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 87
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Frank H. Rock
Frank H. Rock was born in Beaver Falls, Pa., Feb. 5, 1921. He was the son of Edward and Minnie (Chill) Rock, both natives of Naples, Italy. At the age of one he came with his parents to Ravenna. Here he attended school and grad- uated from Ravenna High School in 1939.
Following this he learned the barber trade and worked at it until he enlisted in the U. S. Navy in January, 1943. During the war he was stationed at San Bruno, Calif., in ship service. He was discharged in January, 1946.
Mr. Rock was married on October 4, 1941, to Mary Mendiola, daughter of Guy and Lucretia (La Piecerola) Men- diola, natives of Veista, Italy. To them three sons were born- Daviu Allen, Jeffrey Edward and Frank, Jr.
In 1952 Mr. Rock was elected ward councilman in Ra- venna and was re-elected in 1954. In 1956 he was elected councilman-at-large and was Democratic candidate for mayor of Ravenna in 1957.
He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis, F.O.E., American Legion, Boys Club and Parents Club. In 1955 he received the Distinguished Service Award from the
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Ravenna Junior Chamber of Commerce. Since 1948 he has been a partner in the barber shop of Rock & Wells.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Rock are members of the Immaculate Conception church.
Leopold S. Romito
Leopold S. Romito
Walter Romito
William Romito
Leopold Salvatore Romito is a native of Italy, having been born at Rivisondoli, L'Aquila, December 18, 1897. He was one of thé 14 children born to Mr. and Mrs. Nicoia and Jiovanna Romito. He was able to obtain very little schooling and at the age of seven began working to cut wood and carry it by muleback to his father's bakery. At 15 he could do a man's work, being able to chop down, cut up and haul four cords of wood daily.
America attracted him and when he was 16 he came to join an older brother who had preceded him to Cuyahoga Falls. In the intervening half century and more, he has gained outstanding success through willingness to work, shrewdness and common sense.
His first job was that of shoveling sand for a construction gang working on the trolley line tracks near Cuyahoga Falls. The men were driven hard by their boss but young "Paul", as he became known, kept up with others and eventually became foreman. Despite the handi- cap of a strange language, young Paul found other jobs. He was employed by the B. F. Goodrich Co. to work in the hose room and remained there until the big layoff after World War I was over.
Meantime, to improve his language and gain more education he attended night classes at Akron Central High School and kept at it five years.
In 1920 he was attracted to Ravenna where he obtained a job from Patrick Donnelly who made medicine cabinets and bathroom stools. Donnelly set Paul to turning out stool legs on an old lathe to save buying them from another producer. The young worker turned out much more work than expected and soon had the place well stocked.
By 1924 things were not going too well with the company. There was dissension and the business was for sale. Young Paul tried to interest friends and relatives in its purchase but when he failed in this, he got together about $3,200 of his own money and bought the stock. To make the venture a success he worked harder than ever. Eventually the concern became the. Romito-Donnelly Corp. and so remains today.
Through new organization and the use of new devices, production was increased and new items were developed. Chrome-steel furniture was put out and fresh markets found. By
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1939 he had 110 men employed but because of close application to work, Paul's health broke and he was forced to take an extended rest. Later, he resumed his work but at a slower pace.
Mr. Romito was married to Palma Marie Romito of Cuyahoga Falls on Feb. 22, 1992. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Romito. They have three children, all of whom are now associated with their father in the company.
Walter, who is now secretary-treasurer and purchasing agent, was born Dec. 5, 1922, in Cuyahoga Falls, O. He was educated in the Ravenna schools and later graduated from Notre Dame University with an A.B. degree. On Oct. 7, 1950, he married Dolly May Bell. They have two children, Richard and Stephan. He is Past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus and Past President of the Junior Chamber of Commerce.
William Romito, who is now vice president in charge of production, was born in Cuy- ahoga Falls, Jan. 5, 1928. He was also educated in the Ravenna schools and at Kent State University. He was married Nov. 23, 1950 to Eileen Shutiok. They have a girl, Alson, and two boys, Timothy and Matthew. His hobbies are studies in electricity, dog shows and yacht building.
Patricia, the daughter who is now assistant secretary-treasurer, is a native of Ravenna. She attended Ravenna High School and Seton Hill College, graduating with a B.A. degree.
Paul Romito is not only interested in the welfare of his own family but helped numerous Italian families of Ravenna during the great depression, meantime making his own parents comfortable in their declining days in Italy. He was helpful to many immigrants in obtaining citizenship papers. For years he served as president of the Ravenna Italian lodge. The Italian bowling game of "bocce" is a favorite diversion and he also bowls the regulation game with skill.
In his philosophy of life it is the thinker, planner and worker who get ahead, con- centrating on a few items of which better goods can be made at lower cost. There is still plenty of opportunity in small business, he believes.
He belongs to the Immaculate Conception Church of Ravenna and is a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus.
Genevieve Rorke
Genevieve Rorke was born in Medina, Ohio on Sep- tember 7, 1879, the daughter of Harrison and Henrietta Rorke; attended the public school in Medina; came to Ra- venna in 1892, worked in Ravenna until the Fall of 1902, then enrolled in the Commercial Department in Hiram College, graduating from that department in June, 1903. After graduation she came to Ravenna and secured employ- ment as Secretary to A. S. Cole, attorney.
On October 12, 1903, Miss Rorke was appointed as- sistant official shorthand reporter; served in that capacity for a short time, when Judge Geo. F. Robinson appointed her official court reporter for the Common Pleas Court, serving under the tenure of office of the following named Judges :- Hon. Geo. F. Robinson; Hon. I. T. Siddall; Hon. A. S. Cole; Hon. E. F. Robison; Hon. C. B. Newton; Hon. V. W. Filiatrault; Hon. Carl H. Curtiss; Hon. Blake C. Cook; and for Hon. Albert L. Caris for four years, retiring on
December 31, 1954.
Miss Rorke was a charter member of the Ravenna Business and Professional Womens Club, but no longer a member. Also affiliated with the Grace Episcopal Church; served since
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1945 as Secretary of the Zoning Board of Appeals and/or the Platting and Planning Com- mission and holds said position at the present time.
In addition to the Court work Miss Rorke worked in the Tax Department of the County Auditor's Office for thirty years.
Upon retirement in December, 1954, the Portage County Bar Association gave a dinner honoring Miss Rorke for her long service, presenting her with a wrist watch; also voted her an honorary member of the Portage County Bar Association.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Schneider
Frank Schneider was born in Kunas, Austria, on November 8, 1889, and is the oldest of five children of John and Agnes (Strippel) Schneider. He attended school in Austria, and later in Cleveland, Ohio, after coming to the United States in 1901. On September 25, 1912 he married Margaret Barbara Trepainer, daughter of Oliver and Anastasia Trepainer. Later he was naturalized.
At the age of 18, Mr. Schneider was manager of a meat market for the White Front Provision Company in Cleveland. He purchased a farm in Edinburg in 1920, and several years later moved to Ravenna and opened Schneider's Market at 208 Parkway. Ill health necessitated withdrawing from the meat business in 1943. An interest in real es- tate led him to obtain a broker's license in 1948, and he is presently active in business as the owner of Schneider Realty.
Mr. Schneider is a member of the Immaculate Conception Church, Portage County Real Estate Board, Knights of Columbus, B.P.O. Elks 1076, and Loyal Order of Moose.
Mr. and Mrs. Schneider are the parents of seven children: Herbert Francis, Marie Coletta (Mrs. Thomas J. Adams), Leo Anthony, Dorothy Claire (Mrs. Noland W. Haas), Louis Jerome (deceased), Wilbur Joseph, and Oliver John. There are 21 grandchildren.
Paul C. Shafer
Paul C. Shafer was born in Frankfort, Indiana, January 31, 1895, the son of Aaron C. and Frances (Clark) Shafer. He was married to Elizabeth Outhwaite of Tiffin, Ohio, in 1929, and to them was born one son, Paul C. Shafer, Jr.
Mr. Shafer received his education in the public schools of Indiana, Franklin College, and Case School of Technology, where he is affiliated with Phil Delta Theta fraternity. An outstanding football player in both high school and college, he was captain of the Franklin College team and was named halfback on the All-Indiana team.
He has along record of public service, having served as assistant city engineer of Peru, Indiana, 1919-22; city engineer, Marianna, Florida, 1926-27; director of public service, Ra- venna, 1928-32; engineer, State Highway Department, Ravenna, 1932-33; superintendent, Maysville Water Company, Inc., Maysville, Kentucky, 1934-35; resident engineer of Portage County, State Highway Department, Ravenna, 1935-36; and Portage County Engineer from 1937 to the present writing, and again re-elected in 1956 for a four-year term.
In November 1952, he was appointed county consultant to the Bureau of Public Roads.
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In addition to his work as county engineer, he has been active in the civic affairs of the community, having served as chairman of two successful Portage County fund drives for Red Cross and one Ravenna Community Chest fund drive and as a member of many other civic committees. In 1951, the Akron Area Council of Boy Scouts honored him with a Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service to boyhood.
Professionally, Mr. Shafer is listed in Who's Who in Engineering and holds membership in the American Society of Civil Engineers, National Society of Professional En- gineers, Ohio Society of Professional Engineers, American Road Builders Association, Ohio and National Highway Users Conference, Highway Research Board, American Congress of Surveying and Mapping and is a past president of the County Engineers' Association of Ohio and Northeast Ohio County Engineers' Association.
During World War I, he was in the service of his country for twenty-three months, part of which was served in France.
Mr. Shafer is a past president of Ravenna Rotary Club, and is affiliated with the V. F. W., American Legion, Knights Templar, Masons, Elks, Ravenna Pomona, and State Grange.
Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Shira
John W. Shira is a native of Niles, Ohio where he was born March 2, 1886. After completing his education he went to Akron, Ohio, and learned the rubber bus- iness at the old Starr Rubber Co. It was there he met the present Mrs. Shira in 1914.
In 1916, together with Paul E. Collette, he formed the Oak Rub- ber Co. with a plant located at South and Schweitzer Streets in Akron. This industry was moved to Ravenna in 1917. Mr. Shira was elected president of the com- pany in 1927 and served in that capacity until 1954 when he re- tired. He spends his summers in Ravenna and his winters in Phoe- nix, Arizona.
Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Shira
Mary Jane Goodall was born in Akron May 30, 1891 and there received her schooling. She was employed by the Starr Rubber Co. in Akron and later by the Oak Rubber Co. in Ravenna. She married John W. Shira in May, 1919. The couple has two children, Mrs. Evelyn Hoopes of Akron, and Jack Shira, Jr. of Phoenix, Arizona. Mrs. Shira retired from active participation in business in 1946.
The Oak Rubber Co. played an important part in World War II in converting its work from balloons to army raincoats and assisted in originating a heat-sealing process which eliminated most of the sewing required in production of coats.
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Harold W. Short
Harold Wayne Short was born in Norwalk, Ohio, February 20, 1907, the son of Henry Clay Short and Margaret (Worts) Short.
After attending a one room country school in Geauga County, Ohio, he moved to Shalersville where he assisted his father and brother in operating a farm and livestock business.
He graduated from Mantua Village High School, Hiram College and attended Kent State University before being Principal of Shalersville and Brady Lake Schools for seven years each.
In addition to being principal, teacher and athletic coach, Mr. Short found time to study law at night at the Akron Law School and was admitted to the Bar in 1933, although he did not open his law office until 1942 in Ra- venna, where he now practices.
He entered politics and was elected Justice of the Peace for several years, served as City Solicitor for Ravenna in 1945, in 1952 was elected as Portage County Commissioner and at the general election in 1956 was re-elected to his second term in that office.
On July 15, 1930, he married Alice E. Heritage of Shalersville, and they are the parents of Wayne H. Short and Sheila A. Short. Mrs. Short's ancestors, the Corbetts, were among the early settlers of Portage County.
Mr. Short is a former vice-chairman of the Ravenna Dis- trict Boy Scout Committee, a member of and former president of the Portage County Amateur Baseball Association, member and former director of the Ravenna Chamber of Commerce, member and former vice-president of Ravenna Kiwanis Club.
He is presently serving on the Board of Trustees of the Ravenna Public Library, the Official Board of the Ravenna Methodist Church and is also Chairman of the Ravenna Civil Service Commission. Mr. Short is a member of the Ravenna Grange, a Charter member of the Portage County Historical Society and a member of various law associations.
Clinton E. Shurtliffe
Clinton Edward Shurtliffe was born June 12, 1885, on Lincoln Ave., Ravenna. He was the son of the late Charles Anson and Elinora (Krebs) Shurtliffe, and a grandson of Michael Krebs, founder of the old Crown Flint Glass Co. of Ravenna, the first of the glass factories established there.
He attended school in Kent and in Moundsville, West Va. In 1906 he was married in Wheeling, West Va., to Fanny West of Sisterville, West Va., to whom a son, Charles II, and a daughter, Ruth, were born.
During the First World War Mr. Shurtliffe worked as accountant at the Mason Tire & Rubber Co. at Kent.
The family removed to Pittsburgh in 1921, where he opened a display room in the Commonwealth Annex building for toys, gifts, novelties and candies. In 1927 he was married to Mary Jeanette Babcock, a nurse at Passavant Hospital, Pittsburgh. They have one son, Clinton, Jr., who was born in
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1941, in Miami, Florida.
Mr. Shurtliffe returned to Ravenna in 1943 as manager of the Walbridge Toy Co. and at the conclusion of World War II, he established the C. E. Shurtliffe Associates wholesale candy firm with headquarters at 432 West Main St., Ravenna. Mr. and Mrs. Shurtliffe and son Clinton, Jr., now in Ravenna high school, reside at the same address, 432 West Main St.
Dr. and Mrs. Stephen U. Sivon
Dr. Stephen Ulysses Sivon was born Sept. 2, 1886, in Cleveland, son of Charles and Catherine Sivon, natives of France. Orphaned at 13, young Stephen had the care of four younger brothers and sisters, moving them to Perry, O. To pay for their support he raised acres of onions and melons.
After graduation from Perry High School he worked his way through Ohio Wesleyan and Western Reserve Medical College in 1912, interning at Charity Hospital, Cleveland. He also helped his younger brothers in getting college educations.
In 1911 Dr. Sivon married Ethel Edmonds of Perry. They started practice in Sebring, where their first children, Iola and Lynn were born. In 1918 they moved to Ravenna at the request of Dr. W. W. White, who needed a doctor trained in surgery. He followed the general practice of medicine and surgery until 1948 when he became ill. He died in 1949.
Dr. Sivon invented and market- ed one of the few circumcision instruments made in this country. He was interested in sports and Dr. and Mrs. Stephen U. Sivon served as school doctor and for athletic teams. He belonged to the Portage County Medical Society, serving as president; Hospital Board; American Medical Association; American Assn. of Railway Surgeons; First Christian Church, Kiwanis and Elks Clubs. He took pride in the fact that his daughter, Iola, also became a physician, but was interested in activities of others; Lynn, who became a salesman; Ruth, a newspaper reporter; and Robert, a mechanical engineer. He liked to think of himself as a country doctor, a friend to all.
Ethel Edmonds Sivon was born Sept. 9, 1888, in Perry, O., daughter of Lianer and James Edmonds. She was a graduate of Perry High school, attended Oberlin College and became a teacher.
After her marriage to Dr. Sivon her interests centered in her home and family. She loves flowers, gardens and growing things and has always done her own gardening. She is well known as a Ravenna community leader for three decades, actively participating in re- ligious, educational and civic affairs.
Mrs. Sivon was the second Ravenna woman to enter politics and became a member of the city board of education, serving eight years beginning in the late '30s and after that was a member of the city council six years. She is also active in church work, helping or- ganize the Ravenna Council of Churches. She has taught a Sunday school class which she helped found, in the Christian Church, nearly 40 years.
Memberships include the Ravenna Coterie; Ravenna Federation of Women's Clubs (twice president); Visiting Nurse Associations and D.A.R.
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Marion L. (Mike ) Slates
Marion L. Slates was born May 5, 1896, in the village of Dellroy, Ohio, being the son of Charles M. and Addie (Shotwell) Slates. The Slates family, descendents of a Hessian who deserted the British for Colonial troops, migrated from Virginia to Ohio in the early 1800s.
Mr. Slates graduated from Carrollton high school and entered Mount Union College in 1914. In May, 1917, he enlisted in an artillery group of Ohio's Thirty-seventh Division and served overseas. Following the war he re-entered Mount Union and was graduated in February of 1920, with an A.B. degree and a major in education. He expected to teach in high school but in February accepted a position with a whole- sale automobile parts firm in Canton.
After employment in the same line of business as sales- man and executive with firms in Steubenville, Salem and Akron, in 1950, together with Gilbert Lane, established a corporation, Mike Slates, Inc. This business is located at 439 West Main St., Ravenna.
Mr. Slates was married in 1921 to Miss Nesta Weaver, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Weaver of Sebring, who was a classmate at Mount Union. To them were born two sons. They are Professor Philip M. Slates of George Peabody Col- lege, Nashville, Tenn .; and Harry I. Slates, a pharmaceutical research chemist with Merck & Company at Rahway, N. J.
After World War I Mr. Slates served in the Ohio Na- tional Guard until 1930 as captain of Battery A, 135th Field Artillery. He is a member of the Congregational Church of Silver Lake village where he has lived since 1937. He is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Cuyahoga Falls and past president of the Salem Kiwanis club. He is also a member, and past commander of Silver Lake Post, American Legion.
Ralph D. Slates
Ralph David Slates was born in Carrollton, Ohio, Oct. 8, 1913, being the son of Joseph and Neva (Perrine) Slates.
When Ralph was three years of age the family came to Ravenna. He attended the Ravenna schools and graduated from Ravenna Township High School in 1931. After that he attended Kent State University for three years.
He then entered the employe of the Park Drop Forge Co. of Cleveland, working several years as a master mechanic.
In 1945 he purchased the Meadowview Golf course be- tween Ravenna and Kent and developed it into the fine modern spot that is enjoyed by many.
On Jan. 30, 1942, Mr. Slates was married to Alma Wave Wilson of Ravenna, daughter of Don Wilson.
Mr. Slates is an enthusiastic Mason. He belongs to Col- linwood Blue Lodge, No. 582, of Cleveland; Rising Sun Chap- ter and Woodward Council of Cleveland; Couer De Lion Commandery; Valley of Lake Erie Consistory; Yusef Kahn Grotto and Al Koran Shrine.
He is also a member of the Ravenna B.P.O.E.
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Emerson J. Smith
Emerson J. Smith was born at Pioneer, Williams County, Ohio, October 22, 1868. He was the son of Benjamin and Sarah (Gares) Smith, and was reared on a farm. His educa- tion was received in the district schools and the Pioneer High School. Following this he attended Wauseon Normal College, after which he taught mathematics for two years.
Mr. Smith then accepted a position as mathematics instructor at Hiram College, re- maining for six years, during which time he continued his own education. He was interested in politics and because of his qualifications was nominated for county auditor on the Republican ticket in 1899. He was elected and served the county for two terms, 1899-1905. He remained in Ravenna and was also a Republican councilman-at-large for two terms.
In 1918, with J. L. Slates and others, he organized The White Rubber Company of Ravenna for the manufacture of rubber sundries, particularly fountain pen sacs and elec- trician's gloves. His son, E. Sterling Smith, was associated with the company soon after incorporation.
Mr. Smith was president and director of the Ravenna Savings and Loan Company, which he helped organize in 1922. He was also a director of the Second National Bank.
Mr. Smith belonged to the First Christian Church of Ra- venna and served the church in many capacities. He was also a member of the Kiwanis Club.
Mr. Smith was married in June, 1892, in Dalton, New York, to Nettie Bacon. They had two children-Sterling Smith of Ravenna; and a daughter, Vivian, who is now Mrs. Vivian Patrick of San Diego, California. There are two grandchildren-Mrs. Jeanne Mc- Cord of Bluffton, Indiana, and Robert Botkin of Spokane, Washington.
They had a fine home in Ravenna in which they took much interest. Mr. Smith was an ardent golf lover. He died May 14, 1950.
E. Sterling Smith
E. Sterling Smith was born in Hiram, Ohio, August 28, 1897. He is the son of the late Emerson J. Smith, who was born in Pioneer, Williams County, Ohio, October 22, 1868; and Nettie (Bacon) Smith, who was born in Nunda, Living- ston County, New York State, May 22, 1864 and now re- sides in Ravenna, Ohio.
Mr. Smith came to Ravenna in 1899 when his father, E. J. Smith, was elected County Auditor.
Mr. Smith received his education in Ravenna City Schools and furthered his studies at Hiram College and Kent State University. During his later teens and early twenties, he taught school in Portage County and Akron and acted as sales clerk in several local businesses. While teaching school he made a reputation for himself as a teacher as well as a coach.
Soon after The White Rubber Company was incorporat- ed, Mr. Smith associated himself with the organization. Mr. Smith was salesman, factory representative and vice-president of the company for many
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years. At the death of his father, Emerson J. Smith, Sterling Smith became President of The White Rubber Company and, of course, continued in a sales capacity for The White Rubber Company.
Mr. Smith played golf and became an ardent worker with jumping horses. His horses have won many local titles and several national titles.
Mr. Smith is not married and lives in the home purchased by his father about 1904 or 1905.
Mr. Smith is a member of the Kiwanis Club and of the First Christian Church. He is also director of the Ravenna Savings & Loan Company.
Perry H. Stevens
Perry H. Stevens was born in Ravenna, Ohio, on October 7, 1892, the son of Dr. Thomas H. and Perla A. (Evans) Stevens.
Graduated from Ravenna High School in 1911, he attended Dartmouth College at . Hanover, N. H., for two years, and graduated from the Law School of the University of Michigan in 1916 with the degree of LL.B.
He was admitted to the Bar of Ohio in January, 1917, and entered the employ of the law firm of Crampton & House in Cleveland, Ohio, where he continued until his entry into the service of the United States with American Army in August, 1917.
He served with the Eighty-third and Fourth Divisions of the American Expeditionary Forces in France, and in Ger- many with the Army of Occupation, as a Lieutenant in the machine gun service, and was honorably discharged from that service in June, 1919. He was thereafter commissioned Captain of Cavalry in the Ohio National Guard.
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