank of Akron; a director of the Bar- berton Savings Bank, at Barberton, and other concerns of less magnitude.

In 1876, Mr. Palmer was married to Ma- rion Peckham, who was born, reared and edu- cated at Middlebury, and who is a daughter of Thomas II. Peckham, one of the earliest set- thers at Tallmadge, Summit County. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have one son, Thomas A., who is manager of the Barberton branch of the Diamond Match factory, and vice-presi- dent and a director of the Granite Clay Com- pany. He was educated at Case's School of Applied Science. Mr. Palmer is a member and one of the trustees of the First Church of Christ, at Akron.

WILLIS G. MARSHALL, a well-known citizen and general farmer of Norton Town- ship, residing on his farm which lies one-half mile north of Johnson's Corners and about one-half mile south of Norton Center, was

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born on this farm, in Summit County, Ohio, March 2, 1855, and is a son of Robert G. and Louisa (Vickers) Marshall.

Robert Marshall was born in Perry County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Jo-eph Mar- shall. He came to Summit County as a young man and after his marriage bought the farm on which Willis G. resides. Both he and wife died on this farm. They had twleve children, Willis G. being the youngest of the family.

Willis G. Marshall was reared on this fine old farm and went to school at Norton Center. In- 1878 he was married to Mary S. Betz, a daughter of Alvin D. Betz, and she was reared within a half mile of the farm on which Mr. Marshall grew up. They have three children -Roy G., Leonard E., and Nellie M. The eldest son is foreman of the hose room of the Rubber Products Company, at Barberton. He married Mabel Cooper and they have three children-Ethel M., Cloyd C., and Ruth I. Leonard, the second son, is also employed in the Rubber Works. He married Doxie Tawney. Miss Nellie resides at home. Both sons have built and are living on the place, which is now the West corporation limit of Barberton.

Following his marriage, Mr. Marshall lived for two years at Norton Center, and then moved to a farm south of Johnson's Corners, on which he remained for four years. He then moved to Wayne County, for a three years' residence. He moved back to Norton for one year and then returned to Wayne County, where he remained for fourteen years. In the spring of 1902, he bought the old home farm and has carried on agriculture here ever since. For three years he also car- ried on a dairy, but has discontinued that in- dustry. The family is one that is very highly respected in this neighborhood.

IRVIN R. MANTON, superintendent of factory No. 3, Robinson Clay Product Com- pany, at Akron, has been connected with this large business enterprise ever since he com- pleted his education, and his industry, ca-

pacity and fidelity have contributed in full measure to the success of the concern. Ile was born at Akron, Ohio, January 24, 1874, and was educated in the schools of Akron, with three years of instruction at Saltsburg, Pennsylvania. After completing his school studies he entered the factory of the Robin- son Clay Product Company, of which he has been superintendent for the past four years. Ile has engaged rather extensively. also, in the breeding of fine horses, at present own- ing about fifteen head, they possessing quali- ties which make them exceedingly valuable.

On April 5, 1898, Mr. Manton was mar- ried to Fredericka Wiekdal Hurxthal, a member of one of the old and substantial families of Canton, Ohio. They have one child, Laona. Mr. Manton is a member of the First Presbyterian Church. He has nu- merous social connections, being a member of the Portage Country Club, the Canton Coun- try Club, and the Gentlemen's Driving Club of Akron.

IRVING C. RANKIN, M.D., specialist in surgery and diseases of women, is a leading practitioner at Akron. He was born at Akron, Ohio, in 1871, and is a son of George T. Rankin.

Following his graduation from the Akron High School, in 1888, Dr. Rankin entered the Syracuse University, where he was graduated in 1892 with his degree of Bachelor of Phi- losophy. He received his Master's Degree in 1894. In 1895 he was graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, and after serving one year as an interne in the Allegheny General Hos- pital, at Allegheny, Pennsylvania, he located at Akron, in 1896. He has been in con- tinuous practice in this city ever since, with the exception of a part of the year 1904, which he spent at Berlin and Vienna, tak- ing a post graduate course in the famous medical institutions of those cites. Dr. Rankin is gynecologist of the Akron Hos- pital, and surgeon for a number of the large industries of this city, notably, the Quaker

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Oats Company, the' Northern Ohio Traction and Light Company, and the Taplin and Rice Company. He also carries on a general prac- tice. He is a member of the Summit County, the Ohio State, the Cleveland, and the North Eastern Medical Societies. For three of the eleven years in which he has been engaged in practice at Akron, Dr. Rankin served as city physician. On November 1, 1898, Dr. Rankin was married to Lena J. Schreuder, of Syracuse, New York. Dr. Rankin retains membership in his Greek letter college frater- nity, the D. K. E .; also belongs to the Ma- sonic order.

JOHN W. PAYNE, city engineer at Akron, was born at Port Clinton, Ottawa County, Ohio, in 1857, and like many other men now in professional life, was educated in the district schools and was reared on the paternal farm.

When Mr. Payne decided to adopte civil en- gineering as his profession he entered the en- gineering department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and was graduated in 2883, with his degree of a working Bache- lor of Science. Following his departure from the university, he worked for the Govern- ment. for two years, on the Mississippi River survey, and for two years on the Missouri River. The death of his brother, who had been in the dry goods business at Port Clin- ton, recalled him to that city and he took charge of that business, removing to Akron, Ohio, in 1887, and disposed of it in 1894. In 1892, he first began work in the city en- gineer's office as assistant, and continued in that capacity until 1899, when he was made city engineer, an office he has filled ever since.

In 1886, Mr. Payne was married to Martha A. Orchard, of Lima, Ohio, and they have two children, William A. and Mildred. The lat- ter resides at home. William A. Payne is a student in the engineering department of the University of Michigan. Mr. Payne and family belong to the Woodland Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee.

He has been prominent for a number of years, in the order of Odd Fellows, is a mem- ber of the Encampment, and belongs also to the Pathfinders. Formerly he was president of the Ohio Engineering Society and still re- tains his membership.

ELMER I. McCAMAN, whose excellent farm of 100 acres is situated in Coventry Township, about two and one-half miles southeast of Barberton, is a native of Summit County, Ohio, and was born on the banks of Long Lake, in Coventry Township, August 30, 1871. He is a son of Elihu and Louisa W. (Foust) McCaman.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 112

Author: Doyle, William B., b. 1868 Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1150

Author: Doyle, William B., b. 1868
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1150