Washtenaw County MI

Biography of Ludwick Oldenburg

Ludwick Oldenburg, a prominent orchardist in Union County, was born in northern Holland and began his career in fruit growing under his father’s guidance. After serving in the army, he emigrated to America, spending time in Michigan before settling in the Grande Ronde valley. There, he developed one of the best orchards in the northwest, cultivating vast quantities of fruit and vegetables. Married to Lorena Yonker, they had ten children. Politically, Oldenburg aligned with the Socialists and was active in local church affairs, gaining community respect.

Biography of R. F. Buller

R. F. Buller, born March 10, 1840, in Coburg, Canada, became a prominent banker and lawyer in Hailey, Idaho. After a successful legal career in Missouri, he moved to Hailey in 1892, where he became president of the First National Bank, known for its reliability. Buller was also an active rancher and had extensive real estate investments. A lifelong Republican and member of the Episcopal Church, he focused on business rather than politics, earning respect within his community. He married Rosa Osburn and has one son.

Biography of Henry F. Samuels

Henry F. Samuels, born on April 4, 1869, in Mississippi, has emerged as a distinguished lawyer in Idaho’s younger legal community. He grew up in Indiana, overcoming financial hardships to pursue education, eventually studying law in Nebraska and at the University of Michigan. After relocating to Idaho in 1892, he practiced in Grangeville and later Wallace, where he became the elected prosecuting attorney of Shoshone County in 1898. A devoted family man, Samuels exemplifies perseverance and commitment in his legal career.

Biographical Sketch of George C. Hansen

George C. Hansen, born on May 30, 1868, in Schlesni, Germany, was an accomplished attorney and civic leader. He graduated from Ohio Northern University and the University of Michigan, and married Orra Phillips in 1904. Hansen served as assistant county prosecutor and held leadership positions in the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce and the Cuyahoga County Sunday School Association. Additionally, he worked in education as a school superintendent. Active in local business, he held directorships in multiple companies and was involved in civic organizations, enjoying gardening in his leisure time.

Biographical Sketch of Neil T. Clark

Neil T. Clark, born in 1887 in Chippewa Lake, Ohio, was a prominent dentist. He received his education at West High School in Cleveland and earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Michigan. Throughout his career, he was actively involved in professional organizations, including the Delta Sigma Delta dental fraternity and both the Cleveland and Ohio State Dental Societies.

Biographical Sketch of Maurice Buford Bonta

Maurice Buford Bonta was born in Kentucky in 1875. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan in 1897 and a medical degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1904, where he also served as a medical house officer. In 1909, he married Mabel Wilson McLennon in Cleveland, with whom he had one child. Bonta was an active member of the Cleveland Academy of Medicine throughout his career.

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Cooper Blake

Samuel Cooper Blake, born on December 29, 1855, in Euclid, Ohio, was an accomplished attorney. Educated in local public schools and at the University of Michigan, he earned his LL.B. and was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1883. Blake married Mary A. Camp in 1889 and had two children. He served as clerk for the Euclid School Board and the township, taught in local schools, and was active in the Garfield Savings Trust Co. and Masonic organizations.

Biographical Sketch of William Howard Brett

William Howard Brett, born in 1846 in Braceville, Ohio, served as a librarian at the Cleveland Public Library from 1884. He was educated in public schools and attended several colleges, graduating from Hiram College. Married in 1879 to Alice L. Allen, he had six children. Brett was a key figure in the development of public libraries, holding leadership positions in the Ohio Library Association and the American Library Association. He also became the Dean of Western Reserve Library School and created the Culminative Index.

Biographical Sketch of Horatio Clark Ford

Horatio Clark Ford, born in Cleveland on August 25, 1853, was a prominent lawyer and banker. He attended Oberlin College and earned his B.S. from the University of Michigan. Married to Ida M. Throp in 1877, Ford practiced law in Cleveland from 1878 and became senior partner at Ford, Snyder, Tilden. He served as president of Garfield Savings Bank since 1892 and held directorships in several companies. Additionally, he was active in local government and educational institutions, reflecting his commitment to civic engagement.

Biographical Sketch of Charles Francis Brush

Charles Francis Brush, born on March 17, 1849, in Euclid, Ohio, was a prominent scientist and engineer. He earned his degrees from the University of Michigan and Western Reserve University. Notably, Brush invented the electric arc light and the storage battery, which significantly advanced electrical engineering. He founded the Brush Electric Co. and held leadership roles in various organizations, including the Cleveland Arcade Co. and Linde Air Products Co. Throughout his career, he received several honors, including the Rumford medal and was an active member of numerous scientific societies.

Biographical Sketch of C. G. Beckwith

C. G. Beckwith, born in Dowagiac, Michigan, on April 19, 1870, was an accomplished electrical engineer. He studied at the University of Michigan and married Belle M. Norton in 1895. Beckwith held various supervisory positions in electrical engineering and construction from 1888, including roles in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio. He became the superintendent and electrical engineer of the City of Cleveland Municipal Plant in 1910, a position he still held at the time of this writing. He was also an active member of several professional organizations.

Biographical Sketch of Elroy McKendree Avery

Elroy McKendree Avery was born on July 14, 1844, in Erie, Michigan. He served as a sergeant major in the 11th Michigan Cavalry during the Civil War and later pursued an academic career, earning degrees from the University of Michigan and Hillsdale College. Avery held various educational and political roles, including principal of the Battle Creek High School and a member of the Ohio Senate. An accomplished author, his works include several textbooks in physics and chemistry, as well as historical writings. He passed away in 1911.

Biographical Sketch of Maxwell Vernon Emerman

Maxwell Vernon Emerman, born in Cleveland on November 17, 1867, was an attorney educated at Central High School and the University of Michigan. He married in Baltimore on November 3, 1912. Active in politics, he served on the executive committee of the Progressive Republican party in Cuyahoga County. His business roles included secretary and treasurer of The Esplande Apartments Co. and general counsel for Erie Iron & Steel Co. He was also involved in various companies and community organizations, including the Cleveland Shakespeare Club.

Biographical Sketch of Eckstein Case

Eckstein Case, born on July 9, 1858, in Carlyle, Illinois, was a graduate of public schools and the United States Military Academy at West Point. After relocating to Cleveland in 1881, he studied law under notable judges and earned his degree from the University of Michigan in 1883. Although admitted to the bar, he did not practice law. He served on the school council from 1903 to 1905, was involved with various clubs and the Masonic Fraternity, and participated in local Republican politics.

Biographical Sketch of William Louis Day

William Louis Day was born on August 13, 1876, in Canton, Ohio. He was the son of William Rufus and Mary Elizabeth Day. Day graduated from Williston Seminary in 1896 and earned his LL.B. from the University of Michigan in 1900. He married Elizabeth E. McKay in 1902 and began his legal career that year. He served as city solicitor from 1906 to 1908 and as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Ohio from 1908 to 1911, before becoming a U.S. district judge in 1911.

Biographical Sketch of Robert H. Dawson

Robert H. Dawson was born on March 28, 1882, in Pontiac, Michigan. He was the son of John W. and Jean Hamilton Dawson. Dawson pursued his education at the University of Michigan, earning an A.B. in 1903, and later obtained an LL.B. from Western Reserve University in 1909. He married Luna Cooper in Pueblo, Colorado, on September 14, 1910, and was a member of the Phi Delta Phi fraternity. Dawson enjoyed playing baseball and football in his leisure time.

Biographical Sketch of Edward Chellis Daoust

Edward Chellis Daoust, born October 19, 1887, in Defiance, Ohio, was a prominent attorney. He graduated from Yale Law School in 1909 and began practicing law in Cleveland shortly thereafter. Daoust co-founded a law firm and served as a United States Commissioner for the Northern District of Ohio. He was active in various organizations including the Ohio Bar Association and the Sons of the American Revolution. Daoust, an advocate for civic improvement, was married to Clara Louis Bunts and had one daughter.

Biographical Sketch of James Elbert Cutler

James Elbert Cutler, born on January 24, 1876, in Princeville, Illinois, was a prominent university professor. He earned his B.A. from the University of Colorado in 1900 and completed his Ph.D. at Yale in 1903. He held various teaching positions, including at Yale and Wellesley College, before becoming a full professor at Western Reserve University. A noted scholar, Cutler authored “Lynch Law,” exploring the history of lynching in the U.S., and actively contributed to numerous academic and civic organizations. He married Carolena D. Sperry in 1903.

Biographical Sketch of Edward Brush Finch

Edward Brush Finch, born on October 17, 1873, in Holly, Michigan, was a prominent motor car dealer and businessman. He studied at the University of Michigan and married May Pruegs in January 1900, with whom he had two children. Finch held various roles in the automotive industry, including secretary and treasurer at Pungs-Finch Auto Gas Engine Co., and later worked for Packard Motor Car Co. and Chalmers Motor Car Co. He established his own dealership in Cleveland in 1910 and was actively involved in local clubs and organizations.

Biographical Sketch of Albert Henry Fiebach

Albert Henry Fiebach, born on August 28, 1876, in Brownhelm, Ohio, was a prominent lawyer who graduated from Oberlin College in 1899 and earned his LL.B. from Harvard in 1902. He began his legal practice in Cleveland after being admitted to the bar in December 1902. Fiebach was actively involved in his community, serving on the Chamber of Commerce and the executive committee of the Legal Aid Society, as well as the legal committee of the Associated Charities. He married Louise June Bogart in 1905.