Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 62

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 62

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In 1883, Mr. Bruner was married to Nel- lie Pettit, of Wabash, Indiana, and they have two daughters, viz .: Marion, who is a grad- nate of Wellesley College; and Julia. Mr. Bruner and family belong to the First Metho- dist Episcopal Church, at Akron, which he is serving as a member of the board of trustees. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fel- lows. and socially with the Portage Country Club.

LEWIS A. MILLER, one of Akron's capi- talists and men of large business interests, whose investments and dealings in real estate

in city and vicinity include the handling of some of the most valuable property in this section, is also interested in the manufacture of electric automobiles, and he is vice-president and a director of the Byrider Auto Company of Cleveland.

Mr. Miller was born at Canton, Ohio, in October, 1863, and is a son of Lewis Miller. His parents moved from Canton to AAkron when he was six months old. Lewis Miller, the father, was the inventor of the Buckeye mower, reaper and binder, and he was also the founder of the great Chautauqua move- ment, in 1874.

Lewis A. Miller was reared at Akron, where he attended the public schools and for a time was a student at Mt. Union College. He then made a tour of Europe, afterwards returning to Akron. For the fifteen years following. Mr. Miller was connected with the firm of AAultman and Miller, as a department man- ager and as a member of the board of direct- of's. He also aeted as assistant secretary to his brother. For the past six years he has given his main attention to investments of a realty character, as mentioned above. Mr. Miller is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church at Akron, and belongs to its official board. He still retains his member- ship and interest in his Greek fraternity at Mt. Union College.

LORAN LUMAN OVIATT, formerly one of the most highly esteemed citizens of North- field Township, who was largely interested in the cattle business for many years and was identified with many schemes of public im- provement in his immediate community. was born in the southwest corner of Twins- burg township. Summit County. Ohio. Feb- ruary 19, 1844. His parents were Luman and Lucinda (Cregg) Oviatt. He was reared on his father's farm, and early became interested in the cattle business, which was his father's prineipal occupation. IIe attended the dis- trict schools, but gained rather through prac- tieal experience the knowledge which made him one of the best-informed men of his sec- tion. He carried on general farming on his

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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

farm of 238 acres, eighty-four acres of which had been originally purchased by his father, and the balance was added by himself. Cul- tivating about sixty-five acres, he used all his produce for feed, except his wheat. From the beginning of his business career he dealt largely in cattle, and he probably was one of the best judges of cattle in the county. For one year he owned a meat market at Cuya- hoga Falls, butchering his own cattle and sup- plying the Macedonia market with dressed meat. This business he sold to Roethig Brothers. Buying cattle took him all over the country, and wherever he did business he made friends. He was honest in business and a man of strong family affection-without, it is said, an enemy in the world. For two years he was township trustee, and for twenty- one years was a member of the School Board, spending a considerable part of that time in supervising the erection of sehool buildings. His death, which took place June 6, 1907, re- moved from the community one of its most useful members.

Loran L. Oviatt was married, first, March 17, 1864, to Lura, daughter of Elisha Temple- ton. She died March 18, 1873, leaving two children-Edward Luman, now a resident of New York ; and Frank Loran, who resides on his farm adjoining the homestead farm at Little Fork. Mr. Oviatt was married, second, to Elva Adell Eggleston, who is a daughter of Milton Eggleston. Three children were born of this marriage, namely: Vinna P., Hazel L., and Lynn E., all of whom are re- siding with their mother.

Captain Joseph Eggleston. the grandfather of Mrs. Oviatt, was born July 6, 1779. In 1807 he came from Massachusetts and settled at Aurora, Portage County, Ohio, where he was a pioneer. ereeting his log cabin among the first in the place. Ile married Parlia Leonard, and by her reared six children. She was born in Massachusetts and died in 1842. He married for his second wife, Anna Maek, a daughter of Colonel Maek. Of this latter union there were no children. Milton Eggles- ton, father of Mrs. Oviatt, was born June 29, 1814. and died November 9, 1898. Hle en-

gaged in farming and cattle-raising, and be- eanie a man of considerable substance. Ile married Emeranea Loveland, who was born at Aurora, Portage County, Ohio, and who died August 17, 1860. The two children born to Milton Eggleston and wife were: Frances, now deceased, who married Gustavus G. Cass, who is also deceased; and Elva A. ( Mrs. Oviatt), who was born at Aurora, January 22, 1855. The members of Mrs. Oviatt's family were all Congregationalists, and during her residence at Aurora, she was identified with that church. She takes an active interest in promoting various charitable projects.

FRANK NOLTE, vice-president of the Ak- ron Foundry Company, has been a resident of this eity since he was seven years of age, but was born in Hanover, Germany, August 14, 1865. In 1867, his father, the late John Nolte, brought his family to America and settled in Akron. After leaving school, Frank Nolte entered the employ of May & Fiebeger, with which firm he continued for twelve years. In 1900 he entered the shops of the Akron Foundry Company, of which he is now the vice-president. Step by step he advanced through the different depart- ments to his present responsible position, which he gained through his own energy. en- terprise and industry. He has also other bus- iness interests and is secretary of the Pruden- tial Heating Company. On June 21, 1893, Mr. Nolte was married to Margaret Kanth, who was born at Akron, and they have one child, Florence 1. Mr. Nolte is a member of the order of Maccabees.

FRED W. TWEED, who is superintendent of Factory No. 2, of The Robinson Clay Prod- uet Company, has been a resident of this eity for the past thirty-nine years. He was born in 1862, in the Dominion of Canada, where · his parents, George William and Ann (Clark) Tweed then resided. His father died when he was six years old and his widowed mother came with her children to Summit County, where she rounded out her useful existence, dying in 1902.

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Fred W. Tweed attended the public schools of Summit County until old enough to enter the employ of the Diamond Match Company, where he remained for three years. Ile then became employed in the pottery of Richard- son, Cook & Butler, and later went to the Ak- ron Sewer Pipe Company. Ile next worked for the firmn of Cook & Weeks, and afterwards for the Robinson Clay Product Company, which was then known as the E. H. Merrill Company. A period of twenty-four years has passed since then and Mr. Tweed has never severed his connection, gradually winning promotion, and for the past seven years he has been superintendent of Factory No. 2, an of- fice which requires many special qualifica- tions.

On July 19, 1882, Mr. Tweed was married to Louisa Remmy, who was born at Akron and is a daughter of Charles Remmy. They have two sons-Charles W., who is a draughts- man for the Diamond Match Company, and Frederick G., who is a student at Akron. Mr. Twced is connected fraternally with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.

IHOUSTON KEPLER, residing on East Robinson Avenue, just outside of the eorpo- ration lines of the village of Barberton. form- erly owned the 300 acres adjoining the plant of the Diamond Match Company, as well as other valuable farming land. Mr. Kepler was born on the farm on which he lives, Au- gust 25, 1839, and is a son of Jacob and Susan (Marsh) Kepler.

Mr. Kepler comes from German and Eng- lish ancestry. His father. Jacob Kepler, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and was a son of John Kepler, who came to Sum- mit County from Pennsylvania, settling in Green Township, when Jaeob was a boy of eight years. Both grandparents died on their farm in Green Township. Jaeob Kepler was reared and married in that township. The mother of Houston Kepler was born in Penn- sylvania and eame with her parents to Frank- lin Township, Summit County, when she was 10 years of age. She was a daughter of Adam Marsh, who purchased a farm. After mar-

riage, Jacob Kepler and wife came to the farm on which Houston Kepler has lived all his life. Jacob Kepler first purchased 128 acres of land which he subsequently increased to 882 acres, all but 329 acres of which were situated in Coventry Township, the latter be- ing in Franklin Township. There were thir- teen children born to Jacob Kepler and wife, seven of whom reached maturity. Until re- cently five were living. namely: Mrs. Lavina Reninger, who was the widow of Solomon Reninger and resided in Akron, died October 30, 1907; Samuel, residing in Akron: IFous- ton, whose name begins this sketch; Eliza- beth, who is the widow of Henry Wise, residing in Barberton ; and Amanda, who mar- ried Andrew Oberlin, and reside> at Doyles- town, Wayne County, Ohio. Both parents died in this township.

Houston Kepler attended the district schools of Coventry Township. He has always de- voted himself to agricultural pursuits. In 1863 he was married to Catherine Foust, who was born in Pennsylvania and is a daughter of Abraham Foust. She was reared in Green Township, Summit County, her parents hav- ing come here in her childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Kepler have four children, namely : Clara A., married Andrew Kreighbaum, and has three children-Houston, Marjorie and Flor- ence; Laura J., who married W. D. Foust, has one son, Forest ; Maggie E., married Wil- liam G. Steadman, and resides in Cleveland, where her husband is engaged in the drug business; and Nelson E., who lives at home with his parents.

At one time Mr. Kepler owned a large amount of land, but has disposed of a great deal of it. After selling the 300 aeres to O. C. Barber, for manufacturing purposes, he bought 127 aeres in Copley Township. He owns also a store building and a briek build- ing in Barberton, which is utilized as a livery stable. Mr. Kepler is one of the capitalist- of Coventry Township. He is a stoekholder in the Dime Savings Bank, and in the Bar- berton Savings Bank Company, and is a director in the former. He is a member of the Reformed Church.

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In polities Mr. Kepler is a Democrat and has been honored by being elected as justice of the peace, which office he held for twenty- four years. He was township clerk seven years and was township treasurer one year, and coroner of the county two years.

HON. JAMES MCNAMARA, mayor of Barberton, is one of the best known and most popular citizens of Summit County. He was born at New Portage, Summit County, Ohio, December 4, 1866, and is a son of Jolin Mc- Namara, also a well known and popular citi- zen.

Mayor McNamara spent his boyhood days at New Portage, which is now a part of Bar- berton, and, with the exception of two or three years' residence in Akron, has spent his life in this town. During his youth, while attending school, he assisted his father in the latter's store, at New Portage, and later was connected with the Barberton Sewer Pipe Company. He served under Mayor E. M. Buel for two years as clerk, and was assistant postmaster during the nineteen years that his father held the government office, from July, 1893, until February, 1898. Later he was as- sociated with his father in the real estate business, the firm being large dealers in real- ty in this vicinity for many years. When his father was made mayor, in 1900, the present mayor served as his clerk, and in the fall of 1905 he was elected to the same high office on the Democratic ticket. Ile was re-elected in the fall of 1907, which is the first time in the history of Barberton that any mayor has succeeded himself. His whole life has been passed, more or less, in the public eye. and whatever important position he has filled, his integrity has never been questioned. He pos- sesses in large degree those qualities which arouse warm friendship, and enjoys the re- spect and esteem of his fellow-citizens, irre- spective of party lines.

Mayor MeNamara was married (first) to Minnie McMullin, who died August 2, 1901. leaving one child, Velva. He was married (second) January 9. 1907, to Mary Mc- Mahon. In church relationship Mayor Mc-

Namara is member, councilman and secretary of St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church at Barberton. He belongs to the Elks and holds membership with Lodge No. 982, Barber- ton.

HORACE B. CAMP, one of Akron's most stirring and successful business men, came to Middlebury, now East Akron, in 1854. He was born in Ohio, November 9, 1838. When he was a child his parents settled in Cleveland, where he resided until he was fifteen years of age. During the family's sejourn there he attended the public schools, his literary education, however, being completed at East Akron. After leaving school he engaged in farming in Northampton Township, and was so occupied until 1865, in which year he en- gaged in the manufacture of sewer pipe at Cuyahoga Falls in the firm of Lewis & Camp. In this business he continued until 1893, at which time the style of the firm was Camp & Thompson, they having plants also at Green- town. In 1893 there was a division of the firm and Mr. Camp took the plants at Green- town, which he operated subsequently until 1901, when he sold out to the National Fire- proofing Company. Mr. Camp has various other important, business interests, being presi- dent of the Faultless Rubber Company of Ashland, Ohio; president of the Camp Con- duit Co .; president of the Akron Clutch Com- pany : president of the Colonial Sign and In- sulator Company; president of the Indiana Run Mining Company: president of the Ak- ron Fireproof Construction Company: a di- reetor in the Hamilton Building Company. and is also president, or a leading official. in several other companies. He is fraternally affiliated with the Free Masons.

Mr. Camp was married, in 1874, to Amelia M. Babb. Their household has been graced by four children, as follows: Grace E .. who is now the wife of R. E. Armstrong; Henry H., now a prominent voung business man of this county; Louis, who is residing at home with his parents: and Laura M., who is the wife of Professor William E. Mosier, of Ober- lin College.

LEROY HENRY

CHARLES HENRY

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CHARLES HENRY, architect, of the well known firm of Charles Henry & Son, of Ak- ron, has been a resident of this city for more than a quarter of a century, and is one of the experienced men in his profession. Mr. Henry was born in Vernon, Trumbull County, Ohio, on May 24, 1847, and belongs to one of the old families of that section.

He received his first education in the com- mon schools near his home, afterwards attend- ing the High School at Palmyra in Portage County, and later taking a seientifie course in Hillsdale College at Hillsdale, Michigan. This was followed some years later by a full business course in the Bryant & Stratton Col- lege at Meadville, Pa.

Mr. Henry commenced the study of archi- teeture early in life, and for ten years (1870- 1880) was engaged in contracting and build- ing in northwestern Wisconsin. He first came to Akron in 1881 and engaged with Mr. Jacob Snyder as a draughtsman in his office, remaining in his employ until Mr. Snyder's death, when he became his successor. In 1896 Mr. Henry admitted his son. Leroy W. Henry, into partnership, adopting the firm name of Charles Henry & Son, architects, which has not since been changed.

The younger member of the firm received his primary education in Wisconsin, after- ward finishing in the High School at Akron. Since completing his education he has de- voted all of his time to the study and practice of architecture.

The firm of Charles Henry & Son do a gen- eral architectural business, including nearly all classes of buildings, but make a specialty of church arehitecture, and more than two hundred beautiful church edifices, scattered through eighteen different states, have been erected from drawings made by them. Their work is of a high class character, and in walk- the streets of Akron their many buildings may almost be recognized for the qualities which mark their work. Akron has been very ap- preciative and thus has added greatly to her reputation as a city of beautiful structures, graceful in outlines, substantial in construc- tion and entirely adequate for the purpose for

which they were built. This firm has a well grounded reputation.

In 1869 Mr. Henry, Sr., was married to Charlotte Anna Bartlett, of Ravenna, Ohio, and they have two children, viz .; Leroy W., who was married in 1895 to Myrtle Royer, of Uniontown, this county, and has one child; and Julia .A., who is the wife of John E. Mc- C'anna, of Akron.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry are members of the Congregational Church of Akron, and he is one of the deacons. For many years he has been an active member of the Odd Fellows in all of its branches. In the Masonie bodies he is a member of Akron Lodge, No. 83, 11. F. & A. M .; Washington Chapter, No. 25; Akron Commandery, No. 25; AAkron Council, No. 80, and Lake Erie Consistory, of Cleveland, Ohio, 32d degree. He belongs also to the Protected Home Circle of Akron. Mr. Henry's portrait, also that of his son Leroy, may be found on an adjoining page.

WILLIAM WAGGONER, a representative citizen and leading agriculturist of Copley Township, resides upon his well-improved farm of ninety-six acres, and has been a resi- dent of Ohio since his childhood. Ile was . born on his father's farm in the state of New York, November 13, 1829, and is a son of William and Catherine (Spohr) Waggoner.

The coming of the Waggoner family to Summit County from the old home in New York was a wonderful event for many of its members, and was probably full of interest. to little William. The long journey was made in a prairie schooner and reached Copley Township in the fall of the year. The country was unsettled and no house was to be seeured, but the Waggoners were people full of re- sourees, and before long some timber was se- cured from an old sawmill, and what was known as an "Irish shanty," in those parts. was ereeted. The present young generation of the family would consider it impossible to pass a long and stormy winter, in a strange neighborhood, in such a structure, but their sturdy ancestors made light of hardship. In the spring, removal was made to a log house

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near William Waggoner's present farm, in which the family lived until the younger Wil- liam was twelve years old. His father bought forty acres in the heart of the woods and was occupied through all his aetive life in im- proving this farm, on which he died. His widow died at the home of her son William.

William Waggoner, direet subject of this sketch, had scareely any educational advan- tages. There was always plenty of work to do in clearing and cultivating the farm and while he gained little book learning in his boyhood, he was trained to be obedient, in- dustrious, and self-reliant. In 1850 he went to Akron, where he learned the brick-laying trade, which he followed until 1857. He then married and with his wife removed to Iowa, where he remained six years.

In the fall of 1863 he returned to Copley Township and here his wife died. She was, in maidenhood, Betsey A. Stearns, and was born in Copley, a daughter of John C. and Orpha 1. (Clark) Stearns. Mr. Stearns was living at that time on Mr. Waggoner's farm. Mrs. Waggoner left no children. After the death of his wife, Mr. Waggoner enlisted in the Union army, in the fall of 1863, enter- ing the Sixth Ohio Independent Battery, and remaining in the service until the close of the war. He participated in the Atlanta eam- paign and wa- with the force that pursued General Hood.

When the war closed Mr. Waggoner re- turned to Akron and worked at his trade for four years. In 1869 he returned to Copley Township, in the spring of that year being married to his second wife, Lydia Ann Ran- dolph, a daughter of Bayliss Randolph. She `died April 7, 1896. After his second mar- riage, Mr. Waggoner bought his present farm from Samuel Long, and has been engaged in a general line of agriculture for many years. He has now, however, given over the manage- ment to his nephew, Harry Weeks, who make> his home with his uncle. Mr. Weeks married Nellie Prentice, and they have three children : Arthur. Myron and an infant.

Although, in boyhood, as mentioned, Mr. Waggoner was deprived of school advantages,

that did not prevent him studying on his own account. Hle thus prepared for teaching, and when he was twenty years old began to teach the winter schools in an adjoining district, and so acceptably, that he taught in various districts through nine winters. There are many residents of Copley Township who re- member him as a schoolmaster. Politically, he is a stanch Republican and has frequently served in offices of responsibility. For two and one-half terms he was township trustee, for two terms was a justice of the peace, and for ten years was a member of the Board of Education. For the past thirty years he has belonged to the Grange, and he is proud to belong also to the Grand Army of the Re- publie.

SOLOMON M. GOLDSMITHI, secretary and treasurer of the J. Koch Company, Ak- ron's largest elothing store, was born in 1873, at Rochester, New York, where he was reared and educated.

Mr. Goldsmith has been associated with the elothing business throughout his whole busi- ness career. He began in boyhood in a hum- ble capacity in the line of work he had chosen and learned its details from the bottom up, gradually rising until he beeame a member of the elothing manufacturing firm of Goldsmith & Son. When the firm of J. Koch Company was incorporated in February, 1907, he came to Akron and accepted his present position with this house, his thorough training and long experience making him a most desirable acquisition to the house.

In 1904 Mr. Goldsmith was married to Ce- Ha Moss, who is a daughter of H. W. Moss, one of Akron's pioneer merchants and a mem- ber of the old firm of Koeh & Moss, for years Akron's leading clothiers. Mr. Goldsmith is a Free Mason. He is a member of the Ak- ron Hebrew Congregation. He is a young man of pleasant address and undoubted busi- ness eapaeity.

W. T. TOBIN, secretary of The M. O'Neil & Company. Akron's leading department store, has been identified with this business sinee

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he was a youth of fifteen years, and has grown up with the house as it were. He was born at Akron in 1864, and is a son of the late Martin Tobin, formerly a well known eitizen. Martin Tobin was born in Ireland and set- tled in Akron in 1863, where he beeame eon- nected with the Hills Sewer Pipe Company, the Akron Iron Company and the Whitman- Barnes Company. He married Honora Brazell, who was also born in Ireland.

W. T. Tobin was reared in his native city and up to the age of twelve years attended the parochial schools attached to the Catholic Church in the parish of St. Vincent. Until he was fifteen years old he worked in the shops of the Diamond Match Company and the McNeil Boiler Company, and then en- .tered the store of O'Neil & Dyas as cash boy. His industry and capacity brought him quick- ly to the attention of his employers and he rapidly rose to be cashier, and later book- keeper.

The mammoth enterprise with which Mr. Tobin has been connected so long, was started in 1877 and was incorporated in 1892, when Mr. Tobin became secretary of the company. the other officers being: M. O'Neil, president and general manager; J. J. Feudner, vice- president; F. B. Goodman, assistant man- ager. The company has a capital of $200,- 000 and a surplus of $275,000. Its location is at 38-48 South Main Street and 41-49 South Howard Street. It occupies five floors and a basement, and 300 persons are given employ- ment. In addition to performing the duties of secretary, Mr. Tobin is buyer and manager of the Leader Ready-to-Wear Garments and Millinery and Manufacturing departments.

He served for twelve years as a trustee of the Akron Publie Library, and is now a mem- ber of the Sinking Fund Commission. He is also a director in, and actively connected with. the Akron Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany.

In September, 1892, Mr. Tobin was mar- ried to Anna G. Walsh, of Cleveland, and they have had eight children, those now living being Dorothy, Honora, Mary. Catherine, Paul and Richard. The family belong to St.

Vincent Catholic Church. Mr. Tobin is a member of the Knights of St. John, and has filled the office of district deputy of the or- ganization.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 62

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