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 41
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 41
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Being an ambitious young man, our subject con - cluded to adopt the legal profession and during the intervals of his teaching, industriously pe- rused musty law-books. He was admitted to the Bar April 19, 1857, in this city. On beginning his practice he located in Lorain County, this state, where, however, he remained only a short time. In 1858 lie returned to Toledo and formed a part- nership with Judge F. A. Jones, which connection existed for several years. He was next a partner of Hon. Henry E. Howe, the firm being known as Ritchie & Howe. When liis son, Byron F., was admitted to the Bar, the young man was taken in- to the firm, which then became Ritchic, Howe & Ritchie, and thus continued until 1881, the law office being in the Gardner Building. The fam- ily residence is at No. 21 Tenth Street.
In 1852 Mr. Ritchie was married to Miss Tirzalı A. Foster, of Lisbon, N. Y. She was a daughter of David Foster, and died in 1854, leaving one son, Byron Foster Ritchie, his law partner and formerly a Member of Congress. Iu 1855 Mr.
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Ritebie married Mant S. Jones, of Grafton, this state, whose death occurred eleven years later. Her father was Hon. John R. Jones, of Grafton. By this union our subject had one daughter, Ada, who is still living at home. In 1869 hic married Eug- enia, a sister of his second wife, and to them have been born two children, Carrie E. and Maurice A., who reside with their parents.
Mr. Ritchie was for a time a Democrat, though he never voted the ticket. In 1848 he became a Free-Soiler, and on the organization of the Repub- liean party he espoused its principles and has since faithfully defended them. He has taken an act- ive part in county, state and national politics, and in 1880 was a Blaine delegate to the national con- vention which nominated James A. Garfield. For many years he has been identified with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.
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LIVER PERRY HELLER, a progressive farmer of Lucas County, and the owner of a valuable farm of eighty acres situated on section 23, Providence Township, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, September 20, 1838. The family of which he is a member resided in Pennsylvania for several successive generations, and his grandfather, John Heller, was born in Northampton County, that state. In 1815 lie re- moved to Ohio and settled upon Government land in Tuscarawas County, where he continued to re- side until his death.
Emanuel, father of our subject, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., July 16, 1812, and was reared in Tuscarawas County. There, March 28, 1836, he married Miss Mary Ann Demuth, whose birth occurred in Pennsylvania June 16, 1816.
They became the parents of fourteen children, con- cerning whom we note the following: James was born August 2, 1837, and died October 2 follow- ing; Oliver Perry is the next in order of birth; John W., born December 11, 1840, is living in Providence Township; Ranatus, born August 20, 1842, was a soldier, and was killed on the steamer "Sultana," April 29, 1865; Martin S., born Janu- ary 10, 1845, is a resident of Providence Township; Mary J. was born March 8, 1847; Levi D. was born February 4, 1849; Josialı, who was born March 24, 1851, is a physician; Lida was born May 10, 1853, and is the wife of James Crockett; Elizabeth, born December 16, 1855, is the wife of Charles Gray; Rosan na was born June 3, 1857, and died on the 27th of August following; Louis was born Sep- tember 21, 1859, and died in October; Winfield C. was born September 10, 1858; and Jeannette, who was born January 5, 1862, completes the family cirele.
The father of this family came to Lucas County in 1846, and settled in Providence Township, where he entered a forty-acre tract of farm land. Building a log hut, he began the work of clearing and improving a farm. He continued to make his home here until his death, March 16, 1886, at the age of seventy-four. His wife died at the old homestead January 30, 1892. Our subject was a lad of eight years when the family came to Lucas County, and here he has since resided. During the winter seasons he attended school, while the summer months were devoted to farm work. In that way the years of his boyhood were passed.
October 29, 1861, Mr. Heller married Miss Mar- garet, daughter of James and Agnes ( Reed) Gras- sain, natives of Scotland. On the 16th of October of that year, he enlisted at Napoleon, under S. H. Stedman, as a member of the Sixty-eighth Ohio Infantry. Proceeding to Camp Chase, he was or- dered from there, January 1, 1862, to Columbus, Ohio, which place he left February 10 for Ft. Don- elson. He was assigned to Wood's Brigade, and February 14 took part in the three days battle at that place. Later he took part in the battle of Shiloh, where he was disabled, in the Vicksburg campaign of 1863, and the Atlanta campaign of the following year. On the 28th of October, 1864,
C. RUDOLPH BRAND.
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he was mustered out at Chattanooga, the term of his service having expired.
On his return home Mr. Heller began the work of cultivating his father-in-law's farm, where he remained for twenty-four years. In the year 1890 he bought his present property on section 23, and here, two years later, he erected the commodious residence now occupied by his family. He las held a number of important public positions, hav- ing been twice elected to represent his district in the State Legislature. For fifteen years he has been Justice of the Peace, has also been Township Trustee, and in 1890 was Census Enumerator.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Heller consists of nine children, of whom eight are living. Agnes R., who was born September 20, 1865, married Henry Barnard, of Providence Township; Mary, whose birth occurred January 7, 1867, is with her parents; John Wilson was born June 19, 1868, and married Henrietta Barnes; Bruce G., whose birth occurred in September, 1869, is with his parents; Glenn D. was born April 26, 1871; Nellie, May 21, 1874; Worth C., September 11, 1876; Grace, who was born June 12, 1878, died the same day; and Jean K. was born July 27, 1880.
RUDOLPH BRAND, one of the active and progressive young business men of Toledo, is Postmaster of this city, having been appointed by President Cleveland, August 3, 1894, and entering upon his duties the following month. An unswerving Democrat politically, he is one of the leaders of the party in north western Ohio, and his advice is frequently sought by other prominent members of this political organization throughout the state. No combination of circum- stances, no personal feeling, has any weight with him against the triumphs of Democracy, nor does he ever swerve from the views and principles pro- mulgated by that party. He keenly appreciates the demand of the country for constant watchful- ness and protection against the frequent endeavors of the money power to control legislation, remem- bering the saying of Thomas Jefferson, that " where
the money of the country is lodged, there will its political influence be. "
Before considering in detail the events that have given special interest to the life of Mr. Brand, some mention of his ancestry will not be amiss. His father, Henry Brand, who is remembered as one of the honored pioneers of Toledo, was a native of Germany, and in early manhood emigrated to the United States. After a short sojourn in New York, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and in the early '50s settled in Toledo, where he became one of the in- fluential business men and so continued for many years.
Forming a partnership with Joseph Grasser in 1863, Henry Brand established a brewery, which five years later was merged into the Union Brew- ing Company. In 1878 the Grasser & Brand Brew- ing Company succeeded to the business, which, with a capital of $500,000, is now one of the im- portant enterprises of Toledo. Much of the suc- cess of the concern was due to the ability of Henry Brand, its founder and financial manager. Polit- ically a stanch Democrat, he was one of the prom- inent members of the party here, and was the last City Treasurer that Toledo ever had, the Legis. lature (which was Republican ) having consolidated the office with that of County Treasurer.
The death of Mr. Brand occurred in this city March 13, 1889. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Francisca Henner, and who was a native of Germany, passed away twenty-five hours after his demise, March 15, 1889, The funeral services of both were held on the 17th of that month, at which time a large concourse of their friends assem- bled to pay the last tribute of respect to the dead. Their family consisted of nine children, all but two of whom are still living.
The subject of this sketch was born in Toledo, October 18, 1863, and received the rudiments of his education in the common schools of this city. Later he took a commercial course in the Toledo Business College, after which, when only seventeen years of age, he was given a position as cashier in the brewing establishment which had been founded by his father. On reaching his majority he was made Treasurer of the company, and after his father's death became Secretary and general mana-
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ger. These important positions he still holds, and to his good business methods and financial sagaci- ty much of the success of the firm may be justly attributed.
From early boyhood Mr. Brand has always taken a deep interest in political affairs. When barely of age he was placed on the Democratic Executive Committee of Lucas County, and served through the Presidential campaigns of 1884, 1888 and 1892. In the fall of 1893 he was the Democratic nomi- nee for the State Senate, and though defeated he won laurels through having made one of the best and most honorable campaigns ever known in the state. In the spring of 1893, and again in 1895, he was elected to represent the Fifth Ward on the School Board, and as Chairman of the Building Committee rendered most efficient service.
The appointment of Mr. Brand as Postmaster, upon the recommendation of Congressman Ritchie, was a triumph, not only for himself, but also for the principles he represents. While he is the youngest Postmaster the city has ever had, it may with equal truth be said that he is one of the most efficient and popular. The work of the office, un- der his supervision, is condneted upon strict busi- ness principles, and the results have been cminent- ly satisfactory to the people.
In December, 1893, Mr. Brand was united in marriage with Miss Leonia, daughter of George Schuch, of Toledo. Mrs. Brand is a graduate of the high school of this city and is a lady of refine- ment and culture, popular in the best social circles. The family residence is at No. 323 Olive Street. Socially Mr. Brand is identified with the Elks, and is a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has attained the uni- formed rank. He has made such a record for bus- iness shrewdness and political leadership that it is safe to predict for him a successful future.
R ICHARD WAITE, a prominent member of the Toledo Bar, is a brother of the late Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, whose history appears elsewhere in this volume, and is a member of the firm of Waite
& Snider, which, in addition to managing a gen- eral law practice, deals extensively in real estate.
The birth of Richard Waite occurred September 26, 1831, his parents being Henry M. and Maria (Selden) Waite. His paternal grandfather was Remick Waite, a farmer in Connecticut. The fa- ther, Henry M., who was a graduate of Yale, was a native of Lyme, Conn., born February 9, 1787. For years he was engaged in legal practice at the place of his birth, and attained prominence, being chosen successively as Representative and Senator in the State Legislature. In 1834 he was ap- pointed Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of Errors of Connecticut, and later was Chief Justice of the state, a position he held until 1857, when he retired on account of his age. The Waite fam- ily settled at Lyme prior to 1700, and have had many prominent and representative members in public life. Among these was Marvin Waite, who was a Presidential Elector and cast his vote for Washington at his first election, in 1789. The wife of Henry M. Waite was a granddaughter of Col. Samuel Selden, who commanded a Connecti- cut regiment in the Colonial ariny. He was made prisoner September 17, 1776, and died in the fol- lowing October, being buried in the old brick churchyard where the New York Times office now stands.
In the family of eight childen, seven sons and a daughter, Richard Waite is the youngest, and his brother, Chief Justice Waite, was the eldest. His early school days were quietly passed in Lymc, Conn., after which he prepared for college at Will- iston Seminary, Easthampton, Mass. He then en- tered Yale College, from which he was graduated in the Class of '53. After his graduation he came direct to Toledo, and began studying law with his brother, Morrison R., being admitted to the Bar in 1855. He then entered into partnership with his brother, the firm name becoming M. R. & R. Waite. This connection continued until the senior mem- ber of the firm was appointed Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Soon after that event Richard Waite and his nephew, E. T. Waite, joined their interests, under the style of R. & E. T. Waite. The death of the junior member dissolved the partnership December 23, 1889, Soon after,
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Mr. Waite associated with him O. B. Snider, under the present firm name. He is a straightforward and unswerving Republiean in politieal eonvietions.
May 21, 1857, Richard Waite was united in marriage with Miss Alice J. Voris, of Newark, N. J., whose father, William Voris, was a resident of Brooklyn, N. Y. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Waite, only five are now living. three sons and two daughters, namely: Richard, Jr., who is a civil engineer; and Maria, Aliee L. William H. and John B. For many years the par- ents have been leading members and active work- ers in Trinity Episcopal Church. They move in the best social cireles of the city, and are honored and esteemed by all who know them.
HARLES H. KENNEDY, M. D., of Sylva- nia, is one of the pioneer members of his profession in Lueas County. He lias been actively engaged in practice in this place for the past forty-five years, has been very successful, and is now well-to-do. For several years after first eom- ing here he practiced by permit, and then took a regular course of training in the Michigan State University, from which he was graduated in 1867. In his political convietions he is a radical Repub- lican.
A son of Isaac and Catherine (Cook) Kennedy, the Doetor was born August 27, 1810, in Utica, N. Y. His parents were both natives of New York State. The father, who was born about 1795, died in 1854. For years he was an overseer in the Crown Glass Works of Deerfield, N. Y. He was the father of nine children, as follows: Sidney R., who was born in 1808, and is now deceased; Betsy, born in 1812, and who is also deceased; Mrs. Cath- erine Campbell, whose birth occurred in 1817, and who is now a resident of Washington ; Mrs. Polly E. Ware, born in 1818, and now living in Wiseon-
sin; Austin, deceased, who was born about 1822; Julia A., who is living on the old homestead in New York with a brother; Clinton, who was born in 1828, and is a commercial traveler by oecupa- tion; and Charles H., who is next to the eldest of the family.
In August, 1832, Dr. Kennedy married Saman- tha A. Page, whose father was of English deseent, and was employed as a sailor on the high seas. Six children were born to the union of the Doctor and his wife, as follows: Mary E., Mrs. Seeley, born in October, 1833, in Erie County, Pa., and now a resident of California; Mrs. Char- lotte Ilamilton, born in 1835, now a resident of Quiney, Ill .; Catherine, born in 1837, who died in Quiney, Ill., in 1883; Theodore, born about 1841; Margaret, who was born about 1842, and died when ten years of age; and Charles L., born in 1849, and now a practicing physician in Detroit. The latter was at one time Judge of a police eonrt in Toledo. Theodore was killed by lightning in 1868, in Macomb, Ill. Mrs. Samantha Kennedy died in 1872. The present wife of the Doctor, to whom he was married in 1882, was a Mrs. Leon- ardson, who was born August 3, 1829.
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J UDGE LINDLEY W. MORRIS, of Toledo, who occupies the responsible and trustwor- thy position of Judge of the Court of Com- mon Pleas, First Sub-division of the Fourth Judicial District of Ohio, has been engaged in the praetiee of law in this eity for the past fifteen years, and has given his whole time and energies to his eliosen profession. During the three years from 1891 to 1893, inelusive, lie was a member of the City Council, and served for one term as President of that honorable body. He is an in- fluential man in the ranks of the Republican party in this locality, and in 1889 was nominated on
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that tieket for the position which he has since been honored with, but at that time was defeated by the opposition, wlio had as their candidate Judge Lemon. In 1893 Judge Morris was again a ean- didate for the Judgeship of the Common Pleas Court, and was sueeessful, entering upon his duties October 8, 1894, his tenure of office to cover a pe- riod of five years.
The birth of Judge Morris occurred in Colum- biana County, Ohio, October 16, 1853. His parents, Thomas C. and Minerva J. ( Preston) Morris, na- tives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively, were married in Columbiana County in Marchi, 1850. The father was a farmer by occupation, and on his homestead Lindley W. spent his boyhood days in an uneventful manner, obtaining a practical and useful knowledge of general work. His edu- cation was limited to that afforded by the district schools until he was sixteen years of age. In 1874 he entered Oberlin College, from which he was graduated in 1878. Going then to New Lisbon, Ohio, he entered the law office of Nichols & Fire- stone, where he studied for two years. In May, 1880, he was admitted to the Bar before the Su- preme Court at Columbus, Ohio, and in the fall of the same year began his regular practice in this eity.
In December, 1894, oeeurred the marriage of Judge Morris and Miss Fannie May Darling, who is a daughter of Col. Henry A. and Mary M. (New- eomb) Darling, natives of Massachusetts, where Mrs. Morris was reared to womanhood. She is a lady of good education and social attainments, who presides with charming hospitality over the pleasant home of her distinguished husband.
M ATTHEW BARTLETT. The commercial importance and prosperity of Toledo at present is unquestionably due to the wis- dom, foresight and enterprise of lier business nien, and it is a fitting tribute to those who have hon- orably distinguished themselves in the commercial arena that their names and lives should be com-
memorated among those of the leading men in all branches. It is a faet worthy of consideration that nearly all of our prominent business men have struggled from obseurity up to the foremost plaecs in every branch of trade. As a representative of this elass, we present the following brief outline of one who has gained, without assistance from others, the leading position he holds to-day among the eiti- zens of Toledo.
Mr. Bartlett was born in the parish of Somer- set, England, April 19, 1841, and is the son of . Matthew and Fannie Bartlett, the former of whom was a native of Devonshire, and a cabinet-maker and builder by trade. Our subject is the third in a family of ten elrildren, there being six sons and four daughters. At the age of five years he was sent to the Broad Street School, which was founded in 1744 and is still in existence, being in charge of St. Michael's Church of England. Five years were spent in that institution, after which he returned home. Soon, however, he ran away, with a boyish love of adventure and a desire to see more of the great world. For a time he was employed as a messenger boy between Bristol and Clifton.
Going to London, Mr. Bartlett took passage on board an American ship, and after seventy-two days upon the ocean he arrived in New York City. There he boarded the " Francis Skiddy," travel- ing up the Hudson to Albany, N. Y. From there he proceeded by stage to Troy, N. Y., where an uncle resided, and with him he made his home until 1854. During that year he came to Toledo and accepted a position with Ralph Cross, a jew- eler, with whom he remained for three years. Then entering the office of Dr. Estill, he learned the dental business, acquiring a thorough knowl- edge of all departinents of the profession during the three years he was thus engaged.
Securing a clerkship in the dry-goods store of S. Smiley, Mr. Bartlett remained in that business until 1861, when he started out for himself. In partnership with James Moore, under the firm name of Moore & Bartlett, he embarked in business on Summit Street, the connection lasting until 1864. He is one of the veterans of the late war, having enlisted for service in the Union army as a mem-
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HORACE S. WALBRIDGE.
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ber of Company B, One Hundred and Thirtieth Ohio Infantry, Col. Henry Phillips commanding the regiment, which was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, Thirteenth Army Corps. He took part in numerous important engagements, includ- ing the siege of Petersburg. In September, 1864, he was discharged. On the expiration of his term of service he returned to Toledo, and about one year afterward accepted a position as head clerk for La Salle & Epstein, dry-goods merchants, with whom he remained until 1868.
In company with S. Smiley, our subject pur- chased the furniture business owned by Rigby Bros., and this partnership continued until the death of Mr. Smiley, four months later. In 1890 Mr. Bart- lett erected a fine business block, a five-story brick structure with a stone front, the entire space being utilized in his business. There is a substantial freight elevator for the purpose of removing the goods from one floor to another. An extensive business is conducted in the manufacture and sale of furniture and bedding, and the reliable trans- actions of the proprietor have gained for him the confidence of other business men of the place.
On New Year's Day of 1866 occurred the marri- age of Mr. Bartlett and Miss Josephine Holmes. They have one son, Charles. Socially our subject is a member of Wapaukonica Lodge No. 3, I. O. O. F., and has passed all the chairs up to that of Grand Master of State. He is also connected with For- syth Post No. 15, G. A. R. In Concord Lodge No. 149, K. of P., he has served as Past Chancellor, and is actively connected with the work of the order. He organized the latter lodge, and was instrumental in elevating the moral and social status of the lodges of Toledo. He is a member of the Board of Police Commissioners, and is also a member of the Board of Memorial Hall Trustees. Politically he is a Republican.
H ORACE S. WALBRIDGE, deceased. It may with justice be said that few citizens of Toledo have accomplished more for the development of the resources of the city and county than did Mr. Walbridge. Intimately asso-
ciated with the history of the place from the time of its incorporation under its present name until the day of his death, lie made an enviable reputa- tion as a business man and citizen, and left to pos- terity as a precions bequest the memory of loyalty and self-sacrificing devotion to principle and the uplifting of humanity. He is remembered as one of the pioneers of the city, a man who by his in- dustry, enterprise and public-spirit contributed more largely to its progress than any one citizen. Surviving to witness its wonderful prosperity, he could in the last years of his life congratulate him- self upon the fruition of his early hopes and rejoice in the part he had taken to secure sueli fortunate results.
The son of Chester and Mary ( Walbridge) Wal- bridge, the subject of this memoir was born in Syr- acuse. N. Y., July 21, 1828. At the age of three years he was taken by his parents to Columbus, Ohio, and in 1834 brought by them to Port Law- rence, which soon afterward was incorporated un- der the name of Toledo. The family being poor, he was obliged when only twelve years old to be- come self-supporting, but this fact, instead of prov- ing detrimental to him, was the secret of his future success, for it enabled him to develop, in youth, the qualities of industry, perseverance and deter- mination that were so helpful to him in later years.
After having been engaged in various mercan- tile capacities, Mr. Walbridge superintended the construction of a sawmill at Ottawa Lake, Mich., in the winter of 1845-46, and in the spring took a cargo of straw hats by canal to Cincinnati. On his return to Toledo, he entered the employ of Thomas Watkins in the grain commission business, and about 1854 took charge of the house of P. Buck- ingliam & Co., of this city. At the expiration of a year he was admitted as a member of the latter firm, continuing thus until February 1, 1857. Sub- sequently the title was changed to Brown, Wal- bridge & King, afterward to Brown, Walbridge & Co., and still later to H. S. Walbridge & Co. (the "Co." being Ebenezer Walbridge), under which title it was conducted until the retirement of the firm in 1868. In 1865 the firm of Walbridge, Watkins & Co. was established in Chicago, and
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