History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Part 95

Author: Johnson, Crisfield
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott & Co.
Number of Pages: 716

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Mr. Stone was married on the 12th day of January, 1842, to Miss Julia Ann Gleason of Warren, Massa- chusetts. His children have been three in number: a son, Adelbert B. Stone, a young gentleman of remarkable promise, who was drowned in the Con- nectient river while a student at Yale College: and two daughters, the elder of whom was married in 1814 to JJohn Hay, Esq.

ANDROS B. STONE.

This gentleman was born in Charlton, Worcester county, Massachusetts, on the 18th day of June, 1824. Ile is a descendant, in the seventh generation (in this country), from an English family. In the year 1635 two brothers named Simon and Gregory Stone sailed from Ipswich, England, for Boston, in the ship " Inerease." They settled in Cambridge, Mass- achusetts-were yeomen and land owners; Mr. Simon Stone being one of the owners of the old Cambridge burying ground, where his remains have lain for nearly two hundred and fifty years. Mr. Stone's ancestors were nearly all noted Puritans-prominent in the church and in public affairs. His great grand- father, Jonathan Stone, removed to Worcester county, where his son Jonathan and his grandson Amasa. the father of the subject of this sketch, permanently settled.

Mr. Audros B. Stone was the youngest of ten children, and remained upon the home farm until he was fifteen years of age, receiving such education as the common schools and academies in that part of the country afforded. On leaving home at the carly age just named, Mr. Stone was act nated by one strong de- sire, that of mastering a trade. He chose that of a carpenter, placing himself under the tutelage of an elder brother. Mr. William Howe, a brother-in-law, having about this time taken out a valuable patent for a bridge called the " Howe Truss, " an advantageous

opening was thereby presented to the large family of brothers, and A. B. Stone was made a superintendent of the construction of bridges when he was but eighteen years old. As soon as he attained his ma- jority he began building bridges in the State of Maine, in company with an elder brother, and after- ward beeame associated with Mr. Azariah Boody in the construction of bridges in Vermont.

In 1852 Mr. Stone removed to Chicago, and he and a brother-in-law established themselves as builders of "Howe " bridges in Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri and Iowa. The rapid increase of railroads in the western country at this time gave the young men an oppor- tunity for enterprise which they amply utilized, as the bridges on the Illinois Central, the Chicago, Roek Island and Pacifie, the Chicago and Northwestern railroads and others fully testify. In addition to this large business, Mr. Stone was also engaged in manu- facturing cars of all kinds, which for five years was a successful business.

After six years of busy life in Chicago, Mr. Stone turned his attention to the great iron industry, and in 1858 identified himself with a small establishment at Newburg. near Cleveland, owned by Chisholm & Jones. At this time the firm had one small mill for re-rolling old rails, and employed about forty men. The business grew from year to year, and in 1863 the ownership was vested in a stock company, under the name of the Cleveland Rolling Mill Company, with Mr. Stone as president, which position he retained for fifteen years. The business has steadily increased until the establishment has beeame the largest one on the American continent devoted to the iron and steel industry: giving employment to nearly five thousand men, who, with their families, constitute one-sixth of the population of Cleveland. The yearly value of the products of the mill amounts to nearly eight million dollars.

During the unparalleled depression in the iron in- dustry extending over the five years previous to the present one, Mr. Stone proved himself a financier of no common ability by taking this company through the erisis without dillienlty, and without loss to either stockholders or employees. In 1838 Mr. Stone re- signed his position as president of the company for that of vice president, which he still occupies.

Among other prominent positions which Mr. Stone holds, are those of president of the Union Rolling Mill Company of Chicago-an important corporation, devoted to the manufacture of steel rails; president of the Kansas Rolling Mill Company, which manu- factures iron rails and fastenings; president of the St. Louis, Keokuk and Northwestern railway com- pany, and president of the Poughkeepsie Bridge Com- pany, chartered by the State of New York for the purpose of bridging the Hudson river at Pough- keepsie. IIe is also engaged in many smaller enter- prises, as would naturally be expected in the case of a man of his business capacity and versatility.

Mr. Stone was married early in life to a daughter

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of Rev. Mr. Boomer, by whom he has two daughters. He is, at present, living in New York City.

It has been truly said that throughout his career Mr. Stone has shown two marked characteristics which usu- ally lead to success: a clear and thorough understand- ing of whatever be has undertaken, and unvarying respect for the rights and opinions of others. Thus we see what ability and energy can do m a country so rich in opportunity as ours. A boy of fifteen starts ont from an obscure home, without other capital than his own powerful brain and strong will-at fifty-five he stands among the very foremost chiefs of American manufacturing industry, with the proud satisfaction of feeling that it is his own hands which have placed him in that position.

WORTHY S. STREATOR.

The llon. Worthy S. Streator was born in Hamil- ton, Madison county, New York, October 16, 1816. Ile received an education at an academy and after- wards entered a medical college, where he graduated after a four years course. lle removed to Aurora, Ohio, and commenced the practice of medicine in 1839. After five years of general practice he removed to Louisville, Kentucky, spending a year in the Col- lege and Hospital in that city, under the tutelage of the celebrated Dr. Groes, now of Philadelphia. He then resumed the practice of his profession at Ravenna, Portage county, Ohio.

In 1850 Dr. Streator removed to Cleveland, when, after devoting two more years to his profession, he turned his attention to railroad building. His first undertaking in this direction was the construction of the Greenville and Medina road, in partnership with Henry Doolittle: and on the completion of this line they contracted to build that part of the Atlantic and Great Western railroad which runs through the State of Ohio-its length being two hundred and forty-four miles. In 1860 they contracted for the construction of the Pennsylvania division, ninety-one miles in length, and still later for that of the New York por- tion. Mr. Doolittle dying, Dr. Streator disposed of the contracts to James McHenry, Esq., of London, England, and acted for him in the capacity of super- intendent of construction.

In 1862 Dr. Streator projected the Oil City railroad from Corry to Petroleum Center, Pennsylvania, the central point of the oil regions. The line, thirty- seven miles long, was built with extraordinary rapid- ity, and its success was almost without a parallel in the history of railroading. Its ears were crowded with passengers as soon as it reached the vicinity of Titusville, and the resources of the road were entirely inadequate to accommodate the people rushing into the oil regions, or to transport the immense amount of oil seeking the markets of this country and Europe. Although Dr. Streator worked with untiring energy to accommodate the public, and to keep pace with the

development of the country and of the oil interests consequent on the construction of the road, it for a long time outstripped all his efforts. While the prof- its of the line were enormous, the creation of wealth by the enterprise was beyond all computation. Dr. Streator controlled and operated the road until 1866, when he disposed of it to Dean Richmond, of the New York Central railroad. He constructed for that company the Cross Cut railroad, running from Corry to Brocton, a distance of forty-two miles, to connect the new purchase with the main line.

After this the doctor organized a company for the purchase of a large body of coal land on the Vermil- lion river, in La Salle and Livingston counties, Illi- nois. The tract comprised over five thousand acres, on which was a splint vein about six feet deep, the coal resembling that at Massillon, Ohio. To connect these beds with the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy rail- road he built fifteen miles of railroad, and afterwards built seventy-one miles more in order to connect them with the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific and the Chicago and North western roads. He disposed of the former to the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy com- pany, and in 1869 sold one half of his coal lands to parties acting in the interest of that corporation. The product of these mines has now reached the vast amount of six hundred thousand tons per annum.

In 1869 Dr. Streator was elected by the Republicans of Cuyahoga county to represent their district in the Ohio State senate, and served with ability and fidelity until the close of his term in 1871.

During this time he formed a friendship with Gov- ernor (now President) Hayes, and has lately received from him the offer of the position of collector of in- ternal revenue for the district of Northern Ohio.

While a member of the senate he was chosen presi- dent of the Lake Shore and Tuscarawas railroad com- pany, which had been organized to build a railroad connecting Lake Erie at the mouth of Black river with Wheeling on the Ohio, and he has remained connected with this road down to the present time. In 1875 Dr. Streator became a member of the firm of J. P. Robison & Co., proprietors of the National Packing House, of Cleveland, one of the largest in Ohio and one of the most complete in the world. Nearly all the meats packed by this house are shipped by them direct to the English market, being cured with especial reference to the wants of that country.

Dr. Streator has two large farms near Cleveland, and has stocked them with short-horn thoroughbred cattle, Kentneky horses and Cotswold sheep, not ex- celled by any in America. So thorough have been his efforts in this direction (although he originally began farming merely as a recreation), and so fully have his exertions to benefit the agricultural interests of the country been appreciated by those interested in hus- bandry, that he has been elected at various times president of the Northern Ohio Fair Association, one of the most complete organizations of its kind in the world.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Two marked characteristics of the doctor's life have been promptness and thoroughness, and his reputa- tion for honesty in either his public or his business life has never been questioned. Although so actively engaged in large and varied enterprises, he has never neglected his duties as a citizen or a man. Ile has for many years been a member of the Church of the Disciples, and the prosperity of the denomination in Cleveland is largely due to his liberality and efforts. Every worthy enterprise, public or charitable, has found in him a patron and supporter.

Dr. Streator was married in 1839 to Miss Sarah W. Stirling, of Lyman, New York, and they have a fam- ily of four children-one daughter ( wife of Mr. E. B. Thomas, general manager of the Cleveland, Colum- bus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis railroad) and three sons.

PETER THATCHER.

Peter Thatcher, familiarly known as " I'nele Peter," was born at Attleborough, Massachusetts, on the 20th of July. 1812. He is a direct descendant in the sixth generation from the Reverend Thomas Thatcher, founder of the old Sonth Church of Boston, who came to New England in 1635, at the age of fifteen years, with his unele, Anthony Thatcher. Ile was the son of the Rev. Peter Thatcher, rector of the old Salisbury Church in England, and a most estimable and pions man, as well as learned, being thoroughly versed in theology, the arts, sciences and languages, and also a physician of considerable note.

He was spoken of, in New England, as the best scholar of his time, and many of his descendants have also rendered this name illustrious in church and State.

Peter Thatcher, the subject of this sketch, was edu- cated in the Wrentham and Amherst academies, which he attended from 1826 to 1828.

In 1830 he went to Taunton, Massachusetts, and determined to earn his own livelihood. He found employment with a house carpenter, to whom he en- gaged himself to work one year for forty dollars and board.

After two years service in this employ, he, in November, 1834, commenced work as a mechanic on the Boston and Providence railroad-one of the oldest roads in this country-and soon won the con- fidenee of his employers by his faithfulness and capa- bility. He was advanced to the position of superin- tendent of construction, and after a few years took several contracts on his own account, which he carried out to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. After finishing his work on the Boston and Providence rail- road, he was engaged until 1843 on various railroads in New England, Long Island, Maryland and New York.

In 1843, 1844 and 1845, he was engaged in the con- struction of forts Warren and Independence, in Bos- ton harbor, under the superintendenee of Colonel

Sylvanus Thayer. The value of his services, and the esteem in which he was held by his employers, may be inferred from the following extracts from letters of recommendation. The first is from Mr. William Otis, contractor on the Boston and Providence rail- road, to Mr. Latrobe, of Baltimore, chief engineer of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.

He says: "The bearer, Mr. Peter Thatcher, wishes to become a bidder for some of your work. I can say for him, that he has been in my employment, as su- perindent. for the last four years, and he has always acquitted himself with entire satisfaction to the engineer over him and to myself. I feel pride in say- ing that he is a young man in whom the utmost con- fidence can be placed."

Mr. Wright, superintendent of engineers at Fort Warren, wrote of him in the following terms: "He possesses a thorough acquaintance with his business, and combines great intelligence with an uncommon degree of faithfulness in the discharge of duty. I feel assured that whoever is so fortunate as to eom- mand his services will esteem him a great acquisition."

Others equally commendatory might be quoted, but these will suffice to show the character he had estab- lished. He subsequently became extensively engaged as a railroad contractor, building many of the promi- nent railroads in the Eastern States, and all along the coast from Maine to Georgia.

In 1850 he obtained control of the Howe patent truss bridge, and established the firm of Thatcher, Burt & Co., bridge builders, with offices at Spring- field, Massachusetts, and Cleveland, Ohio. At this time Mr. Thatcher removed to Cleveland, and for many years was one of the principal bridge builders in the West. Ile erected nearly all the original rail- road bridges in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Ken- tucky, on the Cleveland, Columbus and Pittsburg; Cleveland and Toledo; Panhandle; Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne and Chicago: Cleveland, Columbus, Cincin- nati and Indianapolis; Cincinnati and Marietta; Cin- cinnati and St. Louis; Baltimore and Ohio, and other railroads. In 1862 he rebuilt the bridge over the Cumberland river at Nashville, which was burned during the war.

After having, for thirteen years, carried on the bridge building business and added to it a trade in lumber, the firm built the Union Elevator, in Cleve- land, and a new firm of Thatcher, Gardner, Burt & Co., was formed. This firm was dissolved in 1865, by the withdrawal of Mr. Thatcher. About this time a company was formed for the purchase of a patent obtained for the manufacture of a durable paint and fire-proof mastic from iron ore. Mr. Thateher was chosen president of the company, which at once en- tered on a vigorous prosecution of its business and has succeeded beyond the anticipation of its directors. The paint is made of Lake Superior iron ore, ground fine, and mixed with linseed oil, with which it forms a perfect union. It is then used in a thin state, as a paint for surfaces, whether of wood, stone or metal,

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exposed to the weather, and in a thicker state for a fire-proof mastic. The ore is crushed by machinery of great strength, and about three tons of paint are produced daily, besides the mastic, and find ready market.

In connection with the above Mr. Thatcher has also purchased a patent for the manufacture of " metallic shingle," or iron roofing, which, after a test of a number of years, has been acknowledged to be unequaled for strength, durability, economy and beauty, and is water, fire, snow and dust proof.

On the 11th of September, 1854, Mr. Thatcher first beeame connected with the Masonic order by being initiated an entered apprentice in Iris Lodge, No. 299, of Cleveland. He rapidly advanced in the society, has filled many high and responsible posi- tions, and, since 1863, has been grand treasurer of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Ohio. Ile has also passed through the Scottish rites to the thirty-second degree.

In polities he is a Republican, and, although he has never sought political preferment, has been appointed to several offices of public trust. For six years he has been a commissioner of the water works. He was elected a member of the board of public works of the State, in which position he remained three years, and has also been president of the Cleveland Library Association for two years. In every instance his services have given universal satisfaction. IIe is not a member of any church organization, but is a con- stant and generous contributor to churches, schools, public institutions and charitable causes.

Ile is a genial, whole-souled gentleman, and enjoys the affection and respect of a large circle of friends. As a citizen and a man of business he commands the confidence of all. He was married on the 6th of May, 1849, to Sarah Adams, daughter of Endor and Lydia Adams Estabrook, of West Cambridge (now Arlington), Massachusetts. To them have been born three children-two sons, and one daughter who died in infancy. The eldest, Peter, Jr., who represents the seventh generation of this name, was born on the 31st of August, 1850; John Adams, the second son, was born on the 26th of February, 1852; Annie Adams, the only daughter, was born on the 18th of March, 1855, and died February the 7th, 1857.

AMOS TOWNSEND.

Amos Townsend was born near Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, in 1831. ITis father, Aaron Townsend, was a well-to-do farmer, belonging to the Townsend family of Philadelphia. His mother was a daughter of Captain Jacob Cox, who served under Washington in the Revolutionary war. He received a good edu- cation, and when fifteen years of age entered a store near Pittsburg, in which he remained until he was nineteen. He subsequently removed to Mansfield, Ohio, and formed a partnership with N. B. Ilogg, under the firm name of A. Townsend & Co., for the

transaction of a general mercantile business. This firm was dissolved at the end of five years, and the business closed.

During his residence m Mansfield the Kansas troubles broke out, and a committee was appointed by the National House of Representatives to proceed to the scene of the disturbance, make investigation, and report the exact condition of affairs. Mr. John Sherman procured for Mr. Townsend the appoint- ment of marshal of the committee, and he attended it in that capacity.

This position proved a dangerous as well as respon- sible one, but was filled in such a manner as to gain the respect and good will of both parties.

In 1858 Mr. Townsend removed to Cleveland, and accepted a position in the wholesale grocery establish- ment of Gordon, McMillan & Co., in which he re- mained until 1861. He then became the junior part_ ner in the firm of Edwards, Iddings & Co., engaged in a similar business. On the death of Mr. Iddings, in 1862, the firm became Edwards, Townsend & Co., which it still remains. The house has been very suc- cessful, establishing an extensive business and a high reputation for stability and enterprise.

Mr. Townsend has always taken an active interest in public and political matters, and, although not an office seeker, has been chosen to many positions of public trust. In the spring of 1864 he was elected a member of the city council, on the Republican ticket, and was re-elected to the same position five successive terms, serving continuously for ten years. During seven years of that time he was president of the coun- cil, and during the last three years was chosen by a unanimous vote. In the spring of 1874 he took leave of that body in an address which presented a clear exhibit of the progress the city had made, during the period of his connection with municipal affairs. In 1873 he was elected a member of the State constitu- tional convention, serving in that body on the impor- tant committees of finance, taxation and municipal affairs. Ile was one of the most conscientious and pains-taking members, and rendered valuable service.

In October, 1876, Mr. Townsend was elected to the forty-fifth Congress, entering upon his duties in 1877. Ile took an active part in the business and debates of the session, serving as a member of the committee on post-offices and post-roads. The introduction and successful passage of the letter-carrier bill was mainly due to his efforts. Ile made an able speech, which attracted marked attention, on the important tariff bill introduced by Fernando Wood. He was re-elected to Congress in the fall of 1878, was appointed a mem- ber of the committee on commerce, and will undoubt- edly serve in the forthcoming session with his usual vigor and ability.

' As a business man he is active and persevering, possessing a clear head and a sound judgment, which enable him to form a correet estimate of; the men he meets, and of their aims and purposes. IIe belongs to that class of citizens whose services in political

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affairs are so much needed, and, as experience teaches, are so difficult to obtain, During the war for the Union, he proved himself thoroughly patriotic, con- tributing in different ways to the support of the Union cause, and serving for a time with the First Light Artillery.

In addition to his other business interests, he owns stock in several important corporations; he has been, and is, a director of the Mercantile Insurance com- pany, and in March, 1875, was chosen a director of the Cleveland. Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianap- olis railroad company. In all the varied positions he has occupied, both in public and private life, he has shown the same indomitable energy, clear judgment, thorough information and strict integrity, and he is regarded by all as an eminently successful business man and politician,

OSCAR TOWNSEND

The subject of this sketch is of English ancestry, being descended from the Puritans who, as Macaulay says, " prostrated themselves in dust before their Maker, but set their feet upon the neck of their king." The following genealogy shows his lineage in this country.

Samuel Townsend was born in England in 1631, and came to this country about the time ( 1:19) when the head of Charles First was brought to the block. He settled at Lynn, Massachusetts, and died there in 1204. Ilis son, Jonathan Townsend. was born in 1668, and died at Lynn in 1117. The son of the latter, also named Jonathan, was born in 1696. and entered Harvard College in 1212. After being gradu- ated, he was ordained in 1219 a- pastor of the Con- gregational church, at Needham, Massachusetts, and died there in 1262, after a pastorate of forty-three years; a length of service, especially if compared with the average modern pastorate, creditable alike to the congregation and their evidently trusted minister.

His son, Samuel Townsend, great-grandfather of Osear, was born in 1729, and died at Tyringham, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, in 1822. The son of the latter, William Townsend, a youthful sollier at the close of the Revolutionary war, was born in 1765, and died in Huron county, Ohio, in 1848,

His son, Hiram Townsend, father of Oscar, was born Angust 31, 1298, and removed to Greenwich, Huron county, Ohio, in the spring of 1816, and there married Miss Eliza Fancher, on the 230 of April, 1823. It was no pathway of roses which opened at that time before the newly-wedded couple. They saw

clearly what was before them, and entered knowingly upon a life of labor and self-denial in a region which at that time, apart from a few small hamlets and some scattering cabins, was a dense wilderness, roamed over by wild beasts, hardly more savage than the Chippewa and Delaware Indians who occasionally visited the locality. Yet they endured with patience and forti- tnde all the perils and privations incident to pioneer

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History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Part 95

Author: Johnson, Crisfield Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott & Co. Number of Pages: 716

Author: Johnson, Crisfield
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott & Co.
Number of Pages: 716