Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 41

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 41

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The parents of Mr. Grafton still reside on their farm in Jefferson County, where he was reared. He obtained a good district school education, and was trained to be a careful and capable farmer. He continued to

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live in Jefferson County for eight years fol- lowing his marriage, moving then to Medina County, where he remained for almost a year. In March, 1892, he bought his present farm in Norton Township, and here has been sinee engaged in farming, dairying ad fruit- growing. He devotes an acre to small fruit, finding a ready market for all he can pro- duce. He grows many potatoes, raising only the best varieties and giving them seientific care.

Mr. Grafton married Nora J. Swickard, who is a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Zimmerman) Swiekard, and who was born and reared in Jefferson County. They have had seven children, all surviving except Sid- ney, the sixth in order of birth, who died aged sixteen months. Those living are: Elvah. Lizzie, Clyde, Mabel, John and Ella.

Mr. Grafton is a member of the First Lu- theran Church at Barberton and is a member of the Church Conneil. For about two years he has been a member of the school board and several years before completed a service of four years.

J. B. LOOKER, president of the Western Reserve Security Company, of Akron, is one of the city's leading citizens, participating largely in its business and social life. and taking an interest in its development as well as in its good government. Mr. Looker was born at Cineinnati. Ohio, in 1873, and was reared and educated in his native city. ITe came to Akron in 1897, for some eight years previously having been in the rectifying business. For five years he was in business at Akron as a representative of Fleischman & Company, of Cineinnati. and then opened a restaurant and was additionally interested in a five and ten cent store at Columbus. Prior to Deeember, 1903. when Mr. Looker organ- ized the Western Reserve Security and Loan Company. he had been engaged in a bank- ing and loan business. TTe still operates two restaurant, one in Canton and another in Akron, they being the most select and high- elass places of the kind in the respective cities.

In 1893, Mr. Looker was married to Leta Lake, of Chicago, and they have three children: Adelaide, Florence and Helene. Mr. Looker is a thirty-second Degree Mason, and belonging to the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commandery at Akron and to Lake Erie Consistory at Cleveland. Ile is also a member of the Masonic and the Akron Lunch clubs.

GEORGE VIAALL. Akron has a number of substantial citizens living in easy retire- ment after a long and useful business life, and among these is George Viall, who was born in this city March 12. 1834, his parents being Thomas C. and Mahala (Atwood) Viall.

The father of Mr. Viall came to Akron in 1824, where he built both a saw- and a woolen-mill, and besides operating them he invested in a large amount of farm property in Summit County. He died when his only child, George, was about two years of age.

Mr. Viall completed his edneation in the schools of Akron, or old Middlebury, as that section of the city was then denominated, and was nineteen years old when he engaged in a grocery business at Old Forge. Two years later he purchased a boat and for three sum- mers plied with it on the canal. After that he was for three years in the grocery business in Middlebury, and continued it for three more in the Tappan Block. He next en- gaged in the stoneware business, which occu- pied him for eight years, and afterwards he was in the general merchandise business for nine years in Middlebury. Mr. Viall was one of Middlebury's most active business men for a long period, during a part of this time, in addition to the occupations above noted, being a representative of the United States Life Insurance Company, and also of the Cleveland Mutual Accident Insurance Com- pany. For some years he was secretary and treasurer of the Middlebury Clay Company, of which he was one of the incorporators.

On August 24, 1857, Mr. Viall was mar- ried (first) to Maria Reepsumer, who died February 17. 1877. Of the three children

LEWIS MILLER

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born to this union, the one survivor is Mrs.

Frank Comstock, residing at Akron. Mr. Viall married for his second wife, December 7, 1887, Mrs. Jennie (Thompson) Sweeney, a daughter of Duncan Thompson. Mrs. Viall was born in 1849, at Edinburg, Scotland, and was but one year old when her parents came to America and settled at East Liver- pool, Ohio. Nine years later they removed to Akron, where she was reared, being edu- cated in the old Sixth Ward school. By her former marriage, Mrs. Viall had three chil- dren: May and George, both residing in Chicago, Illinois, and Frank. residing at Lis- bon, Ohio, where he is engaged in a general mercantile business. Mr. Viall reared Ed- ward F. Carl, from childhood, and the latter is connected with the M. O'Neil Company, of Akron.

Mr. Viall has served in public offices in his native eity, at different times, having ever been interested in public movements and anxious to promote the general welfare. For thirty years he has been identified with the Odd Fellows, and he belongs also to the Knights of Honor. He is a member of the Broad Street Church of Christ, which he served many years as a deacon, and as ehair- man of the board of trustees. Advancing years have caused him to resign these offices, but not to relax his interest in the work of the church, or to eurtail his liberality toward it. Mrs. Viall is an active member of the Ladies' Aid Society of this church.

LEWIS MILLER. Few citizens of Akron, now passed off the scene of life, have more claims to remembrance than the late Lewis Miller, the genius who invented the Buckeye Mower and Reaper. He was born July 24. 1829, at Greentown, Stark County, Ohio, and his useful life elosed February 28, 1899.

Mr. Miller completed his education in the Academy at Plainfield, Will County, Illinois. From 1846 until 1851 he taught school dur- ing the winter seasons and worked as a plas- terer in the summers. All the time he was studying out inventions, many of which have been since patented and put on the market.

In 1851 he became a member of the firm of Ball, Aultman and Company, manufacturers of stoves, plows, threshers, and the old Hussey reaper. After the firm removed to Canton, Mr. Miller became superintendent of the plant. Then followed his invention of the Buckeye Mower and Reaper, and in 1865 of the Buckeye Table Rake and still later, the self-binders. To his inventive genius, Akron and other manufacturing cities of Ohio owe a large part of their prosperity. In 1864 works were ereeted at Akron for the further enlargement of the business, under the firm name of Aultman, Miller and Company, Mr. Miller being the president and superintendent of the organizations with which his name was connected. His capital became invested in numerous other manufacturing plants, par- ticularly at Akron and Canton, as well as in banks and other business organizations. He was a trustee of Mt. Union College, of Alle- gheny College and the Ohio Wesleyan Uni- versity, and at Akron was eonneeted promi- nently with educational work. Although a good citizen he was never a prominent poli- tician, being too busily engaged otherwise, but at various times he consented to serve on the City Council, and gave generously of his time to promote all civic measures of im- portance. Thousands each year enjoy the benefits of the Chautauqua Association, of which he was the originator and founder.

Mr. Miller was united in marriage, Septem- ber 16, 1852, to Mary V. Alexander, a native of Macoupin County, Illinois, who was born December 6, 1830. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom eight are now liv- ing, namely: Ira, who resides in Akron; Edward, also of Akron; Robert, postma-ter of Porto Rico; Lewis, residing at the family home in Akron; Mina, wife of the distin- guished inventor, Thomas A. Edison, of Llewellyn, New Jersey; Mary, who is single and resides at home; Grace, a teacher in a select school at Cleveland, and John B., who is associated with Mr. Edison in his scientific work. Those deceased are: Eva, who died just before reaching her sixteenth year: Jen- nie, who was the wife of Richard Marvin, who

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is also deceased; Theodore, who was killed in Porto Rico during the Spanish-American war.

WILLIAM J. EMERY, M. D., a well- known member of the medical fraternity at Akron, was born in 1860, near Lowell, Sen- eca County, Ohio, where he was reared and obtained his earhier education. Later he en- tered Buchtel College, where he was grad- uated Ph. B., in 1885. For two years fol- lowing his graduation. Dr. Emery was in the office of Ferdinand Schumaker, and he then entered upon the study of medicine, subso- quently becoming a student at the Western Reserve, where he was graduated M. D. in 1890. Ile immediately entered upon the practice of his profession at Akron. and has been fortunate in gaining the confidence and support of the publie through his acknowl- edged professional ability, winning an excel- lent status both as a physician and surgeon. Ile has identified himself with the leading medical organizations -- the Summit County. the Sixth Councillor District and the Ohio State Medical Societies. He has been city physician, and during 1891-2-3 he was phy- sician to the County Infirmary.

In 1894, Dr. Emery was married to Flora M. Stein, of Summit County. His business location is at No. 581 South Main Street. Fraternally, Dr. Emery is a Mason, a mem- ber of Adoniram Lodge, F. & A. M., and also of the Home Guards. Ile is identified religiously with Grace Reformed Church of Akron.

DAVID C. SMITH. a representative citi- zen of Clinton, who does an extensive busi- ness in hardware, paints, implements, bug- gies and harness, was born on the home farm cast of Clinton, Franklin Township, Summit County. Ohio, February 27, 1859, and is a son of Lewis and Elizabeth (Croft) Smith.

John Adam Smith, the grandfather of David C., was a substantial citizen of his native town in Germany, where he was mayor and professor in the High School. IIe came to this country with his three children, of whom Lewis, the youngest, was three years

old, and landed at Baltimore. Mr. Smith brought with him $7,000 in gold, which, in the few hours at night that were spent on the boat at the doeks in Baltimore, was stolen from him, and he was compelled to begin all over again in the new country. Sustain- ing his great loss with fortitude, this sturdy emigrant settled for a short time in Penn- sylvania, whence they came to the vicinity of Canton, Ohio, and located for a time on a farm. A small place was then purchased near Canal Fulton, Ohio, where John Adam Smith spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring at the age of 89 years. In spite of his great peenniary loss in early life, Mr. Smith had become a very successful man, and at the time of his death was rated one of the substantial men of his community. He had three children, Catherine, Elizabeth and Lewis.

Lewis Smith. father of David C., being the only son of his parents, was compelled to spend bis youth in hard labor on the home farms, and his period of schooling was limited to about eighteen months. After his marrige he lived for several years on a rented farm north of Canal Fulton, and then purchased eighty-one acres of fine land east of Clinton. Franklin Township, Sum- mit County, where he resided for abont thir- ty-three years. IIe then bought a farm of 160 acres west of Clinton, where his death of- curred twenty years later, when he was in his eighty-first year. Mr. Smith was married to Elizabeth Croft, who was born in Stark County, Ohio, and who died at the age of fifty-seven. Of this union there are living five children : Adam, who lives on the home place in Franklin Township: William II., of Clinton, Ohio; Jacob, who died in 1901; David C. and Mary E. Ruck, residing at Canal Fulton. After the death of his first wife, Lowis Smith was married to Louisa Fritz, who died in 1903, there being no chil- dren of the second union.

David C. Smith was reared on the home farm, attending the district schools, and when about nineteen years of age engaged in a threshing business with his brothers, which

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was continued for about ten years, with much success. At the end of this time Mr. Smith engaged in a hard lumber business on a large scale, but after conducting it for twelve years he sold out his interests therein, and on October 22, 1903, he purchased the stand of N. N. Housman and Company, and since that time has been engaged in the sale of hardware, paints, implements, buggies and harness, of which he carries a full line, his sons, Clarence D. and Thurman C. being in- terested in the business with him. With much business ability, Mr. Smith also com- bines a pleasing manner, which wins both business and personal friends.

On October 11, 1883, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Mary E. Huber, who is a daughter of Phillip Huber, and to this union there have been born eight children, namely : Dora, who married C. W. MeLaughlin, as-ist- ant cashier of the Fulton Bank; Clarence D .. Thurman T., Carrie, Ruth, Lewis, Miriam and Amelia.

Mr. Smith is a Republican in his political views, but he takes only a good citizen's in- terest in public matters. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of the Maccabees and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. With his family he belongs to the Lutheran Church, in which he is deacon.

K. H. HAYS, secretary of the Akron Cul- tivator Company, with which enterprise he has been identified since 1890, was born at Manchester, Ohio, in 1862. and is a member of an old and representative family of that section.

After leaving the Manchester schools, he entered the Ohio Northern University, and later attended Oberlin College, following which he taught school for eight years. He then came to Akron and entered the office of the Akron Cultivator Company, of which for the past eight years he has been score- tary. He has proved the affirmative in his own case of the much discussed question as to whether a college man makes a good busi- ness man. In 1888, Mr. Hays was married to Frances Everhard, who died in 1903, lear-

ing one daughter, Marguerite. Ile was mar- ried (second) in 1906 to Lena Wilson, a native of Akron. Mr. Hlays is a member of the First Church of Christ, and is one of its board of elders. Fraternally, he is connected with the order of Maccabees.

ILARVEY S. FIRESTONE, president of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, of Akron, was the founder of this important business organization, and its great success is mainly due to his own energy and business capacity. He was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1868, where he was reared and educated.

Mr. Firestone has been actively identified with business since early manhood, first en- gaging as a coal merchant at Columbus for one year, and then becoming associated with the Columbus Buggy Company, at Detroit, Michigan. In 1895 he drove a buggy equipped with the first rubber tire made by the company, and was so impressed with its superior qualities that he decided to embark in the manufacture of these tires if he could create a public demand for them. He turned out a fine quality of rubber tires, manufac- turing them at Akron, and demonstrated their value at Chicago, and the encourage- ment thus received determined him to go into the business on a large scale. He there- fore organized the Firestone Tire and Rub- ber Company, which was incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000, which has been increased to $500.000. The officers of the company are: H. S. Firestone, president and general manager: Will Christy, vice president; L. E. Sisler, treasurer; S. G. Cark- huff. secretary, and F. R. Talbott. assistant treasurer. with R. J. Firestone as sales man- ager. The business has grown to immense proportions, giving employment to 300 work- men.

In 1895 Mr. Firestone was married to Ida Belle Smith, of Jackson, Michigan, and they have three sons: Harvey S. Jr., Russell Allen and Leonard Kimball. Mr. and Mrs. Firestone are members of St. Paul's Episco pal Church. Mr. Firestone has a wide busi-

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ness and social acquaintance and belongs to the Portage Country Club and to the Chicago Athletic Club.

ALBERT G. MALLISON, who was one of the early settlers and first surveyors of Summit County, coming here in the capacity of a civil engineer during the construction of the Ohio Canal, was born in 1797, at Groton, Connecticut, and died at Akron, Feb- ruary 26, 1879, aged almost eighty-two years. When he was eleven years of age his parents, Amos and Clarissa (Newton) Mallison, moved to Berkshire County, Massachusetts, and thenee, in 1832, to Akron, settling on a farm that is now Wooster avenue, one of the choice residence districts of Akron. Land then acquired by Albert G. Mallison and hi- brother, Amos, is still owned by his descend- ants. Mr. Mallison was given good educa- tional advantages and also learned surveying. and his ability in this direction was recog- nized by the officials who had in charge the construction of the State line between Massa- chusetts and New York, the surveying being given to the young surveyor. After locating in Akron Mr. Mallison surveyed and platted a large part of the northern seetion of the city for Dr. Crosby. Mr. King and others. and in many of the old deeds of conveyance his name appears. Ile continued to be a prominent and useful citizen for many years, and his memory is kept green along with that of the other pioneer builders of Akron.

On June 22, 1843. Mr. Mallison married Cornelia G. Washburn, of Akron. Their family consisted of three children: Eveline, who married Ilorace G. Moon, residing at Akron: Albert Il., who is vice president of the Depositors' Savings Bank at Akron; and Amos, who died in 1885. Mrs. Mallison, the mother, died December 8, 1875.

PETER M. FRASE, one of Clinton's most substantial citizens, who is treasurer and cashier of the Clinton Savings Bank, is well known in banking circles throughout Sum- mit County. Mr. Frase was born on his father's farm in Chippewa Township, Wayne

County, Ohio, on the Summit County line, July 24, 1859, and is a son of John and Ann (Etling) Frase.

John Frase, the grandfather of Peter MI., was an emigrant in the early days from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and owned the land where was opened the first coal mine in that section of Wayne County, the old Chippewa mine. His son, John, who was a native of Wayne County, remained there all his life, engaged in agricultural pursuits, and died in 1892, at the age of seventy-two years. Mr. Frase married Anu Etling, also a native of Wayne County, Ohio, who died in 1905, aged about seventy-seven years. To Mr. and Mrs. Frase were born eight children: Noah, who resides in Franklin Township, Summit County; Catherine, who married William Deckerhoof: William, Peter Madison, John W .. Mary, who married Charles Applinger; Emma, who married Henry Slee, of Frank- lin Township, and Ida, who married C. Al- brecht of Akron.

Peter M. Frase attended the district schools of his native locality, and grew up on his father's farm until his marriage. when he started to operate his father-in-law's farm, where he continued for four years. He then came to Clinton, where he opened a general store with Henry Serfass, this partnership continuing for about eight years. Then Mr. Serfass sold his interests to C. S. Spangler, who was Mr. Frase's partner until June, 1893, when Mr. Frase retired from the firm. He then began to organize the bank, which was established in 1903 with a capital stock of $25,000, and the following officers: E. R. ITill, of Akron, president: Martin Lim- bach, of Clinton, vice president ; P. M. Frase, treasurer and cashier, and Fred Deutsch, sec- retary. Mr. Frase was also one of the or- ganizers of the Clinton Bell Telephone Com- pany and is a stockholder in the Clinton Mill- ing Company.

In November, 1883, Mr. Frase was mar- ried to Ella A. Serfass, daughter of Law- renee and Lydia Serfass, of Franklin Town- ship, Summit County, and four children have been born to this union, namely: Earl B.,

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who married Tura B. Spark ; John, Mildred and Drummond.

Mr. Frase is a Democrat in politics, and for four years served as township clerk. He is a charter member of the Knights of the Maccabees of Clinton. Mr. Frase, with his family, attends the Lutheran Church.

H. G. BRANDAU, vice president of the Ornamental Iron Work Company. of Akron, was born in 1876, at Pitt-burg, Pennsylvania. where he was reared -and educated and gained his first knowledge along the lines of his present business, in boyhood entering an iron and wire factory in his native city. Working at his trade, Mr. Brandan visited different sections of the country, reaching Akron in 1899, where he entered the em- ploy of the Burger Iron Company. Here he met Frederick Zindel, like tastes and sim- ilar employment bringing about a business association which resulted in the organiza- tion of the Ornamental Iron Works Com- pany in February, 1906. This successful business enterprise was incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000, the officers being Fred Zindel, president; H. G. Brandau, viee- president, and W. A. Boesche, seeretary and treasurer. All the officers are young. enter- prising. capable and practical men. The busi- ness of the company is the manufacturing of all kinds of ornamental iron and wire goods. In 1902 Mr. Brandau was married to Pauline Zindel. and they have one child. Lillian.

WILLIAM BARNETT, general contractor. senior member of the contraeting firm of Barnett & O'Marr, has been a resident of Akron since 1871. He was born in April, 1846, at Exeter, England. where he was reared, and where he served his apprentice- ship to the brick and stone mason's trade.

Shortly after coming to Akron, Mr. Bar- nett began to work on the Schumacher house, in the same summer assisted in the building of Buchtel College, and within three years after locating in this city. began contraeting. His first contract was the building he erected on the corner of Akron and Chestnut Streets,

and later he built the Market House, on the corner of Howard and Cherry Streets, Mr. Whitelaw's Temple of Fashion on Howard Street, and many more of the substantial buildings which line that busy thoroughfare. Mr. Barnett is also a member of the firm of Gardiner & Barnett, paving contractors, which firm paved Main Street from Buchtel Avenue to Tallmadge Street, Prospect Street to Perkins Street, and Union Street from BIutt to Buchtel Avenues. Mr. Barnett has also done a large amount of paving in neighbor- ing towns, and has a reputation for business integrity second to none in this city.

Mr. Barnett was married in England to Lucy Stankum, and they have five children, namely: Emma, who married George Con- ger, residing at Akron: Charlotte, who mar- ried Frederick Dodge, also a resident at 1k- ron; Alice, who married Carl Colby, resid- ing at Passaic, New Jersey; Jeannette, who married A. Sadler. and lives in Akron, and Louise, who married William Curtin, also living in Akron. With his family, Mr. Bar- nett belongs to the Episcopal Church.

Mr. Barnett is in sympathy with lahor or- ganizations and helped to organize the first brick-layers' Union at Akron. For eight years he was treasurer of this body, and as their delegate voted for the first nine-hour system, at their convention. Until eleven years ago, when he suffered from partial paralysis, he was a noted athlete and he for- merly gave instruction in boxing. Since be- ing incapacitated he has received $3,000 from the disability fund of the order of Macea- bees, of which he has long been a member. He has twice visited Europe since locating at Akron, and is a man whose ideas have been broadened through travel and mingling with men of all classes. He is recognized as one of AAkron's best citizens.

HENRY FREDERICK. whose valuable farm of 200 acres, situated in Portage Town- ship, has been in his possession since June, 1867. has developed this property into its present high state of cultivation from a tract of native timber. He was born at Doyles-

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town, Wayne County, Ohio, March 20, 1834, and is a son of Jacob and Margaret ( Rasor) Frederick.

Jacob Frederick was born in Westmore- land County, Pennsylvania, and accompanied his father, Thomas Frederick, in boyhood to Columbiana. County, Ohio. When he was fourteen years old, the family made another change, removing to Wayne County, Ohio, where Thomas Frederick bought a half sec- tion of land, which included the present site of Doylestown. At that village Jacob Fred- erick was married to Margaret Rasor, who was a daughter of Christopher Rasor, who came from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, to Summit County when Margaret was a child, and she was reared at Wadsworth. In November, 1842, Jacob Frederick bought a farm in Copley Township, on which his son, Henry, was reared, and where both the pa- rents died. They were good, Christian peo- ple, who led a peaceful life and did their full duty to their neighbor.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 41

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