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Biographies
Source:
† Centennial History of Summit County, Ohio
and Representative Citizens
Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co.
Chicago, Ill -
1908
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1908 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
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JOHN ABELE
who owns 104 acres of fine farming land in Portage Township,
was born Feb. 15, 1850, in Wurtemburg, Germany, and is a son
of John and Victoria Abele, both of whom died in
Germany.
John Abele learned the trade of a puddler and
followed it in his own country until his twenty-first year,
when he came to America. He worked one year in the
rolling mills at Allentown, Pennsylvania, and was employed
for two years by the Cambria Iron and Steel Company at
Johnstown, Pennsylvania. In 1873 M. Abele
located at Akron, Ohio, and the next twenty-three years
were spent with the Akron Iron Company, where he rendered
faithful service in the capacity of puddler. Mr.
Abele left the employ of this company in 1896, and for
six years thereafter cultivated a 20 acres tract of land in
Portage Township, Summit County, Ohio, but at the end of
this time purchased his present property, which was the old
Edward Roepke farm, from John Rice, and here
he has carried on agricultural pursuits to the present time.
Mr. Abele's farm, which is one of the largest in this
section of Portage Township, has been brought to a high
state of cultivation. He also conducts the Akron
Garbage Route.
In 1875, in Akron, Mr. Abele was married to
Agatha Treitingar, who was born at Akron, Ohio, and is a
daughter of Caspar Treitingar. Seven children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Abele, namely:
John, Joseph, Frank, William, Clara, Albert and Annie.
Mr. Abele with his family, attends the German
Catholic Church.
†
Source: Centennial History of Summit County, Ohio and Representative
Citizens - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. - Chicago,
Ill. - 1908 - Page
970 |
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F. H. ADAMS,* cashier of the
First National Bank of Akron, has been identified with this
financial institution for a long period and for the past
eleven years has filled the responsible office of cashier.
Mr. Adams was born at Akron, Summit County, Ohio, in
1866, and is a son of Frank Adams, who came to Akron
as early as 1838 and who still survives, being a
representative pioneer citizen.
F. H. Adams was reared in this city, where his
father was one of the early manufacturers, and his education
was secured in the excellent schools for which Akron has an
established reputation. After leaving school, the
young man went to Mexico, where he remained for one year
interested in mining. He returned to Akron for a short
time and then became connected with a large manufacturing
concern at Fort Wayne, where he remained for two years.
He then returned to Akron in order to become bookkeeper in
the First National Bank, with which he has been associated
ever since. He is interested also in other
prospering enterprises at Akron and is recognized as one of
the city's able business men. In 1891, Mr. Adams
was married to Frances Robinson, who is a daughter of
William Robinson, who was the pioneer manufacturer of
sewer pipe at Akron. Mr. and Mrs. Adams are
members of the First Presbyterian Church of this city.
His social corrections include membership in the Portage
Country club.
† Source: Centennial History of Summit County, Ohio and Representative
Citizens - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. - Chicago,
Ill. - 1908 - Page 1112 |
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ALBERT ALLEN
was long one of the leading and successful business men of
Akron. He was born Mar. 12, 1827, in Coventry
Township, Summit County, Ohio, and was a son of Levi and
Phebe (Spicer) Allen. The
parents of Mr. Allen had settled in Coventry
Township in 1811 and he gre up amid pioneer surroundings.
Instead of turning his attention to agricultural pursuits
when he reached his majority, he learned the millwright's
trade and worked at the same for nine years. In 1856
he was given the contract for converting the old Perkins
woolen mill into a flouring mill and when it was completed
he was retained in the employ of the firm of Perkins
& Company. Later, in partnership with Alexander H.
Commins, he bought the Stone mill, and under the firm
name of Commins & Allen a large amount of
business was done. Mr. Commins died in
1880, leaving his entire estate in the hands of Albert
Allen, his will being such that Mr. Allen
had the disposition of till the property without bonds.
The firm name of Commins & Allen was continued
until the business was merged into the F. Schumacher
Milling Company, in 1886. Mr. Allen
became vice-president of this company and one of its
directors and continued his interest until his death, which
occurred Sept. 25, 1888, when he was over sixty-one years of
age.
Mr. Allen never married. His only
sister, Cynthia Allen, cared for his home, and
young life was introduced in the person of his niece,
Minnie E. Allen, who subsequently became the wife of
Henry M. Stone, now a resident of Denver, Colorado. At
the time of his death, Mr. Allen's large
estate was shown and its wise provisions made public.
To his devoted sister was given a large portion, while
educational institutions and religious bodies were
remembered with the justice of a conscientious man.
Like all other members of his family, he was devoted to the
interests of the Disciples Church.
†
Source: Centennial History of Summit County, Ohio and Representative
Citizens - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. - Chicago,
Ill. - 1908 - Page 764 |
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ARTHUR HARPER ALLEN,
a well-known resident of Cuyahoga Falls, now living retired
in his pleasant home on Sackett Street, was born at Pond
Creek, Bureau county, Illinois, Aug. 18, 1856, and is a son
of Robert Henry and Mary Phylura (Cochran) Allen.
The Allen family in
Summit County, came from Scotch and Irish ancestors.
John Allen, the great-grandfather of Andrew H.,
was born in County Antrim, Ireland, where he died, leaving a
family of six children. George Allen, his third
son, born in County Antrim, in 1799, married Elizabeth
Harper, and they came to America in 1832, settling first
at Lee, Massachusetts, and in 1836, coming to Cuyahoga
Falls, Ohio. He followed paper making almost all his
active life. He was a man of great industry and
prudence and invested in land in Summit County, which became
very valuable, a part of his eighty-acres farm being now
included in the city of Cuyahoga Falls. He had ten
children, namely: Jane, Andrew H., John M., Robert H.,
William A., George L., Julia, Mary Alexander and the
first Mary, who died in infancy while the family was
crossing the Atlantic ocean.
Robert Henry Allen, father of Andrew H.,
was born Dec. 25, 1832, at Lee, Massachusetts, and came to
Cuyahoga Falls with his father, in 1836. For twenty
years after reaching maturity he was engaged in the
carriage-making trade at Cuyahoga Falls, but in 1874 he
moved to a farm which was situated in Stow Township, on
which he lived until 1882. He then moved to Akron,
where he resumed work at his trade of carriage manufacture,
but one year later he discontinued it, and bought a farm of
170 acres in Stow Township, to which he moved. He now
turned his attention to acquiring land and continued to add
one parcel to another until his possessions aggregate 600
acres. He was a man of exceptional business faculty,
but he gained his ample fortune without dishonesty, mainly
through his steady perseverance and frugality.
On Oct. 5, 1855, Mr. Allen married Mary
Phylura Cochran, who was born at Cuyahoga Fals, July 18,
1837, a daughter of John M. and Jane (Semple) Cochran.
Both the Cochran and the Semples were old
colonial families of Scotch-Irish lineage that had
generations of honest ancestors behind them. John
M. Cochran was born in 1775, at Calcutta, Ohio, and in
1814 was married to Jane Semple, who was born in
County Tyrone, Ireland, but who had been reared in Beaver
County, Pennsylvania, where her father, James Semple
had settled, being an early teacher in that locality.
The children of Robert Henry and Mary P. Allen were:
Andrew H., Maria, William A. and Arthur M. Mrs.
Allen is a consistent member of the Episcopal Church,
Mr. Allen was identified with the Republican party,
and was one of its founders in Summit County. He died
May 5, 1902, aged sixty-nine years.
Andrew Harper Allen's parents resided only one
year at Pond Creek, moving then to Cuyahoga Falls, where he
was reared and educated. After completing the High
School course, he learned the trade of wagon-maker with his
father and uncle. After finishing his apprenticeship
with the firm of W. A. Allen & Company, he was
married and moved to Lafayette, Indiana, where he worked for
about a year. He was then in partnership with John
Spafford, at Akron, for a year, and for anothe year with
John Agne, under the firm name of Allen & Agne,
doing business enough to encourage him to organize the
Allen Wagon Company. This enterprise was entirely
successful and Mr. Allen carried it on for some yeas,
giving employment to thirty people in his works. After
disposing of his interests in this concern, in partnership
with his father he purchased the old Galloway farm,
and on it was engaged in general farming and dairying for
five years. After retiring from the farm Mr. Allen
went to the Goodrich Rubber Company as a millwright and
pattern-maker, where he continued for five years. He
then started a pattern shop of his own, at Cuyahoga Falls,
which he continued to operate, with two assistants, until
the spring of 1907. Mr. Allen then
retired from active business life, being able to look back
over a useful life, being able to look back over a useful
and prosperous career of many years.
Mr. Allen was married, first, to Ora Warner,
who was a daughter of William Warner, of Mogadore.
She died in 1897, aged thirty-seven years. Her three
surviving children are: Walter M., residing at
Akron; Edna Grace, who married E. O. Hale,
residing at Akron, and S. Blanche, who married F.
F. Bingham, and resides at Bedford, Indiana.
Mr. Allen was married, second, to Emma F. Willgohs,
of Doylestown. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are
members of the Episcopal Church. In political
sentiment, Mr. Allen is a Democrat. He
has been identified with much of the development of Cuyahoga
Falls, at all times performing his full duty to the
community as becomes a worthy citizen.
†
Source: Centennial History of Summit County, Ohio and Representative
Citizens - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. - Chicago,
Ill. - 1908 - Page 408 |
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ARTHUR M. ALLEN,
residing on his fine farm of 235 acres, situated in Stow
Township, where he carries on general farming and dairying,
is one of the substantial and leading citizens of this
section. He was born at Cuyahoga Falls, Oct. 18, 1875,
and is a son of Robert H. and Mary R. (Cochrane) Allen.
George Allen, the grandfather of Arthur M.,
was born in County Antrim, Ireland. He married
Elizabeth Harper, and with his wife and three children,
came to America and settled at Lee, Massachusetts, removing
later to Cuyahoga Falls. He He followed the trade of
paper-making to within a few years of his death, when he
moved on a farm near the Falls, which is now largely built
over. Both he and his wife were members of the
Episcopal Church.
Robert H. Allen was born at Lee, Massachusetts,
Dec. 25, 1832, and was still an infant when his parents came
to Cuyahoga Falls, where he was reared. During boyhood
he worked in the paper mills. He subsequently learned
the trade of wagon-maker, and in partnership with his
brother, W. A. A. Allen, was engaged for many years
in the manufacturing business under the firm name of R.
H. Allen & Company. About 1887, he bought 640
acres of land in Stow Township, and settled on a part of it,
where he engaged in extensive farming, cattle-raising and
dairying. He had large business dealings with his
fellow-citizens, and enjoyed their confidence and esteem.
Though he was no politician, he took an intelligent interest
in good local government. For a number of years he was
a member of Star Lodge, No. 187, F. & A. M., Cuyahoga Falls.
In early manhood Robert H. Allen married Mary
B. Cochrane, who is a daughter of John M. Cochrane,
of Cuyahoga Falls. She was born July 18, 1837, and
still survives, residing with her son, Arthur M.
Her parents were John M. and Jane (Sample) Cochrane,
the former of whom came to Cuyahoga Falls from Calcutta,
Columbiana County, Ohio, and conducted a blacksmith
business. Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Allen had four
children, three of whom survive, namely: Andrew
Harper, residing at Cuyahoga Falls; William A.,
residing in Stow Township; and Arthur M. Robert H.
Allen died May 14, 1902.
Arthur M. Allen was reared on the home farm and
was educated in the public schools of Cuyahoga Falls and at
Hudson Academy. At the time of his father's death, he
received 235 acres, 150 of which he has under cultivation.
He continues the dairying interests in which his father was
engaged, keeping about forty head of cattle, and ships his
milk to Cleveland. He raises his own hay and feed, and
he is also interested in threshing and baling hay, doing a
large amount of work of this kind throughout the county,
keeping three men constantly employed. He is a member
of the board of directors of the Springdale Horse Company,
the syndicate that owns the $3,000 Belgian stallion,
Toto. Mr. Allen is intimately concerned
with all agricultural interests in his locality and is
looked on as a man of business enterprise and sound
judgment. Mr. Allen was married to Mertie
Best, who was born in Northampton Township, Summit
County, and is a daughter of Henry Best. They
have one daughter, Mildred E. Potentially
Mr. Allen is a Republican.
†
Source: Centennial History of Summit County, Ohio and Representative
Citizens - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. - Chicago,
Ill. - 1908 - Page 805 |
| |
GEORGE G. ALLEN,
attorney, of Akron, member of the law firm of
Allen, Waters, Young and Andress,
was born in Granger, Medina County, Ohio, Aug. 26, 1855.
He was graduated from the Akron High school in 1873, and
began the study of law in the offices of John J. Hall
and Edward Oviatt. He then took six months'
course in the law department of Michigan University, at Ann
Arbor, and was admitted to the bar at Akron in August, 1876.
He began practice in association with Edward Oviatt
under the firm name of Oviatt and Allen, and has
since built up a very successful practice. He has
taken an active part also in business and public affairs,
and in 1883 was for a short time acting mayor of Akron.
†
Source: Centennial History of Summit County, Ohio and Representative
Citizens - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. - Chicago,
Ill. - 1908 - Page 318 |
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I. F. ALLEN
vice president and treasurer of the R. & A. Supply Company,
wholesale and retail dealers in hardware, located at No. 66
South Howard Street, is also vice president and secretary of
another large business enterprise of Akron, the Jahant
Heating Company. He was born in 1868, in Summit
County, Ohio, and is a son of John Allen, a
retired resident of Akron. Mr. Allen's
father was born in 1829, on the same farm in Summit County
on which his son was burn thirty-nine years later. He
is a son of Jonah Allen, who came to this
section of Ohio from Connecticut in 1811. The family
is one of the most respected and substantial ones of the
county.
After completing his education, which included a full
commercial course at Hammel's Business College, I.
F. Allen went to Cleveland, and for seven years was
connected with the George Worthington Hardware
Company, of that city. In 1891 he came back to Akron
and bought the interest of Mr. Williams in the
hardware firm of Williams & Rohrbacher, the
firm of Rohrbacher & Allen being then
established. In October, 1907, the business was incorporated
as the R. & A. Supply Company with a capital stock of
$50,000. The officers are: A. C. Rohrbacher,
president; I. F. Allen, vice president and treasurer,
and Mr. Hawkins, secretary. The members of the firm
are all practical hardware men and the business is one which
extends over a wide extent and does a large amount of annual
trading.
In 1891 Mr. Allen was married to Eva May
Geddes, of Cleveland, and they have one child,
Clifford I., who is a bright student in the Akron public
schools. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are members of the
First Church of Christ, Akron. Fraternally, Mr.
Allen is a Knight Templar Mason, affiliated with the
Masonic club, also an Odd Fellow.
†
Source: Centennial History of Summit County, Ohio and Representative
Citizens - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. - Chicago,
Ill. - 1908 - Page 598 |
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LEVI ALLEN - See
Miner Jesse Allen
†
Source:
Centennial History of Summit County, Ohio and Representative
Citizens - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. - Chicago,
Ill. - 1908 - Page 391 |
| |
LEVI ALLEN,
formerly for many years a well-known and highly respected
citizen of Akron, and a worthy representative of several of
the old and honored families, not only of this section of
Ohio, but also of New England, was born Feb. 10, 1799, in
Tompkins County, New York, and was a son of Jesse and
Catherine (Fiethrick) Allen.
Jesse Allen,
father of Levi, was born at Cornwall, Litchfield
County, Connecticut, in 1770. He was still in young
manhood when he went to Tompkins County, New York, where he
was married, in 1897, to Catherine Fiethrick, who was
born at Trenton, New Jersey, in 1776, of Holland ancestry.
Jesse Allen followed farming and shoemaking until
July, 1811, when he came to Ohio, traveling in a covered
wagon and bringing along cattle and sheep with which to
stock the new farm in the wilderness. He bought land
in Coventry Township, Summit County, and here developed a
valuable farm on which he died Sept. 12, 1837. He
served in the War of 1812 under Maj. Miner Spicer.
He was a consistent member of the Baptist church, and in the
early days, when the visits of the pioneer preachers were
necessarily few and far between, he opened his log house to
his neighbors and kept religious feeling alive. His
ten children were: Jonah, deceased, whose wife was
Cynthia Spicer; Levi; David, who married Beulah
Jones; Jacob, who married Catherine Van Sickle; John;
Jesse; Catherine, who married Mills Thompson; Sarah,
who married James M. Hale; Hiram; and
Christiana, who married Charles Caldwell.
Levi Allen was just twelve years old when his
parents and other relatives came to Summit county, Ohio, and
in the exodus from the Eastern home it fell to his lot to
drive cattle and sheep over the long route. Until his
majority he remained assisting his father, but when his own
marriage too place or was in contemplation, he purchased
land of his own in Coventry Township, on which he resided
until 1868, when he retired to Akron, where the rest of his
life was passed, his death occurring May 11, 1887.
On Dec. 10, 1823, Levi Allen was married to
Phebe Spicer, who was a daughter of Major Miner and
Cynthia (Allyn) Spicer, and who died Jan. 10, 1879.
Major Miner Spicer was born May 29, 1776, and in 1798
married Cynthia Allyn, who died Sept. 10, 1828.
In the following year he was married (second) to Mrs.
Hannah (Allyn) Williams, a sister of his first wife and
the widow of Barnabas Williams. Major Spicer
served as a commander of militia during the War of 1812.
He came to Summit County prospecting, in 1812. He came
to Summit County prospecting in 1810, bought 260 acres of
land in Portage Township and established his family on it in
1811. He was a prominent man in all the affairs of
Portage Township, and died Sept. 11, 1855.
The mother of Mrs. Levi Allen was a daughter of
Ephraim and Temperance (Morgan) Allyn, the latter of
whom was a daughter of Captain Williams and Temperance
(Avery) Morgan. These are old New England families
of Welsh extraction. Captain William Morgan was
a son of William and Mary (Avery) Morgan, the former
of whom was a son of John and Elizabeth (Jones) Morgan,
the latter of whom was a daughter of Lieutenant
Governor Jones, who was governor of the New Haven
Colony. The Morgans, also of Wales, were
Puritans and from this same family came Edward D. Morgan,
who became governor of the State of New York.
Temperance Avery, wife of Captain William Morgan,
was a daughter of Colonel Christopher and Prudence
(Payson) Avery, and a granddaughter of James and
Deborah (Stellyon) Avery. Captain William Morgan
served under Colonel Parsons during several years of
the Revolutionary War.
Levi Allen and wife had six children, as
follows: Levi, Miner S., Albert, Miner J.,
Walter S. and Cynthia.
†
Source:
Centennial History of Summit County, Ohio and Representative
Citizens - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. - Chicago,
Ill. - 1908 - Page 678 |
| |
JESSE ALLEN - See
Miner Jesse Allen
†
Source:
Centennial History of Summit County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens - Publ. by Biographical Publishing
Co. - Chicago, Ill. - 1908 - Page 391 |
Miner Jesse Allen |
MINER JESSE ALLEN,
prominently identified with the American Cereal Company, is
one of Akron's substantial citizens whose large interests
make him a notable factor in its business life. Mr.
Allen was born Nov. 11, 1829, in Coventry Township,
Summit County, Ohio, and is a son of
Levi and Phebe
(Spicer) Allen.
JESSE ALLEN, the paternal grandfather of
Miner J., was born in 1770, in Litchfield County,
Connecticut, and came to Ohio in 1811, purchasing a large
tract of wild land in Coventry Township, Summit County.
He reared a family of ten children. The material
grandfather, Major Miner Spicer, was also a native of
Litchfield County, Connecticut, and came on horseback to
Summit County, Ohio, in 1810, buying 260 acres of land in
what is now Portage Township. He settled here with his
family in 1811. During the War of 1812 he served as
major of militia. Major Spicer married
Cynthia Allyn, who traced her ancestry back to
Lieutenant Governor Jones, who was the first governor of
the New Haven Colony.
LEVI ALLEN was born Feb. 10, 1799, in Tompkins
County, New York, and was the second child of his parents.
He was twelve years of age when he walked from there to
Coventry Township, Summit County, Ohio, driving the cattle
and sheep with which his father proposed to stock the new
farm. He assisted in clearing and developing the land
until his majority, when he purchased land for himself on
which he resided until 1868. He then retired to Akron,
where he died May 11, 1887. On Dec. 10, 1823, he was
married to Phebe Spicer, who was a daughter of
Major Miner and Cynthia (Allyn) Spicer, and they had the
following children: Levi, Miner S., Albert, Miner
J., Walter S. and Cynthia. Mrs. Levi Allen
died Jan. 10, 1879.
Miner J. Allen, the direct subject of this
sketch, was engaged in farming in Coventry Township, where
he was reared and educated, until 1867, when he came to
Akron to assume the duties of local, and also traveling,
grain buyer for the firm of Commins & Allen.
In 1884 he invested in a one-fifth interest in the Akron
Milling Company, which was merged two years later into the
F. Schumacher Milling Company. Later this
organization was merged into the American Cereal Company,
and Mr. Allen is still connected with this great
corporation, being one of its directors.
Mr. Allen was married June 1, 1876, to
Frances C. De Wolf, a daughter of Samuel and Margaret
(King) De Wolf, of Trumbull County, Ohio. Mrs.
Allen's grandparents were Joseph and Sarah (Gibbons)
De Wolf, the former of whom was a Revolutionary soldier.
Mrs. Allen can trace a clear ancestral line to
early colonial days, members of her family residing at
Wethersfield, Connecticut, as early as 1664. Mr. and
Mrs. Allen have five children, namely: Albert Mark,
Miner
W., Margaret P., Christine C., and Frances De Wolf. The
family home is at No. 30 Bowery Street. Mr. and Mrs. Allen
are members of the First Disciples' Church at Akron. They
have always evinced a deep interest in educational matters,
and Mrs. Allen was one of the first two ladies to be elected
a member of the Akron Board of Education. In earlier years
Mr. Allen was interested in politics, but since taking up
his residence at Akron he has been too closely engaged in
business to give much time to political affairs. His public
spirit, however, has often been proved and he stands high in
the estimation of his fellow citizens.
†
Source:
Centennial History of Summit County, Ohio and Representative
Citizens - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. - Chicago,
Ill. - 1908 - Page 391 |
| |
ROBERT H. ALLEN - See
ARTHUR M. ALLEN
†
Source:
Centennial History of Summit County, Ohio and Representative
Citizens - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. - Chicago,
Ill. - 1908 - Page 408 |
| |
W. G. ALLEN general
manager of the Niagara Fire Extinguisher Company, with
offices in the Hamilton Building, Akron, is one of the
city's capable business men, and has been a resident here
since 1900. He was born at Dundee, Michigan, in 1872,
and was reared and educated in his native state.
During almost the whole of his business life, he has been in
his present line of business. For fourteen years he
was connected with the Automatic Sprinkler Company, of
Chicago, as department manager, leaving there in 1900, in
order to become general manager of the Niagara Fire
Extinguisher Company, at Akron, where the company has a
factory for the manufacture of automatic sprinkling
appliances. The output of this factory is of standard
excellence and the sale of the company's goods, under Mr.
Allen's progressive business methods, is constantly
increasing.
In 1897 Mr. Allen was married to
Jessie D. Bryden, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and they have
one child, Jeanette M. Mr. Allen is a man of
social tastes and belongs to all of Akron's exclusive clubs.
†
Source:
Centennial History of Summit County, Ohio and Representative
Citizens - Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. - Chicago,
Ill. - 1908 - Page 632 |
|
