Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 52

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 52

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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

him any chance to learn the trade, and the boy stood it no longer, but ran away. Ho then became a coal miner and worked in a coal bank until 1854, when he came to Amer- iea, landing at Philadelphia. He first sought farm work in the agricultural districts, and was employed for two years in Delaware County. Then coming to Ohio, he contin- ued to work as a farmer in Geanga County, until 1863, when he came to Barberton, or to New Portage as it was then. He saw a good business opportunity in the opening of a general store, and in this enterprise met with success, conducting a first-class mercan- tile establishment here for many years. He was made the first postmaster and served in that capacity for eighteen years. In the meantime, through his industry and legiti- mate business methods, he had acquired property and had promoted the growth and development of the town in many ways. In 1900 his fellow-citizens honored him by eleet- ing him their mayor, and he served as such until 1903. During his administration Bar- berton took many forward strides. Mr. Me- Namara is now largely interested in the real estate business.

In 1864 Mr. MeNamara was married to Hannah Woods, who is a daughter of Jere- miah Woods. They have had seven chil- dren, four of whom survive, namely: Mary, James, who has succeeded his father as mayor of Barberton; Stephen, and Myrtle, who is the wife of Thomas Davis. Mr. MeNamara, with his family, belongs to the Roman Catholic Church.

W. A. INWOOD, superintendent of the Alkali Rubber Company of Akron, came to this city in 1899, since which time he has been connected with some of Akron's largest business enterprises. Mr. Linwood was born in 1877, in Connecticut, and when six years of age accompanied his parents to Califor- nia, where he was reared and educated, en- joying some unusual advantages of travel in his youth, as he crossed the continent three times before he was eight years old. Mr. Inwood's first business experience was with

the Hercules Powder Works, of California, with which he remained connected for seven years. Coming then to Akron he entered the employ of the Diamond Rubber Company. After serving four years as foreman, he was transferred to its branch establishment, the Alkali Rubber Company, of which he was made superintendent, this promotion being due to his superior knowledge of the business and his tact and ability in managing men.

On April 4, 1906, Mr. Inwood was mar- ried to Genevieve Williams, who was born at San Francisco, California. Mr. Inwood is a Free Mason and an Odd Fellow, being affil- iated with local lodges of these orders.

FERDINAND SCHUMACHER, formerly president of the American Cereal Company, but now retired, has long been identified with great manufacturing enterprises which have brought wealth and fame to the city of Ak- ron. Mr. Schumacher was born March 30, 1822, at Celle, Hanover, Germany, and is a son of F. C. and Louise Schumacher. Until he was fifteen years of age he attended school, then became elerk in a grocery, and later an employ in a sugar refinery. In 1850 he emi- grated to America, settling first on a farm near Cleveland. His previous training, how- ever, had not been in the line of agriculture, so in 1851 he is found at Akron engaged in a fancy goods business. In the year 1856 he embarked in the business, which through his enterprise developed into one of the great world industries, and which has brought him the title of "Cereal King." Under his own name he continued in the manufacture of oatmeal, pearl barley and other cereal prod- uets, until later he consolidated with the firm of Commins and Allen, under the style of The F. Schumacher Milling Company. He thus largely increased the capacity of the mills and immediately repaired his great loss in the fire of 1886, which destroyed mills and elevators at the depot. About 1891 he consented to a further combination of in- terests under the great corporation known as the American Cereal Company, and was elected as its president. He continued with

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H. P. Crowell and Robert Stuart as executive committee of this great concern until 1899, when he failed to be re-elected, and gladly accepted retirement from the busy life he had led for so many years, finding rest and quiet in his beautiful home at No. 258 East Market Street, Akron. The American Cereal Company's head office is now located at Chi- cago, that city being a great center, but the Akron Mills are its most important prop- erty.

On October 7, 1851, Mr. Schumacher was married at Cleveland to Hermine Schu- macher, who was born at Bevern, Brunswick, Germany, and died June 1, 1893. They had seven children, two of whom survive, namely: Louis, a resident of Akron, who was vice president of the F. Schumacher Milling Company, and F. Adolph, who was secretary of the same company, and is now engaged in business at Riverside, Iowa. Mr. Schu- macher married for his second wife, August 1. 1899, Mary Zipperlen, who is a daughter of Dr. A. Zipperlen, of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Mr. Schumacher has always been a valued citizen, not because he has busied himself in regard to local political affairs, but because he has been a man of broad views and gen- erous inclinations, which have resulted in public-spirited enterprises, and in liberal as- sistanee given to education, religion and charity. It was mainly through his benefac- tions that a number of the religious edifices of the city were completed, this notably be- ing the case in regard to the Universalist Church. By example and years of protest against the liquor evil, Mr Sehumacher has become known as one of the leading temper- ance advocates of Ohio. Time has touched him lightly, and notwithstanding his many years of intense devotion to business. with the eares that harass even the most success- ful, he has retained remarkable vigor.

AUGUSTUS F. STUHLDREHER, a member of the important real estate, loan and insurance firm of Stuhldreher Brothers, which commands a large business at Barber- ton and has offices on the Stuhldreher Bloek,

on the corner of Second and Tuscarawas Ave- nue, has been located in this city since 1891. He was reared on his father's Stark County farm and attended the district schools in his neighborhood, completing his education by a course in the Massillon Business College. He then took a position with the Pennsyl- vania Railroad as station agent at Barberton, and served also as agent for the Baltimore and Ohio Road, his railroad connection cov- ering ten years. He then embarked in the real estate business with his brother, Edward J. Stuhldreher, who left the railroad service at the same time. They control an immense amount of business in their line, a large part of it being buying and selling on commis- sion. In 1902 Mr. Stuhldreher built the fine business block known as the Stuhldreher Block, a three-story brick structure with di- mensions of 50 by 100 feet, in which is lo- cated the Barberton postoffice and the Bar- berton Opera House. the latter seating 800 people. Another large house having quar- ters here is the Union Furniture Company. The upper floors are admirably fitted up for offices.

Mr. Stuhldreher takes a somewhat aetive interest in politics and served as city clerk from 1896 to 1900. ITe and brother repre- sent the most progressive and enterprising business element in the city.

REV. T. F. MAHAR, D. D., pastor of St. Vincent de Paul's Church. at Akron, is a well-beloved and valued member of the Catholic clergy in this eity. He was born September 28, 1851, at Seranton. Pennsyl- vania, and is a son of Thomas and Ann (Hart) Mahar, both of whom were of Ameri- can birth.

Father Mahar entered St. Mary's College. at Cleveland. Ohio. where he devoted four years to study, prior to becoming a pupil at St. Lois College, at Louisville. Stark County, which he entered in 1866 for a term of three years. In 1869 he went to Rome, Italy, where, amid churchly surroundings. he pur- sued his ecelesiastieal studies for six years. under eminent instructors, subsequently be-

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ing awarded the degrees of Doctor of Philos- ophy and Doctor of Divinity.

In 1875 Father Mahar came to Cleveland, having been ordained May 30, 1874, and was made assistant pastor of St. John's Cathe- dral. In this capacity he served for five years. On August 1, 1880, Bishop Gilmour appointed him pastor of St. Vincent de Paul's Church at Akron, which is one of the largest and most influential Catholic churches in the city, having a membership of 500 fam- ilies. His work in connection with this charge has been eminently successful.

A history of churches, as of individuals, is vastly interesting and instructive, when it tells a story of obstacles bravely overcome and difficulties surmounted in a righteous cause, and a short account of the growth of St. Vincent de Paul, from the early nucleus of little pioneer fire-side gatherings, visited by an over-worked priest, when it was pos- sible for him to make his way through the then unsettled regions, to the stately struc- ture now standing, which fitly represents the faith, endurance and piety of both priests and people, must arrest general attention. The first records tell of Father Henni, afterward Archbishop of Milwaukee, coming to Akron in 1835, riding on horse-back from Cincin- nati, and holding services and saying mass in the cabin of the late James McAllister. From 1837 to 1842 the village was visited by Rev. J. B. Purcell, later Archbishop of Cincinnati; Rev. Louis Goesbriand, Father MeLaughlin, Father Basil Shorb and others. In 1843 a small frame house was commenced on Green Street by Father M. Howard, who retained charge of the congregation until 1844. From 1845 to 1848 Father Cornelius Daly had charge, and during his pastorate, he being the first regularly appointed, the house on Green Street was enlarged and com- pleted. Following Father Daly came a long list of able and faithful priests as follows: Rev. Casimir Mouret, from October, 1848, to June, 1850; Father Goodwin, June to De- cember, 1850; Rev. Francis McGann, De- cember, 1850, to Angust, 1855; Rev. L. Mo- lon, January, 1856; Rev. Thomas Walsh and

Rev. W. O'Connor, to 1859; Rev. M. A. Scanlon, from July, 1859, to November, 1873; Rev. Timothy Mahoney, from Novem- ber, 1873, to Angust 1, 1880, when Rev. T. F. Mahar assumed charge.

The present imposing stone edifice on the corner of West Market and Maple Streets, was begun on St. Patrick's Day, 1864, and continual improvements have been going on ever since. The architecture is of the Roman order, with twelve large, stained-glass, em- blematical windows. The tower contains a fine bell and a first-class clock. An elegant briek parsonage has also been erected, and the church owns seven aeres of land fromting on West Market Street, which is dedicated to cemetery purposes. Father Mahar has inany ideas as to future improvements.

SOLOMON E. SHOOK, who fills the im- portant position of head miller in the Walsh Milling Company's mills at Cuyahoga Falls, was born in Jackson Town-hip, Stark County, Ohio, November 22, 1860, and is a son of Philip and Margaret (Everhard) Shook.

The great-grandfather of Solomon E. Shook was John Shook, who was born in Germany and came to America in 1752. landing at what was then called Port of York but is now the city of Philadelphia. He lived there for a time and then went into the farm- ing regions of the State, purchasing 400 acres of land in Northumberland County, which are still owned by his descendants. He mar- ried a Miss Ohl, and he died in 1799. His son, David Shook was born on the land above referred to, and died October 24. 1868, aged seventy-nine years. He was a carpenter by trade and also a farmer. In 1810 he came to Ohio, settling at New Berlin, Stark County, and from there went ont as a soldier in the War of 1812, in which he served as captain. Ile married Sarah Mark, who was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and died in Ohio, in 1861. Both grandparents of Solomon E. Shook lie buried at New Ber- lin, in the old Zion church-yard.

Philip Shook was born at New Berlin, Stark County, Ohio, in 1840, and died at

FRANK G. STIPE

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Wadsworth, Ohio, aged sixty-three years. He combined farming with carpenter's work and contracting. He reared a family of twelve children, Solomon E. being the youngest son and tenth child.

When Solomon E. Shook was three years old, his parents moved to Wadsworth Town- ship, Medina County, where he was educated in the district schools. In 1877 he went into the grist mill of his eldest brother, David Shook, where, during his eighteen months' stay, he learned the elementary principles of milling, and from there he went to Millport and worked for James MeLean as second mil- ler. He remained with him for two years, and then went to Toledo as head miller for Potter & Company, two and a half years later coming to Akron to become second mil- ler for Seiberling Milling Company. For four years Mr. Shook was foreman for the Seiberling people. In 1889 he went to New Brighton, . Pennsylvania, where for three years he was head miller in the City Mills. Then returning to Akron he took charge of the Clinton Milling Company's plant, which was owned by A. L. Clanse & Company. In 1895 Mr. Shook took a pleasure trip to River- side, California, which covered two years. After his return to Akron he accepted his present position. He has two millers in his employ and turns out 200 barrels of flour per day. His equipments are ample for the grinding of all kinds of feed. Mr. Shook is not only an expert miller, but an inventor. He is the author of an appliance intended to take the place of the usual babbitt metal, which is easily adjusted and which he has been using in his mill for the last five years. It has proved to be of the utmost utility and is an invention that well deserves to be pat- ented.

FRANK G. STIPE, president of the Board of Education of Akron, has been identified with the interests of this eity since 1866, and is well known in business cireles here as a general contractor. Of German-Irish descent, he was born, in 1846, in Greentown, Stark County, Ohio, and is a nephew of Colonel

Robert Nugen, who was a member of Con- gress from Tuscarawas County in 1861-63.

When nine years old he removed with his parents to a farm near Greensburg, Summit County. He attended the district schools and Greensburg Seminary, teaching during the winter near his home until he was eighteen years of age. He then enlisted in Company HI, 164th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a part of the National Guard belonging to the Fifty-Fourth Battalion. Company H was sent from Fort Taylor directly to the forts around Washington, where it took part in the defense of the city. At the end of 115 days' serviee it was discharged, the soldiers, as Mr. Stipe well remembers, being addressed by President Lineoln.

In the spring of 1866 Mr. Stipe came to Akron and worked six months for Rockwell & Danforth, in the contracting business. Sub- sequently he entered the painting department of Aultman, Miller & Company, where he con- tinued for five years. His health becoming somewhat impaired, owing to his close appli- ("tion to his trade, in 1871 he went to Spring- field Township, where he worked on a farm for three years, teaching during the winters. Upon his return to Akron he entered into business for himself as a contractor, executing in a most satisfactory manner some of the city's largest contracts for painting and dee- orating. Appointed city commissioner. he as- sumed the duties of that office in April. 1895. and served three years on the board. He then became an organizer for the Pathfinders' so- ciety, being one of the first deputies in the field in the interests of this organization, with which he remained connected for about a year. At the end of that time he resumed business as a contractor.

In 1888 Mr. Stipe was elected a member of the Board of Education. from the old Fourth Ward, by a majority of forty votes, overcoming a normal Democratic majority of 300. In 1890 he was appointed decennial ap- praiser of the city, and was re-elected to the school board for a term of three years, being made its president on organization in Janu- ary. 1907. This honor, which was totally un-

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solicited, reflects the opinion of his fellow eiti- zens concerning his ability, and his fidelity to the best interests of the city. By virtue of his office as president of the Board, Mr. Stipe is also chairman of the depositary commis- sion of the Board's funds.

In 1865 Mr. Stipe was married to Soviah C. Koons, who was born in Summit County. They are the parents of four children, name- ly: Nora E., wife of George Barker, an iron worker, of Cuyahoga Falls; Harry J., who is cashier at the Akron office of the Electric Package Company; Mabel L., who is the wife of Arthur L. Foster, a manufacturer of New York; and Martha M., wife of Alonzo Jaek- son, a resident of Akron, who holds an official position in a railroad office.

Mr. Stipe has other business interests not mentioned above, and is one of Akron's busy, capable, and publie-spirited eitizens. Ile be- longs to Nemo Lodge of Odd Fellows, and to Buckley Post, G. A. R. A member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, he is serv- ing that organization on the Board of Trus- tees.

ARTHUR JAMES SAALFIELD, pub- lisher, was born in Leeds, England, in 1863. His father, Albert Saalfield, Esq., was a man- ufacturer of woolens. With the other mem- bers of his family, a large one, he came to the United States while still a small boy. Mr. Saalfield tells with amusement of the wonder and comment exeited by himself and brothers when they arrived in New York, on account of the Highland costumes they wore, then the fashion for small boys in England.

The family lived for a time in New York City, where the father shortly died. Here young Arthur attended the public schools. In 1872, at the age of nine years, his business career began. The Saalfield family had re- moved to Chicago. Refusing longer to be dependent, the embryonic publisher com- meneed to make his own way in the world. His first engagement was with Mesers. W. B. Keene, Cook & Company, then the leading book-sellers in the West. With them he ro-

mained for four years. Ile then returned to New York and spent the following year at Steven's Academy, Hoboken. In 1877, then fourteen years of age, A. J. Saalfield became an employee of Charles T. Dillingham, the well-known book jobber. Here he remained for fifteen years, beginning at the bottom, and gradually working his way to the top of the business. Long before he left Dilling- ham's he was a salesman of exceptional abil- ity, widely known and well liked by the trade.

Mr. Saalfield started a book jobbing and publishing business of his own in 1892, and continued in its management until 1898, when he removed to Akron, Ohio, to take charge of the book publishing department of The Werner Company. Ile had not been in successful occupancy of this responsible po- sition very long when the opportunity of buy- ing the business was presented. With his usual business aeumen. he recognized the po -- sibilities thus placed within his reach and at onee coneluded the purchase. At that time The Saalfield Publishing Company, A. J. Saalfield. proprietor, came into existence. From the first, the new coneern prospered. Its growth and development has been such as to discredit the opinion, long held. that the natural and only habitat of the success- ful publisher is the Eastern seaboard. Un- der A. J. Saalfield's able guidanee, his con- cern shortly outgrew its original quarters. Thereupon he purchased new and larger premises, but they, too, soon became too small to accommodate the demands of his in- creasing business, as is best evidenced by the large additions that have been constructed. Today The Saalfield Publishing Company is well and favorably known wherever books in the English language are read. While their greatest market is, of course, at home, a large and growing demand is found in Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand. South Af- rica, The Argentine, The Hawaiian Islands and the far Philippines.

The books of The Saalfield Publishing Company are widely various, ranging from monumental and expensive sets to tiny ju-

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veniles. The long experience of the proprie- tor, coupled with rare good taste and a talent for planning and selecting material that the publie wants, amounting almost to a sixth sense, is accountable for an almost unbroken series of successful publishing undertakings. and promises in the not-distant future to make his company one of the leading pub- lishing houses of the country.

In 1885 A. J. Saalfield was married to Adah Louise Sutton, the accomplished and talented daughter of the Rev. George Sut- ton. Mrs. Saalfield is widely and favorably known to the reading public by her maiden (pen) name. She shares with her husband the enviable responsibility for the success of The Saalfield Publishing Company. for her books, both prose and verse, have been among the most lucrative of the Saalfield enterprises. Of late, this gifted authoress is turning her attention more particularly to writing ju- veniles.

There are five children in the Saalfield family: Albert G., Arthur J. Jr., Edith M., Robert S. and Alice C. No expense is spared in their liberal education. The advantages of the best schools and travel are freely theirs.

The commodious and beautiful home of the Saalfield family is located at 24 North Prospect Street, where the latch string is ever on the outside for the friends of every mem- ber of the family, and where a generous and cordial hospitality is always charmingly dis- pensed. Both Mr. and Mrs. Saalfield are prominently identified with movements for the public welfare, church work, charities and society.

H. A. HINE, secretary and treasurer of the Star Drilling Machine Company, at Ak- ron, has been a resident of this city since February, 1890, and is identified officially with a number of other large business en- terprises in this section. Mr. Hine was born at Shalersville, Portage County, Ohio, in 1865. He was educated in the schools of Shalersville. West Farmington and Austin- burg. and afterwards spent four years teach-

ing school. He then entered the law office of R. W. Sadler, but after a few months of law study in Akron, he became connected with the Star Drilling Company of this city, with which he has been identified in one ca- pacity or another for the past seventeen years. He began his services with this organization as bookkeeper, but for the past eight years has been treasurer and secretary of the com- pany. He is also secretary and treasurer of the Star Rubber Company, and occupies the position of president in a number of smaller enterprises.

November 14. 1906, Mr. Hine married Jane Hall, who was born in Akron and is a daughter of John Hall, a well-known citi- zen. Mr. Hine has a number of fraternal connections, belonging to the various Ma- sonic bodies, the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of the World and the Pathfinders.

JAMES ALBERT FISHER, a business citizen of Cuyahoga Falls, dealing in hay and straw, was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, May 26. 1863, and is a son of Cornelius and Catherine (Martin) Fisher.

Cornelius Fisher, now living retired on his farm in Northampton Township. Summit County, was born July 16, 1840, in IIesse- Cassel, Germany, and came to America in that year, in company with a sister and his widowed mother. For ten years Mrs. Fisher lived with her children at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and then moved to Greencastle, where Cornelius engaged in farming. In 1869 he came to Summit County and was engaged in farming at different points in Northampton Township until 1903, when he purchased a small farm which he devotes mainly to fruit-growing. He served one year in the Civil War. enlisting in 1863 in Com- pany D, 158th Regiment. Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably discharged in 1864. He has never been an active politi- cian, but he always exerts his right of eiti- zenship and casts his vote for the candidates of the Republican party.

Cornelius Fisher married Catherine Mar-

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tin, a daughter of James Martin, all being natives of Franklin County, Pennsylvania. They had ten children, namely: Ida, James, George B., Elizabeth, Netta, Annie Virginia, John, Gertrude, Arthur and Myrtle. The mother of the above family was born April 5, 1840, and died September 5, 1903. She was a valued member of the Disciples Church at Cuyahoga Falls. Cornelius Fisher was reared in the faith of the German Reformed Church, by his parents, George and Elizabeth Fisher. George Fisher was killed in a coal mine. His wife later united with the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and died at Cuya- hoga Falls in April, 1904, aged eighty-eight years.

James Albert Fisher was educated in the common schools of Northampton Township and followed farming in that section until 1887, when he embarked in his present busi- ness at Cuyahoga Falls. He handles hay and straw and does a very large business, his sales to the Robinson Clay Produet Com- pany at Akron alone amounting to more than 1,000 tons yearly. He is a careful busi- ness man and bears a very high reputation as such with the large dealers and consumers at Akron, among whom his trade mainly lies.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 52

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