Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 54

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 54

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W. G. WISE, secretary and manager of the Wise Furnace Company, which operates large works at Akron. was born at Green- town, Stark County, Ohio. He was educated in the district schools and at Mt. Union and subsequently taught school for two years. Coming to Akron in search of a satisfactory business field, Mr. Wise entered the office of J. F. Seiberling, where he remained for six years. He then went to Catskill. New York, where he was engaged in a brick industry for two years, after which he returned to Akron. Here he was associated for a time with the Werner Company. and later with the Twentieth Century Heating Company, re- maining with the latter house for four years.

In January, 1904, Mr. Wise organized the Wise Furnace Company, which was incorpo- rated with a capital stock of $50,000. with J. W. Myers, president; George Carmichael, vice-president, and W. G. Wise, secretary and manager. This company manufactures fur- naces of the Wise pattern, and the National Gas Hot Water Heaters, and their large fac- tory gives employment to seventy-five men. The business has been a prosperous one from the beginning, and the progress of the com- pany has ben the most rapid known in the furnace business.

In 1893 Mr. Wise was married to Emma Filbey, of Shreve. Wayne County, Ohio, and they have one child, Atlee. Mr. and Mrs. Wise belong to the Woodland Methodist Epis- copal Church. He is a member of the !T. C. T.

GEORGE J. RENNER, president of the George J. Renner Brewery Company, of Ak- ron, and a resident of this city for nineteen years, is a native of Germany, where he was born in 1835.

In 1849 Mr. Renner came to America and lived at Covington and Cincinnati, Ohio, nn- til 1882. He then removed to Wooster,

ELUE O. FRITCH

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where he was in a brewing business for three or four years, and was afterwards in the same business in Mansfield up to 1888, when he came to Akron. Purchasing an old brewery plant here he added to it until he now owns one of the finest equipped breweries in the country. He still owns a brewery at Mans- field, and has also other business interests, having been concerned in oil production for some years. The Akron brewery operates an ice plant having a capacity of fifty tons daily. The sales of the brewery amount to about 28.000 barrels annually, but could be ad- vanced, with the present equipments, to from 30,000 to 50,000.

In 1853 Mr. Renner married a native of Germany, and they have a pleasant family and a fine home in Akron, where Mr. Ren- ner is numbered with the leading citizens.

ELUE O. FRITCH, secretary and manager of the Faultless Broom Manufacturing Com- pany, of Akron, a prosperous enterprise which is capitalized at $25,000, is a native of Ohio and was born in Stark County, June 13, 1883.

Mr. Fritch was fifteen years of age when he eame to Akron, and his education had been secured in the schools of Stark County and at a commerical correspondence school in Rochester, New York. His first position was with the National Drill and Manufacturing Company at Barberton, where he had entire charge of the cost and time pay-roll depart- ment. After three months he took charge of the controler department of the Alden Rubber Company and had charge of the warehouse until the works were closed. Mr. Fritch then went to Cleveland and took charge of the books of the University club for one year and later was assistant manager of the Chamber of Commerce club, for two years. He subse- quently returned to Akron and assisted in the organization of the Faultless Broom Manu- facturing company, which was incorporated March 1, 1907, with John A. Boughton as president ; E. O. Fritch, as secretary and man- ager; J. W. Harter as vice-president and T. F. Waters as treasurer and sales manager. This

industry has bright prospects, and judging from the character of the men who have put their capital in the venture, there is little doubt that it will soon be numbered with the city's most important enterprises. The plant is located at No. 15 West Center Street. Mr. Fritch is a member of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Ho belongs fraternally to the Royal Arcanum.

ERNEST C. DEIBEL, general manager of the Renner Brewing Company and a resi- dent of Akron for the past sixteen years, was born at Youngstown in 1862. After com- pleting his education in his native city, he became connected with the brewing interest-, and later took a course in the Brewing Acad- emy, at Chicago. In 1892 he came to Akron and assumed the position of general mana- ger of the Renner Brewing Company. He is also the manager of the Renner-Deibel Gas Company, operating sixty-two wells in Co- lumbiana County, Ohio. He married Eliza- beth Renner, who is a daughter of George J. Renner, and they have one child. Helen Dei- bel. Mr. Deibel is a member of the Eagle and Elk fraternities. He belongs to St. Ber- nard's Catholic Church at Akron.

ROBERT RUSSELL PEEBLES, superin- tendent of the Turner, Vaughn and Taylor Company, at Cuyahoga. Falls, is a practical and experienced machinist, having devoted all of his mature life to this line of work. Ile was born at Millersburg, June 24, 1869, and is a son of James W. and Isabella (Pat- terson) Pechles.

Mr. Peebles' parents came to Cuyahoga Falls when he was about two years of age. The father was engaged in railroad work. and was a conductor on the C. 1. & C. Rail- road for a number of years. Later he was a partner of the Falls Rivet and Machine Company, but is now in the employ of the Turner. Vaughn and Taylor Company. He married Isabella Patterson and they have two children. Robert Russell and Evalena. the latter of whom is a teacher in the Cuya- hoga Falls High School. Mr. James W.

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Peebles is a member of Star Lodge, No. 187, F. & A. M., and of Washington Chapter, R. A. M., at Akron, Ohio.

Robert R. Peebles married Clara Belle Mc- Craeken, who is a daughter of William Mc- Cracken, of Natick, Massachusetts.

In political sentiment Mr. Peebles is a Re- publican. He served two years as a member of the board of public affairs, has been on the City Council, and has been president, and at present is vice-president of the Cuyahoga Falls Board of Trade. He is prominent in Masonry. having served two years as worship- ful master of Star Lodge, No. 187. F. & 1. M. ; he is a member also of Washington Chap- ter and of the Council at Akron.

JOHN C. WEBER, a retired business eiti- zen of Akron, formerly president of the Ak- ron Foundry Company, and for a number of years a leading factor in the city's commercial life, was born August 20, 1844, at Monroe- ville, Hluron County, Ohio.

When he was three months old his parents moved to Akron. He attended the public and parochial schools connected with the Cath- olie Church until prepared for St. John's Col- lege at Cleveland, Ohio, where he spent two years. Then he was a student in the Chris- tian Brothers' College at Dayton for one year. In 1860 he became a clerk in the general store of P. D. HIall at Akron, where he re- mained until October, 1861. IIe then enlisted in the Sixth Ohio Independent Light Battery, which became a part of General Sherman's brigade, and saw his first active service at the battle of Shiloh. His battery was sent all through Mississippi, Alabama and Kentucky and its next serious engagement was at Perry- ville in the latter state. Mr. Weber participat- ed in the battle of Stone River, and in the fol- lowing June started with his comrades on the Chattanooga campaign. in which they took part in the battles of Hoover's Gap, Chicka- mauga and Missionary Ridge. Thence they went to East Tennessee to take part in the At- lanta campaign. The Sixth battery partiei- pated in all the hard battles of this mem- orable period, Rocky Face Hill, Buzzards'

Roost. Dalton, Resaca, Adamsville, Calhoun, Pumpkinvine Creek, New Hope Church, Piek- ett's Mills, Lost Mountain, Pine Top, Kenesaw Mountain, Chatahoochee River, Vining Sta- tion, Atlanta, Jonesboro and Lovejoy Station. From Atlanta his command was attached to the army under General Thomas at Gales- ville, Alabama, where Mr. Weber's term of enlistment expired. During the Atlanta cam- paign he had served as an orderly for the chief of artillery on the staff of General Wood.

After a visit home, Mr. Weber returned to Nashville, Tennessee, where he remained un- til the close of the war. Ile was then engaged for two years in a grocery business at Akron, after which he went to California by way of the Isthinus of Panama. He spent some three years visiting the different states of the West, before returning to Akron. He then became associated as traveling salesman with the wholesale drug house of George Weimer, with which he remained connected for three years. In 1875 he superintended the erection of the Weber Block on Howard Street, Akron, a fine two-story business structure 60 by 100 feet in dimensions. In 1876 Mr. Weber went to Cleveland, where he became associated with the C. E. Gehring Brewery Company. where he continued in business until 1885, then re- turning to Akron. ITe purchased the inter- est of William Gray in the tinware and house furnishing goods firm of Jahant & Gray, and for fourteen years confined a large part of his attention to this enterprise. TTe also built the plant of the Akron Foundry Company. of which he was president, but disposed of his interest in 1899.

In 1874 Mr. Weber " was married to Emeline Oberholtz, and they have five chil- dren, namely: Eva, who is the wife of E. W. Donahue, residing at Akron: C. Irene, Susie M. and Bertha T., residing at home; and Florenz, who is assistant superintendent of the Columbia Gas and Electric Light Com- pany, of Cincinnati. Mr. Weber and family belong to St. Bernard's Catholic Church. He is a Knight of St. John, a Knight of Colum- bus, a member of the Catholic Knights of Ohio, and of the Catholic Knights of America.

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He belongs to Buckley Post, G. A. R., and is a member of the Lincoln Farm Associa- tion. He is also connected with the Commer- cial Travelers' Association, of Cleveland. .

Mr. Weber has always enjoyed the recrea- tion of travel and has seen almost all sections of his native land. Several years since, after retiring from the environments of business, he took a tour through Europe. accompanied by his son. He has never taken any active part in politics and would never consider any of- fice of a political nature, but he accepted a position on the Humane Association when proffered him by the Humane Society of Akron.

FRANK A. SEIBERLING, president and general manager of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, at Akron, is a business man of this city who has been identified with many of its important enterprises. He was born on his father's farm near Western Star. Summit County, Ohio, October 6, 1859, and is a son of John F. and Catherine L. (Miller) Seiberling. In 1861 John F. Seiberling re- moved with his family to Doylestown, and in 1865 to Akron. Of his eleven children nine are still living.

Frank A. received his first school training in the building then used for school purposes which stands adjacent to the Congregational Church on the south. After he had com- pleted the first year's course in the High School, he entered Heidelberg College at Tif- fin. He remained there two years, retiring at the end of his junior year in order to be of assistance to his father, who had just started the manufacture of the Empire harvester. The young man's collegiate training proved useful in the official business which grew out of this industry. and in 1884, when the Sei- berling Company was organized, Frank A. became secretary and treasurer. Other large industries, companies and corporations with which he has been identified. either as stock- holder or as official, are the Akron Twine and Cordage Company. the Werner Printing and Lithographing Company, Superior Min- ing Company, Canton Street Railway Com-

pany, Zanesville Street Railway Company, Akron Street Railway Company, Manufactur- ers' Mutual Fire Insurance Association, the Thomas Philips Company, and the National City Bank. His main attention is now given to the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, of which he is president and general man- ager, the other officers being: L. C. Miles. vice-president; G. M. Stadleman, secretary; C. W. Seiberling, treasurer : and P. W. Litch- field, superintendent. The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, with which Mr. Seiber- ling has ben identified since 1898, was or- ganized in that year. They are engaged in the manufacture of rubber goods. their spe- cialties being solid and pneumatic carriage and automobile tires. bicycle tires, rubber horse shoes, rubber tiling, golf balls, moulded rubber and rubber specialties. There is no portion of the civilized world where these goods do not find ready sale.

On October 12, 1887, Mr. Seiberling was married to Gertrude F. Penfield, of Willough- by. Lake County. Ohio. He and his wife are the parents of five children: John Frederick. Irene Henrietta, Willard Penfield. James Pen- field and Gertrude Virginia.

HARRY S. DAVIDSON, M. D., a promi- nent physician and surgeon at Barberton, and coroner of Summit County, has been a resi- dent of this village since August. 1899. He was born at East Springfield, Jefferson Coun- ty. Ohio, April 7. 1871, and is a son of C. L. and Mary A. (O'Connell) Davidson.

Dr. Davidson is of Scotch-Irish descent. his paternal grandparents having been born in Scotland, and his maternal grandparents, in Ireland. The families were both agricultural ones. Young Davidson was reared on his father's farm and remained at home until he was twenty years of age. In the meantime he attended the country schools and improved his oportunities to such an extent that. with- out difficulty. he passed the necessary exami- nation for teachers. Except as a substitute. however, Dr. Davidson never taught school He spent two years in a drug store at Mingo Junction, with his uncle. Dr. W. J. O'Con-

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nell, a well-known physician and druggist, and then entered the Scioto School of Phar- macy, graduating therefrom after an attend- anee of two years. Immediately following, he entered the Ohio Medieal University at Co- lumbus, where he was graduated in April, 1897. He practiced his profession for one years at Somerdale. Tusearawas County, and then came to Barberton, where he has not only built up a fine practice, but has become one of the leading eitizens.

In 1898 Dr. Davidson was married to Mag- gie Johnson, who was born in England, and who came with her parents to America when she was six months old. She was reared and educated in Wadsworth, Ohio, and after ma- turity went to Tusearawas with her parents, teaching in Somerdale for seven years. Dr. and Mrs. Davidson have been the parents of three children: Harold (deceased), Dor- othy and Jane.

Politically, Dr. Davidson is a Republican and in November, 1906, he was elceted county coroner, in which office he has proved him- self a careful, discreet and efficient official. He is a member of the Barberton school hoard, serving in his second term, and prov- ing a valuable assistant to the other members of the board. He belongs to the Summit County and the Ohio State Medieal Socie- ties. Fraternally he is a Mason, a Knight of Pythias and an Elk. His well-equipped of- fices are located in the Barberton Savings Bank Building.

BYRON P. WISE, secretary of the Camp Conduit Company, at Akron, has been identi- fied with electrical work almost throughout his business career. ITe was born in Green Township, Summit County, Ohio, and is a son of William Wise, a native of that town- ship.

The family to which he belongs came from Pennsylvania to Ohio at an early day, David Wise, the grandfather of Byron P., settling in Green Township, Summit County. Mr. Wise's ancestors in general have been agricul- turists, and his father is a retired farmer liv- ing at Greentown.

Mr. Wise was educated primarily in the Un- iontown publie schools, and later took a busi- ness course in the Ilammel's Commercial Col- lege at Akron. He then associated himself with business houses where he could closely study electricity, in which he was deeply interested. For a time he was in the employ of the Erie Railroad, then was connected with the Camps for six years, and sinee the organization of the Camp Conduit Company, has been the seeretary of this concern.

In 1900 Mr. Wise was married to Lela Smith, of Summit County, who is a daugh- ter of 1). J. Smith. He has two sons: Royale C. and John Clarke. Mr. Wise and family belong to Grace Reformed Church.

ALFRED G. LUSK, who is largely inter- ested in the estate and insurance business throughout Summit County, has convenient offices in the Lusk Block, on Tuscarawas Ave- nue, Barberton, in which place he ranks among the leading business citizens. He was born in Orange County, New York, Jan. 9. 1843, and is a son of Cyrus and Susan (Wil- liams) Lusk. In 1853, when he was ten years old. his parents moved to Coldwater, Michigan, where the father entered the real estate business, taking over the purchase and sale of much property. It was in that local- ity that Mr. Lusk was mainly reared. When fourteen years of age he began railroad work as a section man, and by the time he was twenty-one years of age he had been made a section foreman. In the meanwhile his edu- cation had not been neglected, and on March 10, 1866. he was graduated from the East- man National Business College at Chicago. He continued railroad work, first being given charge of a work train and later being made trainmaster's assistant on the Lake Shore Rail- road. He spent twenty years as assistant to roadmaster John Stewart, one of the stalwart old officials of the Lake Shore. From there he went to the West Shore Railroad as road- master, with headquarters at Canastota, New York, where he remained for two years and then returned to Coldwater, where he eontin- ued one year, and then, with Charles Pain,

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formerly with the West Shore, came to the Erie Railroad, then the N.Y. P. & O. Railroad, the former in the capacity of general man- ager and Mr. Lusk as roadmaster. Headquar- * ters were established in 1885 at Akron, and he remained with the Erie Railroad for fifteen years. In 1900 he came to Barberton and em- barked in his present business, subsequently building the two adjoining Lusk Bloeks, on Tuscarawas Avenue, the ground floor of one being occupied by M. C. Frank, a leading bost and shoe merchant, and the other by F. A. Fobes, who has a fine stock of dry goods and millinery.

Mr. Lusk married Emma Hemrod and they have one child, Carrie, who is now the wife of Dr. Morehouse Blackman, of Cold- water. Michigan. For the past forty-two years Mr. Lusk has been a Mason, and in point of service is, the oldest member of the frater- nity at Barberton.

G. CARL DIETZ, secretary of the Burk- hardt Brewing Company. and president of the Depositors' Savings Bank, of Akron, was born in this city in March, 1875, and is a son of Henry and Caroline (Rupp) Dietz.

His parents were both born in Germany and eame to Akron almost a half century ago. The father. an iron worker, died when G. Carl was still a youth, leaving his wife with a family of six small children to rear. Thus the subject of this sketch at an unusual- ly early age was obliged to relieve his mother of a part of her heavy burden. and responsi- bilities fell on his shoulders before he was hardly old enough to assume them. ITe gave all the assistance he could in the rearing of the family, and guided his younger brothers and sisters to careers of usefulness. Laboring through the day time and attending sehool at night, Mr. Dietz acquired a good business education, and finally obtained a position in the People's Savings Bank, where he remained for ten years. He later became eashier of the Security Savings Bank, having previously been a clerk in a clothing store for some three years. Still later Mr. Dietz retired from the Security institution. after serving five

years, and became secretary of the M. Burk- hardt Brewing Company. The banking busi- ness, however. continuing to have attractions for him, he became one of the organizers of the Depositors' Savings Bank, which was opened for business April 15. 1907. and of which he was made president. Ile also fill .: the position of secretary and treasurer of the Burkhardt Realty Company.

On November 17. 1902, Mr. Dietz was mar- ried to Ida Burkhardt, who is a daughter of the late W. Burkhardt. He and his wife are members of the German Reformed Church. He has the esteem and confidence of his fel- low-citizens, many of whom have traeed his successful business eareer from boyhood.

SYLVESTER T. CUNNINGHAM. fu- neral director and expert embalmer, with bul -- iness location on the corner of Mill and High Streets. Akron, is the senior member of the firm of S. T. Cunningham & Company. Mr. Cunningham was born at Detroit, Michi- gan. December 18, 1868.

When a school boy of twelve years Sylves- ter T. Cunningham started to learn the un- dertaking business in his native city, and served a long and strict apprenticeship, which resulted in his thorough mastery of every detail and his acquisition of the highest skill in the technical branch of the business. Ile has spent eighteen years in its practice in Akron, and has fully earned the high repu- tation he enjoys.

For seventeen years he was the embalmer and funeral director for George Billow, un- dertaker. In June, 1906, he established the firm of S. T. Cunningham & Company, which already occupies a leading place among the substantial business houses at Akron. His undertaking rooms are centrally located. and his business equipments are modern in ehar- acter. while his charges are no higher than are necessary to insure the best service.

In 1889 Mr. Cunningham was married to Julia Kehoe, of Detroit, Michigan, who has proved a very capable assistant to her husband in the business. They have one son. W. E. Cunningham, who was educated in the Akron

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schools and is now connected with his father in the business.

WILLIAM J. RATTLE, B. S. M. E., resides on the farm on which he was born, in Stow Township. Summit County, Ohio, Septem- ber 6, 1852. His parents were William and Elizabeth Goodwin (Gaylord) Rattle. Ilis land aggregates 350 acres, the most extensive farming traet in Stow Township, and is one of the best managed, finely improved and val- uable estates in Summit County.

The Rattle family is of English ancestry and Quaker faith. James Rattle, the pater- nal grandfather, came to America from Bath, England, accompanied by his children, who were named respectively: Samnel, William, Henry, Frank, Mary and Celia. Until 1830 he resided with his family at Skaneateles, New York, and then moved to Cuyahoga Falls. ITe died in 1870, aged ninety years.

William Rattles, father of William J., was born at Bath, England, June 12. 1808, and was a mere boy when he accompanied his parents to the United States. After the death of his mother, the family removed from Skaneateles, New York, to Ohio, but prior to this William had learned and followed the trade of tanner. After reaching Cuyahoga Falls he embarked in the shoe business and soon became interested in other lines of ac- tivity, becoming owner of a grain elevator, and for a long period being a large handler of wheat. He built the business block now 0"- oupied by the Loomis Hardware Company and erected many other structures in the city. In 1854 he moved to Cleveland, but remained in that city but a short time, his attention having been turned to the lumber business. in which he was engaged at Saginaw. Michigan, until 1858. He then returned to Cleveland, in which city he lived retired until the close of his life. He was a member of Star Lodge, No. 187. F. & A. M., at Cuyahoga Falls. In politics he was a Republican. Religiously he was a member of the Society of Friends. He married a daughter of the late Thomas Gav- lord, of Stow Township, of a family of great prominence. She was born in June, 1824,

and died April 10, 1905. She was a devoted member of the Episcopal Church.

William J. Rattle was an only child. He began his schooling in Stow Township, con- tinued it in Cleveland and was graduated in 1874, from the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University, with the degree of B. S. Im- mediately afterward he opened an office at Cleveland, as a mining enginer and analytical chemist, and his work in this dirce- tion now takes him to all parts of the coun- try. In 1902, his son, William Rattle, be- came his partner and the firm name is W. J. Rattle & Son.

The magnificent farm in Stow Township is operated as a grain and stock farm. On it are raised about sixty acres of wheat, which Mr. Rattle markets, and fifty tons of hay be- vond what is used on the farm, and all the corn and oats for feeding. Formerly Mr. Rattle raised many sheep, but when the price declined, he, like other sheep-growers in the township, turned his attention to other lines of industry. He raises many Berkshire hogs, keeps thirty head of highgrade catt'e of various breeds, has six full-blood Guernsey cows and a Guernsey bull. Moon Arch, a noble and valuable animal. This farm is con- spicuous. not only on account of its size and fertility, but because of the care which has developed it into a place so full of beauty as well as utility. Mr. Rattle keeps six men employed and has provided every kind of im- proved machinery, and all modern con- veniences, so that all his plans can be suc- cessfully carried out. His beautiful home is but one of the fine buildings which make the whole estate one of note. There are two fine residences on the place, one of which was once the home of his grandfather, Thomas Gaylord, who, with other members of the family, owned large estates in Summit County.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 54

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