EVERETT, SYLVESTER T.

EVERETT, SYLVESTER T. (27 Nov. 1838-13 Jan. 1922), Cleveland financier, was born in Liberty Twp., to Henry and Sarah (von Piteil) Everett. At 12 he joined an older brother in Cleveland. At 13, he became a messenger for the banking house of Brockway, Wason, Everett (an older brother) & Co., becoming a cashier in a few years before leaving in 1858 to work briefly in a bank in Philadelphia. He was then superintendent of a petroleum company, returning to Cleveland in 1868 to manage Everett, Weddell & Co. (previously Brockway, Wason, Everett & Co.). In 1876, he became president of Second Natl. Bank, and then organized the Union Natl. Bank, which became one of the city's leading financial institutions.

Everett had interests in mining and transportation. He was also active in city government, serving 7 terms as city treasurer between 1869-83 when he enormously increased public investment in municipal bonds. A staunch Republican, he attended conventions and was a friend of JAS. A. GARFIELD and Wm. McKinley. Pres. Garfield appointed Everett U.S. government director of the Union Pacific Railroad; McKinley offered him the ambassadorship to Austria-Hungary. Everett financed and built 2 of the first street railways (electric) in the U.S.—in Akron and in Erie, Pa. Everett was an art collector, owning some of Europe's finest art treasures. He was also a founder and charter member of the UNION CLUB. His home at Euclid and East 40th St. was one of the largest on "millionaires row." Everett married Mary Everett in 1860. They had 3 children: Katherine, Eleanor, and Marguerite. After Mary's death in 1876, Everett married Alice Wade, the granddaughter of JEPTHA WADE I, in 1879. They had 5 children: Esther, Alice, Ruth, Randall, and Homer. Everett died in Cleveland and was buried in LAKE VIEW CEMETERY.