WHITING, FREDERIC ALLEN (26 Jan. 1873-20 Dec. 1959) established the CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART as an accessible community asset during his 17-year term as its first director. He was born in Oakdale, Tenn., but reared in his ancestral state of Massachusetts, where he was educated by public schools and private tutors.
The firm of WHITLEY AND WHITLEY, INC., Architects and Planners, is a minority business enterprise. Founded in 1962, the firm focuses its efforts on urban institutional design and development issues. Whitley and Whitley was organized by R. JOYCE WHITLEY and her twin brothers, William and James, graduates of Kent State Univ. in architecture.
WHITLEY, R.(ROUSARA) JOYCE (20 May 1930-22 Dec. 1992), architect, city planner, and writer, served as chief planner for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (1967-68). She received awards for her architectural designs in Chicago and St. Louis.
WHITMAN, SAMUEL (4 Dec. 1913 - 6 Dec. 1997) was a social services troubleshooter, committed to improving mental and physical health facilities in Cleveland. He was born in Brooklyn, NY, to Ida Kahn, a homemaker and saleswoman, and Louis Whitman, a cutter in the garment trade.
WHITTAKER, (LOUIS) HOWARD (19 Dec. 1922-30 May 1989) served as a catalyst in Cleveland cultural circles during his 36 years as director of the CLEVELAND MUSIC SCHOOL SETTLEMENT.
WHITTLESEY, CHARLES W. (4 Oct. 1808-17 Oct. 1886), geologist and historian, was born in Southington, Conn. to Asaph and Vesta Hart Whittlesey, moved to Tallmadge, Ohio in 1813, graduated from West Point in 1831, and was stationed in Wisconsin as a 2d lieutenant before serving in the Black Hawk War (1833).
WHITTLESEY, ELISHA (19 Oct. 1783-7 Jan. 1863), lawyer and politician, was born in Litchfield County, Conn., son of John and Mary Beale Whittlesey.
WHK, Cleveland's pioneer radio station, was one of the first 6 broadcasting stations in the nation. Started under the call letters 8ACS in 1921, it was owned by Warren R. Cox and operated from his home at 3138 Payne Ave. to serve as a hobby for the members of the Cleveland Radio Assn. The station was first broadcast via W8ML, owned by Frank Murphy, before Cleveland had a broadcast station. When the U.S. Dept.
WHOLESALE GROCERS. Cleveland's wholesale grocery industry has played an important role in feeding the city—and the region—for more than a century and a half. The industry developed as the pioneer forwarding and commission merchants, who dealt in all types of goods, began to specialize in groceries alone.
WIADOMOSCI CODZIENNE (Polish Daily News) was founded in 1914 by S. A. Dangel and Paul Kurdziel. Cleveland's first Polish daily, it was an outgrowth of the weekly Narodowiec (Nationalist, 1909-14). Coming under the sole control of Kurdziel by 1921, it was edited by Thos. Siemiradski from 1918-37.
WICAL, NOEL (29 Jan. 1910-18 April 1993) copy editor at the Cleveland Press and leader of the Cleveland Newspaper Guild, was born in Wilmington, Ohio, the son of Frank W. and Clara B. Morris Wical. After graduation from Bethany College in 1932, he taught high school English at Tiltonville, Ohio and in 1934 began teaching at Mentor High School.
WICKENDEN, WILLIAM E. (24 Dec. 1882-1 Sept. 1947) was president of the Case School of Applied Science (later Case Institute of Technology; see CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY) and was active in the civic life of Cleveland.
AMANDA (HUNT) WICKER (1900-September 19, 1987) was born in Sandersville, Georgia, and was raised by her mother, who was widowed when Wicker was very young. Wicker was one of seven children. She graduated from Tuskegee Normal School for Teachers in 1923. The following year, Wicker was an apprentice at the Clarke Training School in Washington, DC, where she learned the dressmaking trade under Mrs. Addie Clarke.
WICKHAM, GERTRUDE VAN RENSSELAER (18 Mar 1844-20 May 1930), journalist and local historian, was born in Huron, daughter of Sanders and Malinda Woodruff (Hayward) Van Rensselaer. She attended public schools and married Capt. Samuel Wickham on 1 Aug. 1864, with whom she had a daughter, Katherine. After his death in 1869, Wickham for a few years was a principal of the lower grades at Huron High School.
WIDDER, MILTON "MILT" (20 Nov. 1907-15 Dec. 1985), the paragon of Cleveland's gossip columnists, was born in Berlin, Germany, raised in Hungary, and came to the U.S. with his parents, Adolph and Rosa (Habermann) in 1920. He graduated from Adelbert College.
WIEBER, CHARLES L. F. (15 Feb. 1861 - 28 Aug.1931) was a successful businessman identified primarily with the Rauch & Lang Carriage Co. who also skillfully managed many businesses in the tailoring, real estate and investment fields.
WIEDER, JUDITH MARX (4 Aug. 1916-19 Dec. 1992) served as president (1970s) and chair of the board of trustees (1950s-60s) of Mill Distributors, Inc., a textile company founded in 1926 in Cleveland by her mother, Beatrice S. Marx. Wieder was born in Cleveland to Beatrice Sacheroff and Herbert Marx. She graduated from Cleveland Heights High School and Cornell University (1937).
WIESENFELD, LEON (7 Feb. 1885-1 March 1971) wielded considerable influence in Cleveland's Jewish community as editor of various Yiddish and English-language newspapers. He was born in Rzeszow, Poland, and worked for various Polish and German publications before emigrating to America.
WIGGERS, CARL JOHN (28 May 1883-28 Apr. 1963), famous for his heart and blood-pressure research, was born in Davenport, Iowa to George and Margret Kuendal Wiggers, graduated from the University of Michigan with a M.D. in 1906, and attended the Institute of Physiology at the University of Munich.
WIGMAN, JOHN B. (1816-1 Feb. 1900), building contractor, was actively involved in local POLITICS as a member of CLEVELAND CITY COUNCIL and an unsuccessful candidate for other offices.
The WIGMORE COLISEUM was an exhibition hall of the 1910s and 1920s, a forerunner of the PUBLIC AUDITORIUM. Located at 1825-1911 East 13th St. between Euclid and Chester avenues, it was designed by Knox & Elliot and planned to be a 4-story garage. Instead, only 2 stories were built and it was used as both an exhibition hall and a public garage.
WILBRAHAM, ROBERT L. (11 February 1933 - 15 April 1997) was a national AMVETS commander and president of the AMVETS National Service Foundation Board of Trustees from 1989 to 1997 [?].
WILCOX, FRANK NELSON (3 Oct. 1887-17 Apr. 1964), painter, printmaker, and teacher, was born in Cleveland, the son of Frank N. and Jessie F. (Snow) Wilcox. He studied at the Cleveland School of Art with HENRY G. KELLER and FREDERICK C. GOTTWALD, graduating in 1910 and going to Europe for more training.
WILDE, JOSEPH (28 Feb. 1857-29 March 1923) provided music for the residents of Cleveland's "Little Bohemia" (see CZECHS) both as a performer and as a dealer in musical instruments. A native of Prague, Bohemia, he served his apprenticeship as a maker and repairer of instruments in the old country.
WILEY, AQUILA (20 Feb. 1835-5 June 1913), volunteer Army officer during the CIVIL WAR, was born in Mechanicsburg, Pa., son of William and Susan (Spahr) Wiley. He settled in Wooster, Ohio in 1852, and was commissioned a 1st lieutenant in the 16th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in Apr. 1861, promoted to captain in May, and assigned to the 41st OVI in Sept.
The WILHELM PLOTZ MACHINE & FORGE CO. is a family-operated manufacturing business. Now owned and managed by the 4th generation in 2005, the firm has been in operation since 1888. In April 1888, Wilhelm Ploetz (the "e" was later dropped), a German immigrant, opened Plotz Iron Works Water Street (W. 9th St.), north of the old Pennsylvania Railroad Depot. The firm did blacksmith work as well as tool and die making.
The WILKINS EXPEDITION, led by British major John Wilkins in Nov. 1763, has frequently been erroneously identified as having foundered off ROCKY RIVER and Lakewood Park. Actually, this expedition, which was intended to relieve Ft.
The WILLARD STORAGE BATTERY CO., an early leader in the development and manufacture of automobile batteries, was founded by Theodore A. Willard as the Willard Electric & Battery Co. at 33 Sheriff (E. 4th) St. in 1896, relocating to 49 Wood (E. 3rd) St. the following year. Willard reorganized the company as the Willard Storage Battery Co. in 1902.
WILLARD, ARCHIBALD MACNEAL (22 Aug. 1836-11 Oct. 1918), artist best remembered for his SPIRIT OF '76, was born in BEDFORD, Ohio to Rev. Samuel R. and Catherine Willard. In 1855, he settled in Wellington, Ohio and taught himself to draw.
WILLETT ST. CEMETERY, located on Cleveland's near west side, is the oldest Jewish cemetery in the city. The Israelitic Society of Cleveland, the community's first congregation, purchased the land for the cemetery on 7 July 1840.
WILLEY, JOHN WHEELOCK (1797-9 July 1841), Cleveland's first mayor, was born in New Hampshire, son of Allen and Chloe (Frink) Willey. He was educated at Dartmouth, studied law in New York, was admitted to the bar, and came to Cleveland in 1822. He became known as a witty, sharp debater, winning 3 years in the state house of representatives (1827-30) and 3 in the state senate (1830-32) as a Jacksonian Democrat.
WILLEYVILLE was the southeast section of OHIO CITY, the location of the famed "Bridge War" between Cleveland and Ohio City. Willeyville was laid out by Jas. S. Clark, adjacent to an allotment owned by Barber & Sons and named for the developer's partner, Cleveland mayor JOHN W. WILLEY.
The WILLIAM BINGHAM FOUNDATION was founded in 1955 in Cleveland by Elizabeth Bingham Blossom ( -1970) from the proceeds the estate of her brother, William. Bingham II (1879-1955). Elizabeth Blossom was the daughter of CHARLES. W. BINGHAM and married to DUDLEY S. BLOSSOM.
The WILLIAM EDWARDS CO., a pioneer manufacturer and wholesaler of food products in Cleveland, was considered one of the foremost food distributors and food processors in the country. It was founded in a 2-story building on Old River Rd. (then River St.) in 1853 as Treat and Edwards, wholesale groceries and liquors, by William Edwards (1831-98) and Marcus A. Treat.
The WILLIAM FEATHER CO., a commercial printing house, was opened in 1916 by WILLIAM FEATHER.
WILLIAM G. MATHER STEAMSHIP MUSEUM. See STEAMSHIP WILLIAM G. MATHER MUSEUM.
The WILLIAM O. AND GERTRUDE LEWIS FROHRING FOUNDATION, INC., was established in 1958 (inc. 1963) in Cleveland by chemist Wm. O. Frohring and his wife, Gertrude L. Frohring. The foundation supports health, EDUCATION, and the arts primarily in Geauga, Lake, and Cuyahoga counties.
WILLIAM TAYLOR SON & CO. was one of Cleveland's leading department stores. Wm. Taylor and Thos. Kilpatrick opened a 1-room dry goods store on EUCLID AVE. at PUBLIC SQUARE, 21 Apr. 1870. Taylor, Kilpatrick & Co.
WILLIAMS, ARTHUR BALDWIN (11 Apr. 1874-18 Aug. 1951) was an ecologist, Curator of Education for the CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, park naturalist for the Cleveland Metropolitan Park District and author of many writings on nature subjects.
WILLIAMS, EDWARD CHRISTOPHER (11 Feb. 1871-24 Dec.
WILLIAMS, EDWARD MASON (9 Nov. 1871-25 July 1936) withdrew from an active business career in midlife in order to increase his involvement in civic affairs, notably as a member of the Cleveland Board of Education. Born in Cleveland, he was the son of Edward P. and Mary Mason Williams.
WILLIAMS, EUGENE (25 Sept. 1901-19 Oct.
WILLIAMS, GERALDINE (1915-30 Aug. 1993), civic activist and strategist in POLITICS, planned and worked with other AFRICAN AMERICANS to draft and elect Carl Stokes as mayor of Cleveland (see MAYORAL ADMINISTRATION OF CARL B. STOKES).
WILLIAMS, KATHERINE WITHROW (12 Aug. 1904-23 Feb. 1994) a leading patron of Cleveland's arts community, was born in Shepardstown, West Virginia, the daughter of Tully and Lalla Reynolds Biays. She and her husband Alfred, who helped found the BRUSH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, came to Cleveland in 1928.
WILLIAMS, LE ROY W. (18 Aug. 1844-14 Feb. 1930), recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for service during the CIVIL WAR, was born in Oswego, New York and enlisted in the 129th New York Volunteer Infantry 29 July 1862. The 129th, redesignated the 8th New York Heavy Artillery, participated in the 3 June 1864 attack against the Confederate Army at Cold Harbor, Va.
WILLIAMS, WHITING (11 Mar. 1878-14 Apr. 1975), author and lecturer on labor and management problems, was born in Shelby, Ohio to Benjamin J. and Ida Whiting Williams, graduated from Oberlin College (1899) and studied at the University of Berlin (1899-1900) and University of Chicago (1900-01) before managing the Bureau of University Travel (1901-04).
The WILLIAMSON BUILDING, which stood on PUBLIC SQUARE, served as the monumental gateway to EUCLID AVE. for over 80 years. This 17-story building was begun in April 1899, and was ready for occupancy on 1 April 1900. It was the tallest building in the city when constructed. It replaced an earlier, 4-story Williamson Bldg.
WILLIAMSON, HARVEY M. (29 Jan. 1908 - 14 Dec. 1995) was an educator and civic leader. He was born to Alice E. Williamson and John M Williamson in Shelby, Mississippi on January 29, 1908. As a child, he attended school in Shelby, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana.
WILLIAMSON, SAMUEL (1772-8 Sept. 1834), businessman; SAMUEL WILLIAMSON, JR. (1808-14 Jan. 1884), lawyer, public official, and railroad director; and SAMUEL E. WILLIAMSON (1844-21 Feb. 1903), lawyer, judge, and railroad counsel, comprise 3 generations of a distinguished Cleveland family.
WILLIS, (WILBUR) KIRK (31 Mar. 1906 – 17 Nov. 1966) was born in Adams County, Ohio. He was an actor and director of theatre and film for over 40 years.