USA > Ohio > Ohio's progressive sons; a history of the state; sketches of those who have helped to build up the commonwealth > Part 79
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Sylvester Bennett Hurlburt, Jr.,
One of the leading musicians of Dayton, Ohio, was born on the 3d of September, 1855, at the Gem City. He is the son of Sylvester Bennett Hurlburt, a well-known car builder. His mother was, before her marriage, Miss Henrietta Miller, a native of New Jersey, his father being a native of the State of Ohio. The son, Sylvester, received his education in the public schools of his native city, and studied organ with J. A. Robert, having shown a remarkable musical talent when still a boy. At the age of twenty-one years he accepted the position of organist at the Grace M. E. Church, and two years later made a voyage to Germany to finish his musical education, and studied organ in the city of Berlin with Otto Dienel, harmony with August Haupt, and piano at Theodor Kullak's Conservatory for two years, after which he returned to America and accepted a position as organist of the Baptist Church in Dayton, which position he has held SYLVESTER BENNETT HURLBURT, JR. for fifteen years. At present he is organist at St. John's German Lutheran Church. The ability of Mr. Hurlburt as an organist has been recognized by the leading bodies of the Masonic fraternity of the community in which he has so long resided, they showing their appreciation of his talent by continuously engaging his services as organist of all the Masonic bodies in the city of Dayton for the past 22 years.
Charles M. Jacobus,
Director of the Wesleyan School of Music at Delaware, Ohio, ranks among the foremost musicians of Ohio. He is a native of the Buckeye State, born on the 14th of August,
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CHARLES M. JACOBUS
1867, at Delaware. His parents, Edward G. Jacobus and Mary C. Condit Jacobus, were natives of the State of New Jersey. When a boy Mr. Charles M. Jacobus showed a remark- able talent for music. He was educated in the public schools of his home city and the Ohio Wesleyan University. He obtained his musical training at the Ohio Wesleyan School of Music, the New England Conservatory of Music and through private instruction in Boston. He graduated from the Ohio Wesleyan Conservatory of Music with the class of 1890. At the age of twenty-eight years Mr. Jacobus was appointed instructor in the pianoforte de- partment of the Wesleyan School of Music, and five years later was elected director of that institution. He teaches pianoforte and musical theory. Mr. Jacobus is a member of the M. E. Church and lives in the pretty city of Delaware.
Jenkin Powell Jones,
Supervisor of Music in the High and Nor- mal Schools of Cleveland, Ohio, was born on the 28th of June, 1853, at Quaker's Yard, Glamorganshire, South Wales, being the son of Edward Powell and Rebecca Jones. He displayed deep interest in the study of music when very young, his first teacher being the late Rhys Lewis (Eos Ebrill), of Cardiff. Mr. Jones' early educational advantages were few, but that fact seemed only to spur him on, and by dint of energy, coupled with a strong determination to succeed, he ultimately managed to save enough from his earnings as a blacksmith to spend two years in London, where he studied under John S. Curwen, Carl Behuke and Albert Randegger, the celebrated voice special- ists. Mr. Jones has on many occasions demon- strated his capabilities as a conductor. Before coming to this country he was recognized as an able chorus director, and many times proved victorious in eisteddfods with musical organ- izations from Quaker's Yard, Bargood and Deri. Coming to America in October, 1881, Mr. Jones settled in Youngstown, Ohio, where he immediately became associated in the music publishing business with the well - known Welsh musician and publisher, D. O. Evans. His reputation as a conductor had preceded him to his new home, and being importuned by the leading singers of Youngstown and vicinity to organize a choral society, he acqui-
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JENKIN POWELL JONES
esced, with the result that the Youngstown Harmonic Society was born, and, under the careful direction of Mr. Jones, became a power in the musical circles of Northeastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, both in concert and eisteddfodau, and enjoyed unusual success.
On the Ist of April, 1889, Mr. Jones was deservingly honored with the appointment of Supervisor of Music in the Painesville (Ohio) Academy and Public Schools, a position he has filled to the utmost satisfaction of his employers, as well as with credit to himself. He also officiated as director of the First Congregational Church Quartette at Painesville, a position he held for four years, and subsequently resigned to accept charge of St. James' Episcopal vested choir, where he at present is engaged, and where for the past eight years the music, through his instrumentality, has become an especial feature of the service.
In 1890 Professor Jones organized the Painesville Vocal Society, which participated in many eisteddfodau with marked success. With this organization Mr. Jones won first and second prizes at Youngstown, Christmas, 1891 ; the glee contest at the World's Fair Eistedd- fod; first and second prizes at Pittsburg, Christmas, 1897; second prize at Cleveland, 1899, and first prize at Youngstown, Christmas, 1890. In addition to competing, this organiza- tion has performed, under Professor Jones' direction, such works as "The Messiah," "Crea- tion," "Judas Maccabeus," "Crucifixion," and "Redemption," being assisted by the following artists : Dr. Carl Dufft, Corrine Lawson, Gertrude May Stein, H. Evan Williams, George Gamble, Frank Tunnison, and Ernest Gamble.
In addition to his many other arduous duties, Professor Jones finds time to officiate as adjudicator in eisteddfodic contests, and his reputation in that capacity is one to be proud of. He has adjudicated in twenty-two large eisteddfodau, having been four times in Vermont and three times in Utica.
During the last three years Mr. Jones has been Supervisor of Music in the Cleveland High and Normal Schools, and also choirmaster of Epworth Memorial Church, one of the largest churches in Ohio.
Carl Wilhelm Kern,
Director of Patton's Seminary and Con- servatory of Music, has been connected with the musical affairs of the State of Ohio for a number of years, principally in the capacity of Supervisor of Music in the public schools of Dennison, Ohio. He was born on the 4th of June, 1875, in Schlitz, Germany. Carl August Kern, his father, was director of a college of music and a celebrated organ virtuoso, a very clever composer of piano and organ music and male choruses. Mr. C. W. Kern received his musical training at the Laubach College of Music and at the Mayence Conservatory of Music, supplemented by the instructions of his father. He holds the degree of Master of Music, given to him in 1894 by the Mayence Conservatory of Music, from which institution he graduated with honor. After his emigration to this country, he took up the profession of music teacher, in which he has gained fame.
CARL WILHELM KERN
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As a director of choruses, orchestra and operas he is known by a large and appreciative circle. His experience as a teacher has been a varied and useful one. For one year he was instructor at Elmhurst College, Illinois, and for three years at Springfield, Ohio. From this city he came to Dennison, where in the College of Music he was director for five years. During that time he also occupied the position of Supervisor of Music in the public schools of that city. He was Professor of Harmony, Composition and Instrumentation at the Kunkel College of Music, St. Louis, Missouri, in which city he became musical editor and critic of the Shattinger Music Company. As a composer he has gained a name of National reputation. In collaboration with F. A. Kern, he composed the opera, "King of the Cannibal Islands." "The Duke of Texas," another opera, is a composition of his own, and he also wrote a work about piano methods. Among his other works are a number of brilliant and elegant compositions for the piano; a Sonata, Op. 61, for pipe organ, which was played by Shaul of New York with greatest success, as well as numerous voice com- positions. His works have been published in America, as well as in Europe. In August, 1904, Carl Wilhelm Kern was appointed Dean of the Public School Music Department and Professor of Piano and Composition at the Strassberger Conservatories of Music at St. Louis, where he resides now.
Arthur Wedell Kortheuer,
Among the leading musicians of the United States and as a power in the musical art in the State of Ohio, Arthur Wedell Kortheuer, of Toledo, occupies a foremost position. Mr. Kortheuer is a pianist, composer and con- ductor of the highest order. His birthplace was Terre Haute, Indiana. Both his parents were musically gifted. His first teacher was his father, the Rev. H. Kortheuer, D.D., who, although a clergyman by calling, was a thor- ough musician, having been a Professor of Music, History and Botany in various institu- tions of learning in Germany and America. He is also the author of several church hymn books, and composer of vocal works. Mr. Kortheuer began his musical studies on the piano and violin very early in life; and at the age of nine appeared for the first time with success in a concert given by his brother, H. O. C. Kortheuer, the celebrated pianist of ARTHUR WEDELL KORTHEUER New York. At the age of fourteen he made a concert tour through a number of cities in Ohio and Indiana. Among his selections at that time were such compositions as Liszt's Rhapsodies Nos. 2, 13, 14, Chopin's Valses, Fantasie Impromptu, Nocturnes and Cavalry Polonaise, Schubert's Impromptus, and some works of his own composition. Having graduated at the age of sixteen from the Bucyrus public schools, his father sent him to Germany for a three years' course of study at the famous Leipsic Conservatory of Music. Here he had the advantage of study under the foremost masters of the day. His teachers in the art of piano playing were: Dr. Carl
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Reinecke, Dr. Bruno Zwintscher, Theodore Coccius and Albert Eibenschutz. In the theory of music, choral and orchestral conducting and the science of orchestration his masters were: Professor Carl Reinecke, Dr. Oscar Paul, Dr. Carl Piutti and Solomon Jaddasohn.
Mr. Kortheuer can honestly claim that he has gone entirely through the course of study as given in the world renowned Royal Conservatory of Leipsic, and holds a first-class diploma as proof of his diligence and success. Upon his return to America, Mr. Kortheuer first traveled as a concert pianist and conductor of the Euterpe Opera Company. In 1884 he was induced to come to Toledo to take charge of the music at the Smead School and give private lessons. In a few weeks his class numbered over fifty pupils. Since that time he has been three times to Europe to delve deeper into the art of piano playing and the science of composition and orchestration. During his sojourn in Berlin he was especially favored by being the pupil and close friend of the universally famous pianist and composer Woldimar Bargiel, the brother of Frau Clara Schumann. Bargiel's tone and touch on the piano were exquisite. His motto was, "A player who can not sing on the piano has not a true musical soul." Bargiel found in Kortheuer the executant of this motto, and often complimented him on his soulful playing. As an active, energetic and conscientious musician, Mr. Kortheuer has no superior. He has given, in his city and abroad, hundreds of concerts, musical lectures, orchestral concerts, operas, oratorios and piano recitals. During the last year he gave sixty lecture-recitals on dramatic music. As an authority and inter- preter of Richard Wagner, he is pronounced as second to none. In 1897 Mr. Kortheuer, with the co-operation of a number of other gentlemen, founded the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, an organization of fifty professional musicians, with Mr. Kortheuer as conductor. Thirty regular subscription concerts have been given in the Valentine Theater, the largest auditorium in Toledo. Crowded houses have always greeted the Symphony Orchestra concerts under the direction of Mr. Kortheuer. Besides the Symphony Orchestra, he is also conductor of the Toledo Concert Orchestra, Centennial Orchestra, Y. M. C. A. Orchestra and Zenobia Opera Co. Among the sixty compositions which Mr. Kortheuer has given to the public, the most conspicuous are : Symphony in B flat, Fantasie and Polonaise, Spanish Serenade, and Southern melody for orchestra. The best known of his piano compositions are Polonaise in E, Op. 12; Valse Brilliante, Marche Arabesque, Nocturne in F sharp, and Who is Silvia? (transcription). As a song writer, the subject of this sketch is an honor and joy to his country. Among his thirty songs, the most famous are "Love's Rapture," "Under the Trees Alone," "Ah, Love, Awake," and "The Turkey Gobbler." The first, "Love's Rapture," has been sung with convincing success in all musical centers in Europe and America. The fol- lowing quotations from musical journals show the esteem in which it is held :
Paris, France.
"I have received your song, "Love's Rapture," and with my thanks I congratulate you, for I believe it destined for a great success. It is full of fire and the melody is clear. One sees by your works that you have studied at the true source of our art; and that it is now your mission to propogate the same in your grand country. Accept, dear sir, the thanks and compliments of your colleague. DESIREE ARTOT LE PADILLA."
Mrs. Genevra Johnstone Bishop, Courier-Journel: "The greatest success I have ever had with any song is the one which Arthur W. Kortheuer, of Toledo, wrote, 'Love's Rap- ture.' All over Europe, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific at home, it has won the great- est applause. Once when I sang it in London the great Englart said to me: 'Who wrote that song?' 'Arthur Kortheuer,' I replied; 'an American.' 'An American!' he said, in sur- prise. 'An American? Why, he is as great as Stephen Adams, who wrot ? "The Holy City."' And I thought Stephen had received a compliment."
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Mr. Kortheuer is not only a musician of the highest order, but an accomplished student, advanced thinker and linguist. He is President of the leading literary society of his city, and frequently lectures on various sociological and scientific subjects before learned circles. While yet a young man, Mr. Kortheuer has accomplished much, and the world will hear still more from him in the future.
Joseph Sylvester Kos,
A prominent teacher of violin in the city of Cleveland, Ohio, is of Bohemian parentage, and was born on the 3Ist of December, 1865, at Cleveland, Ohio, his parents, John Kos, a custom tailor, and Mary Piwonka Kos, having left their native place, Beroun, Bohemia, the year previous, crossing the Atlantic and com- ing to Cleveland. The son Joseph was edu- cated in the public schools of his home city and the Cleveland Business College. Showing an early aptitude for the interpretation of music, it was decided by his parents to give him a thorough musical training. He was entered as a student in the Cleveland Con- servatory of Music, in which institution he remained for a number of years. Among his instructors were Professor John Hart, a pupil of the celebrated Ferdinand David, and from whom he received the true foundation for artistic violin playing; Johann H. Beck, solo violinist and composer, and the well-known JOSEPH SYLVESTER KOS violin virtuosos and teachers George Lehmann and Sol Marcosson. Mr. Kos entered into his musical career in the capacity of first violinist in a theater orchestra. Later he was violin instructor at Noble's Female College, Anniston, Alabama; leader of the concert orchestra at the Kenilworth Inn, Bilmore, North Carolina, and returning to Cleveland, was made first violinist of the Euclid Avenue Opera House Orchestra, and also played viola in the Cleveland String Quartette Club, with which quartette he had the opportunity of playing with artists like Henry Marteau, Vladimir de Pachman and William Sherwood, the great- est of all American pianists. At present Mr. Kos is violin instructor at the Cleveland School of Music, at No. 781 Prospect Street, Alfred Arthur director, and is also first violinist at Keith's Vaudeville Theater in the same city. On the 3d day of December, 1890, Mr. Kos was united in marriage to Anna Marguerite Blaha, by which union he is the father of one son, Alfred. Mr. Kos is recognized as a capable, conscientious and thorough teacher and as a violin soloist. His services are always in demand. He resides at No. 1706 Broad- way, and his studio is at the Cleveland School of Music.
Joseph Charles Kunz,
Solo pianist and instructor of music, and organist and chorus director of the Church of the Immaculate Conception of Toledo, Ohio, was born on the 28th of April, 1879, at Toledo, the son of Peter Kunz and Matilda Harris, his father being a native of Paterson, New Jersey,
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while his mother was born in Napoleon, Ohio. On his father's side his ancestry is German, and on his mother's side Mr. Kunz is of French and Yankee descent. His grandfather, Thomas Kunz, was Captain in Napoleon Bonaparte's army at Moscow and Waterloo, and had received honors for valorous service during the Napoleonic wars. Mr. Joseph Charles Kunz was educated in the Toledo public schools. Early in life he showed a remarkable talent for music, having inherited same from his mother, who was at one time a church organist. He is the only one of a family of five children gifted with a musical talent, the rest not being musically inclined. He there- fore received a very careful education in that beautiful art, and after having studied under the guidance of the best teachers in Toledo, he attended the Michigan Conservatory of JOSEPH CHARLES KUNZ Music. At the early age of twelve years Mr. Kunz first appeared in public as child pianist. Since he took up teaching and solo work as a profession, Mr. Kunz has met with remarkable success, and to-day his abilities are recog- nized and appreciated by the public and critics. In politics he is a Republican, and socially Mr. Kunz is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Honor and Deputy Grand Protector of the Golden Rule Lodge, No. 2217, of that order. He also belongs to the American Federation of Musicians. Being of the Roman Catholic faith, he attends the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Toledo, Ohio. He is still unmarried. His residence and studios are located at No. 518 Walbridge Avenue, Toledo, Ohio.
Hugh Faris Laughlin,
Supervisor of Music in the public schools of East Liverpool, Ohio, was born on the 13th of June, 1869, at Lore City, Guernsey County, Ohio. His parents, John B. Laughlin, a farmer, and Hannah (Brown) Laughlin, were both residents of this State, and were of Scotch-Irish descent. His ancestors trans- migrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1803, and were thrifty farmers of the Presbyterian faith. Three uncles, William and Henry Brown and Thomas Laughlin, as also a great- uncle, Colonel James Laughlin, and a cousin, Captain John W. Laughlin, saw hard service in the War of the Rebellion. Thomas Laughlin
HUGH FARIS LAUGHLIN
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was taken prisoner and died in Tennessee. Mr. Hugh Faris Laughlin was educated in the Lore city common schools, Senecaville High School and the Ohio Northern University at Ada, Ohio, from which institution he graduated on the 27th of July, 1897, having taken a thorough course in voice and harmony. At the age of twenty-eight, Mr. Laughlin started in public life as a teacher of voice in the city of Bellefontaine, where he remained for one year. While at Ada College he was engaged as an assistant instructor, and later taught in a small college at West Liberty, Ohio, and did class and chorus work in the vicinity of Bellefontaine. Previous to his study of music he was a successful farmer and vegetable grower. He has been supervisor of music in East Liverpool for seven years, and is director of music at the First Presbyterian Church and Second U. P. Church, and in addition to the above is engaged in the profession of teaching voice. Mr. Laughlin has composed a number of gospel songs, anthems and children's melodies. In politics, Mr. Laughlin is a Repub- lican, and socially he belongs to the order of the K. of P. Mr. Laughlin has had remarkable success as a chorus and choir director and as an institute instructor has awakened intense interest wherever his work called him. On the 4th of June, 1901, he was united in marriage to Miss Olive S. Pike, an accomplished young lady of Lisbon, Ohio. One child is the fruit of this union, Robert Faris. The Laughlin family attends the Presbyterian Church of East Liverpool, Ohio. The residence and studios of Mr. Laughlin are situated at No. 195 Penn- sylvania Avenue, that city.
Wilmer D. Lewis,
Who enjoys the reputation of being one of the leading musicians of the city of Dayton, Ohio, is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, being born on the 8th of November, 1853. His parents lived for many years in his native city and occupied a recognized position in the Quaker City society. The father, Lewis Lewis, was a member of the well-known firm of Wilmer, Cannell & Co., and a native of Scotland, the mother having been born in the city of Chester, Pennsylvania. The Lewis family was particularly well known in church circles, the father, Lewis Lewis, occupying the position of vestryman of St. Mark's Epis- copal Church for the period of twenty years. He was a descendant of Sir William Black- stone's brother, and lawyers and jurists in his .family have been numerous. Mr. Lewis' mother's great-grandfather, Dr. Dick, was George Washington's physician, and attended WILMER D. LEWIS that illustrious patriot during his last and fatal illness. Mr. Wilmer D. Lewis is a gentleman of culture and natural refinement, and received a very careful training and education. He was under the tutorship of Dr. Faires, of Phila- delphia, and also attended the University of Pennsylvania. His musical education was obtained under the guidance of the celebrated Max Ballmann and Enrico Campobello, the great baritone. Mr. Lewis, who at present is director of the Dayton Conservatory of Music
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and the vocal instructor in that institution, has been a concert soloist and teacher for many years. From 1900 to 1903 he was Professor of Vocal Music and Musical Literature at Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio. His numerous musical compositions, notably songs, have attracted the attention of the music lovers of the country. Mr. Lewis is well known in secret society circles. He has been a Mason for the past twenty-five years, and an Elk for eight years. His reputation as a thorough, conscientious teacher of voice culture is well established and recognized, and a great many of his pupils have gained the top of the ladder in their profession. Under President Harrison's administration, Mr. Lewis was appointed Inspector of Customs and Deputy Collector at Tampa, Florida, which position he filled from 1891 to 1894. During his residence in Florida he put out an orange grove which upon maturity was estimated to be worth $45,000. But, unfortunately for him, the entire grove was ruined by the phenomenal freeze of 1894-1895, when the thermometer went down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. On the 22d of October, 1879, Mr. Lewis was united in marriage to Miss Annie I. McIlvaine, the accomplished daughter of the leading physician of Cedar Keys, Florida. The Lewis family are members of the Episcopal Church, and attend the Christ Church of that faith in Dayton, Ohio. His residence and studios can be found on the corner of First and Perry Streets, Dayton, Ohio.
Charles Liebman,
A musician of high standing in the north- eastern part of the State of Ohio, was born on the 30th of June, 1856, at Dayton, Ohio, where his father, Mr. Lipman Liebman, a rabbi, occupied a leading position. Rabbi Liebman and his wife, a former Miss Fannie Hess, were natives of Eppingen, Baden, Germany, and came to the United States in 1853, settling in Cincinnati, where Mr. Liebman became asso ciated with the late Rabbi Wise, where their friendship was established, which only termi- nated with the death of that celebrated gen- tleman. Mr. Charles Liebman was educated in the public and High Schools of Youngs- town. He commenced his musical studies in Columbus and Cleveland, and was a pupil under John Underherr, a piano teacher of great reputation. He afterwards entered Dana's Musical Institute at Warren, Ohio, and was one of the first graduates from that celebrated school. After a short concert tour, CHARLES LIEBMAN deciding to complete his musical education, Mr. Liebman went to Boston and for two and a half years attended the New England Conservatory of Music, graduating from the same. Removing to New York City, he engaged in his profession for one year, when he accepted a position to travel with a concert company. Receiving a flattering offer from Youngs- town, Ohio, to locate in that city, Mr. Liebman canceled his engagement with the concert company and decided to make his home there. In Youngstown he has done more than any other musician to further the interests of his profession, and has been musical director of
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