Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 42

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 42

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Ilenry Frederick, in his boyhood, attended the district schools in Wayne County, and later in Copley Township, and assisted his father on the home farm until he married, in 1858. Ile then rented in Copley Town- ship a farm which was then owned by John C. Stearns, and which is now occupied by William Waggoner. After residing there for three years, he moved to a seventy-eight-acre farm north of the White Elephant Church. in Copley, renting it for eighteen months and then buying it. Mr. Frederick lived on that farm for eighteen months and then sold it and moved to Clark's Mills for a resi- dence of six months, after which he lived for a year on a rented farm of 240 acres. About this time Mr. Frederick, together with Royal Brockway, bought the place on which he now resides, the whole tract containing 546 acres. This enterprise was entered into in May, 1867, and in the following fall, the partners divided their land. Mr. Frederick keeping 235 acres, with the improvements. Since then he has bought thirty acres of the Brockway part on the west side, and seventy- one acres of the Sherbondy plat, selling a

portion of his land in 1904. He has de- voted his attention to general farming and dairying. During his first five or six year- on this land, he was engaged in a lumber business to a large extent, but since then has paid attention exclusively to raising large crops and to operating his first-class dairy, keeping twenty-six head of cows.

On May 20, 1858, Mr. Frederick was mar- ried to Ellen Viers, who was reared in Nor- ton Township, Summit County, and who is a daughter of James MeClintock Viers. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick have three children, namely: Charlotte, residing at home; James MeHenry, who is a graduate of Amherst Col- lege, and resides at Lakewood, where he is superintendent of the schools, and Ulysses Grant, who is secretary of the U. G. Fred- erick Lumber Company, of which his father is president.

Mr. Frederick has long been prominent in township and county affairs. From 1876 until 1882 he served as a member of the County Board of infirmary directors; he has frequently been township trustee and a mem- ber of the School Board, and in 1889 he was elected county commissioner. He is a mem- ber of the First Church of Christ and has served for years on its Board of Trustees.

R. E. ARMSTRONG, secretary and treas- urer of the L. W. Camp Company, manu- facturers of all kinds of tile, at Akron, bas been a resident of this eity for the past dec- ade. He was born at Kent, Portage County. Ohio, and is a son of the late William Arm- strong. He was reared and educated in his native place .. and after leaving school learned the printer's trade. For about seven years he was in the employ of the Werner Com- pany, at Akron, and later was with the H. B. Camp Company, manufacturers of tile. for several years. When the L. W. Camp Company in the same line, was organized. in 1902. he became its secretary and treasurer, and has continued as such ever since. He is also secretary in the Akron Fireproofing Company, vice president of the Colonial Sign & Insulator Company, and vice president of

CAPT. GEORGE BILLOW

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the Factory Oil Company. Ile is a man of system, having an easy grasp of business, and performs the duties attendant upon his re- sponsible position with ready efficiency. In 1900 Mr. Armstrong was married to Grace Camp, daughter of H. B. Camp. Ile has two children: Dorothy and Alice.

CAPT. GEORGE BILLOW, president of the Akron Masonie Temple Company, has been established since 1875 in an undertaking business at Akron, which is now conducted under the firm style of Billow & Sons. He was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, April 2, 1833, and accompanied his parents to the United States in 1844.

He was reared to the age of sixteen years on his father's farm near Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio, and then learned the trade of wagon and carriage making, which he fol- lowed at Tallmadge and Akron until July, 1862, when he enlisted for service in the Civil war. From a private in the ranks of Com- pany I, 107th Regiment Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, he was regularly promoted, for effi- cient service and soldierly qualities, to the captaincy of the company, and did duty as brigade and post commissary at Fernandina, Florida, and as local provost marshal at Jack-

sonville. He received his discharge at Charlestown, South Carolina, July 10, 1865, and was mustered ont of the service at Cleve- land, Ohio, July 26th, following.

After the honorable termination of his mil- itary service, Captain Billow returned to AAk- ron, where he was engaged in a grocery busi- ness for some two years. Later he took charge of another grocery enterprise, subso- quently going on the road as traveling sales- man for about eighteen months in the inter- exts of a stoneware house. About this time he was led to make investments in Alabama which proved unprofitable. He returned in April. 1875. to Akron, where shortly after- ward he engaged in the undertaking business, subsequently admitting his sons to partner- ship. In connection with the mortuary de- partment, an ambulance and invalid ear- riago service is also conducted. The firm's

place of business is located at the corner of Mill and Ash Streets. Captain Billow is a well-known and very highly regarded citi- zen.

On September 19, 1854, Captain Billow was married to Mary Fink, of Akron, and they have had eight children, namely: Anna. George W., Charles Fernando, Ida. Albert C .. Jacob L., Edwin M., and Claire. The family home is located at No. 110 Beck avenue. For his services in behalf of Masonry. Captain Billow has been honored with the 33d degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. Ile is also an Odd Fellow.

FRED ZINDEL, president of the Orna- mental Iron Work Company, of Akron, has been a resident of this city for eighteen years, and during this time has been connected with a number of its great manufacturing en- terprises. Although a comparatively young man, Mr. Zindel has reached a prominent position in the city's commercial life and stands high in his special line of work. He was born in 1876, in Austria, and was twelve years of age when he came to America and located at Akron.

Mr. Zindel's first industrial connection was with the Diamond Match Company, with which organization he remained for five years, during this period being placed in charge of different departments successively and acquiring an excellent knowledge of the business. From the Diamond Match Com- pany he went to the Burger Iron Company. where he was employed for eleven years. ITere, even before he had completed his ap- prenticeship, he was made foreman and con- tinned in that responsible position until he severed his relations with that concern. With this much experience behind him, Mr. Zin del decided to go into business for himself. and in February. 1906. he organized the Or- namental Iron Work Company at Akron. It was incorporated with a capital stock of $10.000. with Fred Zindel as president: H. G. Brandan, vice president: W. A. Bocsche as secretary and treasurer. The company is engaged in the manufacture of all kinds of

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ornamental iron and wire work. The sue- cess which has been achieved by these young men in their enterprise is proof both of their ability and of the fact that the business field was open to just such a concern at the time they launched it. In 1898 Mr. Zindel was married to Lizzie Weirath, of Akron, and they have one child, Edna.

SOLOMON KOPLIN, one of Portage Township's best-known and most highly es- teemed residents, resides on his valuable farm of sixty-nine acres, which is situated on the Merriman road, one-half mile northwest of Akron. He was born at Wadsworth, Medina County, Ohio, March 3, 1828, and is a son of Christian and Magdalena (Baughman) Koplin.

Christian Koplin accompanied his father, Mathias Koplin, from Maryland, and they settled on a farm in Chippewa Township, Wayne County. The Koplins were very early settlers there, and on that farm the grandfather died. Christian Koplin re- mained there until after his marriage to Magdalena Baughman, who was born in Pennsylvania, and who was a daughter of Lorentz Banghman, an early settler in Me- dina County. After his marriage, Christian Koplin moved to Wadsworth Township, Medina County, where he bought a farm, but he died in the following year, when only thirty-three years of age. He left his widow with three children, namely: Solomon, sub- ject of this sketch; David, who resides in Florida, aged seventy-seven years, and Anna Maria, who is the widow of Nicholas Edick and resides in New Mexico.

The father's death left the little family badly off. They secured but $100 from the farm, but Mrs. Koplin purchased five acres of land, and she had learned the weaver's trade, so her efforts supported the family until the sons were able to assist. The little log cabin home was never without bread. She was a woman of great capacity and well dleserved the gratitude of her children.

When he was eighteen years of age, Solo- mon Koplin left home to learn wagon-mak-

ing, his brother leaving about the same time to learn the tanning business. During the first year, Solomon received seven dollars a month, and he was thus able to relieve his mother of his support, purchase good clothes and to show a balance of $44 at the end of the year. On September 7, 1850, he was married to Sarah Miller, who is a daughter of George Miller, who owned 237 acres of land in Summit County. The Miller and Koplin families came to Portage Township together, and together they farmed this large traet of land. For two years after marriage Mr. Koplin and wife lived at Wadsworth, but in 1853 they came to their present farm, which was a part of the Miller property. George Miller Iater bought the interest of the heirs of his father, Jacob Miller, in the farm in Medina County of 114 acres, Solo- mon Koplin then moved to Wadsworth and lived on that farm for twenty-one years, but in 1866, Mr. Koplin returned to the farm in Portage Township. and in the year follow- ing was elected a justice of the peace, in which office he served for fourteen years. The large residence which formerly stood on this farm, was destroyed by fire in 1902, and was replaced by the present comfortable and commodious house. Mr. Koplin is no longer active in farm work, having delegated duties of that kind to younger hands. He contin- nes, however, to be interested in all that goes on, and important matters are usually re- ferred to his judgment.

Mr. and Mrs. Koplin have had the follow- ing children: Editha, who died aged two years and nine months; Mary, who was the wife of William Shays, and died at the age of thirty-seven years: Charles M., who mar- ried Catherine Wolf, and resided in Akron, is the active farmer on the homestead, and by a former marriage has one child, Claude R., residing in Wyoming; George A., who mar- ried Hattie Miller, has one daughter, Mrs. Beulah Johnson, wife of Dr. Robert L. John- son, residing at. Wadsworth ; Rolland Forrest, residing on the home farm and assisting in its management, married Sarah Jackson, and has two children, Forrest and Wade; Homer

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S., residing on Portage Path, married Clara Bailey; Walter S., employed in the rubber works at Akron, resides at home; and a son who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Koplin have one great-grandchild, Charlotte, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Johnson.

Mr. Koplin is one of the oldest Masons in Summit County, and belongs to the first Ma- sonic lodge established in Akron. Both he and wife are valued members of Grace Re- formed Church. They have a wide circle of friends to whom they delight to offer the hospitality of their home.

WILLIAM P. MCFARLAND, florist, whose greenhouses are at. No. 491 Wooster Avenue, Akron, is a thoroughly experienced man in this business, having devoted his attention to it since he was a boy of nineteen years. Ile was born in Greene County. Ohio, in 1860, and when a lad of thirteen set out from home to make his way unaided in the world. During his boyhood he had few educational opportunities, but he made the most of those he had, and worked for his own support. He had a natural taste for floriculture, and at. nineteen years of age he entered the florist's establishment of C. 1. Reeser. of Spring- field, with whom he remained for nine years. Thence he went to a florist at Youngstown, with whom he remained for several years. and he later worked at the business at Erie. Pennsylvania, for one year. In 1896 Mr. McFarland caine to Akron, and after work- ing for some time with two different florists here, he embarked in the business for him- self, securing his present location at No. 491 Wooster Avenue. Here he has a finely- equipped plant, with about 7.000 square feet under glass. He does a very large business in eut flowers, and in his cooling depart- ment keeps on hand rare blooms at all sea- sons. to supply festive occasions or funeral demands.

In 1899 Mr. MeFarland was married to Mrs. G. B. Kendall, of Akron. Lewis C. Me- Farland, son of Mr. MeFarland, was born October 15, 1887, has been educated in the business with his father and expects to sue-

ceed him. Politically, he is a Republican, and always takes an active interest in local matters. For five years he has been a mem- ber of the precinct election board. Frater- nally he is a Mason, a Woodman, a Macca- bee and a Knight of Pythias, in the latter organization being a member of the board of directors. He is also a member of the Protected Home Circle.

W. A. BOESCHE, secretary and treasurer of the Ornamental Iron Work Company, of AAkron, has been a resident of this city since he was nineteen years of age. He was born in 1883, at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was educated and had his first practical business experience.

After leaving school Mr. Bocsche became identified with newspaper work and for sev- eral years was connected in a reportorial ca- pacity with the Cincinnati Enquirer. II then came to Akron, seeking a wider field of effort, and became connected with the B. F. Goodrich Company, with which he con- tinued for three years. In February, 1906, when the Ornamental Iron Work Company was organized and incorporated at Akron. he became interested therein and was offered and accepted the position of secretary and treasurer of the company. The enterprise has proved very successful, and its prospects indicate that in the near future its facilities will have to be enlarged to keep up with the increasing demand for the company's prod- uct. The president and vice president of this company, Frederick Zindel and II. G. Bran- dau, are both practical and experienced men in the iron business. The output of the works include all kinds of ornamental iron- and wire-work. Mr. Boesche is a Knight Templar Mason and he belongs to the Ma- sonic Club.

WILLIAM II. SMITH, a leading con- tractor and lumber dealer of Clinton, and one of the substantial business men of the locality, was born at the home farm east of Clinton, Franklin Township. Summit County.

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Ohio, March 17, 1854, and is a son of Lewis and Elizabeth (Croft) Smith.

John Adam Smith, the grandfather of William II., was a substantial citizen of hi: native town in Germany, where he was mayor and also professor in the High School. Ile came to this country with his three children, of whom Lewis, the youngest, was three years old, landing 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 docks in Baltimore, was stolen from him, and he was compelled to begin all over again in the new country. Sustaining this misfortune with a brave heart, this sturdy emigrant settled for a short time in Penn- sylvania, whence he came to the vicinity of Canton, Ohio, and located for a time en a farm. A small place was then purchased near Canal Fulton, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring at the age of eighty-nine years. In spite of his great loss in early life, Mr. Smith had be- come a very successful man, and at the time of his death was rated one of the substan- tial men of his community. He had three children : Catherine, Elizabeth and Lewis.

Lewis Smith, father of William H., being the only son of his parents, was compelled to spend his youth in hard labor on the home farms, and his schooling was very limited, lasting in all about eighteen months. After his marriage he lived for several years on a rented farm north of Canal Fulton. He then purchased eighty-one acres of fine land east of Clinton, Franklin Township, Summit County. where he resided for about thirty- three years. His next and last purchase was a farm of 160 acres west of Clinton, where his death occurred after twenty years, when he was in his eighty-first year. ITis wife. Elizabeth Croft Smith, was born in Stark County, Ohio, and died at the age of fifty- seven years. To them were born eight chil- dren : Adam, who lives on the home place in Franklin Township; William II., whose name begins this sketeh: Jacob, who died in 1901; David C., of Clinton. Ohio, and four who died in infancy. After the death of

his first wife, Lewis Smith was married to Louisa Fritz, who died in 1903: there were no children of this second union.

William II. Smith secured his education in district school No. 8, in his native town- ship, and was reared on his father's farmi, where he remained until his marriage, in 1881. In that year he removed to Clinton. and for a number of years was engaged in the hardwood lumber business with his brother, David C. In 1889 they opened a planing-mill, which Mr. Smith has operated ever since, having purchased his brother's in- terests therein about six months after enter- ing into business. He also engage- in all kinds of contracting and building, and has various other business interests which include a directorship in the Clinton Savings Bank and the Franklin Industrial Company of Warwick. Mr. Smith's fine home, a frame residence of fourteen rooms, was erected by him in 1901.

On November 31. 1881. Mr. Smith was married to Annie Mueller, who is a daugh- ter of Peter and Mary Mueller, and three children have been born to this union, namely: Elsie. Jessie, who married Archie Dunmead, and resides at Barberton, Ohio. and Effie.

In politieal matters Mr. Smith is a Re- publican, and he has always taken an interest in the success of his party, although he has never cared for public office. He belongs fraternally to the Knights of the Maccabees. IIe attends the Lutheran Church, in which he is an elder. and to which his family also belongs.

C. C. WARNER, a member of the Board of Public Safety. at Akron, is one of the citv's prominent men, who has been identi- fied with its business, political and social in- terests for a long course of years. Mr. War- ner was born in 1860, in Germany, and is a son of the late Frederick Warner.

C. C. Warner was about ten years of age when he came to Akron, and here he was reared and educated. He left school to enter the employ of the E. II. Merrill Company.

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with whom he remained for twenty-three years, going then to the Robinson Clay Product Company, where he stayed four years. Since then Mr. Warner has been eon- nected with the AAkron Gas Company. Ile owns a considerable amount of real estate, and a large part of his time is taken up in looking after these interests. For many years he has been more or less prominent in Democratie politics and has served a num- ber of times as a member of the City Coun- cil, showing the careful interest in civic af- fairs that betokens the good citizen. Ile served two years also as a trustee of Portage Township, and three years as a member of the Board of Public Safety, and is the Demo- eratic nominee for the Board of Public Service.

In 1890 Mr. Warner was married to Louise Knapp, of Massillon, Ohio. His home is a beautiful residence at No. 373 Wooster Avenue. Mr. Warner is a member of the Akron lodge of Odd Fellows, of which he has been treasurer for eight years, and he belongs also to several of the leading Ger- man benevolent societies.

G. F. KASCH, president of The Portag. Park Land Company, of AAkron, was born in 1867. in Germany, but accompanied his father, William Kaseh, and his mother, Ernestine Kasch, to this city in childhood. where he was reared and educated. With his father, he learned the tinner's trade, and was only eighteen years of age when he went into the roofing business on his own account In 1890. when the subject of this sketeh was twenty-two years of age. the firm of Kasch Brothers (Roofers) was organized, its mem- bers being F. C. Kasch and G. F. Kasch, and the latter remained a member until 1893, when he disposed of his interest and went into real estate. This firm was afterward or- ganized as The Kasch Roofing Company, and so continues until the present time.

Until 1900 Mr. Kasch operated independ- ently. handling only his own property, buy- ing land. and platting and improving the same. During this period he platted two

allotments in the Cobb farm on West Ilill- one on West Market Street at the intersec- tion of Portage Path Road, and Kasch's Glenwood Allotment on the north side of the city.

In 1900, with Will Christy and J. R. Nutt, two prominent local capitalists, he organized the West Hill Land Company, which was incorporated for $75,000. They received from the commissioners of Summit County fifty-five acres of land of the Summit County Infirmary farm, on West Hill (which land lays between West Market and West Ex- change Streets), in exchange for 1221/2 acres of other land lying west of the present County Infirmary and immediately adjoin- ing the County Farm. The fifty-five aeres obtained by The West Hill Land Company was all the land the county owned lying be- tween the Infirmary and the city, the greater portion of it lay within the city limits. In 1900 and in 1902 the remaining portion was annexed to the city.

The West Hill Land Company has opened up this fine property, making it the choicest residence section of the city, providing it with every eity improvement. 1 number of the avenues in this allotment were named for some of Akron's most distinguished eiti- zens, among them being Senator Charles Dick (Diek Avenue). former Congressman David R. Paige (Paige Avenne), former Mayor Richard P. Marvin ( Marvin Avenue), and H. C. Corson, philanthropist, (Corson Avenne). The removal of this beautiful al- lotment far from Akron's industrial plants. for which this city is world famous, insures the absence of all smoke in that section. and the phrase, "West-of-the-Smoke," which Mr. Kasch originated, tells the story of its greatest advantage for home purposes.

Mr. Kaseh and his associates have shown great publie spirit and deserve the thanks of all Akron for the gift of three beautiful parks, namely: Christy Park. Portage Park (consisting of three and one-half aeres), and Watershed Park. The latter is situated on the watershed of Ohio from which the water is defleeted to Lake Erie and the Gulf of

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Mexico. The company has spent a large amount in beautifying these parks, entirely free of any expense to the city.

While prominently connected with The West Hill Land Company, Mr. Kasch has been busy in other realty enterprises. HIe opened up the Rubber Works Allotment at the corner of East Exchange and Fountain Streets, located midway between the great rubber manufacturing plants of the city. Ile is also at the present time opening The Kasch-Viall Allotment at the intersection of Beaver and Gage Streets, near the industrial section of the city.

In September, 1906, Mr. Christy, Mr. Nutt and Mr. Kasch divided their interest in the West Hill Land Company, Mr. Kasch taking over one-half of the West Hill prop- erty. He then incorporated the Portage Park Land Company, taking its name from the Allotment, "Portage Park," with a capital stock of $50,000. The following are the of- ficers: G. F. Kasch, president and treasurer; Charles F. Wallraff. vice president, and W. II. Kasch, secretary. On this property val- uable improvements have recently been made, including the paving and introduction of sewer and water pipes and concrete side- walks the entire length of Marvin Avenue. This avenue has the unique distinction of ly- ing right along "The Watershed" ridge of Ohio, with a mean elevation of 1.130 feet above sea-level. The view of the surrounding country from this avenue is superb, as from the roofs of the residences located thereon, every township in Summit County, except Green, is visible to the naked eye. The lots here offered for sale have all city improve- ment. and at a price that has formerly been asked for lots without any improvements. The advantages for acquiring a comfortable home in pleasant surroundings at such prices has never been before equalled and there are many satisfied householders who are under many obligations to Mr. Kasch and his asso- ciates for their enterprise.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 42

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