USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Memorial record of the county of Cuyahoga and city of Cleveland, Ohio, Pt.1 > Part 9
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Morton W. Cope was first seut to the district schools of Jefferson county. In 1868 the death of his father occurred, and about that time his widowed mother removed with her family to East Cleveland, and thereafter he attended the schools at. Collamer during the years of 1869 and '70. In the summer of the latter year he attended the school at Smithfield, and later the high schools of East Cleveland, at which ho
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graduated in the first class graduated by what was known as the "Cleveland East Iligh School," the date of his graduation being 1873. He then went upon the farm in Jefferson county, where he remained until 1878, with the exception of the year 1875 and 1876, in the winters of which years he attended school in Cleveland, studying Greek and Latin. In the year 1878 Mr. Cope began the study of law in the office of George B. Solders (now Judge Solders), and was admitted to the bar at Co- lumbus in May, 1880. Ho then went to Coun- eil Bluffs, Iowa, and was admitted to all of the courts of that State, but in the fall of the same year he returned to Cleveland and entered into the practice of law with T. K. Dissette as a partner, with whom he remained two years, and since then Mr. Cope has practiced his profession alone.
Ile was married April 12, 1882, to Miss Allie E. Monlton, daughter of W. J. Moulton, of Cleveland. She has borne him one ehild, a daughter, Donna A. by name, age seven years.
H ENRY HOEHIN, Cleveland's most ef- ficient and popular Superintendent of Police, was born in the Province of Rhine, Bavaria, in November, 1840. At the tender age of fourteen he left home and friends and set ont for America. He stopped a few months in New York eity before coming to Cleveland, and soon after his arrival here we find him in the employ of John Kirsch on Bridge street, learning the cooper's trade. He remained a knight of the hammer and saw till the rupture between the States made the rais- ing of troops a military necessity. In response to the first call, the superintendent enlisted in Company K, Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three months' service. This command was ordered from Cleveland to Camp Dennison, Cincinnati, where it completed its term of en- listmont, and from which place Mr. Hochn ro- turned to Cleveland. In August, 1862, he en-
listed in the Twentieth Ohio Independent Light Artillery, Captain Smithnight's company, which went at once into the field, arriving at Nash- ville immediately after the battle of Stone river. It was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, and remained a part of it till the close of the war. Some of the fiereest engagements of the war were participated in by this army,-Chiek- amauga, Franklin and Nashville being among the number. Mr. Hoehn enlisted as a private, and was promoted through successive offices to a Lieutenancy, receiving his commission just after the battle of Nashville.
In the winter of 1861 Mr. Hoehn married Sophia Heizman, of German birth, who came to America at twelve years of age, and died September 7, 1893. The children of this mar- riage are Addie, now Mrs. Jacob Kaiser; Albert a druggist; and Henry, who lost his life by drowning near Akron, Ohio, June 24, 1892, at the age of nineteen years.
Superintendent Hoehn's conncetion with the police foree of Cleveland began in 1866, when he was appointed a patrohnan. It was at onee recognized that he possessed the proper traits for an ideal peace officer, and he rose by pro- motion, as he did in the military service, to a Lientenaney, and later to a Captaincy. For many years he was stationed on down-town beats, where crime was rifer, and where a less resolute officer would have been a certain fail- ure. As a police officer Superintendent Hoehn has rendered invaluable service to his city. He has followed up traces of, and run to the wall, many noted eriminals, in many instances taking his life in his hand as it were, and but for his extreme and unusual modesty we would mention herein noted cases.
On June 22, 1893, Superintendent Hoehn re- ceived the following communication:
"HENRY HOEHN, Captain of Police: Dear Sir: You are hereby notified that you have this day been appointed Superintendent of Police, to take effect July 1, 1893.
" Respectfuly yours, " W. C. POLLNER, Director."
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This action of Director Pollner placed at the head of the police department a man who has devoted the greater part of his life to police duty, and one who commands the respect and confidence of every one. Ilis manner is plain and unpretending, and the lowliest may ap- proach him and receive the same attention as those of the highest station. Ile is wholly conversant with his duties and will be content only in their performance.
L EVI JOHNSON was a prominent and esteemed citizen in Cleveland for many years and his life was closely interwoven with the early history of the eity. Ile was a native of Herkimer county, New York, born April 25, 1786. From the days of his ehild- hood he was tanght the lessons of industry. Losing his parents in early life he was taken into the home of an nncle, where he lived until he was fourteen years of age, his duty being to labor upon the farm and attend to such chores as are peculiar to farm life.
At the age of fourteen he formed a desire to be a carpenter and joiner, and at that time en- tered the shop of one Ephraim Derrick, with whom he remained four years. He then changed masters, and for the three years thereafter worked under one Laftet Remington. Then for one year he worked at barn-building along with one Stephen Remington, and it was during this year that, occurred an event which shaped his future life. Considerable interest had been excited by the great tide of emigrants that were going westward to Ohio, and about this time a brother of Stephen Remington was sent West to investigate the land and report upon its fitness tor ocenpancy. Remington came to Ohio and visited Newburg, Cuyahoga connty, and being strongly impressed with the advantages of the place reported glowing accounts of the land, and many were induced to emigrate westward. Stephen Remington quit barn-building, shut up
his shop, packed his tools and started in the fall of 1807 for the West, and in the succeeding spring the subject of this sketch followed his former associate and friend. IIe reached Bloom- field, New York, and there worked, during the summer season, at his trade. A few months later he set out with knapsack and on foot for Ohio. Reaching Buffalo he found employment and there worked during the winter. In Febril- ary of 1808 his uncle reached Buffalo on his way to Ohio, and yonng Johnson joined him on the journey westward.
Cleveland was reached on the 10th day of March, 1809, the party arriving by way of sleighs, but after reaching Cleveland, the snow failing, the sleighs were abandoned, and on horseback some of the party proceeded to Hnron connty, where they fell in with Judges Wright and Ruggles, who were agents for the " fire lands." A desire was expressed for a sawmill in the vicinity, and Johnson and his unele con- tracted to build one at the town of Jessup, now known as Wakeman. Later Levi returned to Cleveland, where he was fortunate in finding a home in the family of Judge Walworth, who engaged him to build an office. Hitlerto all the houses in Cleveland were built of logs, but the office was made a frame, the first frame build- ing erected in Cleveland. At that time Euclid was a flourishing settlement and rejoiced in the important feature of a sawmill, and from this sawmill came the lumber from which said office was built on Superior street, abont in the same loeality of the present American House. After this young Levi returned to Huron county for the purpose of fulfilling a contract made with his unele for the erection of a sawmill, which work consumed some . three or four months. He then returned to Cleveland and settled down for the remainder of his life. The next two or three years of his life were spent in building honses, barns and other buildings in Cleveland and in Newburg, and while building a sawmill on Tinker's creek for Mr. Jessup he formed thie acquaintance of Miss Margret Montier, dis- tinguished as being the first white girl that
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landed in Huron county, where she lived with a family named lawley. Young Johnson fell in love with the young lady and she with him, and when he returned to Cleveland she accompanied him and was given a home with the family of Judge Walworth, the leading citizen of the then thriving village of sixty inhabitants. The young couple were married in 1811.
In 1812 Mr. Johnson entered into a contract to build a courthouse and a jail on the public square opposite where the First Presbyterian Church now stands. The material was to be of logs, laid with their broader sides together, for greater security. About noon on September 12, 1812, Johnson and his men were just com- pleting the finishing touches on the building when was heard the roar of distant thunder, which proved to be the reports of distant cannon. At once he and his workmen hastened to the banks of the lake, where they found nearly all the inhabitants of the village eagerly looking westward whence the sounds came. The sounds were from the famous naval battle in which Commodore Perry won a victory that immortal- ized his name.
A few days afterward Mr. Johnson and a friend by the name of Rumidge picked up a large flat-boat that had been built by General Jessup for the conveyance of troops, and which had been abandoned. Mr. Johnson and his friend each purchased 100 bushels of potatoes and with this flat-boat took the same to the army at Pnt-in-Bay. The potatoes were sold at a handsome profit over the purchase price, and thus Johnson gained his first financial start in life. Subsequenty Johnson and his associate freighted the flat-boat with supplies, which were taken to the army at Detroit and sold, and again the speenlation was successful. Mr. John- son contracted with the quartermaster of the post to bring a cargo of clothing from Cleveland to the army at Detroit, but it being late in the season the boat was obstructed by ice and a land- ing was made at Huron. This adventure was also snecessful and by this time Johnson became a man of means. The success of his adventure
probably gave him a taste for navigation, for his first step was to build a vessel of his own. The keel was laid for a ship of thirty-five tons, to be named The Pilot, aud under many difficulties the ship was finally finished, and great difficulty in the launching of the boat was overcome by hoisting the same on wheels and drawing it to the water's edge by twenty-eight yoke of oxen. It was launched upon the river at the foot of Superior street amid great cheers of a large crowd who had assembled to observe the first ship launched at Cleveland. This was not only the beginning of navigation for Cleveland, but was also the beginning of a series of great suc- cesses to Mr. Johnson. The little ship was in immediate requisition for army purposes and cargoes of army stores were transported between Buffalo and Detroit. Upon it two loads of sol- diers were taken from Buffalo to the command of Major Camp at Detroit, and on his return trip the guns left by Harrison at Maumee were taken to Erie.
Mr. Johnson received rather a severe blow at this time, on account of the quartermaster's absconding with $300 of his money. In the spring of 1815 Mr. Johnson resumed carrying stores to Malden, reaching there on his first trip March 20. Irad Kelley, a pioneer of Cleveland, was a passenger on this trip. On Mr. Johnson's second trip to Detroit he was hailed when pass- ing Malden, but no attention was given, and a shot was fired upon the vessel from the port, the shot passing through the foresail; but it was not heeded. Then a second shot was fired, which cansed Mr. Johnson to bring his vessel to shore. Going to shore the mail was de- manded of him, but he refused to give up the same, saying that he was not so instructed. Then a party of men from the fort made for the vessel, but Johnson, boarding the same, spread sail and being favored with a good breeze drew away from his pursuers and proceeded ou his journey to Detroit, where he placed the mail in the postoffice.
During the early part of the war of 1812 Mr. Johnson was chosen Coroner of Cuyahoga
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county, being the first to hold that office in this county. He was also the first Deputy Sheriff of the county.
His snecess npon the lake eansed him to build the schooner Neptune in 1815. It was of sixty-five tons' burden, and its first trip was to Buffalo, returning with a cargo of merchandise for Jonathan Williamson. In 1817 the vessel made a trip to Mackinac for the American Fur Company, and in the fur trade the vessel oper- ated till the fall of 1819. In 1824 Mr. John- son, in company with others, built the steamer Enterprise, which was of abont 200 tons' burden. This, the first steam vessel built in Cleveland, was employed by Mr. Johnson upon the lake between Buffalo. Detroit and Cleveland nntil 1828, when he sold his interest and left the lakes.
In company with Goodman & Wilkeson Mr. Johnson built, in 1830, The Commodore, on the Chagrin river, and with the construction of this vessel closed his shipbuilding career. He was now worth probably $30,000, rather a large fortune for those days, which he largely invested in real estate. In 1831 he contracted to build for the general Government a lighthouse on Water street. In 1836 he erected a lighthouse in Sandusky, and in 1837 he built 700 feet of stone pier on the east side of the mouth of the Cuyahoga river. In 1840 he built the Saginaw lighthouse, and in 1842-'43 the lighthouse on the West Sister island. The year 1847 closed his lighthouse building, when he erected the Portage river lighthonse.
He had now become a well known man. He had invested his money in real estate, which had enhanced greatly in valne as the eity grew in importance, and his total wealth probably reached $3,000,000! In various enterprises was he interested. As early as 1816 he was a di- reetor in the Commercial Bank of Lake Erie. He erected many excellent buildings in the city, and in fact was a man of great enterprise and contributed much to the development of Cleve- land.
Many years were allotted to him, and his life was a long and useful one. He died December
19, 1871, at the age of eighty six years. Ilis good and faithful wife had preceded him in death some eight years previously. The follow- ing were his children: Harriet, now the widow of Alexander Sackett; Perry W., who died at the age of fifty-five years, after a successful life upon the lakes as a captain: he died leaving a widow and two children, namely, George J. and Martha; and the youngest child of Levi John- son was Philander L., a personal sketch of whom is given below.
PHILANDER L. JOHNSON was born in Cleve. land JJune 22, 1823. He was reared and edn- cated in the city and very early in life became associated with his father in business, and dur- ing his father's life he was very closely identified with the business interests of his father. Like his father, Mr. Johnson was endowed with ex- cellent business judgment and sagaeity and his business experience has been remarkably suc- eessful. Ile has made many advantageous investments which contributed to the enlarge- ment of his father's estate during the latter years of the senior Johnson! Since the death of his father he has continued a successful busi- ness career. At the time of his father's death he received in his own name a considerable fortune, which he has largely increased by judicious investments, and he is now one of the wealthiest citizens of Cleveland. For the last several years he has given considerable attention to navigation. Hle and others purchased the barge Kate Winslow, and later built the H. J. Johnson and the George Pressley. In 1892 was purchased the Minnehaha, and in 1893 the Nellie Reddington. Mr. Johnson has large and valuable real-estate possessions in Cleveland, and much of his time is required in looking after these realties.
In polities he is a stanch Democrat, and has taken rather an active part in the interests of his party.
Ile was married to Sarah M. Clark, a dangh- ter of Michael and Sarah Clark. Mrs. Johnson was born in Dublin, Ireland, but reared in London, England. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have
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a family of four danghters and one son, namely : Margaret and Mary, twins; Margaret is the wife of Larimer Porter, of Cleveland; tho third child is Harriet K .; the fourth Clara; and the son is Levi A., who is a student in Yale College. The son is a young man of great promise. He is of a bright intellect and entered Yale College after having taken a thorough course at Andover. One other son, whose name was Clark, died at the age of eleven years, in 1891.
Mr. Johnson is a member of the A. F. & A. M. order, -of Webb Chapter, No. 14, of the Commandery, of the Ohio Consistory, of the Mystic Shrine and the order of Knights of Pythias, and he is a member of the Vessel Owners' Association and of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce.
H ON. JOHN HARRINGTON FARLEY, Director of Public Works and ex-Mayor of the city of Cleveland, is a character well and favorably known to the citizens of the Forest City, whom he has served fre- quently and creditably. Ile was born in Cleve- land, February 5, 1846, the place of his birth being on Bank street.
His father, Patrick Farley, became a citizen of Cleveland as early as 1833, which year he' came from Ireland, his native land, to this country. Patrick Farley becamo a well-known and conspienons figure in business eireles in this city. He had the contract for the distri- bntion of mail and expressago coming to or passing through the city. This was before the introduction of the modern mail and express car, and the volume of business done was enor- mous. Ile gave attention to little else than to the business, and as a result the same grew in pro- portion, and in consequence became an import- ant source of revenue to him. As a business man, Patrick Farley was competent and snc- cessful. He accumulated a good estate and es- tablished for himself an enviable reputation. lle was made a Mason in Ireland, and was a
charter member of the first. Knight Templars' organization in Cleveland, and was an enthusi- astie member, contributing materially to its growth and prosperity. He married An Schwartz, who was born in Rhine, Bavaria, Germany, and came to the United States with her father, John Schwartz, who, though a bilder by trade, became a farmer in this country, not- tling in Lorain county in 1832 and becoming a respectable citizen and a successful tiller of the soil. Patrick and Ann Farley had a number of children, of whom the following survive: Mrs. James Collins, John HI. Farley, Mrs. Angust Nolze, and Mary, who is nnmarried.
The education of Mr. John 11. Farley was re- ceived in the public schools of Cleveland. Ile left school before he attained his majority to assume charge of and close up a wholesale gro- cery and liquor business belonging to the estate of his deceased brother, Andrew. This business matter required a year of his time, and after having wound up the same, he became a manu- facturer of brass goods, associated with Mr. Farnan, and in this business he remained en- gaged nntil 1883, since which date he has ren- dered service as a publie official in important capacities. Rather early in life a fascination for that excitement incident to a political eam- paign seemed to posoess Mr. Farley, and being naturally endowed with those qualities which control inen's actions on political questions, he became a valuable adjunct both in the councils of his party and in the management of cam- paigns. Ilis first politieal preferment came to him in 1871, when he was elected a member of the City Council, to which body he was twice re-elected and in which he served one term as president. He was an efficient and competent member of the Conneil and his services ren- dered in that capacity established for himself a most enviable record as a public official. In fact, Mr. Farley has always been active in the inter- ests and welfare of the city of Cleveland. Prior to 1883 he was twice a candidate for Mayor of the city, and though he was a very popular can- didate and at each time made a creditable race,
RONade
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it was not possible to overcome the strength of the Republican party, which was largely in the majority as to voters. In 1883 Mr. Farley made a third race for Mayor, as the Democratic candidate, and this time was snecessful, and being elected to the highest position in the gift of the people of Cleveland he became Mayor of the city in the spring of 1888, and held the office for a period of one term. As the chief executive of the city, his record was clean, hon- orable and conducive to the best interests of the city. No other exeentive of the city was ever more watchful of her interests or gave her a more economic and efficient administration than did Mayor Farley.
After going out of the Mayor's office Mr. Farley was appointed by P'resident Cleveland as Collector of Internal revenue for the Eight- centh District of Ohio, and as such he served four years, closing his services with the close of the Cleveland administration. In the spring of 1893 he was appointed by Mayor Blee as Di- rector of Public Works in the city of Cleve- ladd. The position is one of great importance, its management concerning the interests of every property owner of the city, but already has Mr. Farley manifested in his management of the public works marked ability and un- doubted competency.
In a political way Mr. Farley has a State reputation as a campaigner and manager, as well as an organizer of political forces. He has for the last several years been a member of the Democratic State executive committee, and in the presidential campaign of 1892 he was chairman of that committee, and as such, it is said of him, though he conducted the campaign under most unfavorable circumstances, by reason of having a very small campaign fund, he nev- erthe less succeeded in organizing thoroughly well his party throughont the State and one of the most heated campaigns in its history was made, resulting in the election of one Demo- cratic presidential elector, which is pointed out as evidence of the almost successful efforts of the Democratic party to carry the State of Ohio.
Mr. Farley was a delegate to the Democratic national conventions of 1880, 1884 and 1892, where he was always an ardent supporter of the principles of tariff reform and sound currency.
In personal bearing Mr. Farley is a most pleasant man, being plain, easy and nupreten- tions. Ile is distinguished for his frankness and for being outspoken, and is well defined in his position regarding public matters.
In closing this biographical sketch it is ap- propriate that mention be made of Mr. Farley's marriage, which was consminated in Cleveland, in 1884, when he wedded Margaret, a danghter of Captain William Kenny, who it will be re- membered was the first to organize and take from the city of Cleveland a company of vol- unteers to the front upon the breaking out of the Civil war.
R ANDALL PALMER WADE, deceased, was one of the most accomplished and cultured men who ever graced com- mercial circles in the city of Cleveland. Possessed of sound judgment aud rare acumen he was always found among the leaders of any movement with which he was associated. It is with much pleasure that the following space is devoted to a brief outline of his career.
Mr. Wade was born at Seneca Falls, New York, August 26, 1835, the only son of Jeptlia II. and Rebecca Louisa (Faur) Wade. During his early childhood his parents removed to Adrian, Michigan. When he was a lad of eleven years he entered the telegraphic service as errand boy, and there made the most of his opportunities; before he was seventeen years of age he had learned to read the instrument by sonnd, an accomplishment at that time unheard 'of in the West; he had also filled the position of chief operator in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.
Realizing the advantages to be derived from thorough mental training and discipline, he withdrew from the business world and devoted
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four years to study; at the age of twenty-one years he was graduated with highest honors from the Kentucky Military Institute, near Frankfort, and also enjoyed the distinction of being the most expert swordsman of the entire body of students.
Mr. Wade was married in 1856 to Anna R. MeGaw in Columbus, Ohio. The next three years were spent as an official in one of the largest banks in Cleveland. For the purpose of gaining wider information and broader cul- ture, but with no intention of practicing the profession, he gave considerable time to the study of the law under the direction of Judge Hayden, and received a certificate upon exami. nation allowing him to practice in both the State and United States courts.
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