USA > Ohio > Portage County > Portage heritage; a history of Portage County, Ohio; its towns and townships and the men and women who have developed them; its life, institutions and biographies, facts and lore > Part 64
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He was a Fellow of the American Medical Assn., the American Public Health Assn., the American School Health Assn., and in these held various offices. He was recipient of the Howe Award; Univ. of Louisville Med. School Award; Ohio Public Health Assn. Award; and inclusion in "Who Is Important in Medicine."
In his home community he was a charter member of the Kent Kiwanis and served as
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president. He originated the idea of the Preventorium Health Camp and has received the International Kiwanis Award for Community Service. He has been president of the Portage County Medical Assn., and of the Portage County Health and Tuberculosis Assn.
For over 30 years he has taught a Sunday school class in the Methodist Church known as the "De Weese Class." As a member of the Kent Chamber of Commerce he served several years on the planning committee and he has worked actively in the Democratic party organization.
On July 18, 1911, he married Vergie Carol Jenkins, a teacher and childhood neighbor. They reared and educated three sons and one daughter. These are Byrne, Marion Spencer, James Arville and Harriette Elizabeth. The sons are all physicians and the daughter mar- ried a physician.
Director of the KSU health activities for nearly a third of a century, he served under the university's first five presidents. He also has been on the visiting staff of the Robinson Memorial Hospital.
Roger T. DiPaolo
Roger Tulvio DiPaolo was born Jan. 1, 1925 in Barisciano Province of Aquila, Italy. He was the son of Carl and Maria Aquilla D'Alessandro, being one of three children.
When he was six the family came to America and located at Bellaire, Ohio. Here Roger attended the public schools and graduated from the high school. Later he spent a year in California.
In March, 1943, Mr. DiPaolo went into military service, serving two years in the South Pacific, New Guinea and the Philippines. He was discharged from service Feb. 12, 1946. He came to Kent in September of that year and enrolled at Kent State University in the pre law course. On August 9, 1947, he married Pauline Mata Siciliano of Kent. To them was born a son, Roger Joseph, June 3, 1955; and a daughter, Linda Marie, July 29, 1956.
In September of 1948, Mr. DiPaolo entered Akron Law School, where he attended evenings. From this school he graduated in 1952 with a L.L.B. degree. Meantime he worked days as a deputy sheriff and as probation officer. For one year he was a right of way agent for the State Highway De- partment.
He passed the state bar examination in June, 1952 and commenced the practice of law in the following August. On Nov. 1, 1953, he became the law partner of Attorney W. J. Smith, the partnership being known as Smith and DiPaolo.
John W. Dirkson
John William Dirkson was born in Forreston, Ill., June 1, 1885, son of Richard Wirt and Margaret (Price) Dirkson. When he was one year old his parents moved to Hastings, Neb. After one year there they moved to Omaha, Neb., where John attended school, grad- uating from high school there in 1902.
He then was granted an apprenticeship with the Union Pacific railroad shops, in the forge division in Omaha, continuing there four years. He then moved to Avon, South Dakota, where he opened a contracting shop, operating it for two years.
On June 27, 1906, Mr. Dirkson married Elizabeth Miles of Omaha, Neb. To them two
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children were born. They are Dorothy Margaret, now Mrs. Frank C. Miller of Los Angeles, Calif .; and Jean Elizabeth, now Mrs. Carl Gilcrest, Kent, Ohio. There are seven grand- children.
In 1908 the Dirksons came east to Cleveland where he was employed in various steel mills, in the meantime continuing his education in night schools, mainly in Fenn College. In 1914 he came to Kent to teach industrial arts, also continuing his studies, graduating also from Kent State Normal in 1918. During several leaves of absence he helped organize Portage County centralized schools, and doing similar work at New- ark, Ohio. During this time he introduced several innovations or "firsts" in educational practice; diversified courses in secondary school shops; specialized supervision in secondary schools; having many successful people in many walks of life give informative lectures to all senior students; and the like. All these innovations have become standard practice today. Later he was connected with the Mason Tire & Rubber Co. of Kent, where he designed a semi-automatic tire building machine, working two years, which cost over $36,000-a fore- runner of automatic machines in use today. Eleven patents were granted on this machine. This was the first instance of Kent State University lending aid to industries.
He continued to work for Kent State University until 1947, ending a service period of 32 years. The Dirksons live on Bryce Rd., Kent's West side, in a house of their own design. Mr. Dirkson is a member of the Congregational church and Rockton Masonic Lodge. His hobbies are cabinet making and gardening.
Robert C. Dix
Robert C. Dix, publisher of the Record-Courier, was born at Wooster, O. Aug. 5, 1908, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Emmett C. Dix.
Educated in the Wooster public schools, he went to Ohio Wesleyan and Wisconsin Universities, receiving his B.A. de- gree from the latter in 1931. He then came directly to Port- age county where he has been ever since.
He edited the Evening Record in Ravenna and then moved to Kent in 1934 to take charge of the Courier Tribune, his brother Albert being in charge of the Ravenna news- paper. Together they built them and gradually put them together into a potent county journalistic unit.
He took complete charge of both of them after his brother Albert and a brother Gordon, who entered the Portage county picture briefly in 1939, went to Martins Ferry and Bellaire to put those two units together.
In 1938, he married Helen Westcott of Delancey, N. Y., who graduated that year in journalism from Kent State University. They have a family of five children: Robert Jr., David, Timothy, Darcy and Kristina. They make their home at 517 Edgewood drive in Kent.
Mr. Dix is a member of the Methodist church, the Kent State University Board of Trustees, the Rotary club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Elks club and various journalistic societies of state and national scope.
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Dick Donaghy
Dick Donaghy was born in Kent on July fifth, 1900, the son of William H. Donaghy and Bertha Fesenden Donaghy. He received his schooling in Kent schools and attended Ohio State University. In 1925 he married Esther Getz, the daughter of John and Martha Furry Getz. They have two children-Dan Getz Donaghy and Martha Merritt Donaghy. Mr. Donaghy was associated for many years with his brother, R. L. Donaghy, in the man- agement of the W. H. Donaghy Drug Co.
He is at present the president of Campus Supply Inc., chairman of the board of the Kent National Bank, and vice president of the Home Savings and Loan Association. He served as president of the Kent City Council and as president of the Kent Rotary Club. Mrs. Donaghy is a member of the Congregational Church and is affiliated with the D.A.R. and the Junior Coterie.
Mr. and Mrs. Donaghy are a part of a tradition of commercial and civic interest in the city of Kent of which their parents are outstanding examples. John Getz, born in Wines- burg, Ohio in 1863, was associated with his brother William in the Getz Brothers Hardware Store and was a vice president of the Kent National Bank. With his brother he founded the Home Savings and Loan Co. He served the city as a councilman. He died in 1941. Mrs.
John G. Getz
Will Donaghy
Dick Donaghy
Getz, a member of one of Kent's oldest families, was born in Kent in 1876. She was identified with the establishment of P.T.A. in Kent and the Kent Community Chest. She was an active member of the Congregational Church, and belonged to the D.A.R. and Coterie. Mrs. Getz died in 1934.
John and Martha Getz had two other children; Martha Louise, now Mrs. Frank Kelly in Weston, Conn .; and John Jr. now in the investment business in Chicago.
William H. Donaghy was born in Colborne, Ontario, in 1861 and came to Kent in 1881. He married Bertha Fessenden in 1886, and in 1900 founded the W. H. Donaghy Drug Co. He also served as a city councilman. He died in 1915. His wife, Bertha, was born in Kent in 1886 and died in 1952. She was a founding member and a staunch supporter of the First Church of Christ Scientist in Kent. The Donaghys had one other son, Roy, who died in 1950.
Roy L. Donaghy
Roy Leland Donaghy was born September 23, 1892, the son of William H. Donaghy and Bertha Fessenden Donaghy. He was graduated from Kent Central High School in 1910
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and was president of his class. He later attended Wooster College.
For several years he was employed with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, leaving his position there to head the Donaghy Drug Company upon the death of his father.
An active business man, he was associated with his brother, Dick, in several business holdings. His chief interest was the drug company and the Campus Supply Store.
He was a past director of the United Wholesale Drug Co. and the Ohio Rexall Association. He was also vice presi- dent of the Home Building and Loan Company. Active in the Chamber of Commerce, he served that organization twice in capacity of president. He was also active in the Kent Rotary Club. His Fraternal organizations also include the Kent Elks Club of which he was a charter member; charter member of Zeta Gamma chapter of Sigma Nu fraternity at Kent State University, a member of Twin Lakes Country Club, the Akron City Club and a Kentucky Colonel.
During World War II he freely gave of his time and effort to promote the sale of war bonds. He was active in all campaigns and during one of them served as county chairman.
Mr. Donaghy was married to Sara Dustin Jones of Lake- wood, Ohio. They had one daughter, Elizabeth Anne Donaghy Moore of Loudonville, New York, and one granddaughter, Judith Donaghy Moore.
Mr. Donaghy died on February 7, 1950.
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence S. Doolittle
Clarence Samuel Doolittle, son of Charles Rollin and Adaline (Olin) Doolittle, was born on May 19, 1865, in Streetsboro Township, in the present home of Merrill Wise on Route 303. He attended Streetsboro School and also two terms at Buchtel College, Akron, O. He was married on August 17, 1892, to Letta E. Stuart, daughter of Charles W. and Mary Gal- lagher Stuart, of Streetsboro. They had three daughters, Mary Esther, now Mrs. Robert T. Brown, of Akron, Ohio; Grace Adelle, now Mrs. Robert F. Brandt, of Cleveland Heights, O., and Hazel Dayle, Kent, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence S. Doolittle
On September 23, 1919, Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle and daughter Dayle, left for California driving a 1915 Buick, completing the trip in thirty days. This was something of a pioneering venture, consider- ing the lack of good roads and bridges.
Clarence Doolittle farmed the greater share of his life, at what is known as Doolittle's Corners, raising thoroughbred live- stock, but was also a paving and lumber contractor.
He retired from farming in 1924 and moved to 314 South Lincoln Street, Kent, Ohio, where he lived until his death on November 10, 1940.
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Dr. Philip A. Eichenlaub
Philip A. Eichenlaub was born May 5, 1893 in Akron, Ohio, son of H. C. Eichenlaub and Elizabeth E. Eichenlaub. He received his education in the Akron High and Western Reserve College and after completion he entered the news- paper business. Prior to World War I he was serving as sports editor of the Akron Beacon Journal.
When war broke out he was inducted into the army, April 30, 1918 and after completion of his training, served in the A.E.F. in Europe, participating in the important bat- tles of St. Mihiel, Blanc Mont and the Argonne.
After he was mustered out of service, May 15, 1919, he matriculated in the Palmer School of Chiropractic at Daven- port, Iowa, graduating there in 1922. In the same year he established himself in practice in Kent. He has practiced in the same place since that time, meeting with more than ordinary success.
In 1934, he married Dorothea C. Bawden of Akron, Ohio. Mrs. Eichenlaub is known as an accomplished vocalist. The couple has two daughters -Mrs. Gordon Tingley of Los Angeles, Calif., and Carolyn, at home.
Peter W. Eigner
Peter William Eigner was born Feb. 21, 1868, on a farm near Elyria, Ohio, the son of Peter and Krezenz (Dorfmeister) Eigner, both natives of Bavaria, Germany. The father was a naturalized citizen. Peter was educated in the public schools of Elyria and later learned watch making in the Dresden Horological Institute in Germany.
Mr. Eigner came to Kent in 1887, entering the jewelry business. In 1898, he went to Buffalo to operate a bicycle- automobile-motorcycle concern, but later returned to Kent. In 1892 he became a stockholder in the Kent National Bank and a director in 1897. Upon the death of W. S. Kent in 1923, he became president of that organization, serving until his death.
In his business life here he was president of the Kent Building Co., which erected many homes early in this century. He was also a member of the Planning and Plotting Com- mission of Kent. As a jeweler, he took pride in the fact that twice he had won prizes in national essay contests on subjects of his profession.
He was an accomplished musician and was a member of Dr. Price's orchestra, a well known Kent organization. He belonged to the Catholic church and was a member of the Rotary and University clubs.
On Aug. 15, 1889, Mr. Eigner was married to Mary Elizabeth Parke of Mt. Rose, Pa. They had two children: Parke W., now deceased and Krescence, now Mrs. John B. Gillespie of Columbus. Of two grandchildren, Capt. Jack Gillespie, USMC, was killed in action in World War II. The other is Mary Gillespie, of Columbus.
Mr. Eigner's hobbies were gardening and construction of "grandfather" clocks. He died Dec. 30, 1935.
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G. Frank Elgin
G. Frank Elgin was born July 12, 1877, in West Salem, Ohio, the son of Thomas and Rachel (Holmes) Elgin. The family moved to Kent when Frank was twelve years old.
At the age of seventeen, he became a jeweler's apprentice. After learning the trade he entered the Northern Illinois College of Opthalmology, graduating in 1903. He again entered the Davis & Ewing jewelry firm but in 1907 he took over the business under his own name.
Mr. Elgin was married in 1904 to Mary Foote, daughter of Fred and Alice (Under- wood) Foote. The latter was a daughter of Freeman Under- wood, one of the early settlers of Brimfield.
Mr. Elgin was a charter member and past president of the Kent Rotary Club, and a member of various Masonic organizations. He died in 1952.
While he had a long and distinguished career as a jeweler and optrometist, G. Frank Elgin will be remembered chiefly for the way he made people want to sing. They sang because he made it fun. They sang in response to his energetic directing, accompanied by his own booming voice.
His love for music led to many community achievements, including the directorship of the Post Band, Kent church choirs and the well-known Elgin Trio.
Music played an important role in his family life, im- parting his musical knowledge to his three daughters-Mrs. Cecil (Mildred) Bumphrey; Mrs. Todd (Alice) Fenn; and Mrs. Raymond (Mary Elizabeth) Anderson.
He lived a long rich, useful life - a life dedicated to his family, his friends, his community and his chosen work.
Joseph T. Escott
Joseph T. Escott was born September 29, 1896, at Big Rapids, Michigan, son of Bert G. and Marie (Lallardeau) Escott, being an only child.
His education was received in the Big Rapids schools and at the Ferris Institute. Be- cause of the early death of his parents he lived with relatives and his first job was with the Whithead-Hoag Co. of Cleve- land. Later he was factory clerk at the Williard Storage Battery Co. in the same city.
When World War I came on Mr. Escott enlisted in the U. S. Navy and from 1917 to 1920 he was electrician first class. After the war he worked for the Burroughs Adding Machine Co. in Detroit and in Canton.
On August 4, 1923, he married Miss Blanch Coleman, daughter of William H. and Rachel (Loutz) Coleman of Pittsburgh. She was a registered nurse. They came to Kent in October, 1926, to work for the Mason Tire & Rubber Co., just before the plant was permanently closed.
He then was employed as secretary of the Perfection Co. and also worked for the Flynn Redmond Co. and Flynn Motors.
Realizing the need of records because of the Social
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Security Act he started his own business as a public accountant in 1936. In 1937 he had an office in the Donaghy Block and later in the Getz Building.
Mr. Escott belongs to BPOE No. 1377 and Rockton Lodge of Masons. He was Com- mander of the American Legion Post in 1940 and adjutant since 1941. He was chairman of the Disaster Unit, 9th District. He is a member and treasurer of the Lions Club and the Trinity Lutheran Church. In community affairs has been secretary of Civil Service board. He served as commander of the Civilian Defense local as well as county director. He be- longs to the Legion Band and Drum and Bugle Corps, and holds membership in the Ohio Accountant's Association and the National Association.
Griffith Evans
John Griffith Evans, Jr. was born in Kent, Ohio, January 1, 1881, the son of John G. Evans, a native of Wales and Anna (Mortimer) Evans who was born in northern Ireland.
He was graduated from Kent High School with the Class of 1897 and on September 1 of that year he entered the tailoring business with his father, a concern which he still operates.
For about 60 years, he has been a member of The First Congregational Church of Kent and has served as deacon. In civic life he was a charter member of the old Board of Trade, now the Chamber of Commerce, and has been a Director and Vice-President of it. After Kent was zoned, Mayor Roy H. Smith appointed him a member of the Platting and Planning Commission, a position he held for 20 years.
In politics, Mr. Evans was a precinct committeeman for 30 years and was the Republican member of the Portage County Board of Elections for 20 years. He was elected as the Representative from Portage County to the General As- sembly of Ohio in November, 1938 and served for ten years. Two years later, he was re-elected and served for six years more. He declined to be a candidate in 1956, having been a member of the General Assembly of Ohio for 16 years.
Mr. Evans is a charter member of the Kent Rotary Club, and a charter member of the Kent Elks. In the Masonic order, he is a Knight of the York Cross of Honour; Past Master of Rockton Lodge, No. 316, F. & A. M .; a Past High Priest of Tyrian Chapter, No. 91, R. A. M. of Ravenna; charter member and first High Priest of Kent Chapter, No. 192, R. A. M. of Kent; Past Illustrious Master of Akron Council, No. 80, R. & S. M .; and a Past Eminent Commander of Akron Commandery, No. 25, Knights Templar.
At the present time, he is serving his 48th year as secretary of Rockton Lodge and his 43rd as secretary of the Chapter. He has been Worthy Patron of Olive Chapter, No. 53, Order of Eastern Star. Since 1927, he has been Grand Representative of the Grand Council of Scotland near the Grand Council of Ohio. He is a life member of the 32nd degree, A.A.S.R.
On June 27, 1906, he married Kathrine Kent Huggins, whose ancestors came to Portage County in 1818. Three daughters were born to this union, Elizabeth (deceased); Kathrine (Mrs. Morris Woolf); and Eleanor (Mrs. Everett Sink). In June, 1956, they celebrated their golden wedding, with all his living brothers, sisters and seven grandchildren present.
Bert Fageol
William B. (Bert) Fageol, Jr., was born in Oakland, Calif., Sept. 12, 1908, the son of William B. and Ida (Williams) Fageol, of Welsh, German and French ancestry. He was educated in the public school system there and received his B.S. degree in Mechanical
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Engineering at the University of California in 1930. He also received a degree in Business Administration there in 1931.
At the age of 23 Mr. Fageol came to Kent as apprentice draftsman at the Twin Coach Co. plant. He served there in various capacities-design engineer, chief dratfsman, exper- imental engineer and chief engineer. He was vice president in charge of production until 1947. At that time he established an export sales department for Twin Coach, expanding sales activtities throughout the world and became vice president in charge of sales.
In 1949 Mr. Fageol took advantage of an opportunity to join the Ferry Machine Co., which was incorporating at the time, becoming Treasurer and Director of the company. In 1955 he was elected president of the company, which position he now holds.
He is married to Suzanne Bower, formerly of Ravenna. They have five children-Joan Lee (Fageol) Huff; William B. III; John DeWitt; Suzanne A. and Geoffrey.
Mr. Fageol's interest in public affairs includes the presidencies of the Kent Chamber of Commerce and Kent Rotary Club; and Vice Pres. Akron Area Boy Scouts of America. He has served on various citizens committees in the Portage County area. He is a member of the Lamba Chi Alpha social fraternity and his hobbies include flying as a private pilot; amateur radio, electronics and tennis.
F. R. Fageol
F. R. Fageol was born September 14, 1882 on a farm in Polk County, Iowa. He left high school in Des Moines, Iowa, at the age of fifteen to go to work at the Kratzer Car- riage Company in Des Moines, Iowa, where he learned the trimmer trade.
At the age of sixteen he started his sales and business career by becoming a door-to-door salesman, selling the "Life and Achievements of Admiral Dewey", and won outstanding recognition by the book publishers.
In 1903, at the age of 20, Mr. Fageol married Jessie May Tate at Des Moines, Iowa, and the result of this union was three sons, namely, Oren R. Fageol, now deceased, Louis J. Fageol, now President of Twin Coach Company, Kent, Ohio, and Robley D. Fageol, now deceased.
Mr. Fageol is a real pioneer in bus transportation, his first experience dating back 58 years, when in 1899 he oper- ated an eight passenger mobile steam bus between downtown Des Moines and the State Fair grounds, and his interest in this type of transportation has never lagged since.
In late 1921, with his brother, W. B. Fageol, designed and produced the first especially built motor bus, known as the Fageol Safety Coach, the principles of which revolution- ized motor coach design.
In view of the nation-wide demand for the new Fageol Safety Coaches, Mr. Fageol in 1923 again returned to Ohio and reorganized his Fageol Motors Company of Ohio and began the assembly and sale of Fageol Safety Coaches by purchasing the present Fageol Products Company plant at Kent, Ohio.
During late 1927, Mr. Fageol, in association with his brother, W. B. Fageol, designed
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and built two pilot models of the dual motored Twin Coach, this being the first urban transit or streetcar type motor coach designed and built by anyone. The advantages of this model, wherein all of the street space used by the vehicle was available for passenger use, were so outstanding that it has since become the standard for the world.
Since its inception, Twin Coach Company, under Mr. Fageol's direction, has been an outstanding success, and for some 20 years ranked second in urban motor bus manufacturing in the United States.
Mr. Fageol is now Chairman of the Board of the Twin Coach Company and acts in an advisory capacity. The major duties and responsibilities of the company are carried by his son, Mr. L. J. Fageol, who is now President of the company.
In 1938 Mr. Fageol and his associates bought control of and reorganized the Divco Company of Detroit, Michigan, the largest manufacturer in the world of door-to-door delivery units, school buses, ambulances and hearses. Mr. Fageol became a Director, and Chairman of the Board, which position he still occupies.
William B. Fageol
William B. (W.B.) Fageol was born near Des Moines, Iowa on July 29, 1880, the son of John J. and Mary M. (Jones) Fageol, of Welsh, German and French ancestory.
He received his early schooling at his birth place, but left high school to help on his father's farm and later in his butchershop. He progressed through a variety of jobs as laborer, section worker, engineer's helper and jeweler's ap- prentice. His mechanical ability showed up early, when with his brother, R. B., they built a gasoline automobile in 1898, one of the first.
In 1901 he migrated to Seattle, then to California where he got a job with the Rambler Car agency. His brother, F. R. joined him a year or so later and in 1907 took over this agency. In 1916 they sold it and started Fageol Motors Co. in Oakland, Calif., predecessor of the Twin Coach Co.
In 1922 he conceived the idea of the low slung wide safety coach, which became the accepted design for busses of that era. Due to the sales market being concentrated in the East, he and his brother organized Fageol Motors of Ohio in Kent, which made and assembled busses here for the first time in 1924.
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