USA > Ohio > Ohio's progressive sons; a history of the state; sketches of those who have helped to build up the commonwealth > Part 82
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90
763
-
to the City Council of Covington from the Seventh Ward and from the Tenth Ward, serv- ing three terms, from 1886 to 1890. He was the Democratic nominee for Mayor of Covington, Kentucky, in 1890, and was defeated by but 147 votes. He was Chairman of the Democratic City Executive Committee of Covington in 1892, and largely by his efforts a clean sweep was made. During different campaigns he made many speeches in German and English. As a director of numerous singing societies he took part in many National Saengerfests. He was Grand Secretary of the German Catholic Benevolent Society of the United States for three terms. Miss Eleanora Oyler, of Harrison, Ohio, became his wife in 1872. He is the father of six children, and, at the age of fifty-two he is the grandfather of seventeen grandchildren. At present he is connected with a music store at Portsmouth, Ohio, and is organist at St. Mary's Church and director of the Germania Maennerchor, of that city.
Theodore H. Schneider,
Teacher of music and conductor of choruses in Columbus, Ohio, was born in the year of 1848 in the little village of Granville, Licking County, Ohio. He comes from musical stock, His father, Carl Schneider, a native of Saxony Meiningen, Germany, was a well - known teacher of music in Granville and Newark. His mother was born in Wuertemberg. Mr. Theo- dore Schneider was educated in the schools of his home town. His father early instructed him in the profession which he now follows, thoroughly teaching him in organ and piano. while Mr. Carl Bergner, of New York, the celebrated 'celloist, was his teacher on the 'cello. Mr. Schneider started in public life at the age of twenty-five years as a teacher of music in the city of Columbus, and soon became identified with the musical interests of the capital city of Ohio. He was conductor of a number of the best choruses and singing societies of Columbus, and for sixteen years was musical director of the Liederkranz and THEODORE H. SCHNEIDER for twenty-two years director of the Columbus Orpheus, a choir which gained a National reputation under his leadership. He is now conductor of the United Singers of Columbus, a combination of all the principal German singing societies of that community. He is also connected with the music firm of Mohr & Brock, located at No. 172 South High Street, Columbus. Mr. Schneider is the composer of a number of songs for male choruses and piano pieces. He is the father of one son and two daughters, and resides at No. 231 Deshler Avenue, Columbus. Mr. Schneider has done more than any other musician for the development of music in the Capital City, and his efforts are appreciated by a thankful and numerous people.
Otto Falke Scholz,
A prominent musician of Lima, Ohio, and manager of the Scholz Institute of Music of that city, is a native German, born in 1872 at Halberstadt, Saxony. He received a very
764
careful education in the schools of his home city, attended the Gymnasium (High School) of Leipsic, from which institution he gradu- ated in 1889. Mr. Scholz when still a child showed a remarkable talent for music and began the study of this beautiful art when quite young. After his graduation from the Gymnasium he studied for two years in the Royal Conservatory of Music at Leipsic. He afterwards went to Berlin and studied piano and piano methods with the celebrated Dr. Oscar Raif. After finishing his musical edu- cation, Mr. Scholz began his career as teacher of music. In 1897 he came to New Castle, England, stayed for a while in Edinburgh, Scotland, and emigrated to the United States in 1898, where for a while he taught in Milwau- kee and different other cities. He is at present manager of the Scholz Institute of Music at Lima, and has met with gratifying success.
OTTO FALKE SCHOLZ
Bertram Schwahn,
The accompanying picture is a good likeness of one of the most prominent vocal artists in the northwestern part of Ohio, Mr. Bertram Schwahn, whose studios are located in the Zenobia Building, Toledo, Ohio. Mr. Schwahn is a native of the State of Michigan, where he was born, reared and educated. When but a boy his beautiful voice attracted widespread attention, and he gave evidence of an unusual musical talent. He therefore was given not only a careful literary education, but also received a thorough musical training under competent teachers, who early developed his natural talent. For many years, Mr. Schwahn has practiced his profession in the city of Toledo, where he is recognized by press and public as a teacher and vocal soloist of the most pronounced attainments. His voice is a barytone of wide range, of rare purity and flexibility, sweetness and power. Since he has made Toledo his home, he has met with the greatest success, and he has for his pupils the sons and daughters of the best families in his home city. He is a conscientious teacher and a thorough musician. Innumerable times Mr. Schwahn has appeared in concerts in large cities, and he has always succeeded in arousing his audiences to great enthusiasm. Hehasa host of friends and admirers in Toledo, and undoubt- edly there is a brilliant future in store for him.
BERTRAM SCHWAHN
765
-
N. Coe Stewart, F. C. M.,
A former resident and music teacher of Cleveland, Ohio, located in the Forest City in 1865, as Co-Principal of the Cleveland Conservatory of Music, taking special charge of the vocal and teachers' departments. For thirty-six years Mr. Stewart was Director of Music in the Cleveland public schools, resigning in June, 1903, to accept a position in the Ameri- can School of Opera, a private voice, singing and teachers' training school in New York City. As organist, choirmaster, choral director and in all musical enterprises, Mr. Stewart was among Cleveland's most prominent musicians, while his famous Star Course, concerts, festivals, and monster choruses will never be forgotten. He is the author of a number of musical works. His "Methods in Music Education" secured for him both National and International reputation. As Principal of the Ohio Normal Music School, President many times of the Ohio Music Teachers' Association, President of the Music Teachers' National Association, President three times of the Music Department in the National Educational Association, Examiner in the American College of Musicians, etc., etc. Mr. Stewart's serv- ices and name have become universally known for all that is good and excellent.
Herbert J. Sisson,
The well-known organist of Cleveland. Ohio, was born on the 21st of September, 1878, at Cumberland, England. He is a thorough musician, and has been the accompanist at various times of some of the best artists that appeared before the American public, such as Clementine De Vere Sapio, Plunket Greene, Catherine Bloodgood, Emma Juch, Mabel Crawford, Julian Walker, Emilio de Gorgoza, Emma Bussert, Heinrich Meyer, Louise Clary, Evan Williams, George Hamlin, Theodore Vam York, Carl Dufft, and Corinne Moore Lawson. Mr. Sisson came to Cleveland in August, 1901, and the following October accepted the position as organist of Epworth Memorial M. E. Church in that city. The seasons of 1901 to 1903 he was accompanist of the Singers' Club, and for the past two seasons he has been accompanist and organist for the Harmonic Club, containing one hundred HERBERT J. SISSON and fifty voices, which society renders two oratorios each season. His services as a con- cert organist and accompanist are in great demand, and his series of free organ recitals at Epworth Memorial M. E. Church each year have taxed the seating capacity of that edifice. Mr. Sisson left in May, 1905, for Paris, where he spent the summer as a pupil of the great Guilmant. As a teacher of piano and organ, Mr. Sisson has acquired a reputation for successful tuition second to none in the Forest City. He always enjoys a large class of students of the best Cleveland families. His studios are located in the Arcade Building, Cleveland, Ohio.
766
N. COE STEWART, F. C. M.
Joseph Surdo,
The brilliant young violinist, Joseph Surdo, is, like many of those who in America fight the battles of the Beautiful, of European blood and birth. He is an Italian, and carries in his every fiber the esthetic instincts of that gifted race. He was born in Brindisi (in the Appenines) in 1868. His very infancy was steeped in music, and his ancestors had been celebrated in music, sculpture and painting. The family came to New York in 1873, and here the little lad was put to the systematic study of the violin under an Italian named Egidio Marone. The first lessons were given by "rote," viz., by ear ; and an anecdote of that time is worth preserving for the humorous testimony which it bears to his instinctive grasp of music. One of the popular songs of the day caught his fancy, and he practiced it. His teacher, passing by the house, overheard it and went to his father, saying in an aggrieved tone : "Why didn't you tell me you had engaged another teacher for the boy?" The father said: "I have not." Marone answered : "Well, he is playing something I haven't taught him." The Surdo family removed to Cincinnati in 1878, and here Joseph, a lad of ten, began the serious study of violin-playing and musical theory. His mother, however, with a wise breadth of intelligence, thought her son would be a better musician for a literary education. He was, therefore, sent for two years to an admirably conducted military school in Gambier, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1886. Returning to Cincinnati, he entered Woodward High School, and grad- uated in 1889. He now applied himself exclusively to his chosen vocation, the art of music, and, entering the College of Music, spent six years under the learned professors of that institution, and graduated with eclat in 1895. His Cincinnati instructors in the violin have been Miss Kate Funck, S. E. Jacobssohn, JOSEPH SURDO J. A. Broekhoven, Leandro Campanari, and Jacques Sternberg. That renowned Italian virtuoso, Campanari, places Joseph Surdo in a small constellation of seven first-rate talents ("The Musical Pleiades") chosen out of the hundreds of violin students under his care during the six years of his distinguished service at the College of Music. Under Jacques Sternberg, a solid, classical violinist of the Ferdi- nand David School, and a personal friend of Wieniawski, Surdo took a post-graduate course of three years, and received the best traditions of Viotti, Kreutzer, Rode and Spohr. Under the learned theorist, J. A. Broekhoven, at the College of Music, Surdo took a thorough and extensive course in musical composition ; and under Frank Van der Stucken, Dean of the College, he studied composition and directing. Surdo was for three seasons (1893-4-5) director of the Price Hill Orchestra; for a number of years conductor of chorus at the Epworth Heights Encampment ; director of the Kirmess at Music Hall in 1892; was two years assistant professor of violin under Campanari at the College (1894-95) ; was sub-
768
director, with Van der Stucken, of the chorus at the "Children's May Festival," in 1897; and has been for fourteen years an efficient member of the corps of music teachers in the public schools of Cincinnati, which position he still holds. As a performer, Surdo is both brilliant and emotional. His technical control of the instrument was amply attested in his graduating recital, which included "Devil's Sonata" of Tartini, the "Romanza in G" by Beethoven, the "Spanish Symphony" by Lalo, and the "Danse des Lutins" by Bazzini. Surdo has published a number of songs and anthems, and has in manuscript a half score excellent compositions for his chosen instrument, the violin. All these compositions reveal a happy combination of innate talent and acquired musicianship. Some of them, such as "The Mexican Dance" and "Scherzando alla Mazurka," are ideals of daintiness ; and his variations upon the "Old Kentucky Home" is a captivating concert number, at once artistic and popular. In the higher forms of choral compositions, Surdo has been eminently successful. His "Viking"-a Scena Dramatica-for baritone and orchestra, was performed in 1898 at the College of Music under the personal direction of Van der Stucken, who praised the work highly. His "Flag Song," a stirring, patriotic composition, was selected for performance at the Golden Jubilee Saengerfest, held in Cincinnati. For this number the chorus numbere. thirty-five hundred children's voices and the orchestra one hundred and thirty men. The success was electrifying. Of somewhat greater dimension is his "Ninety-sixth Psalm," which was accepted for performance at the Cincinnati Fall Festival in 1902. This met with suc- cess, and was repeated at the graduating exercises of the Cincinnati High Schools in June, 1903. Mr. Surdo is a thorough musician, both by nature and by art, and is one of the most conspicuous men of the younger generation.
John M. Strobel,
Of Ironton, Ohio, one of the most prominent musicians in the southern part of the State, was born on the 18th of June, 1826, at Neustadt on the Eisch, Bavaria, Germany. His father, John Strobel, was a well-known weaver and innkeeper in his country. Mr. John M. Strobel received a careful education, both literary and musical, in Germany, until he had reached the age of seventeen, when he emi- grated to the United States. After a long and tedious journey he finally landed in New Orleans, from where he came to Cincinnati. He has been closely identified with the early history of music in Ohio, and has probably done more for the development of this beautiful art in this State than any other musician. Shortly after his coming to Cincinnati, Mr. Strobel accepted a place in the orchestra of the old Shiras Theater. That at one time celebrated temple of the muses stood at the site of the present Burnet House. Mr. Strobel also played at the National Theater, Woods Theater and the old Pike. All these theaters have disappeared. They are a part of the musical history of Cincinnati, and the reminis- cences Mr. Strobel tells sound like tales from days of a former generation, of days long gone
JOHN M. STROBEL
769
by. After staying for a while in Cincinnati, Mr. Strobel went to Little Rock, Arkansas, remaining there and playing in a theater for a period of one year and four months. From Little Rock he went to New Orleans, accepting positions in the St. Charles and American Theaters. While in New Orleans he diligently studied under well-known teachers, finishing his musical training. For three years Mr. Strobel was identified with the music interests of the Crescent City. Then he returned to Cincinnati, where he remained until 1865. Dur- ing this time he became the foremost of the Cincinnati musicians and teachers, and among the pupils he taught were a great many whose names became enrolled with golden letters in the History of Music of the United States. It was Mr. Strobel who first developed a taste for the very best in music among the citizens of Cincinnati. It was he who, after gigantic preliminary work, gave and directed the first three Symphony Concerts heard in the Queen City. This was as early as 1849. Mr. Strobel's orchestra consisted of thirty musicians, and the concerts were given in the old German Theater. In 1865 Mr. Strobel became the proprietor of the Ironton House, a famous hostelry at Ironton, Ohio, and has up to the present writing retained his interests in that well-known hotel. His musical interests, however, have called him to Cincinnati during many periods of this time, until 1890, from which date he has permanently resided in Ironton. It should be mentioned as an evidence of the musical training of Mr. Strobel that in 1860, when the Prince of Wales, the present King Edward of England, visited the United States and for a short time was entertained in Cincinnati, Mr. Strobel had charge of the music for the ball given in the old Pike's Theater in honor of that distinguished gentleman. While the winter of life has whitened the hair of Mr. Strobel and nearly four score years have indelibly marked their passing in the once vigorous frame of that gentleman, he still retains all his mental faculties and the same love for the beautiful art to which he has devoted his life. While Mr. Strobel has retired from active business life, he retains some favorite pupils, teaching them, as so many others before, the principles of perfect violin playing. Unlike the majority of men, Mr. Strobel can look back over half a century of a happy wedded life, with the partner of his life still living and the six children born to him all surviving and participating in the golden wedding, celebrated in 1903. One of his sons is superintendent of the Philadelphia branch of Niles Crane Works.
1
ARTHUR LEROY TEBBS
Arthur Leroy Tebbs,
A musician of pronounced ability, of Day- ton, Ohio, was born on the 17th of April, 1876, in the city of Harrison, this State. His father, a merchant, John F. Tebbs, as also his mother, Sarah Tebbs, was a native of the Buckeye State. He is of French-German ancestry, and is a descendant of the famous General Fouche, one of the great Napoleon's Generals. Mr. Tebbs obtained his education in the public schools of Harrison and at the Woodward High School at Cincinnati. When a boy he early developed a talent for music, and after careful deliberation it was decided by his family to give him the advantages of a musical
770
education. Consequently, he was enrolled as a pupil in the College of Music in Cincinnati, where he remained until he graduated in 1897. He also took special lessons under prom- inent Cincinnati and New York masters. At the age of twenty-two Mr. Tebbs took up his musical career as Supervisor of Music in the public schools of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, remaining there for a period of two years. At present Mr. Tebbs is in Dayton, Ohio, in the capacity of instructor of voice culture. He also has a large class of pupils in Richmond, Indiana. Since Mr. Tebbs became engaged in his profession he has done much chorus work. He was chorus director and soloist of the Linden Avenue Baptist Church and the First Presbyterian Church. He is now director and soloist of the First Baptist Church at Middle- town. On the 16th of June, 1904, he was united in marriage to Miss Katharine Evans. His studio is in the McIntyre Building, Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Tebbs has succeeded in establishing a large and lucrative practice, and is conceded to be a conscientious, painstaking and com- petent teacher of music. Many of the best families in the cities in which he has become identified entrust to his tuition their children. As a soloist Mr. Tebbs has acquired an enviable reputation.
Chancey Albert Ward,
Teacher of music at Fostoria, Ohio, and Principal of the Music Department of the Ohic Normal School of that city, was born on the 17th of November, 1862, at Aylmer, Canada. His father, Samuel Ward, was a shoemaker and of English parentage, while his mother, Mrs. Sarah Matilda Freeland Ward, was of Pennsylvania Dutch descent. Mr. Ward received his education in the public schools and the Fayette Normal Music and Business College, graduating from same in 1886. He also studied with Dr. Robert Goldbeck and A. J. Goodrich. He began teaching in 1884, working his way through school in that man- ner. Mr. Ward is considered the most suc- cessful teacher of music in Fostoria, and he always has a large class of pupils. For one and a half years he was engaged in a general music merchandise store, owning a half inter- est, at Fostoria, but sold his interest in order CHANCEY ALBERT WARD to resume teaching. Mr. Ward is a composer of note. His most pretentious composition, a sacred cantata, "The Coming of the Ring," was published by Fillmore Bros., of Cincinnati. Among his other compositions may be mentioned "Company D" March and Two-step, "Yacht Club" March; "Sweet Evening Breeze," waltzes; "Waiting," a song for soprano and others. Professor Ward has led church choirs since he was sixteen years of age. He now is the conductor of a choir of thirty voices, and often gives cantatas and occasionally an oratorio. On the 28th of January, 1891, he was married to Miss Emma J. Wagner. They have one daughter, Margaret Louise. Mr. Ward is a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He is a Democrat, and belongs to the Knights of Pythias. Professor Ward lives with his family at No. 311 South Wood Street, Fostoria, Ohio.
771
Leon Wineland,
Professor of Instrumental Music at Findlay College, Findlay, Ohio, and teacher of music in that city, has a place among the foremost musicians in the northwestern part of the State. He was born on the 31st of March, 1863, in Cass Township, Hancock County, Ohio, and is the son of Benjamin F. Wineland and Caroline (Nelson) Wineland, both natives of Penn- sylvania. His father was a man well and favorably known in that portion of Ohio. On the 14th of October, 1862, he was mustered into service of the United States army as a private, and afterwards promoted to First Sergeant. On the 24th of June, 1865, he was transferred to the One Hundred and Eighty-third O. V. I., and mustered out on the 12th of July of
the same year, at Salisbury, North Carolina, as supernumerary. He also filled the office of Township Treasurer for about twelve years and of County Commissioner for six years. Mr. Leon Wineland enjoyed a careful education in the public schools of Findlay. His musical education was obtained in a private school under Abraham Fielding, at Findlay, for two years, and afterwards under Professor Wert- heim, of Fremont, Ohio, for five years. He afterwards went to Europe and finished his musical education at the Berlin Conservatory of Music, where he studied for two years under such masters as Professors John Hasse, Fred. Friederichs and others. He holds the degree of Bachelor of Music. At the age of twenty years Professor Wineland took up his pro- fession of teaching music, in which he has been extraordinarily successful. Outside of being a teacher of music and professor of the musical department of Findlay College, Mr. Wineland is conductor of the orchestra at Reeves Park, LEON WINELAND in the neighborhood of Findlay. He has been leader of several bands and orchestras; was musical director of Presque Isle in 1885; of Winona Park, Indiana, in 1896 and 1897, and for the last twenty years director in the various opera houses in Findlay. He is also a composer of note. Among his compositions may be mentioned "Leola March," for band and orchestra; "Elks March," dedicated to Findlay Lodge, No. 75, B. P. O. E., and "Cadets' Patrol," for the Cadets of Findlay, a military organization of said city. Socially, Mr. Wineland is a member of the Elks, Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America, and the Eagles. He has been married twice. On the 12th of June, 1895, he was united in marriage to Miss Johanna Wertheim, daughter of a prom- inent musician at Fremont, and is the father of two children, Samuel and Caroline, aged 13 and 6, respectively. He lives with his family at No. 30212 North Main Street, Findlay, Ohio.
Jesse Worthington,
Among the younger musicians of Ohio few are better and more favorably known than Mr. Jesse Worthington, of Columbus, Ohio, the leader of the Fourth Regiment Band of that
772
city. He is regarded by the best critics one of America's masters of the cornet, and his many public appearances in different parts of the State, in connection with his famous band, as a soloist, have made his name known to prac- tically all the people in this part of the country. Mr. Worthington is a native of Ohio. His father, D. I. Worthington, is one of the most prominent exponents of law at Washington Court House, Ohio. Mr. Jesse Worthington had the advantages of a very thorough early education, both literary and musical. At an early age he showed a remarkable musical talent and consequently was carefully in- structed in his art. When but a boy he com- menced the study of his favorite instrument under competent teachers, and advancing with wonderful rapidity, he was put under the care of the great cornet virtuoso, Hermann Bell- JESSE WORTHINGTON stedt, of Cincinnati, with whom he soon became a favorite pupil. Mr. Worthington's playing is characterized by a pure and beautiful tone, ease and brilliancy of execution and a forceful style possessed only by the best artists. He is acknowledged to be the leading teacher of his instrument in the Capital City. As conductor of the Fourth Regiment Band he enjoys a well-earned reputation. Mr. Worth- ington resides in Columbus, Ohio.
Franc Ziegler,
Of Columbus, Ohio, violin soloist and teacher of music in the capital city of the Buck- eye State, is a native Ohioan, being born, bred and educated in his native State. In early youth he demonstrated a wonderful ability for music and upon its manifestation was given in care of the very best teachers obtainable. Desiring to receive a European education and to finish his studies in the musical centers of the Old World, Mr. Ziegler, at the age of nineteen, crossed the Atlantic and for six years studied music at Leipsic and Berlin, in which cities he was the favorite pupil of such world- renowned masters as Joachim, Halir, Hilf, Markees and Herman, men whose achieve- ments in the world of their art have made their names famous the world over. Mr. Ziegler's superior talents and ability won almost imme- diate recognition in the city of Berlin, and he, with four others, were the only pupils out of
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.