USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Memorial record of the county of Cuyahoga and city of Cleveland, Ohio, Pt.1 > Part 66
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Mrs. Rudgers died March 17, 1892, after a married life of sixty-six years, and was buried at the conter of the township. She was a Con- gregationalist. The children of Mr. and Mrs.
Rodgers were: Carrie, now Mrs. Herschel Welton, of Cleveland, Ohio; Daniel, a farmer of Brecksville township; John W., who died in Michigan; George H. was killed in Girard, Ohio, by the accidental bursting of a cannon during the civil war, when they were celebrat- ing the final vietory of the great struggle; Eliz- abeth, who died at the age of eighteen months; Charles W., who died at the center of the township; Thomas J .; and Micah, whose name heads this sketch.
Mr. M. S. Rudgers, undertaker at Breeks- ville, was born January 1, 1845, in Brecksville township, and completed his school days at the "center " when Messrs. Geary and Allen were teachers there. He was bronght np a farmer's son, but, being of a mechanical turn of mind, he picked up some of the elements of carpentry, which trade he completed under the instruc- tions of A. D. Kent, of Cleveland. Returning home he took contracts on his own responsi- bility, the first being for Henry Perry at Brecksville Center. Afterward he purchased land of Enther Marsh near the center and laid out lots, streets, ete., and built houses. Later he purchased more land of Theodore Breck and erected more honses, thus being the principal builder of the little village. Afterward he did considerable work at Akron, this State, in which city he at one time owned considerable property: owns some there even yet.
After his marriage in 1876 he settled at the center of Brecksville, where he had opened out in the undertaking business, which he still con- duets; and he still owns several houses in the place. In 1883 he moved to Akron and lived there two years, returning then to Brecksville. Previously he owned a farm of 100 acres, which interest he purchased from the Cole and Judd heirs, and established his residence in a very nnassuming dwelling, upon it, a mile and a quarter south of the center, the same season. In 1886 he erected one of the finest dwellings in the township, and on the highest elevation, where there are the most pleasant surroundings, and this residence he now occupies. From this
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high point one ean have a view of fifteen to eighteen miles in different directions. Ilis farming interests he directs, having retired somewhat from actual toil.
Politically he was a Republican until 1892, when he joined the Prohibition party, in which he is very zealous. He voted for William Me- Kinley, however, while his sympathy was for prohibition. He and his wife are members of the Congregational Church, in which he has held offices for twenty years: was for a long time superintendent of the Sunday-school, and is now Deacon and musical director of the choir and Sabbath-school. In the Sunday-school his influence was marked, as the institution then had the greatest attendance it has ever had dur- ing its existence. In all his undertakings he has had success, and his dealings have always been honest.
October 18, 1876, is the date of his marriage to Allah Fessenden, who was born Angust 31, 1855, in Twinsburg, Ohio, a daughter of John W. and Mary ( Righter) Fessenden. They have an adopted daughter, born June 26, 1884, who enjoys all the liberties and luxuries of an own daughter.
C P. SMITH, proprietor of the Bedford News Register, which was established at Bedford, November 27, 1891, by Mr. Smith, as an independent paper in politics, de- voted to home interests, was born in Smmmnit county, Ohio, June 8, 1858. His Father, R. C. Smith, was born at Moukton, Vermont, and his mother, whose maiden name was Isabel Deis- man, was born in Colombiana county. When a boy of five years his parents removed to Bed- ford, and here Mr. Smith was edneated. When a young man he became general agent for the Cassell Publishing Company, of New York, at that time conducting the largest publishing business in the world, and at Danville, Illinois, he located in 1883. Subsequently he returned to Bedford, and there, preparing himself for doing job printing, opened an establishment
and continued at job printing with success; and in connection with the publication of the above named paper he still does a considerable amount of job printing. At one time he ushered into existence the Bedford Bee, a small folio which did not prove a success, and hence had but a short existence.
Since 1891 Mr. Smith has been a Notary Public. Ile is a member of the order of Knights of Pythias, belonging to the uniform . rank of that order; is also a member of the Royal Arcanum and of the uniform rank of that order; and a member of the Junior Order, United American Mechanics, and of the Sons of Temperance, of which order he was, for two terms, Grand Worthy Patriarch of the State of Ohio.
C CORNELIUS BURGESS, the senior con- duetor in age and point of service on the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, was born in Oneida county, New York, near Boonville, November 27, 1829. Ilis father, William B. Burgess, was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, June 27, 1787, and died in Bainbridge, Geanga county, Ohio, No- vember 9, 1849; and his Father, JJoseph L. Burgess, settled in Oneida county, New York, as early as 1800, in which State William B. enlisted for service in the war of 1812. Ile was a large, powerful inan, a blacksmith and was among the first to anchor an anvil in Bain- bridge, in 1832. Ile was an exemplary citizen, strikingly illustrating the traits of Christian charity and right conduet, was unfaltering in his devotion to duty, and in his patriotism as faithful as a Revere or as a Putnam.
Tracing the genealogy back to the old coun- try, it is ascertained that our subject comes of a line descending from Thomas Burgess of England, who settled in Lynn, Massachusetts, about 1630, and in 1637 received the assign- ment of a section of land in Duxbury, Massa- chusetts, where he trained his children in agri- enlture. One of his descendants, six genera-
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tions removed, was Joseph L. Burgess, onr sub- jeet's grandfather, who married Ann Metealf, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and emigrated to New York State, as previously mentioned. William B. Burgess married Esther Williams, and had the following children: John Chandler, born January 9, 1811, and was a hotel-man in Hartford, Connecticut, and died October 23, 1879, at Seranton, Pennsylvania; Allen, born November 7, 1812, is a Geanga connty farmer; Alvin, born February 10, 1820, spent his life in the ministry, was a prominent presiding elder, of wide acquaintance throughout the Erie Conference and western Pennsylvania, and died in the midst of his usefulness September 21, 1872; Joseph M., born February 6, 1822, and is a farmer of Solon, Ohio; Theodore, born January 1, 1824, who devoted his later lite to railroading, and died July 20, 1890; Charles W., a farmer in Geanga county, born Novem- ber 8, 1825; John W., born December 1, 1827, and died in Seranton, Pennsylvania, August 28, 1888; Cornelius, the subject of this sketch, born November 27, 1829; Dr. Franklin, born Feb- ruary 13, 1832, was a Lieutenant in the United States Army during the war and now a resident of Solon, Ohio; and two who died in infancy, namely: Ann Lonis, born in 1816, and Nor- man, born in 1818.
Mr. Burgess, our subject, was a farmer boy until 1849, when he came to Cleveland and seenred work on the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad, where he remained until July, 1850, when he returned to Bainbridge and engaged again in agricultural work for one season. Then until the spring of 1853 he re- sided with an nnele, Lyman Williams, at Mont- ville, Ohio; next he was employed by his brothers in the Wyoming House at Scranton, Pennsylvania; and in March, 1856, he came to Cleveland and worked six months in what is now the Kennard Honse. During the follow- ing autumn and winter he was an employee in the Neil Ilonse at Columbus, kept by Wheeler & Faling, and continued as a clerk there until 1857, when he went to Dubuque, lowa; not
succeeding there in finding employment he went to Dunleith, Illinois, where for a short time he was clerk in Argyle Ilonse. Ilis next work was as brakeman on the Illinois Central Railroad until the spring of 1858, when, with a desire to re-engage in farming, he went to Wisconsin and followed the plow one season.
December 29, 1859, he arrived once more in Cleveland, and Jannary 19, 1860, he began work on the Cleveland, Columbus & Cinein- nati Railroad, where he has since remained, making a record for faithful service unequaled.
December 26, 1859, is the date of his mar- riage, in Rockton, Illinois, to Miss Luey, a daughter of Cushing Bowker, who was born in New Hampshire and died in Canada, whither he had removed. Mr. and Mrs. Burgess have four children: Abbie M., born May 26, 1863, died in April, 1868; Theodore, born September 5, 1866, is an engineer on the Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling Railroad. The last men- tioned married Isabel Gilmore, a niece of Gen- eral Q. A. Gilmore; Edward S., born October 4, 1869, is a lireman on the Cleveland, Cin- cinnati, Chicago & St. Lonis Railroad; Albert A., born October 27, 1872, is a clerk for Strong, Cobb & Co., wholesale druggists, of Cleveland.
LOYD A. DUNIIAM, one of the rising yonng farmers of Bedford township, was born on the old Dunham homestead March 1, 1861, a son of Asa and Immeina (Ransom) Dunham. The father is one of the well-known and highly respected citizens of Bedford; the mother is not living. There were six children in the family. Lloyd A. passed a quiet and uneventful yonth on the farm. Ile attended the public schools at Hiram, and later took a course in the Spencerian Business Col- lege at Cleveland. Following this came several years of active business experience, first as shipping elerk in a general store, as hotel clerk, as proprietor of a grocery business in Cleve- land, and as commercial traveler. He was in
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the employ of C. II. McCormick, of Chicago, and for two years was with the McCormick Company. His wide experience and native ability enabled him to command a most profit- able class of enstom.
In 1855 he retired from the commercial world, taking up his residence on his farm; the land is in an advanced state of cultivation and all the buildings are of the most substantial style.
Mr. Dunham was married in Cleveland, February 22, 1884, to Susie D. Murray, who was born in Washington, District of Columbia, a daughter of Donglass and Mary (Ringwalt) Murray; the father is deceased, but the mother survives, a resident of Cleveland. Mr. and Mrs. Dunham are the parents of two children: Incinia M. and Lloyd C. Mr. Dunham ad- here's to the principles of the Republican party, but is in active sympathy with the Farmers' Alliance. Ile is a man of much more than ordinary intelligence, frank of manner and genial in disposition, withal one of the most popular men of the township.
C CHARLES W. D. MILLER, a representa- tive citizen of Berea, was born in Lima, Portage county, Ohio, November 25, 1842, where he passed his childhood days. When he was but two years old his parents died, and at ten years of age he came with his mother's sister to Strongsville, Ohio, and made his home with an unele and annt, Mr. and Mrs. Dewey, for twelve years, excepting about a year. Two years he attended Baldwin University. November 19, 1860, he married Miss Viena Pomeroy, a native of Strongsville, and engaged in farming in that township for two years. For four years he was engaged in sawmilling in In- diana, which business he disposed of and en- gaged again in farming and dealing in stock. Afterward he exchanged his farm for a store und a haff interest in a stoek of hardware in Berca, and condneted that store for about twenty
years,-until January, 1893. Ile has also been interested in other business. He has been a director of the Bank of Berea for many years, and is largely interested in the Cleveland & Berea Electric Railway, being president of the company. lle has held several public offices. Was instrumental in establishing the Middle- burg township poor-house. As to the brother- hoods, he is a member of Oriental Com- mandery of the Knights Templar of Cleveland.
lle has five children, namely: Dayton C., Harriet K., Alanson P., Harlan D. and Harry D.
H ENRY FROEHLICH, Postmaster and proprietor of a general store at South Brooklyn, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, was born in Independence township, this county, March 10, 1848.
Jacob Froehlich, his father, a native of Al- sace, France, emigrated to this country in 1837 and located in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, he be- ing eighteen years old at that time and without any means save what he earned with his own hands. IIere he was variously employed, among other things working on the Ohio canal. For his work on this canal he received his pay in " wildcat money," and thus lost the most of his wages. However, he was enabled to save some of his earnings, and as soon as he was able re- turned to France and bronght his parents back with him. Ile was married in Cuyahoga county to Sophia Dentzar, a native of Bavaria, Ger- many, who had come to this country with her parents when she was seventeen years old. They were married by Esquire Lockwood, one of the very first settlers in the county and a man who is still living. After their marriage they located in Independence township, where they reared their family and spent the rest of their lives. She died at the age of sixty-eight years, and he was seventy-one at the time of his death. They were the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter, all of whom are still living, Henry being the oldest.
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When the war came on Henry Froehlich was a boy in his 'teens, but before its close and when not yet fifteen years old he enlisted as a musician in Company E, One Hundred and Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Afterward, however, he became a private, being the young- est soldier in the company, and continued in the service two years and ten months, until the war closed. Although he was in numerons battles and often in the thickest of the fight, he never received a scratch. A braver and truer soldier than yonng Froehlich never faced the enemy's fire. He was honorably discharged at Charleston, South Carolina, after which he re- turned to his home in Independence township, this county.
In 1867 Mr. Froehlich went to Independence, Missouri, where he had a class in music, and was also the leader of a band. He remained in Missouri two years. It was during that time that General Grant first ran for the presidency, and throughout the campaign Mr. Froehlich and his band played in varions cities in Mis- somri. His war experience and his life in Mis- souri had given him a taste for excitement and adventure, and in 1868, in company with a number of others, all well equipped with teams and provisions, he started for the Indian Terri- tory. They visited Fort Gibson, Fort Smith and Baxter Springs, and on this trip had no little trouble with the Indians, the trouble arising through white ontlaws and squatters. Their return was attended with many narrow escapes.
Upon his return to his home in Ohio in 1869, Mr. Froehlich, feeling the need of a bet- ter education, began attending school. The following year we find him in Cleveland work- ing at the tinner's trade. In 1871 he engaged in the hardware business in South Brooklyn, in partnership with his brothers. Subse- quently their business was consolidated with that of C. Huhn. In 1880 Mr. Froehlich dis- posed of his interest in this establishment, and, in company with M. Hoehn, engaged in the wholesale implement business on Michigan
street in Cleveland. They did a successful business until July of the following year, when Mr. Hoehn was accidentally drowned, and after his death onr subject continned business alone, removing it in 1882 from Cleveland to South Brooklyn. In 1889 he took in as a partner Mr. Thomas Whittlesey. This partnership, how- ever, was terminated a short time after by Mr. Whittlesey's death, Mr. Froehlich buying the widow's interest and a short time afterward selling the establishment to Huhn & Koch. Then from 1889 until 1893 he was engaged in farming at the old homestead, and in 1893 he again engaged in the implement business, tak- ing back the stock he hrad sold to Huhn & Koch. In the meantime he was appointed Postmaster of Sonth Brooklyn, under Cleve- land's first administration, and has since served as Postmaster in connection with his other business.
For two years Mr. Froehlich has been a men- ber of the Board of Education of South Brook- lyn, serving as president of the board, and was elected a member of the Council of the village in the spring election. Fraternally, he is a member of the I. O. O. F., K. of P. and Foresters.
Mr. Froehlich was married in 1877 to Eliza IInhn, a native of South Brooklyn, and they have five children, three sons and two dangh- ters, namely: Alma, Carl, George, Edwin and Elsa. Carl died February 15, 1894, at the age of fourteen years.
C FILARLES MURFETT, a farmer of Orange township, Cuyahoga county, was born in England, in September, 1833, a son of Edward and Sarah (Gilbert) Murfett, natives also of that country. After coming to this country the parents located in Orange, where the mother died at the age of seventy-three years, and the father lived to the age of 100 years, dying January 24, 1891. lle was a Democrat in his political views, and was a mem-
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ber of the Christian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Murfett had six children, viz. : Edward, Charles, Mary Ann, Mathews (deceased), Emiline Har- der, Sarah Knapp and Carrie Abell.
Charles, our subject, eame to this country when four years of age, and received his ednea- tion in the schools of Orange. He was success- fully engaged at the butcher trade for twenty years. In 1863 he came to his present farm of 209 aeres in Orange township, where he has a comfortable residence, three good barns, one 30 x 80 feet, and many other improvements. In his political views Mr. Murfett is identified with the Republican party.
Ile was married at the age of thirty years, to Ellen Abell, a danghter of Alvin and Almina (Reynolds) Abell, and they had one daughter, Mina, wife Charles Burton and was a popular teacher before marriage. Mrs. Murlett died in 1868. February 22, 1871, Mr. Murfett was united in marriage with Clara Corlett, a native of Warrensville, Ohio, and a daughter of Will- iam and Jane Corlett, natives of the Isle of Man, and among the pioneer settlers of War- rensville, Ohio. The father died in 1870, and the mother in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Corlett had eight childron, -Ellen, William, John, Robert, Jane, Thomas (deceased), Clara and Sylvenns. Mr. and Mrs. Murfett have seven children, viz. : Ada M., Charley C., (a graduate of the high school), Mable Belle, Alice Dora, Olive Clara, Edith Edna and John J.
B 1. MARBLE is a member of the Mar- ble & Shattuck Chair Company, and is recognized as one of the most progressive business men of' Bedford. This company was organized in 1885 and the following year was reorganized as a stock company, when the firm of Klinger & Dodge of Akron was merged into the corporation. The entire plant belonging to this firm was destroyed by fire March 17, 1886; and although it was a severe blow to the busi- ness the buildings were replaced with charac-
teristie energy, and operations were resumed the next Jnly. As the plant now stands it con- sists of a brick engine-house, a factory, 10 x 154, three stories high, a finishing and ware room 40 x 160, two stories high, and an upholstery room, 21 x 100, two stories high. Ninety men are employed in this establishment, and a busi- ness of $140,000 per ammmmm is transacted, the patronage being drawn from every quarter of the United States.
In 1887 F. D. Hills purchased the stock owned by Mr. Dodge, and in 1890 S. S. Mc- Millin became the owner of the stock formerly controlled by Mr. Shattuck.
Mr. Marble is a native of the town which is the scene of his business successes. He was born February 6, 1851, a son of Levi Marble. The father was born in the State of New York at Marbletown, in 1820, and at the age of twelve years came to Ohio with his father, Thomas Marble. Ilo was married to Mary A. Richard- son, a native of Vermont, and of this union l'on children were born: C. B., F. D., B. L., and one deceased. Levi Marble was engaged in busi- ness at Bedford for a number of years. Ile died at the age of seventy years. Politically he was identified with the Republican party; ho was a member of the I. O. O. F. and at one time served the people of his township as Treasurer. B. L. Marble was a youth of fourteen years when he began his career in the commercial world. For two years he was in the employ of the Purdy Chair Company, and was afterward with the B. J. Wheelock Chair Company. Going to Alliance, Ohio, he superintonded the erection of a chair factory for the firm of Beeson & Hartzell, and had charge of the business one year. At the end of this time he returned to the B. J. Wheelock Company, but later went to Toledo, where he remained one year. He then came to Bedford in the employ of the Taylor Chair Company, and was foreman of this estab- lislment until 1885, when he embarked in busi- ness for himself.
Our worthy subjeet was united in marriage at the age of twenty-three years to Mary E.
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Matthews, a daughter of Joseph and Martha (White) Matthews. Mr. Matthews is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Marble are the parents of three children: Bessie L., and Linn Levi and Lloyd Joseph, twins. The family oeenpy a handsome residence where they are surrounded with all the comforts of this century of improvements and inventions. Mr. Marble is a Republican, and has served as a member of the City Council two years. He belongs to the Masonic order, having a membership in Bedford Lodge, No. 375 A. F. and A. M., Summit Chapter, No. 74, R. A. M., and Holyrood Commandry, No. 32, K. T. Ile is also a member of the Knights of Pythias.
D A. KEISTER, expert accountant, 405 Cuyahoga building, Cleveland, has been a resident of this eity since the first of the year 1888, coming from Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania.
lle is a native of New Haven, Gallatin county, Illinois, born July 22, 1863, son of Daniel B. and Anna E. (Hunter) Keister, who moved to this city in 1893. Both the Keister and Ilunter families were among the oldest settlers of West- ern Pennsylvania, five generations ago. Tem- perance and longevity, as well as patriotism, have been prominent characteristies of the an- cestry, several of whom were faithful soldiers in the Revolutionary war, the war of 1812, and the war of the great rebellion. They have been public-spirited in both church and State. Dur- ing the late war Mr. Daniel B. Keister took an active part, not only using his voice upon the stump, but also aiding greatly in actual hard work. He organized the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Indiana Cavalry, took it to the front as Captain, and served in the field for a year, when he resigned and received an honor- able discharge. For a mumber of years he was engaged in the music business, but is now living a retired life.
The subject of this sketel, the third of five children in the above family, was reared from
his sixth year in Pennsylvania, on the old homestead near Pittsburg, and completed his education at an Eastern college. At the age of fifteen he became bookkeeper at Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and ever since then the science and art of keeping accounts has been his spe- cialty. He has held many positions in the ein- ploy of prominent firms in Pittsburg, Mount Pleasant and Uniontown, Pennsylvania, New York eity and Cleveland. At times he has done considerable special work, to which he now gives his entire attention. fle is a true expert accountant and bookkeeper, and has proven himself an honorable and trustworthy man.
In company with others, during the early part of last year, 1893, he organized the Cleve- land Dress-Facing and Manufacturing Compa- ny, of which he was elected secretary and general manager, but September 23, following, a des- trnetive fire consumed their entire business ontfit, and since that time Mr. Keister has de- voted his entire time to his profession, in which he so easily excels.
He is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of For- est City Lodge, No. 388. Ile was married in Pennsylvania, September 8, 1886, to Miss Fan- nie B. Britt, and they have two children,- Frank S. and Annie. Mr. and Mrs. Keister are members of the Presbyterian Chinrch, and worship at the old stone church on the publie square. The family residence is in the East End.
A. FITZWATER, a representative citizen of Brecksville township, is a native of the same township, born July 12, 1838. For his ancestry see the sketch of Ira Fitzwater in this work. He was edueated' in the schools of his time and remained npon the farm until after his father's death. February 22, 1860, he mar- ried Miss Hannah C. Pratt, who was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, in 1840, a daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Eldridge) Pratt, who eame to the village of Independence and kept hotel there. After marriage Mr. Fitz-
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