Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 63

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 63

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CALVIN GOUGLER, a highly esteemed citizen and substantial agriculturist, who oper- ates a well-improved traet of land consisting of eighty-seven acres in the north eentral part of Green Township, was born in this town- ship August 20, 1870. and is a son of Daniel and Phobe (Arnold) Gougler.

Daniel Gougler was born in Snyder County, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Tilton Goug- ler, a life-long agriculturist of Pennsylvania, and a soldier in the Mexican War. In his younger days Daniel was a blacksmith, but subsequently engaged in farming, and in 1870 with his family came to Green Township, Summit County, Ohio, and settled on a rented farm near the Inland cemetery, where he resided for one year. He then removed to the present farm of Ami Gougler, on the Akron Road, in Green Township, but in the following year located on the farm now owncd by Calvin Gougler, which Mr. Gougler pur- chased from the Chisenell heirs in association with his unele. John Gongler. This tract originally consisted of 153 acres, but on its division Daniel secured the south part of the property. Here Mr. Gongler died in 1887. aged fifty-nine years, four months. He was married in Pennsylvania to Phobe Arnold. who was also born in Snyder County. and who still survives and makes her home with her son, Calvin. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gougler, namely: Savoris. who lives in Coventry Township; Irving, who died, aged two years: Louisa, who married Frank Miller, of Green Township: Jacob. who lives in Springfield Township: Jackson. who resides at Kent. Ohio: Maria, who is the wife of J. Gearhart, of Tallmadge Township: and Calvin.

Calvin Gougler attended the old district school house in Green Township, and has re- sided in this section all of his life. He bought an undivided interest in his present farm from his father's heirs, and has brought the

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property to a high state of cultivation, using the latest methods and most improved ma- chinery. On March 16, 1902, he was united in marriage with Alice Hershey, who was born at New Berlin, Stark County, Ohio, and is a daughter of William and AAda ( Hole) Hershey. Mr. and Mrs. Hershey, the former of whom died in Stark County, had four chil- dren: Alice, the wife of Mr. Gougler; Mande, who married C. White; and Anna and George, who are single. Mrs. Hershey was married a second time to Samuel Stover and resides in Stark County. To Mr. and Mrs. Gougler have been born two children-Ray A. and Opal. Mr.Gougler is a stanch Democrat in politics, and served as township supervisor for two years. He belongs to the Grange. With his family he attends the United Evan- gelical Church.

ALEXANDER H. COMMINS, formerly the senior member of the prominent business firm of Commins & Allen, at Akron, was born June 1. 1815, at Lima, Livingston County, New York, and died at Akron, August 17. 1880, aged sixty-five years. He was the eld- est son of Dr. Jedediah D. Commins. His parents located at Akron in 1832. After a short period spent as clerk in his father's drug store, Mr. Commins became interested with a number of Akron capitalists in the manufacture of woolen cloth, satinets, etc., be- coming a member of the Perkins Company. The business was carried on in the old brick building on Canal Street, which is now known as the Allen mill. In 1867 Mr. Commins. with Albert Allen, purchased the old stone mill and the firm of Commins and Allen con- tinued to do a very large and successful busi- ness for many years. This business was sub- sequently merged into The American Cereal Company, now The Quaker Oats Company.

Mr. Commins was married October 8, 1860, to Addie H. Starks, who was born at Buf- falo, New York. They had nine children, six of whom still survive, Cora, Katherine B., Adelaide II .. Daisy, Alexander HI. and Au- gustus J. Alexander H. Commins, of this family, is an attorney and director in the Cen-

tral Savings and Trust Company, with office at No. 12 East Market Street, and residence at No. 135 Fir Street. The death of Mr. Com- mins was a distinct loss to Akron, where as business man and citizen he had so long been held in esteem. His widow survived him less than four years, dying June 29, 1884.

J. J. FEUDNER, who has been identified with the business interests of Akron ever since he was twenty-one years of age, and is now vice-president of The M. O'Neil & Com- pany, the largest dry goods store of this whole section, is a man whose capacity is universal- ly recognized, and whose good citizenship makes him a representative man in the broad- est application of the term.

Mr. Feudner was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1857, and he was reared and edu- cated in the vicinity of his birthplace. In 1878 he came to Akron and was employed by the old dry goods firm of Hall Brothers, for eighteen months, later working for Brouse & Wall on Howard Street. In 1881 he entered the employ of O'Neil & Dyas, and continued with that firm until The M. O'Neil & Com- pany was organized and incorporated, when he became vice-president and has since de- voted his exclusive attention to that concern.

In 1882 Mr. Feudner was married to Kath- eryn Brumbangh, who is a daughter of Con- rad Brumbaugh, of Stark County, and they have three children : Grace, ITarry and Lloyd. Ever since coming to Akron Mr. Feudner has heen connected with Trinity Lutheran Church, and he is now a member of its offi- cial board. For fully thirty years he has been affiliated with the Odd Fellows, of which he is a Past Grand.

GEORGE A. SWIGART, a representative citizen of Copley Township, Summit County, Ohio, who is carrying on agricultural opera- tions on his fine farm of sixty-eight and one- half aeres, was born July 7, 1842, in Frank- lin Township, and is a son of George and Elizabeth (Daily) Swigart.

George Swigart, grandfather of George A .. was a native of Bucks County, Pennsylvania,

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from whence he came to Ohio in a prairie schooner and located in a cabin in the Wilderness of Stark County. He married Elizabeth Peifer, who survived him many years, and they had the following children : John, George, Joseph, Jacob, Peggy, who married Joseph Rex; Catherine, who mar- ried H. Sours; and Caroline, who married a Mr. AAsper.

George Swigart, father of George A., was also born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and was just a lad when he made the journey to Ohio with his parents. After his marriage he purchased a farm in Franklin Township, Summit County, Ohio, and there he spent the rest of his life. Mr. Swigart married (first) Mary Daily, who died without issue some years later, and he married (second) her sis- ter, Elizabeth Daily, by whom he had the fol- lowing children : Margaret, who married D. Waggoner; John; Susan, who married Sam- uel Kepler; Joseph; Mary Ann, who married J. Vocht; Sarah : Jacob; Catherine, who mar- ried Daniel Grill; Elizabeth, who married Phillip Serfass; Caroline, who married J. Cormany; Henry; David; George Adam; Daniel; and Hiram.

George Adam Swigart was reared on the home farm, and, after obtaining a good com- mon school education, began teaching school. an occupation which he continued to follow until his marriage, after which he rented a farm in Norton Township for three years and then purchased his present farm, on which he built all of the buildings. Mr. Swigart is a Democrat in polities, and has served on the school board. With his wife he attends the Reformed Church.

On September 28, 1871, Mr. Swigart was married to Eliza. J. Harter, who is a daugh- ter of Daniel Harter, who now lives with Mr. and Mrs. Swigart and is eighty-eight years old. One child has been born to this union: Homer 1.

Homer Alden Swigart was born August 9, 1875, on his father's farm in Copley Town- ship, attended school at Montrose, the Copley High School, the Ohio University at Ada and the Mount Union College at Alliance. In

1892 he began teaching school and continued in that profession for thirteen years in Cop- ley and Coventry Townships. After giving up teaching he engaged in a creamery busi- ness at Cleveland for five months, but re- turned to Copley Township and engaged in business with his father-in-law, Eugene _1. Hawkins, with whom he is still in partner- ship. They are dealers in coal, fertilizer, lime, cement, plaster, farm implements, bug- gies, wagons, ete., and do a large business throughout the surrounding country. He is also considering a proposition to become ticket freight agent for the N. O. Railroad. Mr. Swigart purchased his present large dwelling in 1904. He is a Democrat in politics, and has been active in the ranks of his party in Copley Township, serving for four years in the capacity of township clerk, to the satis- faction of all concerned.

During the year of the Buffalo Exposition Mr. Swigart was married to Mabelle A. Haw- kins, who is a daughter of Eugene 1. and Laura (Colson) Hawkins, and two children have been born to this union: Alverda M. and Alice V.

JOHN LIMRIC, now living retired at Akron, enjoying the comforts of a beautiful home at No. 556 East Buchtel Avenue, was one of the leading business men of this city for many years, and he is also an honored veteran of the Civil War. Mr. Limric was born in Germany. May 14, 1836, and was a babe in his mother's arms, when his parents- Baltis and Ursilla Limric-came to America.

The parents of Mr. Limrie settled first at Liverpool, Ohio, but came to Akron in 1839. and in this city he was reared and educated. In boyhood he served three years as a clerk in a grocery store and when seventeen years of age learned the carpenter's trade. On Oe- tober 9, 1861, he entered the Union army, en- listing in the Sixth Ohio Independent Light Battery. He participated in the battle of Shiloh, the siege of Corinth and the battles of Stephenson and Iuka, and accompanied his command to Nashville. and aferwards to Louisville, where he was confined in a hos-

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pital for three weeks, suffering from the ef- fects of a wound received at Shiloh. He was later sent to a hospital at Camp Dennison, where he remained three months, receiving his honorable discharge December 20, 1862, on account of this disability. During his service of fifteen months, until incapacitated he performed every duty of a true patriot and faithful soldier.

Within three weeks after returning home and receiving the care and attention he needed, he went to work at his trade with the late George Thomas, a large contractor and builder of that day, and after his death he continued with his son and successor, D. W. Thomas, remaining with father and son for a period altogether of forty years. He was made superintendent of many of their larg- est contracts and worked at Cleveland. Bal- timore and in other eities, ineluding Akron.

February 21. 1858, Mr. Limrie was mar- ried to Anna L. Williams, who was born at. Harpersfield, Ashtabula County, Ohio, in 1841. Her parents were Lemuel and Lueinda Highby Williams, the former of whom was born in Vermont and the latter in Conneeti- cut. They were early settlers at Akron and Mrs. Limric easily recalls the little log cabin home. to the door of which Indians would frequently come. Mr. and Mrs. Limric have four children, namely: Arthur Eugene, who was one of the first mail carriers in Akron, which position he still holds; Rev. Harry George, who is rector of an Episcopal Church at Abilene. Texas; Lulu May. wife of J. C. Leohner, of New Castle, Pennsylvania: and Curtis Clifton, who is employed in the office of the Diamond Rubber Works at Akron.

Mr. Limric is a member of Buckley Post, No. 12, G. A. R. Since 1864 he has been identified with the Odd Fellows as a member of Lodge No. 50 and of Encampment No. 18. Mr. and Mrs. Limrie are both members of Colfax Lodge, No. 23. Daughters of Re- bekah, Mrs. Limrie being one of the charter members.

IT. IT. CAMP, whose business interests at Akron eover many of the leading enterprises

of the city and neighborhood, is treasurer and manager of the Camp Conduit Company. He was born at Cuyahoga Falls, in October, 1876, and is a son of the venerable H. B. Camp, who was prominently identified for many years with the manufacture of clay prod- uets.

Mr. Camp was educated in the sehools of Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson and AAkron, and first entered into business as assistant to his father. Later he went to New York city to take charge of a large contract his father was filling. He remained there three years, at the end of which time he returned to his father's office and continued with him until the Camp fac- tory was bought by The National Tinproof- ing Company. Ile remained with that cor- poration as manager for three years, when the organization of The Camp Conduit Com- pany called him to accept official position with this organization. The plant of this company is situated at Independence, in Cuyahoga County. Other enterprises in which Mr. Camp is interested are the Central Savings and Trust Company, of which he is a di- rector and stockholder: the Akron Fireproof Construction Company, of Akron, Ohio, and the Akron Coal Company, in both of which he is also stockholder and dircetor. Other less important concerns also claim his attention. On September 10, 1902, Mr. Camp was mar- ried to Anna Christy Metlin, who was born and reared at Akron. Mr. Camp is a member of the Akron club.

J. H. ANDREWS, superintendent of the Quaker Oats Company's Akron mills, is an experienced man in his line, having been identified with the grain business almost all his mature life, and since 1881 has been par- ticularly occupied in milling. He was born in 1856, at Cincinnati, and was reared and educated in his native city, where he was en- gaged for three years in a wholesale grocery business. In 1881 he embarked in a milling business at Ravenna, in connection with which he operated an elevator. He contin- ued there until 1891, when he eame to Akron. since which time he has been superintendent

REV. JOHN B. BROUN, D. D.

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of the mills of the Quaker Oats Company, one of Akron's most important industries, where from 700 to 1,000 people find employment.

In 1887 Mr. Andrews was married to Laura L. Day, of Kent, Ohio, and they have three children : Laura, Helen and Edward. With his family, Mr. Andrews belongs to St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Fraternally, Mr. An- drews is a Mason and has long been promi- nent in the Portage Country club. of which he is viee-president, and is at present acting president.

REV. JOHN B. BROUN. D. D., pastor of St. Bernard's Church at Akron. and the oldest Catholic priest in the city, was born at Ren- ing, France, March 2. 1834, and accompanied his parents to America and to Monroe. Michi- gan, in 1847. In his boyhood he attended the parochial schools, and at the age of 20 year's became a pupil in Assumption College, at Sandwich. Ontario, Dominion of Canada, where he remained three years. He then en- tered St. Thomas's College, near Beard-town, Kentucky. where he was graduated in 1860, and after one year in St. Mary'- College, Cleveland, returned to Assumption College, where he studied theology for three years. In 1863 he was ordained a priest by Bishop Bar- raga, of Michigan, and located at Eagle Har- bor. in that state. The three years which Father Broun spent in this mission were memorable ones. His territory covered fifty- five miles in extent, and pastoral visits to some of the 1,000 families ineluded under his charge could be made only on foot, often through dense forests. Nevertheless, twice each month, the faithful priest was on hand at churches or missions scattered far apart, to greet his people and comfort them by his ministration». Sinee 1866 Father Broun has been identified with pastoral work at Akron, his only respite from continuons duty having been obtained during two brief visits to Eu- rope.

St. Bernard's Church, of which Father Broun has been pastor for forty-one years. has an interesting history. Originally all the people of various nationalities subseribing to

the Roman Catholic faith, at Akron, were identified with the parish of St. Vincent de Paul. As the German element increased, an amicable separation was effected in 1861, twenty-three German families of the latter nationality forming a new society which was named for St. Bernard. In 1862 a church edifice was commenced and when Rev. Mr. Broun took charge, as the third regular pas- tor, St. Bernard's had become the church home of the German Catholie element in Ak- ron. Father Broun's work has not only been directed for the spiritual welfare of his eon- stantly increasing congregation, but he has worked almost as persistently and successfully for their material benefit. Through many changes St. Bernard's has become one of the most substantial congregations in the city, and the church. which was completed in 1905, is one of the finest religious edifices in Akron. The corner stone of the new church was laid with impressive ceremonies. June 23, 1902. and was dedicated October 14, 1905. Father Broun is one of the most beloved among the Catholic clergy, and is held in the high es- teem also, both in his own and other churches, for his business ability, his scholarly attain- ments, and his other admirable personal quai- ities.

ALFRED CAPRON, who has been a life- long resident of Copley Township, Summit County, Ohio, was born in the log eabin erected by his father on the pioneer family farm, May 8. 1832, and is a son of Ara and Eliza (Sweet) Capron.

The Caprons and the Sweets both belonged to Pennsylvania. Orren Capron, the grand- father of AAlfred, was the leader of the fam- ily party that came to Ohio. He took up 160 aeres of land on the Smith road on the Bath- Copley Township line. in Summit County. and there spent the remainder of his life. dying at the age of eighty-four years. He had four sons and one daughter, and he assisted all of his children to procure farms. Ara Capron, the youngest son, had aceompa- nied his father with his newly-made wife. and he took up land in Copley Township.

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which he subsequently cleared, and built the Captain Smith and served until the close of log house in which his children were born. There were five of these, as follows: Laban, who died in 1907, aged eighty-three years; Elias, who died, aged fifty-three years; Adeline, who married Abel Allen, deceased ; Albert, deceased; and Alfred, residing in Copley Township.

When Alfred Capron was two years old he lost his father by death, and, although he re- mained on the old farm with his mother, he was obliged to look after himself from the age of ten years. He attended the district school for a short time, but his educational advantages were' few. Different farmers in the neighborhood employed him at a salary of three dollars a month, which was increased as he grew older, and he continued to work by the month until he was thirty years of age. On April 10, 1862, he was married to Emily Moore, who is a daughter of William and Mary (Baer) Moore, who came from Frank- lin County, Pennsylvania, to Summit County and settled on this farm in 1833. Mrs. Cap- ron was born near this place. Her father died at the age of forty-five years and her mother, in 1872, at the age of fifty-nine years. There were six children in the Moore fam- ily, namely: Oliver and John R., both de- ceased : Perry, Emily and Amanda and Mo- Curdy, both deceased. All of Mrs. Capron's brothers, except the youngest, served in the Civil War, and all the brothers of Mr. Cap- ron also were soldiers, these families being very patriotic. Mr. Capron preserves the splintered gun which his brother-in-law. John R. Moore, carried. Elias Capron served in the Mexican War and later participated in the In- dian troubles in the West. Albert Capron al-o served in the Civil War, enlisting in 1862 in the Second Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and was a courageous soldier, who faced the dangers . of war for four years, but fortunately escaped injury.

Shortly after his marriage, Alfred Capron enlisted. in August, 1862, and served six months as a teamster. In February, 1864, he re-enlisted as a private in Company I, 188th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under

the war. When Mr. Capron returned from his military service he began farming for himself, buying from E. Randall one-half of his present farm, to which he moved, and · here he has continued ever since. IIe has 143 acres of valuable land, which he devotes to general farming. Mr. Capron made the greater number of the improvements on the place, erecting the substantial buildings, set- ting out the hedge fence, which is very orna- mental, and has made a comfortable and at- tractive home, both without and within. Among the interesting articles of furniture that he displays with pardonable pride, is his grandfather's old clock, which is made of wood and stands eight feet high. Its pendu- lum still swings true, although it must have marked the flight of time for the past hundred years. In addition to looking after his farm, Mr. Capron is interested as a stockholder in the Logan Clay Product Company. at Logan, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Capron have two children, Ara and Bessie. The former married Flor- ence Vallen and they live on a part of Mr. Capron's farm. Politically, Mr. Capron is a Republican, and he belongs to the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. Both he and wife are valued members of the United Brethren Church. His life of seventy-five years has covered an important part of his country's history, and he has been a witness of many beneficial changes in his own com- munity.

WILL CHRISTY, one of Akron's most prominent business men and influential citi- zens, who is president of the Central Savings and Trust Company, vice-president of the Northern Ohio Traction and Light Company, president of the Akron People's Telephone Company and president of the Hamilton Building Company, has also other extensive interests in Akron and the vicinity. He was born in Akron, in 1859, was reared in this city and was educated in its public schools.

In early manhood, Mr. Christy became in- terested in the tanning and leather business,

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with his father, and remained connected with that industry for ten years, after which his at- tention was attracted to the promotion and construction of electric railways. It was Mr. Christy who organized the Cleveland Con- struction Company, which has built many thousands of miles of electric railroads through Ohio and in Canada, at present hav- ing 170 miles of road in course of construc- tion. His business interests have gradually broadened until he has become associated, either as the head or as a director or stock- holder, in a large number of the leading business concerns of this section. In the prime of life, he has hardly yet reached the full measure of his usefulness.

In 1890 Mr. Christy was married to Rose Day, who is a daughter of E. S. Day, vice- president of the National City Bank, of Ak- ron. Mr. and Mrs. Christy belong to St. Paul's Episcopal Church. He is identified with a number of social organizations, in- cluding the Portage Country club and the Union, Euclid and Country clubs, of Cleve- land.

DR. ARTHUR M. COLE, banker and manufacturer, and one of the busiest men in Akron, is a native of Summit County, hav- ing been born near Everett. His education, begun in the district schools of Boston Town- ship, was continued later in Cleveland, Ohio. He then spent several years as clerk in his father's store at Peninsula, Ohio. Toward the end of this period he had leanings to- ward a professional career, and so we find him beginning the study of medicine, which he pursued first in New York city, graduating from the New York Medical College, and aft- erwards in the Cleveland (Ohio) Medical Col- lege, from which he was graduated in the class of 1876. For two or three years subse- quently he practiced his profession in Cleve- land. Then, returning to his native county, he practiced for about a year at Peninsula.

The death of his father, which occurred about this time, changed the whole current of his life, and directed it into those chan- nels of trade and finance in which it has

since flowed with such momentous volume. He purchased his father's business and con- ducted it very successfully until his election in 1883 as treasurer of Summit County. His election to this responsible office shows that he had by this time become generally recog- nized throughout the county as a man of financial ability and trustworthy character. and the record he made while in the office justified the people's confidence, and resulted in his re-election for a second term, the period of his incumbency thus covering four con- secutive years. During the same period he served as city treasurer of Akron. He had now entered fully into the business life of the city; his ability was recognized and his opinion sought in regard to matters of trade and finance by the leading business men here, and led naturally to his connection with some of Akron's representative concerns. He was for some time president of the City National Bank; was one of the organizers of the Akron Twine and Cordage Works, and was its secre- tary, treasurer and manager until its merger with the National Cordage Company in Jan- uary, 1891 ; he was president also of the .I. C. McNeil Boiler Company. He has since con- tinued his successful business career, being. or having been, president of a number of other flourishing enterprises in Akron and in other cities. He organized the Western Linoleum Company and was its president for years; it is now the Standard Oil Cloth Com- pany, in which he is largely interested, and of which industry he may be called the pioneer in the West. He has also been and is still closely connected with the match man- ufacturing industry, is president of the Re- liable Match Company at Ashland. Ohio, and is also concerned in the manufacture of drill- ing machines, for ten years having been president of the Star Drilling Machine Com- pany. He was one of the organizers of the Home Building & Loan Company, and was its vice-president until his resignation. He is also an active and influential member of the Akron Board of Trade, of which he was one of the organizers, and president for some time. He is also at the head of the firm of A.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 63

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