USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Memorial record of the county of Cuyahoga and city of Cleveland, Ohio, Pt.1 > Part 31
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The subject of this sketch was reared in Michigan and educated in the high schools at Marquette. He attended Racine College, Racine, Wisconsin, for a period of five years, and grad- uated at the preparatory school in July, 1879. In October of that year he came to Cleveland and took a course in the business college of Bryant & Stratton. He then returned to Mar- quette, Michigan, and in 1880 engaged in busi- ness with his father, with whom he was associ- ated until July, 1888, when he came to Cleve- land and engaged with the Cleveland Stone Company as anditor and assistant treasurer, also taking stock in the business, and since the above date Mr. Merritt has given his entire attention to the interests of this company. He was elected a director of the company in January, 1889, and still holds the same position. Mr. Merritt is a thorough and practical business man, and is well adapted for the position he now holds.
December 15, 1886, Mr. Merritt married Matilda, the daughter of John Huntington, of Cleveland.
H ON. A. M. BURNS, of Cleveland, is a son of the late Rev. Andrew Burns, of Chagrin Falls, Cuyahoga county. He was born February 27, 1840, in Richland county, Ohio. He attended the common and academic schools in the vicinity of his home, and, after several terms of school-teaching, be- gan the study of law at Mansfield, Ohio, in the office of his uncle, the late Hon. Barnabas Burns, and Judge Moses R. Dickey, now of Cleveland. He was admitted to the bar April 8, 1861, at Columbus, Ohio.
The Civil war being then at hand he enlisted as a private in the Fifteenth Regiment Ohio Infantry Volunteers, April 17, 1861, and served in the campaign of that year in the operations in Cheat River valley, and the battles of Phil- lipi and Rich Mountain, which resulted in driving the enemy out of that portion of Vir- ginia; assisted in recruiting and reorganizing
the regiment for three years' service in August and September; was appointed First Lieutenant and marched into Kentucky in October, 1861; served for a time on the staff of Brigadier Gen- cra! A. MeD. MeCook as aid.de-camp; com- manded his company in the battle of Shiloh, Tennessee, being twice slightly wounded, and was promoted as Captain April 30, 1862, for gallant and meritorions services in the battle of Shiloh; and took part in the siege of Corinth, Mississippi, being almost daily under fire until its capture, May 29, 1862.
On June 8 he started on the long march to Chattanooga, Nashville and Lonisville, where the army arrived in time to save from the enemy the rich military stores in that city, and to head off the threatened invasion of Indiana and Ohio; thence to Lawrenceburg, October 6; Dog Walk, October 7; and Perrysville, Ken- tucky, October 8 .- on each of these days being engaged in battle with the Confederate corps of General E. Kirby Smith. The march, now a pursuit, continued to Cumberland Gap, and ended November 7, 1862, in front of Murfrees- borough, Tennessee; and here the battle of
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Stone River was fought, beginning on Decem- ber 31, 1862, and ending Jannary 3, 1863, in complete defeat of the enemy in one of the fiereest battles of the war. Mr. Burns rendered such services, in rallying and reforming the broken organizations and resisting the sweep- ing charge of the enemy on the first day of the battle, as to elicit the commendation of General Sheridan on the field in presence of the troops. The hardships and exposures of this campaign and battle prostrated him in a long and danger- ons illness, causing his resignation and honor- able discharge on March 23, 1863.
The interval to May, 1864, he spent, so far as health permitted, in the recruiting service and in assisting to organize and drill the One IFun- dred and Sixty-third Regiment Ohio Infantry Volunteers, with which he marched to Wash- ington, District of Columbia. Here he served on staff duty as Assistant Adjutant General and Inspector in the Twenty-second Army Corps until, being ordered to the front with his regi- ment, he arrived at Deep Bottom Bridge, Vir- ginia, about June 14, 1864, and took position in front of Petersburg at Fort Walthall, on the Appomattox river; was again detailed on staff duty as Assistant Adjutant General and Chief of Staff of the First Brigade, Third Division, Tenth Army Corps, Brigadier General Gihnan Marston commanding. Ile rendered meritori- ous services in the campaign of that year in front of Petersburg, Virginia, being engaged in many of the battles and skirmishes in that vicinity, and was tendered an appointment as Assistant Adjutant General of United States Volunteers with rank as Major, but declined, and was honorably discharged from the service about October 1, 1864. At the close of the war he was tendered and declined the commis- sion as Brevet Brigadier General of the United States Volunteers, "for faithful and efficient services during the war."
After his return from the army he located at Mansfield, Ohio, and there began the practice of law. He was elected City Solicitor for Mans- field in 1865, and again in 1867. In politics
Major Burns has always been an ardent Repub- lican, and as such was elected to the State Senate in 1873, and again in 1875, from the Twenty-seventh and Twenty-ninth joint Sena- torial Districts of Ohio. Ilis legislative career extended from 1873 to 1877, and during this period he was also a member of the Republican State Central Committee, of which committee he served for a time as chairman, and in 1876 was elected one of the Republican Presidential electors for Ohio. While a member of the Senate of Ohio, he was distinguished as a legis- lator. He is the author of what is known as the " Burns municipal law" of Ohio, which law concerns municipal indebtedness, and has in its results given evidence of his wisdom and legal ability. In his annual message of 1879, Mayor William C. Rose spoke in reference to this law, saying, "The Burns law is an excel- lent auxiliary to effect the reduction of the municipal debt." A few years later Mayor R. R. Herrick referred to this law as having "saved the city of Cleveland from bankruptcy." Among the several bills which Major Burns in- trodneed in the General Assembly, and which were passed and are still statutes of the State, reference is made to the law respecting bequests in wills to artificial persons, which has been effective in preventing disinheritance of natural heirs, in favor of artificial persons by unduly influenced testators.
In 1877 Major Burns as agent for the United States Treasury went to England, taking with him $18,500,000 of four-per-cent. United States bonds, which were exchanged at the Rothschilds Bank in London, for seven-and-three-tenths-per- cent. bonds. Thereafter he served eight years, until the inauguration of President Cleveland, as special agent of the United States Treasury, Department of Customs, having charge of the district including the five great lakes, the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers, with head- quarters at Cleveland. He also had charge of the administration of the United States naviga- tion laws, embracing the above mentioned ter- ritory.
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On the day of the first inauguration of Presi- dent Cleveland, Major Burns resigned this Government office, "believing that Republicans should not liold office under Democratie admin- istrations, nor vice versa; that such holding is undignified and not conducive to the highest publie good." He resumed the practice of law, and in 1889 was appointed first assistant City Solicitor for the city of Cleveland, and in this eapaeity he condueted with distinguished ability many very important eases on behalf of the city. On January 5, 1891, he was appointed City So- licitor and served as such until April 21, 1891. Retiring from this office Major Burns again engaged in the private practice of law, in which he stands amongst the most successful practitioners of the Cleveland bar.
R EV. MATTHEW A. SCANLON. Prominent among the able clergy of the Roman Catholic Church in Cleveland stands the subject of this brief review. He is a man whose life work has been a power for good, and in view of what he is as a man and of what he has accomplished it is partien . larly consistent that he find representation in the volume which has to do with the worthy residents of the eity which has been and is the scene of his effective labors.
Father Scanlon, who is reetor of St. Edward's Roman Catholic Church, located on Woodland avenue, was born in Huntingdon county, Penn- sylvania, January 13, 1830, the eldest in a fan- ily of three children, one of whom was killed in the battle of Williamsburg, May 10, 1862. While he was still in infaney his parents re- moved to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and there the early years of his life were passed. Here he seenred his preliminary edneation. lle at- tended several select schools while he was a boy and finally entered a printing office to learn the details of the " art preservative." While thus employed he embraced every opportunity al-
forded him for prosecuting his studies. He at- tended evening schools, secured special instruc- tion in the classics and began the study of German and French. He pursned his collegiate studies at St. Vincent's Abbey, near Beatty's Station, Pennsylvania, and at Cleveland com- pleted his theological course. While thus at work he also devoted a portion of his time to teaching, and a number of his former pupils are still residents of the eity, and oceupy posi- tions of honor and trust. It may be noted that he came to Cleveland in 1856, and after remain- ing here for a period of three months he began teaching in the cathedral school, continuing to be thus employed for six months, after whieli he returned to his theological studies at St. Mary's Seminary, on Lake street. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Rappe, June 26, 1859, in the Cathedral of Cleveland.
Father Scanlon's first work as a priest was performed at Akron, Ohio, where he remained for a period of fifteen years, his labors being prolific in goodly results and the permanent ad- vancement of the holy cause which he had es- poused. He then assumed a charge at Niles, Ohio, going there in 1873 and there continuing his labors until 1880, within which time he brought about the erection of the school build- ing of the parish. In 1880 Father Seanlon returned to Cleveland and at onee set about the work of building the present St. Edward's church and the rectory. Over this parish he lias since remained in charge, a power for good and loved and appreciated by liberal and worthy parishioners. He has brought about many valuable improvements, and in no way has the work of the parish been allowed to flag. Ilis devotion and earnest zeal will live long in affee- tionate memory, for the results are of more than mere fleeting and transitory order.
There are represented in the parish of St. Edward's 350 families. The record of the last year (1892) shows the number of baptisms in the parish to have been 128; marriages, twenty- eight; and deaths, ninety-six. The church building, which is 125 x 65 feet in dimensions,
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is provided with all the necessary accessories, and is architecturally of classie design. The parochial school shows an enrollment of 400 pupils, and six teachers, Sisters of Ihumility of Mary, are retained. There are five departments in the school, and the work accomplished therein reflects much credit npon Father Scanlon and upon the very capable instructors.
In the exercise of his priestly functions and as a man among men Father Scanlon is held in high esteem for his many excellent qualities of mind and heart, and it is clearly demanded that honor be paid him in reverting to the work of the church militant in Cleveland.
R EV. PETER RITTER, manager of the German Baptist Publication Society, was born in Bavaria, Germany, March 28, 1837, a son of George and Mary Ann (Gindling) Ritter. His father, born in 1800, and a member of the Catholic Church, died in 1865, in the fatherland, his wife surviving until ninety- two, remaining also in the old conntry all her life. Of their twelve children only three are now living. George, onr subject's brother, is a book- keeper in Frankfurt-on-the- Main; and Marga- ret, his sister, is the wife of Jacob Heilmann and resides in Rochester, New York.
Mr. Peter Ritter, whose name begins this nemoir, is the youngest of the children men- tioned. After receiving the nsnal public-school training in his native land he came to America, alone, at the age of seventeen years, stopped in New York a few months, worked on a farm a few years more, and then attended the theologi- cal seminary at Rochester, from 1864 to 1867. His first pastoral charge was the German Bap- tist Church at Folsomedale, New York, three and a half years, then a similar congregation in Cincinnati, Ohio, five years, next the one at Rochester, New York, from 1875 to 1892, en- joying eminent success in the city of his alma mater, his church more than doubling its mem - bership and dividing into two self-supporting congregations.
He came to Cleveland in 1892, being elected to his present position by the General Confer- ence of the German Baptist Churches. At present this publishing house employs twenty- two hands, and sometimes more than this num- ber. The office is at 939 Payne avenne, where the honse publishes The Sendbote and the Ju- gend Herald, and does all kinds of job work in the printing line. The building is three stories high and furnished with all the modern equip- monts required. In regard to national issues Mr. Ritter has always been a Republican and a " protectionist."
In 1857 he married Miss M. Manrer, in Mor- ganville, New York; she died in September, 1891, at the age of fifty-six years, a member of the German Baptist Church. November 1, 1892, Mr. Ritter married Miss Clara Maef of Rochester, New York, and also a member of the same church. She is a graduate of the Ladies' Seminary at Le Roy, New York, and later in France, in languages and literature: was afterward, in France, governess for a time in the household of a nobleman. She has had much experience, and is proficient in music and well advanced in general scholarship. By the last marriage there is one child, Pand by name, -- the joy and pride of the household.
HOMAS ROBINSON, attorney at law, Cleveland, is a native of New York city, where he was brought up and educated. At an early age he began the study of medicine, and graduated at the New York Medical College. After practicing medicine abont six years, in New York city, he com- menced the study of law, and graduated in the law department of Columbia College, New York, and immediately thereafter began tho practice of his life's profession. Following this in New York until 1872, he went to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was soon afterward elected to the bench of the municipal court, which ho resigned after a time, as he had determined to
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change his residonce. Since 1883 he has beon an honored resident of Cleveland. IIe finds that his knowledge of medicine is of great use to him in his legal practice. He has been act- ing police Judge on two different occasions, and has already become one of the leading attorneys of the city. His office is room 23, No. 91, Public Square.
Being a gentleman of esthetic appreciations and of high artistic talent, he started a move- ment for the incorporation of the Cleveland Art Club, drew np the articles of incorporation, and became one of the incorporators. Of this club he has been president three years, being the first to occupy the executive chair after its incor- poration: he is now vice-president. He has given much time to art, sketching and painting in both water and oil colors. Much of his knowledge in this line he obtained from the great Harper's Weekly caricatnrist, Thomas Nast. Enthusiasm in the art grows with his age. Ile has been president several terms of the Avonian Shakespeare Club, an organization composed of critical lovers of the poet. Both himself and wife are members of the Emannel Church, Protestant Episcopal, of this city.
He was married in New York city, to Miss Ella J. Price, of that city, and they have one ehild, named Alice. Mrs. Robinson is promi- mently connected with the day nurseries and kindergartens, and has been for several years upon the board of management.
C. WALLACE, vice-president and man- ager of the Cloveland Shipbuilding Com- pany, is a native of the city of Cleveland, where he was born in 1865. ITis father, Robert Wallace, is the subject of a sketch which ap- poars elsewhere within these pages.
In the city of Cleveland the subject of this sketch received a fair education. Following the career of his father he vory carly in life took up the trade of machinist, spending three years at this work, and then was placod in the draw-
ing room of the Globe Iron Works, where he remained another three years. He next took charge of the drafting room for the Cleveland Shipbuilding Company, was promoted to the position of assistant manager for this company, and subsequently to his present position of vice- president and manager. Mr. Wallaco is an active and progressive young business man and gives promise of a very successful business career.
lle is a member of the A. F. & A. M., be- longing to the Thatcher Chapter.
In 1886 Mr. Wallace was married to Miss Elizabeth LaMarche. His home has been blessed by tho birth of two children, namely, James L. and Lydia L.
VIIOMAS BRADLEY & SON .-- The late Thomas Bradley, Sr., of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, engaged in the grocery trade in this town thirty-three years ago. IIe came to Cuyahoga county in 1856, where he afterward resided until his death. He was born in Birchington, England. IIe married Sophia Young and had six children, five of whom are now living, viz .: Frank, II. T., Alice, Helen and Thomas, Jr .; the other child, Minnie, died in her ninth year. The father died April 12, 1892, at the age of seventy years. He was a successful business man, and accumulated a good property. Politically he was a Republican. The mother is still living, at Chagrin Falls, at the age of seventy.
II. T. Bradley, senior member of the present firm, was born at London, England, April 9, 1856. IIe was a babe when his parents came over the sea to this country and settled in Chagrin Falls. Here he was reared, receiving his education in the public schools of the town. At the age of fifteen he went into the store to assist his father, has grown up in the trade and has become a successful business man. The Bradley Block, built in 1893, is commodious
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and of fine appearance, a credit to the town. The firm deal in staple and fancy groceries, queensware and flonr and provisions.
Mr. Bradley was married in 1880, to Cora Isaac, a danghter of James Isaac, and a native of Chagrin Falls, where she was reared and edn- cated. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley have three chil- dren-Maud, Bertha and Grace.
Mr. Bradley serves as Township Treasurer. In political faith he is a Republican. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 290, and of Encampment No. 113. He is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Thomas Bradley, Jr., junior member of the firm, was born in Chagrin Falls, October 26, 1870, and was reared and educated here. Like his brother, he went into the store when a boy and grew up in the trade. Ile is a well in- formed business man, pleasant and affable to all.
0 F. FRAZER, proprietor of the pioneer drug store of Chagrin Falls, has been in the drug trade here for thirty years. Ile was born at Russell, Geauga county, Ohio, March 23, 1846, is a son of Alexander Frazer, now of Chagrin Falls, who is a native of Scot- land, where he was reared and educated. At the age of twenty-one he came to the United States and was in New York city at the time of the cholera epidemic in 1832. Later he went to Oneida county, New York, where he was married to Susan Gates, a native of the county. She died in 1882, leaving six children, viz .: Jane M. Merrill, of Painesville, Ohio; Charlotte 1 .. Ellis, of Montour, Iowa; Ollie A. Burgess, of Tipton, Iowa; Calvin G., of Chagrin Falls; Jolin W., of Bradford, Pennsylvania; and O. F. The father is still living, at eighty-two years of age.
O. F. Frazer was reared and educated at Cha- grin Falls. All his life he has been a student, and he graduated in 1883, on the completion of a five years' Chantauqua course. Ile has been very active and successful in business, and besides
his fine residence he owns valuable business property in the town. He was one of the most active in bringing the first railroad to Chagrin Falls, and in insuring its snecess. Ile has served on the School Board and in the town Conncil.
He was married in 1869, in Genesee county, Michigan, to Mary J. Burton, a lady of intelli- gence and good family, who was born in Orleans connty, New York, a danghter of R. N. Burton. Iler mother's maiden name was Olive Foot. Both parents were natives of New York. They had ten children, six sons and four daughters. Three of the sons were soldiers in the late war -Eugene, Frank and Lester.
Mr. and Mrs. Frazer have three children- Lilian E., Donna Clara and Harley A. They are all well educated. Three children are de- ceased: Eva II. C., aged fourteen years; Wade M., aged three years; and Ora Evadne, a babe.
Mr. Frazer is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is Trustee, has been active in the Sabbath-school work, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. Ile is a well in- formed man, and is public-spirited, taking an interest in all enterprises that have to do with the building up of education and religion in the town.
B R. LEROY, M. D., physician and sur- geon of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, located here in 1885, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. He was born at Sngar Grove, Fairfield county, Ohio, in Oc- tober, 1859. His father was C. A. LeRoy, born near Paris, France, of an old French family who traced their ancestry back to one of noble lineage, who had been prominent in the politi- cal affairs and wars of France.
Our subject's father was reared and educated in France, and emigrated at the age of twenty- two to America. He married, in New York city, Miss Ellen Reynolds, a native of Ireland, and came to Ohio carly in the '308. They had twelve children, of whom Dr. LeRoy was the
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sixth. He received his primary education at the public schools of Zanesville, Ohio. From the age of eleven years he earned his own liv- ing, at various kinds of work. Inheriting from his parents a love of art, for some time he was engaged in art work.
Doctor Le Roy was in his'teens when he com- meneed to study medicine in Rushville, Illinois, When at Cortland, Ohio, he began to read medi- eine under Doctors Atchinson, Mayhew & Thom- son, prominent and successful physicians of that place, and finally graduated at the Western Reserve Medical College, in the class of 1885, with credit and honor, and located in Chagrin Falls, where he has since resided, one of the pro- gressive and public-spirited men of the town.
The Doctor was married in December, 1883, at Cortland, Ohio, to Miss Myra Coats, of Cort- land, daughter of Gilbert and Sarah (Lake) Coats. Both parents are now deceased. Dr. and Mrs. LeRoy have had three children: Verne, B. R., Jr., and Frank C.
Doctor LeRoy is a member of Golden Gate Lodge, No. 245, Chagrin Falls, and of Chapter No. 152, is also a member of the I. O.O. F. and of the Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 146. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
C CHARLES JACKSON, one of the leading citizens of Cuyahoga county. forms the subject of this biography. He is a man of natural ability and sterling integrity, nud be- longs to one of the pioneer families of the county.
Mr. Jackson dates his birth in Murrick, York- shire, England, March 5, 1829, and is a son of Row and Jane (Lonsdale) Jackson. They came to this eonntry in 1835, and settled in Orange township, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, with which place the family has ever since been identified, although the parents have long since passed away. Further mention of the family will be found in the sketch of C. L. Jackson, in this volume.
Charles was six years old at the time he came with his parents to Ohio, and here on his father's frontier farm he was reared and edn- cated, his education, however, being somewhat limited, as school facilities were not of the best in this vicinity then. Early in life he was tanght that honesty and industry are the chief characteristics of a successful career, and to his early training he attributes much of the success he has attained. Mr. Jackson has resided on his present farm since 1856, which comprises 174 acres, and the whole premises, from the buildings, the well-cultivated fields and the fine stock, to the smallest detail of his farming opera- tions, indicate thrift and prosperity. His, in- deed, is a model farm.
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