USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Memorial record of the county of Cuyahoga and city of Cleveland, Ohio, pt 2 > Part 69
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llis country home was near the village of Glenville, and here young Robert was brought up and educated. Ile gained a fair academical edneation, leaving school at the age of seventeen year's` to accept employment with the Clove- land, Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad as a brakeman. Ile was soon promoted as con- ductor of freight trains, and later as passenger conductor. In 1863 he became assistant superintendent of the above named road, and in 1867 he became superintendent of the " Bee Line," succeeding Superintendent E. S. Flint. In 1890 he became general superintendent of the " Big Four" lines, and one year later he re- signed this position and thus ended a brilliant, successful railroad career of thirty-five years.
After quitting the railroad business, Mr. Blee was engaged in looking after personal business allairs till the spring of 1893, when he Was valled into the political arena by being nominated for Mayor of Cleveland by the Democratic party, of which he has always been
an active member. By reason of his fitness for this high olliee, together with his personal popularity, he was elected to the office by a majority of 1,500, notwithstanding the fact that the city had nearly always in past years gone Republican. As Mayor, Mr. Blee is re- garded as a man of unusual executive ability and competency. This position is the only public office he has held save one, that of Police Commissioner, which position he held one term in 1875.
In several ways has Mr. Blee won promi- bence and high station. One of many very meritorious deeds he has done was that of his organization of the Bee Line Insurance Com- pany, of which he was president for twenty-two years. During his incumbency of this office his disbursements of charities to dependent ones footed up hundreds of thousands of dollars. Ilis private funds are most frequently appealed to, and of it he gives unstintedly and without ostentation, never losing an opportunity to lighten the load of needy and deserving persons by a cheering word or a substantial donation. At present he is the president of the Ohio Building & Loan Company, and in other im- portant business concerns he has large interests.
Thus as a business man Mr. Blee has always been active, and as a citizen the high position which he now holds is pointed out as evidence of that esteem and confidence on the part of his fellow citizens he enjoys.
J HIOMAS C. GOSS, a member of the popular insurance firm of O. M. Stafford, Goss & Company, Cleveland, Ohio, is one of the rising young business men of the city, who is becoming widely and favorably known. He was born at Edinburg, Portage county, Ohio, April 22, 1862. His early education was received in the village school, and his business training in the Spencerian Business College of Cleveland, which he en- tered after a two years' course at Union College, Alliance, Ohio.
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In May, 1851, he began his career in the commercial world as assistant bookkeeper for the Ifull Vapor Stove Company, with which he remained until August of the same year, he then accepted a proposition from Thomas II. Greer, one of the leading insurance men of the city, and entored his employ. In June, 1885, he became connected with the Mercantile lu- surance Company as bookkeeper and cashier, tilling the position most efficiently until March 15, 1887. At that time he resigned and went to Omaha, Nebraska, where he engaged in the real-estate business with his brother, IIon. Charles A. Goss, under the firm name of Goss Brothers. This vocation did not prove eon- genial to him, and, receiving a proposition from Mr. Stafford to return to Cleveland and become associated with him in the insurance business, he accepted the offer and July 27th of the same year entered upon his duties as manager of the insurance department of the Broadway Savings & Loan Company. January 1, 1891, the banking business and insurance business were separated. Mr. Goss entered into part- nership with O. M. Stafford, and the firm of O. M. Stafford, Goss & Company came into ex- istence. Under the excellent management of Mr. Goss the interests of the firm have been widely extended, and he has aided materially in bringing the company forward from a position of comparative obscurity to one of prominence in local insurance circles.
The ancestors of Thomas C. Goss emigrated to Massachusetts abont 1820. Daniel Goss, the paternal grandfather, was born in London, England, while his wife was a native of Edin- burg, Scotland. Upon their arrival in Massa- chusetts they settled at Fall River. There they had a son, Alfred R. Goss, father of Thomas C. In 1835 Daniel Goss, who was a typical freedom loving Englishman, came farther West, and stopped for a time in Cin- einnati, Ohio. After casting about for a place of permanent location, he settled in Portage county, Ohio, where he passed the remainder of his life.
Alfred R. Goss married Martha Carr, a daughter of the Rev. Thomas Carr, a Scotch- man by descent and a circuit preacher of the Methodist Church. There were four children born of this onion: Thomas C .; Charles A., a prominent attorney of Omaha, who has served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature, and who married Miss Carrie Shimp, a daughter of Samuel Shimp, of Alliance, Ohio; Margaret F., who is the wife of II. L. Day, of Omaha, Nebraska; and Hattie, a student in Lake Erie Seminary, Painesville, Ohio.
Thomas C. Goss was united in marriage, in Cleveland, Ohio, October 8, 1889, to Anna M., danghter of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin, of this city. Their only child is Leonard K., aged three years, Mr. Goss is a member of Forest City Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Webb Chapter, R. A. M., and of Oriental Commandry, K. T.
A LEXANDER PATTON, deceased, was a self-made man and was for many years connected with the interests of Cleve- land, Ohio. He was an nucle of James A. Patton, of this city.
Mr. Patton was born and reared in Alloa, Scotland, and was a fisherman in his native land. In the early forties he came to America and settled in Cleveland, Ohio. When he landed here he had only two pennies in his pocket. Ile put up at the hotel located on the site now occupied by George Worthington's building, and as he had no money he left his trunk for security while he went out to secure employment. On starting out he met George Whitelaw, who, learning his condition, gave him a dollar. A day's work brought in another dollar, and from another Scotchman he received a "needy dollar," which dollar was to be given to any needy Scotchman he might meet after he could spare the same. Thus did he come into the possession of $3 on his first day in America. Soon he secured permanent em- ployment, collecting soap-grease and ashes for a
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soap factory. Later he set up in the soap busi- ness on his own account, under the name of A. Patton, his factory being located on the flats. This business he subsequently sold to his nephew, John Buchan, who is now a member of the Buchan Soap Company, Cleveland, Ohio. During his life in this city Alexander Patton accumulated a competency, and always had a dollar for a needy Scotchman. He was well known all over the county, and by his many sterling qualities he won the respect of all who knew him. He died in April, 1879, at the age of seventy-five years.
Mr. Patton was married, but had no children. His wife, nee Eliza Hannah Johnson, was the danghter of an Englishman. She was a mem- ber of the Baptist Church and was a most estimable woman. Her death occurred in 1869, at the age of fifty-two years.
W ILLIAM HILLMAN BUTTON, the subject of this sketch, was born in Bedford, Ohio, May 14, 1838, where he still resides. He traces his ancestry to Matthias Button, who came to America with Gov. John Endicott, and first settled at Salem, Massachusetts, where he landed September 6, 1628. His son, Matthias, was born at Haver- hill, Massachusetts, in 1657. Matthias But- ton, the third, was born at Haverhill in 1689, and Matthias, the fourth, was born at Canter. bury, Connecticut, in 1727, and was a Captain in the Revolutionary army. He died in Rut. land county, Vermont, in 1811.
Shubal Button, son of Matthias, the fourth, was born in Canterbury, Connecticut, 1770, and married for his first wife, Polly Tower, and for his second, Anna Skiff. The children of the first wife were: Polly, born 1794, died 1795; Matthias, born 1796, died 1829; Ira, born 1798, died 1862; Elizabeth, born 1799, died 1883; Otis, born 1801, died 1884; Mary, born 1803, and is still living; Laura, born 1805, died 1827; Joel, born 1807; Shubal, born
1808; and Charlotte, born 1810. The children of the second wife are: Anson E., born 1823; George W., born 1825; Martha Aun, born 1826; Joel Y., born 1828; Orrin O., born 1831, and Susan Elmira, born 1831.
Shubal Button died at Fredonia, New York, in 1810. His widow, Anna Skiff Button, mar- ried for her second husband, Asa Button, brother of Shubal Button. She died at Fre- donia, and in 1844 her husband, Asa, died at the same place.
Otis Button, son of Shnbal Button and father of William Hillman Button, was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, August 2, 1801, came to Bedford, Ohio, in the spring of 1831, and July 4, 1832, he married Miss Anna Hill- man, who was the daughter of Seth and Clar- issa (Butterfield) Hillman. Seth Hillman was born in 1784, married in 1808, and died in 1828. Clarissa B. Hillman was born in Wil- ton, Ilillsborough county, New Hampshire, September 22, 1784. Mr. and Mrs. Hillman had four children who lived to mature age: Mary W., Anna H. (mother of William II. Button), Ruth, and William B. Mrs. Hillman married for her second husband, Hezekiah Dunham, who was born in Massachusetts, De- cember 9, 1779. She was his second wife, and they were married July 4, 1831, his first wife, Betsey Burroughs, having died in April, 1831. Hezekiah and Betsey (Burroughs) Dunham had a family of eleven children, four only of whom lived to maturity: Silas B., born 1807; David B., 1810; Betsey, 1816; and Lydia, 1820.
Hezekiah Dunham died in 1861, and Anna (Hillman) Button, wife of Otis Button, in 1884.
Otis Button began his business career as water boy on the Erie canal, under his father, who was a contractor; from water boy he advanced until he was a contractor on the same canal, and afterward took contracts on the Chesapeake & Ohio canal, and mado canal contracting his business until he came to Bedford, Ohio, to settle. Soon after set- tling in Bedford he leased of Captain Dan- iel Benedict (who named the township of
CUYAHOGA COUNTY.
Bedford) a sawmill situated on Tinker's ereek, nearly opposite the present cemetery, said lease extending over four years. Shortly before its expiration he moved to a farm about one mile west of Bedford village, which he subsequently purchased and upon which he lived forty-two years, leaving there in June, 1875, to return to the village to live. Upon moving upon this farm he ran a sawmill on Tinker's creek at the foot of one of the longest, steepest and most picturesque hills in Cuyahoga county, known as " Button Hill."
In 1835, Robert Lneas, Governor of Ohio, issned to Mr. Button his commission as Cap- tain of the militia. Captain Button for many years was a prominent figure at company and general trainings. Mr. Button was an old- time Democrat in politics. IIe possessed the conti- dence of the entire community, and was many times elceted one of the Trustees of Bedford. Ile united with the Baptist Church about the time of the organization of that body in Bed- ford, and from it he went to the Disciple Church about the year 1849, and remained a member of that body until his death, June 14, 1884, being an honest, conseientions, devoted Christian.
Otis and Anna Hillman Button had the fol- lowing named children: Clarissa Elizabeth, born May 11, 1835, died February 22, 1857; William Hillman Button, born May 14, 1538; and Charlotte E. Button, born in 1841.
William Uilhuan Button was born in Bed- ford and educated in the public school. His entire life has been spent upon the farm on which he now resides. He has been AAssessor four terms, and is at this time serving as Trustee in a township with a large Republican majority, himself being a Democrat, strongly tinctured with prohibition. He has been for many years a faithful and earnest member of the Disciple Church. He is a quiet, nnassum- ing man, holding to a high standard of morals for himself as well as others.
June 9, 1878, he purchased of his father the old homestead upon which he was born, and
June 27 of the same year, he married Miss Celeste Adelle Knapp, daughter of William Herman and Deborah L. Wightman Knapp, of Independence, Ohio. Mr. Knapp traces his ancestry to Roger de Knapp, who received a coat of arms granted by Henry VIII of Eng. land to commemorate his skill and success at a tournament. in Norfolk, England, in 1540, in which he unseated three knights of great skill and bravery. Continuing in this line we come to Nicholas Knapp, who came to America with Winthrop and Saltonstall's fleet in 1630; then following this line we come to Joshna Knapp, who was born in Danbury, Connecticut, Febru- ary 5, 1716: he married Abigail (Bostwick) Dibble, a widow, who was born in Brookfield, Connectient, in September, 1725, and was the first white child born there. She died October 7, 1812: her husband, Joshua Knapp, died Angust 8, 1798.
Joshua Knapp, who was a Presbyterian Dea. con and a bachelor, being reminded by his church of the Scriptural injunction that a deacon should be the husband of one wife, could think only of the widow Dibble. Feeling the Lord had direeted him to her, he mounted his horse on Monday morning, rode to her home and found her washing in the yard between the house and street; and, riding up to the fence and without dismounting he stated his case, adding that he felt the Lord had directed him to her, and her reply was, "The Lord's will be done;" and they were married the following Wednesday. Their second child, Daniel, was born July 2, 1763, and married Lucy Gray, and they had twelve children.
William Ilerman Knapp, the tenth child of Daniel and Ency (Gray) Knapp, and the father of Mr. Button, was born in Danbury, Connect- ient, February 16, 1801, eame to Ohio in 1826, was an engineer in building the Ohio canal, and May 4, 1828, married Deborah Ledyard Wightman, who was born in Groton, Connecti- ent, November 6, 1805, and came to Newburg, Ohio, in 1511, with her parents, Captain John and Deborah C. Morgan Wightman. John
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Wightman was a direet deseendant of the Rev. Valentine Wightman, who was the founder of the first society of Baptists in Groton, Connect- ient. He began preaching for them in 1710. At his death his son Timothy oeenpied the same pulpit until his death in 1796; then his son, Jolin Gano, succeeded him for nearly forty-five years, until his death, in 1841. After a period of three or four years, John Gano's grandson, Palmer G. Wightman, oeenpied the same pulpit until 1875. This is believed to be withont a par- allel in American history of pastorates. Mrs. Knapp's mother was Deborah Calibia Morgan, daughter of Col. Christopher and Deborah Ledyard Morgan, a direct descendant of James Morgan (sce history of James Morgan and de- seendants), a family of prominence. Deborah Ledyard Morgan was a nicee of Colonel Led- yard, who commanded Fort Griswold when it was surrendered to the British, and Colonel Ledyard was killed with his own sword in the hand of the officer to whom he had surrendered !
Mr. and Mrs. William Herman Knapp, moved to Independence in 1833, where Mr. Knapp for a short time kept a supply store for the packets that were run on the canal. Ile was Postmaster for many years. He was so anxious for the education of the masses that he taught a school in his own house without any stipulated remnner- ation, letting them pay little or nothing, as they were able. Several married men and women went to school to him, it being their only op- portunity. By profession Mr. Knapp was a civil engineer. Ile was County Surveyor of Cnyahoga connty from 1839 to 1844, and again from 1864 to 1866 inelusive. In polities he was a Whig originally, and subsequently an ardent Republican. Ile united with the Dis- ciple Church in 1837, and remained a member of that church until his death, being a stanch advocate of its faith and doctrines. Mrs. Knapp was first to unite with the same church, being baptized in 1835, when the first yearly meeting of this denomination was hekl, on her father's farm, on what is now known as Broad- way, Cleveland, then called Newburg. She
had one of the kindest hearts, always doing for others and being happy in making others 80,-a woman of excellent judgment, very con- scientions, and a devoted Christian wife and mother to the time of her death, December 26, 1880, at her home in Independence, where she had lived nearly fifty years. She was truly a pioneer of Cuyahoga county, distinctly remem- bering listening to the boom of the cannon at the time of Perry's victory, also the inhabitants of the vicinity of Cleveland going into the town for protection the night after John ()' Mick was hung, fearing an attack by the Indians, John O' Mick being the first person hung in Cuyahoga county. She was the oldest of eight children, namely: Deborah Ledyard, born November 6, 1808, died December 26, 1880: John Griswold, born July 12, 1810, died 1834; Isaac Avery, born May 23, 1812, died Mareli 5, 1867; Luey Adelaide, born March 17, 1814, died February 1, 1893; David Long, born August 17, 1817, died July 18, 1887; Sher- burn Henry, born Angust 28, 1819; Horace Fayette, born April 12, 1821, died September 9, 1868; and Ilarriet Lucretia, born June 5, 1825, died June 30, 1878.
William II. and Deborah L. Wightman Knapp had three children: Cornelia Adelaide, born in Cleveland, April 27, 1830, married November, 4, 1868, Levi Allen, of Akron, Ohio, who is a descendant of Major Spicer; and Jonah Allen, who came from Connectieut and settled in Akron ron at the same time Captain Morgan and John Wightman came to Cleveland. The four fami- lies, being friends in Connecticut, continued the friendship to the present time, there be- ing many intermarriages. Cornelia Adelaide and Levi Allen have two daughters: Cornelia Adelle, born January 13, 1870; and A. May Deb- orah Allen, born May 14, 1871, and married, Angust 17, 1893, Rev. J. Dorsey Forrest of Bal- timore, Maryland, and now pastor of the Central Christian Church of Columbus, Ohio. Her- man John Knapp, born in Independence, April 9, 1836, died December 15, 1816; Celeste Adelle Knapp, born in Independence, Angust 17,
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1848, and received her education in the district school and in the public schools of Akron, Ohio: She united with the Disciple Church in Bedford, in 1865, and is still an earnest worker in that church, and has been a member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union from its organi- zation in Bedford.
The biographer of Mr. and Mrs. Button de- sires to say that they, in giving this history, do so more to honor their ancestry than them- selves, feeling that their own lives have been very uneventful indeed. Their desire is to have a home and farm, well cared for, to which their friends can come with pleasure, where peace, harmony, love and Christian grace may abound and where every living creature may be comfortable and happy.
W JILLIAM BACKUS, JR .- Prominent among the younger and most pro- gressive men of Cleveland is he whose name initiates this biographical sketch, his record of achievements in several lines of work being one of particular distinction.
A native of the city where he still retains his residence, Mr. Backus was born August 24, 1860, a son of Captain William and Madeline (Strobel) Backns. He was reared and educated in the city of his birth, and at an early age developed into an indefatigable student and investigator. The study of the law, medicine and literature proved particularly engrossing to him. In 1882 he became editor of the West Side Spur. In 1884 he established and was editor of the Sunday Courier, which soon be- came noted for its vigorous political work. The financial outcome of this venture not proving satisfactory, he accepted a position with the Cleveland Press as a special writer. The thought, wit, and pronounced individuality displayed in his writings soon gained for him a wide reputation. His health becoming impaired after several years' work, a temporary change of vocation became necessary.
IIis investigating mind then turned to the new and mysterious art of photo-engraving. Ile organized the Union Photo-Engraving Company, of which he became president. Ilis experiments and investigations resulted in a number of new discoveries, and he was the first to introduce in Cleveland the art of reproducing photographs upon a metal printing block by chemical action. Ile organized branch photo- engraving establishments in various cities, in eluding Chieago and San Francisco. He also established and edited at this time the American Union newspaper and the Magazine of Science and Art. During all this time he had pursued a careful and earnest study of the law, with the pur- pose in view of adopting the pratice of law as a profession. In 1889 he disposed of his interests in the journalistic and other enterprises, with which he had become identified and devoted his time and attention for a time to the organization of private corporations under the laws of Ohio and other States. IIe is an officer in various corporations: among others, he is president of the Cumberland Tennessee Land Company; president of the American Oil Burn- er Company; vice president of the National Union Photo-Engraving Company; secretary of the Lactine Manufacturing Company.
Having been admitted to the bar Mr. Backus engaged in the general practice of law, in which he has met with marked success.
In the matter of national and municipal polities our subject has maintained a lively interest, and has been duly active in working for the principles and men whose cause he had esponsed. Ile originally cast his suffrage with the Democratic party, but in 1888 he withdrew from that organization and swung into line with the Republican party, whose policies and principles he had become convinced were such as would best conserve the greatest good to the greatest number,-the true governmental func- tion.
In 1892 the public dissatisfaction with the management of school affairs led to a revolution in the system of government of Cleveland's
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great school system. Mr. Backns was one of the seven men eleeted at large by the people as a member of the new Board of Education, and soon made his inthienee felt by the vigor- ons manner in which he combated the influence polities and the interference of politicians in school affairs. He is one of the younger yet representative citizens of Cleveland: has always been alive to industrial interests and to such other developments as have been conducive or promising to the interests of the city and to the public welfare. In his profession he infuses juto all his work life, energy, intelligence and discrimination, inspiring absolute confidence in all with whom he comes in contaet. In the line of fraternal affiliations Mr. Backus is a member of the order of the Knights of Pythias.
In 1879 he was united in marriage with Miss. Sarah A. Mullin, of this city, and two children, Edra Lois and Ceeil Degmar, are the sunshine of the home: William, the third child, is deceased.
STEVENSON BURKE, who in the active field of professional practice, upon the bench, and in the cireles of railway man- agement and control, has won a fame that is part of the history of the Cleveland bar, was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, on November 26, 1826. He is a man who by the free working of his superior intelleet would have attained wealth and influence in any country or under almost any conditions of organized society. He is one of the few men endowed with the capacity to mold surrounding cireum- standes to suit his purposes. His career, like that of many other Americans of this generation, has demonstrated that industry and perseverance will open a way from the humblest beginning to a manhood crowned with honor and all that is most cherished in civilized society.
In 1834 the family of Stevenson Burke re- moved to North Ridgeville, Lorain county, Chio, where he worked For an education and
was so successful that at the age of seventeen he was teaching a district school. The indom- itable will, pluiek and energy that nature im- planted in him was strengthened by his strug- gles with adversity. His mastery of the branches tanght in the select school was rapid and he soon entered the University at Delaware.
Ile was admitted to practice law in 1848, and entered upon the exercise of his professional duties in Elyria, Lorain county. His advance was as brilliant as it was sure, and when only twenty-six years of age he had a better business than any other lawyer in the county. In 1862 he took his seat upon the bench of the Common Pleas, having for ten years previous to that time been substantially engaged in every case of con- sequence in Lorain county, and in many cases in the adjoining counties. He was counsel in nearly every case, if not indeed every case, taken from his home county to the Supreme Court. In 1866 he was re-elected for a term of five years; resigned in 1869; removed to Cleveland and at once entered upon a legal career that has been crowned with abundant success, and has long since won him national fame. He was in partnership first with F. T. Backus and E. J. Estep, and later with W. B. Sanders and J. E. Ingersoll.
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