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Biographies
Source:
History
of Cuyahoga Co., Ohio
Published by D. W. Ensign & Co.,
1879
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BIOGRAPHICAL INDEXES FOR CUYAHOGA COUNTY >
Dan P. Eells |
DAN P. EELLS.
Major Samuel Eells came to this country from Barnstable,
England, and settled in Dorchester, Massachusetts, probably in
the year 1633, where his son, Samuel, was born.
Major Eells returned to England while his son was yet a
babe, and remained until Samuel, Jr., was twenty-one
years old, who then returned to the land of his nativity, and
settled at Milford, Connecticut, where he was a lawyer and an
officer in the army. He died at Hingham, Massachusetts, at
the age of sixty-nine. Nathaniel, his third son,
was graduated at Harvard University, and was settled as pastor
over the church at Seitnate, Massachusetts. Edward
Eells, son of Nathaniel, was also graduated at
Harvard, and was settled over the church at Middletown,
Connecticut. James Eells, son of Edward, was
graduated at Yale College in 1763, and like his two preceding
ancestors became a clergyman, being settled over the church at
Glastonbury, Connecticut. His son, James, was also
graduated at Yale in 1799, and was pastor over the Presbyterian
church in Westmoreland, Oneida county, New York, in 1804.
He removed to Ohio in 1831, where he resided in Worthington,
Franklin county, in Charlestown, Portage county, and in Amherst,
Lorain county, until the death of his wife, in 1849, after which
he lived in the families of his sons until May 3, 1856, when he
died at Grafton, Lorain county, from being injured by a
locomotive on the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati railroad.
Rev. James Eells had seven children, one of
whom, a daughter, died in infancy. The remaining six, five
sons and one daughter, all born in Westmoreland, Oneida county,
New York, lived to mature years.
James Henry was educated at Hamilton College and
Princeton Theological Seminary, was pastor of the Presbyterian
church at Elyria, Ohio, and afterward at Perrysburg, where he
was drowned in the Maumee river, Dec. 7, 1836. Samuel,
born May 21, 1810, was educated at Hamilton College,, where he
was graduated in 1832. He became a lawyer and settled in
Cincinnati, where he was for a time a partner of the late chief
justice, S. P. Chase. He was the founder of the
college society, Alpha Delta Phi, and, though less than
thirty-two years of age at the time of his death, he was ranked
among the very ablest lawyers of his time, and as an advocate
had no superior at the Cincinnati bar. Mary Lucretia,
born June 18, 1812, married Dr. Asa B. Brown at Elyria,
Ohio, Dec. 31, 1835, and died at Cleveland Feb. 9, 1855.
Timothy Dwight, born Nov. 1, 1815, died at
Cleveland, Apr. 18, 1876. James, born Aug. 27,
1822, was educated at Hamilton College and Auburn Theological
Seminary. He was first settled over the Presbyterian
church at Penn Yan, New York; was afterwards pastor of the
Second Presbyterian church in Cleveland, and also of the Dutch
Reformed church on the Hights, in Brooklyn ,New York, whence he
removed to San Francisco, and became the pastor of the First
Presbyterian church of that city. He is now pastor of the
First Presbyterian church in Oakland, California, and professor
of pastoral theology in the San Francisco Theological Seminary.
Dan Parmlee Eells was born Apr.
16, 1825. He entered Hamilton College, but before
completing his course removed to Cleveland, where he continued
his studies, being graduated with the class of 1848. In
March, 1849, he was given a position in the Commercial Branch of
the State Bank of Ohio. Here he remained until 1857,
manifesting such decided financial abilities and winning so many
friends among business men, that he was solicited to become a
partner in a private banking house, and the firm of Hall,
Eells & Co., was formed, Mr. Eells being the
managing partner. In November, 1858, the managers of the
Commercial Branch Bank, desirous of regaining his services,
elected him their cashier. In this position he remained
until 1865, when the charter of the institution expired.
The Commercial National Bank was now organized, and the business
of the Commercial Branch Bank was transferred to it.
Mr. W. A. Otis was chosen president, and Mr. Eells,
vice president. On the death of Mr. Otis, in 1868,
Mr. Eells was elected president, adn has remained in that
position until the present time. This has been one of the
flourishing banking institutions of the city, having a capital
stock of $1,250,000, and a large surplus. It has always
pursued a liberal but prudent policy under Mr. Eells'
management; the wisdom of which is manifest by its large and
profitable business. He has also been interested in other
large business enterprises; being a director and the vice
president of the Republic Iron Company; a director in the Otis
Steel and Iron Company; and having large investments in numerous
manufacturing and other enterprises.
Although so largely engaged in business, he has always
found time to assist in all the benevolent projects of the time.
He is the treasurer of the Cleveland Orphan Asylum, and the
Bethel Home has always had his warm support. When the
Cleveland Bible Society was organized, in 1857, Mr. Eells
was chosen its treasurer, which position he held until 1877,
when he was elected its president.
Mr. Eells married Mary, daughter of George A.
Howard, of Orrville, Ohio, on the 13th of September, 1849.
They had two children; Howard Parmlee, born June 16,
1855, and Emma Paige, born Apr. 8, 1857. He married
as his second wife, Mary, daughter of Stillman Witt,
of Cleveland, on teh 15th of June, 1861. By this marriage
there have been four children, Eliza Witt, born July 1,
1867, who died from injuries by explosion of the steamer
"Chautauqua," on Chautauqua lake, Aug. 15, 1871; Stillman
Witt, born Apr. 24, 1873; and William Hamilton and
Winifred Douglass, (twins), born Oct. 20, 1874; of whom
William H. died July 16, and Winifred D. July 17,
1875. Mr. Eells is an elder of the Second
Presbyterian church, and is one of its most active supporters.
A descendant of a long line of honorable and educated ancestors,
six generations of whom have been clergyman in the New England
Presbyterian and Congregational churches, Mr. Eells'
life has been an example, socially and morally, of what may be
expected from such a linage.
Source: History of Cuyahoga Co., Ohio
- Published by D. W. Ensign & Co., - 1879 - Page 351 |
S. T. Everett |
SYLVESTER T. EVERETT.
The subject of this sketch, a son of Samuel Everett, a
prominent merchant and manufacturer, was born in Liberty
township, Trumbull county, Ohio, on the 27th of November, 1838.
He was educated in the common schools of his native town and
lived on his father's farm until 1850. In that year he
came to Cleveland, to reside with his brother, Dr. Henry
Everett; attending the public schools until 1853, when he
entered the employ of S. Raymond & Co. In March of
the succeeding year he was admitted to a clerkship in the
banking house of Brockway, Watson, Everett
& Co., and three years after his entrance was promoted to the
position of cashier. In 1859 he was called to
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to aid in settling up the affairs of
his uncle, Charles Everett, Esq., a well known merchant,
who was about to retire from active business life. After a
year spent in that work he returned to Cleveland and resumed his
position in the banking house.
In 1867, the firm having changed by the retirement of
two of the partners, he became a member of the new firm of
Everett, Weddell & Co. In 1809 the Republicans
nominated him for city treasurer, and he was elected by a
decided majority. At the end of the first year he
presented to the council a clear, concise and complete statement
of the financial affairs of
the city. This had not been done for some time before.
The outstanding obligations of the city were al the same time
managed with such ability that, the outlay for interest was
largely reduced, and the credit of the city was so greatly
improved that the municipal bonds were sought for by investors
at a decided advance, and in many instances a premium.
This improved condition of the city's financial management
continuing, he was renominated at the end of his term of two
years, and re-elected by a large majority.
In 1873, at the end of his second term, he was
nominated by both the Republican and Democratic conventions, and
was again elected, receiving the largest vote that had ever been
polled for one candidate from the organization of the city to
that time. In 1875, and again in 1877, the same compliment
was paid him; he being a third time the nominee of both parties,
and elected by a unanimous vote. In 1879 he was
unanimously nominated by the Republican
party—the Democrats making a separate nomination. This
election was hotly contested upon local issues, but he
nevertheless was elected by about five thousand majority,
running nearly three thousand votes ahead of his ticket.
The confidence of the public in Mr.
Everett's ability as a financier, and his trustworthiness as
a man, was shown not only by his election for six consecutive
terms to one of the most important and responsible positions in
the city government, but also by the other offices of trust to
which he was chosen without his seeking. In 1870 he was
elected one of the directors and also vice president of the
Second National Bank, one of the leading institutions of the
State. He assumed the management on the 1st of June, 1870,
and the following year was made the president, which position he
still holds. He is also vice president and treasurer of
the Valley Railway Company, and it was largely through his
influence that funds were raised for the completion of this
road. He is a director of the Cleveland Rolling Mill
Company; of the Union Steel Screw Company; the Citizens' Savings
and Loan Association; the Saginaw Mining Company, Luke Superior;
the American District Telegraph Company, and of Everett,
Weddell and Co., bankers; he is also a director and the
treasurer of the Northern Ohio Fair Association. All these
enterprises have found in him an efficient and trustworthy
officer. In addition the manager of several others
have secured his co-operation, feeling assured that the trust
confided in him would be wisely and faithfully managed.
His capacity for work is almost unlimited, and his financial
ability is unquestioned, while his uniform good temper,
displayed in all business transactions, renders him one of the
most popular of Cleveland's citizens. He is enterprising
and public spirited him one of the most popular of Cleveland's
citizens. He is enterprising and public spirited, liberal
and benevolent in regard to charitable institutions and causes,
and highly esteemed in all the relations of life.
Source: History of Cuyahoga Co., Ohio
- Published by D. W. Ensign & Co., - 1879 - Page 352
Portrait Source: History of Cuyahoga Co., Ohio - Published by D.
W. Ensign & Co., - 1879 - Page 300a |
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