Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 130

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 130

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In 1887. Mr. Chapman was married to Mary A. Parker, who is a step-daughter of the late Henry 1. Gibbs, of Akron. He and his wife had one son, Parker E., a bright, en- gaging youth, who died in September. 1903. aged fourteen years. Mr. Chapman is con- nected with various civic bodies, being an act- ive citizen. and fraternally belongs to the Odd Fellows and the Royal Arcanum.

GEORGE E. LANCE, general farmer and dairyman, residing on his valuable farm of 106 1-2 acres. situated in Northampton Township, was born in Summit County. Ohio, May 22, 1866. and is a son of William and Theodosia S. (Harvey) Lance.

The Lance family came from Pennsylvania to Ohio. George Lance, the grandfather of George E., accompanied his father. the pioneer, to Wayne County. Land that he cleared there still remains in the family. William Lance was born in Wayne County, attended the district schools and engaged in farming. During the Civil War he frequent- ly drove cattle to Pittsburg for the use of the army. In the spring of 1866 he came to Northampton Town-hip. remaining but a few months, when he went to Akron, and for five

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years worked in the rolling mills in that city. From there he went to Doylestown, Wayne County, later to Medina County, and then back to Akron, where he lived for about one year before his death, which occurred July 22, 1889, at the age of fifty-two years. Ile was a man of quiet tastes and sought no political office, but supported the Republican party. William Lance married Theodosia S. Harvey, who still survives. She is a daugli- ter of Eber Harvey, of Wayne County, who emigrated from Pennsylvania in 1857. The following children were born of this mar- riage: George E .. Theodore, Charles, Ray- mond, Ernest, Clyde, Bessie and Bertie. The mother of this family resides in Northampton Township. She is a member of the Disciples Church.

George E. Lance attended school through boyhood wherever the family home was lo- cated and remained under the household roof until his marriage. For the first six follow- ing years he worked in the Diamond Mateli factory at Akron, and since then has been engaged in farming. In 1896 he rented a. farm in Northampton Township for three years and then bought his present place. Here he cultivates about sixty acres, paying espe- cial attention to wheat and corn, and pastures seven cows, selling his milk to the creamery at Peninsula. In early manhood George E. Lance was married to Emma R. Stinson, who is a daughter of Wesley and Kate Stinson, of Litchfield. Ohio, and they have six children, namely: Edna, who married William Sapp, of Northampton ; and Claude, Irvin. Guy. Arthur and Frieda. residing at home. The family belong to the Disciples Church at Everett, Mr. Lance being one of the trustees. TIe is a member of the order of Maccabees, at Peninsula.

ALBERT II. BILL. M. D .. physician and surgeon at Cuyahoga Falls, is one of the lead- ing professional men of this place, where he was born January 26, 1851. He is a son of IIenry W. and Harriet E. (Butler) Bill.

Dr. Bill comes of fine old New England ancestry on both sides. The Bill generations

can be easily traced to the great-grandfather, Solomon Bill, who was a great scholar. IIe taught navigation and higher mathematics in a Connecticut seat of learning. John Bill, grandfather of Dr. Bill, was born at Middle- town, Connecticut, and was a son of Solomon and Mary (Sizer) Bill. He died at Charles- town, Portage County, Ohio, in 1844, aged seventy-five years. He married Fannie Rog- ers, who died before he came west in 1833. He was a strong Baptist and a very devout man. It is remembered how he maintained Bible reading and family prayers in his home. From him many of his descendants inherited their gift of song.

Henry W. Bill, father of Dr. Bill, was born at Middletown. Connecticut, where, in early life he started in the machine business. The destruction of his plant by fire caused him to turn his attention to the West, and about 1833 he accompanied his brother, Asa G., to Cuyahoga Falls. They began business to- gether on the river, opposite the plant of Turner, Vaughn and Taylor, under the firm name of A. G. Bill and Brother, establishing a foundry and machine business, and built it up until it was the largest of its kind in that part of the country, running their plant night and day. They manufactured paper mill machinery mainly, and during the time they were in business they, with others, started the first steam paper-making plant in Cleve- land. They were the inventors of the first barrel-making machines. The brothers were associated in business for many years, but finally, Henry W. withdrew. IIe was a very well known man. Nature had gifted him in music and he was at home with almost any in- strument, playing the bugle and clarinet with skill. These instruments he played in the old pioneer Portage County band. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; his wife was a Congregationalist. He died aged seventy-four years. Henry W. Bill and wife had two children, viz .: Alice B., who is the widow of George Dow, residing at Cuya- hoga Falls; and Albert H.

Dr. Bill was educated in the schools of his native place. Ilis medical education was pur-

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sued under the direction of Dr. C. M. Fitch, of Chicago, Illinois. after which he entered Rush Medical College, where he was grad- uated in 1875. Since then he has been en- gaged in general practice at Cuyahoga Falls. Dr. Bill married Isabella Fitch, who is a daughter of Dr. C. M. Fitch, a noted physi- cian and surgeon, of Chicago, and they have one son, Kenneth, who graduated in 1907 at the Cuyahoga Falls High School. Mrs. Bill is a member of the Congregational Church. Politically. Dr. Bill is a Republican. He is very prominent in fraternal circles, especially in the order of Knights of Pythias. He has passed all the chairs in Pavonia Lodge, is past deputy grand chancellor of the Twenty-fifth District and has the Grand Lodge rank. Ile has several Pythian offices in the Uniform Rank and is assistant regimental surgeon. Ile i- connected also with other organizations.

ULYSSES F. HOURIET. In the death of Ulysses F. Houriet, which occurred June 26, 1904, Summit County, Ohio, lost a young man of brilliant parts, one whose business suc- coss and personal popularity had made his name a familiar one all through Northeastern Ohio. He was born at Canal Fulton, Stark County, Ohio. May 25. 1868. and was a son of Floriant and Catherine ( Miller) Houriet.

The Houriet family came to America from Switzerland. In that land of magnificent mountain scenery, Floriant Houriet was born at St. Imier. Canton of Bern. March 17, 1834. His father, Victor Houriet, was known in his native land as a jeweler of great skill. Vic- tor married Zeline Flotron, a member of the celebrated Flotron watch-making firm of Switzerland, and the name of that family may vet be seen engraved on the case of many fine. old Swiss watches of a half century ago. Three children were born to Victor Houriet and wife. namely: Emil, who became a prom- inent watch-maker and jeweler at Charleston. Illinois : Floriant. residing at Kenmore. Sunt- mit County: and Paul. of Massillon. Ohio, whose tastes led him in the direction of me- chanics.

In 1848 Vietor Houriet emigrated to Amer-

ica with his family, investing in farming land near Utica, New York, where he lived until 1852. Ile then sold his property there and removed to Wayne County, Ohio, purchas- ing a farm near Mt. Eaton. Before making his third and last trip to Switzerland Victor Houriet had engaged successfully in business in America, and had become attached to the land where he saw his sons prospering, but he could not reconcile himself to the thought of dying in any place beyond the shadows of his native mountains. When he bade his last farewell to his family he asserted that he would never again cross the ocean, and his premonition proved true, for his death fol- lowed soon after this return to his native land. Ilis wife had died in 1876 at the home of her son. Floriant, at Canal Fulton.

Floriant Houriet was fourteen years old when he came to America, and he well recalls the long pas-age of forty-four days' duration. He has never gone back to the little Swiss village. of which he has a picture, which was given his father, and which he treasures highly. The schools of Switzerland and Ger- many are justly noted for their efficiency. He was thoroughly instructed in both countries, and when he came to the United States had command of three languages. He no longer had time to go to school, but up to 1858 he worked steadily on farms in Ohio, going then to Illinois, where he continued to farm un- til the outbreak of the Civil War. IIe then returned to Ohio in order to enter the army from that state. In 1861 he enlisted for three months in the Twenty-third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, becoming a member of Company II. the survivors of which still proudly call it "Mckinley's Regiment." Mr. HIouriet was a young man well informed on publie questions and during his residence in Illinois had heard Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas discuss the public mat- ters. and had been much impressed and had made up his mind concerning his choice of leaders

When his first term of enlistment expired Mr. Hlouriet re-enlisted for three years, but was honorably discharged on account of dis-

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ability, after a service of eighteen months. During this period he was detailed to carry messages to General Rosecrans, his command of the German language making him very useful in this capacity. He participated in a number of battles before he was disabled and on all occasions bore himself as a brave and faithful soldier. After his return to Ohio he worked in a coal mine at Canal Fulton, but found this too hard labor, and, therefore, em- barked in a grocery business at Canal Ful- ton, which he continued to operate with suc- cess until 1883. During this period he had been buying small traets of land within the corporate limits of the town, which land he still owns. In 1903 he came to Kenmore, and in 1903 he purchased the residence in which the family resides, an elegant home, where the late Ulysses Houriet resided at the time of his death.

Floriant Houriet married Catherine Miller, who was born May 18, 1840. in Germany, and accompanied her parents to America in 1852, when she was a girl of twelve years. They were Lawrence and Elizabeth (Bott) Miller. TTer father died in 1879. Six children were born to Floriant and Catherine Houriet as follows: Edward, who died in infancy; Ulysses F. : Mary, who is a teacher in the pub- lic schools of Akron: Willie, who died aged three years; Zelina, who married Edward Richert, and has one child : Paul: and Elsie, who fills the position of bookkeeper in the South Akron Bank. All the children were born at Canal Fulton, graduated from the schools of that place, and all who survived infancy, with the exception of the youngest, have taught school.

Floriant Honriet is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and he accompanied his old regiment to Washington city to be present at the inauguration of the late Presi- dent MeKinley. their beloved comrade. Ile is a member of the Reformed Church, while Mrs. TTouriet and the children are members of the Lutheran Church.

Of the above mentioned family, the late Ulysses F. Ilouriet was the beloved and ad- mired son and brother. In his childhood he

was noted for his quick, intelligence and his genial, happy nature and, after completing his time at school, he was gladly accepted as a teacher and very soon was made superintend- ent of the township schools, subsequently be- coming the principal of the High School at Norton Center. He remained in the educa- tional field from 1887 until 1895, in the meanwhile spending some of his summers at Valparaiso College, Indiana. In 1895 he made a bicycle tour through Florida, visiting many interesting points outside the line of ordinary travel. When he returned it was to find the heated Mckinley campaign agitat- ing Summit and adjoining counties, and he immediately began to stump the country for the leader of the party, in this capacity visit- ing almost every part of Summit County, and making friends wherever he went. Many still recall him standing on the street corners in interested conversation, surrounded by his farmer friends, speaking first in English and then in German, being greatly gifted as an elocutionist. After his bicycle trip to Flor- ida Mr. Houriet made one to St. Louis using the same wheel, pausing at many places to ad- dress gatherings of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association, in which organization he was greatly interested. Ile was prominent as a member of the building committee of the association at Akron, and was one of its di- rectors.

For a few months in 1896 he was con- nected with the New York Life Insurance Company, later becoming associated with the late Noah Steiner in the real estate business He had much to do with the rapid disposal of the White City allotment in 1898. At that time Mr. Steiner was pushing the claims of the Pathfinder order and Mr. ITouriet became interested and joined the organization as its thirteenth member. He later began to or- ganize lodges, many of which are among the most prosperous of this beneficiary organiza- tion. notably the "Coshoction." After the death of Mr. Steiner. Mr. Houriet was clected in 1901 as president and assumed the command of the order. For some time he was active as manager of the company. which

CHIARLES G. LUTZ

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began laying out and building up Kenmore, and Mr. Steiner's death threw the whole busi- ness into Mr. Houriet's capable hands. It was about this time that he moved into the present beautiful family residence, which later became the property of his father. Mr. Houriet never married. Ile died in Akron, Ohio, June 28, 1904.

CHARLES G. LUTZ, who is engaged in a general contracting business at Barberton, is one of the substantial citizens of Norton Township, of which he was elected a trustee in 1905. Mr. Lutz was born in Wayne County, Ohio, July 15, 1868, and is a son of Sebastian and Elizabeth (Eitonmiller) Lutz. In his boyhood, the parents of Mr. Lutz re- moved from the farm on which he was born, to Marshallville, where the father followed the business of carpet weaving. He attended the schools of Marshallville until about seven- teen years of age, when he began to learn the carpenter's trade, which he subsequently fol- lowed as a livelihood, six years later going into contracting. In March. 1897. he came to Barberton, since which time he has been very busily engaged. and has erected a num- her of the finest business blocks in the place, notably the Rodenbaugh Block, which was completed in 1906, the McKenna Block, in 1904, and the Henry Block. in 1907. He keeps from two to ten men employed.

At Marshallville, in the spring of 1893, Mr. Lutz was married to Catherine Yeakley, who died March 28, 1901, leaving three chil- dren- Karl, Irene and Edna. Mr. Lutz was married (second) to Mrs. Flora (Houtz) Hel- ler, who was the widow of Jacob Heller, and they have one child, Nola. Mr. Lutz is a member of the Reformed Church at Barber- ton. In politics he is a Democrat and has al- ways taken a good citizen's interest in public affairs.

GEORGE GRETHER. Among the rep- resentative agriculturists of Northampton Township may be mentioned George Grether, who owns a fine farm of 100 acres. He was born at Akron. Ohio, September 2, 1853. and

is a son of John George and Elizabeth (Dice) Grether.

John George Grether was born in Baden, Germany, in 1822, and there learned the trade of wagon-maker. Ile was about thirty years old when he came to America, and on lo- cating at Akrou he entered the employ of his brother Jacob, who was in business there. Mr. Grether then went to Jackson's Corners, where he worked a rented farm for some years, after which he purchased a lot on what is now West Exchange Street, Akron, and during the Civil War he worked at his trade. In 1887 he purchased the farm now owned by George Grether, and here his death oc- curred in his sixty-seventh year. Mr. Grether was married to Elizabeth Dice, and she now makes her home with her only son, George Grether. She is seventy-eight years old. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Grether: George and Ernest Frederick, the latter of whom died when twenty-one years of age.

George Grether attended the public schools, after which he learned the trade of chain- maker, which he followed for fourteen years, and which he finds of much value to him in farm work, as with this knowledge he can do all his own blacksmith work. He now gives his entire attention to agricultural pur- suits, and raises and fattens calves for the market, also selling many chickens and eggs. Mr. Grether was for five years a member of the Sixth Ohio Battery. Eighth Regiment, Ohio National Guards, for three years of which time he was corporal.

Mr. Grether was married to Pauline Dice. who is a daughter of Martin Dice, of Akron. and they have had seven children. six of whom survive, namely: Lonisa. who is the wife of Fred Shumaker, of Cleveland; Otto Frederick, who lives in Akron: Charles George William. who resides in Copley Town- ship: and Edward. Frank Herbert and Ruth Mario Elizabeth.

S. C. McGOWAN. junior member of the firm of McGarry & McGowan, prominent contractors and leading citizens of Akron, has spent the major part of his business life

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here, coming to this city in 1868. Mr. Mc- Gowan was born in 1857, in New Jersey, and is a son of Charles McGowan, who was an early contractor at Akron, and concerned in selecting sewer pipe clay and working for the Buckeye Sewer Pipe Company.

S. C. McGowan's early life was spent on the farın of Miss Louise Sumner, after which he entered the employ of David R. Paige, who was engaged in a hardware and general con- tracting business, remaining there for twen- ty-five years. During nine years of this period Mr. McGowan was with Mr. Paige in the city of New York, working on the contract of con- structing the Croton aqueduct. Mr. Paige was called to Africa, and after his departure, Mr. McGowan built the piers for the suburban elevated road from the Harlem River to Tremont. With Mr. Paige he built the Guttenberg race track and was concerned in many other large jobs in that city. Ho was connected with D. C. Coolman and Page & Carey when they built the Ohio River Rail- road from Wheeling to Parkersburg, West Virginia, between the years 1882-1886. After his return to Akron, in 1890, Mr. McGowan entered into partnership with Daniel Mc- Garry, under the firm name of McGarry & McGowan. and they do a general contracting business second to no other in this section. A contract is being carried out at the pres- ent writing (1907), which includes the put- ting in of a complete sewer system for the city of Ravenna. extending some ten or twelve miles. The firm has done a great deal of street paving and the work is well done, it being the aim of this firm to excel in all that it undertakes. Mr. McGowan is interested in other enterprises, and is ranked with the city's substantial business men.

In 1902 Mr. 'McGowan was married to Amelia Wohlwend. He is a consistent mem- ber of St. Vincent de Paul's Catholic Church. He belongs to the organization known the world over as the Knights of Columbus. While not accepting office for himself, Mr. McGowan takes a lively interest in politics and is a loyal supporter of his friends.

WILLIAM E. MARTIN, a representative citizen of Summit County, Ohio, who is one of the heirs to the undivided estate of his father, a desirable farm in Northfield Township, lo- cated on the State Road, was born in North- field Township, December 14, 1861, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Sodon) Mar- tin.

Henry Martin, who was born in Sowham, England, was engaged in market gardening there with his father until coming to Amer- ica. He started to this country with his first wife and seven children, but on the voyage to the new home five of his children and his wife died of smallpox. Having friends in Northfield Township, Mr. Martin at once lo- cated here and for two or three years worked by the day. In 1864 he rented several farms which he operated until 1874, in which year he purchased the farm now owned by Wil- liam E. Martin, and here carried on general farming until his death, in December, 1899, at the age of eighty-six and one-half years. Mr. Martin was married (second) to Eliza- beth Sodon, who was born in England, and was a daughter of John Sodon, and to this union there were born six children: William E .; Mary, who is the wife of Jacob Ritchie, of Northfield Township; Hannah Emily, who married Lewis Whitcomb, of Northfield Township; Elizabeth Jennie, who married James Rees, of Bedford Township: Minnie B .; and Rachel L., who is the wife of Ben- jamin Myers, of Northfield Township. The mother of these children died in June. 1906. aged seventy-one years, in the faith of the United Presbyterian Church, of which the family were all members. Mr. Martin was a Democrat in politics, but never sought public office.

William E. Martin was educated in the public schools of Northfield Township. and his life has always been spent on the farm on which he now lives. This is a well-kept, fer. tile property in the northern part of the township, situated on the State Road. and being near Cleveland. Mr. Martin has al- ways engaged more or less in truck farming. His principal crops. however, are hay, wheat,

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corn and oats. Mr. Martin was married to Edith Smith, who is the daughter of Samuel Smith, of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Martin is a devoted member of the United Presbyterian Church.

JOSEPH R. MELL, senior member of the well known insurance firm of J. R. Mell & Son, at Akron, is also a veteran of the Civil War, one whose long and arduous service en- titles him to the honorable and grateful con- sideration of his fellow-citizens. Mr. Mell was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, where he was educated and remained until he was sixteen years of age, when he moved to Portage County.

Among the first young men of Portage County to come forward in defense of the Union was Joseph R. Mell, who, as a private, entered Company K, Nineteenth Regiment. Ohio Volunteer Infantry, entering April 22, 1861. During the three months of this first enlistinent he saw hard service in West Vir- ginia and participated in the battle of Rich Mountain. After its expiration he returned to Summit County, Ohio, but the call of his country was again too strong to permit him to settle down in safety to peaceful pursuits, and he re-enlisted for a period of three years, on February 20, 1862, entering Company K, Sixty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was organized at Camp Chase. This regiment returned the young soldier to the scene of his former exploits in West Virginia, where it re- mained under the command of General Fre- mont until July, 1862, when it was sent to join General Pope's army at Culpeper Court House. Then followed the second battle of Bull Run, then Chancellorville, followed by the Gettysburg campaign, at this time the regiment being a part of the Eleventh Army Corps. On the second day of the fight at Gettysburg Mr. Mell was captured on Culp's Hill and was taken to Richmond, where he was held a prisoner of war until the spring of 1865, being paroled just at the close of the war. From the ranks he was again and again promoted for personal valor. climbing from private to orderly sergeant. then to second

lieutenant in 1863. During his confinement in prison he was promoted to be first lieu- tenant, and still later to the rank of captain, as which, however, he was never mustered in.

Captain Mell returned to Summit County after being released from the Confederate prisons, and as soon as he was sufficiently re- cuperated, engaged in a hotel business, which he conducted for three years, and then came to Akron. He entered the employ of the Aultman-Miller Company, with which cor- poration he continued to be associated for twenty-one years. Since then he has been en- gaged in a general insurance business in part- nership with his son, Cloyd W., under the firm name of J. R. Mell & Son. In 1895 Mr. Mell was elected councilman at large, an of- fice he filled for about nine months, which he resigned to accept the appointment of court bailiff.

On August 30, 1865, Mr. Mell was married to Sabina V. Koons, who is a daughter of Jonas Koons, and a granddaughter of Henry Koons, who came to Summit County from Allentown, Pennsylvania, among the earliest settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Mell have four sur- viving children, namely: Marvin M., resid- ing at Akron, engaged in a flour and feed business; Todd J., residing at Youngstown. where he is manager of the automobile tire department of the Republic Rubber Com- pany; Wade B., residing at Havana. Cuba, engaged in a brokerage business: and Cloyd W., of the firm of J. R. Mell & Son. For twenty-five years Mr. Mell has been an of- ficial member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is past commander of Buckley Post, No. 12, G. A. R.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 130

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