Biography of Herschel C. Porterfield

Herschel C. Porterfield. Thirty-five years in the oil fields and thirty years as a contractor and producer constitute the record of this veteran of an industry which has brought Kansas untold wealth. Like hundreds of men of this class, he has found Independence as the most satisfactory city for residence and business headquarters. In another respect he is typical of perhaps a majority of the oil men of the country–his native state is Pennsylvania. Born in Butler County, August 10, 1856, he was one of several brothers to become identified with the oil industry in one way or another. Up … Read more

Biography of William Harry Little, M. D.

William Harry Little, M. D. The community of Alta Vista in Wabaunsee County had had the capable services of Doctor Little as a physician for more than fifteen years. In connection with his large practice Doctor Little also conducts the leading drug store of the village. Doctor Little is a native of Ohio, but had spent most of his life in Kansas. He was born in Lucas County, near the City of Toledo, November 5, 1868. He is of colonial American stock, originally from Scotland. His people were early settlers in Pennsylvania and pioneers in the State of Ohio. His … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Fred A. Whitmore

Whitmore, Fred A.; real estate, loans; born, Toledo, O., Nov. 30, 1882; son of Charles A. and Harriet D. Moon Whitmore; public school education; married, Toledo, O., July 28, 1902, Lucy J. Weil; since 1909 representative of the Michigan Mutual Life Insurance Co., having been associated with that company for nine years before that date.

Biography of James C. Holland

James C. Holland. The public architecture of Kansas, especially in the capital city, is largely a record of the skill and experience of one man, James C. Holland. Mr. Holland by all the standards that can be applied is a great architect. He has gained a well deserved prominence in this profession. His experience in Kansas covers more than thirty years. At one time he held the office of state architect, but throughout his business has largely been in connection with the designing and the superintending of construction of buildings which serve a public or quasi-public purpose. A few years … Read more

King, John – Obituary

Elgin, Union County, Oregon A Direct Descendant of the Pilgrim Fathers, and an Honered Pioneer of Eastern Oregon At the home of his daughter, Mrs. E.L. Harris, in Elgin. December 12, 1904. John King, aged 84 years, 9 months, 10 days. The deceased was among the well known citizens of Union and Wallowa counties, in which territory he had made his home since 1882. A son of Jacob King, one of Ohio’s pioneer settlers, he was able to trace his lineage directly to the Pilgrim Fathers, whose landing at Plymouth Rock in 1820 (Says 1820) marked one of the events … Read more

Slave Narrative of Julia King

Interviewer: K. Osthimer Person Interviewed: Julia King Date of Interview: June 10, 1937 Location: Toledo, Ohio Place of Residence: 731 Oakwood Avenue, Toledo, Ohio Age: (about) 80 K. Osthimer, Author Folklore: Stories From Ex-Slaves Lucas County, Dist. 9 Toledo, Ohio The Story of MRS. JULIA KING of Toledo, Ohio. Mrs. Julia King resides at 731 Oakwood Avenue, Toledo, Ohio. Although the records of the family births were destroyed by a fire years ago, Mrs. King places her age at about eighty years. Her husband, Albert King, who died two years ago, was the first Negro policeman employed on the Toledo … Read more

Early Exploration and Native Americans

De Soto and his band gave to the Choctaws at Moma Binah and the Chickasaws at Chikasahha their first lesson in the white man’s modus operandi to civilize and Christianize North American Indians; so has the same lesson been continued to be given to that unfortunate people by his white successors from that day to this, all over this continent, but which to them, was as the tones of an alarm-bell at midnight. And one hundred and twenty-three years have passed since our forefathers declared all men of every nationality to be free and equal on the soil of the North … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Herman J. Nord

Nord, Herman J.; attorney-at-law; born, Ashtabula, March 31, 1877; son of Otto and Mary Nord; educated, Adelbert College, and Western Reserve Law School; married, Providence, Nov. 20, 1908, Elizabeth B. Custy; member Cleveland and Ohio State Bar Associations; member Phi Gamma Delta College Fraternity, Adelbert Chapter; member Chamber of Commerce, and Athletic Club.

Biographical Sketch of Edwin Alan Hannum

Hannum, Edwin Alan; physician; born, Maumee, O., Jan. 2, 1873; son of J. L. and Eliza A. Close Hannum; educated, public schools, Maumee, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Cleveland, M. D.; married, Cleveland, Sept. 4, 1907, Ollie Martin; two children; member Academy of Medicine; Ohio State Medical Ass’n and American Medical Ass’n.

Biographical Sketch of W. P. Jacobs

Although death claimed W. P. Jacobs in 1906, a year after his arrival in Bartlesville, he had already gained a well established position in business circles here, his enterprise and integrity winning for him the respect and confidence of all with whom he was brought into contact. He was born in Hammond, Indiana, in 1866, and acquired his education in Danville College, after which he became connected with the lumber business at Toledo, Ohio. From there he went to Findlay, Ohio, where he was identified with the same line of activity, and he subsequently removed to Lima, that state, where … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Joseph L. Stern

Stern, Joseph L.; attorney; born, Toledo, O., Sept. 24, 1882; son of Adolph and Rosa Friedlander Stern; educated, Cleveland grammar and High School (West); studied law in the office of L. F. McGarth, Cleveland, and admitted to practice law in December, 1903; married, Cleveland, Feb. 28, 1907, Fannie Brown; one son, Robert William Stern; one daughter, Ruth Dorothy Stern; served two terms as solicitor for the Village of Nottingham, O., Dec. 1903, entered law practice with L. F. McGarth, under firm name of McGarth & Stern; in Oct. 1909, partnership dissolved, and began to practice alone; is now located in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Frank Z. Jones

Jones, Frank Z.; plaster contractor; born, Delaware, O., Sept. 21, 1879; son of Albert and Margaret Common Jones; educated, Delaware, O., public schools; married, Windsor, Can., Dec. 1, 1903, Lillie L. Baker; issue, three sons; learned trade under his father, and contracted in Delaware for several years; in 1901, went to Dayton, O., and spent three years there as journeyman; worked in Toledo one year, and then came to Cleveland, in 1904; worked as journeyman until 1912; moved to Lakewood, and built his home, and has been in contract business since.

Biography of Miss Neva M. Scott

The self-supporting woman of today wants to work for and deserve whatever success may come to her. These women are not asking for favors. All they want is fair competition. Formerly all that the self-supporting woman could hope for was to make a living, but since the World war the forward march of working women has taken on new life and women are everywhere measuring up to new standards. It is not enough that they take care of their own needs. In addition to this they must contribute something for the betterment of the world and in doing so they … Read more

Biography of Frederick Ruder

Frederick Ruder was a pioneer in Kansas Territory in the year 1857. His home was in Leavenworth, but he was closely identified with those activities which spread out from Leavenworth over the plains to the Far West. Leavenworth sixty years ago was one of the most important cities of the Middle West. It was a river town, was thriving and bustling with trade, and to the great territory to the west, now divided among a dozen or more states, Leavenworth occupied relatively a more prominent position than Kansas City does today. Frederick Ruder was for a number of years connected … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Louis Englander

Englander, Louis; attorney-at-law; born, Toledo, O., Jan. 26, 1883; son of Herman and Bertha Ballet Englander; educated, Adelbert College, Western Reserve Law School, A. B. and LL. B. degrees; married, Cleveland, April 16, 1912; associated with Henderson, Quail & Siddall for two years; now head of the firm of Englander & Bowden; pres. The Cuyahoga Fire-Proofing Co.; sec’y The Contractors & Investment Co., and The E. H. Bryant Co.; sec’y and treas. The Cuyahoga River Power Co., and The Bolivar Bldg. Co.; director The Bolton-Pratt Co. The Weaver-Twelvetree Co.; The Cleveland Engraving Agency Co., The Max Glick Co.; member Cleveland and … Read more

Chief Pontiac of the Ottawa’s

Map of Pontiacs War

Immediately after the peace of 1763 all the French forts in the west as far as Green Bay were garrisoned with English troops; and the Indians now began to realize, but too late, what they had long apprehended the selfish designs of both French and English threatening destruction, if not utter annihilation, to their entire race. These apprehensions brought upon the theatre of Indian warfare, at that period of time, the most remarkable Indian in the annals of history, Pontiac, the chief of the Ottawa’s and the principal sachem of the Algonquin Confederacy. He was not only distinguished for his … 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

Biographical Sketch of John S. McCarrens

McCarrens, John S.; advertising; born, July 27, 1869; son of D. A. and Anna McGinley McCarrens; educated, public schools, Bradford, Pa., and Niagara University, Suspension Bridge, N. Y.; married, Toledo, O., June 24, 1896, Mary Sweeney; issue, two daughters and two sons; advertising mgr. and business collector; member Cleveland Advertising Club. Fond of Horseback Riding.

Slave Narrative of Mrs. Hannah Davidson

Interviewer: K. Osthimer Person Interviewed: Hannah Davidson Location: Toledo, Ohio Place of Birth: Ballard County, Kentucky Date of Birth: 1852 Place of Residence: 533 Woodland Avenue, Toledo, Ohio Mrs. Hannah Davidson occupies two rooms in a home at 533 Woodland Avenue, Toledo, Ohio. Born on a plantation in Ballard County, Kentucky, in 1852, she is today a little, white haired old lady. Dark, flashing eyes peer through her spectacles. Always quick to learn, she has taught herself to read. She says, “I could always spell almost everything.” She has eagerly sought education. Much of her ability to read has been … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Gordon

Gordon, William; attorney-at-law; born, Oak Harbor, O., Dec. 15, 1862; son of Washington and Margaret Rymers Gordon; educated, public schools, Oak Harbor, O., Toledo Business College, Toledo, O., graduate and Univ. Michigan, LL. B.; married Port Clinton Sept. 12, 1893; Elizabeth N. Garnhard; issue, one son and one daughter; taught school in Ottawa County; served four years as deputy county treasurer, six years a member of Board of County school Examiners, six years as Prosecuting atty., all in Ottawa County; served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention at Chicago in 1896 from 9th Congressional District of Ohio; member Democratic … Read more