USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Memorial record of the county of Cuyahoga and city of Cleveland, Ohio, Pt.1 > Part 54
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Leaving New York city Mrs. Kimberley came direct to Cleveland, making the journey up to Albany by way of the Indson river, thence by rail to Buffalo and thence from Buf- falo to Cleveland by way of the stage, the lakes at that time being frozen over. The trip from Buffalo to Cleveland required seven days. For a short time Mrs. Kimberley made her home with her father, but soon afterward went to her- self. The following were her children that came with her : Alexander, Sophia, Frederck, Edward, Sarah and David 11. As observed, the eldest of her children, whose name was James, remained in England with his father. Five of these children are now living.
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Mrs. Kimberley was a woman of strong in- tellectuality and will power, and of striet moral and religious views. She was a Christian wo- man in the strictest sense, and her life was filled with acts characteristic of a woman of strong faith and convictions. She was of a determined character, independent and self-reliant, and though she was never joined in this country by her husband, she never lost courage or faltered. She assumed the responsibility and task of rearing her children, all of whom she lived to see reach maturity. She died in a ripe old age, in 1876, and was laid to rest in Riverside cemetery.
David IT. Kimberley was but a child of five years when brought to Cleveland by his mother, and here, save four years spent in the army, he has spent the whole of his life. Ile attended the public schools until ten years of age, at which age he accepted work in a mercantile es- tablishment, where he remained until he was fifteen years of age, when he went on to a farm; but not being satisfied with farm work he soon left it. A portion of one year was spent on the schooner John F. Warner and on the propeller Galena. At the age of sixteen years he opened a meat-market on the corner of Detroit and Kentucky streets. This was in the fall of 1860. Ile operated the meat-market until the spring of 1861, when with the breaking out of the Civil war he sold out and enlisted in the army.
Ile enlisted in April, 1861, in James P. Mc- Illrath's Light Guard Zouaves, which was one of the first to answer the first call of President Lineoln for 75,000 troops for a three months' service. The pay for this first call was only $11 per month and no bounty. Before the three months had expired the second call for volunteers for three years was made by the Pres- ident, and Captain MeIllrath, forming his com- pany in line, asked those who were willing to re-enlist to take one pace to the front. The en- tire company, without a single exception, stepped forward and re-enlisted. The company was assigned as Company A of the Twenty-third Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of which General W. S. Rosecrans, Registrar of the
United States Treasury, was Colonel; the HIon- orable Stanley Matthews, afterward member of the United States Supreme Bench, was Lieuten- ant Colonel; Rutherford B. Hayes, afterward President, was Major; General Hastings, after- ward United States Marshal of the Ohio Dis- triet, was Lieutenant; Robert Kennedy, later Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, was also a lieu- tenant; William T. Lyon, afterward Lientenant Governor of Ohio, was also a lieutenant; General James M. Comley, a noted newspaper inan, and ex-United States Minister to the Sandwich Isl- ands, was a Major of this regiment, while Gov- ernor William McKinley, Jr., of Ohio, was then a private. Probably no other regiment of the Union army furnished as many distingnislied men as this. The regiment was in the Army of the Potomac and the Army of West Virginia, and Mr. Kimberley, along with it, served through the entire time of his enlistment, par- ticipating in all the campaigns and engagements of the regiment without being wounded or cap- tured, though he had several narrow escapes from both experiences. There were other mem- bers of the old Twenty-third who were honored in after years by the public. Among them were Asa Van Sickle, who was twice Recorder of Cuyahoga county; Wilbur Bently, who was County Commissioner of this county; Alfred Jerome, who was County Commissioner of this county; and the subject of this personal sketch, who was twice Treasurer of this county; and a number of other members of the regiment, who in different parts of the State were elected to positions of honor and trust.
In 1864, after having served several months over his three-years' enlistment, Mr. Kimberley was discharged, at Columbus, Ohio, being then only in his twenty-second year. Returning to Cleveland Mr. Kimberley engaged in the flour and feed business on Detroit street, at which business he continued for twenty-two years.
Immediately after coming ont of the army Mr. Kimberley took an active part in politics, and for about twenty years he was an active member of the Republican county central com-
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mittee, also serving on the city central commit- tee. In 1885 Mr. Kimberley was nominated by the Republicans for the office of County 'Treasurer, and after a heated campaign he was elected by a majority of over 4,000 votes. llis administration of the affairs of that oflice was so successful and satisfactory to the people that in 1887 he was re-nominated and re-elected, again running ahead of his party ticket.
In 1890 Mr. Kimberley retired from the office of County Treasurer and soon afterward he was, -at the death of William II. Doan, the philan- thiropist,-elected to succeed Mr. Doan in the presidency of the Cleveland Permanent Building & Loan Association, the second largest building and loan association in the United States. IIe has since been three times elected to this posi- tion, which he now holds. In May, of 1891, at the organization of the Lorain Street Savings Bank Company, Mr. Kimberley was elected its president, in which position he has since con- tinned. In 1891 he was elected president of the Northern Ohio Paving & Construction Com- pany, which company he still serves in this same position. Since 1891 he has been vice president of the Produce Exchange Banking Company. He is president of the East Harbor Boating and Fishing Club, having been elected to this position in 1888. Ile is a Director in the Ohio Abstract Company, trustee of the Riv- erside Cemetery Association, and vice president of the Permanent Block Company, and is in- terested in other business enterprises. These varions and important business relations are evidence within themselves that Mr. Kimberley has been an active business man, and also marks that respect and esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens.
The life of Mr. Kimberley has been an active one. Very early in life-at the age of sixteen -he began his business career. Four years was spent in the active defense of the Union, and re- turning from the war he embarked upon what has been a remarkably successful business ca- reer. Beginning in business with limited capital, and unaided, he fought the battle of life
alone, gaining the esteem and friendship of his fellow citizens. By an honest, industrious and frugal course in life, he soon became a popular citizen and a successful business man, and then followed honors as a public officer. Retiring "from public office, he again assmned the role of a business man, and since then many business relations has he filled with gratifying success; and now, at the age of fifty-one years, Mr. Kim- berley appears not only as a prominent and es- teemed citizen but as one whose life has been filled with honors and whose success in the financial world has been equally marked.
Fraternally he is a member of the order of Knights of Pythias. In Grand Army circles he has been quite active, being a member of the Army and Navy Post, and he also belongs to the Chosen Friends.
In 1864 Mr. Kimberley married Elsie A., danghter of Archibald Cunningham, of Commun- bus, Ohio. Mrs. Kimberley was born at Cnya- hoga Falls, Ohio. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Kimberley has been blessed by the birth of five children, four of whom are living, as follows: David Henry, Gladns (deceased), May Verrilla, George Garfield and Rhea Nell.
C CHARLES BLANCK, a respected citizen of Brecksville, was born Jannary 1, 1848, in Berlin, Germany, a son of Charles Blanck. He attended an advanced school and then learned the trade of brass finisher. In January, 1869, he emigrated to America, on the Cymbria, being three weeks on the sea. Land- ing February 16, 1869, at New York city, he remained there six weeks: next he worked on a railroad at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, for six months, then at his trade in Philadelphia for more than a year; next he went to New York to find work again, but failed, and then he came to Youngstown, Ohio, and found work in a coal mine at Ilubbard, in the vicinity; but in a short time rheumatism began to trouble him, and he came to Cleveland, where he worked at his trade.
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In the autumn of 1875 he went to Brecks- ville, where he was employed in a sawmill, on a farm and at other miscellaneous jobs in the vi- cinity. After his marriage in 1890 he located upon rented land, where he followed farming, but in the following March bought a home in the village where he now resides.
In July, 1890, he visited his native country, sailing from New York on the Columbia, bonnd for Hamburg. After making his parents and other friends a visit there he returned to the United States, sailing from Hamburg on the Augusta Victoria, and landing in New York.
On public questions he is a Republican, and both himself and wife are members of the Con- gregational Church.
January 21, 1890, he married Viola Sher- wood, who was born in Waterford, Erie county, Pennsylvania, March 24, 1854, a danghter of Stephen I. Sherwood. At the time of her mar- riage she was visiting her brother, S. D. Sher- wood, in Brecksville township. The marriage was celebrated in Cleveland, by the Rev. Dr. Pomeroy.
J. BARNES, a prominent citizen of Brecksville township, was born July 7, 1829, in this township, a son of Aaron Barnes, who was a native of Hartford county, Connectient, and was married in that State to Roxey Fenn, who was born in Plymouth, Con- nectient, a daughter of Jesse Fenn. After his marriage Mr. Aaron Barnes lived a few years in Litchfield county, Connecticut, and in 1816 moved to the town of Sharon in the same conn- ty, where he lived until May 1, 1826, when he started for Ohio. He had made a trip to this State the preceding fall, and looked over the land in Cuyahoga and Trumbull counties, but made no selection. ITis journey hither, when moving with his family, was by team to Albany, Erie canal to Buffalo, by the schooner Minerva to Cleveland, and thence by team again to the western part of Brecksville township, near a brother-in-law, Asa Fenn. The last night
(Sunday) on the lake was an exceedingly rough one. Mr. Barnes located on fifty acres of land, upon which was an old log house. Wild ani- mals were plentiful. On the home farm, which he purchased later, he lived until his death, April 1, 1886. Ilis wile survived many years afterward, and they are now buried near each other in Rice cemetery. Politically Mr. Barnes was a Jackson Democrat. His children, born in Connectient, were: a daughter who died young, in infancy; Giles C., a farmer of this township; Martha, who married Calvin Jenk- ins and died in Trumbull county; Ilannalı, de- ceased at the age of abont twenty-five years; and Amanda, who became the wife of Oliver Bart- lett and died in Brecksville. Those born in Ohio were: Caroline, who married Charles Gordon and died in Michigan; and Jesse J., the subject of this sketch.
Mr. J. J. Barnes, whose name heads this sketch, received a common-school education in district No. 1, in Brecksville, and, being an apt pupil, he made good use of his opportunity. At the age of sixteen he was called upon to teach school, and he proved to be a successful teacher. To pass his examination and obtain a teacher's certificate he walked to Cleveland, fourteen miles, and back in one day, when the board of examiners comprised Professor Freese, J. W. Gray and J. D. Cleveland. He taught his old district school for two terms. ITe remained at home, however, continning in agricultural pur- suits. After his marriage he located upon a farm of twenty acres, in the western part of Brecksville township, where he was engaged in agriculture until 1873, at which time the farm had grown to 300 acres. Ile then moved to the center of the township, and with his sons bought ont the mercantile business of C. L. Young, where he remained fifteen years, being very sue- cessful in the business. Hle bought the most substantial business house in Brecksville, which he still owns, with his son William. After his retirement from business, his sons continued in the mercantile trade for some years. Mr. Barnes, our subject, erected a very commodions
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residence, where he now resides. In life he has been snecessful and in domestic habits exem- plary. For many years he was a Republican, but always a prohibitionist in principle, and was one of fifteen to organize this party at Crestline, Ohio, and ever since then he has been an ardent worker for the party,-indeed a leader. Pre- vionsly he had taken little or no interest in pol- ities. He is a member of the Congregational Church, in which body he has served as Trustee. IIe is one of the leading men in his commu- nity, always taking an active interest in what- ever is designed for the benefit of the people.
November 1, 1848, he married Miss Cebrina L. Jacox, who was born July 31, 1828, in Bath township, Summit county, this State, a daugli- ter of Elijah Jacox; she was an estimable woman, a member of the Congregational Church, and is now deceased. Their children are: Her- schel E., living with his funily, nearest neigh- bor; James F., of Richfield, Summit county; Homer W., who died November 16, 1882, aged twenty-seven years; William II., at home with his father and a business partner; Jesse Je- rome, in Brooklyn Village with his family, en- gaged in dry-goods business in Cleveland; Albert D., a successful merchant all his busi- ness life, died at Bedford, September 1, 1891, aged twenty-eight years.
0 RANGE V. SMITHI, a farmer of Orange township, Cuyahoga county, was born in this township, January 27, 1844, a son of Captain Almon Smith, a native of Conneeti- ent. He was one of the pioneer settlers of Orange township, and was an officer in the late war. Ilis father, Captain Smith, Sr., was an officer in the Revolutionary war, and was a member of an old and prominent family. The mother of our subject, nee Susan Henrietta Squires, was a native of Connecticut and a daughter of Morris Squires. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were married in Connecticut, but soon afterward located in a log cabin in the woods of
Orange township, where they immediately began clearing a farm. The father died of cholera in 1849, in middle life, leaving a widow and six children, viz .: Sidney, who was killed by light- uing at the age of nineteen years; Sarah Ben- nett, a resident of Twinsburg, Ohio; Susan Whitham, of Cleveland; Orville W. and Orauge V., twins; and Lyman, deceased when young. Orville W. was a soldier in the Ninth Ohio Battalion during the late war, was a gallant officer of his company, and served through the entire struggle. Hle died at the old home farm in 1872, leaving a widow and two children,- Cora and Florence. After the father's death, Mrs. Smith married James Henry, and they re- sided at Solon. She died at Twinsburg, Ohio, at the age of sevonty-six years. Captain Smith was a Whig in his political views, was elected the first Assessor of Orange township, was a member of the Masonic order, and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Church.
Orange V. Smith, the subject of this sketch, was reared to manhood on the old home farmn. After reaching a suitable age he was employed in a cooper shop four years. In 1873 he came to his present farm of 122 acres in Orange town- ship, where he has a good, new residence, 16 x 27 feet, with an L 16 x 22 feet, another addition, 16 x 16, and the structure cost $1,650. Mr. Smith is engaged in general farming and stock- raising, and also conducts a large dairy.
In March, 1867, he was united in marriage with Sophia G. Myers, who was born and reared at Streetsborough, Ohio, a daughter of John Myers, a native of Virginia. He was first mar- ried to Permelia Hazen, and they had two chil- dren. Mr. Meyers was afterward united in marriage with Naney Theker, a native of Ma- honing county, Ohio, and a daughter of John Tucker, one of the first settlers of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Myers had seven chiktren, viz .: George Wallis, who served in the Ninth Ohio Battalion during the late war; Amelia; John; Sophia, wife of our subject; Mary Esther and Rebecca, twins. John Myers died at Streets- borough, at the age of seventy-one years, and
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his wife died at the age of sixty-eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have four children: A. B., a traveling salesman for the firm of B. Drchers & Sons, of Cleveland; Rollo O., engaged in en- gineering; Myrtle B .; and Jamie IT. Mr .. Smith is identified with the Republican party.
W ILLIAM II. BEAVIS, practitioner of law in the city of Cleveland, is a son of the late Benjamin R. Beavis, who was born in London, England, in 1826, coming to America when but a child, with his parents, who located in Brooklyn village, where he was reared and educated. Preparing for tho pro- fession of law, was admitted to the Ohio bar in
1851, after which date he engaged in a good practice here. Ile was elected Justice of the Peace, became prominent in public life, and was twice elected to the State Senate, being first elected in 1871, and again in 1873. . Ile held other positions of honor and trust, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens.
IIe married Fredericka Mueller, of Cleveland, and of their children this personal sketch con-
cerns William II. Beavis, who was born in Cleveland, October 18, 1859, and who was given a high-school education. He then attended the Law Department of Cincinnati College, and graduated in 1883 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Locating in Cleveland, he became associated with his father in the practice of law under the firm name of Beavis & Beavis, which firm existed until the death of his father in 1884. Mr. Beavis is secretary to the Board of Directors of the German- American Savings Bank Company. Ile is also a director of the Consolidated German Newspaper Company, and has an interest in several other corporate com- panies, as well as in considerable real estate. As a lawyer he occupies a creditable position in the profession, and is a member of the County and State Bar Associations.
He was married December 25, 1890, to Miss Julia Enetkemeyer, and has one child.
OHIN RODGERS .- One of the leading and representative citizens of Solon town- ship, Cuyahoga county, is John Rodgers, who with the exception of five years has been closely identified with that township since 1841, and has contributed his full share to the mate- rial growth and development of that community.
Mr. Rodgers is a native of Ireland, having been born in county Antrim on the 22d day of June, 1829, the second son and fourth child of Alexander and Ruth (Bartley) Rodgers, both natives of the Emerald Isle. The Rodgers family emigrated to America in 1841, embark- ing at Belfast, going first to Liverpool, and thence to New York, landing at the latter port on the 22d day of June, that year, after a voy- age of thirty-one days. From New York city they came direct to Ohio, by the way of the lludson River to Albany, thence by the Erie Canal to Buffalo, and then across the lakes to Ohio, their destination being Cleveland. An accident happening to the steamer en route to Cleveland, they with others left the vessel at Fairport, the Rodgers family proceeding thence
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to Bainbridge township, Geauga county, Ohio, where they expected to find relatives. In this they were disappointed, and they went thence to Solon township, Bedford county, and visited a sister of Mr. Rodgers, who was the wife of. Thomas Marshall; next they visited another sister at Bedford, and subsequently took up their abode in a log house in Solon, owned by Mr. Marshall. That fall they removed to Bain- bridge township, and into a log honse owned by Mr. Logan. llere Mr. Rodgers purchased a cow, and the following spring purchased fifty acres of improved land in that township, paying $15 an acre for the land. On this land was a log house and a frame barn, and here the family settled down to farming. Mr. Rodgers was a baker by trade, having worked at the same in Ireland, and as may be imagined the family had a hard time of it for a time, being in a strange country and engaged in a (to them) strange em- ployment. During the second winter on the farm the family had not to exceed fifty pounds of flour, which was carned by our subject by by hauling logs with oxen. For five years the family remained on this place, during which time the members were for a great portion of the time ill with the fever and ague, our sub- jeet alone escaping that disease, and during the illness of the family he did all the work both out of doors and in the house, which was no small task, as the stock at that time consisted of six cows and a yoke of oxen. After paying about $300 of the purchase money for their land, they abandoned the farm and moved to Solon township and purchased ninety acres of unimproved land, where, in February, 1846, our subject and his father cut logs and built a cabin. The family moved upon their tract of land, and by hard work, living on potatoes and corn meal, succeeded in clearing a part of it the first year, putting in a crop of potatoes. After clearing more land they put in about four acres in wheat and reaped a large crop of fine grain, which they sold for seed wheat, selling this in town for $1 per bushel. After about $200 had been paid on the farm our subject worked out
for $11 per month for eight months, giving tho money to his father to help pay the remaining purchase money. The following winter our subject remained at home and assisted his father clearing ten aeres more and hauling logs to the mill, and for this he got linnber with which to build a barn, which building he helped to put up the next winter. He assisted his father to pay off' all the indebtedness on the farm, and in elearing and improving the land, and here the family lived for many years. Ilis father died in 1863, at the age of seventy-one years, his widow surviving him about eight years, dying at the age of seventy. The par- ents were members of the Presbyterian Church.
Most of the education of our subject was se- cured before the family came to America, he attending the common or public schools. When he was twenty-four years of age he worked during the summer until he had earned $51, and then engaged with Jason Robins in a cheese house at $16 per month, and the follow- ing summer in the same place for $20 per month. During the next winter he purchased a horse and wagon, and engaged in buying up pelts on commission, in which he met with snecess. Following this he returned to work in the cheese factory for $26 per month, and subsequently his employer gave him an interest in the business. In the spring of 1854 or 1855 he entered into a co-partnership with Mr. Robins in the stock and cheese business, and the first summer following made $800, besides his interest of about $1,000, in the business. After remaining in partnership with Mr. Robins for about six years he drew out $14,000 and fifty acres of land. The money he invested in stock and in cheese-making. In 1862 he pur- chased gold and silver and United States notes, which investment proved a profitable one, his returns from the same being rapid and large, more than doubling his money invested in gold. During those days he made money rapidly, and, re-investing judiciously and exercising good business judgment, he has succeeded in ac- emulating a large property.
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Mr. Rodgers followed the stock business for thirty-five years, meeting with snecess. Dur- ing this time he assisted in organizing a bank at Chagrin Falls, having for an object the placing therein of his son, who abont that time finished his collegiate course at Oberlin.
Mr. Rodgers has made a success of his life all through, and in doing so has surmounted all obstacles and conquered all diffienlties, naided and alone, having no outside assistance, but re- lying entirely upon his natural business ability and his inexhaustible stock of energy and en- terprise. Coming to America when but a lad of twelve years, with only a limited education, and being the son of poor but honest parents, he was carly thrown upon his own resources, and was not only earning his own living but also assisting his family when most yonths were in the school-room. But by unflagging industry and a determination to get ahead in life, aided by shrewd business sagacity and judg- ment, he has made for himself not only riches but a name and reputation for honesty and fair dealing that is known all over the county. He is what may be termed a self-made man, in every sense of the word, and his life and suc- eess is a splendid example for the poor young men and boys of the country, as it demonstrates what one poor Irish lad has accomplished by his industry and energy; and what one has done others can do.
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