USA > Ohio > Ohio's progressive sons; a history of the state; sketches of those who have helped to build up the commonwealth > Part 78
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JOHN EMIL ECKER
John Emil Ecker,
Of Toledo, Ohio, a musician and teacher of piano of high standing, is a native of Austria, being born on the 14th of April, 1853, at Traun on the Attersee, in the neighborhood of Linz, Upper Austria. His parents were Martin Ecker and Anna Niszl Ecker, both of whom emigrated to this country in 1857. Martin Ecker, the father, was a teacher in the schools of Austria and in this country as well, where he was also an organist. Mr. John Ecker was educated in the public schools of Nauvoo, Illinois. His musical education was directed by his father, who started the son in his musical career at the early age of six, and until
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he reached the age of ten, carefully guided him in that profession. From that time Mr. Ecker was left to his own resources. He was nineteen years of age when he became a teacher of German in the public schools of Mendota, Illinois, where he remained for one year, from 1872 to 1873. The following year he went with his father to Toledo and entered the ranks of the teachers in the public schools of that city, teaching the German language, holding his position until he could follow his natural inclination and study music under the masters of the Old World. At the age of twenty-nine he became a student at the Royal Conservatory of Music at Leipsic, Germany, studying there for a period of four years, 1882 to 1886, graduating with high honors and a full "Directorial Zeugniss" from that institu- tion. Returning to his native country, he became actively engaged in the profession of teaching piano, harmony, counterpoint, composition and orchestration in the city of Toledo, where he is also organist and choir director. He is a composer of a number of compositions for piano, a few songs and anthems, and an overture for full orchestra, which received its first performance at the celebrated "Gewandhaussaal" in Leipsic in 1886. He also composed a concerto for piano with orchestral accompaniment, and a March Sollennelle for full orchestra. The latter three are still in manuscript. Mr. Ecker is recognized as a man of extraordinary ability in his profession, and a most conscientious and painstaking teacher. He was married on the 30th of July, 1890, to Sophia E. Mandeville, nee Commager. His studios and residence are located at No. 315 Indiana Avenue, Toledo, Ohio.
Herman Eckhardt,
Deceased, was born in 1820 at Stolpen, Saxony, Germany. At a very early age he showed a very decided taste for music, and at the age of seven began to study the violin under Klingel. At Dresden he continued his studies under Winterstein, who was one of the best pupils of the great master Spohr. Later he studied with Concertmeister Schubert. At a very early age he passed the rigid exam- ination to enter the Royal Orchestra of Dresden, also studying at this time with the great Lapinski, the only man who could con- pete with Paganini. While a member of the orchestra he acquired a high reputation as a viola player, and was selected by Wagner to play the leading viola part in the opera of "Tannhaeuser" on its first presentation. At this time he was intimate and played quartettes and quintettes with Liszt, Joachim, Ferdinand Hiller, to whom he gave viola lessons, and Wieck, father of Clara Wieck, who later mar- HERMAN ECKHARDT ried Robert Schumann, the great composer. After he had been a member of the orchestra for seven or eight years he was offered the position of conductor of the Saxonia Orchestra, composed of some of the best musicians of Dresden. This position he accepted, and after a tour of the German cities, meeting with phenomenal success everywhere, the orchestra sailed for America, arriving in New York in 1848. They gave concerts in New York, Philadelphia
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and Boston, until 1849, when the orchestra dis- banded, many members remaining in America, among them Mr. Eckhardt. Here he was leader of the orchestra in the Lowell (Massachusetts) Museum, Boston Museum, and later in New York at the Broadway Theater, Globe Theater and Fifth Avenue Theater. He was also a member of the Philharmonic Society. In 1851 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Butcher, of Lowell, Massachusetts. In 1869 he went to Columbus, Ohio, as instructor of music in the public schools. He remained in Columbus until his death, in 1896. In this city he spent the best years of his life in very successful teach- ing, and educating the new West to a higher standard of music.
George Gale Emerson,
Organist of the Second Presbyterian Church of Cleveland, Ohio, has his place among the GEORGE GALE EMERSON successful teachers of piano and organ in the Forest City. He is a native of Ohio, born in Cleveland, and the son of Taylor and Harriett (Gale) Emerson. He received his musical training under the direction of William B. Colson, of Cleveland; Clarence Eddy, and the greatest of all American pianists, William H. Sherwood, of Chicago. After finishing his musical education under that celebrated tutor, Mr. Emerson for fifteen years was engaged in his profession in Chicago and as organist of Trinity Episcopal Church. In 1902 he returned to Cleveland, and since that time has become one of the foremost teachers of music in that community. His studio is located at No. 606 Arcade Building, Cleveland, Ohio.
Willis F. Emerson,
Manager and Conductor of the Canton Orchestral Club, is a musician well known in the northern part of Ohio. He is a native of Tuscarawas County, being born on the 11th of December, 1863, on a farm in the neighbor- hood of New Philadelphia. His parents were James R. Emerson, a farmer, and Martha J. English Emerson, both of whom are of Irish descent. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Emerson emigrated to the United States when a young man, and came to Ohio when the State was still in its infancy. His son, the father of Mr. Willis F. Emerson, was born in the same house as the latter. In the district schools of Lockport, Mr. Emerson obtained his education. Being gifted with a talent for music, he studied violin playing under Profes-
WILLIS F. EMERSON
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sor Swinger, a well-known teacher in his part of the State. Mr. Emerson came to Canton in 1881, and in this city he found better opportunities for the study of music than in his former place of residence. Finally, in 1890, when he was offered a position in an orchestra, the ambitions of his younger years became realized. Since that time Mr. Emerson has been continuously engaged in his profession, and to-day he is recognized as a musician of ability and a conscientious and painstaking teacher. He is, as above stated, director of the Canton Orchestral Club, a musical organization whose services are in great demand for concerts, balls and receptions. Mr. Emerson had charge of the orchestra which furnished the music for the Mckinley Memorial Banquet at Canton, Ohio, when President Roosevelt, Secretary Root and Secretary William Taft were present. Since 1888 Mr. Emerson has been married to Phebe A. Willis. One daughter, Bernice, who has inherited the talent for music from her father, graces his home, which is located at No. 519 North Market Street, Canton, Ohio.
Otto Engwerson,
Deceased, of Columbus, was recognized as one of the superior singers and musicians of the State of Ohio. His voice, a robusto tenor of excellent quality, made him a valuable addition to the soloists as well as to the various choral organizations. A brief bio- graphical sketch is here subjoined.
Mr. Engwerson was born in Bavaria in 1857 and came to the United States at the age of ten years. He received his first music lesson from Julius Eichberg, of Boston, and at the age of nineteen years returned to Germany, where he studied vocal music in Munich under Carl Luetzel and theory under Michael Licht. At this period he was an associate director of the Gesang Verein at Neustadt for about two years. Returning to the United States in 1882, he sang an engagement with the Boston Ideal Opera Company. Subsequently he located in Cleveland, where he further pursued his musical study under Wilson G. Smith, and filled various choir positions as tenor until OTTO ENGWERSON 1884, when he went to Chicago, taking the position as solo tenor at Plymouth Church, where he was associated with Genevra Johnston Bishop and others. In Chicago he studied under the eminent tenor, Whitney Mockridge. In the spring of 1890 he went to London, England, and studied voice culture with Henry Blower, of the Royal College of Music, and with Sims Reeves, the celebrated English tenor. He also studied theory under Arthur Briscoe for a period of two years. While in London, Mr. Engwerson sang with success the tenor solos in "Messiah," "Creation," "Elijah" and the "Barbier of Bagdad," the latter at a performance given before the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh. He returned to America in 1892, located in Columbus, Ohio, where he became a very successful singer and teacher, having also charge of the vocal department of Denison University at Granville, Ohio. Not only in the class-room was Mr. Engwerson's inspiring ability manifest, but he was essentially a man of ingenious,.
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original and progressive ideas-ideas acquired and perfected by a thorough musical edu- cation. He was elected director of the Arion Club in 1894, in which position he made conspicuous success. Mr. Engwerson was elected President of the Ohio Music Teachers' Association in 1899. Mr. Engwerson died on the 16th of September, 1903, at Carlsbad, Austria, while preparing for a concert tour in Europe.
Owen Hugh Evans,
Of Marysville, Ohio, is recognized as one of the leading musicians in the central part of the State of Ohio. He was born on the 20th of February, 1848, at Anglesey, North Wales, and is the son of Hugh Evans, a farmer, and Jane Williams Evans. His education was received in a private school in his native town, and later in the public schools of this country. At an early age he manifested a desire to study music, having shown a remarkable talent for that art when still a boy. He therefore entered a musical institution in Wales, study- ing the Tonic Solfa System, passing three examinations with honors, and when but a boy taught this system successfully for two years at Newborough, Anglesey. He came to the United States in the spring of 1870, settling at Galena, Illinois, and was a successful teacher of singing at that point. Later he attended Dana's well-known musical institute OWEN HUGH EVANS at Warren, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1877. He subsequently went abroad and finished his musical education in London and Leipsic. That he has thoroughly absorbed the teachings of these institutions can be seen by the following degrees, which he holds: Member of the American College of Musicians ; Licentiate Music, London College of Music; Doctor of Music and Master of Music. Dr. Evans started in public life at the age of eighteen years, when he took charge of a church choir. Since that time he has been continuously engaged in the practice of is chosen pro- fession, and, it may be truthfully said, with marked success. He is well known as a composer of merit ; among his compositions are two sacred cantatas, a number of anthems, glees, part songs, songs ; a string quintette, for which he received a first prize and medal; a chorus an dorchestra accompaniment, which was awarded a gold medal; a set of teaching pieces for piano, and a cavatina for piano and violin. At the present writing, Dr. Evans is director of two church choirs and two choral societies, and he also has a large class of private pupils. On the Ist of September, 1881, he was married to Martha Sprague. Two children are the issue of this union, Owen Earle and Clara Edith. The family attends the First Congregational Church at Marysville. Dr. Evans has an attractive home on West Fifth Street, Marysville, where the music-loving friends of the family pass many delightful moments.
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Carl F. Fessler,
A very prominent musician of Cleveland, Ohio, and a native of Menzingen, near Carls- ruhe, Germany, was born on the 19th of December, 1860, in the above-named place. He was educated in the public schools and the Gymnasium of Carlsruhe. In his early youth Mr. Fessler displayed a precocious talent for music, which became so marked that it was decided by his family to give him a very careful training in music, and consequently the best masters, like Gamer, Gamm, Brinck and Arthur Bendix, were secured for his tuition. Completing his studies in Germany, he emigrated to the United States in 1880, where, in the city of Boston, he stayed for one year, following the profession of a teacher of piano. Removing from that city to Cleve- land in 1881, he made his permanent home in the metropolis on Lake Erie. He soon became recognized for his ability and his services were in great demand. Since five years Mr. Fessler is connected with the piano depart- ment of Wolfram's School of Music. He has often appeared in public as a piano soloist, and is well known all over Northern Ohio. For two seasons he was a member of the Lyceum Bureau. He is a composer of no small degree of merit. Among his com- positions the following are the best known : Evening Series (Sundown, Am Kamin, Twi- light, Slumber Song, etc.), Russian Wedding Hungarian Rhapsody, etc. Some of his com- CARL F. FESSLER positions were published with Rolfing, of Milwaukee, while others are still in manuscript. All of these, however, have been heard in public. Mr. Fessler is a prominent official of the Schlaraffia, at Cleveland. He married in 1892, and is the father of a boy and a girl. His studios are located at 712 Arcade Building, Cleveland, Ohio.
Charles Albert Gouf,
Teacher of music and conductor of the orchestra named after him at Lancaster, Ohio, was born on the Ist of May, 1857, in the city of New York. He is the son of Adam Gouf, a well-known broker of the metropolis of the East, who was a native of Germany, coming to this country while very young. His mother, Laura, was born in Boston, of German descent. Mr. Charles Albert Gouf received his education in New York City. While a boy he showed a remarkable talent for music, which induced his parents to give him a thorough musical training and to send him abroad, to finish his studies under celebrated masters. He con- sequently entered the Royal Conservatory of Music at Stuttgart, where he remained for five years, returning to America in 1876, but afterwards spent another year at Stuttgart. In 1876, Mr. Gouf accepted a position as teacher of music at the Ada Normal School. It was he who organized the music department of that school. Afterwards he was connected
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with opera interests in Columbus. For eighteen years Mr. Gouf has been identified with music in the city of Lancaster, where he still resides. He is a popular teacher of piano and organ, and also has directed many choruses and concerts. He is the composer of many two- steps and concert pieces, some of which have become very popular. He is a member of the Elks, and has a studio located at No. 117 South Columbus Street, Lancaster, Ohio.
Hermann Hamm,
Teacher of voice culture at Cleveland, Ohio, occupies a leading position among the pro- fessional musicians of Northern Ohio. A native of Rhenish Bavaria, Germany, he was born on the 4th of July, 1861, in Dellfield, in which city he attended the public schools until he reached the age of eleven years. When a boy he manifested a remarkable talent for music, and on account of this he was instructed by his father, Jacob Hamm, in the rudiments of the art, in which in later years he obtained such a high standing. Leaving the public school at the age of eleven, he was placed under the tutorship of Professor Paul, in Zwei- bruecken, where he studied music, German and Latin. Wishing his son to become a teacher in the profession the boy showed such a natural aptitude for, his father entered him in the Teachers' Seminary of Kaiserslautern, with which an institute of music, celebrated HERMANN HAMM for its proficient corps of instructors, was con- nected. Here Mr. Hamm studied piano, violin voice culture, organ, 'cello and harmony. Graduating in 1881, he successfully passed the State examination. He afterwards took a post-graduate course, studying another year under Professor Berger piano, violin and har- mony, and with Professor A. Damian voice culture. At the age of twenty-one Mr. Hamm started his career as a teacher, being offered a position at the Academy at Pirmasens, which place he filled with credit for a period of three years. During this time he also taught many pupils privately. His success at the Academy attracted the attention of many who wished to enjoy the privilege of his tuition. In 1885 he accepted the position of Pro- fessor in Vocal and Musical Instruction in the Latin School of Pirmasens, and also became conductor of several prominent singing societies. During this time he, with others, founded the Music Verein of Pirmasens. This closed the period of his career in the Old Country, for in the latter part of 1885 he came to America, settling in Cleveland, in which city he has continuously lived ever since, and where he has become a prominent figure in musical circles. Almost immediately after arriving in the Forest City, he became the organist of the Schifflein Christi Church and conductor of prominent singing societies. In 1893 he was assistant conductor of the world-famous Saengerfest of the North American Saengerbund held at Cleveland. His musical training in Germany here manifested itself to advantage, he receiving the highest results in the directorship of the rehearsals of the mass choruses. For the past several years Mr. Hamm has conducted a school of music at No. 122 Euclid Avenue,
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Cleveland, Ohio, where success has crowned his efforts. On the 2d of December, 1886, he became a benedict, marrying Miss Bertha Kleinschmidt, daughter of a prominent German pioneer of Cleveland. He is the happy father of two children.
R. W. Henderson,
Supervisor of Music in the public schools of Lake County, Ohio, outside of Painesville, enjoys more than ordinary prominence among the music teachers in the northeastern part of Ohio. He is well and favorably known all over Lake County as a conscientious and painstaking teacher of wide and varied experience; for a great many years he has been engaged in teaching music, not only as a private teacher, but also as Supervisor of Music in the country schools of his home county. This is no easy task, as the distances between the different schoolhouses are large and Mr. Henderson has to cover a wide territory. The system Mr. Henderson employs is worth mentioning, as it has proved a great success. He not only instructs the children who attend the country schools, but also the teachers, pre- paring the latter in a way that they can act as his assistants. This method has worked so well that the schools entrusted to the care of Mr. Henderson have made a wonderful progress in music, and in fact much more than any other country schools in the northern part of Ohio. Mr. Henderson is married, and lives with his family in the pretty little city of Painesville, Ohio.
Karl H. Hoenig,
Organist and choirmaster of the Trinity Church, one of the most influential congre- gations of the Capital City, was born on the 17th of October, 1865, in the city of New York. His father, Bernhard Hoenig, was a surgeon, and a native of Hessen-Darmstadt. The mother's name before her marriage was Elizabeth Jung. She was born in Hessen- Nassau. Both parents emigrated to this country when quite young, and the father still resides in New York, and has retired from practice. Mr. Karl H. Hoenig received his literary education in the schools of the Eastern metropolis, and desiring to follow a musical career, in which art he early manifested great ability, he entered the Grand Conservatory of Music in New York City, and graduated from there in 1888. He studied organ with Warren, of Grace Church, and vocal music under Messiter, of Trinity Church, the most celebrated religious organization in the New World. At the age of twenty-one he began his career as a teacher of music, being particularly interested in church music and choir work. He is well known in the States of New York, Montana, Indiana and Washington, where he for a number of years followed his musical pursuits. Finally locating in the city of Columbus, Ohio, after accepting the responsible position of organist and choirmaster for Trinity Church, he soon became an important factor in the musical circles of that community. By his efforts he has trained a chorus of boys which has become famous by reason of its excellent work. Mr. Hoenig has composed some church music of great merit, and his ability as a thorough musician, teacher and choirmaster has been firmly established. He was married in 1903 to Miss Emma C. Kuhn. His residence is located at No. 554 Oak Street, Columbus, Ohio.
Charles T. Howe,
Of Columbus, Ohio, a musician of unusual talent, and the son of Henry Howe, LL.D., the celebrated historian, was born in the city of Cincinnati. His parents were native New Englanders, of English descent, whose ancestors came from the Old World in 1656, settling at Ipswich, Massachusetts. One of his ancestors was "Landlord Howe," immortalized by Longfellow in his "Wayside Inn." Mr. Charles T. Howe was carefully educated in the
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common schools of Cincinnati, and at an early age, showing evidence of unusual musical talent, he was given the benefit of instructions by the best music teachers of his native city. He studied the piano, organ and flute, making a specialty of the latter as a solo instrument. His progress was so rapid and his talent so remarkable, that at the age of thirteen he had gained a splendid reputation as soloist, and his services were in frequent demand at high- class musical instruments. At this time he was also a member of the Cincinnati Orchestra. Removing to New York City at the age of eighteen, he continued his musical studies, receiving valuable instructions from Professor Eugene Weiner, the eminent flute soloist of the New York Philharmonic Club. Although frequently called upon to appear in public at this period, Mr. Howe declined to do so, as he desired to give his entire attention to his studies. The object of these studies was not only to make of himself a finished solo artist, but also with a view to his future career as an instructor with a full knowledge of his art. While the flute is his specialty, and all his studies were with a view to perfecting himself on that instrument, he held that a knowledge of other branches of the art was necessary to this end, and included the piano, organ, voice, thorough bass, harmony and composition in his course of study. After several years of close application he had reached the high standard set for himself before commencing CHARLES T. HOWE the practice of his profession as a concert soloist and instructor. Mr. Howe did not complete his studies, for a true artist can never reach a point where study is no longer neces- sary. His first appearance in an Eastern city was at New Haven, Connecticut, at a concert given in compliance with a request of President Porter, Professors Barbour and Stoeckel, of Yale College, and fifty other prominent citizens of New Haven. The New Haven Register said : "Charles T. Howe's concert at the Athenaeum last night was a genuine musical success, as was attested by a most enthusiastic audience. * Mr. Howe, by his exquisite flute playing in the duo with Mr. Weiner, and his difficult solo, "The Wind," at once con- vinced his audience that he deserves a place in the front rank of America's best flutists." After an appearance in a number of Eastern cities as a soloist, where his skillful mastery of his instrument created unbounded enthusiasm, he decided to locate in his native State, and in 1888 removed to Columbus, Ohio. Since this time, Mr. Howe has been permanently engaged in the Capital City in the practice of his profession. A number of years ago he founded the Howe Correspondence School of Music, and he is the originator of the cor- respondence system of music instruction, his institution being the only school of the kind in the world devoted to the dissemination of musical knowledge. In this school voice, piano, harmony, composition, violin and every other orchestral and band instrument is taught. This school has been very successful from its start, and has become an important factor in the musical education of the people in this country.
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Albert H. Hurd,
Well-known baritone and teacher of voice at Cleveland, Ohio, was born on the 30th of May, 1870, at Memphis, Tennessee. He is a son of George H. Hurd and Anna M. (Loomis) Hurd. His father practiced for many years in the profession of dentistry in this State, and was a native of Ohio, while his mother was born in Indiana. He comes from old New Eng- land stock, his great-grandfather fighting in the Revolutionary army and his grandfather on father's side being a soldier in the War of 1812. Mr. Hurd came to Cleveland in 1874 and was educated in the Forest City. His musical education was obtained by private study and at Dr. Henninges' studios. He started in public life as a teacher of voice culture in 1898, and ranks now among the leading musicians in his community. At present he is connected with the Faculty of Dr. Henninges' studios, and for the period of three years he was a member of the Faculty of the music department of Buchtel College at Akron, Ohio. He does much concert and church work. His voice is a baritone of wide range and excellent quality. He is assistant director of the Plymouth Church choir. His residence is located at No. 265 Kennard Street, and his studio at 608 Arcade Building, Cleveland, Ohio.
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