USA > Ohio > Ohio's progressive sons; a history of the state; sketches of those who have helped to build up the commonwealth > Part 81
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Professor C. S. Morrison is known throughout the country as a composer of music. He began his career as a writer of music in 1884, and he now has on the market one hundred and thirty compositions, consisting of productions for piano, band, orchestra, songs, studies, etc. His compositions have been placed upon the market by such well-known publishers as the John Church Company, of Cincinnati; Oliver Ditson & Co., Boston; the S. Brain- ard's Sons Company and the Thompson Company, Chicago; Harry Coleman, Philadelphia ; the Treloar Music Company, Mexico, Missouri, and C. G. Conn, Elkhart, Indiana. His compositions are always in demand on the market. The Professor has prepared a text book on harmony (still in manuscript), which he regards his greatest effort in the line of com- position.
L. Drew Mosher,
The celebrated vocal teacher, now of Cleveland, Ohio, was born in Lowell, Massachu- setts, on the 15th of October, 1862. Ever since a child he has made music a life study, and gained the enviable reputation of one of America's best tenors and teachers of singing. At ten years of age he was made leading boy soprano at St. Ann's Episcopal Church, Lowell, and from then on began serious study with the best teachers in Lowell. At the age of twenty he went to Boston, and for two years and a half studied with Albin R. Reed; all this time holding responsible positions in the best churches of that city. After four years with the celebrated teachers and singers, Charles F. Webber and C. R. Adams,
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and two years as assistant teacher with the former gentleman, Mr. Mosher took up one year of study with Mr. Courtney, of New York City. Such remarkable progress had been made that Mr. Mosher then thought it best to seek European teachers, and concluded to study with Frau Sophie Foerster, of Munich, Germany, one of the most celebrated prima donnas and teachers of singing in Europe. After studying four years with her, he then went for one year of work with Shriglia in Paris, completing his European study with Sims Reeves, of London, the noted English tenor. Upon his return to America he located in New York City, where for one year he taught singing and gave up much of his time to concert work. Receiving a call to the Ober- lin Conservatory of Music, he accepted, where for ten years he was instructor of voice culture and singing.
Mr. Mosher's present location is a per- manent one, where he has built up a large business. Many of the prominent singers in the city being his pupils. Mr. Mosher's reper- toire is a broad one, having studied all classes of music, operas and oratorios, and the classics of old and modern school.
Reno Boyd Myers,
Of the Findlay College Conservatory of Music, teacher of piano, organ, theory and history of music, and organist of the First Presbyterian Church at Findlay, Ohio, is a native of the Buckeye State. He was born on a farm near Smithville, Ohio, the son of John W. Myers and Jane A. Bricker Myers, natives of Pennsylvania. Young Myers manifested early a remarkable talent for music, and received a very careful training. He obtained his education in the public schools, Smithville Normal School and the University of Wooster, where he remained for three years. He also attended the Musical Department of the Uni- versity of Wooster, from which he graduated in 1891 with the degree of Bachelor of Music. Mr. Myers studied piano, organ and harmony under Dr. Karl Merz four years; piano under Dr. H. H. Haas and William H. Sherwood, two years with each; organ under John W. Pommer, Jr., Philadelphia, two years; and
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theory and composition under Dr. Hugh A. Clark, University of Pennsylvania, two years. Mr. Myers entered into public life at the age of nineteen, as teacher of piano in the Broad Street Conservatory of Music, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which position he filled for two years. After that he was connected with Wheaton College Conservatory of Music two years, at Wheaton, Illinois; for one year with the Conservatory of the Liberty Ladies' Col- lege, as director, at Liberty, Missouri. For a number of years Mr. Myers has been Prin- cipal of the Piano Department of the Findlay College Conservatory of Music, and has met with great success. In the summer of 1904 he was elected director of the Conservatory of Music of said college. Mr. Myers belongs to the Methodist Church. On the 26th of June, 1895, he was married to Miss Lulu Dell Carrothers. They have one child, Cecilia Marie Myers.
Frederick Louis Neddermeyer,
Conductor of the Empire Theater Orches- tra, leader of the Neddermeyer Military Band and one of the foremost musicians in the city of Columbus, Ohio, is of German parentage, and was born in the capital city of Ohio on the 4th of July, 1866. His father, Frederick Neddermeyer, a well-known hotel-keeper, was a native of Hanover, Germany ; his mother, Doretta Boese, coming from Wunsdorf, Ger- many, to this country in 1851. Mr. Nedder- meyer received a careful education in his youth, and displaying marked musical abilities and a keen desire for a finished education in that art, he was given careful tuition by the best obtainable instructors in his home city. After being thoroughly prepared, he went abroad, and at the fountain head of music, the Royal Conservatory at Leipsic, he completed his musical training, graduating in 1886. His first appearance in public occurred when he was but twelve years of age, he playing a FREDERICK LOUIS NEDDERMEYER violin solo before an appreciative audience. After his return from Leipsic, Mr. Nedder- meyer became engaged in his profession in Columbus, where he accepted the position of conductor of orchestras at the Metropolitan, Grand, Henrietta, High Street and Great Southern Theaters. Mr. Neddermeyer has played an important part in the musical life of Columbus, and at present directs the orchestra at the pretty Empire Theater and Nedder- meyer's Military Band. He is a composer of a number of compositions of no small degree of merit, some of which follow: "The Doll Part," "Bianca," "Hotfoot Sue," "The Bismarcks March," and other well-known band and orchestra numbers. Socially, Mr. Neddermeyer belongs to several branches of the Masonic fraternity, and he is Vice President of Local 103, American Federation of Musicians. His wife's maiden name was Loretta Barrett, and his only child, a girl, was named Gayle Barrett Neddermeyer. Mr. Neddermeyer's abilities as a teacher, conductor and soloist are acknowledged, and can be largely attributed to the excellence of his instructors while at the Leipsic Conservatory, he being under the personal
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direction of such famous musicians as Sitt, Brodsky and Hermann, who were his violin instructors, and Reinecke, under whom he studied ensemble playing.
Jean Auguste Parré,
The leading teacher of violin and violin soloist in the northwestern part of Ohio, was born of French parentage in New Orleans on the 13th of March, 1871. As a child of six he began his work on the violin, his mother and uncle giving him his first instructions. Four years later he was placed with Professor Boutiphier and then with Max Kayser, of the Conservatory of New Orleans. His work with the Conservatory continued until he was sev- enteen, when he was engaged to fill a position as instructor at Kagger's College at Denison, Texas. He remained in Denison for three years, when he went to the N. T. F. College for two years. At the close of the latter work he went to New York and studied repertoire with Carl Richter, Augusta Arnold and Ovide Musin, and finally went abroad to finish his musical education under Adolfo Betti and the world-renowned Cesare Thomson, of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, Belgium. Mr. Parre spent two years on the concert platform, traveling through the South and West. He remained one year at Charlotte, North Caro- lina, from which city he removed to Toledo, where he has made his permanent home. Since he came to Toledo he has been indefatigable in the pursuit of the best in violin methods, in violin development and in the practice of the works of the modern violin soloists. He brings to his art the French versatility and expression and the warmth and color which characterize JEAN AUGUSTE PARRE the French as a nation. As an artist he has no superior in Toledo, and he has been connected in a prominent way with the Toledo Con- servatory of Music and the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. He has been successful in imparting his own knowledge to students, and gets from them a purity of tone that is at all times the test of the violinist's ability. He has always appeared in public with marked success. He has written a work of technique for modern virtuosity that advances his. pupils remarkably fast. Though he has not published it, he teaches it by correspondence, and has all his pupils memorize it for daily work. His studios are located in the Zenobia Building, Toledo, Ohio.
Johann Putz,
Head of the violin department of the West Side College of Music, at Cleveland, Ohio, and one of the foremost teachers of violin and violin soloists of the Forest City, is a native of Austria, born at Lauterbach on the 24th of April, 1872, the son of Leonhard and Annie Putz. Mr. Putz when quite young, demonstrated a great musical ability, and at the early age of but six years he commenced the study of the violin, which instrument has
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always been his favorite in later years. That he has received a most exceptional education in music, and that his methods must be of the very highest order, is conclusively shown by the fact that masters like Ernst Lange, the great Joachim and Wilhelmy, Karl Riekeisen and Johann Hahn were his tutors, under whom he studied for a number of years. Thoroughly grounded in the principles of theory and har- mony, as well as mastering the violin, Mr. Putz, at the age of fifteen, went to Ailenburg, Germany, where he became connected with an orchestra, and one year later he was given a directorship of an orchestra in Vienna, playing solos at the same time. From there he went to Sessen, Germany, where he was engaged in the same position. Shortly after Mr. Putz concluded to emigrate to the New World he crossed the ocean and located in Milwaukee, JOHANN PUTZ where as a violinist he soon attracted attention, he being connected with Christoph Bach's Symphony Orchestra in that city. Spending a period in Philadelphia, he finally made his permanent home in the city of Cleveland, Ohio, becoming immediately identified with the leading musical interests of that city, During the existence of the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Putz played first violin in that famous body. At the present time he has charge of the violin department of the West Side College of Music. He is recognized as one of the lead- ing violin teachers in his part of the State, and having an experience of over fifteen years, his instructions are thorough, exact and most gratifying to the institution with which he is connected. The orchestra of the Lyceum The- ater is directed by him. He resides with his wife, a former Miss Louisa Mock, and two children, Lucilla and Leonard, at No. 39 Brain- ard Street, Cleveland, Ohio.
Emil Ring,
Among the most noted musicians of Ohio Mr. Emil Ring, of Cleveland, Ohio, stands in the first rank. He is a musician of National reputation. Mr. Ring was born in Tetschen- on-the-Elbe, a small village in the northern part of Austria, in what is known as Saxonian Switzerland, on the 21st of November, 1863. He obtained as good an education as the public schools of his native town afforded, and at the age of ten years took up the study of harmony
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and vocal music, and also the use of the flute and clarionet. His parents had entertained the idea of some other calling for him, and were disappointed at his choice of a vocation. In 1875 Emil Ring went to Dresden, where he received his first scientific training under Edmund Kretschmer, the well-known composer. Here he became a member of the Royal Saxonian church singers, as boy soprano, singing for over three years in the Catholic Court Church. He was then obliged to abandon his profession for a time, on account of the changing of his voice, and spent the interim in attendance at a gymnasium (high school). Afterwards he continued his musical studies under Kapellmeister Karl Krebs, a celebrated conductor of church music, becoming proficient in the study of harmony and theory. Next he went to Prague, the capital of Bohemia, and entered the Conservatory of that city, his previous training enabling him to complete the regular six years' course in four years. At this time he was twenty years of age, therefore he had to enter the army of his country and served one year. Near the end of the year 1884 he passed a severe examination, and was made a Lieutenant of Reserves. At the close of his military career he joined a musical organization then in the zenith of its fame, namely the Mansfelt Orchestra, which had its headquarters in Dresden. During the following season, Mr. Ring traveled throughout Germany and Bel- gium, visiting all the large cities and participating in the concerts given by the orchestra. The next two years were spent in England, in study, and during the latter part of 1886 Mr. Ring moved to Berlin, and while there he received an offer to become a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which he accepted, first setting foot on American soil in March, 1887. The next year he was engaged to conduct the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra, and he accordingly arrived in that city in September, 1888. Since that time Mr. Ring has been engaged in his profession in the Forest City. He is connected with many of the musical organizations of the city, and is the conductor of the Cleveland Gesangverein, the oldest and most noted singing society west of Philadelphia, having been founded in September, 1854. In the summer of 1893, Mr. Ring was the conductor of the great Saenger- fest of the North American Saengerbund, hield in Cleveland. The conducting of this most successful feast of song gave Mr. Ring a National reputation. Mr. Ring has many friends and admirers, not only in the city of his adoption, but also all over the State of Ohio.
C. E. Reynolds,
Organist and choirmaster of Trinity Church, Newark, Ohio, was born in 1850 at Toronto, Canada. He is of English descent, and the son of a business man of that city, who was also the organist in one of the leading churches of Toronto. Mr. Reynolds received his early education in the schools of his native city, and was instructed in music by the cele- brated John Carter. At the age of nineteen years, he left Canada, coming to Rochester, New York, where he became a teacher of music, as well as organist and choirmaster in the churches of that city, remaining there for a period of ten years. From Rochester, Mr. Reynolds went to Chicago, where for ten years he was organist and choirmaster in the St. James Church, the mother church of the Episcopalian congregations of that city. For the past eight years Mr. Reynolds has filled the position as organist and choirmaster in Trinity Church, Newark, Ohio, where he has done splendid work. His choir is considered one of the very best in the central part of Ohio. Mr .. Reynolds is the father of three sons and one daughter, having lost his wife about sixteen years ago. Two of his sons are well-known musicians, who are now engaged in their profession, one of whom is the assistant of his father in his church work. Mr. Reynolds is recognized as a thorough musician and an organist and choirmaster of more than ordinary ability. His residence is located at No. 32 North First Street, Newark, Ohio.
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William Madoc Roberts,
A prominent musician of Cleveland, Ohio, was born on the 5th of September, 1879, at Manchester, Ohio. He is the son of Joseph T. Roberts and Ruth Lloyd Roberts, natives of North Wales, England, who emigrated to the United States in 1870. The father pursued his avocation as an engineer and educated his son in the public schools of Cleveland, in which city Mr. Roberts graduated in 1895, from Stanard School. Like most of the descendants of Welsh parents, Mr. Roberts showed a keen and early talent for music, and at the age of six years appeared in public recitals. He consequently was given a careful musical education, at the conclusion of which he started his career as a teacher of music and organist of the Euclid Avenue Baptist Church, of which he is a member. Notwithstanding WILLIAM MADOC ROBERTS his youthful age, Mr. Roberts is considered to be one of the most successful and con- scientious teachers in the Forest City. On the 3d of December, 1903, he married Florence Anna Dellenbaugh, a resident of the city in which he practices his chosen profession. Mr. Roberts is the composer of a number of pieces for piano, organ and voice. Mr. Roberts resides at Highland Terrace in East Cleveland, while his studios are located at No. 122 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio.
Walter H. Ross,
Of Dayton, Ohio, a teacher of music of reputation in his city, was born on the 27th of March, 1876, at Germantown, Ohio, where his father, J. Ross, was engaged in the grocery business. Both his parents were native Ohioans, of German-Scotch descent. Mr. Ross was educated in the schools of his native city, graduating from High School with the class of 1898. When quite young he manifested an undoubted ability for music, and was conse- quently placed under the tuition of Professor Lotter, of Chicago, and Mr. Blumenschein, of Dayton. Later, to finish his musical training, he came to Cincinnati, entered the Cin- cinnati Conservatory of Music, where he was under the preceptorship of Messrs. Shailer- Evans and Barber. After leaving the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Mr. Ross came to Dayton, where he engaged in the profession of teaching. Since that time he has taken an active part in the musical affairs of Dayton. His studios are located at Sixth and Jackson Streets, where he teaches large classes the principles of piano playing and har- mony. Mr. Ross is organist of the Memorial Presbyterian Church of his city and leader of the quartet of that congregation. As a conscientious and painstaking teacher, he has gained an enviable reputation.
Francis J. Sadlier,
One of the foremost singers of Cleveland, was born in Cleveland on the 22d of Sep- tember, 1878. His father was of English-Irish descent, and his mother of German. Mr.
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Sadlier was educated in the Cleveland public schools and South High School. He then went to work in Burrow Bros.' book store, but got interested in music, and on the advice of a friend, Mr. Gus Shields, took up the study of voice culture. He later retired from the book business, and took a thorough course in musical theory, harmony and interpretation under Hermann O. C. Kortheuer. He was engaged as basso at Pilgrims Congregational Church and later accepted a like position in the choir of Unity Church. Mr. Sadlier then left Cleveland and spent two years in New York, where he studied singing under John Dennis Mehan. In New York he was engaged as solo basso of Calvary M. E. Church, and he also sang a season in opera. Returning to Cleveland in the summer of 1904, he opened a studio for voice culture in the Arcade. He has accepted a position in the new Unity FRANCIS J. SADLIER Church, and will be heard in recitals and con - certs. He is widely known in the East and Middle West as an opera and oratorio singer, and for interpretation of the classic German Lieder. His voice is a basso-cantante. He began singing in 1898, and was one of the soloists at the Saengerfest in Akron in September, 1904. Mr. Sadlier will spend several years in Cleveland, and then continue opera singing in Germany. He speaks German fluently.
George Hermann Schaefer,
A young and talented pianist of Sidney. Ohio, was born on the 2d of July, 1882, at the above-mentioned city. He is the son of George Schaefer, a former citizen of France, who was born in the province of Alsace, his mother coming from New Bremen, Ohio. His father took part in the Franco-Prussian War, and emigrated to this country in the year of 1872, refusing to become a German subject and to enter the German army after the conquest of the country in which he was born and raised. Mr. George Hermann Schaefer was educated in the public schools of Sidney, Ohio, receiving his musical training under private teachers and at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, where he was a favorite pupil of the great pianist, Theodore Bohlmann, one of the best- known teachers in the city of Cincinnati, under whose preceptorship he was a student for two years. Returning to Sidney, he immediately
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took up his chosen profession. Mr. Schaefer is well known in musical circles all through this part of the State, and is connected with the Piqua Conservatory of Music in the capacity of teacher of piano. His residence is located at Sidney, Ohio.
Henry Ludwig Franz Schmiedecke,
A leading musician and teacher of music at Marietta, Ohio, was born on the Ist of January, 1844, in Sondershausen, Germany, the son of Carl Schmiedecke and Henrietta Grille Schmiedecke. When a boy, Mr. Schmiedecke manifested a very remarkable talent for music, and his parents gave him every opportunity to develop the same under direction of the very best teachers. Mr. Schmiedecke obtained his literary education in the Latin School of Son- dershausen, while his musical training was finished in the Conservatory of Music of his home city, which was under the directorship of the celebrated Edward Stein. In early youth Mr. Schmiedecke began his musical career, when, at the age of but ten years, he played in a band for dances. Five years later he became a member of the court orchestra of the Prince of Saxony Sondershausen, playing - second oboe. The first oboist, Emil Hoffmann. Mr. Schmiedecke's teacher, was of delicate health, and on account of sickness was often unable to fill his place in the orchestra. On those occasions young Schmiedecke had to play first oboe, and often he had to play very difficult parts without having had any rehearsal. In those times musical heroes like Richard Wagner, Franz Liszt, Hans von Buelow, Rubinstein and Brahms were at the zenith of their brilliant careers, and they often came to the court of Sondershausen, where they not only appeared in the celebrated Loh- conzerts, but also rehearsed and directed their HENRY LUDWIG FRANZ SCHMIEDECKE new compositions. Mr. Schmiedecke had the honor to often play under the direction of these great masters, and it goes without saying that the time he spent in the court orchestra of Sondershausen was a very good school for him. Later Mr. Schmiedecke entered the army and took part in three wars-the war of 1864, against Denmark ; the war of 1866, against Austria, where he participated in the battle of Langensalza, and finally, in 1870-1871, in the Franco-Prussian War. During this tremendous struggle Mr. Schmiedecke took part in the sieges of Metz and Paris, also in a number of the most bloody battles. After the conclusion of the Franco-Prussian War, Mr. Schmiedecke came to Bremen, where he entered the orchestra of the Bremen City Theater as first oboist. He also played the first violin in the Philharmonic concerts at Bremen. During his stay in that city, Mr. Schmiedecke founded a Symphony Orchestra and a mixed chorus of one hundred and forty voices, directing sam : for a period of nine years, and he also played for five years under the direction of Hans von Buelow and for the same length of time under Anton Seidl. The last five years prior to his emigration to the United States, Mr. Schmiedecke was director of the Tivoli Theater and
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of the Tonhalle, at Bremen. Coming to America to visit a sick sister at Pittsburg, Mr. Schmiedecke took up his residence in the Iron City, where he soon became identified with the musical interests of the city. He played under Archer's direction in the Pittsburg Sym- phony Concerts, was director of the Grand Army Band, the Austrian Music Band, and of seven singing societies. In 1899 Mr. Schmiedecke accepted a position as director of the Marietta Band, which under his conductorship became the most popular musical organiza- tion in the southeastern part of Ohio. He enjoys the reputation of being a thorough and painstaking teacher of music and languages, teaching both German and French. As a com poser he is well and favorably known, he having given to the musical world the following productions : American Overtures Nos. 1, 2 and 3, Souvenir de Chopin, a Valse Caprice, "In the Blacksmith's Shop," Idylle, and other band and orchestra pieces. Mr. Schmiedecke is married, and resides in the pretty city of Marietta.
J. V. Schiffer,
Teacher of music at Portsmouth, Ohio, was born on the 25th of December, 1851, in Strass- bessenbach, Bavaria. He is the son of Francis, and Elizabeth Schiffer (nee Aulbach), both natives of the country in which their son was born. His father was professor of music and a graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Music at Leipsic, Germany, who was a noted organ- ist in the '50's and '60's in this country. The parents of Mr. Schiffer emigrated to America in 1844, but returned to Bavaria in 1851, where their son was born. In May, 1852, the family again came to the United States, where they have ever since resided. The elder Schiffer, besides being an organist, taught school for thirty-three years, both public and parochial. His son received his entire education from him, both literary as well as musical. When but fifteen years of age he obtained his first certificate to teach school, and accepted a position in Indiana. At the age of twelve he J. V. SCHIFFER is found playing the organ in a church. A special stool had to be made for him so that he could reach the pedals. For a period of twenty-five years he has been a teacher in the schools of the State, and for the past forty years has been an organist and a director of singing societies for over thirty years. In 1874 he founded a German newspaper, "Stern des Westlichen Ohio," at Minster, Ohio. He edited this paper while he was teaching school in that city. He also founded the German Catholic newspaper, "Glocke," published in Evansville, Indiana, in 1881. "The Daily Kentucky Democrat," a German newspaper, pub- lished in Covington, Kentucky, was also founded by him in 1891. This publication was continued until 1897. He is the author of a geography for beginners in school, called "Lightning Geography;" also of a German song book to be used for children in German parochial schools, as also composer of songs and masses for mixed choirs. In political life he is a Democrat. He was City Clerk of Minster, Ohio, from 1875 to 1879; was elected
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