Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 132

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 132

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GEORGE MAAG, a highly respected citizen of Akron, who was one of the or- ganizers of the Twentieth Century Heating and Ventilating Company, of this city, and who continued to be treasurer of the concern from its founding, has been active in the busi- ness life of the community for many years. Mr. Maag was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1853, where he remained until reaching the age of seventeen years. He then went to Orrville and learned the tinner's trade. After three years he looked around for a promising field for work, and in the fall of 1873, came to Akron, where, until 1878, he was with the firm of Cramer & May. Sub- sequently he established himself in a hard- ware business at Haysville, Ashland County, where he remained until January, 1885, when he removed his interests to Shelby, Ohio. In 1890, he left Shelby and return- ing to Akron, became employed with the firm of May and Fiebeger, continuing with them until the fall of 1894. He then be- came associated with William Clerkin in establishing the manufacture of the Twentieth Century Furnace under the firm name of Clerkin and Maag, which firm has been succeeded by the Twentieth Century Heating and Ventilating Company. In this line Mr. Maag has met with success.

The ideas involved in the manufacture of the heaters and boilers illustrate new prin- ciples, and the plant is fitted with all kinds of modern machinery to carry out these de- signs. In 1899, Mr. Maag was married to Lydia Baus, who is a daughter of Jacob Baus, of Akron. The family residence is situated at No. 40 Mt. View Avenue, Akron.

DANIEL B. CAHOW, proprietor of the Cahow Pump Company, of Akron, is a leading business man of this city and one of its prominent merchants. He was born in York Township, Medina County, Ohio, in 1854, and is a son of D. J. Cahow, a pioneer in the pump manufacturing line. When he

was two years old his father moved to Salem, Iowa, where he remained, however, but two years, returning to Ohio and settling in Litch- field, Medina County. When Daniel B. was six years old his father began the manufacture of pumps and the subject of this seketch was therefore practically reared in this business.

At the age of eighteen years he came to Akron with his father and brother, H. J. Ca- how, and engaged in a pump business, but for the past eighteen years he has been sole proprietor and is the head of the largest re- tail pump business in the United States. He handles all kinds of pumps, and has the exclusive sale of all the best ones, especially the Myers pump, which has no superior. As a pump man he has a reputation which ex- tends all over the State.

On October 4, 1877, Mr. Cahow was mar- ried to Nellie M. Garman, who was reared at Akron, and they have three children: Grace, who married M. J. Hallinan, assistant city engineer at Akron; and Roy and Ray, twins, the former of whom is a lithographie artist and the latter is with the pump manufactur- ing concern of F. E. Myers & Brother, of Ashland, Ohio. Politically, Mr. Cahow is a Republican. He has fraternal membership in Akron Lodge, No. 83, F. & A. M .; Nemo Lodge, No. 746, I. O. O. F .; also the Encamp- ment; the Daughters of Rebecca; the Knights of the Maccabees, and the Protected Home Circle.

GEORGE H. WADSWORTH, general su- perintendent of the machinery department of the Falls Rivet and Machine Company, at Cuyahoga Falls, is well known locally in this connection while his name is a familiar one in all the leading foundries of the United States, Canada and Europe, as the inventor of machinery of the greatest utility. Mr. Wadsworth was born near Chester, England, February 11, 1857, and is a son of William Collins and Agnes (Hogg) Wadsworth.

On the paternal side, Mr. Wadsworth traces his ancestry to Holland and on the ma- ternal, to Scotland. His father, William C. Wadsworth, was born at Liverpool, England,

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where he later held a position as harbor mas- ter, and was killed in the performance of his duty, when his son, George H., was twelve years of age. He had four children, namely: John Murray, who has been gov- ernor of a province in India, for thirty years ; Agnes, who is deceased; George H .; and Elizabeth, who resides with her aged mother, at Colwin Bay, North Wales. The family is of the Presbyterian faith.

In his boyhood, George H. Wadsworth showed a natural leaning toward mechanics, and as soon as his education was considered to be far enough advanced, he entered the Great Western Railway shops, at Wolver- hampton, where he served an apprenticeship of six years in what was there denominated the fitter and turner trade. This trade he followed until he was twenty-three years of age, when he came to Cleveland, Ohio. and entered the old Cleveland Bridge and Car Works. He continued work at his trade, mainly in Ohio, and was the first tool-maker employed by the National Cash Register Com- pany, and organized their tool room. Later, Mr. Wadsworth entered into business for him- self, at Findlay, Ohio, and from 1887 until 1891, he ran a machine shop under the firm name of Wadsworth, Sheesley & Company. From there he returned to Cleveland and re- mained superintendent of the Avery Stamp- ing Company until the spring of 1894. He was then called to Chicago and was with the firm of Frazer and Chalmers, coming from there to take the position of foreman of the machine shop of The Falls Rivet and Ma- chine Company. After one year, Mr. Wads- worth became superintendent, but six months later left the company in order to engage in other business.

When the business of this company was re- organized and changes made under the ad- ministration of Jeremiah Long, about 1897, Mr. Wadsworth returned to the company as general superintendent. At this time, owing to his past experience, The Falls Rivet and Machine Company was successful in obtain- ing some large contracts for government work

amounting to about $140,000, which were completed with satisfaction to the Govern- ment and with financial advantage to the company. Mr. Wadsworth continued with the company as general superintendent until 1901, when he again severed his relations in order to engage in the manufacture of a core- making machine, which was an invention of his own. The Wadsworth Improved Core Machines and Equipment, including the Wadsworth Portable Core Oven, have won their way through their obvious utility, and thousands are now in use in foundries throughout this and other countries. There are many similar machines on the market but the only medal given for a core machine, at the St. Louis Exposition, was awarded to The Falls Rivet and Machine Company for the machines invented by Mr. Wadsworth. He has made many other inventions relative to foundry work, all of them proving practical and valuable. He was the oldest continuous exhibitor at the American Foundrymen's As- sociation.

In 1902, Mr. Wadsworth went to Cleveland and there engaged in the manufacturing of automobiles and was general superintendent and a stockholder in the American Motor Carriage Company. At the reorganization of The Falls Rivet and Machine Company, in 1903, Mr. Wadsworth again becme super- intendent of the machinery department, a position for which he is so thoroughly quali- fied. He has some 300 men under his super- vision and through his knowledge and care the great output is kept up to the standard which has won its present reputation for this concern. Mr. Wadsworth's interests have never centered in politics, but he gives a good citizen's support to all laudable public meas- ures and casts his vote with the Republican party. In England, Mr. Wadsworth was mar- ried to Cecily Blower, who is a daughter of Samuel J. Blower, of . Wolverhampton, and they have three children, namely: Florence E., Agnes K. and George H. The family belong to the Episcopal Church.

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ALEXANDER STEESE, proprietor of the Copley Mill, situated on Wolf Creek, has been a resident of Summit County, Ohio, for nearly a quarter of a century, and is one of Copley township's well-known business men. Mr. Steese was born November 20, 1862, in Stark County, Ohio, and is a son of Abraham and Lydia (Bowers) Steese.

Abraham Steese was born in Pennsylvania, and when a young man of eighteen years moved to Akron, Ohio, which was then but a small village. He was employed for some time in digging wells in and around Akron, constructing probably 600 or 700 in the vicinity, but after his marriage he engaged in agricultural pursuits in Stark and Sum- mit Counties, and in this occupation spent the remainder of his life, which closed in 1902 when he had attained the age of eighty-five years. Mr. Steese was mar- ried to Lydia Bowers, a native of Stark County, Ohio, who died in 1882 at the age of fifty-nine years, and to them eleven children were born, namely: Elizabeth, who married Thomas Beck ; Lewis; Susan, who married J. Guttenberger; Levi, who was drowned at the age of eleven years; Elvina, who married Solomon Arntz; Cecelia (deceased), who mar- ried Fred Shoemaker, the original proprietor of the Copley Mill; Israel; Melvin; Alex- ander; Amanda, who married A. Phile; and Frances, who married Charles Phile.

Alexander Steese grew up on his father's farm in Stark County, Ohio, where he at- tended school, and in 1885 started to work in his brother-in-law's mill, Mr. Steese's pres- ent property, where he continued for five years. In 1890 he removed to Tallmadge, where he worked until the fall in the plant of the Sewer Pipe Company, subsequently returning to his brother-in-law's mill in Cop- ley Township. In the spring of 1891 he went to Indiana, where he worked at the earpen- ter's trade with his brother Lewis, but he again returned to Copley Township, where he spent the winter. In the spring of 1892 Mr. Steese went to Comet, Green Township, and there rented a mill from D. F. Burger, which he operated until 1904. at which time he pur-

chased stock in the Clinton Milling Company, of Clinton, Ohio, where for two years he was engaged as miller. He then traded his stock in the company for his present business, which he has since conducted with much suc- cess. The capacity of the mill is twenty-five barrels daily, and the product is the well known "Household Favorite Flour."

In September, 1887, Mr. Steese was married, first, to Jennie Fulmer, whose death occurred in June, 1890, and to this union there was born one child, Clark. Mr. Steese was mar- ried, second, in the spring of 1893 to Stella Kleckner, who is a daughter of John and Elizabeth Kleekner, of Green Township, Sum- mit County, Ohio, and six children have been born to them: Ruth, Grace, Myra, Laura, Paul and Carl.

Mr. Steese is a Prohibitionist in political belief. With his wife and family he attends the Wesleyan Methodist Church.

CAPT. W. M. HILTABIDLE, State agent for the North American Mutual Fire Insur- ance Company, with quarters in the Hamilton Building, Akron, has been identified with the Department of Public Works under the direc- tion of the State board, for many years, and since 1905 has been interested in his present enterprise. He was born at Mansfield, Ohio, July 31, 1857, where he was reared and edu- cated.

During his earlier years, Mr. ITiltabidle served four years as shipping clerk for the Humphrey Manufacturing Company, of Mansfield, and for six years was with the Bodine Roofing Company, of Mansfield, both as superintendent of their works and as trav- eling salesman. In' 1887 he entered the em- ploy of the State Board of Public Works and had charge of the steam dredge. continuing until 1892, when he was promoted to the office . of division superintendent and in that ca- pacity came to Akron. He remained super- intendent until 1902, and then gave up that position to become superintendent of the water supply for the manufacturers of Akron and Barberton, performing the duties of this office from 1902 until 1905. In the latter

JAMES H. CASE

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year he assisted in organizing the North American Mutual Fire Insurance Company, the home office being at Mansfield. The first policy was issued October 26, 1905. They started into business with policies in force of $773,850. On July 12, 1907, their boo!'s showed : Policies in force, $2,038,574.61, premiums paid, $75,264.52; fire losses paid, $21,505.61; contingent assets, $177,992.15. Mr. Hiltabidle is State agent and a member of the Board of Directors. The enterprise is one which has met with a hearty welcome and is in a very prosperous condition.

Captain Hiltabidle gained his title as cap- tain of Company B, Eighth Ohio Regiment, at Mansfield, and also during his long period of service with the Board of Public Works, when he was commanding officer.

In 1878 he was married to Roberta Cairns, of Plymouth, Ohio. They have one daugh- ter, Myrtle Rose, who graduated from the Akron public schools, in the class of 1907. With his family, Captain Hiltabidle belongs to Trinity Lutheran Church. He is a Thirty- second Degree Mason, and has held many of- fices in the local Masonie bodies. He is also an Odd Fellow, and a Knight of Pythias, past exalted ruler of the Akron Lodge of Elks. and belongs to the Masonic and Elk clubs. and to Harry Foster Camp. No. 331. Sons of Veterans.

JAMES H. CASE, who has been engaged in the drug business in AAkron for the past thirty-one years, is one of the city's most es- teemed citizens. Ile is also an honored vet- eran of the Civil War, and one of the few survivors of the Third Division of Cavalry, which gained distinction under their brave and beloved leader, the gallant General Cus- ter. Mr. Case was born in 1844. in old Mid- dlebury, and is a son of Simon S. and Jane (McDowell) Case.

Simon S. Case, a harness-maker by trade, was born in the State of New York and came to Akron among the early settlers. Later he engaged in general contracting, and he built an entire section of the C. A. & C. Railroad.

Still later lie went into the stoneware busi- ness, and was the first shipper of stoneware from Summit County by rail. His death took place in 1877.

James IT. Case entered the Federal army at the age of nineteen years, becoming a mem- ber of Company A, Second Regiment, Ohio Cavalry. This regiment was mustered into the service at Columbus, and it was first or- dered to Tennessee and Kentucky. It partici- pated in the battles of the Wilderness. Spott- sylvania, Mine Run. Hanover Court House, and all battles from the Wilderness to the surrender of Lee. After Wilson's Raid Mr. Case was taken sick and was confined to the hospital for two months in Baltimore and Wilmington. After rejoining his regiment he took part in the battles of Winchester, Berryville. Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek and Stony Creek. In October, 1863, Mr. Case ro- enlisted and remained in the service until after the final surrender of the Confederate forces, being honorably mustered out at St. Louis, Missouri. in September. 1865. His most thrilling war experience was during Wil- son's Raid, when he had his horse shot from under him. In recalling the various brave. commanders under whom he served, Mr. Case remembers the gallant General Custer, who was adored by his soldiers, who together keep green his memory in an annual gather- ing of the survivors of the old command. In 1907 Mr. Case attended the reunion held at Canandaigua, New York.

After the end of his military service, Mr. Case returned to Akron where he worked at the machinist's trade until 1876. He then engaged in the drug business in which he has continued ever since. He is a stanchi Repub- lican, and was a great admirer of the late Senator James G. Blaine, during whose candi- daey, Mr. Case's store was the Blaine head- quarters. He has served two terms in the City Council and has been postmaster at Pos- tal Station No. 4 ever since its organization.

In 1872, Mr. Case was first married to Ella Farrar. In April, 1890. he was married, sec- ond. to Mrs. Margaret Blocker. Fraternally,

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he is a Mason of high standing. He has been a member of Buckley Post, G. A. R., since its organization.

REED DEEDS, inventor, is the senior member of the firm of Reed Deeds & Son, builders and contractors at Cuyahoga Falls, and the patentee of the Deeds Monolithic Sys- tem of Concrete Construction, which provides forms, molds and methods for the erection and construction of all classes of buildings, with either solid or double walls, doing away with machine-made blocks. Mr. Deeds estab- lished himself in business at Cuyahoga Falls in 1889. He was born at Portersville, Butler County, Pennsylvania, July 11, 1848, and is a son of John and Ann Catherine (Wimer) Deeds. His family record includes an an- cestor who served on General Washington's staff in the Revolutionary War.

Philip Frederick Deeds, his paternal grand- father, operated a mill near Slippery Rock, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, but had lived in Butler County, where his son, John Deeds, was born, in 1806. In boyhood John Deeds learned the wheelright trade and later, when that business declined, took up carpen- tering. In 1857 he moved to Youngstown and continued in active business there until he retired, in 1879, when he went to live with a daughter at Keokuk, Iowa, where he died in 1883. He was one of the old-line Abo- litionists and in slavery days assisted many a "chattel" to escape from bondage. He was a strict Methodist and built a church near Portersville, and, unknown to the gen- eral public, constructed an underground tun- nel which led to a big stump in the woods. Down the tunnel from this stump, the operators of the Underground railroad con- dueted many fleeing slaves. Later he be- came an ardent Republican and at the out- break of the Civil War, offered his services, which were declined on account of his age, but he persisted in serving in the home guard. He was a man of most upright character and at various times honestly performed the du- ties of public office.

The mother of Mr. Deeds was a daugh-

ter of John Wimer, who resided near Porter-ville, Pennsylvania, where she

was born in 1813. Her father was one of eight brothers, who migrated from the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, in about 1790, to what was afterwards called Butler County, Pennsylvania. He saw military service in the Black Hawk War. Of the nine children born to John Deeds and wife, eight grew to maturity, namely: Thirzah, now de- ceased, who married John Ramp, of Cuya- hoga Falls, also deceased; Joseph who served three years in the Seventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was killed near Kingston, Georgia, during the Civil War; Hiram, now residing at Cleveland, who was for three years a member of the same regi- ment, and was wounded four times; Eliza- beth, who married Joseph Ramp, of Keokuk, Iowa, and died at Cuyahoga Falls; Wilbur, who served one year in the Civil War as a member of the Second Ohio Battery, and who died in 1906, at Noblesville, Indiana; Reed, who served in the Fourth In- diana Cavalry, but was special orderly at Brig- ade Headquarters of the First Brigade, Second Division, Wilson's Cavalry Corps; Minerva, who married Richard Reid, residing at Cuya- hoga Falls; and Frank, residing at Schenec- tady. New York. The mother of this family died in 1892. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Reed Deeds was eleven years of age when his father settled at Youngstown. Ohio. After completing his education he learned the carpenter's trade with his father, fol- lowing which he worked as a journeyman for a number of years, in Cleveland, Youngstown and Akron. In 1868 he came to Cuyahoga Falls, where he has since resided. In 1876 he began to work for H. B. Camp, building his shops, and thus he grad- ually worked into brick and cement contract- ing, which led up to the invention of his sys- tem of concrete construction. In 1878 he took up cement work, using some of the first Yeass Portland cement ever made in the United States. At Cuyahoga Falls he built John Walsh's residence, the Roethig Block,

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the Brand Block, and the power houses and barns for the .1. B. C. Railway, both at Cuya- hoga Falls and Bedford, and their additions to their Akron plant; also the chapel at Oak- wood Cemetery, and the power house for the Youngstown & Ohio River R. R. at West Point, Ohio. Other fine building that he has done includes his own handsome residence, which was completed in 1893, which is sit- uated on North Front Street, and in 1904 he built a cement house for his son, Wilber Clyde, who became his partner in business in 1902, when the firm name of Deeds & Son was adopted. His pay-roll averages about thirty men.

Mr. Deeds has always been more or less of an inventor and his machines have proved of remarkable utility. His patent on mono- lithic construction bears the number 787665, and that on hold molds No. 878664; he has also another on railroad water tanks. In the small space accorded to the present sketch it would be impossible to do full justice to Mr. Deed's invention of the monolithic concrete system. He has issued a clear and concise explanation of his invention which has been widely circulated, with the most gratifying results as to business. For some twenty-eight years Mr. Deeds has been a successful mason and builder and he has given a great deal of study to the use of concrete material, solving the problem as to its use at the smallest ex- pense and with the greatest amount of dura- bility. Mr. Deeds married Eliza Bradley, who was born at Cuyahoga Falls, December 17, 1849, a daughter of Robert and Margaret Bradley, of that place. Mrs. Deeds' father was born at Middletown, Connecticut, and accompanied his parents to Summit County, in childhood.

Mr. and Mrs. Deeds have had two children : Arthur, who died in childhood, and Wilber Clyde, who is in partnership with his father. Wilber Clyde Deeds was born December 1, 1875. at Cuyahoga Falls, and was educated in the schools of his native place, and at the Western Reserve Academy, at Hudson, where he was graduated in 1895. He then spent one year in the Ohio State University, taking a

course in mining engineering. He learned the brick-laying trade with his father, whose business partner he became, in 1902. On June 25, 1898, he enlisted in Company F, 10th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of which he was made corporal, for service in the Spanish-American War. Later he was transferred to the 11th Company of the Sig- nal Corps and in 1899 he accompanied that body to Cuba, where he was in service three and one-half months, and then returned and was honorably discharged at Savannah, Georgia. He is a member of the United Spanish-American War Veterans, of Camp Ward A. Wilford, at Akron.

Wilber C. Deeds married Ethel Dean, who is a daughter of Willian Spray, of Mantua, Ohio, and they have two children, Dorothy and Ethel. Mrs. Wilber C. Deeds is a mem- ber of the Disciples Church. She also, with her husband, belongs to the Falls Chapter, No. 245, Eastern Star. He is prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of Star Lodge, No. 187, Washington Chapter, No. 25, R. A. M., and Akron Commandery, K. T., No. 25. In politics he is a Republican.

Reed Deeds has always been identified with the Republican party, but his interests have lain in an entirely different direction from of- fice-holding and he has never been willing to consider any such proposition. He is, how- ever, a public-spirited citizen, one who has al- ways lent his influence in the direction of permanent improvements and substantial progress. He is not united with any religious body but liberally contributes to the support of the Congregational Church, to which Mrs. Deeds belongs. Fraternally he is a Mason, be- longing to Star Lodge, No. 187, also to Pa- vonia Lodge, No. 301, Knights of Pythias. Mrs. Deeds is a member of the Woman's Re- lief Corps, and it was through her untiring efforts that the fine flag polo was pur- chased and erected at the corner of Second and Broad Streets, she having the honor of being the first to raise the flag.

WILLIAM D. BAUER, a prosperous agri- culturist of Norton Township, who owns and

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operates a tract of 151 acres of fine farming land, situated on the Akron-Wadsworth road, about five miles west of Akron, was born in this township, June 14, 1863, and is a son of Joseph D. and Sarah (Surfass) Bauer.

Daniel Bauer, the grandfather of William D., was one of the first settlers of Norton Township, whence he came from Northamp- ton County, Pennsylvania, in 1843, and, lo- cating about one mile northwest of Loyal Oak, purchased land and eventually became the owner of several hundred acres. His son, Joseph D. Bauer, was but eleven years of age when he came here with the family. In about 1869 he located with his family on the farm now owned by Ed Laubaugh, and in the spring of 1888 settled at Loyal Oak, where Jo- seph D. Bauer died July 16, 1903. In March, 1894, Mr. Bauer purchased the present farm of his son William D., which the latter has been operating since 1895. Joseph D. Bauer was married to Sarah Surfass, who was born in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Andrew Surfass, who came to Norton Township a few years after the arrival of Daniel Bauer. Four children were born to Joseph B. and Sarah Bauer, namely: Wil- liam D .; Fietta E., who is the wife of Ed Lau- baugh ; and two who died in childhood.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 132

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