Biographical Sketch of William Vernon Backus

Backus, William Vernon; lawyer, lecturer and inventor; born, Cleveland, Aug. 24, 1860; son of William and Lena Strobel Backus; educated. public schools and private tutors in German and Spanish; studied in London and Mexico, pupil of Dr. William Windsor; one son, Richard C. Backus, lawyer in New York; one daughter, Edna Lois Backus Scott, E. Orange, N. J.; member and pres. of Cleveland Board of Education, 1880-95; vice pres. American School Ass’n, Mexico City, 1906-8; pres. American Colony in Mexico City, 1905-7; practised law in Ohio; editor of the following: The Spur, The Courier, The American Union, and at one … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Martin Friedrich, M. D.

Friedrich, Martin, M. D.; born, Paussau, Prussia, May 11, 1885; son of Joseph and Therese Bauer Friedrich; early education in the schools of Passau and the gymnasium there; 4 years in the University of Munich; then went to Paris to study French Literature at the Sorbonne and the Bibliotheque; there three years; in 1892 entered the Medical Dept. of Western Reserve University, Cleveland; graduated with degree of M. D., 1894; spent two years in study abroad in Vienna, Paris and Berlin; in early years engaged in the lumber business in Crawford, Pa.; came to Cleveland in 1892; in 1897, associated … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Granville Lee

Lee, William Granville; labor leader; born, La Prairie, Illinois, Nov. 29, 1859; son of James W. and Sylvista Jane (Tracy) Lee; educated, public schools; married, Mary R. Rice, of Chicago, Oct. 15, 1901; brakeman and conductor, A. T. & S. F., Wabash, Missouri P., and U. P. railways, 1879-1884; deputy recorder deeds, Ford County, Kansas, 1884-1888; conductor, U. P. R. R., 1889-1895; 1st vice pres. 1895-1909, pres., Jan. 1, 1909; Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen; Republican; Mason.

Biographical Sketch of Henry C. Hieber

Hieber, Henry C.; funeral director; born, Oct. 9, 1879; son of Carl Christian and Maria Christine Hieber; educated in public schools, Stuttgart, Germany, and Chicago; came to Cleveland in 1893; started to work at the Dental tool business until 1903; studied undertaking during that time; started in business, July, 1903; member Concordia Lodge, No. 345. F. & A. M.. Hillman Chapter, No. 166, R. A. M., Pearl Lodge, Knights of Pythias, Cleveland Chamber of Industry, Funeral Directors’ Ass’n of Ohio; Jennings Square Business Men’s Ass’n; Zion Evangelical, and Pilgrim Congregational Churches; Freiheit Unterstuezungs Verin; United German Union; Humboldt Lodge, V. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Philip Schmidt

Schmidt, Thomas Philip; attorney-at-law; born, Cleveland, Oct. 8, 1875; son of Gustav and Elizabeth Asmus Schmidt; educated, Cleveland public schools, grade grammar high schools, University of Michigan, law and literary departments, 1895-1898; married, Cleveland, Oct. 10, 1906, Ami Mueller; issue, one son; sec’y and treas. The Cleveland Underground Rapid Transit R. R. Co.; sec’y, treas. and director Subway Realty Co.; director Eastland Steamship co., and Cleveland Railway Co.; Democrat; member Ohio Senate 1905-1908; nominated for Lieut. Gov. of Ohio, 1908, but declined; since 1903 has attended every state and national convention; chairman of the Cuyahoga County delegation to the Ohio … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hon. Willis Vickery

Vickery, Willis Hon.; lawyer; born, Bellevue, O., Nov. 26, 1857; son of William and Sarah Perkins Vickery; no schooling until the age of 19, excepting three months in the winter; then entered the Clyde, O., High School, graduating in 1880, valedictorian of class; studied law in the office of Everett & Fowler, at Fremont, O.; continued law studies combined with teaching in the schools of Clyde and Castalia, O., in 1882, entered the law dept. of Boston University; graduated in 1884; admitted to the Ohio bar in 1885; married three times; three children by first wife, who was Anna L. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Oscar Haldy

Haldy, William Oscar; dentist; born, Cleveland, April 19, 1875; son of Frederick L. and Anna (Buschman) Haldy; D.D. S., Western Reserve University, 1S96; married, Columbus, Oct. 2, 1902, Emogene L. Peters; issue, one son and one daughter; served in Spanish-American War as quartermaster-sergeant, Battery A, 1st 0. V. A.; member Troop A, Cleveland, 13 years; pres. W. R. U. Dental Alumni Ass’n, 1899-1912; member Psi Omega (dental), United Spanish War Veterans, Veteran Ass ‘n, Troop A, K. of P., Rotary, Cleveland Athletic, and Highland Park Golf Clubs, National Dental Assn, National Dental Protective Ass’n. Recreations: Golf and Motoring.

Biographical Sketch of Henry Merton Merihew

Merihew, Henry Merton; attorney; born, Plattsburgh, N. Y., June 3, 1875; son of Henry W. and Deborah Havens Merihew; educated, Plattsburgh High School 1898, Cornell University College of Law, LL. B., 1898; married, New York City, July 29, 1897, 1907, Bessie Mable Hewitt; land and tax agt. Erie R. R. Co., since 1907; practiced law at Plattsburgh, N. Y., from June, 1898, to January, 1904; entered the legal department of the Erie R. R. Co.; in New York City; member Plattsburgh, N. Y., Lodge, No. 828, F. & A. M.

Biographical Sketch of David Lee Caulkins

Caulkins, David Lee; insurance; born, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., Nov. 10, 1869; son of John Guernsey and Nancy Lee Caulkins; educated at the University of Chattanooga; married, Ludlow, Ky., May 29, 1893, Dora Leota Hoover; one son, Robert Sharp Caulkins, born Oct. 23, 1897; district chief railway mail service, Louisville & Cincinnati, for seven years; prior to coming to Cleveland, in 1905, general agt. for Northeastern Ohio for The Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Co.; since 1905, trustee City Rescue Mission; elder Calvary Presbyterian Church; member Chamber of Commerce.

Biographical Sketch of Frank A. Arter

Arter, Frank A.; retired; born, Hanoverton, O., March 8, 1841; son of David and Charlotte Laffer Arter; Hanover High School and Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa.; degrees, A. B. and M. A., Allegheny; married, Cleveland, Eliza Kingsley; issue, Mrs. Fred L. Taft, Mrs. Lewis E. Myers and Charles K. Arter; director First National Bank; Cleveland Steamship Co.; Cleveland Life Insurance Co.; Land Title Abstract Co.; vice pres. Children’s Industrial School; pres. Board of Trustees, Allegheny College; treas. N. E. O. Annuity Fund; director St. Luke’s Hospital; pres. Layman’s Ass’n, N. E. O. Conference; treas. First M. E.; member Union, Colonial, Wickliffe-on-the-Lake … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Harold H. Neale

Neale, Harold H.; born, Cleveland, Oct. 11, 1891; son of Eugene E. and Lucy Hubbell Neale; graduate of Shaw High School; went to work in 1910 with Neale Bros. & Schyr; in January, 1912, was made a partner in the firm of Neale Bros. & Co.; made sec’y of the Neale-Phypers Co., March 1, 1913; member Advertising, Athletic, Willowick, Country, and Hermit Clubs. Recreations: Golf and Tennis.

Biographical Sketch of Edward A. Merritt

Merritt, Edward A.; sec’y and treas. The Cleveland Stone Co.; born, Marquette, Mich., Feb. 12, 1862; son of Daniel H. and Harriett L. Merritt; educated, public schools and Racine College, Racine, Wis.; came to Cleveland, took course in Bryant Stratton and Smith Business College; returned to Marquette, and was in business with his father; married, Dec. 15, 1886, Matildia Huntington, of Cleveland; issue, one daughter, deceased; came back to Cleveland in 1888, as asst. treas. for the Cleveland Stone Co.; also auditor and stockholder and director, connected with the Company for over twenty-four years.

Biographical Sketch of David Morison

Morison, David; real estate; born, Cleveland, Oct. 16, 1848; son of David and Charlotte C. Bidwell Morison; educated, Cleveland public schools and Oberlin College; in 1877, member of Cleveland City Council, served eight years, pres. during some of this time; in 1887, elected State Senator on Republican Ticket; in 1891, re-elected by a large majority; in 1891, appointed by Mayor Rose as director of Charities and Corrections, under the new Federal plan of Government; pres. The Morison Realty Co.; vice pres. Stark Electric R. R. Co.; director C. A. & M. V. R. R. Co.; vice pres. Superior Dean Realty … Read more

Biography of Hon. John P. Hoyt

HON. JOHN P. HOYT. – “Every man has two educations, – one which he receives from others, and one more important, which he gives himself.” Very early in life the subject of this sketch learned this important lesson; and the fruits of its strict observance are being enjoyed by him at present. He owes his advancement to no accident of birth or fortune, but has earned success through the toilsome avenue of study and hard work. His early education was acquired at a country district school during the winter months, when the plow used on his father’s farm stood idle … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Milton Russell Slocum

Slocum, Milton Russell; music dealer; born, Lyendonville, N. Y., Aug. 4, 1859; at the age of 4 years, came to Ohio with his parents; educated, public schools of Osborn; married, Aug. 6, 1889, Minnie M. Walsh, of Elyria, O.; issue, one daughter, Lucile, a talented musician; in 1876, when a mere boy, became salesman in a music store in Dayton, O.; spent many years as a traveling salesman for the music trade; opened music store in Cleveland in 1897, meeting with success; Christian Scientist; member Lakewood Church; member Elks Lodge, No. 18, Marysville Lodge, No. 87, I. O. O. F., … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Willard Grant Aborn

Aborn, Willard Grant; manufacturer; born Wakefield, Mass., Sept. 23, 1870; son of George W. and Mary Frances Pennel Aborn; educated Wakefield High School; Academy at Monson, Mass.; graduated from Dartmouth College in 1893, degree of A. B., and A. M. in 1896; married, Chicago, Ill., Sept. 23, 1896, Miss Florence Louise Higgins; issue, one daughter Mary Louise and one son John Russell; spent summer vacations during college education working at engineering on water work construction; spent two yrs. in that line of work after graduation; in summer of 1895 worked for Spaulding-Pepper Tire Co., of Chicopee Falls, Mass., 1896, sec’y … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Franklyn Evans McClure

McClure, Franklyn Evans; asst. mgr. Ford Auto Co.; born, Mediapolis, Ia., Nov. 27, 1877; son of Isaac Newton and Susan Elizabeth Parrett McClure; graduate Parsons College, Iowa., 1899, Rush Medical College, 1903; married, Detroit, Mich., Sept. 26, 1905, Marjorie Balkley; one daughter, Marjorie Louise; served as asst. surgeon, Wisconsin N. G.; 1904, interne Cherokee, Ia., hospital; 1905-1906, practiced medicine in Neenah, Wis.; 1906-1910 practiced medicine in Detroit, Mich.; 1910, came to Cleveland as mgr. U. S. Motor Co.; member Chamber of Commerce.

Biographical Sketch of Joseph F. Blaha

Blaha, Joseph F.; carpenter, contractor; born, Bohemia, May 12, 1858; son of John and May Pinopal Blaha; graduated from the public schools in Bohemia; married, Cleveland, Feb. 18, 1882, Katherine Orosek; issue, 4 children; came to the United States in 1877, and received his naturalization papers in 1888; worked several months at the carpenter trade at $1.50 a day, then went to work for The American Steel & Wire Co. in Newburg; worked there until 1882; then for the Sturdueynant Planning Co.; was there one year; in 1888, started in business for himself as carpenter contractor; member of C. S. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Wilfred S. Pollock

Pollock, Wilfred S.; dept. mgr. Weideman Co.; born, New York City, Sept. 3, 1863; son of Joseph and Sarah Beardsley Pollock; educated in New York schools; married, New York, April 14, 1887, Harriet A. Hotchkiss; issue, one son, Preston Ganson, March 13, 1902; came to Cleveland in 1893, as dept. mgr. with Weideman Co., which position he still holds; director Weideman Co.; member U. S. Geographical Society; member Chamber of Commerce, Sons of American Revolution, Cleveland Athletic, Hermit, and Rotary Clubs. Favorite recreations are Golfing and Farming.

Biographical Sketch of Edwin D. Sprague

Sprague, Edwin D.; sewer contractor; born, Cleveland, April 16, 1873; son of Ellis D. and Mary Weidman Sprague; educated, Cleveland public schools; married, Cleveland, June 22, 1910, Jeannette Meermans; worked two years for himself, then for fifteen years with Beers & Doolittle; built three sections of the intercepting sewer, drainage new court house, Lake Shore blvd., foot 79th St., and bridge at Wade Park lower drive; member Cuyahoga Lodge, No. 22, I. O. O. F.; L. O. M. Recreations: Baseball and Bowling; for a number of years one of Cleveland’s favorite vaudeville entertainers.