USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Memorial record of the county of Cuyahoga and city of Cleveland, Ohio, pt 2 > Part 18
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At the early age of seventeen years he began teaching, and after finishing his course at Mount Union College, took charge of the Mount Union public schools. There he did most efficient work for two years, and at the end of that time was invited to take the position of superintendent of the Chagrin Falls public schools. The attendance of these schools num-
bers 400 pupils, and fifty-three have been graduated under Mr. Shumaker. Under his management the schools have been carefully graded and the standard materially elevated. Years of serious and unremitting labor have given him a place in the front ranks of the ad- vanced educators of the State.
Although devoted to his profession our sub- ject finds time for other associations; he is a member of Golden Gate Lodge, No. 245, F. & A. M., of Chagrin Falls Chapter, No. 152, R. A. M., and of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 290. ITe is an active worker in the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and has done most excellent ser- vice for six years as superintendent of the Sabbath-school. In 1886 Mr. Shumaker re- ceived a Life Iligh School State Teachers' Certificate. Ile is president of the Cuyahoga County Teachers' Institute, in which organization his excellent judgment and wide experience are invaluable.
Mr. Shumaker was united in marriage June 18, 1889, at Alliance, Ohio, to Miss Maggie Atwell, a daughter of John Atwell, deceased, who was one of the most prominent members of banking circles in the State. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Shumaker: Howard Atwell, born October 23, 1890, died October 17, 1891; and Grace Marie, born September 23, 1892.
M ARTIN L. HULL, who has been a res- ident of Cleveland since 1859, is one of the oldest citizens. On his first coming here he engaged in truck gardening and the raising of fruits, buying eleven acres of land in the vicinity known at that time as Doan's Corners, which was afterward incorpor- ated as East Cleveland, and still later taken into the Cleveland corporation. The value of Mr. llull's eleven acres had so increased up to 1870 that in that year he divided it into allotments of one aere each: nine acres he sold at $1,200 each; two acres and the dwelling honse he re- tained as a residence.
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About this time Mr. Hull embarked in the gasoline business. Being somewhat of a " gen- ius" he invented a gasoline burner for heating purposes; but, not being a practical mechanic, be employed one C. Il. Prentice, a machinist who had a shop near his office, and he and Mr. Hull put the invention into practical use; and thus was made the first gasoline stove, in 1873. Mr. Prentice was a poor man, and during the time of experiment in developing the stove Mr. Hull supported him and furnished material for the experiments. When a patent for this stove, was sought Mr. Prentice showed his ingratitude by inducing Mr. IIull to allow him, inasmuch as he knew how to proceed, to make application for the patent, which he did in his own name and when granted made Prentice the sole paten- tee! Ilence the HIull vapor stoves, which have since become famous, have been called by some the " Prentice " patent. The same year, how- ever, Mr. Hull purchased Mr. Prentice's inter- est, for $500, went to New York and ordered 2,000 stove burners. Returning home, he manufactured and sold his invention alone up to 1879, in which year a stock company was or- ganized, under the firm name of " The Hull Vapor Stove Company," with D. A. Dangler as general manger, M. B. Clark president, and Mr. Hull as mechanical superintendent. With- in eighteen months $6,000 was declared in div- idends, but how those dividends should be dis- tributed among the stockholders became a seri- ons question, and the dispute arising therefrom caused the dissolution of the company. Then a new company was formed, with the same name, with Mr. Hull as owner of one quarter of the stock; but this company was not successful, and in 1886 Mr. Hull sold his interest. Since then he has continued alone in the manufacture of gasoline stoves and other kinds of gasoline goods, with success.
Mr. Ilull was born in the town of Lititz, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, Jannary 25, 1823, a son of Daniel Hull, who spelled his name Holl, and who was born in Pennsylvania in 1795, of Swiss ancestry. The first of the
family came to America in 1734 and settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Our subject's mother's name before marriage was Barbara Leib, and she also was born in the Keystone State, in 1803, of German ancestors. In 1832 Mr. Hull's parents removed to Stark county, Ohio, settling on a farm, where their son, our subject, grew to manhood. The father died in 1871, and the mother in 1881, both living to a ripe old age, highly respected as good citizens.
At the age of twenty-one Mr. Hull, whose name heads this sketch, left his parental home and attended an academy in his native town. Returning to Ohio, he was for a few years en- gaged in teaching school. Later he became a clerk in a general store at Uniontown, Stark county, and then partner in the store until he came to Cleveland.
Ilis first trip to this city, in 1840, was at- tended by an interesting experience. He came here accompanied by a neighbor's son, on horse- back, the journey requiring about all of day- light for one day. On arriving here they began to look for a swinging signboard with the pic- ture of George Washington upon it, or that of Thomas Jefferson, with the word " tavern;" but, failing to find such a signboard, they finally arrived at the east side of the square, where now stands the post office. They had got through the town, was and the land covered with timber and hazel brush. Meeting a man, they inquired of him where they could find a tavern. He pointed to one, which stood where now stands the For- est City House. Here they secured lodging for themselves and stabling for their horses.
As their trip was made purely for the pur- pose of sight-seeing, the next morning they started ont to see the town, first going, however, to the lake to see that broad expanse of water and the boats landed there and in motion. Then they went all around town, finishing the tour by two o'clock in the afternoon, having seen abont " all that there was worth seeing." They left for their homes, filled with pride, and thoughts how they would make the other boys open their eyes with wonder and their hearts
CUYAHOGA COUNTY.
feel enviou- when the alveuture -. experiences. ete .. of their trip to the - Foret: City" were related. They saw the Erst street railroad in Cleveland on that occasion. It then extended from the square out on Euclid avenne to East . Cleveland, and on it stone was transferred from the quarries at the latter place; passengers were also carried. The track consisted of wooden rails overlaid with strap iron.
Mr. Hull has ever been an honored resident of Cleveland, successful in business. Ile has never sought political preferment, but in poli- tics was originally a Whig, and since early day a steadfast Republican. Ile is now living with his fourth wife, nee Jennie Johnson, whom he married in 1890. His first wife was Matilda Hoover, a daughter of Jacob Hoover, an old settler of Buffalo, New York. Her he married in 1847, and they had two sons-Arlington and Fillmore. She died in 1851, and in 1852 Mr. Hull married Mrs. Mary Bowers, and by this marriage there were three daughters: Ida, Car- rie and Minnie. This Mrs. Hull died in 1869, and in 1871 Mr. IFull married Mrs. Sarah Greeves, but this marriage was not a fortunate one, and after living together nine years it was agreed between them that she join her children in Missouri. Mr. Hall's present wife is an excel- lent lady, and adds comfort and cheer to the life of her husband in his declining years.
R ODALPIIUS EDWARDS, deceased, was a son of Rodalphus and Anna Edwards, the latter a native of Erie, Pennsylvania. Rodalphus Edwards, Sr., was a member of the surveying party in the Western Reserve in 1798. In that year he arrived in Cleveland, in company with Nathaniel Dan, his wife, one son and three daughters; Samnel Dodge, father of the late Henry Dodge; Nathan Chapman; Stephen Gilbert and Joseph Sandon. The eleven persons were the total permanent additions to the population of Cleveland during the year 1798. Mr. Edwards had followed surveying
previons to coming to this city. and the com-
seen in the rooms of the Historical Society. to which it was dozatei by our subject. Daring his first year in Cleveland, Rodalphus Edwards, Sr .. built a log cabin at the foot of Superior street, but on account of malaria at the mouth of the Cuyahoga he moved after about two years, with three other families, to the high lands running from Doan's Corners to Newburg. Ile was a man of a high order of intelligence and good judgment, and was very useful in the early days of the Reserve. Mr. Edwards was chair- man of the first town meeting held in Cleve- land, April 5, 1802, at the house of James Kingsbury.
Rodalphus Edwards came to this State from Chenango county, New York, but the family is of Connecticut origin, the grandfather of our subjeet, Adonijah Edwards, having been born in Tolland county, that State, in 1739. He afterward came to Cleveland, Ohio, and died at the home of his son, in 1831, at the age of ninety-two years. Ile was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, under General Stark, who, as he drew up his forees to attack Burgoyne, said to his men: "Fellow soldiers, there is the enemy. If we do not take them Molly Stark will be a widow to-night." Rodalphus Edwards, Sr., heard from the lips of his father, Adonijah, much of the history of that great war for the independence of this country. In memory of the gallant and brave general under whom his father served, he named his eldest son Stark, who was born December 6, 1808, and died June . 19, 1877. His second son, Rodalphus, Jr., was born July 15, 1818. A daughter, Sally, mar- ried Patrick Thomas, a son of William Thomas, who was an unele of Major-General George Il. Thomas.
The branch of the Edwards family from which our subjeet descended was one of con- siderable prominence in Connecticut, and gave to that State and country many distinguished men. Among them may be mentioned Jonathan, who graduated at. Yalo College in 1720, after-
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ward became President of Nassan Hall College, and is mentioned as one of the most celebrated orthodox divines in New England. ITis son, Jonathan, was President of Union College at Schenectady, and was noted for great reasoning power and strength of mind.
Rodalphes Edwards, Jr., was a member of the Early Settlers' Association, and took great satisfaction in talking about the early days of Cleveland. Ile was well known in the eastern part of the city, and had the respect and estecm of the community through a long and active life. Ilis father bought a traet of land on what is now known as Woodland Hills, where he conducted a hotel for many years. A large part of the property still remains in the possession of the family, and there the subject of this memoir died, August 21, 1890, at the age of seventy- two years.
D R. WILL. II. WIIITSLAR, a dentist of Cleveland, having an office in Room 26, Benedict Building, was born in Youngs- town, Ohio, June 14, 1862. ITis parents are Dr. F. S. and Matilda (Fox) Whitslar, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Maryland. The father is one of the oldest dental practition- ers of Youngstown, where he is well and favor- ably known. He is highly respected by his brethren in the profession, and enjoys the con- fidence of the entire community. Ile has reached the age of seventy years, and his wife is , sixty- five years of age. Dr. and Mrs. Whitslar have three children, -Allie, wife of II. J. Carr, of Chicago; W. II., the subject of this sketeh; and Grant S., general passenger agent for the Graham & Morton Transportation Company, and a resident of Chicago.
W. II. Whitslar received his education in Youngstown. He studied dentistry first under his father, afterward, in 1885, graduated in the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and in the following year received the degree of M. D. in the Rush Medical College of Chicago. From
1886 to 1891 he followed the practice of den- tistry in Youngstown, and since the latter year has been a continuous practitioner of Cleveland. After coming to this eity, Dr. Whitslar organ- ized the Dental Department of the Homeo- pathie Hospital College, in which he held the position of Dean one year. He also held the Professorship of Principles and Practice of Dental Surgery in that college. At the end of his term of service, the Doctor received a call to help organize the Dental Department of the Western Reserve University, and accepted the position of Secretary of the Faculty, as well as the Professorship of Anatomy and Pathology. Ile is still holding both positions. Ile is also Professor of the Operative Clinics of the saine department in Western Reserve University. Dr. Whitslar is associate editor of the Dental Register, a monthly published in Cincinnati, and the second oldest dental journal now pub- lished. Socially, he is a member of the Ameri- ean Dental Association, the Ohio State Dental Society, was President of the Northern Ohio Dental Association during the past year, is now filling that position in the Cleveland Dental Society, and was Secretary four years of the Ma- honing County Medical Society. In his various relations of professional life, he has always been the same earnest, upright, capable and courteous gentleman, winning and holding the confidence and esteem alike of all who know him.
Dr. Whitslar was married June 27, 1888, to Miss Nellie M. Chisnell, a native of Akron, Ohio. They have one child, Helen Alice. The Doctor is a member of the Euclid Avenne Dis- eiple Chureli.
W ILLIAM T. HOLMES, of the firm of Holmes & Johnson, dealers in lumber, lath, shingles, etc., Berea, was born October 11, 1839, in Hinekley, Medina county, Ohio, where also he was reared, engaged in agriculture with his father until he was seven- teen years of age, when he was apprenticed for three years to learn the carpenter's trade, work-
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ing two years for his board. Ile followed his trade in Medina county until 1865, when he came to Berea, continuing in the same occupa- tion. Abont 1878 he engaged in the lumber business, carrying on building in connection with it, till 1885, since which time he has been engaged solely in the Inmber business. In the fall of 1880 he formed a partnership with James Jolinson and C. C. Ilulet. They con- tinned together till 1891, since which time the business has been carried on by Ilolmes & Johnson, Mr. W. T. Holmes being the senior partner.
Mr. Holmes was married in Hinckley, May 1, 1864, to Miss Elizabeth Searles, who was born in New York, coming when a child with her parents to Medina county, where she was reared. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes have one child, Carrie M., who is the wife of Engene Flint.
Mr. Holmes has taken an active part in all local affairs, and has been a member of the Be- rea Council for eight years, City Treasurer for five years, and a member of the Board of Health for several years. Ile has been connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church since his youth, and in all religious work he has taken a zealous and efficient part. For several years he was superintendent of the Sunday-school and has held various important offices in the church. Ile has had a part in all efforts for the good of the community in which he has resided 80 long.
H ENRY W. MERRICK, one of the repre- sentative farmers of Strongsville town- ship, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, is a son of the late Edgar M. Merrick, of this town- ship, and was born here July 28, 1846. In this township he was reared to manhood, and has spent the whole of his life here. His chief occupa- tion has been that of farming. IIe owns and operates 107 acres of fine land. To him be- longs the distinction of having run the first steam threshing machine ever operated in this section of the country.
Mr. Merrick was married in Brunswick, Me- dina county, Ohio, August 17, 1867, to Miss Harriett D. Judson, a native of that county, born March 12, 1847, daughter of Charles and Polly Ann (Safford) Judson. Her mother is still a resident of Medina county, but her father died in Iowa some years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Merrick have two children: Lucy E., wife of W. F. Lyons, and George R.
For twelve years Mr. Merrick has held the office of Justice of the Peace, and as Township Trustee he served one term. In all local af- fairs he takes a prominent and active part, his political affiliations being with the Democratic party. He is ranked with the leading men of the community in which he resides.
OIIN HIRSIUS, a prominent cooper and a director and stockholder in the Broadway Savings & Loan Company, Cleveland Ohio, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, Sep- tember 29, 1843. He is a son of John Ilirsins, who was a farmer in Europe, and in 1856 took up his abode in Cuyahoga county, Ohio. Here he remained a hard-working, honest citizen up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1867, in the fifty-eighth year of his age. Ilis other children are Jacob Hirsius, of Cleveland, and two daughters in Germany.
The subject of our sketch crossed the Atlantic on the sailing vessel Olean from Havre de Grace to New York, from which port they came direct to Cleveland. When he was sixteen years old he began to learn his trade under the instruc- tions of Felix Woldek, having for a brief period previously been a work hand on the farm of Mr. Shuman, near this city. In 1862, and before he had thoroughly mastered his trade, Mr. Hirsius enlisted his services in the Commissary Depart- ment of the Federal army. He was with the Ninth Army Corps for three and a half years, traversing Kentucky, Tennessee and West Vir- ginia, and at the time of Lee's surrender was stationed at Camp Nelson.
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Leaving the army in December, 1865, he re- turned to Cleveland and re-engaged in the cooper business. Ile worked for wages until 1878, when he established himself permanently in an independent business, and since then has grown to be a competitor of no small concern. Mr. Ilirsius also operates a dray line, engaged in transporting the produet of several Cleveland oil refineries to and from ear tanks, employ- ing about twenty teams. He is interested as a stockholder in other financial institutions, besides the Broadway and Woodland Avenne banks, and is a member of the finance com- mittee of the first named.
Mr. Hirsius was married in this city, in the fall of 1866, to Miss Caroline Meehl. Their children are: Caroline, Lizzie, William, Edward, Otto, Olga and Manda. They lost five children in childhood.
Mr. Ilirsius was one of the organizers of the Harmonic Society, and is an honorary member of the same. He has been a Mason since 1869.
丁 HOMAS WOOLDRIDGE, a farmer of Middleburg township, was born in Devon- shire, England, February 25, 1822, where he grew to manhood and took up the busi- ness of farming. When he was twenty-five years old he left England and came to Amer- ica, settling first in Cleveland and then for a time in Ravenna, Ohio. After a lapse of five and a half years he returned to England, re- maining eighteen months, and while there, in February, 1854, he was married to Mrs. Su- sanna Geary, whose maiden name was West- lake. In the spring of 1854 he returned to America and lived in Cleveland about two years, and then bought a tract of land in Mid- dleburg township, where he has since been a resident. Mrs. Susanna Wooldridge died May 9, 1891, aged seventy years, one month and thirteen days. They had six children: Will- iam, who married Mary A. Luck; Edmund Il., who married Almeda Gray; Susanna A., the
wife of J. M. Gray; Harlan, who died when sixteen months old; Harlan Edward, who mar- ried Rose A. Bell; and John, who married Florence G. Gray.
Mr. Wooldridge is a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, of which church his wife also was a member. ITe has held some of the minor offices in the township.
Mr. Wooldridge owns seventy-five acres of land, upon which he has made improvements.
E DGAR M. MERRICK, deceased, was for many years a well-known and highly re- spected citizen of Strongsville township, Cuyahoga county, Ohio.
Ile was born at Sand Lake, New York, June 23, 1806. In Sand Lake he spent the early part of his life, from there went to Buffalo and worked at the carpenter's trade, and several years later went to Mississippi, where he fol- lowed his trade for some five or six years. In the meantime his father, Justus Myriek, had mnoved from New York State to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and had settled on a farm in Strongsville township. And here we pause to state that Edgar M. was the only one of that family who spelt his name Merrick. So when the subject of our sketch left Mississippi he came to Strongsville township, where his father had located. That was about 1840. Ilere he purchased a tract of land and engaged in farm- ing operations in connection with his carpen- tering, and these occupations he followed dur- ing the rest of his life, with the exception, how- ever, of his last few years, when he was practi- cally retired. His death occurred September 25, 1889.
September 23, 1839, Mr. Merrick was mar- ried in Brunswick, Medina county, Ohio, to Miss Lucianna G. Whitman, who was born in East Iladdam, Connecticut, October 19, 1817. Her parents, Henry and Harriett (Phippeny) Whitman, came from New York State to Me- dina county at an early day, and here made their
Israel D. Olagar.
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home until the mother's death, in May, 1846. The father then returned to New England. His death occurred in Rhode Island during the lat- ter part of the '60s. Mr. and Mrs. Merrick became the parents of two children, Joseph E. and Heury W.
Politically, Mr. Merrick acted with tho Democratic party, and during his active life took a deep interest in local affairs. For a number of years Mr. Merrick has been a mem- ber of the Congregational Church.
SRAEL D. WAGAR, son of Mars and Keturah Wagar, was born February 21, 1820, in Avon, then called Troy, Lorain county, Ohio, in a log cabin surrounded by a dense forest and within a stone's throw of the blue waters of Lake Erie. When Israel was less than a year old the family moved to East Rock- port, now Lakewood, where he has lived the most of his life.
HIis early life was spent like most of the sons of pioneer families, in assisting to clear off the heavily timbered land, in order to convert it into a productive farm. Ilis educational ad- vantages were restricted to the district school, together with an academic course, but his natural love of learning, ambition and wonder- ful memory enabled him to surmount almost any difficulty. Ile taught several terms of school, when a young man, and gave good satis- faction as a thorough and interested teacher. Born of intellectual parents, his father being an able mathematician and distinguished linguist, his mother a woman of unnsnal intelligence and fortitude, he inherited an ardent love for knowledge and investigation of the natural sciences. He takes a lively interest in all the vital questions of the day and is a great reader.
On the first day of the year 1843, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of Michael and Isabella Pyle, who was born in Wayne county, September 7, 1822. A woman possessing beautiful traits of character, unself- ishness and true Christian fortitude, she has
endeared herself to the whole community in which she lives, and " her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her."
After his marriage, Mr. Wagar settled on the land on which he now resides, and which after fifty years of cultivation, has been changed from wild forest to fertile fields, verdant meadows and fragrant vineyards. Ile has given his at- tention mostly to farming and fruit-growing, and has dealt extensively in real estate. In business he is practical, conservative, far-seeing and seems to know when to buy and when to sell: people call him lucky. llis dwelling is a spacions stone edifice of a pleasing architectural design.
He has reared an interesting family of eight children, five daughters and three sons, all liv- ing at this time, namely: Lura M., wife of Dr. C. D. Ashley, of Cleveland; Adah I., wite of M. G. Browne of Cleveland; John M., mar- ried to Harriet Hotchkiss and living on a wheat farm in North Dakota; Jessie A., wife of G. E. Loveland of Cleveland; George E., of Montana; Caroline D., wife of Dr. D. F. Baker of Cleve- land; and Alta E. and Charles W., both of whom reside at the old homestead.
Born and reared in loyalty to the Whig party, Mr. Wagar cast his suffrage with that organiza- tion until 1856, when he transferred his allegi- ance to the Democratic party. Ilis counsel and advice are sought after in matters of importanee, and he enjoys the respect and confidence of his neighbors. He has served most acceptably as Justice of the Peace.
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