Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 38

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 38

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For a period of four months he served in the Civil War as a member of Company B, Eighty-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. being stationed at Camp Chase, Colum-

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bus, Ohio. He enlisted in May, 1862, and was discharged on the 27th of the following September by reason of the expiration of his term of enlistment. Company B was organ- ized at Hudson, Ohio, and was composed of students of the Western Reserve College, the captain being C. A. Young, later a noted pro- fessor at this institution, Dartmouth College, and Princeton University.

After his army experience and graduation from college, Mr. Stuart was engaged in teach- ing for four years, during which period he was principal of Shaw Academy, at Collamer, Ohio, for two years. In the meantime he had assiduously applied himself to the study of the law, and with such success that in 1866 he was admitted to the bar. He entered upon the practice of his profession in partnership with Hon. S. P. Wolcott, at Kent, Ohio, where he continued until May, 1870. He then came to Akron and formed a law partner- ship here with C. P. Humphrey. Mr. Stuart's abilities were soon recognized, and he served Summit County as prosecuting attorney from January, 1877 to 1880, having previously served as. city solieitor of Akron from 1871 to 1877. In 1890 he was elected to the Probate Bench of Summit County and served two terms, from February 9, 1891, to February 9, 1897. His work in that position was char- aeterized by the same qualities which have always commended him to the people-great industry, ability of a high order and fear- lessness in the performance of duty. Sinee retiring from the bench he has been engaged in the practice of the law with his son at Akron. He is a direetor in the Central Sav- ings & Trust Company and in the Permanent Savings and Loan Company.

Judge Stuart was married May 11, 1864, to Harriet E. Whedon, who is a daughter of Harvey Whedon, a former prosecuting attor- ney of Summit County, now deceased. They have one son, Fred II., a graduate of Buch- tel College, admitted to the har in 1889, who is practieing law in partnership with his father. The firm of Stuart & Stuart having offices at No. 402 Hamilton Building, handles a large part of the important litiga-

tion in Summit County. Judge Stuart re- sides at No. 24 Fir Street, and his son at No. 31 North Prospect Street.

NEWTON CHALKER, a retired law- yer of Akron, who has been identified with both the business and professional life of the city for a number of years, is generally ree- ognized as one of Akron's prominent men. Mr. Chalker was born at Southington, Trum- bull County, Ohio, September 12, 1842, and is a son of James, Jr., and Eliza J. Chalker.

The Chalker family originated in England and became established about 1640 in Con- necticut, and in 1805 in Ohio. James Chalker, the grandfather of Newton Chalker, was born at Saybrook. Connecticut, where he married Merey Norton, and with his wife and infant son he came to the Western Reserve, loeating in Southington, Trumbull County, Selecting a location in the midst of the forest, he built a cabin of logs, and entered upon a pioneer existence. He lived until 1867, his span of life covering ninety years, and the death of his aged wife but shortly preceding his own. They reared thirteen children-Or- rin, Joseph, Edmond, James, Phœbe, Anna, Polly, Calvin, Daniel, Philander, Harrison, Allen and Mercy.

James Chalker, Jr., the father of Newton, was born in Southington, June 15, 1811. His educational opportunities were confined to three winter terms in an old log sehoolhouse, situated one mile east of Southington Center, but by mueh reading he became in after years well versed in history, and was also a thor- ough student of the Bible. When a young man he purchased on eredit a tract of fifty aeres of woodland, located two miles west of Southington Center, where, after years of carnest labor, he established a comfortable home for himself and family. He eventual- Iv became one of the largest land owners in the township, having added to his original property from time to time. Mr. Chalker was married (first) to Eliza Jane Hyde, of Farmington, who died in 1849, leaving three children: Byron, who became a farmer, and died in Southington at the age of fifty-two

NEWTON CHALKER

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years; Newton, subject of this article; and Co- lumbus, who died at the age of twenty-seven years; another child, Benson, died in infancy. In 1851 Mr. Chalker was married (seeond) to Adeline Timmerman, who was born in the state of New York, and they had two daugh- ters, Mary Jane and Bertha. The former married A. J. Morris, a resident of Southing- ton, and died in her thirty-seventh year. The latter became the wife of Thomas McConnell, a

resident of Youngstown, Ohio. James Chalker died September 23, 1893, having passed his eighty-second birthday. For years he was a pillar of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Newton Chalker attended the district schools until he was fourteen years of age, after which, for six years, at irregular inter- vals, he was a student at the Western Reserve Seminary, West Farmington, in the mean- while becoming a very successful district school teacher. Prior to enlisting for service in the Civil War, in the spring of 1862, he had taught school in his home neighborhood and at Braceville, Southington, Parkman and Champion, Ohio, and, after his return at Litchfield, Michigan. When twenty years of age he offered his serviees in defense of his country, enlisting in Company B, Eighty-sev- enth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which belonged to the department of the army then under the command of General George B. McClellan. The most important military event of his teri of service was the protracted battle of Harper's Ferry, in which the Union forces were captured by those of Stonewall Jackson, the latter having a very much larger force. In the fall of 1862, on account of the expiration of its term of enlistment. the Eighty-seventh regiment was mustered out, and the members who had survived its many dangers returned to their homes, Mr. Chalker being one of them.

In the spring of 1863, Mr. Chalker entered Allegheny College. at Meadville, Pennsyl- vania, where he was graduated in June, 1866, with the degree of B. A., later receiving that of M. A. During 1866-7 he served as prin- eipal of Dixon Seminary, at Dixon, Illinois,

and in the year following he accepted the su- perintendeney of the public schools at Dar- lington, Wisconsin. But while successful to a flattering degree as an educator, this was not the full extent of his ambition. In Septem- ber, 1868, therefore, after some preliminary preparation, he entered the Albany Law School, and in 1869 he was graduated with the degree of B. L. In the fall of that year he entered upon the practice of his profes- sion at Cameron, Missouri, where he remained until 1874. He then returned to Ohio, in the summer of that year loeating in Akron, since which time this city has been his home.

Mr. Chalker continued actively engaged in the practice of law until 1894, when he began to give the greater part of his attention to his other large and varied interests. He was

one of he founders of the Peoples' Savings Bank at Akron, and of the Savings Bank at Barberton, owning a large amount of stock, and serving on the Board of Directors of the former institution. He owns a large amount of property, ineluding a farm adjoining South- ington, which he now makes his legal resi- dence. He has purchased and improved a number of traets in Summit County, several of these being new additions to Akron, notably that choice residence section known as North Hill.

After giving up his law practice, Mr. Chalker, in 1895-6, made a busy trip around the globe, having previously visited, by pref- erence, almost every interesting portion of his own land. Among the countries he visited on this trip were Ireland, England, Scotland, France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Nubia, India, Burmah, China, Japan and our own Sandwich Islands, in all of which he found much to interest a man of cultured mind.

Mr. Chalker is identified politically with the Republican party. Since 1892 he has ben a member of Buckley Post, Grand Army. of the Republic, and has served as its com- mander. One of his distinguishing charac- teristics is his civic pride in regard to .1k- ron, and another, his tender memory of the old home where he was reared. and of the lo-

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cality with which his parents and grandpar- ents were so closely identified. The old Meth- odist Church in which they worshipped has profited many hundreds of dollars by his bounty in the past few years. There is also just being completed at Southington the New- ton-Chalker High School, which Mr. Chalker has erected at a cost of $20,000, and which was donated by him to the Board of Education, the donation ceremonies taking place on August 22, 1907: His charities have always been large, their full extent being known only to himself. His acquaintance is extensive, and his friendships inelude individ- uals of taste, learning and culture, all over the world.

HENRY MARCELLUS HAGELBARGER, prosecuting attorney of Summit County, serving his second term, was born at the ham- let of Spring Mountain, Coshocton County, Ohio, December 2, 1857. son of Henry and Louise (Raley) Hagelbarger.

The late Henry Hagelbarger wa- a farmer of Monroe Township. Coshocton County, serving several terms as a justice of the peace. For three years in the Civil War he was a faithful sol- dier in the Union ariny, first as a member of Company A, Sixteenth Regiment, Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, in which he enlisted April 24. 1861. for three months. He enlisted Sep- tember 18, 1861, in Company I, Fifty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, being a sergeant of said company, and was trans- ferred November 18, 1862. to Battery II, Fifth Regiment. United States Artillery, and was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga, He died March 25, 1895. His widow sur- vives.

H. M. Hagelbarger was reared on a farm and secured his primary educational training in the local schools. Ile taught school three tern.s, and later attended the Ohio Northern University at Ada, subsequently studying law in the law office of ex-Lieutenant-Governor A. W. Jones, at Youngstown, Ohio. In Feb- ruary, 1892, he came to Akron to accept the position of official stenographer for the courts of Summit County, to which he was appointed

by the late Judge A. C. Voris, and which he acceptably filled for seven and a half years. Having been admitted to the bar in October, 1897, he resigned this position and began the practice of law in September, 1899, having his law office with that of Attorneys Young & Wanamaker. In politics Mr. Hagelbarger is a Republican. In November, 1901, he was elected prosecuting attorney of Summit County, tak- ing the office in January, 1902. In the fall of 1904 he was re-elected. In February, 1902, he formed a law partnership with N. O. Mather, under the firm name of Hagelbarger & Mather, which continned three years, and when it was dissolved. Mr. Hagelbarger moved his office to the court house.

On September 10, 1895, Mr. Hagelbarger was married to Martha May Jones, daughter of William II. and Sarah ( Mustill) Jones, of Akron. They have two sons and two daugh- ters, 'viz .: Paul Raley, Ralph Henry, Martha Louise and Sara. The family attend the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church at Akron. Mr. Hagelbarger being a member of its board of trustees. He is a Thirty-second Degree Mason, is a past master of Adoniram Lodge, F. & A. M., and for three years has been dis- triet lecturer for the Twenty-first Masonie Dis- trict. He is also a member of the Sons of Veterans, and in 1902 was Junior Viee Com- mander of the Ohio Division of the Sons of Veterans, and is at present Division Coun- selor.

IION. JACOB ADAMS KOIILER, presi- dent of the People's Savings Bank, at Akron, and senior member of the law firm of Kohler, Kohler & Mottinger, with offices in the Ar- rade Building, has been prominently identi- fied with the business and professional life of this city, and also with the public affairs of this section of Ohio. Mr. Kohler was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, August 15. 1835, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Slanker) Kohler.

When the subject of this sketch was an in- fant his parents moved to Franklin Township, Summit County, Ohio, and he obtained his education in the district schools of that local-

HON. JACOB A. KOHLER

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ity and at Lodi Academy. In early manhood he learned the cabinet-maker's trade, but later turned his attention to the law, for which he prepared under Attorney N. W. Goodhue, at Akron, and was admitted to the bar in 1859. During many of the years spent in the prac- tice of his profession he was alone, but at other times was in partnership, first with IIon. Sidney Edgerton, later, Rollin W. Sadler, and still later, with Harvey Musser, all once lead- ing members of the Summit County bar. Judge Kohler served two terms, from 1868 to 1872, as prosecuting attorney of Summit County. In 1880 he was elected a member of the State Legislature, serving until 1885; from 1886 until 1888, he served as attorney- general of Ohio, and in November, 1895, he was elected judge of the Court of Common Pleas. for Medina, Lorain and Summit Coun- ties. He proved an able judge and retired from the bench with the respeet and esteem of all those familiar with the able manner in which he had performed his duties.

Judge Kohler has been more or less inter- ested in building and improving for some years. In 1882, in association with his friend, the late Russell A. Alger, then of Detroit, Michigan, but formerly of Akron, he erected the Arcade Block in this city, a five-story structure on Howard Street, which is the larg- est and most modern of all the city's build- ing- devoted to business purposes. He owns a large amount of property in this section and is continually adding to its value by improv- ing it.

Judge Kohler was married May 16, 1860, to Frances H. Coburn, who is the only child of the late Dr. Stephen UI. Coburn. one of AAk- ron's capitalists, whose estate is managed by the judge.

Judge and Mrs. Kohler have been the par- ents of two children-Ifurlbut Stephen, born January 20, 1868, and George Coburn. born November 17, 1870, both graduates of Yale College. Judge Kohler owns an impos- ing residence at. No. 315 East Market Street.

EDWIN F. VORIS, a prominent attorney at Akron, senior member of the firm of Voris,

Vaughan & Vaughan, with offices in the Dob- son Block, was born July 31, 1855, at Ak- ron, and is a son of the late General Alvin C. and Lydia (Allyn) Voris. He was grad- uated in 1872 from the Akron High School, and in the following September entered Buch- tel College, where he was graduated June 30, 1875. He entered the Harvard Law School, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was grad- uated there June 27, 1877. Early in the fol- lowing October he was admitted to the bar at Cleveland, Ohio. He first located for prac- tice at St. Louis, being admitted to the bar in the state of Missouri, and was associated there with the well known law firm of J. M. and C. H. Crum, from June, 1878, until February, 1879. Upon his return to Akron, he entered into partnership with his father, General Alvin C.Voris, under the firm name of Voris and Voris, which association continued until General Voris was called to the Common Pleas Bench. Mr. Edwin F. Voris then en- tered into partnership with Charles Baird, with whom he practiced for about three years. Upon the death of the late John C. Means, Mr. Voris was appointed to fill out the unex- pired term as prosecuting attorney, and faith- fully and efficiently performed the duties of the office from May, 1886, until January, 1887.

On October 21, 1879, Mr. Voris was mar- ried to Lizzie U. Slade, of Columbus, Ohio. Their family numbers five children-Lydia, William S., Elizabeth, Edwin F., Jr., and Marion. Politically Mr. Voris is identified with the Republican party. but has never sought political honors. For a number of years he was a member of the Akron Board of Education. He is interested in the Sons of Veterans, and was one of the organizers of Camp 27. of that Society.

EDWARD II. BOYLAN, senior member of the well-known law firm of Boylan & Brouse, located at No. 23 Doyle Building. Akron, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1875, and is a son of Edward Boylan, form- erly a railroad man of that section. Mr. Boy- lan was left an orphan when he was a child

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of but ten years. To be placed face to face with the most serious problems of life in early childhood is a hard fate, and the boy who meets such a situation with a brave heart and has the courage and ambition to conquer fortune in spite of such initial difficulties, well deserves success. Mr. Boylan first learned telegraphy, working during the summers, but attending school in the winters. He thus ac- quired the means to take two years in the literary department of the University of Michigan. He then resumed telegraphic work, reading the preliminary principles of law in his leisure time, and when, in 1900, he had secured sufficient capital, he became a student of law at the University of Michi- gan. From this institution he was subse- quently graduated, and was admitted to the Michigan bar. Ile later returned to Ohio and, after taking the necessary examination in his native state, was admitted to practice in its eourts, and soon after entered the law office of Dayton Doyle. Ile continued to prae- tice alone until October 8, 1906, when he entered into his present partnership with Ed- win W. Brouse, under the firm name of Boy- lan & Brouse.

Politically Mr. Boylan is a Republican, and takes a lively interest in public matters and city affairs. Fraternally he is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Pythias, a Macca- bee, and a Woodman, in all these organiza- tions being valued for his bright and helpful qualities. Ile belongs also to the Masonic Club, and is a member of the First Presby- terian Church of Akron.

F. B. THEISS. vice-president and executive officer of the First National Bank of Akron, and president of the First National Bank of Wadsworth, besides being a well-known law- ver, is one of the leading financiers of this section of Ohio, and is identified with many successful business enterprises, both in Akron and in other parts of Summit County. He was born in Northampton Township, Sum- mit County. Ohio, in 1866, and is a son of Christian Theiss, a native of Germany.

The venerable parents of Mr. Theiss both

reside in Northampton Township. They were both born in Germany and after emigrating, resided for a time in Pennsylvania, coming to Summit County in 1865. In maidenhood, his mother was Charlotte Noe. She has reached her seventieth year, while her hus- 'band is seven years her senior. They live re- tired on their farm and are respected and esteemed in their community.

F. B. Theiss completed the ordinary public school course in his native township and then entered Buchtel College, where he remained for four and one-half years. Ile then began to read law with the firm of Oviatt & Allen, and in 1888 was admitted to the bar. He continued with the same legal firm for five years, and then opened an office of his own. He is a member of the Summit County Bar Association. In addition to his above-named interests, Mr. Theiss is a director in the Amer- iean Sewer Pipe Company and the American Strawboard Company, and as stockholder and director, is interested in many other prosper- ing concerns. In 1889 Mr. Theiss. was mar- ried to Addie Smith, who is a daughter of John Smith, of Northampton Township. They have one child, Ruth. Mr. Theiss is a member of the First Church of Christ, at Ak- ron.

IION. ALVIN COE VORIS. Among the distinguished sons of Summit County whose memories are enshrined in the hearts of its best citizens, and whose gallant deeds are re- corded on the page of our country's history, few, if any, occupy a more honorable place than he whose name stands at the head of this biography.

General Voris was born in Stark County, Ohio, April 27, 1827. His father, Judge Peter Voris, was for many years one of the best known citizens of the county -- a man of high standing in his profession and promi- nent in public life. Elected county surveyor in 1843. Peter Voris successfully performed its duties for the full term of three years, and in 1847 was chosen one of the two represent- atives which Summit County was in that year entitled to in the State Legislature. his col-

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league being Captain Amos Seward, of Tall- madge. In 1850 he was appointed by Gov- ernor Ford associate judge of the Court of Common Pleas, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Judge Samuel A. Wheel- er, which office he held until the new consti- tution went into effect, in February, 1852.

Alvin C. Voris was given a liberal educa- tion at Twinsburg Institute and at Oberlin College. Having his father's taste for a pro- fessional career, he studied law, and was ad- mitted to the bar on June 20, 1853. He had previously been deputy county clerk for about two years, and had also, from 1851 to August, 1852. performed the duties of probate judge, to which office Charles G. Ladd had been elected under Summit County's new constitu- tion. Judge Ladd's health never permitted him to assume the duties of this office, and young Voris was appointed deputy clerk by him and very acceptably performed the pro- bate business of the county until, upon the judge's death, his snecessor was elected.

From this time on Mr. Voris went steadily forward. He soon became noted as one of the ablest members of the bar, and in 1859 he was elected, in connection with Judge Sylves- ter HI. Thompson, of Hudson, to represent Summit County in the State Legislature. In this body he served until 1860.

The serious condition of public affairs, and the outbreak of the Civil War, brought many changes to people in every walk of life. Lay- ing aside for the time being all personal am- bition with respect to his profession, Mr. Voris enlisted as a private in the Twenty- ninth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was being recruited by Major Lewis P. Buckley for the three years' service. "Before the organization was completed. however, Governor William Dennison tendered him a second lieutenant's commission, with author- ity to recruit men for an entirely new regi- ment. The recruits secured by him were finally consolidated with others, raised in other portions of the state, into the Sixty- seventh Regiment, with Otto Burstenbinder as colonel and A. C. Voris as lieutenant-colonel.

The Sixty-seventh was mustered into the

service at Camp Chase, December 22, 1861, and by January 19th being ready for active duty, was sent into the field in Western Vir- ginia. March 22, 1862, it reported to Gen- eral Banks, at Winchester, Virginia, and on the following day, Lieutenant-colonel Voris being in full command, had its first brush with the enemy, "driving the opposing forces till past midnight as far south as Kearnstern." Early on the morning of the 24th it was called to engage the enemy under Stonewall Jack- son, being the first regiment to enter the fight.

Being ordered to support a battery of artil- lery, the regiment, under the impetuous lead of Colonel Voris, crossed an open field, three- fourths of a mile, on a double-quick, exposed to the enemy's fire, the Colonel forming his men on the left of General Tyler's brigade, within point-blank range of a rebel battery protected by a stone wall." While engaged in arranging his men Colonel Voris was wounded in the thigh, but supported by two of his men, he seized the colors and started for- ward. After giving the enemy two or three volleys he ordered a charge, which was made with such vigor and impetuosity that the enemy broke and fled, this being one of the very few instances on which Stonewall Jack- son was discomforted in his brilliant military career. The Sixty-seventh lost in this battle fifteen killed and thirty-two wounded.

After some heavy marching the regiment was ordered to reinforce the army of General MeClellan on the James. and on June 26 em- barked on the steamer Herald and the barge Delaware. before the end of their journey be- ing in great peril from a severe storm. during which the hawser connecting the barge and steamer parted, leaving the barge at the merey of the wind and waves. Men, horses and equipment were washed overboard and lost. The resene of the survivors was largely due to Colonel Voris, who was himself on the barge, and who lost all his military trappings.

The Sixty-seventh remained with the Army of the Potomac until the evacuation of the Peninsula in December. 1862, when it was transferred to North Carolina. and thence,

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 38

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