USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Memorial record of the county of Cuyahoga and city of Cleveland, Ohio, pt 2 > Part 47
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Mr. and Mrs. Schuster are members of the First German Reformed Church of Cleveland. In politics Mr. Schuster is a Republican.
C AMES II. GATES, Postmaster of Mayfield, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, was born at Gates' Mills, this county, January 17, 1841. His father, Charles Gates, a native of Onondaga county, New York, came to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in 1836, and located in Mayfield town- ship at what is now Gates' Mills. Ile was a tailor by trade, and followed his trade there until 1846, when he turned his attention to farming, and in farming he was engaged the rest of his life. Ile died in the fifty-ninth year of his age. Charles Gates was a son of James Gates, who was a native of New York and a deseendant of Scotch ancestry. Three brothers by the name of Gates emigrated from Scotland to America at an early day, and from one of them the subject of our sketch is descended. The mother of James II. Gates was before her marriage Miss Celia Rathborn, and she, too, was a native of New York. It is supposed that her ancestors also came from Scotland. She is still living, having passed her three score years and ten. They had a family of five children, two sons and three daughters, of whom the sub- ject of our sketch is the oklest.
James II. Gates was reared in his native township, remaining at home until he reached his majority and receiving the benefit of good educational advantages. After he had completed his studies in the common schools he was for five terms a student in the State Road Academy. Hle taught school in Orange township, this county, four winters. Then until 1881 he was engaged in general farming, and that year turned his attention to the merchandise busi-
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ness, in which he has since been engaged, hav- ing been at his present location since 1890. From 1890 until 1892 he served as deputy in the postoffice, and since 1892 has been Post- master, serving most efficiently and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned.
Mr. Gates was married January 1, 1873, to Rosa M. Shephard, a native of Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and a daughter of Ira and Rhoda Shep- hard, who were carly settlers of this county, having located here in 1831. Mr. and Mrs Gates have five children, one daughter and four sons: Rhoda M., Charlie E., Arthur S., Birten J. and Danna S.
Politically, Mr. Gates is identified with the Democratic party. He has filled various town- ship offices, and in all the public positions to which he has been called he has discharged his duty faithfully. Mr. Gates is a member of the A. F. & A. M., No. 214, at Chagrin Falls.
c OHIN W. LANDPHIAIR .- Among the prominent agriculturists of Middleburg township, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, who are deserving of honorable mention in this con- nection, stands Mr. Landphair, who is a sue- cessful and substantial farmer in that locality. Hle was born in Brookfield, Madison county, New York, September 8, 1828, but the major portion of his life has been passed in Cuyahoga county, Ohio. He was the second in order of the five children born to Alfred and Eliza, nee Jordan, Landphair, who left their home in the old Empire State in 1831 and betook themselves with their family to what was then the far West, settling in Rockport township, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where they passed the residne of their lives, honored and esteemed by all.
Coming to Rockport township when only three years of age, our subjeet was there reared to manhood, receiving a good common-school education and thereafter devoting himself to farming, and incidentally to the manufacturing of brooms and of wooden measures of all capacities.
On New Year's day, 1854, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Burrington, daughter of the late Jefferson Burrington, who died in Strongsville township, in the year 1889. Mrs. Landphair was born in Truxton, Cortland county, New York, March 13, 1837, and her marriage to Mr. Landphair was celebrated in Middleburg township, Cuyahoga county. They have had four children, namely: Charles B., who died at the age of six years; Frank E .; Alta M., who is the wife of Charles E. Hatch ; and Alma E., the wife of Jacob L. Beider.
After his marriage Mr. Landphair continued his residence in Rockport township for a period of three years and then removed to Middleburg township, where he has since been actively and successfully engaged in the cultivation of his fine farm of ninety-one acres, two-thirds of which is thoroughly improved. The family homestead is a spacious and substantial brick domicile of pleasing architectural design, -- a place that gives the unmistakable impression of a home, and not a mere abiding place.
Mr. Laudphair has maintained a lively in- terest in local affairs of a public and semi-public nature, has made it his aim to advance in every possible way the interests and prosperity of the community in which he lives, and has been an active and progressive citizen. He has been called to numerons local preferments of trust, among which it may be noted that he has been a most efficient incumbent as Trustee of the township.
F FRIEDRICH GEISS has been engaged in farming in Parma township, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, since he settled here in 1868, and is classed with the successful farmers of his community. He owns eighty-three aeres of fine land, upon which he has erected good buildings, and which he has otherwise improved.
Mr. Geiss dates his birth in Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany, January 10, 1834. He remained in his native land until 1852, when he severed
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home ties and turned his face westward, after a successful voyage touched American soil at New York city. From there he came to Ohio. After spending one year in Marshallville, Wayne county, he removed to Stark county, and there he resided until 1868. He had learned the mill- er's trade in Germany, and after his arrival in America worked at that trade one year. Then he turned his attention to the jeweler's trade, which he learned and which he followed until he settled down to farming in Parma township in the fall of 1868.
While a resident of Stark county, Mr. Geiss was married in Cleveland, Ohio, July 3, 1863, to Elizabeth Meyer, also a native of Germany, her birth having occurred in Baden, May 26, 1839, and the date of her arrival in America being 1852. After their marriage they settled in Fulton, Stark county, where, as above stated, they continued to reside until 1868. They have four children: Louis II., Charles E., Fred- erick J. and Christian A. Their oldest son married Miss Anna Boyer.
In local affairs Mr. Geiss has taken an active part, having served as Township Trustee and Sehool Director for several years. Both he and his wife are members of the German Presby- terian Church.
H ON. THEODORE BRECK, the most prominent citizen of Brecksville town- ship, is a descendant of New England Puritan stock. Some of his ancestors were prominently identified with the early his- tory of Massachusetts. His father, John Breek, was a native of Northampton, Massachusetts, and in company with his brothers was engaged in Boston in the importation of iron. IJe served in the war of 1812, being a portion of the time in command of forces stationed at Fort Independence, Boston harbor. He was one of the original purchasers of the Western Reserve tract from the State of Connecticut, and upon its division among several owners he
was allotted parts of townships in various counties. In the township named after him he originally held deeds for half of its territory. He died in 1827. His wife, whose name be- fore marriage was Clarissa Allen, died in 1831. She was the daughter of Rev. Thomas Allen, the first settled minister of Pittsfield, Massa- chusetts, who was a man of deep religious prin- ciples and was very patriotic during the Revolutionary war. When General Burgoyne, for instance, was marching forward on his eam- paign of invasion, Mr. Allen heard of his ap- proach during Sunday service, and he promptly left the pulpit to form a company of minute men, who hastened to the support of the Conti- mental forces. Ilis son, William R., was president of Bowdoin and Dart mouth Colleges during the early part of the present century. Rev. Thomas Allen's wife, nee Elizabeth Lee, was the danghter of Rev. Jonathan Lee, the first settled pastor of Salisbury, Massachusetts. Traeing baek further, it is conclusively shown that Mr. Breck is a lineal descendant of Gover- nor Bradford, one of Massachusetts' early co- lonial governors.
John and Clarissa (Allen) Breek had six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third son and child. He was born in Northampton, in the Bay State, November 30, 1888, took an academie course at Hadley and Amherst, in his native State, and after his father's death eame West, in company with his two brothers, Edward and dohn, and looked after the extensive interests loft by his parents. He located at Brecksville in 1830, and engaged in agricultural pursuits, and also in mercantile trade. Later he became also a Notary Public. His brothers also finally located in Brecksville. The elder engaged in the practice of medicine, and the younger in farming; both are now deceased.
Mr. Breck, whose name introduces this sketch, was originally a Whig, and has been a steadfast Republican ever since the organization of that party. He is zealous and able in the advocacy of his political principles From 1813 to 1816
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he was County Commissioner, and in 1875 was appointed to fill a vacancy in the same board. From 1846 to 1848 he represented his distriet in the House of Representatives of the Ohio Legislature, and from 1860 to 1861 he repre- sented it in the Senate, and again in 1876-'77, in the General Assembly. In his official duties he gave entire satisfaction and gained the respect of the people irrespective of party. In his official career he has been associated with James A. Garfield, George B. McClellan and many other noted men. As examples of his shrewd judgement of human nature, we learn from the Cleveland Leader of December 19, 1893, that a reporter sent out by that paper, interviewed Mr. Breek at his home during the session of the Ohio Senate in 1860. Ilis opinion of Garfield was to the effect that he was a rising young man, and one of the most promising members of the Ohio Senate; and of MeClellan he said that while he was a brilliant man he was born one day too late.
Mr. Breck is a very generous man. No man in the township, even to this day is so much besieged by representatives of local benevolent and religions institutions, to all of which he liberally contributes, although he is not a mem- ber of any chnreh himself. Ile is rightfully called the father of Brecksville. By his many acts of kindness he has erected a monument that will long endure, and be far more highly revered than any column of elaborately decorated mar- ble. Mr. Breck has never been married.
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C F. DEKLYN, an artist, was born in Tarrytown, Westchester county, New York, January 10, 1865, a son of John F. and Charlotte M. (Barton) DeKlyn, natives of New York city. They now reside in Cleve- land, aged fifty-three and fifty-four years, re spectively. The father is a confectioner and caterer. The mother is of English and French extraction. Mr. and Mrs. DeKlyn had eight children, six now living, all in Cleveland, as follows: John (engaged in business with his
father), Charlotte, Lydia, C. F., Ella (now Mrs. I. R. Hughes, of Cleveland), and Floyd.
C. F., the subject of this sketch, completed an academie course in Tarrytown, in one of the oldest schools in that part of the State. In 1882 he came with his parents to Cleveland. In 1886 he went to Paris, where he spent four years, and also spent some time in England, Seotland and Ireland, studying in the art schools. Among his noted masters were: Boulaner, Lefevre, Carmon and Mereier. Dur- ing his stay in Paris he was an annual exhibitor to the Paris salon, where he received several distinctions. Ile received the highest number obtained in the Julien school; was placed in one of the most favorable positions allowed to exhibitors in the salon; and has several pictures in the extreme part of the globe, viz .: Japan, Scotland, Ireland, England, France, San Fran- ciseo and New York city. Mr. DeKlyn had an interesting episode in France. He was ar- rested as a spy, and detained in the county jail a few hours. But upon producing the ere- dentials, which he did not happen to have at the time of arrest, he was released. It was at the time of the mobilization of the French army, which takes place in order to drill the men, and, being a much larger man than, the average French soldier, his size arrested atten- tion and he was aecosted by the French police. In the prison was a miniature guillotine, to which the Frenchman pointed with a significant nod and gesture, while he uttered something in French to add terror to the lone American. Mr. DeKlyn was released on condition he should never return to that town, Quimperlé, again, but the promise he did not find necessary to keep. He returned to America in 1891, where he has sinee continued his profession. In due time he expects to return and reside in Paris. He has his salon pieture of 1888, now in the possession of Charles Shackelton, of Cleveland, which created favorable comment in the Paris papers. Mr. DeKlyn has also several other pictures in the possession of Cleveland partics. Ilis studio is located at 1244 Euclid avenue.
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IIe was married October 4, 1893, to Miss Lillian B. Turner, a daughter of John and Annie Turner, of Bridgeport, Ohio. The father came from England to America about thirty- five years ago. He is one of the Councilmen of his town, and is well and favorably known. Mr. DeKlyn is a member of the Baptist and his wife a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, he votes with the Republi- can party. He is an interesting, thoroughigoing and publie- spirited citizen, as well as a distin- guished artist, in whom the great city he repre- sents may in be a just and commendable pride.
H ERBERT S. GRAY, electrical manu- facturer of Cleveland, is a native of this eity, born Jannary 17, 1865. ITis father is lIugh Gray, a machinist and foundry- man. He was onee in the employ of the Ori- noeo Steam Navigation Company, being in charge of their boats upon the rivers and bays of Venezula, South America, for six years, at the elose of which period he came north and lo- cated in Cleveland, about 1860. In 1861 he married Miss Candace Wright. In Cleveland he first engaged in the machine building, foundry and boiler business, owning and oper- ating one of the largest machine shops in the city at that time. Later he became chief en- gineer of the Lake Erie Iron Company, which position he still holds. Ile is an expert machin- ist. Ile and his wife are members of the Dis- ciple Church.
Their son, whose name introduces this per- sonal sketeh, was educated here in Cleveland, and at the age of eigliteen years entered the em- ploy of Sterling & Company, carpet dealers, of this city. In 1886 he became engaged in music and job printing for himself, in this line be- coming one of the most prominent dealers and job printers west of Philadelphia. In 1889 he sold out this business to the Eclipse Electric Typo & Engraving Company, and took a hall. interest in the Fletcher & Fletcher Electric
Company. Two years later he bought the in- torest of his partner, becoming sole proprietor. In November of 1891 he admitted Ira Adams as a partner for two years, at the expiration of which time he was succeeded by J. II. Monroe. The business of the concern has been of stu- pendous volume and sigual success.
Mr. Gray is not only an active and successful business man but also manifests much interest in public affairs. In polities he is a Republi- ean, and he has done mnuch work in the interest of his party. IIe has been a delegate to several of the State conventions, as well as to the local conventions, but he has never aspired to public office. He is a member of the fraternal order of Knights of Pythias and of the order of Tonti, belongs to the Cleveland Grays, and is promin- ent in social cireles.
JOHN W. CLEMANS, who is ranked with the prosperous farmers of Dover town. ship, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, is entitled to biographieal mention in this work.
Mr. Clemans was born in Charlton, Massa- chusetts, May 19, 1817, oldest son in the family of six children of Eli and Matilda (Owen) Clemans, natives of Charlton, Massachusetts, and Gloucester, Rhode Island, respectively. The former was born in the year 1792. They were married in Rhode Island, and from that State subsequently removed to Cuyahoga, county, Ohio, their settlement here being in 1830. Here the father died in 1863. The mother sur- vived him until some time in the '808, when she passed away at the age of over ninety.
John W. Clemans was thirteen years of age at the time his parents came to Cuyahoga county, and in Dover township he has ever since resided, farming and lumbering being his occupations during all these years. He owns 230 neres of well-improved land.
Mr. Clemans was married in Dover township, February 14, 1851, to Miss Mary W. Brown, who was born in Smithfield, Rhode Island,
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June 16, 1822, daughter of Joseph and Mary W. (Winsor) Brown, both natives of Smithfield, Rhode Island. They emigrated from that State to this county in 1830 and settled in Dover township. Here they spent the closing years of their lives, and passed away some years ago. They had eleven children, of whom Mrs. Clem- ans was the seventh born. Mr. and Mrs. Clem- ans aro the parents of four children; Henry A., Emma A., Celia O, and William E. Celia O. is a praticing physician of Canton, Ohio.
Mr. Clemans' political views are in harmony with the principles advocated by the Republi- ean party, he having east his vote with this par- ty ever since its organization.
W ILLIAM THOMAS, one of the pros- perous and well known citizens of Warrenville township, Cuyahoga conn- ty, Ohio, dates his birth in this township, Jan- mary 17, 1839.
Joseph Thomas, the father of William Thomas, was one of the early settlers of Cuyahoga eonnty, he having located here in 1824. Ile was a native of Massachusetts, but had lived in New York for some time previous to his coming to Ohio, and while in the Empire State had married Lydia Smartey, a native of New York. Upon their arrival in this county they estab- lished their home in a log cabin in the midst of tho forest, and on the farm they spent the rest of their lives, each attaining a ripe old age, his death occurring at the age of eighty-two and hers at ninety. By trade he was a carpenter. Politically, he was a Republican. Their family consisted of six children: Catherine Wether- bee, of Newburg, Ohio; Jemima Edwards- Hester; Jane Ann; Charles; and William, the youngest, his mother being fifty years old at the time of his birth.
William Thomas was reared at the old home- stead, the same farm on which he now lives, his education being received in one of the typical log schoolhouses of the day, and in the practi-
eal school of experience. He now owns 102 acres of fine farming land, one of the best farms in the township, well improved with good buildings, etc.
July 16, 1859, Mr. Thomas was married in Bedford, Ohio, to Miss Mary Caly, a native of Concord, Lake county, this State, daughter of John and Jano (Hampton) Caly, natives of the Isle of Man. Her mother died at the age of forty-two years and her father at seventy-nine. They had a family of eight children, namely: John, Hamilton, William, Daniel, Thomas, Charles, Robert and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have had four children, viz. : Charles J., of Cleveland, Ohio; Frank W., at home; Maria, deceased wife of B. Bleasdale; and Nelly, who died at the age of seven years.
During the late war Mr. Thomas enlisted in the Union service, and as a member of the One Hundred and Third Ohio Infantry made a good record as a soldier. Ile is a member of Royal Dunham Post, No. 177, G. A. R., of Bedford. Politically, he is a Republican.
R EUBEN A. CARPENTER, a resident of Strongsville township, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, was born in the township in which he now lives, June 10, 1828, a son of early pioneers on the Western Reserve. Ilis father, Caleb Carpenter, was born in Brat- tleboro, Vermont, April 30, 1798, and his moth- er, whose maiden name was Susan Haynes, was born in Massachusetts, January 4, 1801. They came to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, about 1818, and it was here that they subsequently met and married, their marriage oeeurring in Strongs- ville township. They settled on a farm a short distance cast of Strongsville Center, where they reared their family, spent the rest of their lives and died, the date of her death being October 10, 1847, and that of his, January 20, 1873. They had a family of nine children, of whom Reuben was the third born.
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With the exception of two years, the subject of our sketch has spent his whole life in Strongs- ville township. One year he lived in Wisconsin and one year in Cleveland. Farming has been his life occupation. Ilis political affiliations have been with the Republican party, he lias taken an active and commendable interest in all local affairs, and has filled most acceptably sev- eral official positions. For six years he served as Township Trustee, and was a Justice of the Peace for three years.
Mr. Carpenter was married in Brunswick, Medina county, Ohio, October 11, 1849, to Miss Matilda S. Umber, who was born in Pern, New York, April 6, 1831. Her parents, William and Betsey (Knowles) Umber, both natives of New York, came to Cuyahoga county in 1840 and settled in Strongville township. They subsequently removed to Columbia, Lorain county, thence to Berea, Ohio, and from there to Jackson, Michigan, where Mrs. Umber died. Mr. Umber died in Strongsville, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter have had six children, viz .: Alden V., William L., Eva M., wife of William Triming; Edmond R., who died at the age of eight years; Alvin M., and Frederick A.
E RNST F. WALKER, a thrifty farmer and much respected citizen of Dover township, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, is a native of the province of Hanover, Germany, born April 19, 1837. The first seventeen years of his life were spent in his native land, and then, in company with his parents and the other members of the family, he emigrated to America. His father was Jobst F. Walker, and his mother's maiden name was Gertrude Schom- borg. Upon coming to this country, they first settled at West Side, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, and from there in 1870 they removed to Dover township, where they passed the residne of their lives. They had six children, three sous and three daughters, the subject of our sketch being the third born.
Ernst F. Walker remained with his parents until the time of his marriage. He had served an apprenticeship of three years to the trade of mason, and for a number of years worked at that trade in Cleveland. In 1864 he removed to Dover township and settled on a farm of seventy-five acres. This farm he still owns and occupies. lle has here erected good buildings and has otherwise made valuable improvements, his home and surroundings having a general air of thrift and prosperity.
Mr. Walker was married in West Side, Cleveland, February 2, 1860, to Miss Maria Boelning, who was born in Hanover, Germany, February 16, 1842, daughter of Ilerman and Ellen (Blase) Boehning. Her parents emi- grated to America in 1844, and upon their ar- rival here settled in Newburg township, where they lived till death. They had a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters, Mrs. Walker being the youngest of the family. She was reared in Newburg township, on her father's farm. Mr. and Mrs. Walker are the parents of eight children, viz .: Minnie, wife of Frank Meilander; Emma, wife of August Lamp; IJermann, who married Emma Farthmann; and the rest at home-Louisa, Frederick, Henry, Christian and Otto.
Both Mr. Walker and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church. He has filled the oflice of Township Trustee one term.
C HARLES HATHAWAY, the veteran street railway man and a most familiar figure of Cleveland, and born at Grafton, Massachusetts, November 7, 1824. He was a farmer's son and his youthful days were spent on a well-regulated New England farin. After completing his education at Worcester College he became an apprentice in the locomotive works of Seth Wilwoth in Boston, to learn his trade. When he had become an efficient mne- chanie he set about learning civil engineering
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for the purpose of better equipping himself for the business of railroad contracting, which he expected to engage in.
Ilis first railroad contract was taken in 1844 and for thirteen consecutive years he followed steam-railroad construction in Pennsylvania, Delaware and the New England States, parts of the Pennsylvania, Boston & Albany, Old Col- ony, Troy & Boston and Hudson River lines being constructed by him.
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