USA > Ohio > Lucas County > Toledo > Portrait and biographical record of city of Toledo and Lucas and Wood Counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the locality, together with biographies and portraits of all the Presidents of the United States > Part 23
USA > Ohio > Wood County > Portrait and biographical record of city of Toledo and Lucas and Wood Counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the locality, together with biographies and portraits of all the Presidents of the United States > Part 23
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J OHN A. McKEAN has been for over a quar- ter of a century an enterprising agriculturist of Wood County, and the farm where he now makes his abode is located on section 17, Webster Township. He has held a number of township positions of greater or less responsibility, and has at all times fully justified the confidence reposed in him by his friends and neighbors. In 1878 he was elected Director of the Infirmary, and served in that capacity for two terms, or until 1884, and he has also been Township Trustee. He has always taken commendable interest in the cause of education and in worthy public enterprises. Be- ginning life a poor boy, he has truly made his own way in the world, and has overcome difficulties which have appeared well-nigh insurmountable.
The birth of John A. Mckean took place in Franklin County, Pa., near the town of Fayette-
ville, May 25, 1827. His father, Hugh Mckean, was of Scotch descent, while his mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Wetmore, was of Ger- man extraction, but they were both natives of Maryland. They were the parents of eight chil- dren, as follows: Robert, Jolin, Hugh, William, Elizabeth (deceased), Mary, Melinda, and Jon- athan, who died in infancy.
John A. Mckean lived at home and attended the primitive district schools of that early day until about eleven years of age. Often during the winter months he was obliged to walk two and a-half miles to the nearest school, and surely then more than now there was "no royal road to learn- ing." On arriving at a suitable age, he began learning the miller's trade, serving an apprentice- ship of two years. The first year he received $4 per month and board, and the second $12 and board. When in his twenty-first year, or in 1847, he settled in Girard, Trumbull County, Ohio, and worked at his trade for nineteen years in that place. In 1868 he purchased the farm which he has since cultivated, and which comprises eighty acres. Here he is engaged in general farmning and stock-raising, and is quite successful. He has made nearly all the improvements on the homestead, as when he became its owner only twelve acres had been cleared.
November 18, 1852, Mr. McKean married Har- riet Bike, who was born in Pennsylvania, Septem- ber 27, 1834. Five children came to bless their union: William, who was born March 30, 1854; Mary, whose birth occurred Christmas Day, 1855, and who died January 3, 1856; Jolin W., born January 14, 1857, and now a resident of Rawson, Hancock County; Lucy, born February 7, 1859; and Elsie, born August 21, 1873, and who died September 18, 1875. John married Belle Perkins, and has two children, Will H. and Grace O. Luey became the wife of Henry Wakeman, and is the mother of two children, Frank and Ida.
On the 12th of April, 1864, Mr. Mckean en- listed as a Corporal in Company D, One Hundred and Seventy-first Ohio Infantry, and was mustered in at Sandusky. He was assigned to guard the prisoners at that place, and while discharging his duties was taken sick and sent to the hospital on
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Johnson's Island. Upon his recovery he joined his regiment at Camp Dennison, and was finally discharged August 21, 1864. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order.
M ORRIS LOENSHAL, General Pension and Claim Agent at Toledo, has conducted an office for this purpose for the past fifteen years. He is a striking example of what may be accomplished by a young man possessing the requisite amount of energy and the determina- tion to succeed, for he is self-made both in regard to financial prosperity and to the education which he possesses. A native of Germany, he landed in the United States a youth of eighteen years, with his own way to make in a strange land. After he had acquired a general knowledge of the English language, he became convinced of the de- sirability of possessing higher learning, and at- tended school, and later Oberlin College, earning the money with which his expenses were met. He has always been a man of very industrious and active habits, and is accounted one of the substan- tial German-American citizens of Toledo.
Born near Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, on the 10th of April, 1846, our subject is a son of Elias and Adelaide (Summer) Loenshal, natives of the same locality, where they passed their entire lives. The father, who was a weaver by occupa- tion, also bottled and sold natural mineral waters. His children, six in number, are all yet living.
June 11, 1864, Morris Loenshal took passage in a sailing-vessel, the "Deutschland," from Ham- burg, and fifty-two days later arrived in New York City. A few days were passed in looking for work in the metropolis, but, not being success- ful, he went to Bridgeport, Conn., and from there enlisted in Company H, Twentieth Connecticut Infantry, on the 22d of August following. He joined his regiment at Atlanta, Ga., a few days prior to Sherman's march to the sea, and partiei-
pated in that campaign and in the siege of Sa- vannah, Ga. After getting into South Carolina, he was taken sick, and was sent to the hospital at Savannah, where he remained for four weeks. On his recovery his request to be returned to his regi- ment in North Carolina was complied with, and ultimately with it he went to Washington and participated in the Grand Review.
After he had been discharged from the service, Mr. Loenshial returned to New York City, and worked for a firm until February 25, 1866. He then took his earnings and started for Ohio, but his money gave out before he had reached his des- tination, and lie was obliged to pursue the journey on foot. For one month he worked for lumber- men, but was not strong enough for that arduous kind of employment, and when Thomas King, a dairy farmer, offered him a place, he gladly ac- cepted it, and worked at the business for two years and eight months. In the fall of 1868 lie went to school in Oberlin for one term, and then resumed bis work in order to obtain more money for liis education, keeping this up at intervals for several years. During two years of this time he worked for Rev. Charles Finney, President of Oberlin College. He also taught school for a term, and while doing so kept up with his class, go- ing to the college every Saturday and reciting to his professors. Afterward, acting on the advice of friends, he took a school for one year in Lorain County, but before the termination of the school year had engaged with the Toledo Board of Edu- cation to teach here.
It was in the fall of 1873 that Mr. Loenshal first came to this eity, and for the next five years he did faithful and efficient work in training the young ideas of Toledo. December 25, 1876, 00- curred his marriage to Minerva Knapp, a native of Lucas County. Mrs. Loenshal was reared on her father's farm, and taught school after she had completed her own education. Her parents, na- tives of Livingston County, N. Y., drove an ox- team to Ohio at a very early day. following a blazed track through the woods in lieu of a road. Her father, who was a member of the Ohio State Legislature for six years from this distriet, died in Philadelphia, while attending the Centennial,
CALVIN BRONSON.
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at the age of sixty-eight years. Her mother died at the home of our subject, when in her sixty- fourth year. To Mr. and Mrs. Loenshal were born four children, namely: Howard M., born October 9, 1880; Harry M., February 16, 1883; Morris M., March 13, 1887; and Helen M., May 17, 1889. Morris M. was summoned by the angel of Death May 15, 1888.
After his marriage Mr. Loenshal taught school for two years more in Toledo, and then, on ac- count of low wages, left the business and was em- ployed by a member of the Board of Education in a land-office. Another year he devoted to organ- izing Grand Army posts throughout Ohio, and started over seventy lodges. At this time he laid the foundation for his future pension business, in which he embarked April 1, 1880. His first office was on Summit Street, later he had his headquar- ters in the Grand Army Hall, and nine years ago he removed to his present office. He is one of the best posted claim agents in the United States, and transacts a large volume of business. He is a charter member of Volunteer Post No. 715, G. A. R., and was the first Historian of the Ohio Grand Army of the Republic. In politics he has always been a stalwart Republican. His family are members of the Congregational Church, and are highly respected by all who know them. His own interest in educational matters Mr. Loen- shal lias impressed on his children, and his eldest son, Howard M., has just completed a continuous record of perfect attendance for seven years at school. Neither of the boys has ever missed a day's attendance at school for any cause whatso- ever.
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ALVIN BRONSON was born in Suffield, Conn., December 17, 1806, and died in Toledo, Ohio, January 15, 1892. He was a member of a family long identified with the his- tory of New England. In youth his educational advantages were very limited, his wide and varied information having been gained principally by self-culture. On leaving his home he went to
Springfield, Mass., where he was employed as a clerk in a leading mercantile house, receiving no wages other than his board. After having served an apprenticeship of a year, he went to New York City, and from tliere to Augusta, Ga., wlicre he re- mained eighteen months.
Believing, however, that in the great North west were opportunities that the South could not offer, Mr. Bronson came to Ohio in 1830, and embarked in the mercantile business at Avon, Lorain Coun- ty, but five years later removed to Centerville, St. Joseph County, Mich., where for years he carried on a general dry-goods trade. In 1847 he began the manufacture of tobacco at Centerville, having the pioneer establishment west of Detroit. For some time his products were sold by peddlers, wlio traveled in wagons from place to place. As his business became more extensive and he realized that a larger field for operations was necessary, he decided to come to Toledo, and this lie did in May, 1851. From the first his trade here was en- couraging, and as the returns became larger he in- creased his facilities accordingly. Soon his es- tablishment gave employment to about one hun- dred and seventy-five hands, and eleven cutting machines were in constant use.
After nearly twenty years spent in the manage- ment of his tobacco business, Mr. Bronson retired, having accumulated a handsome property, the re- sult of his judicious management and enterprisc. His trade had increased to such an extent that in 1865 he paid on his sales a Government tax of $250,322.89, the value of the goods then sold hav- ing been $560,400. The three leading products of the factory were "Bright Chewing," "C. Bronson's Indian Brand" and "F. G. Smoking Tobacco." His first factory in Toledo was on Water Street, at the foot of Lagrange, where he remained until 1856. During that year he removed to Nos. 118- 128 Suminit Street, where he occupied a building with a frontage of eighty feet, a depth of one hun- dred and fifty feet, and five stories high. Subse- quently he erccted a building at the corner of Summit and Lynn Streets, and in 1873 removed his plant there. It contained eleven cutting machines, with a daily capacity of eleven thousand pounds of chewing, or eighteen thousand pounds of smoking,
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tobacco, all operated by a single engine of about twenty-horse power. Upon his retirement from active business the factory passed into the hands of Charles R. Messinger, a son-in-law, who had be- come practically familiar with the business. Mr. Messinger continued until 1875, when he became the sole proprietor, and he in turn was succeeded by William Harrison in 1886.
At Centerville, Mich., June 26, 1837, Mr. Bron- son married Miss Lucretia C. Sutphen, who was. born in 1811, and was a descendant of Holland- Dutch ancestors. She died June 17, 1888, having had three children. Aletta M. became the wife of William H. Simnous, and died eleven months after her marriage, leaving no children. Agatha E., the only survivor, was married in November, 1863, to Charles R. Messinger, by whom she had four chil- dren: Isabella B., wife of J. J. Barber, of Toledo; Rosewell E., also of this city; Agatha E., the wife of J. T. Ravelle, of Toledo; and Charles R., the youngest. Virginia, the third daughter, married M. C. Warn, and died in 1877, leaving two daugh- ters, Aletta B. and Zorah I.
From the time of his retirement from business until the date of liis death, Mr. Bronson gave his attention largely to the improvement of the real estate he had previously purchased, and at differ- erent times erected a number of substantial and valuable business blocks. He also invested liber- ally in the promotion of manufacturing enter- prises in the city. In politics he was first a Whig, and on the organization of the Republican party became one of its most carnest supporters. He was ever a stanch Union man, and during the war he lent his aid whenever possible to the Union soldiers. His good wife, who was a woman of bright intelligence and pure Christian character, joined him in every enterprise calculated to ad- vance the moral and material benefits of the com- munity in which they lived. On coming to To- ledo slic became a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church.
The success that crowned the efforts of Mr. Bron- son was especially remarkable when we consider the fact that in early life he had few advantages, but what he made of himself was due to his energy and industry, unaided by extraneous circunstances.
He was a man of acknowledged business sagacity, one whose reputation for business acumen was known throughout the entire country. At the close of a long and honorable life lie passed to the rest that awaits mankind.
A SHTON H. COLDHAM, a rising young attorney-at-law of Toledo, has his office at No. 6 Drummond Block. He is one of the native sons of this city, his birth having oc- curred within its limits, March 9, 1862, and huis en- tire life history has been interwoven with that of Toledo. He is Secretary of the Toledo Bar Associ- ation, and has been actively engaged in practice here for the past eleven years with a great deal of success.
The father of A. H. Coldham, Dr. James Cold- ham, was one of the foremost physicians and sur- geons of the city, and was a pioneer, as he located here in 1844. He conducted a large and success- ful practice until shortly before his death, which occurred in 1892. He was much beloved and es- teemed by all who had the pleasure of his acquaint- ance, and his death was felt to be a public loss. His wife, who bore the name of Anna Williams before her marriage, by her union became the mother of five children, two sons and three daugh- ters. The other son, Dr. W. W. Coldham, is repre- sented elsewhere in this volume.
Ashton H. Coldham is the second in order of birth in his parents' family. He obtained a good public-school education, and supplemented his ele- mentary knowledge by a course of training at the Upper Canada College of Toronto, from which celebrated institution he graduated in 1881. Sub- sequently he went to New York City, where he took up legal studies, and after passing a severe examination was admitted to the Bar, before the Supreme Court at Rochester, in 1884. Returning then to his native city, he further pursued his le-
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gal studies and acquitted himself with honor at the examinations he sustained before the Supreme Court of Ohio, which convened at Columbus, and whiel formally pronouneed him a member of the Ohio Bar.
June 3, 1891, Ashton H. Coldham and Miss Daisy B. Brainard were married at the home of the bride's parents in this eity. Her father is W. S. Brainard, one of the most prominent business men of Ohio, and a well known and respected citizen. Mrs. Coldham enjoyed good educational advant- ages, and is a most charming and agreeable lady. The residenee of our esteemed subjeet and wife is at No. 1932 Vermont Avenue, where their sur- roundings bespeak their literary and cultivated taste. In politics Mr. Coldham is identified with the Democratie party.
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ILLIAM H. ATWILL. Among the well known residents of this city may be mentioned our subject, who is one of her native-born sons, and has been connected with her history for a period of over thirty years, his birth having oeeurred in 1859. He is at present en- gaged in the drug business on the corner of Cherry and Huron Streets, where he lias a well fitted and well stocked establishment and is receiving a lib- eral patronage.
Our subject's father, William H. Atwill, a native of England, emigrated to this country when a young man. His first settlement was made in Os- wego, N. Y., where his marriage oceurred, the lady of his choice being previous to her marriage Miss Mary Hortigan. She survived her husband several years, her death oeeurring in Toledo in 1886.
In 1852 William Atwill, Sr., with his family, re- moved from New York State to this city, where he
organized the Union Silver Band, later known as the Milversted Band, and whieh on its organiza- tion was composed of some of the best eitizens of Toledo. He continued to reside here until his death, which oeeurred in 1877. An active business man, energetic and progressive, he was for some time prominently identified with the manufaetur- ing interests of Toledo. Upon disposing of these interests he accepted the appointment of United States Deputy-Marshal for the Northern District of Ohio, including the Department of the Lakes. He afterward acted in the eapaeity of agent for the Union Express Company, and while in their employ was appointed to a position in the Rail- way Mail Service, a post which he lield for a pe- riod of sixteen years. He was severely wounded in a railroad aeeident, and the injuries there sus- tained eventually resulted in his death.
The second in a family of six children, all of whom attained years of maturity, our subjeet passed the days of his boyhood and youth in the excellent publie sehools of this city, and later at- tended the German Jesuit School. On leaving school he became an employe of Shaw & Baldwin, in a wholesale dry-goods and notion business, and we next find him in the United States Mail Serv- iee, his run being between Cleveland and Chi- eago, Ill., which position he held seven years. He afterward became counected with the Lake Shore & Michigan Central, serving first in the freight department and later in the transportation depart- ment, and was in the employ of this company for two years. In the year 1889 he became book- keeper in the city gas office. In 1894 he embarked in the drug business, which lie lias sinee so suecess- fully eondueted, and in which he lias proven him- self a pharmacist worthy of the respect and eonfi- dence of the people.
An important event in the life of our subject was his marriage with Miss Anna Pilliod, whiel event occurred June 5, 1888. Mrs. Atwill is a daugliter of Francis Pilliod, at one time a promi- nent farmer of northern Ohio. Later he engaged in a grocery business in Shelby County, and in the '50s eame to Toledo, where he made his home and was very prosperous financially until his death, which oeeurred in 1883. To the union of Mr.
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and Mrs. Atwill were born three children, Marie, William H. and Francis, who are all living.
Socially our subject is a member of the Order or Elks, and is also connected with the Columbus Club, in which he is serving as Director. He was a member of the Toledo Cadets for ten years and is now a member of the Veteran Cadets. He and his family occupy a very pleasant residence at No. 1019 Huron Street, and are mueh esteemed for their many worthy qualities.
A LBERT E. MACOMBER, an extensive deal- er in real estate in Toledo and vicinity, is one of her prominent and enterprising business men. He has been connected with numer- ous industries, and has used both his means and influence in the promotion of everything tending to benefit this community. He has platted many additions to the city, both on the west and on the east sides, and has been very successful from a financial point of view in these and other ventures. He was largely interested in the establishment of the Toledo Savings Bank and Trust Company, and served on its Board of Directors for many years. By profession he is a lawyer, but his extensive real-estate business has in later years almost en- tirely engrossed lis attention.
The birth of our subject occurred in Taunton, Bristol County, Mass. His father, John H., was a native of the Bay State. The Macombers are of Scotch descent, and have long been established in the United States, members of the family having been large proprietors in the Plymouth Colony as early as 1640. The wife of John H. was before her marriage Prudence C., daughter of Abraham Pierec. The Pierces were also a family of carly
proprietors in the same colony. Albert E. is tlie eldest of two children, his sister being the wife of Abner B. Cole, of this city.
The school days of Mr. Macomber were largely passed in the town of his birth, where he attended the high school after completing his elementary studies. In 1858 he went to Michigan, and for two years attended the State Agricultural College. Later he was enrolled as a student in the law de- partment of the Michigan State University of Ann Arbor, from which he graduated in 1862. Two years later he came to Toledo and opened an office, subsequently associating with himself E. D. Moore, and afterward S. J. McDonnell, under the firm name of Macomber, Moore & McDonnell. The latter partnership continued in effect until 1882, since which time Mr. Macomber has conducted his business under the name of A. E. Macomber & Co., his son, Irving E., being now associated with liim in business.
Mr. Macomber is interested in a number of man- ufacturing establishments, and is the proprietor of the Auburndale Brick Works. He was among the early owners of the Monroe Street Railway and of the Lagrange Street Railway, both of which sys- tems have been absorbed by the Consolidated Com- pany. He was one of the group of enterprising gentlemen who laid out and established the beauti- ful Woodlawn Cemetery, and he has been on its Board of Directors since its organization.
In the discharge of his public duties Mr. Macom- ber lias devoted a generous amount of time. He has served in the City Council as a member of the Board of Aldermen. He was for ten years a mem- ber of the Work House Board, and is now a member of the Toledo University Trustees. This depart- ment maintains the Manual Training School in connection with the City High School. To the development of this admirable school Mr. Ma- comber has devoted much time and enthusiasm.
In his political convictions he is a Republican. In 1871 Mr. Macomber married Saralı S., daugh- ter of Dr. Samuel T. S. Smith, of New York City. Two sons were born to this worthy couple. The elder, Irving E., is a graduate of Cornell Uni- versity; and Franklin S. has not yet completed his education, The family are members of the Uni-
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tarian Church, in which Mr. Macomber served for many years as a Trustee. His residence is at No. 1517 Monroe Street, where all the surroundings bespeak a cultured and refined taste.
J OEL POTTER is the proprietor of the East Side Mills in Toledo, which manufacture a fine grade of rye and buckwheat flour by the burr and roller system. The mill is 50x80 feet in dimensions and three stories and basement in height, and is equipped with the latest and most modern machinery used in the trade. The engine is one of eighty-horse power, and the mill has a capacity of some twenty- five barrels of flour per day, and twenty tons of feed. An active adherent of the Democratic party, Mr. Potter was a mem- ber of the Police Board for four years, and was also a member of the Common Council four years --- two years on the Board of Aldermen and two years on the Council Board.
The father of our subject, Erastus B. Potter, whose birth occurred in New York State, was a dealer in and manufacturer of lumber. His father, John Potter, likewise of the Empire State, was of English descent. Erastus B. Potter married Elizabeth, daughter of Selah Root, and to them were born five children, three sons and two daugli - ters. Joel Potter was born in Essex County, N. Y., in 1838, and passed his early years unevent- fully under his father's roof. His elementary ed- ucation was obtained in the schools of the neigh- borhood, and was supplemented by a course of training at the Fairfax (Vt.) Academy, after which he went to Ft. Edward, N. Y., and attended the well known institute of that place. For several years after leaving school he engaged in farming during the summers, and in the winter time was employed at lumbering.
In the year 1875 Mr. Potter came to Toledo to
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