Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 83

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 83

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John Zwisler and wife had two children, Lester N. and Clarence MI. The former ro- sides on Newton Street, Akron. He married Alice Hearty.

Clarence M. Zwisler attended the district schools and applied himself to agricultural pursuits. With the exception of a short time passed in Tallmadge Township, he has lived his life on his present farm in Spring- field Township. In addition to farming he carries on a lucrative meat business.

Mr. Zwisler married Minnie Rhodes, who is a daughter of Frederick and Louisa (Rep- rogle) Rhodes. Her father was born in Penn- sylvania. and her mother in Stark County. Mr. and Mrs. Zwisler have three interest- ing children: Esther L., who was born July 22, 1900; Milford, who was born August 4, 1903; and Herbert N., who was born January 7, 1907.

Politically, Mr. Zwisler is an active mem- her of the Democratic party. For seven years he has been a member of the School Board.

JOHN L. CHAPMAN, president of the Tallmadge Township School Board and a prominent citizen of this section, resides on the old homestead farm of eighty-five aeres and in the old brick residence which was built seventy-six years ago, all the material for its construction having been produced on the farm, with the exception of the lime. Mr. Chapman was born at Akron. Summit

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County, Ohio, January 6, 1859, and is a son of John and Phoebe (Budd) Chapman.

The Chapman family is of English extrac- tion. The paternal grandparents of Mr. Chapman were John and Elizabeth (Burt) Chapman. They came to America with their children and settled at Oswego, New York, where both died. They had the following children: Richard, who lived and died near Bloomfield, New York; Mary, who married John Rowe, lived and died at Oswego, New York: Margaret, who died unmarried, in New York; William, who died at Wilton, Wisconsin, in 1875; Susan, who survived her Imsband, William Merchant, who disap- peared and was supposed to have been killed for a sum of money in his possession ; Charles, who died at. Oswego, and John. The sons all learned the milling business with their father and they ran the same mill, an old tide-water one, which had been in the pos- session of the family in Cornwall. England, for generations. As some families were farmers as far back as can be traced. the Chapmans were millers.

John Chapman, father of John L. Chap- man, of Tallmadge, was born in Cornwall, England. in 1812, and was nineteen years of age when he left England. and with other members of his family. settled at Oswego, New York. Although little more than a boy in years. he had a good knowledge of his trade and found immediate employment in the flour mills of that place, where he re- mained until 1832. when he came to Akron. He was a practical mechanie, a natural one, and understood the wheelwright trade and everything concerning not only the operating but the construction of mills and mill ma- chinery. He came to Akron at first to start in operation the old stone mill, which was then heing ereeted, but it had not been com- pleted when he arrived, and he went to Mid- dlebury and worked some time for the firm of MeNorton & Noble.

When the stone mill was completed, John Chapman took charge and he made the first flour ever ground in Akron proper, and con- tinued to operate that mill for one year. In

1833 he returned to New York, and for one year operated a mill at Rochester and then came back to Akron, and for a short time resumed work at the stone mill. He was called to different points to superintend the building of mills and many of those scattered over Summit County, which, in their day, were valuable adjuncts to the comfort and convenience of settlers, were either built by him or under his supervision. Mr. Chapman then bought a farm on which he lived for twenty-five years, and in 1872 he purchased the farm on which his widow and son still live.

In 1857 John Chapman married Phoebe Budd, who still survives. and they had six children : John. Nellie, Carrie, Cora, Alva and Charles. the latter two dying in infancy. John Chapman died in April, 1881. after a short illness, from pneumonia. His age was sixty-nine years and ten months. He was a man who commanded the respect of all who knew him.

The Budd family, of which Mrs. Chap- man is a member, is an old one of the Em- pire State. Her grandfather, Underhill Budd. is on record as being a highly respected resident of Ithaca, New York, which city he left to accompany his son, Solomon Budd, to Ohio. He married Rebecca Townsend, and both he and wife died at Akron. Ohio. They had the following children : Debby Ann, who is deceased: John, who died in New York; Solomon, the father of Mrs. Chapman ; Phebc, who married William B. Doyle: Hannah, who married Daniel Teeter. both died at Jonesville, Michigan : Elizabeth, who married Charles Stetson, died at Cleveland, and Eras- tus. who died at Akron, aged twenty years.

Mrs. Phebe J. Chapman was born at El- mira. New York. June 15. 1838. and is a daughter of Solomon and Emmeline (Jar- vis) Budd. The father of Mrs. Chapman was born in New York, July 4. 1813. and died at Akron. Ohio. May 21. 1891. His wife was born in New York. April 16. 1816. and died at Akron. May 1. 1883. He was a manu- facturer of shingles. in the days when it was a hand industry. In 1839 he came to Ohio

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and lived for one year at Canal Fulton, then returned to the East for a year. In 1842 he came back to Ohio with his wife and they lived at AAkron during the remainder of their lives.

The children of Solomon Budd and wife were the following: Phebe J., who became Mrs. Chapman ; Mary E., born September 19, 1840, who died in childhood; Townsend C., born December 19, 1842, married Ellen Goodman, of Cleveland, and they reside at. Akron; William Il., born November 10, 1841, died in childhood; Aurelia A., born January 3, 1846, who is the widow of Jacob Denaple, who died in 1889, and Julia E., born April 18, 1848, who resides at Akron.

John L. Chapman, who bears his father's and grandfather's name, lived in the city of Akron from his birth until 1872, when he removed with his parents to the present farm in Tallmadge Township. He was educated in the public schools of Akron, attended school in Tallmadge Township and spent several terms at Buchtel College, which in- stitution he left in 1878.

Mr. Chapman engaged immediately in farming and has made many improvements on the property. This farm is an old settled one. its first owner having been a pioneer named John Lane, who sold it to Samuel Keller, from whom John Chapman bought. It is good land and is favorably situated. Mr. Chapman raises grain, hay and potatoes and enough stock for his own use. He works along modern lines and meets with satisfac- tory results.

In June. 1901, Mr. Chapman was married to Emma Blackburn. who is a daughter of William T. and Mary ( Hurst) Blackburn, of Berea. Ohio, William T. Blackburn was born at Kent and his wife at Ithaca, New York, and both are deceased, the mother dy- ing in 1900, aged sixty-eight years, and the father in 1904, at the age of seventy-eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman have one son, Earl, who was born September 9, 1905.

In political sentiment. Mr. Chapman is a Republican and usually gives bis support to candidates of that party. but in local mat-

ters occasionally votes for the man he feels is best qualified for the office. He is no seeker for political honors for himself, his tastes lying in a different direction. He is connected with several fraternal organiza- tions, belonging to Elm Grove Lodge, No. 501, Tallmadge, formerly of the Aetolia Lodge, Knights of Pythias, Apollo Lodge, No. 61, Akron, of the Odd Fellows, and to the Pathfinders. In 1904 he was elected a member of the School Board under the new law, for a term of four years, and is its presi- dent.

ZIMMERLY BROTHERS. the leading pork packers and dealers in choice meats. in Summit County, with a large retail establish- ment at Akron and a five-acre packing plant at Kenmore, have built up their business from a small beginning to the command of a mar- ket which covers all this section of Ohio. This success is a monument to their business ability, clear foresight and unflagging indus- try. The firm of Zimmerly Brothers is made up of John, Jacob, Gottleib and Herman. all experts in the meat business. They were all born in Switzerland, and are sons of Samuel Zimmerly, who died in that land.

John Zimmerly, the eldest member of the firm, was born in 1855 and was fifteen years of age when he came to Summit County. From 1874 until 1878, he lived at Wads- worth, coming to Akron in the latter year. Here he worked for twelve months at the harness business, and for the same length of time at the marble business. From then un- til 1891 he was in the employ of the Ak- ron Tron Company, and in the year last men- tioned became associated with his brothers in the establishing of the meat business which has grown to such large proportions. In 1905 John Zimmerly was married to Mrs. Augustus Reishler. Ile is a member of the German American elnb. With his brothers he belongs to the German Reformed Church.

Jacob Zimmerly. of Zimmerly Brothers, wholesale and retail pork packers and meat dealers, was born in 1863, and remained in Switzerland until he had completed his edu-

EDWIN SEEDHOUSE

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cation. After reaching the United States he settled in Akron, and for seventeen years af- ter was employed in the Buckeye Works, in the meanwhile becoming interested with his brothers in the founding of their present business, to which for the past seven years he has devoted his exclusive attention. He belongs to the German Reformed Church, as above intimated, while his social connec- tions include a number of German societies.

In 1904, Herman Zimmerly was married to Emma Brodt. The brothers are interested also in the Depositors Savings Bank and the Akron Brewery Company.

The Zimmerly Brothers' business, started in a small way, as above mentioned, soon required additional buildings, and the brothers accordingly erected a brick structure 20 by 50 feet, two stories in height, at No. 215 West Main Street, Akron. By 1904 the business had further increased to such an extent that the firm found it necessary to erect and equip a three-story brick building, 30 by 62 1-2 feet, at the same time adding a story to their former structure. This firm was the first in Akron to put in a refrigerat- ing machine for the cooling of their meat. They own also five acres of land at Ken- more on which they have a pork-packing plant located, which is finely equipped, be- ing installed with all modern appliances. The main building is of brick, 100 by 40 feet, and there are three refrigerating rooms

attached. The thorough sanitary condition of all the surroundings ensures the whole- someness of the meat, which has an extensive sale all over this section. The firm slaugh- ter 100 hogs a week and manufacture at least 3,000 pounds of Bolougna sausage. Their name is a satisfactory guarantee of the quality and purity of their goods.

EDWIN SEEDHOUSE, president and general manager of the Falls Rivet and Ma- chine Company, of Cuyahoga Falls, one of its most important industries, was born at Birmingham, England, April 4, 1864, and is a son of John and Mary (Cox) Seedhouse.

The parents of Mr. Seedhouse came to

America in 1868, and settled at Wadsworth, Ohio, where he attended the public schools. Hle afterward became station agent for the Erie Railroad Company. at Sherman, where he served from 1884 to 1887. Mr. Seedhouse was then shipping clerk for the Akron Iron Company, holding that position for two years and then becoming salesman for the branch of this company, at Boston, Massachusetts, where he remained until 1892. He oeeupied the same position in New York, for the New York branch, from 1892 until 1893. His return to Akron was in the capacity of con- tracting agent for the same concern, but in 1897 he severed his relations with the above company, as it had been affected by the pre- vailing business depression, and went to New York as general eastern manager for the Falls Rivet and Machinery Company, where

he continued until 1903. Then returning to Ohio, he became president and general man- ager of the Falls Rivet and Machine Com- pany, which was organized May 16, 1903. It succeeded the old Falls Rivet and Machin- ery Company, that had been in existence for thirty years. The business was incorporated by the present board of directors-Edwin Seedhouse, Charles H. Wells and Theophilus King. This concern is one of the largest of its kind in the whole country. One plant is located at Cuyahoga Falls, where it covers four acres, with its own foundry and build- ings of two, three and four stories in height. where employment is given 250 men. Power is transmitted from the falls to the other plant, which is located at Kent, where em- ployment is afforded 150 men. The product -rivets and bolts-are sold all over the world. The management of this large indus- try requires the handling of a large amount of capital and the exercise of rare business capacity. In addition to his interests con- nected with the above business, Mr. Seed- house is vice president of the Cuyahoga Falls Savings Bank.

Mr. Seedhouse married Lucy M. Miller, who is a daughter of Jacob II. Miller, of Norton Township, and their one child, Edna 1 .. is deceased. Both Mr. and Mrs. Seed-

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house are members of Trinity Lutheran Church, and he belongs to the Church Coun- cil and to the Music Committee, of which he is chairman. The family home of Mr. Seedhouse is a handsome residence situated on North Hill, Akron. He is a member of the Portage Country club. Mr. Seedhouse has been the architect of his own fortune. Ilis parents returned to England when he was seven years of age, and the death of his mother following, he was reared by an uncle, and after maturity practically made his own way in the world.

JOHN W. BRADY, who has resided in Tallmadge Township for many years and has lived on his present place for a half century, was born in Orange County, New York, on the Hudson River, in December, 1831, and is a son of James and Elizabeth Brady.

The father of Mr. Brady was born in the north of Ireland, and the mother was born in Scotland. They were married in Amer- ica and they had four children: Bennett, James, Elizabeth and John W. About 1850, James Brady went from Albany, New York, to St. Louis, by way of the Erie Canal, the trip consuming six weeks, including visits to Cleveland, Cincinnati and East St. Louis. He remained at the latter point, where he bought 100 acres of land and engaged in gardening. From there he removed to Jonesboro, Illinois, where he bought a half section and made a business of raising peaches for a time, but later sold this land, the timber having been bought by the railroads, and moved then to Hamil- ton County, Ohio. The wife of James Brady died in Illinois, and he died in Hamilton County, Ohio.

John W. Brady is the only survivor of his parents' family. He came to Akron prior to the Civil War, and worked at his trade of stone-mason until after his marriage in 1862, when he went to Pittsburg, where he was an employe of Andrew Carnegie for a time, and then returned to Akron. He served as a mem- ber of Company E, 50th Regiment, Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, under General Hayes, and remained in the service until after the battle

of Fort Donelson, in which he was severely injured. Owing to the disability thus caused, he was honorably discharged. He returned to AAkron and purchased his present place on which he has lived for fifty years.

In 1862, Mr. Brady was married to Ellen O'Neill, who died March 21, 1907. She was a daughter of John O'Neill. They had the following children: John, who died in the far West; Lois, who is deceased; Charles; Grace, who married Ernest Crouse, resides at Massillon ; and Bennett and Agnes, both of whom are deceased.

In political sentiment, Mr. Brady is a Re- publican. Among his many interesting rem- iniscences of the past, he recalls the time when the C. A. & C. Railroad was the only transportation line that entererd Akron.

HIRAM F. KREIGHBAUM, sole owner of the Barberton Artificial Stone Company, and the People's Coal and Feed Company, at Barberton, was born in Green Township, Sum- mit County, Ohio, November 29, 1850, and is a son of Levi and Nancy (Gayman) Kreighbaum.

The father of Mr. Kreighbaum was also born in Green Township and both paternal and maternal grandparents settled there at an early day, when they came west from Pennsylvania. They were all people of solid character, honest and industrious and their descendants have been noted for the same vir- tues they possessed. They did much to hasten the development of the agricultural regions in the vicinity of Barberton.

Iliram F. Kreighbaum attended the dis- trict school and helped on the home farm un- til he was fifteen years of age, when he learned the carpenter trade, and it is estimated that during the time he worked at the same he built a larger number of bank barns than any man in the township. They still stand strong and true to line and compass. testifying silently to Mr. Kreighbaum's mechanical skill. He settled on his present home place in 1875 and for a number of years followed contracting. In August, 1905, he purchased the People's Coal and Feed yard, which had

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been the property of Mr. McDowell, and has made a success of this business. Since the spring of 1904 he has been manufacturing artificial stone, and he has built up a very large and important industry.

in 1874, Mr. Kreighbaum was married to Ann Louisa Sholley, who was born in Cov- entry Township, Summit County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Emanuel Sholly, who, with his wife, was born in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Kreighbaum have four children, namely: John Wesley, residing at Barber- ton, a contractor and builder; Louis Franklin, residing at Reno, Nevada, a cigarmaker; Amos, residing at Elyria, Ohio; and Harry, who works as a carpenter for his eldest broth- er. Mr. Kreighbaum's sons are all practi- cal, successful business men. The family be- long to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

A. S. GREENBAUM, proprietor of the Greenbaum Foreign Exchange Bank and Steamship Agency, and a large real estate dealer, at Barberton, is one of the leading capitalists of the town and one of its enter- prising and progressive business men. Mr. Greenbaum was born October 14, 1877, in Austria-Hungary, where his parents still re- side.

The story of Mr. Grenbaumn's life is one of unusual interest, proving as it does, the intrinsic value of personal effort, for he has climbed from almost penury to affluence en- tirely through his own efforts and by steps which are everywhere recognized as entirely honorable. The old home in Hungary was a humble one and its resources so scant, that when the lonely boy was able to earn fifty cents a day. in a foreign land, he brought his own expenses down to five cents a day so that he could send the balance to help eke out the small amount his father was able to make by condueting a little store. He was about fourteen years of age when he left home, being the eldest of the family, and came to America, relying on himself to make his way in a country the language of which was even unknown to him. The courage of youth is sometimes sublime.

It was at Pittsburg that Mr. Greenbaum was able to find his first steady employment, bnt he desired to get farther west and after securing the means, he went to Akron, where he was engaged in the clothing house of Henry Krouse. His education, thus far, had been neglected, but he soon remedied this, at- tending night school and devoting every spare moment to study. Thus he not only educated himself in literature, but also in law and has practiced in the local courts for some years. While at Akron, his knowledge of different German dialects made him valuable as an interpreter. At present Mr. Greenbaum has command of six languages without includ- ing English, namely: Hungarian, German, Slavish, Croatian, Servian and Krainer. He continued to reside at Akron and be connected with clothing interests in that city until 1900, when he came to Barberton, where he is, as above stated, a prominent and influential business man.

Mr. Greenbaum is a very valuable assistant to his fellow-countrymen in their purchases of real estate, giving them legal advice and watching their investments, and there are now more than 200 foreign-born settlers in Sum- mit County, who own their farms and homes through Mr. Greenbaum's agency. Mr. Greenbaum recognized how easy it was for even hard-working people to spend their mon- ey carelessly and heedlessly, and it has been his aim to show these how a small investment will result in later independence.

On October 16, 1901, Mr. Greenbaum was married to Minnie Fuerst, who is a daughter of M. W. Fuerst, one of the pioneers of Ak- ron. Mr. Greenbaum is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He has served as a mem- ber of the Barberton Humane Society, having been one of its organizers. In a contest re- cently held by the Akron Beacon-Journal, the prize of a handsome gold watch was awarded to Mr. Greenbaum, as the most popular man of Barberton.

Mr. Greenbaum resides at No. 616 Sixth Street, Barberton. one of the popular streets of this city.

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WALTER C. HOLLINGER, secretary and treasurer of the Hollinger Company, at Bar- berton, which does a general real estate, in- vestment, loan, collection and insurance busi- ness, has his offices at No. 209 North Second Street. Walter C. Hollinger was born May 30, 1865, at Clinton, Summit County, Ohio, and is a son of David D. and Mary N. ( Ilous- man) Hollinger.

David Ilollinger, father of Walter C., re- sides on the farm on which both he and his father, Jacob Hollinger, were born, in Frank- lin Township, Summit County, Ohio, the lat- ter's father having been a pioneer from Penn- sylvania. He took up 640 aeres of govern- Inent land and part of this property is now owned by his son, David D. Hollinger. It was bought for $1.25 an aere, but it would take a large amount of money to purchase it now. The mother of Walter C. Hollinger was also born in Franklin Township, and is a daughter of Jacob Housman, who was a na- tive of Pennsylvania and an early settler in Summit County. The three children of David D. Hollinger and wife are: Walter C .; Lloyd Jacob, residing on the home farm; and Charles A., residing on a farm in Franklin Township.

Walter C. Hollinger was reared on his fath- er's farm and attended the distriet schools of the neighborhood. He was about eighteen years of age when he began to teach school and for ten years spent his winters in teach- ing and his summers in farming. In Janu- ary. 1894, he left the educational field to ac- cept an appointment as deputy sheriff under Sheriff Griffin, but returned to teaching after serving in that office for two years, but was subsequently reappointed deputy sheriff and served under Sheriff Frank G. Kelly, for four years. Mr. Hollinger then entered the Guard- ian Savings Bank at Akron, as bookkeeper, and upon the consolidation of that bank with the Central Savings and Trust Company, he eame to Barberton, and when the Hollinger Company was organized he was elected to his present position. This company was incor- porated under the laws of the State of Ohio, in 1904, with a capital stoek of $10,000, its of-

ficer: being: H. M. Hollinger, of Akron, president; C. A. Brouse, of Akron, vice presi- dent, and Walter C. Hollinger, secretary and treasurer. The board of directors is made up of the following leading men: Fred J. Stein- ert, of Akron, HI. M. Hollinger, of Akron, Thomas Clemenger, of Akron, Walter C. Holl- inger, of Barberton, L. N. Oberlin, of Clinton, Ohio, and C. A. Bronse, of Akron. The com- pany's books were open for business on Sep- tember 14, 1904.

On July 11, 1907, Mr. Hollinger was united in marriage with Cora E. Grove, a native of Franklin Township, Summit County, Mrs. Ifollinger taught school in Summit County for a period of fourteen years, seven of which was in the public schools of Barberton. Mr. Hollinger has many pleasant social connec- tions at Barberton, and he is fraternally asso- ciated with the Elks and the Odd Fellows.

WILLIAM II. LAHR, one of Norton Township's prominent citizens, and the owner and operator of ninety-three acres of excellent farming land, situated on the Wadsworth road, about one-quarter of a mile west of Norton Centre, was born April 16, 1850, on his present farm in Summit County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Mary Margaret (Miller) Lahr.

John Lahr, who was a son of John Lahr, Sr., was born in Northampton County. Penn- sylvania, and came to Norton Township in 1845 when a young man of twenty-three years. After his marriage for four years he resided at Norton Centre and then removed to the present farm of William H. Lahr, where his death occurred January 21, 1897. In 1846 John Lahr was married to Mary Margaret Miller, who was born October 19, 1825, in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of John and Susan ( Bauer) Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Miller had come to Summit County, Ohio, in 1853, with a party of fifty people, but eight of whom are now living, and settled on the farm now owned by Samuel Miller, Mrs. Lahr's brother. Mrs. Lahr still survives, and makes her home with her. son. and although having reached ad-

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 83

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