Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 71

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 71

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

in 1874, his property was estimated to be worthy $60,000.

Alonzo B. Olin, father of the late Jolin G. Olin, was born May 18, 1820, at Perry, Wy- oming County, New York, and died Novem- ber 14, 1885. He had but meager educational advantages in his youth, partly because of the few schoolhouses in his vicinity, in boyhood, and partly because his services as a sturdy, robust youth, were demanded to assist in the pressing work on the farm. He accompanied his father to Ohio and remained with him until his marriage, on October 12, 1842, to Elmira B. Squires, who was born also at Perry, New York. July 17, 1824. She still resides on the home farm in Portage County. After marriage, Alonzo B. Olin rented land of his father for a few years, but soon purchased land for himself and at the time of his death, by the exercise of the thrift taught him by his parents and natural to one who felt the responsibility of a growing family. he owned 224 acres of valu- able land. Ile passed away after a busy and useful life, leaving behind the record which a family preserves as one of its best treasures.

Of such honorable ancestry eame the late John G. Olin. He remained at home until he was twenty-three years old. His attendance in the distriet schools was followed by two terms in the High School and one term at Mt. Union College. Ile worked for his father and was justly remunerated as long as le re- mained. In the spring following his marriage Mr. Olin settled on his brother Arthur's farm, in Franklin Township, Portage County. where he lived for five years, and then re- turned to Streetsboro and worked a rented farm for two years. In the meanwhile, he had been looking for a suitable investment and finally decided to come to Summit County and on March 10, 1882, purchased the farm of eighty aeres, on which his widow still resides, He engaged in mixed farming. and his esti- mable wife capably managed the home dairy, and for twenty-two years made butter to sup- ply customers who were particularly choice about this table necessity. Among the mod- ern changes which have contributed largely

576

HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

to ease the heavy duties falling on the farm- ers' wives, has been the establishing of cream- eries, and Mr. Olin was one of the first in his neighborhood to recognize the value of such an enterprise. Ile was one of the founders of the Co-operative Creamery, now a very suc- cessful industry at Stow.

On November 4, 1874, Mr. Olin was mar- ried to the esteemed lady who still survives him, dearly cherishing his memory. She was Julia Ellsworth, who is a daughter of Rufus G. and Wealthy ( Wilcox) Ellsworth, of Streetsboro. For six years prior to her marriage she resided in the family of Samuel Olin. Mr. and Mrs. Olin had one daughter, Hattie E., who was born January 29, 1879. She was given many advantages and grew to attractive young womanhood. She was mar- ried March 26, 1902, to George Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have had two children, twins. One of these, Helen, who was born April 10, 1907, survives. Mr. and Mrs. Miller reside on the homestead, Mrs. Olin having retained but twenty aeres of the same for her own use, hiring a tenant to operate it for her. Mrs. Olin is a valued member of the Disciples Church.

The sudden death of John G. Olin was a shock not only to his family but to the whole community where he was so highly esteemed. He was a man of genial presence, and the hearty good will he entertained for all who came within the paths of his daily life, was warmly reciprocated, and it is doubtful if he had a real enemy in the world. No man en- joyed the ordinary pleasures of life more than he, and in every cirele in which he moved his presence was welcome. In his political choice he was a Democrat, and many offices of local importance were pressed on him, his upright character and evident fitnes- making hin popular with the majority of his fellow- citizens, irrespective of differing political faiths. For a number of years he filled the office of township trustee and supervisor, and at the time of his death was officiating in the former capacity. In all the different agencies established to improve his section, he was al- ways consulted as to their utility, and he lent

his influence uniformly to all movements which he believed would add to the general welfare and to the continued prosperity of Stow Township.

FREDERICK WUNDERLICH, whose fine farm of sixty acres in Norton Township is one on which he has lived almost contin- uously since 1857, is one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of this sec- tion. Mr. Wunderlich was born in Prussia- Germany. November 19, 1837, and is a son of John and Margaret (Kisfert) Wunderlich.

The father of Mr. Wunderlich was a silk weaver in his own land, but wages were small oven for this difficult kind of work, and when Frederick was two and one-half years of age, he decided to try farming in the great coun- try across the sea. Hence, the year 1839 found the German family safely established in Ohio. After a short residence at Cleve- land, John Wunderlich moved his wife and children to a farm he had rented in Summit County, where he set up his weaving looms and also cultivated the land. The Wunder- lichs lived for six years on Summit Hill, Coventry Township. and then moved to the neighborhood of Johnson's Corners. Norton Township, where he purchased forty aeres of land. Here he resided until his death, never giving up his work at his trade.

Frederick Wunderlich went to school at Johnson's Corners and worked for four years with his father at the weaving trade and then went to farming, which has been his main oe- cupation ever since. For a number of years he also ran a cider press. When he married he came to his present farm, which is lo- cated about one-half mile south of Johnson's Corners. With the exception of two years spent in Indiana, Mr. Wunderlich has re- mained on this farm ever since, a period of almost fifty years. In 1878 he erected the present large, comfortable residence. He lost his barn from a stroke of lightning, but re- built in a more substantial way in 1890.

On July 27, 1857, Mr. Wunderlich was married to Lavina Huvler, who is a daugh- ter of John and Elizabeth Huvler, who were

577

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

born in Pennsylvania, and came to Stark County, Ohio, where Mrs. Wunderlich was born. When she was fifteen years of age, her father bought the farin on which she has lived ever since, with the exception of two years. It is a fine old place and is endeared to her with memories of her girlhood and almost all of her married life. Mr. and Mrs. Wunder- lich have two sons, John H. and Arthur. John H. has been married twice and has two children, born to his first union, Frederick and Henry. Arthur also married and has one daughter, Inez. Both sons are pattern- makers. Mr. and Mrs. Wunderlich are among the oldest and most esteemed members of the Lutheran Church in this section.

J. F. BETZLER, senior member of the firm of Betzler and Wilson, manufacturers of fountain pens, at AAkron, has been a resident of Summit County, Ohio, for twenty-nine years. Mr. Betzler was born in Germany, in 1868, and was fourteen years of age when he came to America.

The young German boy came directly to Summit County, and at Akron he found em- ployment with the Summit IIard Rubber Company, which was then a branch of the B. F. Goodrich Company. and his worth and efficiency were proved by his being retained by them for six years. He then became con- nected with the fountain pen manufacturing industry, working both in Chicago and Cin- cinnati, and subsequently returning to Akron, where, in 1892. in association with W. E. Wilson, he embarked in the business of man- ufacturing fountain pens. The firm of Betz- ler and Wilson have since put upon the mar- ket a pen bearing their name, which has stood the most thorough tests, and is handled all over the country, four men being required to visit the trade in the United States. Employ- ment is given fifteen men in the factory.

Mr. Betzler is the inventor and patentee of the Betzler and Wilson self-filled pen, which is the firm's leader of their 100 different styles of manufacture. The business has made a rapid and wonderful growth, and each season sees it still further expanded. In addition to

his interest in this business, Mr. Betzler is a director in the Dollar Savings Bank.

In 1896, Mr. Betzler was married to Eliza- beth Kipp, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and they have one child, Alma. Mr. Betzler is a 32nd degree Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commandery at Akron, and to the Shrine and Lake Erie Consistory at Cleve- land. He is a past grand in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. A man of recognized business enterprise, he enjoys a high commer- cial rating in the city which has witnessed the successful development of this business.

J. M. DAVIDSON, one of Akron's leading citizens, who has been identified with her im- portant enterprises for the past twenty-eight years, is one of the best known general con- tractors here and has had much to do in build- ing up and improving the city. Mr. David- son was born in 1858, in Scotland, where he remained until twenty years of age.

In 1878 Mr. Davidson came to America, having completed his apprenticeship to the machinist trade prior to this, and in 1879 he reached Akron, where he entered the shops of the Taplin-Rice Company. He remained with the above firm for one and one-half years and then went to the Akron Iron Com- pany, where he continued for some fifteen years. Mr. Davidson then entered into busi- ness for himself as a general contractor and coal dealer, doing all kinds of paving and sewer building. and having an extensive trade in coal, both wholesale and retail. Mr. Davidson has been awarded a number of very heavy contracts and has just completed over a mile of paving and sewer building at Ash- land, Ohio. He has his large force of men at work at present on a contract that calls for the building of 2,300 feet of rock sewer. Mr. Davidson is a good business man and has made a number of judicious investments since locating at Akron and he owns considerable stock in a number of the city's most prosper- ous enterprises.

In November, 1890. Mr. Davidson was married to Emma Beck, who is a daughter of William Beck, and they have two children

578

HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

living: William James and Ethel Ruth. One daughter, Rhoda, was killed during the riot of 1900. With his family, Mr. Davidson be- longs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. Davidson has never been very active politically and has never consented to be a candidate for offiee. He belongs to the or- der of Modern Woodmen. He is known to his fellow-citizens as a man of business capac- ity and integrity, one who in every way de- serves the high regard in which he is held.

WILLIAM N. PALMER, assistant gen- eral superintendent of the Diamond Match Company, at Barberton, was born at Middle- bury, now Akron, Ohio, December 9, 1855, and is a son of Albert and Ann Elizabeth (Haughey) Palmer.

Albert Palmer, father of William N., was born at Lyons, New York, in 1823, and is a son of Stephen Palmer, who brought his fam- ily to AAkron in 1837. The latter was a man- ufacturer of fanning mills and when his father died, Albert. Palmer continued the bus- iness. Albert Palmer and his wife both sur- vive, after a happy married life of fifty-eight years, he having reached his eighty-fourth birthday, while she is seventy-seven years of age. They had seven children, as follows: C. IL., who is vice-president of the Diamond Match Company; Kate, who is the wife of M. C. Lytle, residing at Wadsworth, Ohio: William N., whose name begins this sketch; Stephen; Frances, a school teacher, residing at Akron: Nettie, who is the wife of Adolph Bonstead; and Jessie.

sistant superintendent of this immense plant. His knowledge is of a thoroughly praetieal nature, he having worked through the differ- ent departments in the factories. Mr. Pal- mer married Emma Tweed and they have one daughter, Mabel.

GEORGE S. DAVIS, an extensive farmer and stock-raiser of Bath Township, and one of the most influential and widely respected citizens of Summit County, was born in New York state, November 21, 1845. son of Wil- liam and Ann (Sewell) Davis. William Davis was born in Burns, Lineolnshire, England, April 14, 1809, and on May 16, 1833, was married to Ann Sewell, who was born at the same place about 1814. They came to this country in July, 1845, locating in New York state. They were the parents of a large family, of whom the following children were born to them in England: Jane, April 10, 1843, wife of I. S. King; Mary, February 16, 1836, who married S. E. Taylor; John, January 21, 1838; William, October 27, 1839; Thomas, December 2, 1841; Ann, November 15, 1843, widow of I. H. Miller, and now widow of L. V. Wychoff. The American-born children are: George S., the subject of this sketeh; Sarah D., Deeem- ber 13, 1847, wife of George Bisbee; Eliza- beth, Deeember 25, 1849, wife of Abraham Speneer; Emma E., September 6, 1852, wife of Sylvester Vallen; Alpha, December 3, 1854, wife of Frank Pierson; Clara B., Jan- uary 6, 1857, wife of Charles Dietz. Of the above-mentioned family. Thomas was killed in the service of his country at the battle Pine Knob, Georgia, June 15, 1864, after having served faithfully under Sherman in all his battles up to that time.

William N. Palmer has been more or less identified with the match industry sinee boy- hood, beginning to work for O. C. Barber. the pioneer mateh manufacturer, when but twelve years of age, the plant then being located at A year after their arrival in this country the family eame to Summit County and pur- ehased .a farm in Bath Township, which was partly eleared. On this Mr. Davis erected a new house and barn and made a comfortable home for his family. In polities he affiliated with the Republican party. He was a mem- Middlebury, which is now a part of Akron. He attended sehool during the winter sessions for some years and also took a course in Wilder's Business College, but all spare time, holidays, Saturdays and even many even- ings, were given to work for Mr. Barber. Gradually, from the humblest position, Mr. . ber of the Odd Fellows, both in England and Palmer has advaneed until he is now the as- America, and he and his wife were earnest

579

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

members of the Disciples' Church. Mr. Davis died August 14, 1888, his wife hav- ing preceded him to the grave nearly twenty years, dying March 12, 1867. They were most worthy people, active in advancing the social and moral welfare of the community, and their memories will live long after them.

George S. Davis was reared on the farm, and acquired his education in the common schools. As a young man he worked at the carpenter's trade, in which occupation he con- tinned for six years. After his marriage he abandoned it and began farming, which has since been his occupation. He now owns one of the best farms in the county, compris- ing 300 acres, and improved in the inost thorough and up-to-date manner. He gives a large share of his attention to the breeding of fine cattle and sheep, the excellence of which have become widely recognized. To facilitate this industry he has on his farm five large barns, arranged with every con- venience for the care and proper raising of stock. He has also for some years past been engaged in raising horses, and now has some very fine Morgan and English coach horses. It may be still said of him today, as it was some years ago, that he probably owns more fine stock than any man in Bath Township.

Mr. Davis was married February 12, 1873, to Miss Mary Barker, who was born Septem- ber 10, 1848, daughter of Jared and Eleanor (Munson) Barker, well known residents of Bath Township. He and his wife have been the parents of the following children : Eleanor Belle, born Jannary 30, 1874, died October 30, 1883; Jay, December 31, 1879; Jared. April 21. 1882; Mary, February 27, 1884: George, September 15, 1885; Anna, August 10, 1887: Paul, May 2, 1889.

Mr. Davis is a strong Republican and cast. his first presidential vote for General Grant. Of a retiring disposition, however, he takes but little part in politics, though in response to the desires of his fellow citizens he has served the town as a member of the Board of Education. He and his wife are both members of the Congregational Church at Bath.

FREDERICK J. BAUER, M. D., a lead- ing physician at Mogadore, who has been lo- cated here for the past twenty-seven years, is, with one exception, the oldest continuous medical practitioner in the place. Dr. Bauer was born in Suffield Township, Portage Coun- ty, Ohio, March 5, 1854, and is a son of Jacob and Christiana (Holzworth) Bauer.

The parents of Dr. Bauer were born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and they came to America in 1839, settling on a farm of 100 acres, which then was located about a mile from the village of Erie, Pennsylvania, but is now included in the corporate limits of that city. At that time the land could have been purchased for thirty dollars an acre, but Jacob Baner could not command that much capital at the time and the opportunity was lost for the making of an independent for- tune. He removed from Pennsylvania and settled in Suffield Township, Portage County, Ohio, between 1840 and 1845, on a farm two miles southeast of Suffield. He died about 1887, aged eighty-one years. He married Christiana Holzworth, who died in 1882, at the age of sixty years. They were the parents of nine children, namely: Rudolph. George, Sophia, Mary, Odelia, Frederick J., Lena, Lucinda and Jacob. Rudolph Baner died in 1905, and George died at the age of two years. Sophia, who died in 1859, was the wife of William Wilson, who was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War. They left one son, Charles Wilson, who is a prominent citizen of Lamar, Missouri, of which village he has been mavor, and is now serving as night telegraph agent for the Missouri & Pa- cific Railroad. Mary, who is the widow of George Price, resides, with her eight chil- dren. on her farm adjoining the old home- stead. Odelia, who is the widow of Newton Stanffer, resides with her daughter and granddaughter northeast of Tallmadge. Lena, who married John Peterson, resides in Jas- per County, Missouri. Lucinda married John May and they reside with their children on the old Baner homestead. Jacob W .. the youngest member of this family, has charge of the United States Weather Bureau at Co-

580

HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

lumbia, South Carolina, where he has been located since 1893, having served at various points since 1881. He was edueated at Mt. Union College. He married Esther Wash- burn, of Brooklyn, New York, and they have one son and several daughters.

The boyhood of Dr. Bauer was spent on his father's farm and his early education was ob- tained in the distriet schools. He secured better educational advantages after he had earned the money by teaching, to pay for them, and he spent three years at Mt. Union College. In 1876 he left school and in the following year began to read medicine with Dr. Ferguson, of Mogadore, and later entered the Ohio Medieal College, at Cincinnati, for one year, going from there to the medical de- partment of the Wooster University, which is now the College of Physicians and Sur- geons, of Cleveland, where he was graduated in the elass of 1880.

Dr. Baner returned to Mogadore and en- tered into partnership with his old preceptor, Dr. Ferguson, and this association eontinued until the death of the latter in January, 1886, sinee which time Dr. Baner has been alone. During his twenty-seven years of professional work in this place, Dr. Bauer has so demon- strated his ability that he has gained the con- fidenee of the publie and the respect of his associates in the practice of medieine. He has taken an active part in public affairs, par- tieularly in those concerning his own state, county and city, and has shown his sineerity by lending his influence to many public-spirit- ed movements. He owns considerable real es- tate at Mogadore and is a stockholder in the Colonial Brick Company.

In 1885 Dr. Bauer was married to Cath- erine S. Rubbins, who was born in the state of New York, and is a daughter of John and Lydia M. (Olds) Rubbins, the former of whom was born in England, and the latter in New York, where she was one of a family of twelve children. Dr. and Mrs. Bauer have two sons, Fred Otis and Carl Holtzworth, the former of whom is a student at Mt. Union College, and the latter of whom graduated in the elass of 1907, from the Mogadore High

School. Both fine types of young American youths. The residence in which Dr. Bauer and family reside and which he owns, was built by the Kents, very early settlers here. It has a historic interest from the fact that when it was completed, one of the workmen broke over its roof a bottle of liquor and christened the village of Mogadore, from the town of that name in Africa, where he had once been a prisoner.

Dr. Bauer is one of the leading Democrats of this section, and on one occasion was chosen by his party as its eandidate for coun- ty auditor. He has served a number of times as a delegate to the state conventions and for many years has been a regular delegate to the county conventions. Since 1885, Dr. Baner has been a Mason, and in 1891 he be- came a charter member of Lodge No. 482, Knights of Pythias, at Mogadore.

JOHN A. WHITMAN, who resides on a well-improved farm of three and one-half aeres in Chippewa Township, Wayne County, Ohio, owns also eighty-seven aeres in Norton Township, Summit County, and eight aeres in Wadsworth Township, Medina County, this property being all in one body. Mr. Whitman was born June 24, 1857, in Chip- pewa Township, Wayne County, Ohio. and is a son of John and Jane (Allerding) Whit- man.

Andrew Whitman, the grandfather of John 1., was a native of Pennsylvania, and at an early day came to Chippewa Township, where he was married to Margaret Marshall, who was a native of Knox County, Ohio. He pur- ehased the farms on which both his son John and his grandson, John A., were born. He acquired considerable property, and, in addi- tion to farming, he operated a cider mill and also engaged in threshing.

John Whitman was horn on a farm loeated south of Doylestown in Chippewa Township. Wayne County, and subsequently purchased the present farm of John A. Whitman, from his father. He became thresher. miller and general farmer. He was married in Knox County, Ohio, to Jane Allerding. who came

JOSEPHI COOPER

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

from France when aged sixteen years. To them were born eight children, as follows: Caroline, who is the widow of Frank Stotler; John A .; Ella, deceased, who was the wife of Bartley Lynch; Mary, who died at the age of thirteen years; Lawrence and Josephine, both of whom died of diphtheria, the last three named children dying within six weeks; Clara, who is a graduate nurse, re- siding at Cleveland, Ohio; and Matilda, who resides at. Doylestown. The mother of these children died September 30, 1904. The father died in 1876.

John A. Whitman was reared on the home farm, and attended the country school. When aged nineteen years his father's death oc- curred and the main duties of the farm thus fell upon his shoulders. He has always car- ried on general farming, and, in addition, is now making a specialty of raising Durham cattle. A rather unusual circumstance is that his excellent farm lies in three counties, his residence being on the Wayne County por- tion, while his barn is situated in Summit County.

Mr. Whitman was married in 1885 to Jo- hanna Schmitz, whose death occurred April 16, 1902, and to them there were born eight children, namely: Lawrence, Mary, Clara. John, Lucy, Herman, Leo and Cecelia.

Mr. Whitman is a member of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. With his fam- ily he attends the Doylestown Catholic Church.

JOSEPH COOPER, of the brick manufac- turing firm of Cooper Brothers, at Akron, has- been a resident of this city and identified with its business interests for the past forty years. Mr. Cooper was born in Staffordshire, Eng- land, in 1847, and was reared, and educated, and learned his trade in his native land.

At the age of twenty years, Mr. Cooper came to America, settling in Akron, and work- ing the first year for the firm of Kent & Bald- win in their machine shops. He subsequently entered the employ of Byron Allison, in the brick business, with whom he remained for ahout ten years. Then, in partnership with

his brother, Samuel Cooper, he leased the old Briggs briek plant, and the firm, under the name of Cooper Brothers, have been engaged since in manufacturing and deliverng all kinds of building brick. Their plant is lo- cated at No. 573 Spicer Street. They give employment to a number of skilled workers, and the industry is one of the substantial ones of the city.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 71

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