Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 51

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 51

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In 1879 Mr. Hower bought an interest in the Turner Oatmeal Mill, and in 1881 he be- came the owner of the plant. Then, with his sons, Harvey Y., M. Otis, and Charles II., he organized the firm of Hower & Company. which was incorporated in January, 1888, as the Hower Company, this being merged in June, 1891, with the American Cercal Com- pany. On the incorporation of the Hower Company the board was made up as follows: John II. Hower, president: Harvey Y. Hower. vice-president ; M. Otis Hower, secretary ; and Charles H. Hower. treasurer. Mr. Hower was also one of the incorporators of the Akron Reed and Rattan Company, of which he was elected president.

In 1852 Mr. Hower was married (first) to Susan Youngker, who was born near Pitts-

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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

burgh, Pennsylvania, and who died at Akron in 1895. Their family consisted of the three sons mentioned above, who, besides being as- sociated with their father, have been prom- inent in many other lines of business enter- prise.

In 1900 John H. Hower married, for his second wife, Rebecca Ralston, a daughter of William Ralston, of Massillon. Mr. and Mrs. Hower reside in a beautiful home at No. 356 Buchtel Avenue. Mr. Hower is a charter member of Trinity Lutheran Church, and served as a member and trustee from its organ- ization in 1870 to 1879. In politics he was in his earlier years a Democrat, but has been identified with the Republican party since its organization.

Harvey Y. Hower, eldest son of John H. and Susan (Youngker) Hower, was born Oc- tober 16, 1855, at Doylestown, Wayne County, Ohio. He was educated in the pub- lic schools of Doylestown and Akron, and at Smithville Normal AAcademy, and then en- tered the employ of J. F. Seiberling & Com- pany, first in their shops and later as a trav- eling representative. This was followed by a two years' business connection with Ault- man, Miller & Company. In the spring of 1879 he became interested with his father in the manufacture of oatmeal and cereals, and became a partner in 1881, when the business of Robert Turner & Company passed into the hands of the Howers. He was connected with his father and brothers in the organization of the firm of Hower & Company, whose business location was the corner of Canal and Cherry Streets, Akron. On November 29, 1877, Har- vey Y. Hower was married to Helen M. Stone, who was born at Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. June 25, 1865. They have four children- John Frederick. Harvey Burt, Lloyd Ken- neth and Lewis Stone.

M. Otis Hower, second son of Mr. How- er, was born in Doylestown, Wayne County, Ohio, on November 25, 1859. IIe received his education in the Akron schools and at Buchtel College, after which he joined his father in the cereal milling business until the transfer to the Cereal Milling Company. He

remained with that company in the different capacities of general manager, director, etc., until 1901, when he embarked in various suc- cesful enterprises.

Charles H. Hower, third son of John H. and Susan (Youngker) Hower, one of the incorporators of the Hower Company, and since June, 1891, a stockholder in the Ameri- can Cereal Company, is also one of the incor- porators and a stockholder in the Akron Reed and Rattan Company. Ile was born August 31, 1866, at Akron, Ohio, and completed his education at Oberlin College. When seven- teen years of age he became a traveling repre- sentative of the oatmeal firm of Hower & Com- pany, and meeting with success, remained so engaged until the incorporation of the com- pany as above detailed. On September 27, 1887, he married Nellie E. Long, who was born at Copley, Summit County, Ohio, De- cember 6, 1868. He and his wife are the parents of one child-Helen M.

JAMES ALONZO DOX, formerly a high- ly respected citizen of Stow Township, was born at Geneva, New York, August 26, 1832, and died in Stow Township, Summit County, Ohio, July 18, 1906. His parents, Tunis and Clarissa (Dimick) Dox, were also natives of New York. For many years his father was engaged in the manufacture of brick at Ge- neva, and during boyhood and youth, James Alonzo assisted in the work. Later he began railroading, with which work he was con- nected for forty years, thirty of which he passed at Cleveland. A few years prior to his death, he retired to Stow Township and settled on the old Martin Sadler place, on which Mrs. Dox was born and on which she still resides. Mr. Dox was a member of Bigelow Lodge, No. 243. F. & A. M., of Cleveland, and of the Commandery at Akron.

On November 11, 1858, James Alonzo Dox was married to Rebecca Sadler, who is a daughter of Martin and Susan (Steele) Sad- ler. Martin Sadler was born in Ireland and came to America when eighteen years of age, accompanying his parents to Stow Township, where he followed his trade of shoemaker.

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which he had learned in his native land. He lived with his parents on the homestead farın and assisted in clearing it and in building the first log house. His wife, Susan, was a daughter of Adam Steele, of Stow Township, and six of their seven children reached matur- ity, namely: Jackson, Thomas, Adam, Gib- son, Phoebe Ann and Rebecca, Mrs. Dox be- ing the only survivor. Her parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Martin Sadler died in 1877.

To Mr. and Mrs. Dox were born seven chil- dren, four of whom reached maturity, namely : Susan Charlotte, who was married (first) to George Shattuck, of Cleveland, and (second) to Samuel Frank, of Akron; Phoebe Ann, who married Charles Ellsworth Saffell, of Stow Township; William, deceased; and Clin- ton Andrew.

Clinton Andrew Dox was born November 27,1865, in Whitley County, Indiana, and was educated in the public schools of Cleve- land. Before accompanying his parents to Stow township he was engaged in railroad work, and also kept a store. He cultivates the home farm which contains sixty aeres of excellent land, and devotes considerable at- tention to dairying, keeping twelve cows and shipping milk to Cleveland. He raises his own feed and has a silo 12 by 24 feet in di- mensions. In politics he is a Republican, but, like his late father, is no politician.

WILLIAM H. HAVER, a well-known eit- izen of Coventry Township, who owns a val- uable traet of twenty-five acres, which is sit- uated near Barberton, has been identified more or less with the development of this section of Summit County, for a number of years. He was born at Doylestown, Wayne County, Ohio, January 11, 1856, and is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Frederick) Haver.

The father of Mr. Haver died when he was a babe. His mother was a daughter of Sam- uel Galehouse, one of the early settlers of Wayne County. After the death of her hus- band she was married to Stephen Latham, a well known and old-time resident of Summit

County. He was accidentally killed on the railroad, December 21, 1906. Mrs. Latham died October 16, 1905, aged seventy-three years. ·

William H. Haver was reared on his step- father's farm and in young manhood, worked for twelve years in the coal mines. Later, in association with J. C. Russ, Captain Morrison and S. N. Wilson, he acquired the ownership of Long Lake Park. A stock company was subsequently formed, and Mr. IIaver sold his interest to S. N. Wilson, five years later. He removed from his old home near the park, about this time, to Barberton, where he ereeted several houses, and after selling them, he bought the Snyder farm, which adjoins his own property. Subsequently he sold that to the Barberton Real Estate Company, and the land is now covered with dwellings. In Oeto- ber, 1904, Mr. Haver bought the old Daniel Harter home place, and in 1907 he ereeted a handsome new residence on a desirable eor- ner to take the place of the old eight-room house still standing.

Mr. Haver was married January 11, 1880, to Elizabeth Hutchinson, who died in Janu- ary, 1898, leaving four children, namely : Dorothy Joanna, who married Albert Heim- baugh; Lottie May, who married John How- ard, and has two children, Helen and James; Carrie, who married Wallace Knecht; and William Julian. Mr. Haver was married (second) October 30, 1900, to Cora B. Har- ter, who is a daughter of Daniel and Mary Harter.

Daniel Harter was born in Franklin Town- ship, June 4, 1820, and has spent the greater part of his life in Summit County. Ile was married. October 26, 1844, to Mary Grove, and their family numbered eleven children, four of whom are now living, namely: Eliza J., residing in Copley Township: Lavina A., of Congress Township, Wayne County; Jos- eph J., of Akron, and Cora B., wife of the subject of this sketch.

Mr. ITaver has retired from farming and leads a rather leisurely life, having the means to enjoy himself along congenial lines. He is fond of the water and has spent one delight-

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ful winter in a house-boat, mainly on the Mississippi River. Another trip of 200 miles was made on the Kusa River from Rome, Georgia, to Gladstone, Alabama. He has spent twenty winters in fishing and trapping, in various parts of the South. Ilis excursions have opened up a wide field of adventure and enjoyment for him, a recital of which would make an interesting volume. Politically Mr. ITaver is identified with the Republican party. He is a member of the Disciples Church.

WILLIAM ROWLEY, formerly a well known business man of Akron, was born in England in 1838, and died in Akron, in No- vember, 1891, at the age of fifty-three years. Ile was a son of Enoeh and Eliza. Rowley, who settled here in 1848.

Enoch Rowley, who established the first pottery at Akron, was, until middle life, a resident of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England. Ile then came to America and es- tablished himself at Akron. He was a pot- ter by trade and built up a large pottery busi- ness, which he carried on for many years, partly with his son, the late William Rowley. He was one of the sterling men of Akron in his day. For eight years he served in the City Council from the Sixth Ward. In Poli- tics he was identified with the Republican party. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

William Rowley was one of a family of twelve children. He was educated in the Akron public schools, and as soon as he was old enough entered his father's pottery to learn the business. Later he entered into partnership with his father, whose interest in the business he afterwards purchased. In 1886 he retired from activity, but continued to be interested in the public affairs at Akron as long as he lived. He was a zealous Re- publican and for six years served on the Board of Equalization. Fraternally he was an Odd Fellow.

Mr. Rowley married Mary J. Wills, of Cuyahoga Falls, and they had four children, namely: Florence, who died in infancy; Ar- thur James, who is a prominent member of

the Summit County bar; Maude L., wife of George II. Stubbs, of Akron, and Zelle I., wife of Jonathan Taylor, of Akron. Mrs. Rowley lives at No. 824 East Market Street, Akron.

JOIIN T. MERTZ, chief of Akron's fire department, which responsible position he assumed August 1, 1901, has been regularly identified with this branch of the city's pub- lie service for the past twenty-four years. Chief Mertz was born in March, 1864, at Cleveland, Ohio, where he attended school to the age of fifteen years. From Cleveland Mr. Mertz went to Elyria, Ohio, where he worked in a factory for two years and then came to Akron, and for one year was em- ployed in the grocery store of Cyrus Miller. Ilis next position was in the Etna Mills, where, after six months of work, he was made assistant engineer, and he remained in the em- ploy of the mill company until the plant was destroyed by fire, in December, 1884. Soon after that event he secured a position as en- gineer for the Ohio Stoneware Company, in the meantime taking a gread deal of interest in the work of the fire department, and occa- sionally working on the force as a substitute. In the fall of 1886, he accepted a position as driver for the department, and eighteen months later was promoted to the position

of pipeman, serving as such until July 1, 1897, when he was still further promoted, being made captain. Under the administra- tion of Hon. W. B. Doyle, he was made chief of the department, in August, 1901. Chief Mertz is well qualified in every way to fill the office he holds, and it is a satisfaction to the citizens of Akron to know that their homes and other property are under the pro- tection of so efficient a fire chief.

In January, 1885, Mr. Mertz was married to Susan Thiese, of Akron, and they have two sons, namely: Arthur B. and Raymond A. The former is bookkeeper for the Cleve- land Twist Drill Company, of Cleveland, and was educated in Akron. The latter attends the public schools.

Chief Mertz was reared in the German Lu-

ALANSON WORK

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theran Church. Fraternally, he belongs to the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Council of the Masons, and to the Odd Fellows and the Elks. Socially he is a member of the Ger- man-American Club and the Liebertafel So- ciety, of Akron. The family home is sit- uated at No. 328 Buchtel Avenue, Akron.

ALANSON WORK, formerly vice-presi- dent of the Akron Rubber Works, and for many years well known in this city as an en- ergetie and successful business man, was born at Quiney, Illinois, March 1, 1842. His fa- ther, Alanson Work, Sr., was a native of Con- nectieut, from which State he moved to Illi- nois. One of the early Abolitionists, he was imprisoned in 1841 for helping slaves to es- cape, the sentence heing for twelve years; he was, however, pardoned out after three years.

When the subject of this sketch was three years old. his parents moved to Middletown, Connecticut. and thenee to Hartford, that State, where he attended the public schools until he was seventeen, spending one year also in Trinity College. At the age of nine- teen he entered the employ of A. T. Stewart, later of the Metropolitan Bank of New York, and so continued for seven years. In 1869 he moved to Vineland, New Jersey, and one year later to Cincinnati, and, as a partner in the firm of Chamberlain, Gibbs & Company, was engaged for two years in building railroad bridges and railroads. He then went to Rhode Island and took a contract to rebuild the bridges on the Providence & Wooster Rail- road, putting up fourteen double traet bridges in about one year. He was superintendent of the Allen Fire Department Supply Com- pany at Providence, Rhode Island. for five years, and during that time took out several patents on fire engine supplies, one now adopted by the United States, being Work's Patent Coupling. On January 1, 1879, Mr. Work moved to Akron as superintendent of the Akron Rubber Works, and in 1880, when the corporation was organized, he became vice- president of the B. F. Goodrich Company.

He was married, in 1865, to Miss Henrietta Lane, of Brooklyn, Long Island. Of this

marriage there were seven children, as fol- lows: Alice, wife of Prof. Walter Wilcox, of Cornell University; Bertram G., president of the B. F. Goodrich Company; Dorothy W., Effie A., Fred W., and Gerald S., all of whom are residing at home; Clarence, who was ac- cidentally drowned at the age of thirteen years.

Mr. Alanson Work died at his home in Akron, October 29, 1881. His portrait may be seen on a neighboring page of this vol- ume.

THE BREWSTER FAMILY. Prominent among the families which have been identi- fied with the development and progress of Summit County, from the early days of its settlement, is the Brewster family, which has numerous worthy representatives in Coventry Township. It is of New England ancestry and its immediate progenitors came from Groton, Connecticut. Earlier records, if pre- · served, could prove that this sturdy, vigorous family was a leading factor in events preced- ing the American Revolution by many years.

The year 1811 marks the entrance of this family into Ohio. Stephen Brewster was born at Groton, Connecticut, probably there had good educational advantages, and at any rate he learned to be a good carpenter and capable millwright. Following his marriage at Groton, he removed to the State of New York, and in 1811 eame to what is known as the Brewster estate, situated in Coventry Township, Summit County, Ohio. The long journey was made in wagons, through a rough and almost unsettled region for the larger part of the way, there being no rail- roads or other means of transportation hither at that time. Not a single house had yet been built between Coventry Township and Akron.

Stephen Brewster purchased 160 acres of land at a very low price, from the Connectiont Land Company, and the home was started in the midst of the virgin forest. A log cabin was built on a little clearing, in which were placed the possessions brought from the old Connecticut home, and here the duties and burdens of life were assumed as in more civil-

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ized communities, but attended by many hardships. The family lived on the wild game that abounded, until they could raise grain, the deer at that time being so numer- ous that they ran through the woods like a flock of sheep. Stephen Brewster and wife never left their pioneer home for any other, and here he died at the age of eighty-eight years, and she survived to be seventy. Their descendants tell of the deep affection exist- ing between them, which continued through childhood, youth and mature life.

Stephen Brewster married Lydia Bellows, who was born at Groton, of another promi- nent old New England family. This was probably about 1796. They had the follow- ing children : James G., Lucinda, who mar- ried a Mr. Mnssay; Hannah, who married (first) William Clark, (second) David Dun- bar; Charlotte, who married Martin Housel ; Alexander, and Hiram, who died abont 1813, shortly after the family came to the farm, and was buried in the orchard, where a stone still marks the spot.

James G. Brewster, the eldest son of Ste- phen and Lydia Brewster, was born at Gro- ton, Connecticut, in 1797. When he was a boy the family came to Ohio, where, as the eldest, he was called on to do almost a man's work in clearing up the wild farm. His edneational chances were few, there being no settled system of schools at that early day, but his parents were well informed, and his own mind was active enough to enable him to at first quickly absorb primary teaching and later to apply common sense and good judgment to the actualities and demands of life. He died in June, 1842. From his father he inherited a part of the homestead, and to this land he added until he owned 320 aeres, lying on both sides of the road.

James G. Brewster was married in Colum- biana County, Ohio, to Martha Hassen, who was born in Pennsylvania and was brought to the above county in childhood, where her people were prominent pioneers. Her death occurred in November, 1881, at the age of seventy-five years. They had the following children : Stephen (deceased), who married

Charlotte Meech (also deceased) ; Jonathan H. and James G. (both deceased), twins, the latter of whom married Mary Davies; Hiram, a very prominent retired citizen of Coventry Township, and George, who died May 25, 1907.

Probably there is no better known family in Summit County than the one now repre- sented as its head by Hiram Brewster, who was born on the family estate in Coventry Township, June 8, 1835. He was reared here, and three months has been the longest period that he has ever been absent from the old place to which he is so closely attached through long association. His education was secured in the old district school near his home, which building was of frame construc- tion, although many in the township were built of logs. His summers in boyhood were spent in farm work, but during three winter months, each comfortable old farm-house gave up its quota of pupils. Mr. Brewster never married but remained with his parents and assisted in the building of all the houses. barns and other structure on the estate, which now aggregates 750 acres, lying jointly in Coventry and Springfield township. The residence is one of the large ones and it con- veniently accommodates Mr. Brewster and his nephew, Hayes Brewster, who is a son of the late Stephen Brewster.

ITiram Brewster now lives retired from ac- tive work of any kind, to the extent of taking no responsibility, but as long as he lives he will probably feel an interest in all that goes on on the old home place. His tastes never led him into politics to the extent of accept- ing office, but his influence has always been turned in the direction of progress and im- provement. For many years he has been in- terested in several of Summit County's most prosperous business enterprises, and is a mem- ber of the firm controlling the Buckeye Sewer Pipe Company, and a stockholder in the Sum- mit County Sewer Pipe Company.

Hayes Brewster, in the fourth generation from the pioneer of the family in Ohio, is a well-known and valued citizen of Coventry Township, where he was born. June 25, 1876.

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His parents were Stephen and Charlotte (Meech) Brewster. His father died in Jan- uary, 1887, and his mother passed away in December, 1903. He was the second born in his parents' family, the others being: Ephraim, residing in the far West ; Stephen, also residing in the West, and John. In 1899, Hayes Brewster was married to Susan Dodd, who is a daughter of Daniel and Cath- erine (Griffith) Dodd, and they have two children, Hiram and Charlotte. Mr. Brew- ster is interested in the Buckeye Sewer Pipe Company.

Other descendants of the pioneer Brewster settler are found in the daughter and grand- daughter of the late George Brewster, who was born March 21, 1837, and died May 25, 1907. He was a life-long resident of Coventry Township and was one of the most success- ful business men in this section of Summit County. He was largely interested in coal for many years and, with a brother, operated what is known as the Brewster mill, for a long period. He shared in possession of the large Brewster estate, which passed into the hands of his widow at the time of his death. He was identified with the Republican party and with the Masonic fraternity. On October 19, 1876, he married Maria Kent, who was born in Suffield Township, Portage County. Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Brewster had four chil- dren : Georgia, who married Perry 1. Kriisher and has one daughter, Dorothy; Wallace, who died at the age of two and one- half years: Arthur, who died at the age of fifteen, and Bessie, who died aged twenty years.

DAVID A. METZLER. assistant superin- tendent of the Alkali Rubber Company, Ak- ron, is one of this city's young and enter- prising business men. He was born here in 1881, and is a son of William Metzler, who is prominently connected with the Diamond Rubber Company. He was educated in the Akron publie schools, and at the Cathedral College, Trenton, New Jersey. Upon his re- turn to Akron he entered the employ of the Diamond Rubber Company, serving first in

the laboratory and later becoming assistant superintendent. He remained with the concern for five years. In 1904, when the Alkali Rubber Company was made a distinet plant, Mr. Metzler was selected for the position of assistant superintendent, in which he has sinee served very efficiently. He has other business interests, being concerned in the promotion and sueeess of the Ohio Rubber Culture Company, which is operating planta- tions in Mexico, where rubber trees are now being enltivated.

On October 25, 1904, Mr. Metzler was mar- ried to Abbie Lawton, a daughter of E. A. Lawton, who is superintendent of the Akron Water Works. Mr. Metzler is a member of St. Vincent's Catholic Church. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus and to various organizations of a social nature.

HON. JOHN MCNAMARA. Sometimes truth reads as strangely as fiction and the record of the life of John MeNamara, from the condition of an orphan bound-boy to the honorable station of leading eitizen in a prosperous community. in another land than that of his birth, contains matter for serious consideration. He was born in County Clare, Ireland, probably on February 12. 1833, and certainly was baptized by the rar- ish priest on February 15th. of that year. Ilis parents were Martin and Mary (McIn- ery) MeNamara.

There can be little provision made for the future by the small tenant farmer of Ireland, and when John McNamara's parents died. the mother when he was nine years old and the father three years later, the little lad of eleven years found himself entirely depend- ent upon his own abilities. The kind-hearted farmers in the neighborhood were all poor. but they gave the child a chance to work. and with a prudenee that was remarkable, he saved the pittances he earned until he had aceumulated enough capital to take him to England, where he bound himself out to learn the plasterer's trade. His emplover, taking advantage of his youth and ignorance, kept him for two years at labor without giving

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 51

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