Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 116

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 116

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Matthias Coffman received his education in the district schools of Berlin Township, and began to teach while still a pupil, completing the term when the regular teacher had been taken sick. He also taught a second term, in Deerfield Township, in Portage County, but when eighteen or nineteen years of age started to work out among the farmers of his section, having a preference for farm work. From 1855 to 1858 he engaged in the manu- facture of pearl and soda ash on his own account, having previously worked for his brother-in-law for three years in the same business, one earried on at that time where land was being cleared to a large extent. In March, 1865, Mr. Coffman enlisted in Com- I any B. 18Sth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and served in the Civil War for seven months in Tennessee, being a faithful sol- dier. Ilis present farm he purchased in 1863, and later he added ten acres thereto, but sub- sequently sold them again, the farm now be- ing its original size. Mr. Coffman has done some dairying, but his attention is given chiefly to general farming. 1le has a circular silo 12 x 24 feet and other substantial build- ings on his farm, which is kept in the finest condition. Ile owns a registered Jersey bull and nine registered Jersey eattle. Mr. Coff- man is a staneh Prohibitionist, and although he has never had politieal aspirations, he has served two years as township trustee. For- merly he was identified with the United Brethren Church. in which he was a class leader for some time, but there is no church of that denomination in this locality now.

On August 16, 1857, Mr. Coffman was married to Sarah Jane Bean, who is a daugh- ter of Henry Bean, of Northampton Town- ship, and to this union there has been born one daughter: Mary Ploney, who is the wife of Nelson Alden Bucklin, who is the pres-

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cnt manager of the farm. Mr. and Mrs. Bueklin have one daughter, Ardis Auverne.

JOHN WALDKIRCH, who is a success- ful general farmer, residing on the old home place of sixty acres of excellent land, which is situated in Coventry Township, was born December 9, 1860, in Norton Township, Sum- mit County, Ohio, and is a son of Christian and Mary (Stortz) Waldkirch.

Christian Waldkirch was born in Germany, where he lived into manhood, when he and his brother, John Waldkirch, came to Amer- ica and both settled in Summit County. Christian found employment in the MeDon- ald Hotel, at South Akron, and later worked on the Van Hyning farm. After his mar- riage he rented a farm in Norton Town- ship and operated that for a number of years or until he was prepared to buy his first farm, which was situated near the reservoir in Cov- entry Township. In the following year he sold that place and moved to Akron, where he was employed in a shop for about eight years, after which he rented a farm on the Copley road, on which he lived for eight years, and then bought the present farm, from Frank Horssler. Christian Waldkirch lived on this farm until the end of his life. He was an in- dustrious, frugal man, who lived at peace with the world, and in dying left a fair estate to his family. His death occurred in August, 1904, at the age of eighty-five years. He married Mary Stortz, who was also born in Germany, a most excellent woman, who died in 1891, aged sixty-seven years. They had four children : Norman, Christian, John and Louisa.

John Waldkirch grew up on the home farm and has always done his full share in develop- ing and improving it. He was educated in the public schools at Akron, but in his boy- hood there was too much to be done on the farm to allow his attendance to be very con- tinuous. The farm was left by the father to to Mr. Waldkirch and his sister Louisa, the latter of whom married Joseph Mitchell. She has three children: Alice, Fred and Ernest.

Mr. Waldkirch is a Republican and always exercises his right of citizenship at the polls, but he has never permitted his name to be used in any contest for office. He is well known in his neighborhood and enjoys the respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens. He is the only one of his family who is unmar- ried.

JOHN K. WILLIAMS, president and gen- eral manager of the Williams Foundry and Machine Company, of Akron, has been a resi- dent of this city for a quarter of a century. HIe was born in 1856, in southern Wisconsin, where he was reared and attended school and later learned the machinist's trade.

In 1882, Mr. Williams was called to Akron to put in the machinery for the Portage Strawboard Company, and the big Quaker Oats mill, on Howard street. He found this city a promising field and in 1884 he started into a machine business for himself, which he carried on until 1897, when the Williams Foundry and Machine Company was incor- porated. The capital stock of this company is $50,000, and the officers of the company are: John K. Williams, president and gen- cral manager; C. H. Williams, vice-president ; and C. Franze, secretary and treasurer. The company does a general jobbing and machine business, giving employment to about seven- ty-five men, and engaging only skilled labor. The plant is a four-story building, 150 by 40 feet, with a foundry attached, two stories in height and with dimensions of 100 by 50 feet. The work turned out from this plant bears the mark of efficiency, and each year the busi- ness is expanded, now ranking with other large enterprises of Akron. In 1882, Mr. Williams was married to Mamie Weston, of Springfield Township, Summit County. Mr. Williams is affiliated with the Masons and the Odd Fellows.

WILLIAM A. WARNER, one of Coven- try Township's most highly esteemed citi- zens, who filled the offices of township treas- urer and treasurer of the Board of Education

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for over a quarter of a century, was born on a farm at East Liberty, Summit County, Ohio, October 5, 1845, and is a son of John and Elizabeth ( Weaver) Warner.

Henry Warner. the grandfather of William 1., came from Maryland to Ohio when a young man, making the journey with ox- teams, and settled near Canton for a short time. subsequently locating in the woods of Coventry Township. His wife and children assisted him in clearing the farm, and here the rest of his life was spent. Indians were numerous in those early days, and they often came to Ilenry Warner's home to beg tobaceo, and provisions. Mr. Warner lived to be seventy-five years of age, passing away while resting in his chair. His widow lived to the same age, dying some years later. Henry Warner was married in Maryland, to Elizabeth Kepler, and to them were born eight sons, all of whom lived to maturity : John, Jacob, Samuel, William, and Abraham survive. Adam, Solomon and Daniel, are de- ceased. Jaeob and William Warner served in the Civil War and they are members of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Jolm Warner, father of William 1., was born on the farm near Canton, Ohio, June 22, 1821, and in boyhood came with the family to Summit County, where he has ever since resided, and has long been a highly respected citizen of Norton Township. Hle is one of the few men still living in the county who helped build the reservoir, on which he worked as a boy. He married Elizabeth Weaver, who was born in Summit County, Ohio, and died in October, 1904, aged about eighty-two years. Six children were born to this union, as fol- lows: William A., Henry, Samuel. Mary. John J., and Adam. Mary died aged five months. When William A. Warner was about three years of age his parents settled on land near his present home, and shortly thereafter the Steese Company opened a coal mine, where he subsequently worked for two and one-half years, after reaching manhood. He grew up on the farm. and being the eldest ehild, much of the work of clearing the place

fell to him. Ilis education was secured in the log schoolhouse, which he attended about four months each year, this affording what was thought to be a good education in those days. Through his hard work in the mines, for which he received two dollars per day, he saved over $600, which he put out at interest. During this time Mr. Warner had been mar- ried and he and his wife went to live on the old home place of his grandfather, a farm of 105 acres, which he cultivated on shares for about ten years, and then purchased. At first he had to be content with the old log buildings then standing, but later he replaced these with some of the finest structures in the township. Ile followed general farming until he retired from active pursuits, when he gave over the management of his farm of seventy-five aeres to his son-in-law, William J. Farriss.

In December, 1865, Mr. Warner was mar- ried to Sarah Spittler. who died May 21, 1905, aged sixty-five years. She was born in Springfield Township, Summit County, Ohio, and two children were born to them, namely : William J., who died when about six months old: and Mary E., who married William J. Farriss.

Mr. Warner is a Democrat. He was first elected treasurer of Coventry Township, in 1880, and has filled that office continuously for the past twenty-five years. His last term expired in December, 1907. when he defi- ritely declined to accept the office again. His long period of official life has been one to which he can look with honest pride through the remainder of his life. With his family, he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church at South Akron.

John Farriss, the grandfather of William J. Farriss, was a native of England who emi- grated to America and settled in Seneca. County, New York, where he died at the age of eighty-five years. Of his family of six children, William Farriss was next to the etdest. He was born in England. and was three years of age when the family came to America. He grew up on his father's farm,

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and when a young man learned the car- penter's trade, at which he worked for a num- ber of years, for a time at Cleveland, Ohio, where he helped to finish the Chadwick home, which has been frequently mentioned in the past few years, in the newspapers, in con- nection with the late Mrs. Chadwick. Later he went back to New York, where he spent sev- eral years. On his return to Cleveland he worked at his trade for a short time, and then settled on a farm in New Portage, Summit County, Ohio. In 1899 he sold this property and retired from active business, and now re- sides at Barberton. William Farriss was mar- ried in Cleveland, Ohio, to Susan Brooker, who was born February 15, 1840, and is a native of Settingborn, England. Mr. and Mrs. Farriss had six children: Carrie, who married Timothy Hunsberger; William James; Nora Jane, who married M. High; John Lewis; Lewis Brooker, who married Blanche Allen; and Susie A., who married H. Werntz.

William James Farriss was born in New York, July 12, 1862, and was about six years old when his parents removed from New York to New Portage, Ohio, and there he grew to manhood on his father's farm.

On December 12. 1889, Mr. Farriss was married to Mary E. Warner, who is a daugh -. ter of William H. and Sarah A. (Spettler) Warner, and four children have been born to this union: Lottie May, who died in in- fancy. June 3, 1891; Sarah Esther, born De- cember 14, 1894; William Albert, born March 20, 1896; and Adela Maude, born June 6, 1898.

For nine years after his marriage, Mr. Farriss resided on his present farm, although for the last three of these he was engaged as a, traveling salesman for the AAkron Cultiva- tor Company. Then for four years he lived on his old family home at New Portage, but at the end of that time returned to the Warner home, which he purchased from his father- in-law, in 1905. He has a fine farm, on which are all the conveniences of a city home, including waterworks, laundry and other im-

provements, these having been put in by Mr. Farriss. He built the first entirely concrete silo in Ohio, and Mrs. Farriss was the first woman in the State to feed a fodder cutter, operated by a gasolene engine. Ilis dairy products are sold to the Buchtel Hotel.

Mr. Farriss and wife belong to the South Main Methodist Episcopal Church and have always taken an active interest in church matters.

HARRY E. LOOMIS, general manager of the National Coal Company, at Akron, with offices in the Hamilton Building, is an old experienced coal man, having been con- nected with this industry for many years. Ife was born at Wadsworth, Medina County, Ohio, in 1860, and is a son of E. G. Loomis, a prominent railroad and coal man, who was a pioneer in the latter business in this section.

Harry E. Loomis worked in the coal mines while still a schoolboy. In 1878 he was made superintendent of three mines of the Silver Creek Mining and Railway Company, of which his father was president and general manager, and during the great miners' strike, proved of great value to the company, with which he continued to be connected for about five years. He completed his education at the Western Reserve College, and in 1880 came to Akron. He then studied law in the office of Attorney L. D. Waters, was subsequently ad- mitted to the bar and practiced for a short time, but then returned to the coal business. For several years he was general manager of the Loomis Coal Company, and then, for several years more, was engaged in the prac- tice of law, but subsequently he again became identified with the coal interests of this sec- tion, becoming secretary and manager of the National Coal Company, which operates three mines in the Cambridge District, having an output of 2,000,000 tons annually. This is one of the most extensive coal mining com- panies in the State and owns the three largest producing mines in the county. Mr. Loomis is interested in other coal companies and coal banks. He is probably as well informed

MR. AND MRS. JOSEPH HILL AND FAMILY

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concerning this important industry as any one in the State, and having made it his main business in life, has the satisfaction of knowing that his efforts have been crowned by sucess.

Mr. Loomis has one daughter, who is the wife of Forrest Firestone, a well-known at- torney at Akron. He is a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Fraternally, he is a Thirty-second Degree Mason and belongs to the leading social clubs of Akron.

JOSEPIL HILL, one of the older residents of Portage Township, yet one of her most act- ive and capable men, owns a large body of land aggregating 250 acres, the larger amount being in Portage and fifty acres in Northamp- ton Township. Ile was born in Vermont, November 30, 1824, and is a son of Tyler and Sallie (Fish) Hill.

In 1836. the parents of Mr. Hill came out to Ohio, crossing the Green mountains and following the road to Albany, taking the canal from there to Buffalo and then the old ship. "Portage," to Cleveland. What a world of adventure came into the lives of these quiet. farming people in this long journey by land and water. At that time there was vet a chance to select excellent land and the father bought 140 acres in Twinsburg and later his children bought 200 acres of the old Stoyer's tract. Both parents of Mr. Hill died on their farm, advanced in years.

Joseph Hill learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade in his youth and worked at it in Solon, while tilling a farmi of 65 I-2 acres. which he had purchased. This land he sold in 1855 and came to Portage Township, where he bought 200 acres, to which he later added fifty acres lying in Northampton Town- ship. A part of his land has been sold to the old Valley Railroad which runs through his farm. When he first came to the place he cut timber and made up rafts and floated them on the eanal to the stave-mill at Akron. but for many years he has devoted himself to general farming and to stock-raising. His first house stood far back on the farm. and it served the purpose of a pleasant home

until he built the fine modern brick house in which he now lives. Mr. Hill's good judgment was shown when he purchased this land with its standing timber. has sold over 15,000,000 feet of lumber off this place.

Mr. Ilill was married, first, to Mehitable Drake, who died September 17, 1888. To this marriage twelve children were born, as follows: Lilly Lonise . who died at Solon, aged six years; Leander, who died at Solon, aged four years; a daughter, Lisa, born at Solon, who died in Portage Township, at the age of five years; Charles, who resides at home; Jesse, who was accidentally killed by a falling tree, at the age of thirty five years ; Isa May, wife of Frank Morris of Akron; Joita Juba, residing with his family on his father's farm, assists in operating it; Schuy- ler, who resides with his family at Akron; Aquilla and George, both of whom live at home; Viva and Francis both died when about thirteen months old.

On March 1, 1889. Mr. Hill married for his second wife Mrs. Rosalie A. Spang, who was born on the old Drake farm in Boston Township, Summit County, but was reared in Hudson Township. She is a daughter of Augustine Warriner and Emily (Drake) Warriner, and the widow of Frederick Spang. Augustine Warriner, father of Mrs. Hill, was born at Chardon, Ohio, and was married to Emily Drake, January 22, 1846. They had four children but Mrs. Hill is the only survivor, and she was born March 6, 1855. She had three sisters, as follows: Delia A .. born April 9, 1847, married Wil- liam M. Russell and died in Missouri. Au- . gust 29, 1904; Amelia Marana, born March 7, 1849, married Lester Squires and died January IS, 1876; and Cecelia Lizzie, born December 8. 1850. married Charles E. Tur- ner. and died in April, 1876. Augustine Warriner died October 4. 1854. in North- ampton Township. He was survived mauy years by his widow, who died May 19, 1890.

By her first marriage. Mrs. Hill had five children. namely: Hendricks Peter. who died in infancy : Emily Henrietta, who mar-

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ried Joita Juba Hill, son of Joseph Hill; Melveda Christian, who died in infancy; Delia May, who married Myron G. Pettit; and Stella Augusta, who died aged ten years, eight months and 26 days. Mrs. Hill has six grandchildren.

To Joseph Ilill's second marriage three children were born, as follows: Adilda, who married Percy J. Horn; Zorada Minerva; and Lettie Viola. Mr. HIill has three grand- children named Morris and three with the name of llill. This is a large, happy and intelligent family, one that is widely known and that occupies a prominent place in the pleasant social life in their neighborhood.

HI. FREDERICK BOLAANZ, general farmer, owning a fine, unincumbered prop- erty of 266 acres, in Northampton Township, is one of the representative men of his sec- tion. He was born in Baden, Germany, Feb- ruary 2, 1853, and is a son of Frederick and Mary (Eng) Bolanz.

The parents of Mr. Bolanz died when he was small and he was reared by relatives who afforded him a common school education. When fourteen years of age he started to learn the florist business which he followed until 1879, when he came to America, his sole capital at that time being $200. He settled first at Wadsworth, Ohio, where a brother was living, and after working on a farm in that vicinity for eighteen months, he entered the employ of Mrs. Hamilton Alexander Cum- mings, of Akron, with whom he continued for five years. ITis salary was $25 a month, and in the period above mentioned he saved $1,200. This is pretty fair proof that he is a man of steadfast purpose and able to exer- cise self-denial. There are others who started out with just as good and even better pros- pects. who are still working for a small monthly salary, probably less than Mr. Bo- lanz pays his help.

In 1886, with the capital that he had earned by his hard work and saved by his prudence. Mr. Bolanz started into the florist business with his brother Julius. under the firm name of Bolanz Brothers. They estab-

lished themselves at AAkron, where they con- tinued until 1899. They owned their own greenhouses and did a good business. In 1893, together the brothers bought the old White farm of 265 acres, and in 1899, II. Frederick Bolanz sold his interest in the florist business to his brother, and bought the latter's interest in the farm, which he has continued to cul- tivate and improve ever since. He devotes 100 acres to hay, wheat, corn, oats and pota- toes, keeps fifteen head of cattle and sends his milk to Cleveland. He raises all the corn he uses for feed and all his own cattle and horses. Ilis farm is well equipped with modern farm machinery and implements, and the land, buildings and rolling stock would bring a large amount of money if ever placed on the market. Mr. Bolanz gives his estimable wife a large amount of credit for his success.

Mr. Bolanz was married to Louisa Ruch, who was born in Baden, Germany, December 28, 1868, and is a daughter of Stephen and Sophia (Wohleb) Ruch, the former of whom was born in Germany, in December, 1822, and died April 6, 1892. He had three chil- dren, namely: Louisa; Sophia, residing at Baden; and Adolph, residing in Hessen, Ger- many. Mrs. Bolanz is a lady of education and prior to coming to America, she was a hospital nurse for six years. She is a con- sistent member of St. Bernard Catholic Church at Akron.

Mr. and Mrs. Bolanz have four children : Frederick Alexander, Marie, Margaret and Henry Nicholas. They are all intelligent, Iright young people, credits to their parents and to their community. In politics. Mr. Bolanz votes independently. He has never sought political office to any degree, but has served as road supervisor. He is a member of the order of Maccabees, at Peninsula, and of the Odd Fellows at Akron.

WILLIAM STEIGNER, whose fine farm of eighty-one acres is partly situated in the city limits of South Akron and partly in Coventry Township, was born July 1, 1856. on the present farm and in the old pioneer

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log house which has recently been replaced by a modern residence. Ilis parents were Jacob and Gotleben (Gans) Steigner.

Jacob Steigner was born in Germany and died in Coventry Township, Summit County Ohio, in 1867, aged seventy-two years. When he came to America he immediately made his way to Summit County and settled at Summit Lake, buying a part of the land from the

Government. It was all woodland at that time and the present busy city of Akron, with its many interests, some of which eneir- cle the world, was represented by just one log cabin standing in a little clearing. Jacob Steigner was a quiet, industrions, persever- ing and worthy man and lived on his farm on which he first settled until his death, at which time he was respected by all who knew him. He was married three times. His first wife died in Germany, leaving two children, Godfrey and Peter, both now deceased. With his second wife he came to America, where she soon died, having borne three children, namely: Elizabeth, who married Park Gear, both deceased; Mary, who married George Swenderman, deceased; and a babe, also de- ceased. His third marriage was to the estima- ble lady who still survives, being now in her eighty-seventh year. She was born in Ger- many and came to' America when eighteen years of age, finding her first employment in a hotel in New York city, from which point she came to Summit County on account of the excellent wages offered. She worked in a hotel at Canal Fulton, where she met Jacob Steigner, whom she later married. There were four children born to this union, namely: Jacob, residing in Coventry Town- ship; William, and two babes that died in in- fancy.

William Steigner has spent a happy and useful life on this fine old farm of fertile fields and rich pastures, where great crops are grown and herds of cows are fed. for he is a large farmer and dairyman. Here he has reared his estimable family and kept open his hospitable door to his many friends. He had but few chances to obtain an education,

the most of his time through boyhood being spent at work in the woods. From childhood he attended the Gernian Reformed Church, and he remembers how he often went bare- footed, with his companions, and sat on the hard benches through many a long sermon, and this was a large part of his educational training. On attaining his majority he ob- tained a part of his farm from his father, and shortly after his marriage he began to carry on dairying to a large degree, and establish a wagon route to Akron, which he continued for four years. He now sells by wholesale and keeps about twenty-seven head of cattle for dairving purposes. His beautiful new residence is built on an eminence overlooking Summit Lake.

On May 20, 1877, Mr. Steigner was mar- ried to Catherine Craft, who is a daughter of Samuel and Catherine Craft, and they have had the following children: Samuel; Mag- gie, who married Charles Koser, has one child, TIazel; George; Ella; Catherine; and Bertha, who died aged four years.

Politically, Mr. Steigner is a Democrat but has declined to fill any office except that of school director, in which position he has given faithful attention to the needs of his school district for several years. With his family he belongs to the German Reformed Church, on Broadway, Akron.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 116

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