Cleveland Ohio Biography – The Book of Clevelanders

Birds Eye View of Cleveland in 1887

A Biographical Dictionary of Living Men of the City of Cleveland, Ohio. This manuscript depicts the lives of younger men of Cleveland, Ohio – men who were making the greater Cleveland to come – not the Cleveland of the past. Written by each man’s own hand, with minimal editorial input, this unique approach to compiling such a volume may provide researchers with the only written text their ancestor has on record.

Biography of William Perry Horton

Horton, William Perry; dentist; born, Pittsfield, Vt., Oct. 23, 1832; son of Dennis and Nancy B. McClellan Horton; educated in Wallingford, Vt.; preparing for college at Castleton Seminary; taught district school for seven years; in October, 1844, came to Cleveland, and in 1845, entered Oberlin College; after a year’s literary course took dental course in study under Dr. George B. Minor and Dr. Ferris at Milwaukee, Wis.; married, Elyria, O., Oct. 28, 1851, Louisa Chase of Maine; issue, two sons, William P. Jr., and Milton Chase, both residents of Cleveland; married, second time, Oct. 21, 1897, Miss Margaret Stroup of … Read more

Biography of Samuel Wayne Mather

Mather, Samuel Wayne; manufacturer; born, Schuyler, N. Y., July 27, 1849; son of Asaph and Betsy Emily Davis Mather; limited education; his father was seriously injured when he was young, so could not go to school, after he was 11 years old; went to work to help support the family; worked three years in the woods burning charcoal; moved to Cattaraugus County, N. Y., with his parents and tor five years worked on his father’s farm; married, Frankville, N. Y., Sept. 6, 1887, Addie Viola Cooley; issue, five children, two living, Addie and William; his first wife died July 9, … Read more

Biography of Rt. Rev. John Patrick Farrelly, D. D.

Farrelly, John Patrick, Rt. Rev. D. D.; Bishop of Cleveland; born, Memphis, Tenn., March 15, 1856; son of John P. and Martha Clay Moore Farrelly; early education in the grammar schools of Tennessee, Arkansas and Kentucky; studied classics for three years at Georgetown University, Washington, D. C.; in 1873, went to Europe, to complete classical education; graduated from the College of Notre Dame de la Paix, Namur, Belgium; from Namur, went to the American College, Rome, to study philosophy and theology; at the conclusion of a brilliant course received the Doctorate in Sacred Theology from The University of the Propaganda, … Read more

Biography of Robert L. Queisser

Queisser, Robert L.; pres. The Queisser-Bliss Co.; born, Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 9, 1866; son of Julius and Caroline J. Schliobitz Queisser; educated, Indianapolis public and high schools; married, Springfield, 0., Nov. 24, 1887, Jessie L. Fried; two sons, Charles Fried, and Robert L., Jr.; regimental adjutant, 3rd Regiment Inf., 0. N. G.; battalion adjutant 7th Regiment Inf., 0. N. G.; captain commissary, 5th Regiment Inf., 0. N. G.; aide-de-camp on staff of Gov. Judson Harmon, four years; former pres. Chamber of Commerce, Zanesville; spent early life in railroad work, leaving a responsible position in the traffic department of The Baltimore … Read more

Biography of Martin B. Daly

Daly, Martin B.; born, May 11, 1860, and his early life was spent on a farm with his parents near Mayville, N. Y.; his grand-parents on both sides were born in Ireland; he received his education in public schools at Mayville, and in 1878, left home and went to the Bradford oil fields in Pennsylvania, and for three years worked in various capacities on leases, drilling wells, pipe lines and pump stations in the Bradford and Richburg field; in 1881, he was engaged as assistant superintendent of the Warren County (Pennsylvania) Gas Fuel and Heating Company, controlled at that time … Read more

Biography of Ezra Nicholson

Nicholson, Ezra; inventor; manufacturer and real estate: born, Lakewood, O., Feb. 8, 1835; son of James and Betsy Bartholomew Nicholson; educated, common and high schools Cleveland; married. Lakewood, June 9, 1863, Alice Samantha Fowles; issue. six children; three living and three died when young; was the first clerk and treas. of Lakewood, and one of a committee of two to select a name for the town; in 1862, at the call of Governor Todd for volunteers, to protect Cincinnati against the rebel army under command of Gen. Kirby Smith, he enlisted with sixteen others under Capt. Rice, and went to … Read more

Biography of Earl J. Andrews

Andrews, Earl J.; architect and builder; born, Wilmington, O., Nov. 16, 1882; son of William Garner and Rachel Seal Andrews; educated, Marion, Ind., high school and Marion Normal & Science College; married, Canton, O., April 10, 1904, Birdette Wertenberger; learned carpenter’s trade in Cleveland during summer vacations and in 1903 finished trade and took up drawing and de-signing at the same time following practical building work; in 1905 started in business for myself; was the first Cleveland architect to dispense with sub-contractors and employ my own labor and material, thus eliminating annoyance to clients in dealing with a great number … Read more

Biographical Sketch of X. X. Crum

Crum, X. X.; real estate; born in Macoupin County, Ill.; educated, public schools Lombard University and Blackburn University, degree of A. B.; in 1883, married Miss Marcia Phelps; issue, two sons; supt. of schools for five years in Carlinville, Dl.; teacher of sciences in Keokuk, Ia.; supt. of schools of Lincoln, Neb.; came to Cleveland in 1881, as sec’y and treas. of the Board of Trade, later known as the Chamber of Commerce; wrote the history ,of the Chamber of Commerce and the Commercial Life of Cleveland; organized the National Safe & Lock Co.; charge of Safe Dept. of MacNeale … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Worth M. Tippy

Tippy, Worth M.; clergyman; born, Larwill, Ind.; Nov. 8, 1867; son of Oren and Mary Elizabeth Carder Tippy; educated, DePauw University, Ph. B., DePauw University, Hon. D. D., Baldwin University, Hon. D. D., Cornell University, two years graduate work as Sage scholar, 1901-1903; married, Vevay, Ind., May 16, 1895, Zella Birda Ward; issue, Marian Ward, born Nov. 18, 1896; Helen Ward, born Dec. 12, 1898; member of Mayor’s Committee on nomination for Charter Commission, 1913; pastorates, Dryden, N. Y., 1892; LaFayette, Ind., 1893; Oxford, Ind., 1894; Terre Haute, Ind., 1895; Broadway Church, Indianapolis, Ind., 1900; Epworth Memorial, Cleveland, 1905 to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Worchester Reed Warner

Warner, Worchester Reed; manufacturer; born, Cummington, Hampshire County, Mass., May 16, 1846; son of Franklin J. and Vesta Wales (Reed) Warner; educated, district school, Cummington; (D. Mech. Sc., Western University of Pennsylvania, 1897) ; married, Cleveland, Cornelia F. Blakemore, of Philadelphia, June 26, 1890; learned machinist’s trade at Boston and at Exeter, N. H.; with Pratt & Whitney Co., Hartford, Conn.; 1870-1880, and at same time pursued studies in astronomy, and other scientific branches, and experimented in telescope building as a recreation; in 1881, with Ambrose Swasey, established firm of Warner & Swasey, incorporated as The Warner & Swasey Co., … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Windsor Thomas White

White, Windsor Thomas; pres. The White Co., auto mfrs.; born, Orange, Mass., Aug. 28, 1866; son of Thomas H. and Almira Greenleaf; degree of B. S., Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Mass.; married, Cleveland, Sept. 14, 1892; Delia Bulkley Holden; issue, Thomas Holden, Aug. 4, 1894, Delia Elizabeth, Nov. 9, 1898, Windsor Holden, July 18, 1905; pres. White Co.; vice pres. White Sewing Machine Co.; pres. Park Drop Forge Co.; director First National Bank; member Union Tavern, Roadside, Country, Cleveland Automobile, Chagrin Valley Hunt and Gentlemen’s Driving Clubs, Cleveland; Engineers’ Club of New York; Green Spring Valley Hunt Club.

Biographical Sketch of Wilson George Smith

Smith, Wilson George; composer, pianist; born, Elyria, Ohio, Aug. 19, 1855; son of George Troupe and Calista M. Smith; graduated Cleveland public schools; began musical education in Cincinnati, 1875, under Otto Singer; studied in Berlin, 1880-1882, under Kullak, Kiel, Scharwenka, Moszkowski and Oscar Ralf; married Mez Brett (artist and writer), of Ohio, April 16, 1883; since 1882, engaged as teacher of piano, voice and composition; also musical literateur, editor and critic, Cleveland Press, since 1902; held important official positions in Music Teachers’ National Ass’n; piano compositions (several hundred) include books of piano studies, transcriptions and editorial revisions of classic and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Willis W. Norris

Norris, Willis W.; secretary of police; born, Dec. 19, 1877; Smithville, O.; educated, public school and Normal Academy, Smithville, 0., graduating in 1898; married; served as a volunteer in the Spanish-American War, 8th O. V. I.; taught school for five years, 1900-1905, and during this time, attended summer school at Wooster University and Law School, Ada, O.; came to Cleveland in 1905, and worked as a lather; was elected a member of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of Ohio in 1908; and as such gave particular attention to legislation in the interests of labor; most important of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Willis Stutson

Stutson, Willis; sales mgr. The Oldsmobile Co.; born, Lancaster, O., Jan. 28, 1884; son of Alverd and Emma Stutson; educated, Asheville schools, Asheville, N. C.; married, Pittsburgh, Pa., April 23, 1905, Ethel Crozier; issue, one daughter, Elizabeth Stutson; 1904-1905, special agt. New York Life Insurance Co., traveling out of Dayton, O.; 1905, 1906, 1907, has his own insurance business, writing general lines in Washington Court House, O.; 1909-1910, traveling salesman, out of Cleveland, for The White Co.; 1910-1911-1912, branch mgr. of The Winton Motor Carriage Co., at Columbus, 0.; at present sales mgr. for The Oldsmobile Co.; member B. P. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Willis Scott Edson

Edson, Willis Scott; publisher and mfgr.; born, Chicago, Ill., May 17, 1868; son of John Milton and Elizabeth Maria Swales Edson; educated, Chicago public schools and University of Chicago Academy; married. Chicago, III., Oct. 9, 1894, Gertrude Eugenia Haight; six children. Margaret J., age 18; Willis S., Jr., age 12; Gilbert H., age 5; Francis S., age 16, Gertrude K, age 9, and Harvey O., age 2; early training and career in editorial work, serving successively as department editor, telegraph news editor, and special feature writer; became managing editor of the trade journals, The Western Publisher, and The Publishers’ Auxiliary, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Willis E. Bonesteel

Bonesteel, Willis E.; sec’y Worden Tool Co.; born, Northampton, O., Oct. 7, 1862; son of George H. and Loretta C. Prior Bonesteel; public school education; married, Cleveland, Oct. 4, 1886, Annabell Scott; director Land Title Abstract Co., Cleveland Savings & Loan Co.; member Brooklyn Lodge, F. & A. M., Webb chapter, R. A. M., Oriental commandery, K. T., Lake Erie Consistory, Al Koran Temple.

Biographical Sketch of Willis B. Hale

Hale, Willis B.; brokerage and real estate; born, Decatur, Ill., June 17, 1847; son of E. B. and Susan C. Hoyt Hale; educated, Union College, class of 1870, valedictorian, Philomethean Society; pres. Delta Phi Fraternity; married, Cleveland, Oct. 9, 1873, Clara Worthington; issue, four children, Cora (Mrs. Jas. O. Rogers, New York) ; Edwin W., mining engineer, expert chemist and author, Eleanor (Mrs. E. C. Reader, Cleveland) ; Willis W., electrical ex-pert and inventor, Yale graduate; organizer of Hale Electric & Engineering Co. and Hale Chemistry Co.; for twenty-three years he was cashier of E. B. Hale & Co., the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Wayne Chase

Chase, William Wayne, sec’y White Sewing Machine Co.; born, Geauga County, O., Nov. 19, 1872; son of Charles E. and Annette S. Ellis; educated in Cleveland public schools; married, Cleveland, Sept. 12, 1893, Edna E. Thomas; issue, Kathryn, Russell, Charles; married, Cleveland, March 5, 1907, Reba Neff; issue, Ruth, June; began work with White Sewing Machine Co., as bookkeeper, May, 1892; became sec’y, 1905; member Chamber of Commerce, Cleveland Credit Men’s Ass ‘n, Archwood Congregational Church, Brooklyn lodge F. & A. M.; Webb chapter, R. A. M.

Biographical Sketch of William Wallace Ludlow

Ludlow, William Wallace; treas. CoOperative Stove Co.; born, Chardon, O., April 22, 1858; son of L. C. and Helen Stafford Ludlow; married, Dec. 25, 1882, A. A. Stafford; married, Feb. 21, 1893, M. E. Wilson; married July 14, 1902, M. A. Logan; two daughters, Catherine M., and Mira E.; thirty-five years with CoOperative Stove Co., clerk, supt., auditor and treas.; resident of Cleveland fifty years; member Board of Education, Cleveland Heights.