USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Ohio, the future great state, her manufacturers, and a history of her commercial cities, Cincinnati and Cleveland > Part 15
USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Ohio, the future great state, her manufacturers, and a history of her commercial cities, Cincinnati and Cleveland > Part 15
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Mr. Ward is supposed to be the first man to practically use pig iron made from raw coal; also the first who practically used black band ore. The furnace built by him in 1859 is still in use. And he left a name not only known in his immediate vicinity, but as wide-spread as our vast country, as one of the most honorable and liberal of men ; and 'his enterprise and business capacity were undoubted. Still in his prime when cut off. he had already garnered wealth and reputation without creating the envy which so usually accompanies success. He won golden opinions from all; and there are none who knew him but that respect his name and appreciate his character.
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James Mara
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George Fish
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GEORGE FISHER.
GEORGE FISHER, merchant, of Cincinnati, Ohio, was born in Durkheim, Rhenish Bavaria, December 25, 1829. He came to the United States with his father in 1837, and settled in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he enjoyed such educational advantages as were afforded by the schools of that city until 1841. He was then apprenticed to the merchant tailoring business, and continued in that capacity until the expiration of his term in 1845, when he removed to Cincinnati and engaged as a journeyman with Samuel Thomas. He left the employ of the latter in 1847, to enter that of his brother, doing business on Central Avenue, and there continued until 1850, when he formed a copart- nership with Adam Epply, under the firm name of George Fisher & Co. ; invested all his savings-amounting to seventy-five dollars-in the new enterprise, and embarked in business on his own account .. Here he brought to bear his energy and skill, and by the latter part of 1852, when they changed their location to East Pearl Street, his share in the business amounted to $2, Soo. The firm was dissolved in 1854, and all its indebted- ness was assumed by our subject, who paid all liabilities, dollar for dollar, and found himself about even with the world. But he was not to be crushed by misfortune, and, with characteristic energy, set about the restoration of his loss, and engaged in business on his own individual account, at his present store, No. 257 Walnut Street, in Day's Building. Since that time he has pursued a career of uninterrupted prosperity, and by close attention to business, and the strictest integrity, has won a proud position in the mercantile and social community. This success is, in a great measure, due to his adher- ence to his own legitimate pursuits; for though he has never been wanting in public spirit, nor deaf to the calls upon him as a patriotic and benevolent citizen, his best energies have been given to the furtherance of his business interests, in which, though modest and unassuming in all his operations, he is recognized as the leading house.
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MESSRS. STOUT, MILLS & TEMPLE.
THE three following portraits represent the individual members of the firm of Stout, Mills & Temple, of Dayton, Ohio, among the largest Turbine Water Wheel and Paper and Flour-mill. Machinery manufacturers in the United States.
ATLAS L. STOUT Was born in Dayton, Ohio, November 5, 1822.
WILLIAM M. MILLS
Was born in Wythe County, Virginia, June 10, 1821.
JOHN TEMPLE
Was born in the Parish of Fintra, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, February 3, 1821; emigrated to Canada in 1843, and to the United States in 1848.
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W Me Miles
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Showy Holliday 1
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THOMAS HOLLIDAY.
THE subject of this sketch was born in Batavia, Clermont County, Ohio, August 22, 18zo. His father moved to Ohio from Virginia in the early days, coming to Cincinnati on a flat-boat. The education of THOMAS HOLLIDAY was very limited, and at the age of ten he had to support himself, which he did by working on his grandfather's farm. At the age of sixteen he commenced to learn the cabinet-maker's trade, and worked at it, including apprenticeship, eleven years. After this he commenced making wood- working tools, and this was the initiation of his present large business, which he com- menced, nearly twenty years ago, on the north-west corner of Central Avenue and Fifth Street, on a very small scale, when we say that he had no capital; and in this connection we have a.very pleasant incident. After Thomas had determined on doing business in his own name he applied to Mr. Probasco, then Cincinnati's leading hardware merchant, for credit. The answer he received was: "Thomas, I could trust you all your life for any thing you want; but should you die I would be minus." Nothing daunted, Mr. Holliday went immediately to the office of the London, Liverpool, and Globe Insurance Company, and secured a policy on his life for $2,000. This he presented to Mr. Probasco, who immediately sold him his first stock. This determination and strength of character, combined with unceasing energy and economy, has placed him in his present condition. After many years' location on the site mentioned, Mr. Holliday moved his business to the south-west corner of the same thoroughfares, and then built on his present site, where he now owns a fine three-story brick building, 3772 x So feet; and on the first and second floors of this building is conducted the extensive business of Thos. Holliday & Co., his partners being W. R. & J. G: Attee.
Mr. Holliday was joined in wedlock to Miss Eliza A. Attee, of Cincinnati, in June, 1845, and though they have had seven children, only one son, William A. survives.
Thomas Holliday possesses all the frankness of manner, cordiality of feeling, and hospitable disposition so characteristic of the true Western American. He necessarily has become popular in Cincinnati, and can number as his friends many of the most influential citlzens. He has passed through many phases of private and business life without one single stain of reproach, and in the evening of his life a retrospect of the past must be associated with the most pleasing reminiscences.
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JOSEPH SUTPHIN.
JOSEPH SUTPHIN, senior member of the firms of Joseph Sutphin & Sons, flour man- ufacturers, and Sutphin & Wrenn, paper manufacturers, was born on a farm adjoining Middletown, December 24, 1817. His father, John Sutphin, was a native of New Jersey, of Holland extraction. His mother, Jane Potter, was a native of Ohio, descended from English ancestors. At the age of seventeen he entered a corps of civil engineers, with a view of adopting that profession for a life-time occupation. After a service of four years, failing health made it necessary for him to resign his position as engineer on the Wabash & Erie Canal. He returned to his native town, and soon after gave his attention to mercantile and manufacturing pursuits.
He was married, in 1840, to Caroline, daughter of the late William Johnston, of Piqua, Ohio, who was prominent in the early history of Ohio as a merchant and Government contractor for supplying the army and Indians with provisions.
In 1853 Mr. Sutphin, in connection with John L. Martin, founded the flour-manu- facturing business, with which he is still connected, his partners now being his son, Charles Sutphin, and his son-in-law, O. I. Gunckel. In 1855, in connection with John L. Martin and James B. Cecil, he founded the paper manufacturing establishment, at this time, represented by Sutphin & Wrenn (Joseph Sutphin, A. S. Wrenn, and Charles D. Wrenn composing the firm), extensively engaged in the manufacture of book, blotting, and news-print papers, which find ready market in the large cities of the West.
Upon the organization of the First National Bank of Middletown, Ohio, in 1865, he was elected its president, in which position he served, with credit to himself and profit to the bank, for a number of years.
Mr. Sutphin is of a delicate constitution, his health having been impaired by exposure, when a youth, while serving as engineer in a miasmatic and wilderness country.
His success in business is attributable more to inherent energy, a high sense of honor, and constancy in the pursuit of regular legitimate business, than to bold specula- tions or adventurous enterprises.
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Joseph Sulphi
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GEORGE W. ERWIN.
THE subject of this sketch was born in the year 1810, near Wilmington, Delaware. His parents, John and Elizabeth Erwin, were members of the Society of Friends, and were engaged in agricultural pursuits. Their son, therefore, first engaged in the active affairs of life in the labors incident to the farm, and so continued during his minority, receiving in the mean time such education as the village schools of that period afforded in the rural districts. In the year 1828, his father, having faith in the future of the great West, emigrated with his family, and settled at Richmond, Wayne County, Ind., where he purchased a farm, and engaged in his old. calling, aided by his son, until the latter reached the age of twenty-two years. At this time, he married Miss Catherine A. John, of Lafayette, Ind. ; and, about one year later, removed to the latter city, where he was interested in the establishment of an iron foundry, and also in the manufacture of plows, in which business he continued for a number of years. In the year 1844 he sold, out his business in Lafayette, and, purchasing a large farm in that vicinity, again engaged in the occupation of his early life until the year 1852, when, disposing of his farm, ou account of the failing health of his wife, he removed to Middletown, Butler County, Ohio, only to prolong her life about a year.
On the completion of the Hydraulic Works, he, in connection with his brothers, built and operated the first two paper mills at that place, under the firm name of John W. Erwin & Brothers. These mills are now owned by Messrs. Oglesby, Moore & Co. About the year 1855 Messrs. Oglesby, Barnitz & Tytus purchased one-half interest in them, when the business was continued under the name of Oglesby, Barnitz, Tytus & Erwin. A short time after, Messrs. Oglesby and Barnitz disposed of a portion of their interest to Messrs. Moore and Harding. And in 1865 Mr. Erwin and Mr. Harding sold out their interests to the remaining partners, and joined together in building the Excello Mills, near Middletown, for the manufacture of writing paper, which they operated until the year 1873. In the year 1872 Mr. Erwin and others, under the firm name of G. W. Erwin & Co., built and put into operation the mills now owned and operated by the Tytus Paper Company, at Middletown. In the beginning of the year 1873 Mr. Erwin disposed of his entire interests in the paper business in the Miami Valley, and, during the Summer of the same year, in connection with his sons, built extensive mills at Elk- hart, Ind., for the manufacture of finer grades of writing paper. These mills are now being operated with success under the firm name of Erwin, Lane & Co.
George W. Erwin has thus been instrumental in building and establishing five paper mills, and has thereby contributed largely to the development of the paper trade of the West. His life has been an eventful one, and the fortune which he possesses has been accumulated by incessant toil. He has, through a long course of successful life, proved worthy of the highest esteem for honor and strict integrity ; and, at the age of sixty-five year:, still living at Middletown, Ohio, has promise of many years in which to enjoy the fruits of his labors-his present wife, formerly Mrs. J. H. Burrows, being a daughter of J. N. C. Schenck, one of the early pioneers of Ohio.
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FRANCIS J. TYTUS.
FRANCIS J. TYTUS was born the fifth day of February, 1806, at Winchester, Fred- erick County, Virginia, of Tunis and Elizabeth Tytus. He attended school, and gradu- ated in his native town, and, when fifteen years old, commenced clerking in a dry goods store-a business which he continued for twenty years. When twenty-one years old he left Winchester, and moved to Middletown, Ohio; and, soon after his residence in the latter place, commenced the dry goods business for himself. This was in 1830, and continued in it till 1847, with moderate success. In 1836 he commenced packing pork and curing hams, which business he continued for twenty-four years. In 1854 Mr. Tytus, in company with others, bought out Erwin & Brothers' paper mill, and com- menced manufacturing book and wrapping paper, and has continued the business ever since, still owning an interest in the same mills that saw his commencement; and, at present, he is interested in the Tytus Paper-mill Company, Oglesby, Moore & Co., the Harding Paper Company, and the First National Bank.
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Mr. Tytus was married in 1830, and has two sons and two daughters. The success of Mr. Tytus has been achieved by a persistent struggle through life and in his early years, with but little aid, but a resolute will and good constitution. And out of the struggle he has come with a spotless reputation, the esteem of his friends, and the respect of his fellow citizens, and the blessing of good health and undiminished vigor.
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J. J. Tytus
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Chas. Filmekel
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CHARLES F. GUNCKEL.
THE subject of this sketch is the son of Philip Gunckel, Jr., and the grandson of Philip Gunckel, who came to this State from Pennsylvania in the latter part of the last century, his grandfather being extensively engaged in the milling business, and for many years associate Judge ; a man of considerable means and influence in the place of his abode, and his name is well known to many in our midst even to-day, it having been handed down, and the reputation of the family preserved, by his descendants.
MR. CHARLES F. GUNCKEL was born in Germantown, Montgomery County, Ohio, January. 4, 1837, and continued his residence there till 1858. When he had arrived at . the proper age he commenced his education at Spencer's Academy, at which place he received an ordinary academical education. In 1859 he removed to Middletown, where he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1862. From that time he has been suc- cessful in all pursuits of life, and among the great successes he has manipulated have been large real estate speculations in property surrounding Middletown.
In 1872 the Merchants' National Bank of Middletown was started. Mr. Gunckel was called to the executive chair, and has since held the position of President. This same institution has just completed a fine new building, which is an ornament to the city. Mr. Gunckel has been ever averse to the turbulent currents incident to political life, and. has ever kept from being drawn into the disturbing excitement, and he has been success- . ful in all of his business pursuits, from a rare combination of industry and judgment, and has gained the confidence and respect of the community by at all times exhibiting a rectitude of character which never wavered from the proper direction.
Mr. Gunckel entered into matrimonial relations in 1859 with Miss Ida A., daughter of .Hugh and Jane Vail, of Middletown.
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W. W. CRAWFORD.
THE subject of this sketch was born in Detroit, Michigan, June 11, 1836, and was the son of Lemuel and Louisa Crawford. When he was about seven years of age the family moved to Presque Isle, Michigan, remaining there about a year, after which they returned to Detroit. Young Crawford here commenced his education, continuing at school till the age of about sixteen, when he was sent to Gambier College. After com- pleting his studies he assisted his father, who was extensively engaged in the iron and coal business in Youngstown, Ohio, and was taken in as partner in the business in IS58, in the twenty-second year of his age, the firm being changed to L. Crawford & Son. Having sold out their furnaces and interest in the iron business, the firm removed to Cleveland in 1862, continuing in the coal business.
On the death of his father, which occurred in June, 1868, he associated with him- self in the business his mother, Mrs. Louisa Crawford, and his brother, Charles L. Crawford, under the style of L. Crawford & Sons, and from that time till his death was. largely engaged in the coal business at the well-known place, Crawford's Dock, foot of West River Street. He was President of the Crawford Coal Company, whose mines are located near Massillon, Ohio, and at that and other points contributed largely to the development of the mining interests tributary to Cleveland.
W. W. Crawford was one of the leading young business men of Cleveland, and was well and favorably known not only in Cleveland, but at every city on the lakes, where, for thirteen years he had done business. He was taken away in his prime, having · departed this life on May 21, 1875, at the age of thirty nine years. His loss was not only felt. by his immediate friends and relations, but by the community at large.
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J. L. Hilles
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J. L HIBBS.
THE subject of this sketch was born in Scioto County, Ohio, on the west side of the Scioto River, six miles from Portsmouth, about the year 1821. His father, Jacob Hibbs, was a well-known farmer in Scioto County, and his mother, Rebecca Lucas, was a niece of Governor Lucas.
In the early days of J. L. HIBBS he helped his father on the farm in Summer and attended school at the district school-house for a short time during the Winter months. When only fourteen years old he managed his father's books, continuing at his father's home and business until eighteen years old, when he left home with the consent of his parents to learn the carpentering trade, and which he carried on for a few years suc- cessfully, devoting all his spare time to the acquisition of knowledge. After this he engaged in the farming business, and attended closely to the details of this honorable pursuit for some time, only leaving it to come to Portsmouth and rest. After a respite of two years he, in 1853, entered into the hardware business with Mr. George Hered. This proved successful, and the partnership was continued till the beginning of the war, when Mr. Hibbs purchased the interest of Mr. Hered, and has continued it ever since. In 1866 he went into the shoe business, and two years later merged into the extensive jobbing house of Hibbs, Richardson & Co., his traveling salesmen operating for both the hardware and shoe houses. This, like all other business ventures Mr. Hibbs has engaged in, has proved prosperous, from the fact it has had his personal attention, and he has encircled about him young men whose aim is progress. All through life his mechanical eye and early adoption to mechanical pursuits has followed him so closely that he has built houses, assisted in the erection and improvement of churches, besides building his own business rooms, and there are to-day many living monuments which attest to his ability. He is well known to the citizens of Portsmouth, and in connection with his acknowledged business qualifications, he is highly esteemed for his moral attri- butes. He is now in the full vigor of manhood, and has already accomplished what most men lay out as the work of a protracted life-wealth, honor, and the good will of all men.
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WILLIAM LAMBERT.
WILLIAM LAMBERT, the subject of this sketch, was born in 1806, upon the farm on which he still resides, in the suburbs of Ironton, his parents having emigrated from Vir- ginia and settled there as early as 1802. His early life was spent in hard labor in his father's blacksmith shop or in assisting to clear up and carry on the farm, and he has ever since been a good worker, both publicly and privately, for the benefit of the com- munity in which he lives. His public life for the most part is embraced in twenty-four successive years as Township Clerk, six as Justice of the Peace, and six years as Com- missioner of Lawrence County.
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In 1855 he became identified with the manufacturing interests of Ironton by the purchase of an interest in Olive Foundry and Machine Shops, and in 1866 became sole owner of these excellent works, since which time they have been run to their fullest capacity, giving steady employment to from sixty to one hundred and ten men, and making boilers, engines, hot blasts, and heavy and light machinery of all kinds. In 1871 the firm changed to Lambert & Gordon, the present proprietors.
Mr. Lambert was married in 1831, his wife dying in 1846, and was again married in 1849, when, in 1861, he lost his second wife. He has had born to him twelve chil- dren-six by each wife-seven of the twelve now living. He has also thirteen grand- children living.
. The fortune that Mr. Lambert has amassed has been made legitimately in the busi- ness which he has followed, and he has never strayed into other channels. His motto in life was to excel in all he undertook, and his success in life shows how well he has lived up to the maxim which he set before him as a guide.
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DR. JAMES L. CHASE.
THIS eminent physician was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, A. D. 1805. His father was the Rev. Amos Jesse Chase. When the subject of this sketch was ten years of age he moved to Titusville, Penn., where he first received a common-school educa- tion ; and, while here, commenced the study of medicine. During his training for the honorable profession he purchased a forge and iron works, and naturally received some experience in that branch of industry.
In 1828 Dr. Chase finished his study, and immediately initiated himself in the prac- tice of medicine. Soon after, he went to Philadelphia, and was connected with some of the leading physicians in that part of the country. Though, in 1836, having faith in the future of the West, Dr. Chase moved to Toledo, at which carly day there was still located a tribe of Ottawa Indians. He here continued his practice, though moved to Toledo with the express purpose of discarding the profession and entering some other pursuit ; but the people who knew him at home and his reputation insisted on his fol- lowing the profession, which he yielded to, and his practice grew so extensive he found it impossible to attend to any thing else. His early residence in Toledo was in what was called Manhattan, on North Toledo-the whole place being nothing but a wilder- ness. In 1842 Dr. Chase was joined in wedlock, at Erie, Michigan, to Miss E. J. Gager, of Norwich, Conn., who still holds the position of wife and hostess. One of the effective attributes of his popularity is the purity of his character. It is this which has given him the esteem of all men, and the unbounded confidence of his patients-and all has been his own work.
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JOHN A. ELLSLER.
JOHN A. ELLSLER was born in the city of Philadelphia, Penn., on the 26th of Sep- tember, 1822. He entered the profession in 1846, at Peal's Museum, now the Masonic Temple, at Philadelphia. He commenced as utility man. One year after, joined the company of the late William E. Burton, Esq., at the Arch Street Theater, remaining in said theater three seasons. From thence he went directly to New York, engaging for the leading old man at the old Chatham Theater. From there he went to Charleston, South Carolina. After acting a short time there, associated himself with Joseph Jeffer- son, in management, and for two years continued managing the Southern Circuit-Wil- mington, N. C., Charleston, S. C., Savannah and Macon, Georgia. After this, Mr. Jefferson joined Laura Keen's Company, and Mr. Ellsler turned his attention to man- aging at Utica, Rochester, Syracuse, and New York, and from thence to Cleveland, Ohio, 1853, remaining there until 1858. He then managed Woods's Theater, Cincin- nati, for two seasons. From there he returned to Cleveland in 1861, and has continued managing there up to the present time. For the past three years he has also been managing the Pittsburg Opera house. In 1873 he commenced building the Euclid Avenue Opera-house, of which we give a representation, and of which Mr. Ellsler is sole manager and lessee.
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SO Fuswold.
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G. O. GRISWOLD.
G. O. GRISWOLD was born in Meriden, Connecticut, during 1810, and is the son of Jesse and Fannie Griswold. In his early youth he received an ordinary school education at home. When fourteen years old he left school and commenced to learn a trade; the one selected was that of making ivory combs, which he discontinued when nineteen, and associated himself with Mr. A. Hoskiss in the manufacture of coffee-mills, the firm being Griswold & Hoskiss. This he continued till 1838, when he was in his twenty-eighth year. Mr. Griswold now, having concluded to leave his native place, severed his business connections and moved to Aurora, Ohio, where he joined his brother in the tinsmithing business, the firm being Griswold Brothers; and while attached to this undertook, at his advanced age for learning, something new, and thoroughly learned the trade. In 1842 he moved from Aurora to Newcastle, Pennsylvania, and here commenced his career in the manufacture of linseed oil. In 1848 he moved to Warren, Ohio, contin- uing in the same business, and which business he still gives his whole time and attention. Since his settlement at Warren he has seen over twenty oil mills open and close; but by strict attention to business has kept his mill always running, and we may say his whole experience has been truly successful.
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