USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Memorial record of the county of Cuyahoga and city of Cleveland, Ohio, Pt.1 > Part 18
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Christopher Erwin, a lad from the north of Ireland, sailed for America in the latter part of April, 1756, as a substitute for an Englishman,
with General Abercrombie's troops, and after the close of the French and Indian war settled in New Jersey. Ho afterward moved to Lou- donn county, Virginia, from which place he emigrated to Youngstown, Ohio, in 1808.
Ilis son, Jacob Erwin, married Elizabeth Osborn, a daughter of Anthony Osborn, son of Nicholas Osborn. Jacob Erwin was a soldier in the war of 1812, a Lientenant in Captain Cotton's company, Colonel Raines' regiment. While his regiment was stationed at Cleveland he acted as Quartermaster.
Coming from a slave State where he had seen the effects of slavery in all its phases, he took strong position against it, and one of his first aets on coming into a free State was to establish an underground railway, which was successfully operated until slavery was abolished. Ile voted the first Free-soil ticket cast in Mahoning county, and died in 1864, after seeing the hopes of his life accompished in the abolition of slavery. lle was generous in his gifts to all benevolent purposes. Hle furnished the timber which his son Henry hauled for the first frame Methodist Episcopal church in Youngstown. This build- ing is now nsed by Company HI, Fifth Infantry, Ohio National Guards, as an armory. During the late civil war, Henry Erwin was out with the " Squirrel Hunters " one week during the famous Morgan raid. Hle served five years before the war in an independent cavalry com- pany, and in 1861 organized a cavalry company, many of whom went to the front, himself at the time not being eligble on account of physi- cal disability. Ho served his township at va- rions times as Trustee and Assessor, and the town . as Street Commissioner and Marshal. He com- manded the respect of all classes of citizens. Hle and his wife were worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Zopher Squire, great-great-grandfather of Dr. Erwin, was an Englishman and a soldier in the English and French war of 1756, where he received a severe wound, in the knee. His son James Squire emigrated to America and settled at Elizabethtown, New Jersey, whence ho moved
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to New Castle, Pennsylvania, and he served with the American troops during the War of the Revolution. Ilis son; John R. Squire, moved in 1826, to Youngstown, Ohio, where he estab- lished a boot and shoe business, which he fol- lowed until he retired from business to live on his competency. During the late Civil war he enlisted in the Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but being over age was not allowed to be inustered into service. After spending some time at Camp Dennison, he returned to his family in Youngstown.
William Morrow, grandfather of Eliza J. Squire and great-grandfather of Dr. Erwin, was born of Irish parentage in the city of Philadel- phia. Hle served as Captain in the war of 1812, at the close of his service receiving as a reward for meritorious duty a sword with a silver scabbard. His family afterward had the scab- bard molded into spoons, which were distrib- uted as trophies among his children.
Dr. Erwin is the second of a family of three children: Phebe is the wife of James Ken- nedy, of Youngstown; and Amanda married L. F. Merrill, of Newton Falls. The Doctor re- ceived his education in the public schools of Newton Falls, and began the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. George G. Smith, an old army surgeon. He parsned his studies in this way for two years. In September, 1868, he seenred a position as assistant to a dentist that he might procure funds for completing his medical course. In obedience to a law regulat- ing the practice of dentistry in Ohio, he ap- peared before a board of examiners appointed under said law, in December, 1871, and having passed a satisfactory examination received his license. IIe became very proficient in the pro- fession, and practiced dentistry until 1883. In 1881 he attended a course of medical letures, at the old Cleveland Medical College, and in July, 1883, he established a pharmacy in Youngstown. In 1886 he attended another course of lectures in the Medical Department of the Western Reserve University, and in 1887 he was graduated in the Medical Department of
the University of Wooster, the president of a class of eighteen. In 1888 he was graduated at the National Institute of Pharmacy at Chi- cago, and in the same year, at Detroit, became a member of the American Pharmaceutical As- sociation. In 1889 he was elected president of his College Alumni Association.
Disposing of his pharmacy and practice in Youngstown, he removed to Cleveland in De- cember, 1891. He was commissioned Captain and assistant Surgeon of the Fifth Regiment of Infantry, Ohio National Guard, in June, 1893. He is a member of the Cleveland and of the Cny- ahoga County Medical Societies, and also of the Ohio State Medical Association. He has made a speciality of obstetrics and diseases of women, in which he has met with gratifying snecess. Being possessed of a marked inventive genins, while in the practice of dentistry he patterned a set of extraeting instruments known as the J. J. Er- win forceps, and since his connection with the medical profession has devised appliances which have become popular in the specialty of gynae- cology. The Doctor is a man of scholarly at- tainments, has been a contributor to current dental and medical literature, and has won the snecess of which he is worthy.
Dr. Erwin has been a member of the Masonic fraternity twenty years, and belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the I. O. O. F. He united with St. John's Episcopal Church, of Youngstown, in 1875.
In 1877, on the 15th day of October, Dr. Erwin was married to Miss Nellie M. Spencer, a daughter of Nelson and Emily Spencer of of Newton Falls. They have had three dangh- ters, Nellie, Jessie and Edith: the last named died at the age of two and a half years.
JACOB E. MUELLER. president and man- ager of the Neue Presse Publishing Com- pany, was born in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, and came to the United States in 1869, since which time he has been a resident of the city of Cleveland. He is a printer by
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trade and entered upon his first employment in the city with the printing and publishing house of the Evangelical Association, where he re- mained until 1873, after which he became fore- man of the Wachter am Erie, of which paper he soon after became business manager, and hold that position up to 1SS9, when he started the first and only one-cent daily German paper in Ohio.
Mr. Mueller is a member of different socie- ties; was also Corresponding Secretary of the North American Saengerbund during the Saengerfest held in this eity in 1893. He has been and is a true and active worker in the interest of the Germans in America, and is one of Cleveland's industrious and worthy citizens. In politics he is a Republican.
lle was married in 1879 to Miss Annie Maurer, a daughter of Martin Maurer and a native of Cleveland, Ohio. Their children are Lillie. Annie, Frances and one yet ummarried. Mr. Mueller's residence is at 854 Logan avenue, where he has a most beautiful and lovely home.
OIIN G. JENNINGS, one of the most prominent men in the building up of the city of Cleveland, was born in New Haven county, Councetient, November 5, 1825. His parents, Dr. Isaac and Nancy (Beach) Jennings, were natives of the same State. His father, after having practiced medieine for several years in that State, came to Ohio in 1840, and settled iu Oberlin, where he resided and practiced his profession until 1853, when he came to Cleve- land, where he afterward lived retired from the activities of professional life. Ile was a man of great learning and original researeli, and by his publications, in books and press articles, prob- ably did more than any other man in America in medical reform. He might be considered the father of modern (anti-drug) medication, more even than the more noted Dr. Trall, of New York, who drew his doctrine and inspira- tion from Dr. Jennings. He was a pioneor in
discovering the true principles of vital action. To the physical welfare of the world, therefore, it may be said that Dr. Jennings has contrib- uted more than any other man of this century. lle was also prominent in church relations, being a zealous and consistent Deacon in the Congregational Church. He died at Oberlin, March 14, 1874, at the age of eighty-six years. His wife died many years before, January 27, 1857, at the age of seventy years. She also was a devout Christian, in the same church. They had several children; among them were:
Rev. Isaac Jennings, who was born July 24, 1816, was a Congregational minister in Ben- nington, Vermont, for thirty-live years; was prominent in his profession, and esteemed both for his learning, and his devout religious en- thusiasin, and died in 1887.
Catherine, born August 30, 1823, married Rev. Justin W. Parsons, who was a missionary to Turkey, and after doing a successful work there for a number of years, was murdered by natives, probably for the purpose of robbery; she is still continuing the work there. Before going abroad, she was for many years a well known and popular teacher in the schools of Cleveland, being one of the first lady teachers in the high schools of the eity.
Frederick Beach Jennings, who became a promising young man, and died soon aftor his graduation, at the age of twenty-one years.
The gentleman whose name introduces this brief memoir, was educated at Oberlin College, but on account of failing health left the insti- tution before graduating, came to Cleveland, in 1850, and embarked in the real-estate business. Ile platted a large traet of farm land adjoining the city, known as " Jennings' Allotment." To-day it is one of the most beautiful and im- portant portions of the city. Ile has been largely interested in Cleveland real estate, and has contributed much to the material develop- ment of the city, and has always been alive to every local interest. Ile was instrumental in securing the opening of Scranton avenue, which gave ready communication between the South
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and East Sides. Also he was a zealous worker in behalf of the first Seneca street bridge, ob- taining subscriptions for its building. In 1866 he became the general agent for the Mutual Life Insurance Company, of New York, for the State of Ohio, and held the position until 1877, when he retired from the more active duties of business life. His management of the insur- ance business was marked by phenomenal snecess.
In 1855 he married Miss Caroline Reed Conkling, a daughter of Daniel Conkling, of Bennington, Vermont, where she was born and reared. They have three children, namely: John G. and Caroline Hubbell, twins, and George Conkling. John G. Jennings, Jr., since his graduation at Yale College, has been treasurer of the Lainson & Sessions Company, manufacturers of bolts, nuts, rivets and wrenches, Cleveland, and is one of the active business men in the city. Ile married Miss Lillian Lam - son, and has one child, Isaac Lamson by name. Caroline Hubbell wedded Newton S. Calhoun, an attorney at law; and George C., after graduating at Yale, returned to Cleveland and established the foundry of Johnston & Jennings. Both Mr. and Mrs. Jennings, of this sketch, are members of the Pilgrim Con- gregational Church, of which he was an organ- izer and has for many years been Deacon.
OUIS C. HOSSFELD, a substantial citi- zen of Middleburg township, Ohio, was born in Saxe-Weimar, Germany, Febru- ary 2, 1856. His parents were Nickolans and Kunigunda (Lorey) Hossfeld. They emigrated to America in July, 1872, and settled in Mid- dleburg township, where the mother died, March 21, 1891. The father is a farmer, and still re- sides in Middleburg township. They had six children, namely: Peter, deceased; Dora, Bar- bara, Lonis C., John and Anna.
Lonis C. passed the first sixteen years of his life in Saxe- Weimar, and came to America in
March, 1872. He came dircet to Cuyahoga county and has since been a resident of Mid- dleburg township. Farming has been his bnsi- ness, and in that occupation he has achieved snecess. Ile owns forty-five acres of land.
In polities Mr. Hossfeld is independent, and in religion he is a member of the Lutheran Church.
R OBERT WALLACE .- The subject of this review stands as one of the distinet- ively representative men of Cleveland, and a reference to the more salient points in his life history can not but prove interesting and profitable, since the high measure of suc- cess and honor to which he has attained is the dircet result of his own efforts and sturdy recti- tnde of character. He is the architect of his own fortune, and, grateful for the success at- tained, yet holds ever in mind the fact that only carnest devotion, indefatigable industry, and cor- rect methods can assure such advancement, claiming to himself no undue honor, but merely tracing the advances made as in the natural course of cause and effect. Ile was born in county Cavan, Ireland, May 17, 1834, the son of James and Mary A. (Sanderson) Wallace.
HIe was reared on a farm in his native land and was educated in the national schools. At the age of nineteen years he emigrated to America, being the only representative of his family in the New World. His first year in the United States was passed at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Camden, New Jersey, where for one year he was engaged in carpet weaving, and then he came direet to Cleveland. He then determined to learn the machinist's trade, and with this end in view seenred a position with the Globe Iron Works, with which concern he retained his association for a term of many years, not sev- ering his connection thorewith until July, 1886. He commenced work with the company as an apprentice, in due time became a journeyman, later a foreman, and finally secured an interest in the business. At the time of his withdrawal
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he owned a one-fourth interest in the enterprise. Within the time of his connection with the Globe Iron Works he was for eight seasons act- ively identified with navigation, serving in the capacity of engineer npon some one of the pas- senger propellers on the lakes during the sum- mers and devoting his attention to his trade during the months when navigation was closed.
Mr. Wallace has been particularly successful from a financial standpoint, having begun in life without capital or influential support. Improv- ing every opportunity which presented itself, and living an industrions, honest and enterpris- ing life, he has accomplished much good, not only benefitting himself but others who have come within the range of his influence. It is interesting to note that the first individnal business investment made by our subject was in the year 1866, when he and J. F. Pankhurst and Arthur Sautell established a small machine shop on the corner of Columbus and Center streets, in Cleveland, the enterprise being conducted under the firm name of Wallace, Pankhurst & Company. The enterprise was carried success- fully forward for two years, when the firm trans- ferred the same to William Bowler, in exchange for the latter's interest in the Globe Iron Works, in which organization and its operations our subject became a prime factor.
Mr. Wallace was one of the originators and founders of the Cleveland Shipbuilding Com- pany, which was organized January 1, 1887. In this corporation Mr. Wallace has been a di- rector from the time of its inception, also hold- ing the office of vice-president until September, 1893, when he was advanced to the presidency. IIe is one of the largest stockholders in the Ship Owners' Dry Dock Company, of Cleveland, bc- ing one of the directors of the same. For a number of years he was connected with the Cleveland Dry Dock Company; he owns an interest in several important vessels which he has aided in building, and in addition to these important and representative business interests he is also concerned in numerous other enter- prises of minor importance.
Fraternally Mr. Wallace is a member of the F. & A. M., with which he became identified in 1861. He retains a membership in llaleyon Lodge, Thatcher Chapter, Forest City Com- mandery and Al Koran Mystic Shrine, being prominent in the Masonic cireles of the State. He has been a member of the Chamber of Com- merce since 1892.
In 1862 was consummated Mr. Wallace's marriage to Miss Lydia P. Davis, of Cleveland, a descendant of an old Nantneket Quaker fam- ily. She died in 1879, leaving five children, of whom we offer the following brief record: James C. is vice-president of the Cleveland Shipbuild- ing Company; Nettie M. is the wife of Fred Whittlesey, of Cleveland; Mamie S .; Robert B .; and Herbert, who died at the age of nineteen years.
In 1881, Mr. Wallace was united in mar. riage to Miss Fannie Lindsay, daughter of the late Thomas Lindsay, a well known resident of Cleveland, Ohio, for many years. By his sec- ond marriage onr subject is the father of one child, Lindsay. The attractive family home is located at No. 345, Franklin avenne, and Mr. Wallace also has a handsome summer cottage cligibly located on Lake avenue.
A LBERT R. TEACHOUT, the junior member of the firm of A. Teachont & Company, was born at Royalton, Ohio, July 12, 1852, the son of Abraham Teachout, Jr., whose history is given in this volume. He received his education at HIiram College, and in 1873 entered into partnership with his father. They have a large and flour- ishing business, of which he is general manager, and in connection with the establishment at Cleveland they have a branch at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, also another at Columbus, Ohio, where they transact a large business annually.
Mr. Teachont was united in marriage in 1878 to Miss Sarah A. Parmley, a daughter of David Parmloy, a resident of Lake county, Ohio.
x
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Three children have been born to them, two sons and a daughter: Katherine, Albert R., and David W. Mr. and Mrs. Teachout are active members of the Christian Church, and contrib- ute liberally of their time and means to its support. Mr. Teachout is one of the directors of the Y. M. C. A., and is a Trustee of Frank- lin Avenne Church. ITis wife has been promi- nently identified with the work of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. They are both earnest, progressive and conscientious, and are highly esteemed by a wide circle of acquaint- ance.
H M. GROUT, the venerable paymaster of the New York, Lake Erie & Western Railroad Company, at Cleveland, has given the full measure of his active life to the service of railroad corporations. In his youth and early manhood he prepared himself for civil engineering in the most satisfactory manner, by going into the field with a survey- ing party and dragging a chain, driving stakes, running the rod level and transit and taking topography. When the Great Western Rail- road of Canada was being put through, Mr. Gront was a member of one of the engineering parties engaged in its location. He remained with this road until its main line and branches were completed, requiring some years. Upon the outbreaking of the oil excitement in Lamp- ton county, Canada, Mr. Grout went there and cast his lot with the company, and was by popu- lar election made the company's surveyor.
In 1862 Mr. Grout became identified with the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad, now in the Erie system of roads. Ile came to the company as a transit man, but was soon made assistant engineer. In 1868 he was put in charge as engineer and of maintenance of way, serving until 1873, when he was transferred to the treasurer's department, as assistant pay- master, and in 1877 was promoted to the posi- tion of paymaster.
June 25, 1831, Mr. Grout was born at Grims- by, Ontario. There he grew to manhood, and was educated in a college in Toronto. He put in three years reading law, but decided to en- gage iu railroad work, and dropped it.
Mr. Grout's father was the Rev. George R. F. Gront, for twenty-three years rector of Grimsby. He was born in Quebec, Canada, June 29, 1804, and died in May, 1849. ITis father was a civil service officer in Lower Can- ada, and came from England aboat 1770. The maiden name of the mother of our subjeet was Eliza Waeker, and she was of Scotch descent. Her children are: II. M .; John IL., a manu- facturer of Grimsby; Rev. George, rector of Lyn, Ontario; Adelaide and Alice. Mrs. Grout died in 1884, aged seventy-seven years.
November 8, 1853, Mr. II. M. Grout married Elizabeth Richardson, who bore him two chil- dren: George, a civil engineer in Central America, and Eva.
Mr. Grout is a Freemason of the highest de- gree, and is a member of the Cincinnati Con- sistory, N. W. Commandery of Meadville, Penn- sylvania, and of Ravenna Lodge and Chapter. He is also a Knight of Honor and a Knight of the Maccabees of the World.
AY L. ATHIEY, one of the representativo lawyers of Cleveland, is a son of the late Lee Elisha Athey of Louisville, Kentucky, and was born January 28, 1856, in the town of Preston, Virginia (now West Virginia), and with his parents went to Louisville, Kentucky, in 1860. Que year later his parents removed to Shepardsville, that State, where his home was made until 1866, when he went to Zanes- ville, Ohio, where he graduated at the city high school, in 1874.
For two years thereafter he was engaged in bridge-building on the Baltimore & Ohio Rail- road. He then became a schoolteacher in Pres- ton county, West Virginia, teaching one year. Returning to Zanosville in the spring of 1877,
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he there began the study of law nnder Sonthard & Sonthard. A short time thereafter he re- sumed bridge-building at Louisville for the 1. & C. Short Line, by the superintendent of which road he was later appointed bridge mu- speetor, which position he held for less than a year, resigning the same in order to come to Cleveland for the purpose of resuming the study of law under Jackson & Pudney. He was admitted to the bar in 1879, and in April of the same year the law firm of Jackson, Pnd- ney & Athey was formed, and thereafter eon- tinued for less than one year, when Mr. Athey made a change, only to return to his former partner, Judge Jackson, in the law, two months later, with whom he thereafter remained until 1885, under firm name of Jackson & Athey, when Mr. Jackson left Cleveland for Colorado. Previously Mr. Pudney had retired from the firm, and now Mr. Athey virtually became the snecessor of the old and successful firm. There- after he practiced under other associations, but after January, 1893, he was a member of the law firm of Athey & Hogan, which was recently dissolved, and at present Mr. Athey is a meni- ber of the law firm of Herrick, Athey & Bliss.
In polities Mr. Athey has always been Demo- cratic. As a Democrat he was elected a mem- ber of the City Council of Cleveland in the spring of 1882, and in 1883 he was elected, as he was familiarly called, as the " Kid Presi- dent " of the Council, being the youngest man who had ever been elected to that position, his age being at that time twenty-seven years. In the spring of 1884 he was re-elected to the Council, and that term served as Council mein- ber of the Board of Improvements. His first election to the Council was from theold Twelfth ward, his second election from the Twenty- fourth ward, and in the spring of 1886 he was elected for a third time, this time from the Thirty ninth ward. In the spring of 1887 the Conneil elected him City Anditor, to accept which office he resigned his position as a mem- ber of the Council, and from the office of City Anditor he retired upon the close of his term
in 1890, sinee which date he has been active in the practice of his profession. IIe has done a very great deal of successful eriminal practice. Hle was a candidate for nomination to Congress from the Twenty-first district by the Demo- cratic convention in 1892, but was defeated in this race.
May 16, 1892, Mr. Athey married Miss Car- rie E. Elliot, of Zanesville, Ohio. His father was born on the Potomac, in Maryland. In early life he began railroading, and spent many years as a conductor. He was conductor of the first train the Baltimore & Ohio ran into Graf- ton, West Virginia, and held that position till 1859, then he became a conductor for the Lonisville & Nashville Railroad. Upon the breaking out of the Civil war, he located in Lonisville, Kentucky, where he subsequently died, and was interred in Cave Hill cemetery.
R EV. PETER MATTHEW CERVENY, rector of St. Casimer's Church of Cleve- land, was born in Bohemia, Novembor 15, 1868. His parents are Anthony and Catherine (Donbek) Cerveny. Both of the parents live in Bohemia, where the father is a shoemaker by trade and a merchant of repute. Tho subject of this sketch is the second one in a family of five children, namely: Mary, the wife of Eliner Merritt, who resides in Chicago; Peter Matthew; Anthony; Antoinette and Anne.
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