USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Memorial record of the county of Cuyahoga and city of Cleveland, Ohio, pt 2 > Part 51
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longed life, those occasions developed into some- thing like a levee, filling his library and parlors with old and young alike, among whom he . moved, the Nestor of the age, the most cheer- ful of the company, and the grandest example of bright intellect and happy old age. The - personality of Harvey Rice commanded alike respect and reverence. Noble in stature, with a countenance reminding one of the well-known likeness of the poet Whittier, his pleasant social qualities and genial spirit awakened a sentiment of regard akin to affection.
W ILLIAM II. WHEELOCK, editor of the Exponent, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, was born in New Glasgow, Canada, September 3, 1840. His father, William Wheel- oek, was the youngest son of William Wheel- ock, and was born in county Wexford, Ireland, in the year 1782, emigrated with his father's family to America in the year 1800, and set- tled in Florida, Orango county, New York. Ile was a tanner and currier by trade, and pur- sned that business as foreman and manager of a large tannery at Hunter, Greene county, New York, for many years. In 1837 he removed to New Glasgow, Canada, to manage a new tan- nery at that place, and after a little time, socur- ing a plant of hisown, he carried on the business for about ten years, when he returned to Hun- ter, New York, and engaged in the manufacture of chairs until 1851. The business was then transferred to Bedford, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where he lived, respected by all who knew him, until 1867, when in the fullness of years he fearlessly entered the phantom bark and crossed to the further shore. In politics he was a stanch Jacksonian Democrat, and continued to abide in that faith until the slavery question drove him from his moorings, and, under pro- test, he finally drifted into the Republican party.
In his domestic relations he was very fortu- nate, having in early life married Miss Sarah E. Curry, who was an only daughter, a descendant of the old South Carolina Huguenots, born in
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Florida, Orange county, New York, and who died in Bedford, Ohio, at the age of eighty years. She was a woman domestic in taste and habits, yet an extensive reader and a vigorons thinker. The latter characteristics she stamped indelibly upon her progeny. She was the mother of eight children, three daughters and five sons: Charles, who was drowned when twelve years old; Frances, the wife of Rev. W. W. Foster, of Round Lake, Saratoga county, New York; Bloomfield J., of New York city, a pioneer in the manufacture of fine cane-seat chairs in Ohio; Wilson T., a station agent for thirty years on the Cleveland & Pittsburg Rail- road at Bedford, Ohio; Emily, the widow of Il. J. Oldman, resides in Bedford, Ohio; Sarah and William, both of whom died in infancy; and William Henry.
William Henry, the youngest and the subject of this sketch, removed from Canada with his parents to Greene county, New York, and thence in 1852 to Bedford, Ohio. He acquired the rn- diments of an education in both public and pri- vate schools in Canada, mastered the " three R's " in New York, finished the course in Ohio, and added the non-essentials while in the army.
At the age of fourteen he began to learn the chair-making business, and, having both ambi- tion and mechanical genius, ho soon rose to the position of superintendent in a large manufac- tory. Here he remained until 1862, when he listened to and heeded the call of his country and enlisted as a private in Company G, One Ilun- dred and Third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. He was soon promoted to be Second Sergeant, but his ambition to wear the stars was stifled by being detailed to do duty in the Com- missary Department of the Twenty-third Army Corps, where he remained three years. IFe was mustered out in June, 1865, and is now a mem- ber of N. L. Norris Post, No. 10, G. A. R. Ile participated in several battles during his service and always managed to give more than he re- ceived-a condition which has continued to be characteristic of the man in all the relations of life.
Upon receiving his discharge he returned to Bedford and became foreman in the New York chair factory, and later became a stockholder in the Bedford Chair Company. Thus he went on in the even tenor of his way until 1873, when he with others went to Anderson, Indiana, and built a chair factory at that place, where he re- mained until 1876. He then returned to Bed- ford and resumed chair-making until the autumn of 1879, when the manufactory was destroyed by fire. From 1880 to 1883 he was in the chair business in Cleveland, Ohio, when he received a call from a newly organized chair company at Cambridge, Ohio, to come to their employ, which he did, and remained with the Cambridge company until 1890, when he was called to as- sume the responsible position of editor-in-chief of the Chagrin Falls Exponent, a newspaper of large circulation and extensive influence in northeastern Ohio.
For some years previous to his assuming the journalistie role of editor, Mr. Wheelock had been fitting himself for that business. Either as sub-editor or correspondent he had at differ- ent times been connected with the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Guernsey Times, the Expo- nent and other newspapers. Mr. Wheelock was for eight years a member of the Council of the incorporated village of Bedford, and to his en- lightened and liberal policy the village is in- debted for many of its most valuable improve- ments. Ile also served very acceptably as a mem ber of the Board of Education for several terms.
Mr. Wheelock was married in November, 1860, to Miss Ellen Kirkham, who was a native of Boston, Summit county, Ohio, but who came with her father and his family to Bedford while she was yet an infant. She crossed to the other side in May, 1878, leaving her husband, three daughters and one son to mourn her early de- mise: Jessie M., wife of F. A. Morse, of Ki- owa, Kansas; Rose A., wife of James C. Cam- eron, of Bedford, Ohio; Hattie E., a popular and skillful teacher in the Bedford publie schools, and William II., Jr., a "chip from the okl block," and a chair-maker, also.
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As a man Mr. Wheelock is manly. As a citizen he fills the measure of good citizenship. As a friend he abides with you in adversity as well as in prosperity. As a soldier he served his country faithfully and well. As an orator he deals more largely in logie than in rhetoric. As a politician he is a failure, for when his par- ty leaders, in furtherance of their nefarious schemes, need him, he refuses to be "kneaded." As a writer his trenchant and facile pen is a terror to demagogues, corruptionists, plutocrats, and all enemies of the common people, of what- ever species or name. As a Christian his theory is a little defective, but his practice is in the main correct.
丁 K. DISSETTE, Assistant Prosecuting At- torney and acting County Solicitor, was born in Bradford, Simcoe county, Canada, September 22, 1838. He has been a res- ident of Cuyahoga county since 1873. Ilis parents were John E. and Joanna (Chapman) Dissette. At his native place our subject was educated in the common and classical schools, finishing his education at Kingston. He then entered the ministry of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Canada. In January, 1863, he came to Ohio, located at Cleveland and soon there- after accepted the position of Chaplain of the Christian commission. Ile was then for one and a half years stationed at Bolivar, for one year at Millersburg, then at Ontario for three years, then at Ashland three years, at Berea three years, then at Lorain Street Methodist Church, this city, one year. The year 1876 closed his ministerial work. He had entered the Cleveland Law School in 1874, and in 1875 he graduated from this school and was admitted to the bar of Ohio by the Supreme Court. He formed a law partnership with Judge William E. Sherwood, but the partnership was of short duration. Mr. Dissette then became a partner in the practice of law with William Mitchell, Esq., which partnership was continued from
June, 1878, to July, 1879. C.W. Cope then be- eame a partner with Mr. Dissette, and this part- nership lasted from July, 1880, to July, 1885.
January 1, 1885, Mr. Dissette became assist- ant prosecuting attorney for Cuyahoga county, having charge of the solicitor's department, and from that date to this he has with entire satisfaction to the bar and the public lillod this position. Prior to entering on the duties of this position he served as solicitor four years for the village of Glenville. Ile is now solici- tor for Collinwood. For five years he was legal editor of the " Ohio Farmer." Mr. Dissette is author as well as publisher of the well known and accepted " Ohio Farmer's Law Book." A very great deal of his time is now consumed in drafting forms for the county administration of affairs. In 1892 he organized the Collinwood Brick and Terra Cotta Company and was elected president, and still holds that position.
He is now a candidate for nomination as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Cuya- hoga county, and has recently been elected pres- ident of the Cleveland and Akron Electrie Rail- way Company, a project that gives promise of connecting the most enterprising city of North- ern Ohio with the great City of Cleveland.
As a thinker Mr. Dissetto is clear and deep; as a writer he is of no mean ability, and as a speaker he is no less able.
Mr. Dissette is a member of the A. F. and A. M., being a Scottish rite Mason in the United States jurisdiction.
Mr. Dissette was married in Canada to Miss Sarah Fisher, who has borne him four sons and three daughters.
H ON. E. N. THOMPSON, ex-Mayor of West Cleveland village, was born in 1839, in this city, a son of Nelson and Emeline (Ameden) Thompson, being one of two children born of these parents, the other being Calista A. For years the father was in the shingle business as a manufacturer and
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dealer. When the subject of this sketch was a child of eight months his father passed away in death, and when twelve years of age he lost al- so his mother.
Ile gained a common school education, but being thrown upon his own resources very early in life he was not permitted the best of educa- tional advantages. When the Civil war came on he enlisted, in October, 1861, in Company G, Second Ohio Cavalry, and was honorably dis- charged at Columbus, in 1863. It fell to his lot to be in that division of the army whose work was that of contending with the " bushwhack- ers," and by reason of such service his hard- ships were exceedingly great. From 1864 to 1871, Mr. Thompson was engaged in the prod- Tce and commission business in the city of Cleveland. In 1871 he became engaged in the manufacture of corrugated iron and steel roof- ing, in which he has since been interested.
In politics, Mr. Thompson has always been a stanneh Republican. Hle served as a mem- ber of the West Cleveland Village Council for three terms, from April, 1583, to April, 1887, and from April, 1891, to April, 1893, and then was elected Mayor, which office he held until April 1, 1894, when by annexation the village of West Cleveland became a part of the City of Cleveland.
Mr. Thompson is also president of the Thomp- son Manufacturing Company, an institution of considerable importance, affording employment to a number of skilled workmen and laborers.
Mr. Thompson was married in 1864, to Miss Eliza J. Camp, a daughter of Charles L. and Clarissa Camp, and the marriage has been blessed by the birth of six children: Mary E., Charles N., Clarissa E., Frank Thatcher, David P., and Harold E., three of whom are living. Clarissa E., died in 1870, aged six months; Har- old E. died in 1884, aged six months; Frank Thatcher was scalded by the steam-chest cover blowing off on the steamer Choctaw, on Lake St. Clair, April 19, 1893, and died at Marine IIos- pital, Detroit, Michigan, the following day, aged twenty-two years.
Mrs. Thompson is from one of the oldest and best known families, her father being one of the most prominent men of the city of Cleveland. He was vice-president of the old City Bank, now the National City Bank. He died in the year 1864. Mrs. Thompson is a member of the Episcopal Church. She received a liberal edu- cation in the public schools of Cleveland and is an accomplished lady.
OHIN H. MELCHER, funeral director at 533 Central avenue, Cleveland, was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, June 7, 1850, a son of Fred Melcher. The latter was born in Germany, on New Year's day, 1821, and in 1845 came to America, locating at Euclid, Cuy- ahoga county, Ohio. He had been a life-long farmer. Ilis wife died a few days after the birth of our subject, he being their only child. Mr. Melcher was again married, and to that union were born two sons and four daughters, all now living.
Jolin II., the subject of this sketch, began making his own way in the world at the age of fourteen years. His first work was in a furniture store, for the following nine years was employed by two undertaking firms, during the next three years was engaged in teaming, followed the carpet-cleaning business six years, and August 1, 1892, embarked in his present oceupation. Mr. Melcher has built up a large and lucrative trade.
In 1873 he was united in marriage with Miss Susie Glime, a native of Germany, and a daugh - ter of Paul and Catherine Glime, natives also of that country. They came to America about thirty-six years ago, when Mrs. Melcher was three years of age, and for many years have re- sided at No. 30 Grant street, Cleveland, Ohio. The father, a house painter by occupation, is now seventy years old, and the mother is sixty- seven years of age. They are members of the German Lutheran Church. Mr. and Mrs. Glime have had three children: Dora, who married
CUYAHOGA COUNTY.
Phillip Riedle, of Collinwood, Ohio, and they have six children, Phillip, Henry, Susie and Dora, etc .; Susie, wife of our subject; Heury, who died May 15, 1892, at the age of twenty-nine years, married a Miss Harvercorn, and had two sons, Arthur and Elmer. Our subject and wife have three children: Ida, Birdie and Paul. They are members of the German Lutheran Church, and the former affiliates with the Re- publiean party. Mr. Meleher's life has been a quiet but busy one. Ile has always had an eu- viable reputation for honesty, industry and pro- gressive spirit, and takes rank with the worthy and foremost young business men of the city.
C HIARLES KOEBLER, an undertaker at 369 Woodland avenue, and 470 Prospect street, Cleveland, was born in this city, August 31, 1858, a son of Charles and Anna (Singer) Koebler, natives of Germany. The father came to America in 1838, was married in Cleveland, and his wife died in this city in 1884, at the age of forty-seven years. She was a member of the St. John's Evangelical Church. Mr. and Mrs. Kochler had five children, viz .: Amelia, wife of Phillip Hill, who resides on Wilson avenue, this city; Charles, our subjeet; Julius, who is employed by his brother Charles; Louis, travelling salesman for the Springfield Metallic Casket Company; and William, also employed by our subjeet.
Charles Koebler received his education and learned the undertaking business in his native eity. During his early life he was employed as entry clerk for the firm of Morgan, Root & Co., of Cleveland, several years; spent one year in the of. fiee of the Erie Railroad; and since that time has followed his present ocenpation. Mr. Koebler has the largest trade in his line in the city. From January 1 to September 1, 1893, he buried 285 persons. He has two carriages, three hearses, two casket wagons, twelve horses, and two ambulance wagons, one of which is said to be the finest in the United States.
Mr. Koebler was married July 29, 1880, to Miss Margaret Keller, a daughter of IIenry Kel- ler. They are members of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Koebler votes with the Republican party, and is a member of Cleveland Chapter and of the order of Elks.
Henry Keller, a retired insurance and real- estate dealer, was born in Germany, April 13, 1810. In 1832 he came to America, locating in the Western Reserve. When he settled in Cleveland it contained abont 800 inhabitants, and Mr. Keller first engaged in agricultural pursuits. Ile was afterward employed eight years at the Brooks House, and then drifted in- to the real-estate and insurance business, which he followed until his retirement. IIe is well and favorably known.
Mr. Keller was married in 1840, to Miss Elizabeth Hoffman, who eame with friends from Germany to America in 1836. Her death oe- curred in 1889, at the age of seventy-three years. She was a devout member of St. John's Evangelical Church, of which Mr. Keller is also a member. They joined that organization when it contained only seven members, and, having no minister, the members took turus in reading a sermon or the Scripture. The church now con- tains a large membership.
R M. FULLER, electrician for the Cleve- land Electric Railway Company, is a native son of Cleveland, being born here April 9, 1863. Ile received a seant training in the public schools of this eity and at thirteen entered Forest City Business College and completed a course some months later. Ile soon became interested in electrical work, as an employe of the Brush Electric Company, and two years later took a superintendent's position with the same company in Nashville, Tennessee, and remained south five years. He became connected next with the Thomson-Houston Company, of Boston, Massachusetts, and put in lighting plants in many of the Southern States,
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Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and others. On returning to the Forest City in 1886, he accepted a position with the Cleveland Electric Lighting Company, and two years later accepted an offer with the Cleveland Electric Railway Company.
Mr. Fuller is a son of Robert Fuller, a native of England, a civil engineer, who came to Cleve- land in 185 -. For a time he was identified with the work on the original Panama canal. He was in the oil business in Cleveland and died here at seventy-two years of age. Ilis wife, Susan, was also born in England. Three children were born to them: Mrs. F. M., widow of F. M. Belding; Martha, wife of F. J. Barns, of Painesville, Ohio, and Robert M. The last named married in this city, September 4, 1884, May Elizabeth, a daughter of Thomas Larter, of New York, but for many years a resident of this city. The children of this union are: Roberta, Edith, Catherine and Edwin.
Mr. Fuller is a Mason and a Knight of Pyth- ias, and was vice president of the Cleveland Electrie Club, in 1892. He is a director of the Ohio Construction Company, organized for do- ing electrical construction work, and is inter- ested in some patents on electrical devices.
W ILBUR F. DUTTON .- Among the prominent business men of Cleveland, Mr. W. F. Dutton, of the well-known firm of Ilull & Dutton, occupies a conspicuons psition. Mr. Dutton was born in Ludlow, Hampden county, Massachusetts, on May 5, 1854, and is the son of Jeremiah and Julia (Fisk) Dutton. The Dutton family was founded in America by John Dutton, who came from the county of Chester, England, in 1630, and settled in the old Bay State, becoming the pro- genitor of the American Duttons. The Fisk family was also among the prominent early New Englanders, Our subject was reared on a farm in his native county, and was educated in the public schools and at Wesleyan Academy, Wil- braham, Massachusetts. He began his business
career at the age of fifteen years as a boy in the offices of the Ellington Mills, at Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts. Next he entered the employ of D. II. Brigham & Company, clothing manufactur- ers of Springfield, Massachusetts, where he was initiated into the business of manufacturing and selling, and at the age of eighteen years he be- gan traveling for that firm through the New England States. In 1876 Mr. Dutton accepted a position as salesman with C. R. Mabley, of Detroit, Michigan, who was also at that time interested with E. R. Hull in Cleveland. Ile next spent five and a half years in the wholesale department of a clothing house in Rochester, New York, after which he returned to Mr. Mabley, in Detroit, and nine months later be- came a member of the firm now known as Mabley & Company. This firm opened a large establishment in Baltimore, Maryland, and Mr. Dutton was sent to manage the same, and upon the death of Mr. Mabley he purchased a half interest in the Baltimore store, his partner be- ing Mr. J. T. Coren, who was also one of the firm of Mabley & Coren, of Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1890 Mr. Dutton came to Cleveland and be- came junior member of the firm of E. R. IIull & Dutton. This firm carries one of the largest and best stocks in the State of Ohio, embracing everything in the line of ready-made wearing apparel for both sexes. Their main store on Ontario street is 80 x 120 feet in dimensions, oe- eupying five floors and basement, besides three annexes. The west annex is 40 x 80 feet, four stories high; the sonth annex is 22 x 120 feet, three stories high, and the Hallowell or Michi- gan street annex is 25 x 100 feet, three stories high. On the ground floor are men's furnishing goods and floor rugs; on the second floor, ladies' eloaks, millinery, gloves, shoes, etc., and lunch room; on the third floor, youths' and children's clothing; and on the fourth floor, men's cloth- ing, overeoats, etc., while the fifth floor is utilized for reserve stock for the various depart- ments. The company employ a force of over 250 elerks, and everything moves as if by clock work, the entire establishment being conducted
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npon systematic plans. This gigantic establish- ment is the outgrowth of a small business that was started in 1871 in a little room, 18 x 50 feet, on the opposite side of Ontario street, near ligh street, by Messrs. Mabley & Hull. In 1873 Mr. Mabley withdrew, and E. R. IInll was alone until 1883. The business increased rapidly and in 1875 new and larger quarters were necessary, and Mr. Hull removed to the building now oc- enpied, where he took a portion of one floor, 40 x 80 feet. In 1883 Messrs. J. C. Me Walters and S. E. Graves were admitted as partners with Mr. ILall, under the firm name of E. R. IInll & Company, and the business was extended throughout the building from eellar to garret. Mr. Graves retired in 1885, and in 1890 the old firm was dissolved and re-organized, and the present firm name adopted. From a small and comparatively insignificant business in 1871 the house has grown and expanded year by year into one of the most extended and successful estab- lishments in the State of Ohio in 1894, with annual sales amounting to over a million and a half dollars. And at no time in the history of the house has its progress been so rapid and substantial as during the years it has been under the management of Mr. Dutton. Since coming to Cleveland Mr. Dutton has made himself felt in commercial circles both at home and abroad. Almost from the first he easily took rank as one of the city's most progressive business men. He takes an active interest in all movemtnts and en- terprises looking to the development of the city and her institutions, and is always found on the right side of the leading questions. IIe believes firmly that a great future is in store for Clevo- land in the commercial and industrial world, and intends that both his business and himself shall keep pace with the growth of the city. Ilis enterprise and energy are unbounded, and all in all he is considered one of Cleveland's most prominent and representative citizens and business men. Personally Mr. Dutton is a most agreeable companion and friend. He is cour- teons and easy of approach, and possesses a gen- erous and sympathetic nature. llis capacity
for social pleasure and enjoyment is great, and he enjoys a large circle of friends. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and of . the Roadside and Athletic Clubs.
In 1884, in Baltimore, Mr. Dutton was mar- ried to Miss Adelaide Kirschner, of Detroit, Michigan, and with his family resides at his res- idence " Duttonwood," one of the finest homes on Euclid avenne.
E LIJAII SMITHI, who was for many years identified with the buiding interests of Cuyahoga county, is a native of the State of Connecticut, born in New London county. IIe came to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1832, arriving May 20th of that year. The family had lived for six years previons to this time in New York city. His parents, Erastns and Salome (Swift) Smith, were both born in Connecticut; the l'ather was a contractor and buikler, following this business all through life. He took a deep interest in local politics, and held the office of Coroner,' Deputy United States Marshal, Justice of the Peace and Constable, being widely and favor- ably known. He was born in 1790, and died at the age of ninety-one years; his wife died July 6, 1877. They reared a family of three sons and three danghters. The subject of this sketel: and two sisters still survive. Arriving at the age of twenty-one years Mr. Smith embarked in business for himself, and since. that time has filled a large and important place among build- ers and contractors. He has erected several handsome brick structures in Cleveland, and has won an enviable reputation for the fidelity with which he carries out his contracts to the minutest detail. He has also given especial at- tention to the erection of monuments for the dead, and his services have been in demand throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Indiana. Ile has had no aspirations for public office but discharges his duty as a loyal citizen of the republic.
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