The Ohio blue book; or, Who's who in the Buckeye state; a cyclopedia of biography of men and women of Ohio, Part 112

Author: Van Tassel, Charles Sumner, 1858-
Publication date: [1917]
Publisher: Toledo, Ohio
Number of Pages: 494

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his "Nasby Letters." To do justice to this famous character would be to write a book, but his genius was conceived in turbulent times in the early days of the Civil War and his first "Nasby Letters" were set direct from the printer's case as they came out of his wonderful brain while he was engaged on the old Findlay Ohio, Jeffersonian. These times brought forth a Lincoln, they brought forth a Grant and they brought forth "Petroleum V. Nasby." And why this title? It was in the early days of the great petroleum oil excitement in Pennsylvania, hence the "Petroleum," and as Mr. Locke had read much of English history, he was always fascinated by reading of the battle of Naseby which he shortened into "Nasby." Then wishing for something more to em- phasize the turbulent times of 1860 to 1865, he took "V" from the volcano Vesuvius. And what more appropriate to express these turbulent days? The spout- ing petroleum, the thundering Vesuvius and the battle cry at Naseby-"Petroleum V. Nasby."

His famous letters which swayed the emotions of the whole country conceived in the early sixties. began in the Blade upon his identification with the paper in 1865 and continued in the same in vari- ous forms until his death in 1888. First came his Confederate Cross Roads arti-

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cles: Echoes from Kentucky: Swinging Around the Circle, a series of travel arti- cles: Nasby in Exile. etc., etc., and as a writer of short stories he was intensely interesting and dramatic and his writings have appeared in book form in severai editions

In their intimate relationship he dele- gated his newspaper ideas and policies to his son, Robinson Locke, and in their travels together through the old world and in their close personal association Robin- son Locke was so schooled that he capa- bly took upon himself the reins of man- agement of the Blade at his father's death (ISSS) when he was elected president of the company, and has successfully dic- tated its course and policies ever since.

When Robinson Loeke accompanied his father to Europe carly in 1881, he assisted him in writing the "Nasby in Exile" arti- cles and when they were published in book form yonng Mr. Locke received very flattering credit for his share in the work in the author's introduction. Robinson Locke returned again to Europe in the fall of 1881 settling in Zurich to study German. French and Music. after which he and his father again toured the con- tinent together. Later the younger man resumed his studies and in 1883 he had been home only a short time when he received the appointment as U. S. Consul to Newcastle-on-Tyne by President Ar- thur. his career there terminating with the election of President Cleveland.

L'pon his assuming charge of The Blade again. Robinson Locke found the weekly a national institution with a phenomenal circulation and started out to make the Daily Blade in this Northwestern terri- tory what the weekly was in the nation. and without taking space for details, he has signally succeeded. As a moulder of public opinion and an influence for prog- ress and higher ideals it is a power for good wherever read.

While Mr. Locke has traveled and written extensively, his "Days and Nights in Old Japan" was among his most val- ued efforts and appeared in The Blade.

Always interested in the theatre, as all institution. Mr. Locke has been a close student of the Drama, ancient and mod- ern, and for more than twenty years has written intelligently, appreciatively and interestingly upon the various matters concerning the stage and its people. His critiques, appearing year after year in the Blade, have had a wide reaching in- fluence, as well for their constructive quality as for their honesty, candor and force, all expressed in a fluent style that appealed to the casual reader as well as to the thoughtful student. Mr. Locke's keenest sympathy always has been for the author, producer and actor of high ideals. He ever has been helpful in main- taining an exalted standard, and his con- sistent effort in this direction has made his opinions respected by the readers of his paper and by the members of the theatrical profession as well.

In his offices in the Blade building Mr. Locke has assembled a collection of theatrical material unequaled in this country. Every prominent member of the profession has from one to eight hound volumes of photographs, autograph letters, newspaper clippings. magazine articles, old playbills, and other data referring to his career. There are over 300 of these bound volumes. In addition to these there are nearly 3000 portfolios containing sim- ilar matter, awaiting the bound volume stage. Then there are hundreds of thou- sands of other clippings and portraits, which are being added to every day.

This vast amount of material all arranged most systematically so as to be instantly available, has been gathered from all over the country, and makes a most compre- hensive history of the stage and its peo- ple during the past fifty years. This in- valuable collection. which never can be duplicated, has been bequeathed by Mr. locke to the New York Public Library, Where it will be accessible to every one interested in this fascinating phase of human knowledge.

C. A. KING & CO., TOLEDO, O, To speak of the growth, prosperity and development of Toledo without speaking of the firm of (. A. King & Co., would be like describing a play and leaving out the players, and to write of C. A. King & Co .. means writ- ing of Frank I. King. for Mr. King today and for years has been constantly and closely identified with this city in its pub- lic and business affairs. llis judgment has always been given the greatest con- sideration and respect and his counsel sought in large affairs both publie and private. No better description of the man ean probably be given than taking the words of a friend who some time ago in writing of him said: In the catalog of Mr. King's characteristics, the "git thar" qual- ity constantly occurs. It is first asserted in the record of his sturdy and self-ro- liant boyhood. With a capacity for enjoy- ment no less keen than that of the aver- age twelve-year-old, he found time enough away from the play-ground and school- room for at least partial self-support, and the record of his first labors is made more notable by the fact that they were not absolutely necessary, in spite of the early demise of his father, and that many of the staid citizens whom he served came. in time. to be business associates of their former newsboy. Aggressive per- sistency again characterized him in his later school experience, and continued to assert itself in his subsequent political and business career. High school chron- icles picture him as an active spirit in school affairs. He was president of the class from which he graduated in 1587, and president of the common council, which he invaded a few years later. The latter distinction was conferred upon him umanimously for three successive terms -- once, after a good-natured political con- test (with the accompanying excitement of all-night sessions, etc., etc.), which has gone down in municipal history. and is still fresh in the memory of old campaign- ers. Partisan opponents Mr. King pos- sessed in plenty, but it is doubtful if even the most rabid of them ever questioned his executive ability or the success of his administration. Here, as elsewhere, he was pre-eminently a man of action-and that fact was demonstrated in the enact- ment of a mass of legislation from which the city derived immeasurable benefit. But the amenities of political life. attractive enough in themselves, lacked substance and solidity, and Mr. King's restless energy naturally turned to more satisfying effort. He had joined the office force of his uncle, C. A. King, immediately upon the close of his school life, and six years later-in 1883-was admitted to member- shin in the firm. Quick to express an opinion. arrive at a conclusion, or form a judgment. and prone to follow thought with immediate action. Mr. Kiny might be deemed by some more daring than pru- dent: but that is far from being the truth. Conservatism is a strong element of his

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character. It is simply that he is gifted with the knack of quick decision. and has schooled himself therein. His first judg- ment is generally final. but in that first judgment he has swiftly weighed all the pros and cons and reached a conservative and logical conclusion in less tinie than it would take one of slower wit to get the subject well under way. And this faculty may be emphasized as one of the "con- tributory causes" already referred to as responsible for his success. The story of Mr. King's life from the time of his en- trance into the firm of C. A. King & Co., is substantially the story of that firm's splendid success; for the best efforts of his life have been devoted to that achieve- ment. On the death of C. A. King. in 1893. the control of the business passed into his hands and the sun of prosperity has shone steadily upon it ever since- as "King's market reports" have said, "through fires, panics, wars. and floods." it has come without a blemish. And it has been no ordinary success. Aside from the financial strength of the firmn. it en- joys throughout the country today a friendly clientage that makes it unique among the grain houses of Toled). This is due solely to the personal efforts of Mr. King in his widely-read reports. It would be difficult to over-estimate the influence of these publications. Written in terre,

epigrammatic, and forceful style. they fairly bubble over with good humor. good sense. and good business logic. and are read religiously and trusted implicitly ry hundreds and hundreds of men who look upon "Our Boy Solomon" as an old and valuable friend. Certainly these circulars may be chronicled as one of the samples of Mr. King's success. Since his earlier expériences Mr. King has never sought political preferment, but other honors

have come to him unsought. He has been one of the five sinking fund trustees of Toledo. president of the produce ex- change. and president of the chamber of commerce. His name is included in the directorate of several prominent local in- stitutions. among them the Second Nat- ional bank. rated the strongest in Ohio. His home life has been peculiarly pleas- ant. Married in 1882 to Jennie L. Collins, they have reared a bright and interesting family. "Take him for all in all." Frank Ingersoll King is at once a true type, and a direct contradiction of that familiar

American institution. "the self-made ".בפר Distinctively self-made, in all that the term implies, he happily lacks those unlovable qualities which generally mark and mar the native American who has risen to riches and eminence through inherent grit. ability. and far-sightedness. "Self-made" nearly always suggests years of grinding toil. utterly unrelieved by in- dulgence in the little comforts and joys of every-day existence-whereas, Frank King. while he has unquestionably toiled, and fought, and made sacrifices, has done so in a whole-souled. lighthearted, gener- ous sort of way altogether foreign to the self-made man. as he is popularly pic- tured. The offices of C. A. King & Co., are in the Second National Bank building. fourteenth floor and now associated with the firm is Mr. Fred C. King, son of the subject of this sketch, who identified him- self with the business some five years ago after an extensive tour of the countries of Europe and the old world. Young Mr. King has had all the advantages of a university training as well as a practical education

in business affairs, is junior editor Of the "Our Boy Solomon" pages and with a fine sense of the meaning of serious busi- ness affairs has before him a bright fu- ture.

EDWARD DRUMMOND LIBBEY. The

number of Toledo men who stand forth as world characters is large. This is true in economics, education, the arts, science, literature, politics, and in nearly all the fields of endeavor. In this list the name of Libbey is one of the fore- most, for perhaps no man in Toledo has served to place Toledo on the world's map and made the city known far and wide as has Edward Drummond Libbey.

Mr. Libbey was born at Chelsea, Mass., April 17, 1854, and is the son of William I. and Julia M. (Miller) Libbey. Wil- liam L. Libbey (born 1827, died 1883) was the son of Israel and Mary Libbey, and in 1850 became the confidential clerk of Jarvis and Commeraise, glass importers and manufacturers, whose

factory was located in South Boston. The story of cut-glass in United States began with Deming Jarvis, the senior member of this firm and the pioneer glass manufacturer of New England. In 1855, Mr. Jarvis scld his factory to his trusted clerk, Mr. Libbey, and the latter conducted the same for ten years, when he went into the manufacture of glass- ware exclusively. He built up a very successful business, but he gold it in 1870, after having been appointed gen- eral manager of the New England Glass Company of East Cambridge, Mass. He

continued in that capacity until 1880, when he purchased the business entire. taking his son, Edward D. Libbey, as partner. Edward Drummond Libbey re- ceived his early education in the public schools of Boston, and later attended lec- tures at the Boston University. In 1874. at the age of twenty years, he was given an interest in his father's glass busi- ness. but he began by performing the most trivial of office duties, assuming various clerical positions in order to learn every detail of the work. Upon the death of his father, in 1883, he became the sole proprietor, and the business continued with the same successful stride under his leadership. The discovery of natural gas in Northwestern Ohio was Toledo's op- portunity as it afforded cheap fuel to the manufacturer, and in 1888 Mr. Libbey moved his business to this city . and in- corporated it as "The Libbey Glass Com- pany," of which he is president. Toledo has never regretted the invasion of Mr. Libbey, for he has done as much for the city as has any resident who ever lived here. Within the past eighteen years he has been largely interested in the manu- facture of automatic machinery for the making of glassware, and introduced to the trade the Owens machine that blows bottles automatically. doing away with the old hand-and-lung method. Mr. Lih- bey is president of the Toledo Glass Com- pany, a corporation established by him in 1894 and in 1903 he organized the Owens Bottle Machine Company, an Ohio cor- poration, which company secured an ex- clusive license from the Toledo Glass Company for the United States, for the manufacture of machines and machine- made bottles. This company introduced the bottle machine into the United States and has made a world success. Mr. Lib- bey is also president of the Owens European Bottle Machine Company, which was organized in 1905, and which com- pany purchased from the Toledo Glass Company all European rights for the

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Owens Bottle Machine, and which rights were in turn sold to the syndicate of European bottle manufacturers. He is also president of The Libhey-Owens Sheet Glass Co., a company organized to manufacture window glass on a new ma- chine developed under the Colburn pat- ents. So now Toledo has the largest cut- glass factory in the world-The Libhey Glass Company-as well as the largest plate glass plant; and besides it is the home of the Owens Bottle Machine. one of the greatest inventions in this line conceived by the genius of man. In the cutting of glass into intricate and beau- tiful designs this nation excels all others, and the Libbey Glass Company is recog- nized as standing at the head of the cut- glass makers of this country. From the beginning down to the present the com- pany has held fast to the highest ideals until it is possible for the connoisseur to pick out the Libbey product almost im- mediately. The triumphs of the Libbey Glass Company at the World's Fair at Chicago in 1893 are still fresh in the pub- lic mind. It may be said that the mag- nificent enterprise which prompted the company to erect at a cost of more than $100,000 a beautiful building in which the art of making and cutting glass was car- ried on in all its branches, was the cul- minating effort of almost a century of steady progress. At the World's Fair at St. Louis, too, Libbey cut-glass was ade- quately in evidence, the interval that had elapsed from the time of the previous ex- position showing an artistic advance, quite in keeping with the previous prog- ress of the product. To editor of this sketch who nearly twenty years ago held a conversation with Mr. Libhey about the progress and developments in the glass industry, the farsightedness and prophe- cies of Mr. Libhey have been little short of marvelous.

Always a lover of art, he has been the chief benefactor in establishing the Toledo Museum of Art, which is one of the greatest centers of attraction in .the City of Toledo. On May 29, 1909, he and his wife, Florence (Scott) Libbey, con- veyed hy deed to the trustees of the museum, seven lots and all the buildings thereon, the place conveyed being the old homestead of the late Maurice A. Scott, father of Mrs. Lihbey, in Scott- wood addition to the city. The terms of this deed are that the trustees shall hold the same for fifty years, erect thereon a museum for the advancement and display of works of art, and, after the lapse of the stated time, the trustees may do with the property as they may desire. In ad- dition to this gift, Mr. Lihbey purchased one hundred feet on the west side of the new museum property, on Monroe street, extending four hundred feet to Grove Place, thus giving the museum a total frontage on Monroe St. of five hundred feet and the same on Grove Place. This acquisition was purchased for the pur- pose of protecting the museum from any future encroachment on the part of un- sympathetic property owners who might erect unsightly buildings thereon close to the beautiful Greek museum structure. Mr. Libbey has heen president of the Toledo Museum of Art since its organiza- tlon in 1901. He contributed $200,000 to the original huilding fund besides beau- tiful Scott Place. He presented to the museum the gallery of Egyptian antiq- uities which he collected himself in Egypt. His gifts to the museum also include many important paintings, among them the famous "Moonlight," by Blakc-

lock, together with important canvases by Winslow Homer, J. H. S. Kever and others. He has also made important gifts of Venetian and early glass and many ex- amples of Oriental art. In 1916 he offered to subscribe $400,000 to an endowment fund if the citizens of Toledo would raise $200,000. There was an enthusiastic re- sponse and the required sum was sub- scribed within a few days. President Libbey was so pleased with the result that he announced to. the trustees that he would make an additional gift of $300,000 or $400,000 necessary for the com- pletion of the present building.

Socially he is a member of the Union League Club of Chicago, the Duquesne Club of Pittsburgh, the Toledo Club of Toledo, Lotus Soc., Salmagundi Club, Na- tional Arts Club of New York, Midwick Country Cluh, Los Angeles, Calif., and the Wianno Club of Wianno, Mass.

FRANK P. CHAPIN, TOLEDO. Life In- suranee may well be termed a science, a profession, and a business ranking high in publie affairs and classed with the most staple vocations that make up the great machinery of economics. There was a time when life insurance men had to "blaze the way" in talking life insurance to the business man of discernment and far-sightedness and point out its necessi= ties and advantages. But this time has government bonds. hank stocks. or farm regarded as an investment, the same as government bonds, hank stocks, or farm investments. The only question is the kind of policy, how arranged, and what company offers the most attractive ideas together with its financial standing. When Francis P. Chapin, whose offices are in the Ohio Building, decided to take up Life Insurance as his business and pro- fession, with his usual care and sound judgment after looking about and study- ing the situation and other companies, he decided to connect himself with the Equitable Life Assurance Society of New York City, whose home office is 120 Broad- way. That he made a wise choice is un- questioned, and it is fortunate for the company as well as for himself that he made this selection, for his record with the Equitable is one that few agencies of the country enjoy, first by reason of Mr. Chapin's management, and second the standing of the Equitahle itself. I know of no better way of showing what has brought this success than giving a brief story of Francis P. Chapin's life.

Mr. Chapin, who controls the business of the Equitable Life Assurance Society in Northwestern Ohio, was born in Lenox, Ashtabula county, Ohio, January 23, 1851. being the only son of Franklin H. and Polly I. (Isherwood) Chapin. His father was a successful farmer and dairyman. and the boyhood of Mr. Chapin was spent upon the farm where his opportunitles for education were limited and confined to the district and village schools. Being the only bov in the family and the farm consisting of 160 acres upon which was kept a dairy of twenty to thirty cows for · cheese making. as the farm was divided in two sections some distance from each other and situated on opposite sides of the road. the herding of the cattle cach night and morning was a good sized job and young Francis was conscripted in- to service at a very early age. so much so. in fact, that he never had the oppor- tunities for playing that are usually af- forded children. The summer after he was five years old he was given one cow to milk regularly each night and morn- ing. besides his other duties. while the

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following year another one was added to his task. The great use and need of a boy's services coupled with his willing de- sire made the task one of pleasure for him, which continued to increase in later years as his ability to accomplish grew greater. His early dream. however. was to be a merchant in a city and his earliest memories and resolves were that he would never be willing to remain upon the farm. At the age of eighteen he came to Toledo to learn more of actual business through a three months' course at Jordan's Busi- ness College, where after five weeks he had mastered the entire course, and at once secured a position with Schulte & Birkenhauer, dry goods merchants, at the old No. 213 Summit Street. So anxious was he to succeed in city work and prove to his father that he was fit for something besides farming, that he agreed to work for the first six months without pay. He had no money, but pluckily began his duties as clerk, and worked so arduously that his employers notified him at the end of thirty days that they would pay him $20.00 per month dating from his commencement, which enabled him to pay his own way, as he had never told his parents he was work- ing without compensation, believing he could soon prove his worth. He remained with this firm with frequent promotions until February 2, 1874, when he accepted a position with W. S. Isherwood & Co., tobacco manufacturers, in charge of the packing department. In 1875 he was given a position as traveling salesman looking after the wholesale trade in the Eastern and New England States, meet- ing with marked success and continuing in this capacity for two years, when the firm was succeeded by Powers & Stuart, with whom he remained in a similar po- sition with a large salary increase until 1878. At this time the firm was reor- ganized under the name of Stuart, Cha- pin & Co., in order to admit Mr. Chapin to partnership. The business of this firm was very successful, amounting to over a half million yearly. On January 3, 1881, Mr. Chapin sold his interest to W. S. Isherwood & Co., who succeeded to the business, though he was to remain with the new firm a short time, in order to assist the new management in taking up the reins. During this time he was look- ing around for a new business connec- tion, and finally decided to cast his lot with the Daily Bee, which, up to that time, had not met with financial success. He accordingly purchased an interest in the company, and on February 15, 1881, assumed the business management of that paper; his untiring efforts soon placed the paper on a paying basis, and while the management remained in his hands, the property was of great value and very successful. About 1890 Mr. Chapin suf- fered a nervous breakdown from over- work, resulting after a few years' illness in his being compelled to dispose of all his business interests in order to regain his health. While he had always been successful in all his business ventures, the old adage that "every man has his calling" was verified, for, while some find their truc occupation early, others reach it later on, and Mr. Chapin who had always been a firm believer in Life In- surance, having taken his first policy when only twenty years of age, after making a study of its vast possibilities, benefits and advantages, decided to em- bark in that profession, for such it really is. Having a taste for the best of every- thing he was careful to connect himself with the best Company with which to do business, and in order that he might have

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The Ohio blue book; or, Who's who in the Buckeye state; a cyclopedia of biography of men and women of Ohio, Part 112

Author: Van Tassel, Charles Sumner, 1858- Publication date: [1917] Publisher: Toledo, Ohio Number of Pages: 494

Author: Van Tassel, Charles Sumner, 1858-
Publication date: [1917]
Publisher: Toledo, Ohio
Number of Pages: 494