OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List Issue 344 *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 00 : Issue 344 Today's Topics: #1 Bios: Hamilton county (Fitzgerald, [christina m hursh To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <20001115.172301.-288623.1.frog158@juno.com> Subject: Bios: Hamilton county (Fitzgerald, Fleischmann, Ford, Foster, Francis) Content-Type: text/plain MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by clmboh1-smtp2.columbus.rr.com id VAA03080 The Fitzgerald Brothers' Company Cincinnati, The Queen City, Vol. 3; published in 1912 Transcribed by: Michelle Leslie The Fitzgerald Brothers' Company, of Cincinnati, grain and hay commission merchants, is the outgrowth of a partnership known as The Fitzgerald Brothers, which was established June 1, 1910. The company was incorporated the following November with E. A. Fitzgerald as president, and R. S. Fitzgerald as secretary and treasurer. The sales are made on the floor of the exchange and the company is one of the responsible and flourishing organizations identified with that body. E. A. Fitzgerald, the elder of the brothers, was born in Cincinnati in 1872 and is a son of Stephen and Maria (Guerin) Fitzgerald, the former of whom was a native of Canada. The father came to Cincinnati and was for many years identified with the dry-goods business in this city. He died at the age of fifty-one, in 1894. The son E. A. was educated in the public schools. He entered the service of the claim department of the Big Four Railroad when he was sixteen years of age. Subsequently he gave up railway employment and became connected with the grain firm of Peter Van Leunen. Since 1910 he has given his attention to the grain and hay commission business. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and also of the Elberon Country Club. In 1907 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Mongan, a daughter of Terrance Mongan, of this city. She was for several years a successful teacher in the public schools and is a lady of fine education and many admirable traits of character. R. S. Fitzgerald, the younger of the Fitzgerald brothers, is also a native of Cincinnati. He was born December 18, 1882, and in the public schools received his preliminary education. Like his brother, he gained his first knowledge of practical business affairs in the claim department of the Big Four Railway and continued with that road until 1906. After retiring from the railway service he was employed by the Gale Brothers Company, grain dealers, and continued with the firm for about four years. Since June, 1910, he has been connected with the grain and hay commission business. He is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and also of the Elberon Country Club. The Fitzgerald brothers early became acquainted with the railway business and also gained a thorough knowledge of the grain business. As commission men they find themselves in a congenial field for which they were well prepared by years of experience. Possessing attractive personal characteristics and sound business judgment, their success from the start has been assured, and there is every reason to prophesy for the company which they represent a steady increase in prosperity as the years pass. -------- Hon. Julius Fleischmann Cincinnati, The Queen City, Vol. 3; published in 1912 Transcribed by: Michelle Leslie Hon. Julius Fleischmann, mayor of Cincinnati, politician, business man, financier, sportsman and club man, is a remarkable composition of all the characteristics which make up what Americans delight to call their representative citizen. What is also remarkable in the case of Mayor Fleischmann is that in all these various circles he is equally at home, eminent in each. Julius Fleischmann bears an honorable name in Cincinnati, his father, the venerable philanthropist as well as business man, having long been one of the city's most esteemed citizens. His birth took place at Riverside, now a part of the city of Cincinnati, June 8, 1872, and he is a son of Charles and Henrietta (Robertson) Fleischmann. The educational training of our subject was obtained in the Cincinnati public schools, for three years being a pupil at Hughes high school. At the age of fifteen he left the latter to take a preparatory course in the Franklin school, intending to enter a university, but one year later decided to begin his business career under his father's supervision. The wisdom of the latter's methods has been shown by the son's commercial success and to these methods Mayor Fleischmann attributes his present financial condition. In 1889 he entered the establishment of Fleischmann and Company in the capacity of a clerk and displayed enough ability to satisfy even his exacting father, so that in a very few years he assumed the entire management of the vast business. Mayor Fleischmann is not only the active head of all the Fleischmann interests, one of the largest unincorporated business enterprises in the country, but he holds many other responsible positions. He is president of the Market National Bank, of Cincinnati; president of the College of Music, of Cincinnati; president of the Union Grain and Hay Company; president of the Riverside Malting and Elevator Company; president of the Illinois Vinegar Manufacturing Company of Chicago, which is capitalized at one hundred thousand dollars, and ranks as the largest concern of its kind in the country; one of the governors of the Queen City Club; a prominent member of the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce; and a member of the Manufacturer's Club, Business Men's Club, Commercial Club, Walnut Hills Business Men's Club, Phoenix Club, Country Club, Riding Club, Young Men's Blain Club, Stamina Republican League and the North Cincinnati Turnverein. He is a member of Avon Lodge, No. 542, F. & A. M., and is a thirty-second degree Mason and a Shriner. He is also a member of the Royal Arcanum, Knights of Pythias, Elks and a large number of social organizations. In addition to his other business interests, he is vice-president of the C. N. & C. Railroad Company, which is the only quasi-public corporation with which he is connected, having sold all of his stock in the Cincinnati gas and street railway companies when he accepted the mayoralty. As a sportsman Mayor Fleischmann was, up to a few years ago, well known through the country, having maintained for several years a large racing stable in the east. In his turf interests he was a close associate of the late William C. Whitney and August Belmont and his stable was always rated as one of the best in the country, such notable horses as "Halma," "Hurstburn," "Africander," "St. Daniel" and "Wax Candle" having raced in his colors. Mr. Fleischmann also sent each year a division of his stable to Latonia, where he established the "Cincinnati Trophy" for two-year-olds, a magnificent silver cup. Because of the demands of his gigantic business interests, however, Mr. Fleischmann was compelled to dispose of his stable during the season of 1903. Mr. Fleischmann owns the yacht "Hiawatha" acknowledged to be one of the fleetest and most attractive boats in eastern waters. He is one of the principal owners of the Cincinnati Baseball Club and a member of the New York and Atlantic Yacht Clubs. He is an all-round athlete and has a life membership in the Cincinnati Gymnasium. He delights in driving and riding and even gives some attention to golf. From his days of early manhood, Mayor Fleischmann has taken a deep interest in the success of the republican party, and in 1894 he succeeded his father as aide-de-camp on the staff of Governor McKinley. Since his election as mayor of Cincinnati in 1900, and his reelection, in 1903, he has displayed the same executive ability in the discharge of public duties which has characterized him in the management of his private affairs and he was the most popular mayor with all classes that the city ever had. That his heart is in the improvement and development of this city, can scarcely be questioned by those who have conversed or consulted with him or have given attention to his public utterances. At no time in the history of Cincinnati were the railroads given more encouragement than when Mayor Fleischmann assumed municipal charge, it being his view that plenty of transportation facilities are of the greatest encouragement to business. It is a fact known to the whole country that the police department of Cincinnati excels that of every other great city in the United States. His attitude toward educational institutions of every kind is so well known that in this city may be found, since his administration began, schools of all kinds for special work gaining a foothold and assisting in making Cincinnati a center of culture. In a very timely message to the city council, Mayor Fleischmann gave publicity to his views in these concluding paragraphs: "Cincinnati's economical and progressive administration is of the vastest importance in bringing new enterprises to the city, and in advancing the interests which for so many years have made Cincinnati so justly famed for her commercial soundness and integrity. It is to the city which is well governed, and whose financial interests are managed as a prudent business man would care for his private investments, that capital is attracted." The era of municipal improvement which has ensued since the first election of Mayor Fleischmann testifies to the soundness of this views and to the sincerity of his promises. On April 8, 1893, Mr. Fleischmann was married to Lillie Ackerland, who is a daughter of A. and Louise Ackerland, a charming and talented lady whom he had known from childhood. Three children have been born to them, namely, Louise, Charles and Julius, Jr. ---------- Thomas Ford Cincinnati, The Queen City, Vol. 3; published in 1912 Transcribed by: Michelle Leslie Thomas Ford, president of the Bourbon Copper and Brass Works Company of Cincinnati, is one of the well known manufacturers of the city, having been identified with the manufacturing business in Cincinnati ever since his boyhood. He is a native of Mount Savage, Maryland, born October 11, 1846. His parents were Owen and Mary (Nealon) Ford, both of whom were born in Ireland. They came to America early in their lives and were married at Carbondale, Pennsylvania. The father was a butcher by trade. He removed to Cincinnati with his family in 1852 and there engaged as a contractor. He furnished boulders for street paving. There were four children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ford, the subject of this review being next to the youngest in order of birth and the only one now living. He gained the rudiments of an education in the public schools of Newport, and soon after leaving school the war broke out and, like thousands of patriotic young men, he offered his services in support of the federal government. He was connected with the supply department at Covington, Kentucky, under Captain Webster, General Frye being in command at Camp Nelson. Later he joined the Twenty-third Corps under General Schofield and marched to meet the army of General Sherman but was captured by the confederates in April 1865. Soon afterwards he was paroled at Monroe, North Carolina. Subsequently he was enabled to join his old corps. After receiving his honorable discharge from the army Mr. Ford, on August 9, 1866, entered the employ of Robson & Company, brass founders and coppersmiths, remaining with that concern, working on and off with Samuel Cummings & Sons, a firm that was established at Cincinnati in 1818, and built the first hand fire engine used by a volunteer fire department west of the Allegheny Mountains. This firm also manufactured fire plugs and made fire plugs for Cincinnati in the early days when wooden pipes were used. About 1874 or 1875 Mr. Ford associated with John G. Hetch, John G. Ellerhorst and Peter M. Bardo under the title o the Bourbon Copper and Brass Works and purchased the plant of Samuel Cummings & Sons. The purchasers had all been employes of the old firm and they carried forward the business successfully until 1891 when Mr. Ford and Mr. Bardo bought out the other partners. About 1904 the business was incorporated as the Bourbon Copper and Brass Works Company, with Mr. Ford as president and Mr. Bardo as secretary and treasurer, the capital stock being fifty thousand dollars, all of which was paid in. The company employs about fifty persons, many of whom are thoroughly skilled workmen, and manufactures fire plugs, gate valves for water and steam and waterworks and fire department supplies, this company being now one of the most important concerns of the kind in the west. On November 15, 1870, Mr. Ford was married to Miss Mary Dowd, a daughter of Thomas A. and Bridget Dowd of Newport, Kentucky. To them five children have been born, Peter, James, Catherine, Louise and Genevieve. Mr. Ford is a member of Lodge No. 73, B. P. O. E., of Newport, and has served as trustee of this organization. In religious faith he is a Catholic and he and his family are consistent members of Father McNearney's church at Newport. He has never taken particular interest in politics. A man of broad views, his mind having been broadened early in life by contact with the world, especially at the crucial time of the Civil war, he has been forceful and energetic in his business management and has attained success that is richly merited. Courteous and obliging by nature, he has won the honor and respect of his associates and of his employes, and he can look back on a long life in the course of which he accomplished not a little in lightening the burdens of his fellowmen. ------- Seth Cutter Foster Cincinnati, The Queen City, Vol. 3; published in 1912 Transcribed by: Michelle Leslie Seth Cutter Foster, president of the Stearns & Foster Company, with offices at Nos. 118-120 East Canal street, Cincinnati, may justly be regarded as one of the remarkable business men of the city. Although he has passed the eighty-eighth anniversary of his birth he is to be found at his office almost every working day and directs the affairs of the great establishment with the ease and facility of a man many years his junior. He was born on a farm in Boone county, Kentucky, October 6, 1823, a son of Samuel Foster, who was born in England and emigrated to America in his young manhood. After living for a short time in Boston he came to Cincinnati and was here married to Miss Susanna Cutter, a daughter of Seth Cutter. Mr. Cutter came from Charlestown, Massachusetts, to Cincinnati with his family about 1780 and here established his permanent home. In 1810 Mr. Foster, Sr., moved to Boone county, Kentucky, where he acquired a homestead, devoting his attention to agriculture. At the age of sixteen years, in 1830 Seth C. Foster bade farewell to his parents and came to Cincinnati where he secured a position in the store of Albert and Henry Lewis. He began in a humble capacity, his duties consisting in sweeping out the store, dusting off the goods and running errands. He applied himself with such diligence, however, that in a short time he was advanced to a more responsible position and made his acquaintance of Dr. Ray, the famous educator and the compiler of Ray's arithmetics which were familiar to American boys in generations past. Having been reared in the backwoods of Kentucky the aspiring dry-goods clerk had possessed very limited opportunities of education. Dr. Ray was a man of large heart and great sympathy for struggling youths and he suggested a night school, saying that he knew of a few boys who might take advantage of instruction under such circumstances and perhaps his young friend knew of others. The result was the establishment of a night school at the Woodward school building where Dr. Ray gave lessons in writing, arithmetic and bookkeeping. This was the first night school west of the Allegheny mountains and it was in successful operation for two years, many of the young men there being awakened to a realization of larger possibilities which changed the whole tenor of their lives. One of the most studious of the pupils was Seth C. Foster. He made rapid advancement and during the second year of the school learned bookkeeping and also was promoted to a more lucrative position in the store. Later he was employed in an establishment on Main street and made the acquaintance of George S. Stearns who had been engaged in the manufacture of printers' ink on Liberty street and being naturally mechanical, was experimenting at this time in the manufacture of cotton wadding and other cotton goods. As Mr. Foster was selling cotton goods over the counter, he suggested to Mr. Stearns that he could find a market for the goods the latter was manufacturing and, accordingly, they associated in the manufacture of cotton goods with a capital of three thousand dollars, giving employment to six persons. Their factory was located at the corner of Clay and Liberty streets and they continued at that place about fifteen years, when they moved to Lockland, still retaining offices in Cincinnati. The Stearns and Foster Company is now a large corporation with capital stock of one million, five hundred thousand dollars and one of the most completely appointed manufacturing plants in America, all of which has grown out of the modest beginning at Clay and Liberty streets. The company manufactures black and white wadding, cotton felt mattresses and batting and its products are sold in all the principal commercial centers of America. Two of Mr. Foster's sons have been prominently connected with the company. These sons were twins. Joseph was secretary of the company at the time of his death, which occurred in 1906, and William R. has been actively connected with it ever since he began his business career. The officers are: Seth C. Foster, president; William S. Stearns, vice president; Edwin R. Stearns, treasurer; and William R. Foster, secretary. Mr. Foster of this review has resided at Clifton for many years and is a member of the Calvary Episcopal church of that suburb. He is a true adherent to the republican party and cast his first vote for James C. Birney, abolition candidate for president; he holds membership in the Queen City Club, of which he is one of the charter members. From his boyhood active, alert and clear-headed in business affairs, he possessed the very desirable ability of recognizing opportunities and utilizing them to his own advantage and that of his associates. He was endowed by worthy parents with courage and perseverance and his success may largely be ascribed to these important elements. As a manufacturer his name is widely known and his methods have been such as to inspire the confidence and respect even of his competitors. It is with pleasure that his record is herewith presented of one who is eminently worthy of a place among the leading men of Hamilton county. ------- Robin William Cummins Francis, B.A., M.D. Cincinnati, The Queen City, Vol. 3; published in 1912 Transcribed by: Michelle Leslie A Princeton man, Dr. Francis used his college course as the basis for professional knowledge and upon that foundation has builded his success. Today he is practicing in Cincinnati as a physician and surgeon and has also done much valuable hospital work. His birth occurred in the vicinity of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on the 10th of January, 1871, his parents being the Rev. John Junkin and Louise C. (Cummins) Francis. His father, who was born near Pittsburgh in the town of New Wilmington, was educated at Westminster College and in the Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny. Later the degree of D. D. was conferred upon him and his life has been devoted to the work of the ministry. He became pastor of the Central Presbyterian church in Cincinnati and remained here for an extended period, or until 1908, when he removed to Churchville, New York, where he is now located. His wife was daughter of Samuel P. Cummins, one of the best known surgeons of western Pennsylvania. In the father's family were two children: Dr. Francis, of this review; and Nellie C., who is at home with her father. Brought to Cincinnati by his parents during his boyhood days, Dr. Francis attended the public schools until graduated from Woodward high school with the class of 1891. He afterward entered Princeton University and completed the literary course in 1895, when the Bachelor of Arts degree was conferred upon him. His professional training was received in the Medical College of Ohio from which he was graduated in 1898 and he then put his knowledge to the practical test by serving as interne in Good Samaritan Hospital for a year. This brought him wide and valuable experience, with which he entered upon general practice at No. 534 West Seventh street, eleven years ago. He is now located at Hyde Park and has made an excellent record as one of the capable physicians of his section of the city. For ten years he has been lecturer and demonstrator of anatomy, serving from 1900 until 1909, inclusive. He keeps in close touch with several professional societies including the Cincinnati Academy of Medicine, the Ohio State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He also belongs to the Cincinnati chapter of the Alumni Association of the Ohio Medical Society, of which he was one of the founders. Dr. Francis was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Schellinger, a daughter of William C. Schellinger, of Chicago, and they now have one child, Gwendolyn. Dr. Francis is a member of the Hyde Park Methodist church and is much interested in the material and social upbuilding of the community, as well as its moral progress. He belongs to the Automobile club and is one of the board of governors of the State Automobile Association. He became one of the founders of the Hyde Park Business Men's Club and no movement or measure for the progress and development of that section of the city seeks his aid in vain. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V00 Issue #344 *******************************************