Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 55

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 55

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Mr. Rattle was married in 1877 to Julia Cary. who is a daughter of John E. Cary, and they have three children. William, Mary and Elizabeth. William Rattle was born June 27, 1878, and has grown up in the business in which he is engaged. After completing the

SHERMAN B. STOTLER

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public school course, he received scientific capacity could satisfactorily fill so important training at the Case School of Applied Science an office. at Cleveland, later at Kenyon College and . On December 20, 1882, Mr. Stotler married with his father in the latter's office, and is Della Shaffer, who is a daughter of David and Harriet (Cornelius) Shaffer. thoroughly qualified to further the firm's in- terests in every way. In April, 1907, he was Politically, Mr. Stotler is a Republican. Ile is connected fraternally with the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows. The publish- ers take pleasure in presenting his portrait in this connection. married to Susie Dewitt, of Cleveland. Mary married Harvey Mansfield; they have one daughter, Mary, and reside in Cleveland, Ohio. Elizabeth was born at Stow, Ohio, July, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Rattle belong to St. John's Episcopal Church at Cuyahoga Falls, as also do all their children.

Mr. Rattle is prominent in Masonry, be- longing to Star Lodge, No. 187, F. & A. M., at Cuyahoga Falls; Akron Chapter, R. A. M .; Akron Commandery, K. T .; Cleveland Con- sistory and Alkoran Temple at Cleveland. In political faith he is a Republican. He is a member of the Summit County Horticul- tural Society, and of the American Institute of Mining Engineers.

SHERMAN B. STOTLER, superintendent of the Summit County Infirmary, holds a very responsible position, the duties of which have been faithfully and efficiently performed since he assumed them. Mr. Stotler was born December 25, 1856, in Doylestown, Wayne County, Ohio. His parents, Emanual and Eliza (Franks) Stotler, were well-known farming people of Wayne County, and the fa- ther was also a skilled mechanic. His death occurred in 1889. There were seven children in the Stotler family. Mrs. Stotler died July 1st, 1901.

Sherman B. Stotler was reared on a farm and was educated in the local schools. For many years after attaining manhood. he was employed by the late J. F. Seiberling, as an expert machine man.

In 1887 Mr. Stotler was appointed super- intendent of the Summit County Infirmary. which shelters, at the latest report, 178 in- mates. His duties include, besides the care and management of this large number of un- fortunates, the cultivation of the infirmary farm of 345 acres. Only a man possessed of tact, good judgment and excellent business

WILLIAM L. CAMPFIELD, undertaker . and dealer in furniture, at Barberton, is one of the leading citizens of the town, a man of progressive ideas and real public spirit. He was born April 2, 1862, in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Andrew Jack- son and Mary J. (Montgomery) Campfield.

Mr. Campfield lost his father when he was fourteen years of age, and remained on the home farm with his mother, until her death. He then sold the property, and in partnership with H. Orrison, embarked in an undertak- ing and furniture business at Martin's Ferry. After one year. Mr. Campfield bought out his partner's interest and conducted the busi- ness alone until 1902, when he disposed of it and one year later came to Barberton. On January 1, 1904, he arrived from Martin's Ferry and bought out the furniture store of Frank ITale, continuing the business at the same stand and inceasing its scope by adding undertaking. On April 18, 1901. Mr. Camp- field was graduated from the Pittsburg School of Anatomy. and understands every detail of the undertaking business. He is well equipped for all the business demands made upon him in this line, and is also the lead- ing furniture dealer in Barberton.

In the fall of 1895 Mr. Campfield was married to Matilda E. Shaffer. and they have a very pleasant home in Barberton. Frater- nally, Mr. Campfield belongs to the Elks and Knights of Pythias. With his wife, he he- longs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Since loeating here he has taken an active interest in promoting every movement for the welfare of the town. In the Business Men's Association, of which he is a director. he sees

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a strong factor in the ultimate development of Barberton's business activities, as well as greatly increased prosperity along all lines.

WILLISTON ALLING, president of the Dinie Savings Bank at Akron, and formerly county recorder of Summit County, was born October 26, 1842, in Vienna Township, Trumbull County, Ohio, and is a son of Jonathan and Maria (Clark) Alling. The parents of Mr. Alling came to Trumbull County from Connecticut, in which state he resided until he was twelve years old. Ile then became a member of his uncle's family, in Northampton Township, Summit County. After remaining with his unele for three years, he secured farm work in Tallmadge Township. In August, 1862, he enlisted from that township for service in the Civil War and for three and a half years thereafter was a member of Company I, One Hundred and Fifteenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infan- try. He was honorably discharged in De- cember, 1865.

Mr. AAlling then returned to Tallmadge Township and engaged in contracting and building, in which business he continued um- til 1897. Mr. Alling became president on its organization of the Dime Savings Bank, at Akrou, which is now one of the leading finan- cial institutions of the city. The other offi- cers of this bank are: Clint W. Kline and Charles Switzer, vice-presidents, and William H. Evans, secretary and treasurer. The capi- tal stock of this bank is $50,000, with a sur- plus of $2,250. The bank is situated in the Masonie Building on the corner of Mill and Iloward Streets.

Mr. Alling was married in 1867 to Emilie 1. Carter, who was born in Brimfield, Portage County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Horatio T .. and Julia A. (Lyon) Carter, natives of Massachusetts. He and his wife have b en the parents of six children: Julia M., Wal- ter C., Ruth W., Fannie M., Mary E. and Ed- win L., of whom the last mentioned died in December, 1904. The family has a high so- cial standing in Akron.

Politieally, Mr. AAlling is a stauneh Repub-

lican, and at various times he has served in important offices. For twenty-one years he was a justice of the peace, for several years county recorder, and for a long period an active and useful member of the Board of Edueation of Tallmadge. Mr. Alling and family reside at No. 39 South Balch Street. The Alling family are members of the West Congregational Church.

JOSEPH COOK, an old and honored citi- zen of Akron, now retired from active busi- ness life, was born in England in 1847. His parents came to America when he was an infant. settling first at Danville. later at Allegheny, Pennsylvania, and still later at East Liverpool, Ohio.

He was reared up to the age of sixteen years in East Liverpool, obtaining his educa- tion in the public schools. He was still a schoolboy when he first enlisted for service in the Civil War. entering Company F. Fourth Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry, in which he served, nevertheless, with the cour- age and efficiency of a man through the eight months for which he had contracted. After his discharge he re-enlisted, entering Com- pany 1, One Hundred and Forty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served four months, and being honorably discharged. came to Akron. Here he enlisted for the third time, in Company A, One Hundred and Fif- teenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for one year, but as this was an old regiment, it was soon mustered out, and Mr. Cook was transferred to Company E, One Ihundred and Eighty-eighth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, in which he remained until the close of the war, being finally mustered out in the fall of 1865. He had served under Gen- eral Butler in the Eastern army and under General Kelley in West Virginia, his la-t field service being with the Army of the Cumberland.

Mr. Cook then returned to Ohio, his par- ents in the meanwhile having settled on a farm in Summit County, where he remained until he had recuperated from his long period of fatigues and exposure incidental to army

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life. Settling in Akron, he beeame inter- ested in a pottery business with John Rich- ardson and David Butler, under the firm name of Richardson, Cook & Butler. This firm was afterward incorporated as the Ak- ron Stoneware Company, of which Mr. Cook was president and general manager for three years. Failing health caused him to dis- pose of his interests in the company, and he took a season of rest. He subsequently returned to the pottery business. however, under the firm name of Weeks, Cook & Weeks, building a pottery plant and managing the business for four years. He then sold out to F. IT. Weeks, and turned his attention to improving his education, which his carly enlistment had interrupted, to that end tak- ing a complete course in Hammel's Business College, at Akron.

Mr. Cook then accepted a position as manager with the Wood Type and Novelty Company, and so continued until the busi- ness was closed out. For some four subse- quent years he was associated with the Drop Hammer Forge Company, filling the office of president, and later went into business with Charles S. Hart, under the firm name of Hart & Cook, which connection lasted for fifteen years. At the same time Mr. Cook was president and general manager of the Akron China Company, but he sold his in- terests therein and later became connected with the Cleveland China Company in the decoration of china and white ware. After four years Mr. Cook practically retired, in 1905, from active business life, although he owns a large amount of land, to which he gives attention, and he is also financially in- terested in the Aluminum Flake Company. Ile was for so long an active factor in the city's business life that his name is a famil- iar and an honored one in the loeal marts of trade. He has also been active in political life to the extent of working for civie reform and good government, but has consented to service in no office, except on the school board, where he continued for four years.

On October 9, 1873, Mr. Cook was mar- ried to Mary P. Norton, who is a daughter

of Thomas Norton, and who was born in the pleasant old home at No. 1320 East Market Street, in which Mr. Cook and his family now reside. Six children have been born into their household, namely: Eva, who married Carl Trulson, residing at Cleveland : Thomas M., residing in Nevada: Mary P., who lives at home with her parents; Martha, who married John Lemmon, and resides in Oakland, California: George W., residing in Oakland, but in business at San Francisco; and Celia, who resides with her parents. Mr. Cook is a member of Akron Lodge, F. & A. M .; Buckley Post, No. 2, Grand Army of the Republic; the Odd Fellows, and of some purely social organizations.

RICHARD L. MOORE, postmaster at Cuyahoga Falls, and one of the representa- tive citizens of the place, was born at Black- liek, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, August 24, 1880, and is a son of McConnell and Eliza- beth (Mildren) Moore.

The Moore family is of Scoteh-Irish extrac- tion. William Moore, the great-grandfather of Richard L., was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, where his life was spent, engaged in agricultural pursuits. His son, Hugh Moore, was born in Westmoreland County in 1806, and died in Sugar Creek Township, Armstrong County. Pennsylvania, in 1900. He followed the trade of black- smith. His wife was Fannie, daughter of John Shryock, of Butler County, Pennsyl- vania, and they reared the following children : John and William, both deceased; James, re- siding at Johnstown, Pennsylvania; Lavinia. deceased; Thomas H., residing at Los .In- geles, California; McConnell, residing at Cuy- ahoga Falls: Sarah Jane, who is the wife of Captain Samuel J. Nickerson, of Indiana, Pennsylvania; Margaret Ann. widow of John Adams, of Armstrong County. Pennsylvania; and George H., of Rimersburg, Pennsylvania. The mother of the above family died at the age of eighty-three years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Moore were devout Presbyterians, Mr .. Moore being an elder in the church.

McConnell Moore, father of Richard L ..

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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

was reared in Armstrong County and educated in the district schools. He was employed as clerk in a general store at Brady's Bend for several years, and then went to Oil Creek, where he had charge of some oil interests for about a year. Then he went to Pittsburg, where he worked at heating in a rolling mill for two and one-half years. He then returned to Brady's Bend as an inspector of ore for the Brady's Bend Iron Company, in which capacity he worked for seven years, after which he was in the oil business for himself for one year. In 1872 Mr. Moore went to Blackliek Station, in Indiana County, where he managed a firebrick business for his brother-in-law, E. J. Mildren, and he contin- ved there until 1885, when he came to Cuya- hoga Falls. For a time he was engaged with different firms in this eity in more or less re- sponsible positions, until he entered the em- ploy of the Rivet and Machine Works as time- keeper, remaining with that great industry until April 15, 1907, when he retired from business activity.

In 1861 Mr. Connell Moore was married to Elizabeth Mildren, who was born in Penzanee, Cornwall, England, in 1842, and is a daugh- ter of Jacob L. Mildren, formerly of Brady's Bend. Of the thirteen children of this mar- riage twelve grew to maturity, namely: Fan- nie Jane, who is the widow of B. B. MeCon- naughey, of Homer City, Pennsylvania; A. Kate J., deceased; Edward J., who is a resi- dent of Cleveland: Melda, who was a victim of the great flood at Johnstown, Pennsyl- vania. May 31, 1889; Lavina, who married F. J. Creque, and resides at Cuyahoga Falls ; Charles M., residing at home: Alice, who mar- ried John Young, of Muskegon. Michigan ; Leroy M., a resident of Newark, New Jersey ; Frank R .. residing at Cuyahoga Falls; Ralph R., who is engaged in the jewelry business and resides at Cuyahoga Falls; Richard L .; and Dora, who married Rev. C. A. Coakwell, a minister of the Disciples Church, located at Lennox, Towa.

Richard L. Moore was reared and edueated at Cuyahoga Falls, attending both the eom- mon and High School. Prior to his appoint-

ment as postmaster, which was made June 15, 1906, he worked in different factories in this vicinity, being a skilled mechanie, but since he assumed his present duties, on July 1, 1906, he has given the postoffice his main at- tention. His success as a public official has been generally recognized, and he is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens.

Mr. Moore married Bessie Belle Schnee, who is a daughter of Joseph and Jennie Schnee, of Cuyahoga Falls. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. Mr. Moore has always been in -. terested in public matters and has been an active worker in the Republican party. Fra- ternally he belongs to Howard Lodge, No. 62, Odd Fellows, and to the Foresters.

JAMES M. LAFFER, vice-president of the Security Savings Bank, and vice-president of the People's Savings Bank, at Akron, is one of the city's leading finaneiers and business menl. Ile is a dealer in drugs, paints and oils, and is largely interested in real estate. He was born in 1848, in Tusearawas County, Ohio, but Akron has been his home for over a half century. He is a son of John Laffer, former- ly a farmer and miller, whose father was Henry Laffer, an early settler in Tuscarawas County.

James M. Laffer was reared and educated in his native county. where he remained until 1861, when he moved to Millersburg, Ohio. In 1865 he established himself in Akron. During his youth he served for four years as a clerk in a drug store, and then went to Chi- cago, where he was engaged in a drug husi- ness for about nine months. afterwards re- turning to Akron. In October, 1869, the W. C. Byride & Company drug house was estab- lished, Mr. Laffer being interested, which eon- tinned until 1873, when he bought the inter- est of Mr. Byride and has continued alone ever since, having an excellent business loca- tion on the corner of Main and Exchange Streets. Mr. Laffer is one of the city's old and experienced business men-one who has wit- nessed and assisted in the wonderful develop-

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inent of her commerce and the growth of her institutions.

In 1872 Mr. Laffer was married to Minnie Collins, who is a daughter of J. H. Collins, of Akron. He and his wife have one daughter, Josephine, who is the wife of Francis Seiber- ling, a well known attorney of Akron. Mr. Laffer has taken a prominent part in public affairs, and in 1884 consented to serve on the City Council, in which he proved himself a careful guardian of municipal interests. IIis fraternal connections include the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows, of Akron.

W. W. McINTOSH, president of the Me- Intosh-Baum Company, at Akron, has been a resident of this city for the past decade, but is a native of New York, having been born in Schoharie County, that state, in 1863.

Mr. McIntosh was educated in the schools of Sloansville, and. after attending Claverack College, Claverack, New York, was prepared to enter into business. and went to Jackson, Michigan, where he learned the jewelry trade, remaining in that location for five years. He was then engaged in the jewelry business at Clinton, Illinois, for about ten years. His health failing him. he was compelled to change his business, and, accordingly, he be- eame interested in the manufacture of furni- ture, in which industry he was engaged for five years, at Constantine, Michigan. Mr. MeIntosh then came to Akron, and for a short time was engaged in the wholesale man- ufacture of undertaking goods. After sell- ing his interest in that business he became vice-president of the Hall & Harter Insurance Company. continuing as such for a period of two years, after which he organized the Me- Intosh-Baum Company, which is now incor- porated. Mr. McIntosh is connected with a number of other Akron enterprises, being a director in the McNeil Boiler Company, vice- president of the S. & O. Engraving Company, director of the Beacon-Journal Company, and other succesful concerns.

In 1889 Mr. McIntosh was married to Grace Bishop. of Clinton. Illinois, and they have two children, Bishop and Margaret. A

sister of Mrs. McIntosh is the wife of Hon. Vespasian Warner, United States Commis- Nioner of Pensions.

Fraternally, Mr. McIntosh is prominent in Masonry, having attained the thirty-second degree. Ile is a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council, Comnandery, Consistory and Shrine at Cleveland. He has taken an active interest in locating a number of indus- tries at Akron since he has made this city his home, and is a valued public-spirited citi- zen.

ISAAC SHELDON COWEN, one of the representative agriculturists of Northfield Township, was born on his farm in this township September 18, 1863, and is a son of John and Eliza ( McNiece) Cowen.

John Cowen was born in November, 1794, on the Isle of Man, whence he came to Amer- ica in 1827, and for eight years worked on the Ohio Canal. Subsequently he settled on a farm of forty acres in Northfield Township, where he engaged in sheep and cattle rais- ing, and built the home now occupied by Isaac S. He died at the age of eighty- three years. Mr. Cowen married Eliza MeNiece, who was born in County An- trim, Ireland, and was a daughter of Isaac MeNiece. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cowen, of whom six grew to ma- turity, namely: Rebecca Jane, born October 20, 1850, who married William Henry Price, of Cleveland, and who, with her husband. is now deceased: Isaac Sheldon, subject of this sketch ; William Henry, who was born March 18, 1856; Minnie Eliza, who married John B. Ward, of Solon, Ohio: Elsie Ann, who lives on the home farm; and Bertha Adele. who married Ernest E. Leslie, of Northfield Town- ship. The mother of these children was. like her father. an adherent of the Quaker faith, but after coming to Northfield Town- ship, there being no meeting-houses here of that denomination, she attended the Presby- terian Church.

Isaae Sheldon Cowen was educated in the common schools, and has resided all of his life on his present farm, which was purchased

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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

by his father from the Connecticut Land Con- pany. Ile has three barns, 26x30, with 14- foot posts; 26x42, with 14-foot posts, and 36x 46, with 18-foot posts, respectively, and all of his buildings are kept in the best condi- tion. Ile keeps about twelve head of cattle, his milk being shipped to Cleveland, and his principal erops are potatoes, grain and hay. Since procuring bis farm Mr. Cowen has added thereto by purchase, and he now owns 131 acres, about thirty-five of which are under cultivation. An up-to-date farmer, he uses the most modern methods and machinery, and is conceded to be one of the township's prosperous agriculturists. Mr. Cowen is a Democrat in his political views, but he has never cared for publie office.

REV. IRA A. PRIEST, D. D., who served as president of Buchtel College, at AAkron, from 1897 until 1901, is one of the prominent men of this city. Dr. Priest was born at Mt. Holly, Rutland County, Vermont, and he- longs to an old colonial family of that sec- tion.

After attending the public schools of his native place, Ira A. Priest entered a seminary at Barre, Vermont, where he prepared for Tufts College, at Medford, Massachusetts. where he was entered in 1880, and was grad- uated four years later with his degree of Ph. B. In 1884 he continued his studies. in the theological department, and in 1887 he was graduated with the degree of A. M. In 1898 his alma mater conferred on him the degree of D. D.

Dr. Priest was connected exclusively with church work for many years and served numerous pastorates prior to coming to Ak- ron. For two years he had charge of the Universalist Church at Monson, Massachu- setts, for three years he was at Adams, Mas- sachusetts, and for five years at Newtonville, Massachusetts. In the fall of 1896 he took charge of the Akron church, and in the fol- lowing year became president of Buchtel Col- lege. Although he still continues his pas- toral work, since the close of his official con- nection with Buchtel College, he has been

more or less interested also in business and political life. In 1901 he embarked in a real estate, loan and general insurance busi- less, which he conducted alone until Septen- ber, 1906, when the firm of Patton & Priest was organized. This has since become one of the leading firms in its line at Akron and has offices in the Everett building. Dr. Priest is a stockholder in a number of the business enterprises of the city, and has attained rank among her men of capital and commercial capacity. On June 23, 1887, he was married to Eva Hall, who was born at Lacon, Illinois. They have one child, Ruth Hall.

Dr. Priest has always taken an active and intelligent interest in politics, and has done his part in promoting good local government. On numerous occasions he has been elected to city offices, in 1903 becoming president of the City Council, to which office he was re- elected in 1905, and which he still holds. 1 stanch Republican, he has been treasurer for the past year of the Summit County Central Committee, and he is his party's choice for membership on the Board of Public Service. Fraternally, Dr. Priest is a Knight Templar Mason, and he belongs also to the Odd Fel- lows.

WILLIS E. PETTITT, secretary and treas- urer of the Pettitt Brothers Hardware Com- pany, of Akron, was born in Portage Town- ship, Summit County, Ohio, in November, 1868, and is a son of the late William Pet- titt. His father was a prominent farmer and stockraiser in Portage Township, where he settled in 1830, coming from Pennsylvania. The death of William Pettitt took place in 1882. He married Lucy Cook, who died in 1892. Of their eight children seven survive, namely: Orilla (married D. N. Spellman, of Akron) ; Clara, Ida. George, Miles, Lewis M., and Willis E., all residents of Akron.

Willis E. Pettitt was reared and educated in Summit County until the age of seventeen years, when he came to Akron and seeured a position as bookkeeper with the firm of May & Fiebeger, which he filled for sixteen years. Then, in 1903, in partnership with his

FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE

FIRST HIGH SCHOOL

Y. W. C. A. BUILDING, AKRON

M. W. HOYE'S RESIDENCE, AKRON

NEW COURT HOUSE, AKRON

IN PERKINS' PARK

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brother, Lewis M. Pettitt, he established a hardware business under the name of Pet- titt Brothers & MeDowell, which continued until the fall of 1906. Mr. McDowell then retired and the firm name became The Pet- titt Brothers Hardware Company. The con- pany was incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000, with L. M. Pettitt as president ; Wil- lis E. Pettitt, secretary and treasurer ; Alfred Winkler, vice-president, and W. F. Ringler, general manager. The company does a whole- sale and retail hardware and paint business, carrying a full and up-to-date stock, and hav- ing a wide trade territory.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 55

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