USA > Ohio > Women of Ohio; a record of their achievements in the history of the state, Volume II > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
In politics Miss Knote is a Republican but not a politician although feeling a keen interest in the vital questions of the day, on which she keeps well informed. She has long been an active worker in the Young Women's (Christian Association, is a past president and is now serving on the board of trustees. She was also formerly president of the Mansfield Federation of Women's Clubs, is president of the Victorian Club and a member of the Fortnightly Club. Her home is at 119 Carpenter Road, Mansfield and her hobby is gardening. She belongs to the American Association of University Women and is not only an intellectual woman and educator but also one of liberal culture and charm, outstanding among the residents of her native city.
696
WOMEN OF OHIO
ROSE KNOX
In Mansfield, Ohio there was born to David and Amanda Markward in 1857 a baby daughter, the third girl to come into their family. The name given to her was Helen Rosetta, which raised the question in the family as to what they should really call her. As the result, she went through life with many names-Rose, Rosa, Ro. With her school friends Rose was known as "Dode" Markward. But for many years her name has been MRS. CHARLES KNOX. President of the Knox Gelatine Company and one of the best known business women of the United States.
She was a dark complexioned little girl-jet black hair, black eyes and rosy cheeks-an outdoor girl loving all the sports connected with such a life. She grew up with the same crowd of young people from the Primary School through High School and has to this day a very loving memory of them all and is interested in their lives. She attended the Congregational Church.
Her father was a successful business man, a druggist, and all went well with them until the year of the Panic of 1872. Mr. Markward had invested heavily in real estate and a lead mine in Missouri, but he could not weather the financial storm and they lost everything. In those days it was not considered proper for girls to go out of the home to earn a living.
By this time the two older sisters had married and were going east to live in a town where it was a common thing for the women of the household to do glove work, both in the home and in the shops. So the entire family came east together and settled in Gloversville, N. Y. After living there for a number of years there came to a nearby town (Johnstown) a young man by the name of Charles Knox who had lately lived in Texas, and gave every evidence of it both in manner and dress. All the girls found him very attractive. To Rose Markward he was all that and then some. Their friend- ship became an engagement. But Charles was not finding employment that he was interested in around the home town. About this time, though, an older man was giving up his position in New York City and recommended Charlie Knox for his position of a traveling salesman for a knit goods house, so the wedding was delayed for nearly three years until there was sufficient money. That happy time came in 1883 when they were married and went to New York City.
In 1890 Mr. Knox had tired of a traveler's life and became interested in a comparatively new food product-Gelatine-and came to his old home town, Johnstown, New York, and built a factory for its manufacture.
Mr. Knox died in 1908. His widow was 50 years old. It was late in life for a woman to start a business career, but Rose Knox was not starting, really. She had been the virtual partner of her husband, interesting herself in many details of the gelatine business until it had grown into a large manufacturing concern. That is, it seemed large, then. You should see it now. Under the
-
697
WOMEN OF OHIO
management of the woman president-Mrs. Knox became chief executive and has remained head ever since-the output trebled in volume. It was necessary to build a huge new factory. By 1927, President Rose Knox had put $500,000 into food research connected with her product. She had a huge plant at Camden, N. J. She had established rules and seen that they were rigidly observed by her employees. One of these was not just cleanliness -that had always been the rule-but a scientific cleanliness that placed responsibility for any trace of dirt or disorder. Perhaps one reason why the business woman's employees were willing and anxious to observe such a rule as this was another rule, which did away in her new factory, with what is known as the "employee's entrance." At the Knox factory, in Johnstown, N. Y., everybody, Mrs. Knox, her 50 year old son, who shares her long flat table desk and is her right hand in business, secretaries, clerks, factory workers, watchman, janitors all come in at the big front door. "We are all in business together," says Rose Knox, "so why not?"
Mrs. Knox likes to talk about her business, but she will not discuss what happens to much of her share of its profits. The townsfolk of Johnstown will, though. They point with pride to the $200,000.00 athletic field she established for the children of the community ; to the home for elderly women ; to the school library; to many other concrete evidences of a lively and practical interest in the welfare of those about her.
It seems incredible that a woman past four score-Mrs. Knox celebrated her eightieth birthday with a dinner party for the 110 fellow workers she employs, last year-could be found at her desk, day in and day out, in touch with every detail of a two million dollar business, leave promptly for her office at 9 a.m. after having made the rounds of her large household. It seems still harder to believe that an octogenarian, after a busy day, would be ready for a rubber or two of bridge at night, not to speak of a final round of the kitchen and doubtless the family ice box, to see that all is in good order. But Rose Knox has a formula for living that, she believes, accounts for her own exceptional lease on usefulness. "Think about the things you can help." she says, "do not think about those you cannot." This difference, between constructive and destructive, is all the difference in the world.
SARAH JOSEPHINE MAC LEOD
SARAH JOSEPHINE MACLEOD, budget expert for the Society for Savings of Cleveland and widely recognized as an authority upon matters of this kind, not only in financial circles, but also by the general public. came to this city in 1919 and throughout the intervening years has occupied her present position. She is a native of Cambridge, Massachusetts. and a daughter of Joseph and Jessie ( MacGregor) Macleod, the former born near Belfast, Ireland, and the latter near Glasgow, Scotland. where they were married. They came to the United States in 1883 and settled in Cambridge,
698
WOMEN OF OHIO
Massachusetts, where the father engaged in business as a building contractor, which pursuit he followed throughout his active life. He died in 1902, while his widow survived until 1936. They had two children who died in Scotland before the removal of the family to the new world. Their other children are: Grace, a professor at Columbia University ; William and John, both deceased ; Sarah Josephine; Jessie and Joseph, who have passed away; and Florence, who is a professor at the University of Tennessee.
Sarah J. Macleod attended the grade schools in her native city and also the Cambridge Latin School, from which she was graduated with the class of 1904. She then entered Simmons College of Boston, majoring in home economics, and graduating in 1909. Following the completion of her course there she taught school in Springfield, Massachusetts for three years and afterward went to Pratt Institute of Brooklyn, New York, where she taught for six and a half years, going from there to Washington, D. C., where she was specialist in thrift education at the Bureau of Home Economics, in cooperation with the Treasury department in the promotion of war savings stamps from January to July, 1919, having had a leave of absence from Pratt Institute in order to aid the government, then participating in the events having to do with the federal fiscal policy following the World War.
After leaving the national capital Miss Macleod came to Cleveland and was made head of the department of the Society for Savings which she still manages, her official title being that of budget expert. She has delved deep into matters of this kind, has broad vision and keen discernment and has been of great help to the bank and many of its patrons. In April, 1937, she also became budget expert of the Cleveland Press.
Miss Macleod is a member of the Association of Bank Women of which she was treasurer for three years and at the present time is chairman of its finance committee. She belongs to the American Home Economics Association, also to the Cleveland and Ohio Home Economics Associations, has member- ship in the Altruso Club and attends the Presbyterian Church. She finds enjoyment in bridge and travel and has recently returned from an extended trip in Norway and Denmark. She is also well known through her writings and has contributed numerous articles to the Ladies Home Journal, Good Housekeeping and to various bankers magazines.
CLARA MANZER
CLARA MANZER, of Galion, Ohio, was secretary to the late Bishop William Montgomery Brown of Crawford County for thirty years and is co-executor of his estate. This skilled worker assisted with thirty-five notable publications, doing all research, typing, proofreading, clipping and she edited "The Bankruptcy of Christian Supernaturalism" and "The Facist and Com- munist Dictatorship."
Miss Manzer was born at Galion. as were her parents, Charles and Emma Gugler Manzer.
1
699
WOMEN OF OHIO
She is a charter member of the Tourist Club; has been chairman of the scholarship loan fund of the Galion Federation of Women's Clubs and is an officer in the Eastern Star.
GENEVA CRAIG MARTIN
GENEVA CRAIG MARTIN (Mrs. James M. Martin), born in 1861, died in 1928, was one of Ohio's successful business women. She is reported to have owned more real estate in Crestline, Ohio, than any other individual.
Through her efforts and those of MRS. F. J. GOSSER, the Crestline Emergency Hospital was built.
Of Revolutionary descent, Mrs. Martin was president of the Civic League for twenty-five years. She was also president of the Woman's Club and president of the Presbyterian Aid Society for fifteen years.
As president of the Civic Club, she saw a rest-room installed in the City Building at a cost of $700.00 during her regime. Equipment to the amount of $1,500.00 was given to Kelly Park Playground by the same organization and milk was furnished to needy students.
Mrs. Martin was a member of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific circle.
Her daughter, Mrs. Ilene Martin Goard, succeeded her as manager of the real estate business.
MARTHA SIMPSON MARTIN
MARTHA SIMPSON MARTIN is a woman of broad experience because of her activities in club circles, in the church, in the business world, in politics and in other fields that call for intelligence and keen insight. She is the wife of Davis Wesley Martin, who is connected with the Owens-Illinois Glass Company, in the credit department at Toledo. She was born in Jack- sonville, Illinois, where her father was connected with the Wabash Railroad. Both he and his wife are now deceased. Their family numbered four children, of whom Margaret is the wife of W. R. Barney, a banker at Jefferson, Oklahoma; William H., who is auditor for the Fort Smith & Western Rail- road, married Mame Gilmore and they have one son, William H., Jr. The other members of the family are Minnie P. and Mrs. Martin.
Having attended the grade schools of Jacksonville, Illinois, and graduated from the high school there, Mrs. Martin attended Eureka College at Eureka, Illinois, where she was graduated in 1915. On the 17th of May of the same year she became the wife of Davis Wesley Martin, who is also a native of Jacksonville and attended the grade and high schools there and later studied at Eureka College. In the fall of the year after they were married they both entered Yale University as students in the School of Religion, and after the completion of their course there, they went to Patterson, New York, where Mr. Martin was pastor of a church for a time. In the spring of 1919 they
700
WOMEN OF OHIO
came to Toledo and Mr. Martin was pastor of the East Church of Christ for a year, at the end of which time he became connected with the Lion store, where he continued for six years, being assistant superintendent when he severed his association with that establishment. He also spent seven years with the LaSalle Koch Company as manager of the adjustment and credit department.
Mrs. Martin also entered into various activities of the city. She was secretary of the Moderation League and when that organization removed its office to Cleveland, she became secretary to Joe Murphy, president of the Toledo Coal & Ice Company, remaining there for five years. In 1935 she became secretary to the county auditor of Lucas County, serving in that capacity for four years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Martin are supporters of the Democratic party. He is an artist in monotype, water colors and oil, and Mrs. Martin is also interested in art. One of her recent interests has been the Business and Professional Woman's Club of Toledo, in which she has filled all the offices and is now the retiring president, while she was made a delegate to the national convention for the year 1939. She has served as vice president of the City Union of the King's Daughters and she belongs to the Samagama Club which is composed of past presidents who remain active. She also belongs to the Adult Education Council, to the Cause and Cure of War Council and to the National Woman's party. She has also been active in the Young Ladies Democratic Club. She is one of the reporters from Lucas County, being on the postal system and their work embraced international relations and social security. The reporters are called upon to go before meetings and discuss the plans and other topics, the organization being really educational in its purposes. She belongs to the Ashland Avenue Baptist Church, and both she and her husband take an active and helpful part in its work. After coming to Toledo, Mrs. Martin attended the University of Toledo, where she took a course in accounting. She has constantly broadened her knowledge by reading, study and experience learning much of life and its values and she has reached out along beneficial lines to her fellow travelers on life's journey, speaking an encouraging word and extending a helpful hand, while her good intentions have come home to her in her own development and progress.
ZELLA A. McBERTY
ZELLA A. McBERTY, born at Mineral Ridge, Ohio, August 27, 1878, died at Warren, Ohio, May 24, 1937, was during the latter part of her life listed as one of the ten outstanding women in the United States. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William A. Wilson, died when she was 16 and her only sister died a short time later.
In 1929 Mrs. McBerty was elected president of District D of Zonta Clubs, this district including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Iowa and
701
WOMEN OF OHIO
Tennessee. She was secretary of the million-dollar-a-year plant of the Federal Machine and Welder Co. of Warren.
Mrs. McBerty served as postmistress and conducted a general store at Meander, where the large Meander Dam is now located.
In 1901, with her husband, F. P. McBerty, she went into the business of making and developing spot welding machines. Shortly after the business was started question arose involving the invention of spot welding process and after considerable litigation the claim was settled and Mr. McBerty was declared the inventor of the process. From that time the business de- veloped rapidly. The injunction which held up the production of the welding machines was a problem to several large sheet metal manufacturers of the country and later these firms purchased the Federal Machine and Welder Co. plant for $175,000 cash.
After a brief period the Federal Plant was repurchased by F. P. Mc- Berty as president and general manager of the concern and Mrs. Zella A. McBerty secretary and treasurer. H. C. Milligan, who was president of the Republic Stamping and Enameling Co., Canton, O., was vice president.
Mrs. McBerty was the first woman member of the Warren Automobile Club, was one of the few women members of the Woman's Engineering Association of the United States and also had membership in the A.I.E.E. of America.
Mrs. MeBerty served as president of the board of Harcourt School for Girls at Gambier. It was during her term as president of the Ohio Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs that the Florence Allen Scholar- ship Fund was started, to assist girls toward higher education. The fund was named for Judge Allen, then of Ohio Supreme Court, a member of the Federation. In June, 1924, Mrs. McBerty gave an address at a conference of Women in Science, Industry and Commerce at Manchester, England, her paper being on "Electric Welding."
Her religion, Mrs. McBerty said, was "the best of service to her fellow- men."
ALICE ENGLEHARDT MCLAUGHLIN
ALICE ENGELHARDT MeLAUGHLIN (Mrs. Harry MeLaughlin), for- mer vice president of the Potter Shoe Company, was born in Cincinnati, the daughter of Charles and Helen Vohtna Engelhardt. Her father came to this country with his parents from Germany. They were one of the many families who sought, in 1848, opportunity in a new world which had been denied them in the old.
This spirit of determination was handed down to the four children of the Engelhardts notably in the case of Alice, who speeded up her school studies in order to prepare herself for work as soon as possible. She learned bookkeeping, took a minor position, learned all there was to learn, got a
702
WOMEN OF OHIO
promotion and presently was bookkeeper of one of Cincinnati's most in- portant shoe firms. This, however, was but the beginning of Alice Engel- hardt's career.
She proceeded to master the business details of the wholesale shoe trade ; became an authority in this field and finally was made vice president of the firm, in which capacity she worked unremittingly until 1935 when she retired.
A year later she was married to Harry MeLaughlin, long a leading official of the firm with which Miss Engelhardt was connected. Their union was broken by the sudden death of Mr. Mclaughlin, in June, 1936.
Her talent for and pre-occupation with business did not obscure the interest of Mrs. McLaughlin in the problems and possibilities of those about her. She helped to organize the Cincinnati Business Women's Club and twice served as president. She has also served the Campfire Girls as treasurer, has been secretary of the Travelers Aid Society, treasurer of the Hamilton County League of Women Voters and State Finance Chairman of the Ohio League of Women Voters. She has been a member of the finance committee of the National Business and Professional Woman's Club and has done much to further the progress of this important country wide organization.
Mrs. McLaughlin has worked in co-operation with the women's com- mittee of the Symphony Orchestra and has devoted time and effort to pro- motion of a better understanding of the problems of teachers and of the needs of the public schools.
DORIS BOWMAN MERRYMAN
DORIS BOWMAN MERRYMAN (Mrs. Sidney W. Merryman), Toledo store owner and manager and supervisor of the Adult Clothing Relief Center, was born at Springfield, Ohio, the daughter of Charles and Annie Bowman. On leaving high school she studied vocal music and art intensively and for fourteen years conducted a ceramic art studio. She was married in 1917 to Sidney W. Merryman, Toledo business man. Their home is 2200 Cherry St., Toledo.
LEONORE MADELON MILLS
LEONORE MADELON MILLS, president of the Business and Profes- sional Women's Club of Toledo, has been connected with the business interests of this city almost since the completion of her education. She is a daughter of Charles P. and Annie (Johnston) Mills, both natives of Ohio, the father having been born in Toledo and the mother in Perrysburg. He has passed away and the mother and her daughter Leonore are living together.
The latter, born in Toledo, attended the public schools, passing from one grade to a higher one until she was graduated from the Scott high school. She also pursued a course in a business college and did some night school work at the University. Almost at once she decided upon a business career
70:
WOMEN OF OHIO
and entered the employ of Wright Brothers, owners of a greenhouse, with whom she remained for several years. She was afterward with the Toledo Scales Company and later with the Campbell-Sanford Advertising Company, while in 1933 she formed a connection with Carl J. Fischer, Inc., a stock and bond house of Toledo, where she is still employed.
Miss Mills belongs to the Pi Omicron, a national sorority, and is corres- ponding secretary of the State chapter. She is also secretary at Toledo of the National Woman's party and keeps thoroughly informed on the vital questions and interests which have to do with woman's status in the body politic and her rights as compared to those granted to men. Miss Mills is a member of the Monroe Street Methodist church and for a number of years was very active in its missionary society, in which she is still interested. She belongs to the Business and Professional Women's Club, one of the most important and most influential of the women's organizations of the city and on the 1st of June, 1939, was elected to the presidency, which at once establishes her position as a leader among the women of the city.
ROSE MORIARTY
One of Cleveland's women active in political circles is ROSE MORIARTY, who for twelve years has filled the position of workmen's compensation con- sultant. A lifelong resident of Ohio, she was born in Elyria, December 19, 1885, her parents being Thomas and Ellen (Enright) Moriarty. Both were of Irish lineage and the father was born in Ireland in December, 1821, while the mother's birth occurred in December, 1831.
Spending her girlhood days in her native city Miss Moriarty there pur- sued her education, graduating from the high school with the class of 1900. She continued a resident of Elyria until December 1, 1917 and filled the posi- tion of city clerk there from the 3rd of October, 1917 until December, when she withdrew from that office to remove to Cleveland, where she has now made her home for twenty-two years. She is a recognized leader among women in the political circles not only of the city and county but also of the state. Giving stalwart support to the Republican party, she is now serving as a member of the Cuyahoga County Republican executive committee and was the first Republican state chairman in 1920. Her opinions carry weight in party councils for she understands political management and the need for thorough organization and moreover she keeps well informed on all the vital questions and issues of the day. The value of her service as workmen's com- pensation consultant is evidenced in the fact that she has been retained in that position since August 1, 1927.
All civic affairs are a matter of deep interest to Miss Moriarty and prompts her connection with the League of Women Voters, while her member- ship connections also extend to the Cleveland Women's City Club and the Business Women's Club of Cleveland.
704
WOMEN OF OHIO
DOROTHY LOUISE MORRISON
DOROTHY LOUISE MORRISON is active in both business and musical circles of Sidney. Advancing through merit and ability, she is now secretary of the First Mutual Savings & Loan Company, with which she has been con- nected since 1927. She has spent practically her entire life in Ohio for she was born in Urbana, Champaign County, on the 23rd of July, 1899 and is a daughter of Earl Hedges and Lillie (Horn) Morrison, who were also natives of Urbana. The father afterward removed with his family to Sidney, where he engaged in business with the Sidney Tanning Company. His death occurred in 1927 and his wife now makes her home with her daughter Dorothy L. They had two children, of whom Grace Elizabeth is filling the position of bookkeeper in the First National Exchange Bank of Sidney.
Dorothy L. Morrison attended the grade schools in Urbana and spent one year in high school there, after which the family came to Sidney, where she re-entered high school as a sophomore and completed the course. She then made her initial step in the business world as an employe of the Citizens National Bank, where she remained for nine years. She then went to the Pacific coast, spending a year in California, after which she returned to Sidney and for a year was with the Sidney Paper Box Company. In 1927 she became bookkeeper with the First Mutual Savings & Loan Company, being advanced later to the position of assistant secretary, while a subsequent promotion has brought her to the office of secretary of this corporation.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.