USA > Ohio > Seneca County > History of Seneca County, Ohio; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Vo. II > Part 49
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vice president : and Courtney Cunningham. secretary and treas- urer. Mr. Cunningham is identified with a number of Tiffin's most important industrial enterprises. He is president of the Citi- zens Building & Loan Association; president of the Tiffin Con- solidation Telephone Company; vice president of the Tiffin Sav- ings Bank ; and a director in the Commercial National Bank. In connection with his extensive business affairs he is a valued and appreciative member of the Tiffin Chamber of Commerce. IIe is a business man of unusual executive ability and tremendous vitality and one who has been met with success in practically every under- taking in which he has been concerned.
Mr. Cunningham was united in marriage. on the 7th of July. 1881, to Miss Minnie B. Holt, who was a class mate and fellow graduate of her husband's in high school. She is a native of Seneca county and is a daughter of William and Belle (Flenner) Holt, pioneers of this section of the fine old Buckeye state. Mrs. Cunningham was born on the 22nd of August, 1856. There have been no children born to this union.
In his political convictions Mr. Cunningham is arraved as a stalwart in the ranks of the Democratic party and while he has never had any ambition for political preferment of any descrip- tion he is ever on the alert and enthusiastically in sympathy with all matters affecting the well being of Seneca county. He is deep- ly and sincerely interested in community affairs and his wife is a consistent member of the Trinity Episcopal church. in the differ- ent departments of which she is a most active and zealous factor. In the grand old Masonic order Mr. Cunningham has long been prominent in Ohio. He has passed through the circles of both the Scottish and the York Rite branches, having been a thirty-second degree Mason since 1888. In 1910 he was honored by election to the thirty-third degree. He is also affiliated with Tiffin Lodge. No. 77, Free and Accepted Masons; and DeMolay Commandery. No. 9. Knights Templars, in addition to which he is a member of Zenolia Temple. Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. of Toledo, Ohio. In all the relations of life Mr. Cunning- ham has so conducted himself as to command the unalloyed confi- dence and esteem of his fellow citizens and his entire life has been exemplary in all respects.
W. H. GRAPES .- Widely known to the traveling publie as a genial, accomodating and popular "mine host." W. H. Grapes has been engaged in the hotel business for a number of years. at the present time being landlord of the Morcher House in Tiffin. Seneca county. A native of Ohio, he was born April 14. 1840. in Rose- ville, Muskingum county, a son of Henry and Catherine (Du Val)
· Grapes. While W. H. Grapes was vet a small boy his parents moved to Marion. Ohio, where he received his elementary education in the union schools of that city. Ambitions to further advance his education, he subsequently continued his studies for a year in Galion. Ohio, where he was under the tutelage of Hon. John Climer. Beginning life then as a wage earner. he was for a while clerk in a grocery store at Marion.
Making a decided change of Vol. II-25
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residence and occupation in 1857, Mr. Grapes migrated to Minne- sota, and was engaged in farming in the west until November, 1859. Returning in that month to Ohio. he came to Tiffin, and here entered the drug store of John F. Wooster, and while with him became thoroughly acquainted with the drug business. In Novem- ber, 1861, forming a partnership with E. W. Dubois. Mr. Grapes opened a drug store at Fostoria. In the fall of 1865 he purchased his partner's interest in the establishment, which he managed alone for a time. afterwards being associated with Charles Foster, whom he subsequently bought out. Finally selling his entire stock at an advantage, Mr. Grapes returned to Tiffin, and having bought the two rooms adjoining the Tiffin National Bank on Washington street, he fitted and furnished them and put in a choice stock of drugs. He continued here as a druggist for a short time, when he took advantage of an opportunity to sell.
Removing then to Fostoria, he bought the Cunningham Flour Mills, which he rebuilt and operated until he had a good chance to sell. He then bought back the drug business which he had formerly owned in Fostoria and after managing it successfully for a few years disposed of it and retired from that line of busi- ness. He subsequently became interested in manufacturing pur- suits and built in Fostoria a spoke factory, which he operated for a time before selling it. In 1874 he engaged in the general dry goods, merchant tailoring and boot and shoe business, having bought the business known as the Kenower Dry Goods Company, which he operated until 1880. He then embarked in the hotel business, an entirely different enterprise, and has since rebuilt, refurnished and managed several hotels, including the following named : The Hays House in Fostoria ; the Turpin House, in Green- ville; the Marsh House, which he furnished and opened at Van Wert; the Hotel Plaza in Piqua. Ohio; Hotel Bucklin, which he remodeled and opened at Elkhart. Indiana; the Ball House at Fremont, Ohio, which was re-named the "Grapes," and while in Fremont he furnished and opened at Jackson. Ohio, the Hotel "Cambrian," known as the Grapes & Grapes.
Coming again to Tiffin. in February. 1905. Mr. Grapes took charge of the new hotel "Shawhan." which he managed until March 1. 1909. when he went to Middle Bass Island, where he had control of Middle Bass Club six months. On January 1. 1910. he took charge of his present hotel. the Morcher House, which under his management is well patronized, his guests finding him pleasant, accommodating and hospitable.
Fraternally Mr. Grapes is a member of Fostoria Lodge, No. 188, F. & A. M., and a charter member of Piqua Lodge. No. 534, B. P. O. E. He has been twice married. He married first Helen Hayes. of Fostoria, who died in August. 1887. Five children blessed their union, three of whom are living, namely: Will II .. Nella, wife of Charles Harnon. Jr .. and Charles II. Mr. Grapes married for his second wife Ella Culp. a daughter of Judge Culp. of Greenville. Ohio. She too has passed to the higher life, her death occurring in November, 1891.
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EDMUND A. WARNER is a native son of Seneca county, and no citizen enjoys within its limits a higher degree of personal popu- larity. He is incumbent of the dual office of freight and ticket agent for the Nickel Plate Railroad. in the city of Fostoria, and is an able and valued executive.
Mr. Warner was born in Liberty township. Seneca county, on the 9th of January, 1872, and is a son of David and Sarah J. (Ash) Warner. the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and. the latter of whom was born in Liberty township, Seneca county, Ohio. where the Ash family settled in 1832. becoming prominently identi- fied with the pioneer history of that township. David Warner served as a gallant soldier in an Ohio regiment during the Civil war and is a valued member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is Republican in his political proclivities and both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. active career was devoted almost entirely to agricultural pursuits and he is now living retired in the village of Kansas, this county. He and his wife became the parents of two sons and C. P. Warner is living in Cleveland, engaged in the restaurant business.
Edmund A. Warner was reared to maturity in the village of Kansas, this county, and was afforded the advantages of its public schools. There also he learned the art of telegraphy in the office of the Lake Erie and Western Railroad and when he was seventeen years of age he was given regular employment as an operator for this company, by which he was employed, at various points in Ohio. for several years, after which he was a telegraph operator for the Standard Oil Company for a number of years, within which he was stationed at various places. In 1894 he located in Fostoria and assumed the position of clerk in the freight office of the Nickel Plate Railroad. Through faithful and effective service he won promotion through the various grades and he has served as freight and ticket agent for this company since 1907.
In politics Mr. Warner is a stanch advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party and he has served as a member of the city council of Fostoria, of which body he was elected presi- dent in 1910. He is a member of the Seneca County Republican Executive Committee and takes an active part in the local work of his party. By reason of his father's service in the Civil war he is eligible for and is identified with Norris Post. No. 27. Grand Army of the Republic. of which he is an associate member. He is afti- liated with Fostoria Lodge. No. 86, Knights of Pythias, of which he is past chancellor; Fostoria Lodge, No. 935, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and is also a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, in which he has represented his tent in the Supreme
Tent of the state. Mr. Warner has an attractive home at 542 North Main street and the same is a center of generous hospitality Mrs. Warner is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
On the 15th of September, 1897, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Warner to Miss Louise Hill, daughter of James and Mary Hill. of Fostoria, in which city she was born and reared. Mr. and Mrs. Warner have one son, Caples A., who was born on the 5th of July, . 1901.
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JOHN H. JONES .- It is pleasing to note in connection with the various personal sketches appearing in this work that many of the native sons of Seneca county have here found ample opportunity for productive effort in connection with the varied industries of life and that they have attained indubitable success in their several vocations. He to whom this review is devoted is known as one of the leading mason contractors of his native county and main- tains his home and business headquarters in the city of Fostoria. Here he is president of the Seneca Wire & Manufacturing Com- pany and is also engaged in the manufacturing of cement blocks. besides which he has other local business interests of varied order. He is one of the representative business men of the county and his course has been so ordered as to retain to him the inviolable confi- dence and high regard of the community in which he has passed virtually his entire life thus far.
In the old family homestead on East North street, in the city of Fostoria, John H. Jones was ushered into the world on the 4th of December. 1870, and he is a son of John A. C. and Emeline (Flack) Jones. The father is now a resident of Kansas. Seneca county, but the mother died in Liberty township in 1883. When the subject of this review was a child his parents removed to Liberty township, this county, and located on a farm. There he was reared to adult age and his educational advantages in his youth were those afforded by the public schools, which he continued to attend until he was nineteen years of age. In 1890 he located in Fostoria. where he served an apprenticeship at the mason's trade. under the direction of his father. He finally joined the masons' union and began work as a journeyman. Since 1898 he has been independently engaged in contracting and had the distinction of manufacturing the first cement blocks utilized in this section of the state. He has handled large contracts for concrete construe- tion, as well as many important contracts for the construction of buildings of brick and stone, in which lines he is known as one of the most extensive and successful contractors in his native coun- ty. Mr. Jones well deserves the title of captain of industry and his progressive ideas and unremitting energy have gained to him a large measure of success, the while his efforts have conserved the material advancement of his home city and county. As before
stated, he is president of the Seneca Wire & Manufacturing Com- pany, one of the important industrial concerns of Fostoria, and he is also a stockholder in the Commercial Bank & Savings Com- pany. In connection with his contracting work Mr. Jones has erected many of the best factory and business buildings in Fostoria, besides many residences and a number of public buildings, includ- ing a number of Catholic school buildngs.
Though never active in the domain of practical politics and never a seeker of public office Mr. Jones takes a loyal interest in local affairs and his political allegiance is given to the Republican party. He is affiliated with Fostoria Lodge, No. 288, Free and Accepted Masons, and also with Fostoria Lodge, No. 305, Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows.
In 1896 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Jones to Miss
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Augusta Nique, who was born and reared in Hancock county, and they have three children, John P., Alice and Carl. In 1902 Mr. Jones erected his fine modern residence on North Main street, and the home is well known for its generous hospitality.
ROLLAND W. SOLOMON .- The able and popular superintendent of public schools of Fostoria has proved himself a valuable factor in connection with educational work in his native state and his success in his profession has been on a parity with his well proved abilities. He has made of success not an accident but a logical result and his advancement represents the direct result of his own efforts. His career has shown conclusively that while hope is of the valley effort is climing the mountain side. He has ever held in high regard, the result of individual accomplishment, and has ever accorded due credit and honor to the man who has won success by worthy means.
Professor Solomon is a native of the old Buckeye state as he was born on a farm in Scott township, Sandusky county, Ohio, on the 8th of November, 1873, and he is a son of Isaiah N. and Esther R. (Good) Solomon, the former of whom was born on the farm which still represents his home, in Sandusky county, this state, where his parents settled in the pioneer days, and the latter of whom is a native of Seneca county, Ohio, where her parents were likewise pioneer settlers. Isaiah N. Solomon has given his entire active life to the great basic industry of agriculture, in connection with which he has gained a competency. He served as a valiant soldier of the Union in the Civil war and in the "piping times of peace" he has shown the same loyalty that prompted him to go forth in defense of the integrity of the nation. Professor Rolland W. Solomon gained his early experiences in connection with the practical responsibilities of life from his boyhood association with the work of the home farm and his preliminary educational train- ing was secured in the district schools, which he continued to attend during the winter terms until he was about sixteen years of age. in the meanwhile assisting in the work of the home farm during the summer seasons.
He continued his training in the normal schools and finally entered the Northern Ohio University, at Ada. Ohio, in which he was graduated, in the classical course, as a mem- ber of the class of 1899, and from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1902 his Alma Mater conferred upon him
the degree of Master of Arts. Since his graduation he has com- pleted an effective post-graduate course in the same university, be- sides which he has done special post-graduate work of effective order in the University of Chicago. He provided for the expenses of his college education through his services as teacher in the public schools and his work in the pedagogical profession has been of the most earnest and enthusiastical order, so that he has been able to rouse the attention and interest of his students and to gain the best results in all departments of the work carried forward under his supervision. From 1899 to 1906 he served as superintendent of the public schools of West Mansfield, this state, after which he was incumbent of a similar position at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, where he
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remained until 1908, when he was elected to his present important position as superintendent of the schools of Fostoria. All F administration has been most successful and in many ways has raised the already high standard maintained by the schools w are under his supervision. Professor Solomon and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church; he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, including Fostoria Commandery of the Knights Templars, and he holds membership in the lodge of the Knights of Pythias, at Kansas, Seneca county. By reason of his father's service in the Civil war he is eligible for and holds place as associate member of the Grand Army of the Re, a . In politics he gives his allegiance to the Republican party, though he has never cared to enter the arena of publie politics and b. never sought public office.
On the 10th of July, 1902, Professor Solomon was united marriage to Miss Ada A. Zeis, daughter of Jacob and Alice Zeis, well known residents of Tiffin. Seneca county. Mrs. Solomon is a woman of culture and gracious personality and has been a success- ful teacher of music and painting. having been graduated in the art department of Heidelberg College, at Tiffin, Ohio, as a member of the class of 1899. Professor and Mrs. Solomon have one daugh- ter, Geraldine, who was born on the 29th of November, 1903.
JOHN W. BAKER .- Occupying an honored position among the worthy and respected citizens of Clinton township is John W. Baker, who has spent his useful and pleasant life within its bounda- ries, and since attaining manhood has been actively identified witi. the advancement of its agricultural interests. A son of Willian .. Baker, he was born. September 26, 1840, just north of Tiffin, in that part of Clinton township bordering on the Sandusky river.
William Baker was born, in 1806, in Frederick county, Mary- land, which was likewise the birthplace of his father, Frederick Baker. Soon after attaining his majority he visited Seneca coun- ty. Ohio, spending a part of the year 1828 here. Returning home. he remained there awhile, but about 1831 again came to this part of Ohio, and for awhile worked with his brother Ezra in a saw mill and grist mill, which plant was erected, probably, in 1832, it being one of the first established in this locality. Thrifty and energetic. he accumulated considerable property, and wisely invested his money in land, his first purchase consisting of a tract containing one hundred and twenty acres lying along the north bank of the Sandusky river. He met with satisfactory snecess, eventually be- coming owner of two hundred and eighty acres of rich and fertile land. He was a true Christian, and a strong anti-slavery man. ITe married Margaret Derr, who survived him ten years, his death occurring on the home farm in 1874, and hers in 1884. Seven children were born of their union, five of whom survive, as follows : William, Alice, Mary, Ann E., and John W.
Growing to manhood on the parental farm. John W. Baker received a liberal education for his times, attending first the dis- triet schools, and afterwards the Heidelberg College. For four successive winters he taught in the rural schools of Seneca county,
John. W. Baker
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4
Mars Mina Baker.
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' but since that time has given his undivided attention to agriculture. His untiring efforts and continued industry. combined with prae- +ical skill and sound judgment, have met with a well merited re- ird. Mr. Baker's fine farm of one hundred and seventy-four s, lying near the north corporation line of Tiffin, is in an ex- T tate of cultivation, and yields abundantly of the crops com- mon to this part of the union. He has made improvements of value on the place, his substantial barns and commodious residence. with the other necessary buildings, greatly enhancing the value as as the beauty of his home property. Mr. Baker has a tenant . place, and directs the management of the farm.
Mr. Baker married, in 1863. Elmina Michael, who was born. June 13, 1843, in Liberty township. Seneca county, Ohio. a dangh- ter of John and Eliza ( Abbott) Michaels. She is a woman of much culture, having obtained her early education in the district schools. after which she attended the Tiffin High School, and the Delaware Female College. Thus thoroughly fitted for a profes- sional career, she taught school a few terms with much success, abandoning the position of a teacher for that of a wife and mother. Five children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Baker, three of whom have passed to the higher life, namely: Herbert lived but two years; Anna died at the age of sixteen years; and Oliver passed to the life beyond when nineteen years of age. The chil- dren living are Edith and Ethel, twins. born December 25, 1883. Edith is the wife of William Kirshner, of Tiffin; and Ethel. un- married resides in Tiffin.
Religiously Mr. Baker and his family are members of the Methodist Protestant church. Politically he is an adherent of the Republican party, and fraternally he belongs to the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
EMANUEL LUTHER BARKLEY has been a resident of Fostoria · since 1888, and he holds precedence as one of the leading contrac- tors and builders of this attractive city, where he is recognized as an able business man and where he has made a valuable contribu- tion to the development and progress of the city.
Mr. Barkley was born in Wyandot county, Ohio, on the 1st of June, 1858, and is a son of Jacob and Julius (Sterner) Barkley. both of whom continued their residence in that county for many years. At the time of their death they were residents of Fostoria. Both were of Pennsylvania German lineage. Of the five children two are living and the other three died in infancy. The subject of this review was reared to the discipline of the home farm and during his boyhood and youth he attended the district schools dur- ing the winter terms and assisted in the work of the home farm dur- ing the summer seasons, thus continuing until he had attained to the age of fourteen years, since which time he has been dependent upon his own resources so that he has fought the battle of life for himself and is deserving of the more credit for the success which he has attained. He continued to be identified with farm work until he was twenty-three years of age and then entered upon an apprenticeship to the trade of carpentry, in which he became a
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skilled artisan. He was employed as a journeyman for several years and then began contracting and building on his own respon- sibility, having been for some time located in the west. He was married in 1888, and in this year tock up his residence in the city of Fostoria, where he began contracting for the erection of houses. later expanding the scope of his enterprise to include the erection of brick and stone buildings for business and factory purposes. He has built up a large and substantial enterprise and in addition to his contracting he has handled real estate to a greater or less extent. IIe is member of the Carpenters' Union, is Republican in his political allegiance and is a man of definite energy and progres- sive ideas in connection with his business operations.
In the year 1888 Mr. Barkley was united in marriage to Miss Jennie N. Bogard, also a native of Wyandot county, and they be- came the parents of two children, Eva, who was born in 1891 and who was graduated in the Fostoria Business College ; and Ray, who was born in 1893 and is now a student in a local business college.
CARL SMITH .- One of the progressive and representative busi- ness men of the younger generation in the city of Fostoria. where he is conducting a general insurance agency, Mr. Smith is entitled to consideration in this publication, being held in high esteem as a loyal and progressive citizen. Mr. Smith reverts to the fine old Keystone state of the Union as the place of his nativity. He was born at Gerard, Erie county, Pennsylvania, on the 24th of March, 1880, and is a son of Carlton L. and Jennie L. (Wadsworth) Smith, who now maintain their home in Fostoria. When the subject of this sketch was about four years of age his parents moved to Fremont, Ohio, and there he was afforded the advantages of the public schools. In 1896 the family removed to Fostoria, and here he was graduated in the high school as a member of the class of 1900. In the meanwhile his studies had been interrupted by his service as a soldier in the Spanish-American war. At the incep- tion of this conflict, in 1898. he enlisted in Company D, Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and he proceeded with his command to Cuba, where he saw service at Cienfuegos and Santa Clara. He served as regimental clerk and corporal and was mustered out at the close of the war, after which he resumed his studies in the high school. In 1901 Mr. Smith assumed a clerical position in the offices of the Mechanics' Banking Company, which was later incorporated as the Union National Bank. He served as bookkeeper in this institu- tion until 1907, when he withdrew and established himself in the . general insurance business in Fostoria. Ile is a representative of a large number of the leading insurance companies of the coun- try and he is an underwriter who has built up a very prosperous enterprise based upon his energetic work and the high esteem in which he is held in the community. He is also manager of the Fostoria Opera House.
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