Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 50

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 50

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On May 30, 1892, Colonel Bloomfield came to Akron and opened an insurance business, in the Hamilton building, in which he has since retained his office. He represents such reliable companies as the Penn Mutual Life, the Fidelity and Casualty Company of New York and the Eagle Fire Insurance Company of New York, besides a number of others.

Colonel Bloomfield was married June 3, 1889, at Akron, to Fannie C. (Cobb) Wager, a daughter of Charles B. Cobb, who was one of the pioneers of Summit County.

PUTTERILL BROTHERS, a successful firm engaged in the double occupation of farming in Stow Township and manufactur- ing cement blocks at Akron, is made up of Thomas and Edward Putterill, brothers, who came from England to America in 1872. The parents of the Putterill Brothers were Francis and Annie (Morris) Putterill, natives of Lin- colnshire, England, where the father carried on farming. He was the owner of a piece of landed property.

Thomas Putterill was born in Lincolnshire, England, October 7, 1839. He has never mar- ried. Edward Putterill was born in Lincoln- shire, England, May 1, 1848. He married Tabitha Corn, who is a daughter of Joseph Corn, of Akron, and they have had five chil- dren, the three survivors being: Annie Nina, who married Henry Mitchell, of Akron; George Fletcher and Thomas Edward.

Thomas and Edward Putterill came to Ak- ron after landing in America, having friends

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already settled in that eity, and they soon found work in the various industries. In 1877 they purchased an omnibus line which they operated for three years, and then sold it and bought their present farm, which orig- inally contained 141 acres. It was known as the Victor farm, and it was densely wooded at that time, with few improvements. The two brothers have done an almost superhu- man work in the improvement of this place, in the comparatively short period of time. They have sold a part of their land, retaining ninety acres, seventy-five of which they have eleared. What is known as Wahoga Lake, a beautiful sheet of water, was formerly a part of this farm. Some eighteen years ago the present fine ten-room residence was built, which is one of the most comfortable in Stow township, and ten years ago the brothers put up the barn, the dimensions of which are 40 by 42 feet, with 18-foot posts. For many years the brothers en- gaged extensively in agriculture, and they now grow hay, eorn and oats and devote from ten to fourteen acres to wheat and several acres to celery. They ship their milk to Cleveland. In addition to their farm- ing and dairying operations, they have a suc- cessful enterprise in the manufacture of ce- ment building blocks, at Akron, doing the work themselves. In all their enterprises, the brothers have been united, their aims and objeets being identical, their lives presenting an agreeable picture of fraternal affection, as well as practical business sense. They are men of high standing in their community. In politics they are Republicans and both have served as supervisors of Stow Township.

JOSEPH S. BENNER, a well known capi- talist and business man of Akron, who is iden- tified with a number of the city's most sub- stantial financial institutions, was born at Akron, January 3, 1872. He is a son of John W. Benner, who came here in 1868, and who still continues in business in this eity.

Graduated from the public sehools of Ak- ron at the age of sixteen years, the subjeet of this sketeh found his first regular em-

ployment in the office of J. E. Seiberling & Company, where he remained until 1890. He then beeame bookkeeper and assistant eash- ier for the newly organized People's Savings Bank Company, which position he held until 1897. Then with J. R. Nutt and Will Christy, he organized the Central Savings Bank Com- pany, taking the position of cashier in this concern, which he held until 1904, when the Central Savings Bank Company, mainly through Mr. Benner's efforts, effected a eon- solidation with the Akron Trust Company, after having first taken over the Guardian Savings Bank. The result of this merger was the Central Savings and Trust Company, of which institution Mr. Benner has been secretary ever sinee. Other successful busi- ness eoneerns with which Mr. Benner is iden- tified are: The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company; The Akron People's Telephone Company, of which he is seeretary; the Ak- ron Coal Company, of which he is treasurer; the Globe Sign and Poster Company, of which also he is treasurer; and the Hower Building Company, of which he is secretary. He is also a director in the Permanent Sav- ings and Loan Company, and the Bannock Coal Company, and is treasurer of the Young Men's Christian Association. His large busi- ness interests are held with a firm hand, and his affairs are direeted with the sound judg- ment and wise conservatism which ensure suecess.

Mr. Benner was married in 1894 to Nillie E. Stuver, a daughter of Jonas F. Stuver, of Akron. Of this union there is one child, Mary Joyee. Mr. Benner takes considerable inter- est in eivic matters and is a member of the Portage County Club. With his wife he be- longs to the Lutheran Church.

CORNELIUS A. BROUSE, of the firm of Brouse and Hollinger, general insurance agents and prominent dealers in real estate, loans, investments and abstraets, with offices in the Doyle Block, Akron, is also secretary of the Permanent Savings and Loan Com- pany, and stands as one of the city's influ- ential business men. He was born at Chip-

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pewa, Wayne County, Ohio, July 3, 1837, and is a son of William and Rebecca (Baughman) Brouse.

In 1842, the parents of Mr. Brouse removed from Wayne County to Wadsworth, Medina County, where he had the advantage of ex- cellent schools and later he was a student at the Western Star Academy and at Berea. At home he worked on the farm, and beginning when he was but fourteen years of age, he aeted for five years as engineer in his father's sawmill. In 1859 he came to Akron, first in the capacity of a clerk for J. E. Wesener &' Company, becoming a partner in this firm four years later, when the style was changed to Wesener, Brouse & Company. This asso- eiation continued for five years, and after the dissolution of the firm, Mr. Brouse became connected in partnership with David L. Wall, and the firm of Brouse & Wall continued for six years. At the end of that period, Mr. Brouse associated himself with his brother, Myron D. Brouse, and the new firm of Brouse and Company beeame a prominent factor in the dry-goods business in Akron. Mr. Brouse was connected with the dry-goods business in all for forty-two years.

The Permanent Savings and Loan Com- pany, of Akron, of which Mr. Brouse is seere- tary, is one of the leading financial insti- tutions of this section of Ohio. Its board of directors is made up of men of the highest commercial and personal standing and its officers represent a large amount of wealth and social influence. The officers are: Joseph A. Baldwin, president; R. B. Walker, first vice-president; IIarvey M. Hollinger, second vice-president and treasurer; C. A. Brouse, secretary. Its executive committee consists of C. A. Brouse, F. H. Holton and Harvey M. Hollinger. The company is in an excellent financial condition, its assets amounting, in 1907. to $354.334.86, with a surplus of $25,676.64.

On October 14, 1862, Mr. Brouse was mar- ried to Kate Wesener of Akron. They are the parents of four children, viz .: Adelaide L., Cornelia A., Edwin W., and Miriam M. The family belong to the First Congregational

Church, at Akron, of which Mr. Brouse is one of the deacons. In polities, he is an ardent Republican. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, having been a member dur- ing the Civil War of Company F, 164th Regi- ment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Ile has a handsome residence at No. 481 Market street, Akron.

J. MARTIN BECK, president and a direct- or of the IIome Building and Loan Company of Akron, and one of the founders and viee- president and treasurer of the Akron Varnish Company, is identified with numerous other successful enterprises of this section, and is a very important factor in the city's com- mercial life. He was born October 14, 1813, at Selb, Bavaria, Germany, and came to America in 1862. He is a son of Adani and Christina (Hoefer) Beck, the former of whom died in 1890.

Mr. Beek was trained to business in a wholesale grocery and drug house, in his na- tive land. and after an apprenticeship of four years, satisfactorily passed a difficult examin- ation. As his half-brother, John Wolf, was a partner in the firm of M. W. Henry and Company at Akron, Mr. Beck came to this city and entered the employ of that firm, with which he remained for six years, and then was with the house of E. I. Baldwin, of Cleveland, for one year. In the spring of 1869 he visited Europe, returning to Akron in the fall, much improved in health. Soon after he entered into partnership with John Wolf and H. J. Church, under the firm name of Wolf, Church and Beek. In 1878 Mr. Beck sold his interest in the firm and forined a partnership with E. G. Kubler, in the estab- lishment of the Akron Varnish Works, a con- eern which is the oldest of its kind in Summit County and one of the largest in the country. The business of the Akron Varnish Company is the making of varnishes and japans, and its plants are located at 254 South Main and Canal Streets, Akron. The industry is a lead- ing one in this eity and the produets of this coneern have a world-wide sale. The officers of the company are: E. G. Kubler. presi-

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dent; J. M. Beck, vice-president and treas- urer; E. M. Beck, secretary; F. M. Whitner, assistant treasurer, and F. A. Fauver, super- intendent.

Mr. Beck was married January 12, 1871, to Kate J. Buchtel, who is a daughter of Wil- liam Buchtel, of Akron. They have four children, namely: William B., Edward M., who is secretary of the Akron Varnish Com- pany, Martha Louise, and Carl F. Frater- nally Mr. Beck is an Odd Fellow and an Elk. The family residence is at No. 640 West Mar- ket Street.

ARTHUR M. ALLEN, residing on his fine farm of 235 acres, situated in Stow Township, where he carries on general farming and dairying, is one of the substantial and lead- ing citizens of this section. He was born at Cuyahoga Falls, October 18, 1875, and is a son of Robert H. and Mary R. (Cochrane) Allen.

George Allen, the grandfather of Arthur M., was born in County Antrim, Ireland. He married Elizabeth Harper, and with his wife and three children, came to America and set- tled at Lee, Massachusetts, removing later to Cuyahoga Falls. He followed the trade of paper-making to within a few years of his death, when he moved on a farm near the Falls, which is now largely built over. Both he and his wife were members of the Episco- pal Church.

Robert H. Allen was born at Lee, Massa- chusetts, December 25, 1832, and was still an infant when his parents came to Cuyahoga Falls, where he was reared. During boyhood he worked in the paper mills. He subse- quently learned the trade of wagon-maker, and in partnership with his brother, W. A. A. Allen, was engaged for many years in the manufacturing business under the firm name of R. H. Allen & Company. About 1887, hc bought 640 acres of land in Stow Township, and settled on a part of it, where he engaged in extensive farming, cattle-raising and dairy- ing. He had large business dealings with his fellow-citizens, and enjoyed their confidence and esteem. Though he was no politician,

he took an intelligent interest in good local government. For a number of years he was a member of Star Lodge, No. 187, F. & A. M., Cuyahoga Falls.

In early manhood Robert H. Allen married Mary R. Cochrane, who is a daughter of John M. Cochrane, of Cuyahoga Falls. She was born July 18, 1837, and still survives, resid- ing with her son, Arthur M. Her parents were John M. and Jane (Sample) Cochrane, the former of whom came to Cuyahoga Falls from Calcutta, Columbiana County, Ohio, and conducted a blacksmith- business. Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Allen had four children, three of whom survive, namely: Andrew Harper, residing at Cuyahoga Falls : William A., resid- ing in Stow Township; and Arthur M. Robert II. Allen died May 14, 1902.

Arthur M. Allen was reared on the home farm and was educated in the public schools of Cuyahoga Falls and at Hudson Academy. At the time of his father's death, he received 235 acres, 150 of which he has under culti- vation. He continues the dairying interests in which his father was engaged, keeping about forty head of cattle, and ships his milk to Cleveland. He raises his own hay and feed, and he is also interested in threshing and baling hay, doing a large amount of work of this kind throughout the county, keeping three men constantly employed. He is a member of the board of directors of the Springdale Horse Company, the syndicate that owns the $3,000 Belgian stallion, Toto. Mr. Allen is intimately concerned with all agricultural interests in his locality and is looked on as a man of business enterprise and sound judgment. Mr. Allen was married to Mertie Best. who was born in Northampton Township, Summit County, and is a daughter of Henry Best. They have one daughter, Mildred E. Politically Mr. Allen is a Repub- lican.

FRANK C. REED, M. D., of Akron, was born at Austinburg, Ashtabula County, Ohio, in 1851, and is a son of the late Simon Reed, who was one of the pioneer settlers and later one of the leading manufacturers of that sec-

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tion. Reared in his native place, he obtained his literary training at Grand River Institute, and in 1876 was graduated from the old Wooster Medical University at Cleveland. He at once located for practice at Akron, with which city he has been honorably identified ever since. He is a member of the Sixth Dis- trict Medical Society, of which he was presi- dent in 1906, and belongs also to the Summit County, and the Ohio State Medical Societies. Aside from his profession he has some busi- ness interests, being a director of the Robin- son Clay Product Company and a stockholder in the American Clay Product Company. For six years Dr. Reed served as a member of the Akron Board of Education, and he has ever shown a laudable desire to further public movements looking toward the welfare of his city. He has unselfishly given his profession- al services in times of public peril.

In 1881 Dr. Reed was married to Ellen M. Robinson, who was a daughter of the late Thomas Robinson, one of the early business men of this city. Mrs. Reed died May 11, 1907, leaving one daughter, Josephine R., who is a bright student in her elasses at Buch- tel College. Dr. Reed is an elder in the Presbyterian Church.

FRED T. ELLSWORTH, proprietor of the Springdale Stock Farm, a tract of 200 acres, situated in Stow Township, was born in Summit County, Ohio, October 8, 1867, and is a son of Edward and Emma (Thomp- son) Ellsworth.

Mr. Ellsworth was reared on his Grandfath- er Thompson's farm. The Thompson family came to Ohio from Connecticut in the person of Dr. Moses Thompson, Mr. Ellsworth's great-grandfather on the maternal side, who was born at Goshen. When seventeen years of age, Moses Thompson was permitted by his father to leave home and he started out in the world to seek his fortune. practically without any assistance. In 1800 he turned his course toward Ohio, and tramped the long distance, through unbroken forests and un- bridged streams, until he reached Hudson. He was commissioned to buy 600 acres of land

for Connecticut investors, and he purchased 160 acres for himself. He began to clear his land and subsequently returned to Goshen, where he married Elizabeth Mills, bringing his bride to the pioneer home. He became one of the pioneer physicians of this section.

Virgil Thompson, the maternal grandfath- er of Mr. Ellsworth, was born in Hudson Township, Summit County, Ohio, March 14, 1810, and, in 1830, purchased the farm now owned by his grandson, Mr. Ellsworth. He was one of a family of thirteen children. In 1836 he married Maria Smith, who died two years later, and in May, 1842, he married An- toinette Turner. They had three daughters: Celia M. (deceased), who married H. II. Chamberlain; Mary A., who was the second wife of H. H. Chamberlain ; and Emma, who married Edward Ellsworth. Mr. Ellsworth has one sister, Mary.

Fred T. Ellsworth, when twenty years of age, went to Cleveland, and for five years was employed in W. Bingham's hardware store. He then went to Chicago, where he was in a livery business for five years. In 1893, when his grandfather Thompson died, he re- turned to the farm to take charge of it. He cultivates 100 acres, raising thirty acres of hay, twenty of oats, and twenty of wheat. The Springdale Stock Farm has an excellent reputation through Summit County. Mr. Ellsworth deals more or less in horses, of which he breeds some, and winters twenty- three head for Akron parties. He is a mem- ber of the board of directors of the Springdale Horse Company, which is composed of twelve local horsemen, who imported the $3,000 Belgian stallion, Toto, for the purpose of im- proving the breed of local draft horses. In 1901 Mr. Ellsworth built what is one of the finest barns in Summit County. Its dimen- sions are 36 by 100 feet, with 20-foot posts, and with the Shawver patent truss frame. There are twenty fine box stalls and the horses are carefully attended to and kept clean and sanitary by a competent employe.

Mr. Ellsworth married Elizabeth Harring- ton, who was born in London, England, and who came to America in 1889 with her moth-

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er. The latter is still living, and is now fifty- eight years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth have one daughter, Lucy,. born October 12, 1898. Mrs. Ellsworth is a member of the Catholic Church. In politics, Mr. Ellsworth is a Republican. As a good citizen he is ac- tive in promoting the welfare of the commu- nity, in which he is very popular, but lie seeks no political preferment.

B. R. BARDER, president of the Biggs Boiler Works Company, at Akron, was born in Akron, Ohio, in 1878. He is a son of the late John P. Barder, whose death occurred in 1893, and who for many years was identi- fied with the business interests of this city.

B. R. Barder was reared and educated in Akron, and began industrial life in the em- ploy of the Biggs Boiler Company, in a hum- ble capacity, in order to learn the business thoroughly. He continued with this com- pany, rising step by step, and when the busi- ness was incorporated in 1900, Mr. Barder was prepared both by training and natural ability, to take the position of secretary and treasurer. Upon the death of Mr. Biggs, Mr. Barder was made president and treasurer, and continues at the head of this large indus- try, effectively directing its policy and enlarg- ing its scope.

In 1903 Mr. Barder was married to Sarah I. Groff, of Akron, and they have one child, Louise E. As becomes a public-spirited eiti- zen, Mr. Barder takes an interest in civic af- fairs and on various occasions he has con- sented to serve as a member of the City Coun- cil. His fraternal connections are with the Masons and the Knights of Honor.

M. O'NEIL, president and treasurer of The M. O'Neil & Co., which operates the largest mercantile store at Akron, has resided in this city for more than thirty years and during a large part of that period has been an active business man. He was born in Ireland, De- cember 12, 1850, and in the following year was brought to America by his parents, who were natives of that country.

His father, James O'Neil, was reared to ag-

ricultural pursuits in the "old country," where in early manhood he married Catherine Walsh. In 1850 he came to the United States with his wife and family and settled in New York City, where he found profitable employment.

The boyhood of the subject of this sketch was spent in the city of New York where he finished school attendance at the age of six- teen years and then became a messenger in a broker's office. In 1868 he entered a large wholesale dry goods house as bookkeeper, re- maining until 1873, at which time he re- moved to Lancaster, Ohio, where he embarked in a retail dry goods business. In 1876 Mr. O'Neil came to Akron and entered into part- nership with Isaac J. Dyas, under the firm name of O'Neil & Dyas, and they began a wholesale and retail dry goods business at No. 114 East Market Street. Their business soon expanding to such an extent as to neces- sitate larger quarters, they erected a four- story, stone-front store on South Main Street, which they filled with a complete stock of goods, taking possession in February, 1889. On October 28, 1889, their building and im- mense stock were destroyed by fire. Their loss was large and was not half covered by insur- ance. The firm then returned to the former place of business on East Market Street, where they remained until they had com- pleted the erection of the magnificent build- ing, on the burned site, now occupied by the M. O'Neil & Co. Isaac J. Dyas died in 1890. MIr. O'Neil subsequently took in as partners three of his clerks-John J. Feudner, William T. Tobin and F. B. Goodman-who took stoek in the incorporated company and be- came officials, Mr. Feudner becoming vice- president, Mr. Tobin, secretary, and Mr. Good- man, manager, while Mr. O'Neil assumed the positions of president and treasurer. The members of the company are men of high commercial standing and large experience. The company's store is the only department store in the city, and is headquarters for dry goods, carpets, wall paper, furniture, house furnishings, books, shoes, eloaks, furs, cloth- ing and millinery. A large force of clerks,

JOHN H. HOWER

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numbering about 300, is kept busy in attend- ing to the wants of the store's many patrons. Mr. O'Neil is interested in other business en- terprises in Akron and is numbered with the leading men of the city.

On July 16, 1884, Mr. O'Neil was married to Patience J. Mahar, of Cleveland. He and his wife have seven children: William F., Augustine, Patience, Thomas, Annette, Cy- ril and Mary. The family are members of the Catholic Church, and Mr. O'Neil is a member of the Knights of Columbus. The beautiful family home is situated at No. 370 West Market Street.

JOHN H. HOWER, until recent years one of Akron's most notable captains of industry, formerly president of the Hower Oatmeal Mills, owing to his carly and close identifi- cation with the industrial growth of the city has been often called the father of its manu- facturing interests. He was born at New Ber- lin, Stark County, Ohio, February 22, 1822, but was reared in Summit County. He is one of a family of five children born to his par- ents, who were Jesse and Catherine (Kryder) Hower. Jesse Hower, who was a wheelwright by trade, died in 1829, when this section was still a wilderness. He was a son of Jacob Hower, who was of German parentage.

John H. Hower had comparatively few educational advantages in his boyhood, ow- ing to the poor schools existing. When he was seven years old his father died, and he subsequently found it necessary to become self-supporting at an earlier age than is cus- tomary with more favored youths. Learn- ing the trade of painter, he followed it after he was eighteen years of age, in Summit County during the summers, teaching school, both English and German, during the win- ters. When about thirty years old he em- barked in a mercantile business at Doyles- town. Wayne County, Ohio, where he re- mained for some years. In 1861, he organ- ized the Excelsior Mower and Reaper Com- pany, in Doylestown, Ohio, to manufacture the invention of J. F. Seiberling, the inventor of the dropper, etc., on the reapers, for whom

Mr. Hower procured the patents for a good remunerative interest. The great demand for the machines soon outgrew the capacity of the plant. The Excelsior factories, established here through Mr. Hower's influence and by means of his personal exertions, formed a sort of industrial nucleus around which gath- ered other new and varied industries. The large royalties which they received from other manufacturing concerns, both in this and other states, amounting to nearly $500,000 were reinvested here, and helped largely to give that strong impulse in the direction of manufacturing activity which found its logi- cal outcome in the widespread and substantial business prosperity which we behold here at the present time. As Mr. Hower was one of the first to build a manufacturing plant in Akron of the kind above mentioned, the title of "father of the industry," so frequently ap- plied to him, seems peculiarly appropriate. Some of the largest works of this kind in the city were built by his influence and for a long period, during his ripest years of business ac- tivity, he was closely associated with the ini- tiation and subsequent progress of many of Akron's most successful industrial enter- prises, and finest of homes. In 1865 he as- sisted in the organization of the J. F. Seiber- ling Company, of Akron, of which he became vice president.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 50

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