USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Cleveland, Ohio, pictorial and biographical. De luxe supplement, Volume I > Part 6
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Otto Miller pursued his preliminary education in the University School and was graduated with the class of 1893. In the fall of the same year he entered Yale College, completing a course in the Shef- field Scientific.School in 1896, at which time the Bachelor of Philoso- phy degree was conferred upon him. The following year was devoted to travel, during which period he visited many points of modern and historic interest in various sections of the world. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war he enlisted as a member of Troop C, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, with the rank of quartermaster sergeant. The command was sent to Chattanooga, Tennessee, Lakewood, Florida, and afterward to Huntsville, Alabama, but was never called to the scene of action and when the war was brought to a successful termination Mr. Miller was mustered out of the service at Cleve- land. He afterward engaged for several years in the bond business and in 1908 became a partner in the firm of Hayden, Miller & Com- pany, handling municipal and corporation bonds. He has been largely instrumental in placing his firm in the front rank among the enterprises of this character in the city. He is today well known as a prominent factor in financial circles, enjoying an extensive and grati- fying clientage. He is a director in the Bank of Commerce National Association, treasurer of the University School, director of The Troop A Riding Academy and treasurer of Troop A Ohio National Guard.
On the 4th of December, 1901, Mr. Miller married Miss Elisa- beth Clark Tyler, a daughter of Washington S. and Marian (Clark) Tyler, of Cleveland. Mrs. Miller is a trustee of the Babies Hospital,
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is a member of the Sunbeam Circle and is helpfully interested in various philanthropic and charitable organizations. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have two sons, Otto, Jr., and Washington Tyler. The family residence is at No. 3738 Euclid avenue and is the scene of many delightful social functions. Mr. Miller is prominent in various social clubs and organizations, belonging to the Union, University, Tavern and Country Clubs, of Cleveland; and the University Club of New York. He is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce and is interested in the various plans of that organization for the develop- ment of the business interests and municipal progress of the city. He retains his interest in military affairs and is now first lieutenant of Troop A, Ohio National Guard, in which he has served as private corporal and second lieutenant. He was also personal aid-de-camp on the staffs of Governors Herrick and Pattison and is now serving on Governor Harmon's staff. He belongs to the Spanish War Veterans Association, the Sons of the American Revolution and to the Loyal Legion and zealously cooperates in any movement toward promoting the standard of excellence for military organizations in this state. His chief recreations are tennis, horseback riding and motoring. He is popular in the younger social circles of the city, where his entire life has been passed, his geniality winning him the friendship of those with whom he comes in contact. With all of his interest in business, military and social life, he is not unmindful of his obligations to the unfortunate and is now serving as a member of the board and of the finance committee of the Associated Charities. His political endorse- ment is given to the republican party, but while keeping well in- formed on the vital questions of the day, he is without ambition for office.
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Chas,a Chi fri.
Charles A. Otis
C HARLES A. OTIS, proprietor and publisher of the Cleveland News, and senior member of the firm of Otis & Hough, is of the third generation of one of Cleveland's prominent families and one that has for more than three-quarters of a century taken an active part in the affairs of this city. A grandson of Will- iam A. Otis and a son of Charles A. Otis, both of whom are repre- sented elsewhere in this work, he was born in Cleveland, July 9, 1868. His education was gained at Brook's Military School in Cleveland, the Phillips Exeter Academy at Andover, Massachusetts, and Yale University, from which institution he was graduated in 1890, with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. A course at Columbia Law School, in New York city, concluded his educational training.
Going west at the behest of his father, who wished him to learn something of the country and of life outside of cities, Charles A. Otis was engaged in the cattle business in Colorado for three years. His ranching experience brought him a practical knowledge of the life and customs followed by the cattlemen of that time. It involved rising before daylight and working until dark. At times the work was riding, roping; at others it took the form of pitching hay, four or five tons daily, from carefully loaded stacks, to the winter fam- ished cattle. It was a strenuous life but it had its compensations. It developed a physique and brought health that could perhaps have been attained in no other way, and it established habits of industry and tastes for outdoor sports and country life, together with an interest in animate nature that has constituted a source of pleasure ever since.
Returning to Cleveland in 1895, Mr. Otis organized, in connec- tion with Addison H. Hough and others, the firm of Otis, Hough & Company, brokers in iron and steel. In 1898 the firm of Otis & Hough, bankers and brokers, was organized, with memberships in the New York and Chicago Stock Exchanges and the Chicago Board of Trade. Not long afterward the Cleveland Stock Exchange was organized, of which organization this firm was one of the prime movers. The business of Otis & Hough is one of the most prominent in their line in the west and the firm has a clientage covering almost
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the entire country. They deal extensively in municipal bonds and other investment securities, in addition to executing the business of their clients on the stock exchanges of New York, Chicago, Cleveland and other large cities. By no means restricting his activities to finance, Mr. Otis has been closely identified with Cleveland's industrial devel- opment, assuming many and varied commercial interests. He has been concerned in the steel industry as senior member of Otis, Bon- nell & Company, while real-estate circles know him as secretary and treasurer of the Lenox Realty Company, vice president of the Tavi- stock Building Company and director of the Cuyahoga Company. He is connected with a number of directorates in banking and in- dustrial circles, including the advisory board of the Citizens Savings & Trust Company, director of the National Commercial Bank, the Standard Sewing Machine Company, the Bankers Surety Company, the American Lumber Company and a number of others. Mr. Otis further widened his business interests by accepting, in January, 1910, the presidency of the Cuyahoga Telephone Company, at the request of J. Pierpont Morgan who, shortly prior to that time had purchased the controlling interest in the company. Mr. Otis has for years been interested in the independent telephone movement in the middle west.
Though interested in the publishing business for some years as president of the Finance Publishing Company, it was not until 1905 that he entered the daily newspaper field as proprietor and pub- lisher. In that year he purchased the Cleveland World, an evening paper of long standing, and soon consolidated with it the News and Herald, evening edition of the Cleveland Leader, and the Evening Plain Dealer. The Cleveland News, as the combined papers were called, is the only afternoon paper in the city having membership in the Associated Press. Though independent in politics, it has been active in city affairs and in the fall of 1909 achieved a notable journal- istic feat in accomplishing, practically lone-handed, the defeat of the city administration which it had opposed for four years.
Mr. Otis married Miss Lucia R., a daughter of the late Colonel William Edwards, mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work, and they have two children, William Edwards and Lucia Eliza. His town residence is at 3436 Euclid avenue, but his preferred home is Tannenbaum Farm, his big country place near Willoughby, Ohio. His interests include the breeding of fine cattle, chickens, etc., at Tannenbaum and elsewhere. He has been a prominent amateur reins- man, being a director of the Gentlemen's Driving Club and one of the organizers of the Forest City Fair & Live Stock Association. He
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is known as a breeder of smaller stock and is an officer of the Cleve- land Fanciers Club. He has been active among Yale alumni and has been honored by their organization in the west. In philanthropy his principal connection is with the Babies Dispensary and Hospital, a charity which he was instrumental in founding and of which he is president. For some years he maintained on his Willoughby estate a summer camp for newsboys which attracted much attention among philanthropists.
Among other memberships to be credited to Mr. Otis may be men- tioned the Union, Tavern, Hermit, Roadside, Euclid, Country, Cleve- land Athletic, and Cleveland Automobile Clubs, University and Mayfield Clubs, and in New York the Lambs, University and St. Anthony Clubs.
Jas H. Cogswell
James h. Cogswell
J AMES H. COGSWELL, of 805 Euclid avenue, is one of the progressive business men of Cleveland, connected with some of the most important commer- cial, manufacturing and financial enterprises of the city. In all of his associations with the business world he gives the same quality of service and devotion to duty that characterize his conduct of his private affairs, and his co- operation and judgment are sought along many lines. Through the steps of an orderly progression he has steadily advanced until his name is one of the most honored on commercial paper in Cleveland, while his record excites the admiration and respect of colleagues and associates.
Mr. Cogswell was born at Parma, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, March 19, 1849, a son of James H. and Mary H. Cogswell, both of whom were natives of Connecticut, where the father was born Sep- tember 1, 1800, and his wife January 12, 1814. Coming to Ohio in 1833, they settled in the wilderness on the present site of Parma and both died there in the year 1895. There were seven children in their family and they gave them what advantages lay in their power."
James H. Cogswell was educated in the district schools, which he attended until 1863, when he came to Cleveland to work for his uncle J. H. DeWitt, Sr., member of the firm of J. H. DeWitt & Company, dealers in ladies' cloaks and furnishings, with a store on the public square. A men's clothing department was added after Mr. Cogswell entered the business. For thirty years he remained with the firm. After his uncle died in 1869, the business was carried on under the name of the James W. Carson Company, but the firm failed in 1883. In that year Mr. Cogswell bought the merchant tail- oring department, continuing in the old place until 1893, when re- moval was made to his present quarters in the Hickox building. He is also treasurer of the W. B. Davis Company, dealers in men's fur- nishing goods; secretary and director of the Bruce & West Manu- facturing Company, manufacturers of confectionery and bakery goods; a director in the D. T. Owen Company, manufacturers of folding beds, couches, etc. ; stockholder in the Central National Bank,
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the Citizens Savings & Trust Company, the Cleveland Trust Com- pany, Home Savings Company, the Bank of Commerce, National Association and the National Refining Company.
On January 12, 1904, Mr. Cogswell married Elizabeth Scofield, daughter of William C. Scofield, president of the Lake Erie Iron Company. Mr. Cogswell is a member of the Union Club. For forty years he has belonged to the Old Stone church and is one of its liberal supporters. The closeness with which he keeps in touch with his varied interests has insured his success. While forging ahead in the business world, Mr. Cogswell has not been content with securing his own success, but has aided many others to gain a foot- hold and has been of signal aid to his associates in the many enter- prises with which he is connected.
Mr. Cogswell has now been a resident of the city for forty-seven years and his constantly broadening interests have brought him to a prominent position in business circles. He has watched with in- terest the progress of events which have brought the city to its present proud commercial and financial standing. He has in his possession a directory of Cleveland that was published in 1837. Only two of the citizens whose names are therein recorded live here today. As the years have passed by he has improved his opportunities to the betterment not only of his own financial condition, but also of the city's welfare, and his name figures conspicuously on the pages of its business development.
Charles R Buller
Charles R. Butler, D.D.S., M.A.
D R. CHARLES R. BUTLER has attained to a posi- tion of distinctive precedence as one of the most skilled and able practitioners of dentistry in Cleve- land, having since the close of the Civil war been a well known representative of the profession here. He was born in Portage county, Ohio, June 28, 1835, and comes of Huguenot ancestry. His grandfather, David Butler, lo- cated in Atwater township, Portage county, Ohio, at an early period in the development of that portion of the state. He brought his family with him to the middle west and since that time representa- tives of the name have figured actively in connection with the sub- stantial growth and improvement of Ohio. His son, Rufus Butler, was born in Branford, Connecticut, and accompanied his parents on their westward removal. They arrived in Portage county a short time after Mr. Atwater, who had come from Connecticut and had taken up an entire township, the tract being named in his honor. Rufus Butler became actively associated with the agricultural de- velopment of the county in pioneer times and remained a factor in the farming interests of that locality until his death. He wedded Mary Russell, a native of North Branford, Connecticut. She was of English lineage and a descendant of Lord John Russell. Her father, as well as the paternal grandfather of Dr. Butler, was a sol- dier of the American army in the Revolutionary war. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Butler was celebrated in Connecticut ere they sought a home in the " far west," as Ohio was then known. Upon the farm in Portage county they reared their family, number- ing seven sons and three daughters, of whom three sons and two daughters are yet living, namely: Charles R., of this review; Fred- rick, a railroad contractor and builder of Iowa; Willis, a carpenter, also living in Iowa; Eliza; and Mrs. Delia Streator, of Lansing, Michigan.
Dr. Butler, the eldest of the family, spent his youthful days in Portage county, assisting in the arduous task of developing new land and profiting by the instruction accorded in the public schools of that day. At nineteen years of age he began the study of medicine
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Charles R. Butler, D.D.S., M.D.
under the direction of Dr. M. L. Wright, of Cleveland, and in 1855 he took up the study of dentistry with Dr. W. H. Atkinson, a physi- cian and dentist. Further pursuing his course, he was graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery in Philadelphia with the class of 1858, at which time the degree of Doctor of Dental Science was conferred upon him. He then continued with his pre- ceptor until 1861, after which he opened an office on his own account where the Cuyahoga building now stands. While practicing den- tistry he continued the study of medicine and in due time completed a course in the Western Reserve Medical School, being graduated therefrom with the M. D. degree in 1865. During his college days he gave his attention principally to general surgery under the in- struction of Dr. Elisha Sterling, for at that time he seemed to prefer surgical to other lines of professional work. However, he had al- ready gained a good foothold in the practice of dentistry and con- tinued his labors in the latter line, although for several years he ad- ministered anaesthetics for various surgeons in the city. In time, however, he withdrew entirely from that field of practice, concen- trating his energies upon dentistry, owing to the continued growth of his business in that connection.
At the time of the Civil war, however, Dr. Butler put aside pro- fessional and personal relations, enlisting in 1864. as a member of Company H, One Hundred and Fiftieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Hayward. Five brothers of the family had offered their services to the country at the beginning of the war, two of whom had died while in the army, while the others remained at the front until mustered out, as did Dr. Butler. While in the army he had considerable professional experience, being on duty in a brigade hospital near Washington, D. C.
When the war was over and the country no longer needed his aid Dr. Butler returned to Cleveland and resumed practice, from which time he has given his attention almost exclusively to dentistry. Thus for over fifty years, with the exception of the interruption that came through his military service, he has been continuously connected with the profession in Cleveland and with one exception is the oldest rep- resentative of the calling in this city in years of uninterrupted service in professional lines. He has enjoyed a patronage equaled by few and for twenty-nine years was located at Euclid avenue and Huron Road, in the heart of the best residence district of the olden times, having among his clientele the largest number of the leading old families of any member of the dental fraternity in Cleveland. He also had many patrons among residents of New York, Chicago, Phil-
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adelphia, Pittsburg and other cities, who in visiting Cleveland availed themselves of the opportunity to benefit by his service.
Dr. Butler has ever been regarded as a most progressive repre- sentative of the profession, at all times keeping in touch with the latest scientific researches and discoveries, while his office displays the most improved equipments that are an aid to dental practice. In 1864 he held the chair of clinical dentistry in the New York Dental School and in 1865-6 occupied the same chair in the Ohio College of Dental Surgery at Cincinnati, while in 1892-3 he was dean of the dental department of the Western Reserve University. That he en- joys national prominence is indicated by the fact that he was hon- ored with the presidency of the American Dental Association and has also been chosen presiding officer of the Ohio State Dental So- ciety, the Northern Ohio Dental Association and the Cleveland Dental Society. At the present writing he is serving on the board of directors of the state society and he has been a frequent and valued contributor to scientific journals.
In Portage county, Ohio, Dr. Butler was married to Miss Sarah E. Eddy, a daughter of the Rev. Ira Eddy, a pioneer Methodist Episcopal preacher of Portage county, Ohio. Mrs. Butler died in 1893 and five years later Dr. Butler was married at Fargo, North Dakota, to Mrs. Jane E. Eddy, of that place. Dr. Butler held mem- bership in the Cleveland Art Club until its discontinuance. He is a thirty-third degree Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine and has held various offices in the different departments of Masonry, being one of the most active and honored representatives of the craft. He is also secretary of the board of trustees of the First Methodist Episcopal church, which office he has filled for many years, his labors and influence being a potent factor in the substantial growth of the church, while at all times he gives active cooperation to those measures and movements which tend to promote the material, intel- lectual, social and moral progress of the city.
SvChoom
Samuel Curtis Brooks
S AMUEL CURTIS BROOKS, who was engaged in business as a contractor and builder of Cleveland, passed away in this city August 16, 1898. He had reached the seventy-eighth milestone on life's jour- ney, for his birth occurred in Carlisle, Ohio, July 4, 1820. His paternal grandfather was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, serving throughout the period of hostilities with the mother country that led to the establishment of American inde- pendence. The parents of our subject were Samuel and Sophia (Johnston) Brooks, who came from Berlin, Connecticut, in 1819, and located in Carlisle, Ohio. The father was a farmer by occupa- tion and one of the pioneer residents of his section of the state. He built the first log house at Carlisle, which sheltered the first train of emigrants, numbering thirty, that arrived in that district. For many years Samuel Brooks continued his residence there but spent his later life in Elyria.
Samuel C. Brooks assisted his father on the farm during the period of his boyhood and youth. He pursued a part of his educa- tion in a private school in Elyria and afterward went to Cincinnati, Ohio, to study architecture in preparation for the profession. At intervals he worked in order to meet his expenses and when he had gained wide knowledge of the scientific principles which underlie the work of the architect he returned to Elyria and began a contract- ing and building business in connection with his brother Henry. They were associated until 1852, after which Mr. Brooks came to Cleveland and here entered the field of contracting and building. A few years later his brother followed him and they again joined forces under the firm style of Brooks & Company, contractors and build- ers. They continued in business until 1892 and then retired, Samuel C. Brooks thus terminating an association of forty years with the building interests of the city. Many of the substantial structures of Cleveland stand as monuments to his enterprise, skill and business ability and as the years passed he won substantial success, acquiring a handsome competence that enabled him in his last days to rest from further labor.
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Samuel Curtis Brooks
In his political views, Mr. Brooks was a republican and served as a member of the city council while in Elyria. He built the first workhouse in Cleveland and was one of the first workhouse commis- sioners, being associated with the late Harvey Rice, William Ed- wards, J. H. Wade and George H. Bent. He also built the high school on East Fifty-fifth street and the dome of the cathedral on Superior street. There are many other notable evidences of his skill and handiwork, for as an architect, contractor and builder he stood prominent in this city.
On the 20th of October, 1847, occurred the marriage of Mr. Brooks and Miss Emily N. Clark, the wedding being celebrated in Chaplin, Connecticut. Mrs. Brooks is a daughter of William and Laura (Grosvenor) Clark, the former of Windham county, Connec- ticut, and the latter a descendant of the Duke of Westminster, Eng- land. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brooks were born four children, but all have now passed away. Mrs. Brooks survives her husband, and her grandson, Arthur De Witt, of the Brooks Company, makes his home with her. Mr. Brooks was a member of the Second Presbyterian church and a man of upright, honorable purpose, well educated, re- sourceful and energetic. In all of his dealings he was thoroughly reliable and he was a popular and valued member of the Old Settlers' Association. For nearly half a century he made his home in Cleve- land and in the line of his profession became closely associated with its substantial improvement. His business probity was above ques- tion and at his death he left not only a comfortable competency but also an untarnished name.
Was meanistu
William Barriss McAllister
ILLIAM BARRISS MCALLISTER, prominent as W a contractor of Cleveland, is the president of the W. B. McAllister Company. His birth occurred in Cleveland on the 5th of March, 1877, his parents be- ing Arthur and Emma (Barriss) McAllister, the former having been born at Darby, Pennsylvania, in August, 1830, while the latter's birth occurred in Ohio, in 1844. Arthur McAllister was successfully engaged in business as a con- tractor of New York until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he joined the Union army as a member of the Tenth New York Heavy Artillery. He was appointed captain of his company and in that capacity served under different commands until 1867, when he was mustered out with the rank of lieutenant colonel by brevet. After the war he made his way to St. Louis and in that city was actively engaged in the contracting business for a time. The year 1875 wit- nessed his arrival in Cleveland and here he remained as a successful representative of building interests until the time of his demise in 1898. His wife had passed away in 1879.
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