Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 118

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 118

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Mr. Irish has in his possession a mnost valued souvenir in a cane carried by his father, during the time that Andrew Jack- son ran for President in 1832, and this cane has been carried either by Mr. Irish or his father during every Presidential election from Jackson to Roosevelt. Besides this cane, Mr. Irish has in his possession a col- lection of canes, one of which was cut from the battlefield of Gettysburg. The cane that he has carried through all the Presidential elections was cut from the farm now owned by Mr. Trish and the handle was made from the horn of a deer killed on the same farm.

The year of 1887 Mr. Irish spent largely in travel, making a trip to Cuba, from New York, on a sailing vessel. Later he went to California, returned in August of the same year, and went back to California in Sep- tember, making two trips to the Golden State in one year. Mr. Irish remained at his home until 1894 and then made a third trip to California. After remaining a year in the West, he returned once more to his home in- terests, but in 1896 again went back to Cali- fornia, where he remained seven years, spending ten years in all in that beautiful land. He resided in some of its most notedl cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles

and Pasadena, and tried gold mining for a few months. During 1887 and 1888, he traveled a distance of 17,000 miles. But, after all home called him back, and since 1902, he has remained on his farm, remem- bering with pleasure the beauties and at- tractions of other parts, but acknowledging the solid advantages of Ohio.

RALPH HUGH LODGE. The completed life of a successful man, in any avenue of life's activity, cannot fail of being an inter- esting study, and it becomes one of real bene- fit when its results show the blending into a harmonious whole, of those marked charac- teristics and ennobling virtues which be- longed to the late Ralph Hugh Lodge. To cherish beautiful ideals from boyhood, to bear them undimmed through youth and to carry them to their fullest fruition in man- hood, was a notable achievement, and this alone would have perpetuated his memory, had not personal attributes been equally po- tent in winning the respect, admiration and the warm affection of all those whose life closely touched his. Did our philosophy per- mit us to believe that inanimate things were sentient, one might wonder if the soft breeze that stirs the placid bosom of Silker Lake did not oft times bear with it a sigh for the departed one, whose life work for thirty years was the perfecting of its beautiful surround- ings.

Ralph Hugh Lodge was born August 3, 1830, at Monroe Falls, Summit County, Ohio, and was a son of George Horner and Rebecca (Smith) Lodge, and a descendent of an old Huguenot family that found refuge in Eng- land. When William Penn, in 1682, came to America with his band of colonists and re- ligious enthusiasts, he was accompanied by a representative of this family, whose views undoubtedly were in accord with those of the great Quaker. From the founder of Pennsylvania he received a grant of land in New Jersey, a fertile tract lying along the Delaware River, about fifteen miles below the city of Philadelphia. This land remained in

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the possesison of the family for more than 220 years, and on the patrimonial acres George Horner Lodge was born in 1801. He married Rebecca Smith in Philadelphia, and probably in the same year, 1829, started with his bride to what was then the far West, Ohio. The journey was made over the newly-com- pleted Erie Canal, then considered a remark- able engineering feat, to Buffalo, thence by vessel to Cleveland, where they took the old packet boat on the Ohio Canal to Old Portage, or Akron. They settled on a small farm in Stow Township, Summit County, which George H. Lodge cultivated, although he was not a farmer in the general acceptance of the term, having learned the trade of mason. They resided on that farm for some seven years.

In 1836 came about the era of land specu- lation in this section of Ohio, and Edmund Monroe, a Boston capitalist and promoter, bought up large tracts in this vicinity and founded what is now the village of Monroe Falls. Here all the children of the Lodge fam- ily were born, Ralph being the eldest. the five others being: Emma; George H .; Mary; Cor- nelia, who married George J. Parks; and Mrs. Caroline Combes.

The father of Ralph Lodge in the mean- time was kept busily employed at his trade and often required the assistance of his eldest son. He laid a part of the walls of the E. N. Sill stone house on Front Street. Cuyahoga Falls, now one of the landmarks of the place. and in 1846. prior to removing to Cleveland. did the lathing, plastered the rooms and built the fireplaces and chimneys in the Thorndike House, known as the Gaylord home. opposite Silver Lake. which is now the residence of William R. Lodge. secretary and manager of the Silver Lake Park Company. The family settled in Cleveland in 1846 and during 1847-48 resided near the corner of Euclid Avenue and Doan Street. Removal was then made to the Leonard Case farm. then so far in the country that it was possible to oper- ate a large dairy. and during the six years the family resided there. young Ralph was his

father's helper and for one year of the time ran a milk route. At that time Cleveland was an overgrown town having but 12,000 inhabi- tants and much of the land round about had been but partially cleared. The building of the Cleveland and Pittsburg Railroad right through the Case farm and the erection of railroad shops soon made that a busy sec- tion, now being known as St. Clair Street. With other young men, Ralph Lodge secured work in the new industry and for several years was employed as fireman on the con- struction train and at the round house. About 1855 the family home was again changed, re- moval being made to a 100-acre tract east of Willson Avenue, now Fifty-fifth Street, their home, in which they lived for seventeen vears, being a site almost opposite the pres- ent Central High School.

Ralph H. Lodge was now called to take an active part in the extensive fruit grow- ing and market gardening operations opened up, and, being the eldest son, gradually as- sumed the management which he continued until 1872. In the meantime he purchased a piece of property on Ontario Street, on which he established a grocery, this enterprise proving a very successful business venture. His life on the farm had but encouraged a natural inclination, a love of the soil, of all growing things and an appreciation of the bounteous beauties of Nature. In his boy- hood he had cherished dreams of a time when he might make his home on the banks of the beautiful lake, not far from his birthplace. Hither his feet wandered whenever an hour of recreation came into his rather practical life. and here he knew every tree, plant and moss, and had not only made friends of the birds of the woods. but also of the shy wild creatures in the thickets. At that time the consummation of his dream seemed far away, but it came to pass.

On January 10. 1874. the beautiful. pel- Incid bit of water known as Silker Lake at present. but in pioneer days as Stow Lake. was purchased from Horace A. Miller. whose wife was a granddaughter of the original pro-

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prietor of Stow Township. Mr. Lodge pur- chased thirty-five acres of the surrounding land, it being his idea to develop here a pleas- ure resort. This charming stretch of water has been likened to Lake Constance, at Como, but it is far more beautiful in its natural en- vironment. Even when it came into the pos- session of Mr. Lodge, in 1874, in its natural state it was beautiful in the extreme, in all that makes wild Nature attractive. Taking up his residence on this ground, in April, 1876, Mr. Lodge made it his permanent home and lived here until his death, May 22, 1907.

After securing the prize which he had hon- estly coveted from boyhood, Mr. Lodge be- gan immediately to fit it up for a pleasure resort, taking away none of the natural beau- ties, but adding conveniences and attractions that have brought thousands from all over the country to spend happy summers, and have sent them back to their rounds of fash- ion or pursuit of business refreshed and with a better appreciation of the grandeur. beauty and pleasure awaiting them in this quiet cor- ner of Ohio. The lake and its surroundings were perfect as they were to Mr. Lodge, whose poetie love for Nature was so sineere, but he recognized the demands of modern life and determined that Silver Lake should have every added attraction that the expenditure of time, labor, thought and money could pro- cure. An interesting event was the planting of 1,000 hard maple trees which had all come from the seed of one tree. He set them out along the west border of the natural timber, where they have flourished and stand in their beauty, after the hands that placed them have become quiet. To the development of this property along the lines mentioned, Mr. Lodge devoted the remainder of his life, mak- ing it take the place of travel, recreation. so- ciety, everything which he otherwise would have enjoyed.

Silver Lake Park, as it is today, is the most popular summer resort in this part of Ohio. It has grown each year in popularity, partly on account of its beauty of location and part- ly on account of the careful way in which it

has always been managed by the Lodge fan- ily. It has its own electric lighting plant, water works system, sewerage system, bakery, laundry, police, farm, garden, hotel and jus- tice of the peace. Excellent facilities are pro- vided for all kinds of athletic sports. Among the numberless attractions is a minature steam railroad with its track winding around through the shrubbery and running along the lake shore. A herd of sixteen Shetland ponies are kept for the use of the children. A number of cottages have been built, many of the best people of Akron and elsewhere throughout the country making this spot a permanent summer home, transportation be- ing of the best to many points. 1 sheet of about 100 acres of water offers delights to the yachtsman, and a number of steamers and boats ply back and forth. A visitor in -peak- ing of the delightful summer spent in this truly beautiful spot, mentions the loveliness of Silver Lake when its night illuminations are seen, the reflecting water making a picture not equaled by any storied spot in any other land.

Visitors to Silver Lake soon became ae- quainted with the kind, unassuming man who proved a most interesting companion when his friendship was gained. He could recall so much from a long past that was in- structive and entertaining that he never failed of auditors. His religious rearing had been after the precepts of the Society of Friends and in his nature and manner was much of their simplicity. He was a strong advocate of temperance and Silver Lake Park excludes every intoxicating feature.

On April 7, 1869, Ralph Hugh Lodge was married to Julia A. Plum, of Cuyahoga Falls, and nine of their ten children survive, name- ly: Dr. Edward Ballard, residing at Cleve- land; Mrs. Dunean B. Wolcott, residing at Kent, Ohio: Mrs. William R. Irvin, residing at Cuyahoga Falls; and Lillian P .. William R., George H., Louis B., Laura C. and Ralph H., residing at Silver Lake Park.

In summing up the life and character of

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the late Ralph Hugh Lodge, we quote from the words of one who knew hin well :

"To his family and friends he was kind, lovable and generous; he had a nature free from ostentation, led a simple life, and what- ever publieity he attained, was a result, not a means. He was born almost within siglit of the spot, where, after a long and busy life, he laid down to rest. He wished no man ill ; he gave everyone his due in all fidelity ; he lived his life true to his best light. He be- lieved in the Golden Rule, in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man."

SAMUEL A. CLICK, residing on his well- improved farm of seventy-three aeres, sit- uated in Coventry Township, belongs to an old pioneer family of Ohio, which settled in Stark County during the Eighteenth Century. Mr. Click was born on the old family home- stead in Jackson Township, Stark County, Olio, May 27, 1851, and is a son of Samuel and Julia Ann (Koons) Click.

Samuel Cliek. the grandfather of Samuel A., was the pioneer of the family in Ohio, bringing his wife and children, together with the household possessions, from Pennsylvania, making the long journey with an ox-team. .This was a slow method of transportation, but haste was not such a great factor in living as it is today, and the oxen, through their great strength, were able to haul wagons through the rough and uneleared country as no other animals would have had power to do. The wife and children remained in Ohio for the rest of their days, but the father made seven walking trips back to the old place in an ef- fort to collect money which he never was able to get. He settled in Jackson Township. Stark County, when his nearest neighbor was four miles distant. Six of his eight children were born in Pennsylvania, the other two in Stark County, his son Samuel being the third white child born in Jackson Township.

The name of Samuel has descended in the Cliek family through three generations. Sam- mel Cliek, father of Samuel A .. grew up on the old home farm and assisted in its elear-

ing. When quite a youth the deer were still so tame and numerous, that he frequently was given the task of chasing them from the cultivated parts of the farm. He was not able to attend school continuously, the dis- tance being five miles, and farm work usual- ly being pressing. Later in life he frequently recalled the day on which he, with other young men of the neighborhood, walked to Columbus to see what was then a wonderful spectacle, a railroad train pass through. Sam- uel Click continued to live on the farm in Jackson Township until his death, in Septemn- ber. 1893. He married Julia Ann Koons, who was born in 1816, and died in her eight- ieth year, after a happy married life of fifty- seven years. She was a native of Pennsyl- varria, and accompanied the family to New York, where they lived for six years in the vicinity of Niagara Falls, and then came to Ohio, traveling with an ox-team, Julia Ann having the privilege of walking the greater part of the way. Her father bought a farm in Summit County, which is now the site of Greensburg.

The children of Samuel and Julia Ann Click were: Adeline, who married Daniel Weaver; Sarah, who married Henry Gooden- berg; Aaron, Daniel; Maria. deceased, who married William Strowsser: Clara, who is the widow of George MeCoy; Samuel Allen : and Susan, who married A. J. Stoner. Samuel Click resided in Jackson Township in the early days before seareely any advancement had been made, and on acount of his being a. man of strong character and good judg- ment. he was often consulted on publie mat- ters and his adviee taken. He was success- ful in his business transactions, being a very careful man, and when he added thirty-five aeres to the original homestead farm, he se- enred a buck-skin deed, which his son pre- serves. Both Samuel Cliek and his wife were consistent members of the Evan- gelical Churel. and Samuel A. remem- hers when he was carried in the arms of his father, while his mother earried the next younger child on a walk of six miles. across

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the fields, in order to attend church. Sam- uel Allen Click can recall many pleasant memories of his childhood and youth in the old home. He was reared strictly and had to work hard, but that was the case with the members of every household in the neighbor- hood which prosperity visited. He was still young when he could do a full day's work following after the hussey, which machine for cutting grain his father bought when he was nine years old, being the first farmer who was so enterprising in this section. He grew to manhood well instructed in everything con- cerning farming and stock-raising.

Mr. Click was married April 27, 1876, to Mary Hanline, who was born in Franklin Township, Summit County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Roades) Hanline, who were among the pioneers of that township. Mr. and Mrs. Click have three children, namely: Edward who married Anna Zepp, residing near his father; Han- nah, who married Edward Cormany, a school teacher, has one child, Achah, residing in this neighborhood; and Elmer, who married Frankie Kemary, deceased, lives with his father.

Mr. Click has always carried on general farming and for seventeen years was inter- ested in threshing, but has retired from that line of business and has disposed of his ma- chine. He remained on the old home prop- erty until November 30, 1890, when he pur- chased his present farm, then consisting of eighty acres, from the H. F. Flickenger heirs. He has generously given each of his children a nice home and has also sold some land, re- taining just enough to keep him busy over- seeing it. He is a Republican in his political preferences and has served the township as school director and as supervisor. With his family he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has watched the development of this section with a great deal of interest and can recall the days when his threshing ma- chine did some of its best work right in what is now the heart of the busy town of Barber- ton

P. T. McCOURT, general contractor at Ak- ron, was born in Canada, in 1860, and is a son of John McCourt, who first visited Akron in 1850. John McCourt returned to Akron and established himself permanently here in 1865, and in this city P. T. McCourt has lived for the past forty-two years.

For five years P. T. McCourt worked for the Aultman-Miller Company. In 1883 he purchased his first team and engaged in team- ing and contract work, and from 1890 to 1897 he worked for the rolling mill. It was during the latter year that he built his sub- stantial three-story brick barn, 44 by 100 feet in dimensions, to which he has since added an ell, 44 by 130 feet. This was erected for the accommodation of horses and vehicles, Mr. McCourt by this time having a great transportation business. He is also interested in disposing of coal, and takes contracts for the building of streets and sewers, and for concrete work. He had the contract for build- ing fifteen of the locks on the Ohio Canal. He is a director of the Summit County Fair Association. In all that he has been con- cerned since entering business life Mr. Mc- Court has followed his own instincts of busi- ness honor, and that his conceptions have been the true ones is proven by the high es- teem in which he is held by his fellow-citi- zens.

Mr. McCourt was married (first) in June, 1890, to Rose M. Brady, who died in July, 1896, leaving two children, namely: Ethel R. and Walter P. He was married (second) to Anna Hefferman, and they have one child, Mary C.

Mr. McCourt is a consistent member of St. Mary's Catholic Church at Akron, and he is liberal in supporting its various charities. He belongs to the Elks, the Knights of Co- lumhus and the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association.

JAMES BRADLEY, for many years & highly esteemed member of the farming com- munity of Springfield Township, was born at Mogadore, Summit County, Ohio, June 8,

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1827. Hle was a son of John Anson and Bet- sey (Adams) Bradley. His paternal grand- father was Ariel Bradley, who, in 1801, came from Salisbury, Connecticut, to Mahoning County, Ohio, and to Suffield in 1806, settling on lot 12, Springfield Township, in March, 1807, and being the first white settler in Springfield Township. The land hereabouts at that period was all included in Trumbull County, but was subsequently apportioned to Portage County, and still later to Summit County, of which Ariel Bradley and his wife thus became residents. When he was seventy- eight years old Ariel went to visit his son, Bird, in Wood County, and while there was seized with his last illness. His remains are interred in the old cemetery at Waterville. He and his wife were the parents of eight chil- dren: James, John Anson, Harlow, Bird, Heman, Marilla, Amelia and Edgar. The last mentioned died in boyhood. Marilla became the wife of Lee Moore, and Amelia married Perrin Depew. The Bradleys cleared the land on which their descendant, the subject of this sketch, now resides, and they owned all of it lying south of the east and west roads, that is now covered by the town of Mogadore. They it was who planted the outposts of civiliza- tion in this locality. John Anson Bradley, son of Ariel, was born at Salisbury, Connec- ticut, in 1796, and accompanied his parents to Ohio. He did his full share in taming the wilderness, and on arriving at a suitable age, married Betsey Adams, who lived a mile and a half south of the present site of Mogadore. She came from New Hampshire with her father, who settled in Suffield Township in 1809. There were two children born to John Anson Bradley and his wife-James and Charlotta. The latter became the wife of George C. Winship, and they moved to Iowa, where both died, leaving a daughter, Min- nie. who subsequently married a Mr. Abbey.

James Bradley was brought up to agricul- tural pursuits, and was taught to be honest and industrious. On attaining years of dis- cretion he married Cecelia Andrews, a daugh- ter of A. C. and Almira (Kent) Andrews.

Her parents were natives of Connecticut, whence they moved to Portage County, Ohio. The Kents were also of New England stock, and descendants in the fourth generation of Martin Kent, who married Abigail Hale, and emigrated to the Western Reserve, purchas- ing a farm in Suffield Township of the Con- necticut Land Company. On this farm he resided for the rest of his life. The children of A. C. and Almira (Kent) Andrews were: Cecelia, who married James Bradley; Quincy, who died unmarried in Minnesota; Emma, who married Dr. William Thompson, and Licasta, who died at the age of five years.

James Bradley, by his first wife, Cecelia, had nine children, as follows: Cora, Minnie, Flora, Emma, Florence, Nellie, George, Her- bert, Charles K. and Louise II. The six first mentioned are all deceased, while the last three still survive. Charles is unmarried, and is engaged in general farming in Rolette County, North Dakota. Louise became the wife of Frank Parker and resides with her girls in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her hus- band is deceased. She had two children- Myrza and Gladys. Mrs. Cecelia Bradley died in 1875 when in her forty-fourth year, and James Bradley married, second, Mrs. Eliza- beth (Spencer) Bradley. Of this marriage there were two children, one of whom died in infancy, and the other, Bessie, when a charm- ing girl of fourteen years.

George Herbert Bradley, son of James Bradley, by his first wife, Cecelia, was born on the home farm in Springfield Township. January 20, 1855. He was trained to farm work and acquired his education in the dis- trict schools and at Buchtel College, where he spent two years. The farm on which he now resides contains fifty acres of the original tract settled by his great-grandfather, Ariel Bradley, twenty acres having been subse- quently added. Since leaving the college in 1877, he has given his main attention to the operating of the home farm. Mr. Bradley is unmarried. Like his father, he is a Repub- lican in politics. He has served as a justice of the peace, and has taken a more or less

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active interest in politics since attaining his majority. On several occasions he has been sent as a delegate to important conventions. The family he represents is one of high stand- ing in Summit County.

J. EDWARD GOOD, president of the Hardware Supply Company, of Akron, is a native of this city in which his business suc- cess has been achieved. He was born in 1861 and was graduated from the Akron Ifigh School in 1879, following which he entered Kenyon College, where he was graduated with credit in 1884.

After this thorough preparation for busi- ness life, Mr. Good entered the wholesale hardware house of McIntosh, Good & Com- pany, of Cleveland, where he remained until 1889. He then returned to Akron, with the interests of which eity he has been elo-ely and successfully associated ever since. He as- sisted in the organization of the Paige Broth- ers Company, which did business from 1889 until 1891, when the firm name was changed to the Standard Hardware Company, which continued until 1905, when the Hardware Supply Company was incorporated, with a capital stock of $150,000. The officers of this concern are: J. Edward Good, president ; Crannell Morgan, vice-president ; William W. Wohlwend, secretary; and E. S. Bunnell, treasurer. This company oceupies commo- dious quarters at No. 50-52 South Main Street, where they have some 50,000 square feet of floor space. They carry a very heavy stock and deal both by retail and wholesale. In ad- dition to this important business enterprise. Mr. Good is interested as a stockholder in a number of others. In all of these his business ability and integrity are never questioned. In 1889 Mr. Good was married to Laura D. Zim- merman, of Pittsburg. He is a Knight Tem- plar Mason and "Shriner." and retains his membership in his college fraternities.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 118

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