USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Memorial record of the county of Cuyahoga and city of Cleveland, Ohio, Pt.1 > Part 67
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CUYAHOGA COUNTY.
water resided npon the old farm until 1873, when he and father and mother, his family and his brother William emigrated to White county, Tennessee, locating on land which they had pur- chased there. During their residence in that State of two years Mr. Fitzwater traveled over the distance between that point and Brecksville three times with team, being respectively twenty-three, twenty-six and twenty-four days on the journey. Their locality in Tennessee was an abandoned section and required a great amount of work to prepare it for cultivation.
Mr. Fitzwater returned to his native Brecks- ville until 1891, when, for the sake of his wife's health he removed to the centor, purchasing property where he now resides, enjoying a par- tially retired life. He owns 185 acres of ex- eellent land, the greater part of which he has accumulated by his own hard work and econom- ical management. His lifo therefore has been a successful one. Having some practical knowl- edge of carpentering, he occasionally does a little of his own work. In his views of national questions he is in sympathy with the Republi- can party. Was a member of Company B, One IInudred and Ninety-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. During the latter part of his career on the farm he was also engaged in the dairy business to some extent.
Ilis children are: Myron E., a farmer of this township; Lewie E., at home; and Lilly J., who died at the age of eight years.
0 RFILA STEARNS, a farmer of Ohinstead township, was born in this township, in 1840, a son of Elijah and Wealthy (Usher) Stearns; his father was a native of Vermont and his mother of New York. His father came to Ohinstead township at the age of sixteen years, was married in Cuyahoga county, and re- mained a resident here until his death, in June, 1891, when he was eighty-five years of age. Our subjeet's mother died in 1851. In their family were eleven children, of whom seven are
now living, namely: Asher, who resides in Ohn- stead township; Orfila, whose name heads this sketch; Elijah, Jr., who also is a resident of this township; Cassins, a resident of Olmstead township; Ferdinand, a resident of the same township; Orphelia, twin sister of the subject, is now the wife of George Stevens, of Ashta- bula, who lived until recently in Olmstead; and Wealthy, wife of Thomas Ilall, also a resident of Olmstead. A half-brother, named Myron Stearns, resides in Eaton township.
Mr. Orfila Stearns, our subject, was bronght up in Ohinstead township. In September, 1862, he eulisted in the Fifteenth Ohio Independent Battery for three years or during the war, and, being in the Western army, participated in the siege of Vicksburg. Being afterward trans- ferred to the Invalid Corps, he was sta- tioned at Rock Island, Davenport and Milwaukee, and was also in the Pro-
vost Marshal's office at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He was discharged at Milwaukee, June 28, 1864, and returned to Ohnstead town- ship, Cnyahoga county. He settled upon his present farm in 1874, where he owns thirty- sevon and a half acres of good land, and has prospered in agricultural pursuits. A good natural-gas well is on his place.
In 1874 he married Miss Isabella Fitch, a native of Olinstead township and a daughter of Hudson and Abigail (Wilson) Fitch, natives of Connecticut, who came to Olmstead in an early day and now reside in Nebraska. Our subject and wife have two children, -Bertha and Ger- trnde.
Mr. Stearns is a member of Olmstead Post, G. A. R., No. 634, and in his political views is a Republican.
OIIN W. SYLVESTER, a young man.in the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company, has risen rapidly to his present position as a result of faithful service. He was born at Port Clinton,
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Ottawa county, Ohio, December 13, 1854, re- ceived his school education in his native village, and spent two years in the course at Baldwin University, at Berea, this State. After teach- ing public school one winter, rather as a kind of experiment, he ascertained thereby that tho ped- agogical profession would not bo as pleasant to him as some other callings. He decided to try the more exciting business of railroading, which he commencod as baggageman at Port Clinton station. Two years later he began as a brake- man on a work train, and in time was made foreman of a gang, and at length conductor. In this capacity he served five years, on the Nor- walk division. Next he served for five years as through freight conductor, or until 1889, when he entered the passenger service, in which he is still making a good record. He is a member of tho O. of R. C., for which he was a delegate to their national convention in 1892. Ile is also a Master Mason.
The subject of this brief notice is a son of J. W. Sylvester, Sr., who was a prominent pioncer citizen of Port Clinton, and was born in New Jersey, in 1810. Being ambitious to take in more of the world than he could in the old plod- ding States of the East, he came in carly youth to this State. He taught school, became Treas- urer of Ottawa county, Postmaster of Port Clinton by appointment under President Will- iam II. Harrison's administration, and was Col- lector at the port of Port Clinton during the administrations of Presidents Grant and Ilayes. When he first came to Ohio he was the main support of his widowed mother with fourteen children. Being a natural mechanic he began taking contracts for the construction of bridges, one of which was the old Ell bridge at Zanes- ville, which he, in company with his brother, Benjamin, built more than sixty years ago; that bridge is still in use. Previous to the war he was engaged in the boot and shoe business in Port Clinton, and since 1868 his attention has been devoted to the insurance business. He married Eliza Correll, a native of Pennsylvania, and is now aged sixty-five years. Of their
six children only two aro now living, namely: Miss Hattie, at Port Clinton; and J. W., whose name heads this sketeh.
The latter was married in Port Clinton, May 30, 1876, to Miss Luey A. Gates, a daughter of Henry Gates, who married Emnice Cornwall and had five children. Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester, of this sketch, are the parents of William R., El- nora and Wallen J.
D AVID S. GILMORE, Postmaster of Wilson's Mills, Ohio, is a veteran of the Civil war and is a man well known and highly respected in the community in which he lives. Of Mr. Gilmore's life we make re- cord as follows:
David S. Gilmore was born in Chester town- ship, Geauga county, Ohio, July 19, 1839. The Gilmores are of Scotch descent. Ashbel. Gilmore, the grandfather of David S., was born in Massachusetts, and was one of the earliest. settlers of Chester township. His son, Silas Gilmore, the father of our subject, was born in Chester township. A sister of Silas was the first white child born in Geauga county. The mother of David S. Gilmore was before her marriage Miss Lois Nichols. She was a native of Vermont and of English descent. Abont the time she was grown she came with her par- ents to Ohio, and in Chester township, Geanga county, she met and married Silas Gilmore. After their marriage they settled on the farm, in that township, on which they still reside. They are the parents of seven children, three sons and four daughters, David S. being the oldest child. He was reared on his father's farm, and attended the district school and also for a time was a student at Chester. Soon after the war he came to Cuyahoga county and entered into a partnership with General Willson, his father-in-law. They carried on the milling business together for one year. Subsequently Mr. Gilmore was in partnership for some time with Myron Willson. Ever since he came here
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he has ocenpied a prominent place among his fellow citizens, filling various positions of trust and importance. lle has served as Township Trustce, was for many years a School Director, and for the past twenty years has been Post- master. He owns 100 acres of land in this vieinity.
When the Civil war came on Mr. Gilmore was among the first to join the Union ranks. Ile culisted July 10, 1861, in the Seventh Regiment Brass Band, and as a musician per- formed faithful service nutil May 9, 1862, when he was discharged on account of disabil- ity. The following year he re-enlisted, this time in the Third Brigade, Third Division and Twenty-third Army Corps; but on account of some mistake in the papers that were made ont he was discharged. Again he enlisted, this time under General Jack Casment, in the saine corps, in which he served until the close of the war. His whole service was as a musician. He was discharged at Greensborough, North Caro- lina, was mustered out at the same place, and from there returned home. ILe is now a men- ber of Sam Allen Post, G. A. R., of Kirtland, Ohio.
Mr. Gilmore was married January 29, 1867, to Mary C. Willson, daughter of General F. and Eliza (Henderson) Willson. She was born and reared at Wilson's Mills. They have two sons: George S., a conductor on the Cleveland street car line; and Charles W., at home.
F B. MANY, one of Cleveland's young, prosperous and influential business men, was born March 15, 1860, in this city, graduated at the high school here and entered the service of the Valley Railway Company, where he had charge of the purchasing and ticket departments for five years. Iu 1881 he interested himself in the oil business, as a mem- ber of the Harrison & Many Lighting Company, in which trade he is still interested. In 1886 this firm took the contract. for lighting the sub-
urbs of Cleveland. He is also interested in the following enterprises in the official relation named: President of the Cleveland Vitrified Pressed Briek Company; president of the At- water General Electric Company; director in the Caravel Gold and Silver Mining Company; member of the firms of Harrison & Many and Harris & Many Lighting Company, as already mentioned; interested in the G. C. Kuhlman Car Company; and dealer in paving brick, operating alone.
As to fraternal relations Mr. Many is a mem- ber of Pearl Lodge, Uniformed Rank, K. of P .; of Prien Chevalier Division, No. 3, National Union; Ottwawa Shooting Club on the San- dusky river, as Secretary of the Loenst Point Shooting Club; the Cleveland Yacht Club; and the Cleveland Athletic Club. As to polities he is a Republican.
John J. Many, father of F. B., was born in New York city, in 1819, graduated at Mt. Holyoke (Massachusetts) College, and came to Cleveland in 1850, for the purpose of accepting the anditorship of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad, and held that position for twenty-four years. Failing health caused him to resign, in 1876, and he died in 1876. The grandfather of our subject was James Many, and great-grandfather was Count Francis de Mona (origin of name), who was a native of France. He was one of the ori- ginal Huguenots who emigrated to America. He stood guard at Gonvernen's island in the war of 1812, furnishing his own provisions, but was afterward reimbursed by the Government. Hle owned Blackwell's island and other estates, which now constitute the town of Haverstraw, New York: the family permitted it to revert to the Government.
Mr. Many's mother's name before marriage was Jane L. Brady. Her father, Philip Brady, was the son of Sir James T. Brady, of Ireland, whose coat of arms was the memorial sigu to the name Brady, formerly
" The barons of Loch Tee: Three empty purses and spend your money free."
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Mrs. John J. Many's paternal grandparents, Sir John and Lady Cordelia Johnstone, were na- tives of Scotland; and her maternal grand- parents, George and Susana Little, owned three estates in Ireland, one of which was that of Ballagarrive.
Mr. Many, our subject, was married July 20, 1886, to Miss Ilda M., daughter of Henry and Frances (Perew) Dresden, of Cleveland and of American and French ancestry, and Mr. and Mrs. Many have one child, who is named Frank.
M J. HERBERT, an active business man of Cleveland, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, Angust 25, 1861, of Irish parentage. His father, Martin J. Her- bert, born in county Clare, in 1827, emigrated to the United States in 1850, married in Johns- town, Pennsylvania, Bridget O'Connell, moved some years later to St. Louis, Missouri, and was injured fatally while employed on the river there. Mrs. Herbert returned to Pennsylvania and there married Timothy O'Brien.
M. J. Herbert, the youngest of his father's four children, secured a very scant education, and before his ninth year he became water car- rier in Libby's Glass-house, in Pittsburg. ITis next employers were Oliver & Brothers & Phil- lips. For them he worked two weeks, receiv- ing $1.50 at first and later $1 a week. Three years afterward he entered their rolling mills, at 90 cents a day, and remained three years, when he came to Cleveland. He was employed by the Cleveland Rolling Mill Company as heater and eateher till 1887, at which time he was forced into a strike and virtually became its leader, in consequence of which he incurred the displeasure of the superintendent, and to pre- vent the precipitation of another strike result- ing from his discharge, he resigned. Since then Mr. Herbert has given his attention to accident insurance, first with the Equitable and for the past four years with the Standard.
Mr. Herbert became known to polities in 1887, when he was made the Democratie candi- date for Alderman from the Second district. Ile was nominated without his knowledge and consent for the Legislature in 1887. In 1890 he was elected to the Council from the Twenty- sixth ward, but was legislated out of office. After having served one year he was again elected, under the Federal plan, for the term ex- piring in 1891. He was the minority candidate for President of the Council at its reorganiza- tion, 1893, and in consequence is chairman of the committee on Public Offices and Officers. In this position he rendered conspicuous service in securing the confirmation of the new cabinet and the approval of the Mayor's bond. Mr. Herbert is serving on the committees on Fire and on Printing.
August 12, 1887, Mr. Herbert married Mar- garet Flaherty, a lady of Canadian birth. Their children are Margaret, Lawrence and Martin. Mr. Herbert is President of Branch No. 40, C. M. B. A., and Secretary of Division No. 3., A. O. II.
S Y AMUEL WALLACE, deceased, formerly oľ Brecksville township, was born in 1806, in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and came to Brecksville in 1816 or 1817, and of course was brought up as a pioneer: was ent - ployed for a time on the construction of the Ohio canal, and saved some money, which he invested in a boat, that he ran for a time on that water-way. In the fall of 1838 he married Miss Emily Moses, who was boru October 30, 1819, in the township of Victor, Ontario county, New York, a daughter of William and Phoebe ( Mi- uor) Moses, who emigrated to Judependence in 1837, by way of the Erie canal, Lake Erie and the Ohio canal. Mr. Moses was a farmer by vocation.
After marriage Mr. Wallace, our subject, lo- cated on River Road, in Brecksville township, where he owned a farm. Ile also owned the canal-boat Florida, which he ran that season,
M
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and spent the winters on the farm. Abont 1844 he abandoned boating and resorted to farming along the river road, where he owned 160 aeres, and lived there fill his death, from consumption, in October, 1850, and was buried in Center com- otery. In politics he was a Whig, and in reli- gion a Congregationalist. Was a thorough business man. By his death Le left a widow and five children, in very comfortable circum- stances. After his death Mrs. Wallace took charge of affairs and continued to reside on the old place till 1884, when she removed to her present Farm. At that time it consisted of 150 aeres: now there are 175 acres. Her capacity as a business woman has been tested, and she has proven entirely capable. She now owns al- together 330 acres of land, which she manages in a successful manner. But she has had a great deal of trouble in the loss of children, etc. One of the children lay fourteen months practically helpless. She is every way worthy of the bean- tiful home she occupies, and of the high esteem in which she is regarded by all who know her. She is a member of the Congregational Church.
Her children have been: Mary, who died at the age of cigliteen years; Susanna, now Mrs. Ed MeCreery, of this township; William, who died aged thirty years; Eleanora, who died at the age of nineteen years; and Sammel W., de- ceased when thirty years old.
W ILLIAM KEIIRES, a merchant and the Postmaster of Warrensville, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, July 13, 1855, a son of John and Minnie Kehres, natives of Germany. In 1847 the father located in Cleve- land, where he was afterward married, and both still reside in that city. They were the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters.
William, the eldest child of the family, re- ceived a good edneation in the public schools, and afterward learned the cigarmaker's trade. In 1887 he located at Warrensville, Cuyahoga county, where he has since been engaged in the
mercantile business, now occupying a store room 20 x 46 feet. Through the efforts of Mr. Kehres the post oflice was established in this city, after having been discontinued four years, and in February, 1890, he accepted the position of Postmaster. In 1892 he was elected Clerk of Warrensville township, by the Republican party.
At the age of twenty-four years, Mr. Kehres was united in marriage with Minnie, a danghter of John Lexzo. They have five children, -Ar- thur, Lizzie, Alma, Roland and Helen. In his social relations, Mr. Kehres is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters, of Ohio.
W ILLIAM O. GORDON, one of the most enterprising and progressive citi- zens of Bedford, was born in the town which is still his home March 9, 1851. His parents were James and Elizabeth Gordon, na tives of Scotland; they emigrated to the United States, and passed their last days at Bedford. William O. is the fifth of a family of four sons and two daughters. He received his education in the common schools of his birth-place, and at the age of ten years began his career in the commercial world. Having inherited many admirable traits from his Scotch ancestors he gave early evidence of the reliability and stead- fastness that have marked all the years of his life. Ile was first employed by the old Wheel- ock Chair Company and there gained a thorough knowledge of all the details of this business. In 1873 Mr. Gordon went to Anderson, Indi- ana, where he was employed in a chair factory owned by Wheelock & Company. Later he entered the employ of the Taylor Chair Com- pany and for thirteen years was associated with this corporation. The connection was severed in 1890, when the Bedford Chair Company was organized with our worthy subject as superin- tendent. A wiser choice could not have been made, as he is a skilled mechanic as well as a man of wide commercial experience,
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Mr. Gordon was married June 16, 1872, to Miss Hattie Robinson, who was born at New- burgh, Ohio, a daughter of Cornelius Robinson, and granddaughter of James Robinson, one of the well-known pioneers of her native place. Mrs. Gordon's mother was a Miss Carathers, a native of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon are the parents of a family of six children: Ellen, wife of Lester Kingore, is the mother of one son, Kenneth; Kit B., William A., Sada, Frank, and Bert, who died at the age of ten months. The mother and two older daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The family ocenpy an attractive residence on Brown's Lane, where they are surrounded with all the com- forts of this advanced civilization.
Politically Mr. Gordon supports the princi- ples of the Prohibition party; he has been for many years an ardent worker in the ranks of temperance reformers, and was a member of the Sons of Temperance and the Temple of Honor. Ile belongs to Bedford Lodge, No. 375, A. F. & A. M. As a member of the City Council he was a faithful guardian of the best interests of Bedford and did much to promote her welfare.
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J I OHIN G. SPEAR, a prominent farmer of Warrensville township, Cuyahoga county, is a native of that township, born Novem- ber 28, 1852. His father, John Spear, a native of England, emigrated to the United States in 1845, locating in Cuyahoga county, a poor man. lle was married in England, to Miss Ann Fry, also a native of that country, who died in War- rensville township, this county, April 12, 1866, at the age of fifty-five years. He is still living, now aged cighity-two years. They had three children: Ann, wife of A. S. Stoneman; Eliza- beth, who married Jacob Stoneman; and John G.
The last mentioned was reared in his town- ship, receiving a common-school education, at Chagrin Falls. He was married April 19, 1876,
to Miss Jennie Brow, also a native of Warrens- ville township, and they have one son, by name George A.
Mr. Spear has one of the finest farms in the township, comprising eighty acres and well im- proved. Ho also has a farm of seventy-two aeres in Orange township. His farming opera- tions embrace general agrienlture, in which he has been very successful, being now able to lend considerable money of his own. For his resi- dence he has a modern frame house, and for farm houses he has an excellent barn and other outbuildings.
In his political principles Mr. Spear is a Re- publican, and as to religion he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
C HARLES BAYER, who is engaged in general farming in Brooklyn township, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, dates his birth in Darmstadt, Germany, June 19, 1839.
John Bayer, his father, also a native of Ger- many, was born in 1808, and in 1849 emigrated to this country, coming direct to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and first settling in Parma town- ship. In that township he remained until 1867, when he removed to the farm on which his son Charles now lives. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Steller, came with him to this country, and her death occurred October 25, 1868, the year after his removal to this farm. His death occurred July 13, 1880. They had four children, Charles being the only sur- viving member of the family.
Charles Bayer was ten years old when he came with his parents to Cuyahoga county. Ile had attended school in the old country for Four years, and after they came here he went to the Parma township schools for some time. After his father's death he came into possession of the old homestead, which comprises seventy acres of choice land. His whole life has been devoted to general farming and stock raising, and in this occupation he has been very successful. In
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1881 he erected a fine brick house, at a cost of $4,000, it being supplied with all the modern improvements and conveniences.
Mr. Bayer was married May 12, 1867, to Anna Reimer, a native of Germany. She was born July 21, 1847, and came to this country when she was seventeen years old. They have six children, four danghters and two sons: Anna L., Metta K., Emma M., William O., Edward Il. and Alma W. They lost five children in infancy.
Mr. Bayer is a member of the Evangelical Church.
HEODORE M. WARNER, accountant for the Society for Savings, is a son of the late Wareham J. Warner, a promi- nent man in the history of Cleveland. He was born in this city, February 10, 1844, given an education in the city schools, and at fifteen began work for Huntington & Brooks, queensware merchants on Water street. On leaving this firm he entered the Government service, as purser in the Quartermaster's De- partment, on the steamer Mustang, plying the Rio Grande river to furnish supplies, etc., to the Federal troops in that desert country.
In 1864 Mr Warner quit this service, after being out a year, returned to Cleveland and entered the service of George Spragne & Com- pany, wholesale grocers on Merwin street, and remained with them five years. Next he was employed by the Worswick Manufacturing Company, and had charge of their office until 1877. That year he accepted a position with the Society for Savings, as bookkeeper. In 1883 he was promoted to the position of ac- countant, which he now holds.
In polities Mr. Warner is a radical Republi- can, made more zealously so by the panic of 1893. Ile never fails to give loyal and hearty support to the nominees of his party, and does much good work in a quiet way. In 1876 he was elected to the City Council, which body was dubbed the "Centennial Corneil." He
represented the First ward, and was three times re-elected, which fact alone speaks volmues as to the value of his services. He was chairman of tho committee on Fire and Water, and in consequence was ex ollicio a member of the Fire Board. He retired in 1884, voluntarily, with a consciousness of having performed his duty as he saw it, and having repeatedly re- ceived the plaudits and public approval of his constituents.
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