Category: Politics and Government

EARLY SETTLERS ASSN. OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

The EARLY SETTLERS ASSOCIATION OF THE WESTERN RESERVE is a voluntary organization of people who are interested in studying, preserving and commemorating the history of the Connecticut WESTERN RESERVE and early Cleveland.

EXAMINER

The EXAMINER was a weekly Republican tabloid devoted to the principle of a protective tariff. Begun around 1885, it was taken over in 1892 by Thomas J. Rose, who instituted a forerunner of the modern gossip column under the heading "Somewhat Personal." Assuming a smaller magazine-style format, it probably failed to survive much beyond the issue of 8 Sept. 1894.

FARLEY, JOHN HARRINGTON

FARLEY, JOHN HARRINGTON (5 Feb. 1846-10 Feb. 1922), a member of city council (1871-77) and Cleveland mayor (1883-85, 1899-1901), was born in Cleveland to Patrick and Ann Schwartz Farley. He received a public-school education. Interested in politics, he was elected to city council in 1871 as a Democrat and served 3 terms. Known as "Honest John" Farley, he was elected mayor in 1883.

FEIGHAN, MICHAEL ALOYSIUS

FEIGHAN, MICHAEL ALOYSIUS (16 Feb. 1905-19 March 1992) was a 14-term Democratic congressman for the 20th District of Ohio and the chief architect of the Federal Immigration Act of 1965 which abolished the system of quotas by national origin.

FENCE WAR OF PUBLIC SQUARE

The FENCE WAR OF PUBLIC SQUARE arose between Cleveland residents, who wanted the entire PUBLIC SQUARE fenced in as a central park, and the local commercial interests, who felt that the closing of Superior and Ontario streets at the Square hindered the area's commercial development. By 1839 the city had fenced in each individual quadrant of Public Square.

FINKLE, HERMAN

FINKLE, HERMAN (Apr. 1891-Oct. 1952), "Little Napoleon of Ward 12," was city councilman for 35 consecutive years and considered a ruthless, corrupt sergeant of the Republican machine. By his death he was recognized as a most knowledgeable and able councilman. Born in Detroit, Mich., son of Samuel and Sara Epstein Finkle, he moved at age 11 to Cleveland, graduating from Cleveland Law School in 1913.

FITZGERALD, WILLIAM SINTON

FITZGERALD, WILLIAM SINTON (6 Oct. 1880-3 Oct. 1937), a member of city council for 4 years and appointed mayor by HARRY L. DAVIS in 1921, was born in Washington, D.C., to David and Esther Sinton FitzGerald. He was educated in Washington's public schools, and received a Master of Laws degree from Geo. Washington University in 1903.

FLEMING, THOMAS W.

FLEMING, THOMAS W. (13 May 1874-18 Jan. 1948) was the first African American elected to CLEVELAND CITY COUNCIL and an active Republican politician until his indictment in 1929. Born to Thomas and Lavina (Green) Fleming in Meadville, PA, Fleming arrived in Cleveland in 1893 to work as a barber.

FORAN, MARTIN A.

FORAN, MARTIN A. (11 Nov. 1844-28 June 1921), U.S. Congressman, and county prosecutor, and judge of the court of common pleas, was born in Choconut Twp., Susquehanna County, Pa., to James and Catherine O'Donnell Foran. He learned the coopering trade, and attended St. Joseph's College in Susquehanna County for 2 years.

FREE SOIL PARTY

The FREE SOIL PARTY of Cuyahoga County was organized in the summer of 1848 as part of a national third-party movement which supported free grants of public land to settlers and opposed the extension of slavery to the western territories.

FRIEBOLIN, CARL DAVID

FRIEBOLIN, CARL DAVID (19 Jan. 1878-2 Sept. 1967), lawyer, teacher, federal bankruptcy referee, and well-known wit and satirist who wrote the CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND's ANVIL REVUE for years, was born in Owatonna, Minn. to Rev. William and Kate Dennerline Friebolin. The family moving to Cleveland in 1885.

GAHN, HARRY C.

GAHN, HARRY C. (26 Apr. 1880-2 Nov. 1962), lawyer, councilman, congressman, and public official, was born in Elmore, Ohio, to Dr. Louis and Esther Knight Gahn. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a LL.B. degree, and was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1904, working with Wm.

GARFIELD, JAMES ABRAM

GARFIELD, JAMES ABRAM (19 Nov. 1831-19 Sept. 1881), 20th president of the U.S., was born in Orange Twp., Cuyahoga County, Ohio, to Abram and Eliza Ballou Garfield. Fatherless at age 4, Garfield worked as a farmer, carpenter, and canal boatman.

GENTRIFICATION, REVITALIZATION, AND RELOCATION

 

Cleveland has gone through many economic shifts over the last two centuries which has led to razing of residential neighborhoods, reassessment of properties and initiatives to improve neighborhoods. The issue of gentrification is closely tied to these issues and while it has been a source of economic improvements, it has also led to residential anxiety. 

GILLESPIE, CHESTER K.

GILLESPIE, CHESTER K. (4 Apr. 1897-22 Mar. 1985), lawyer and Republican politician known as "Mr. Civil Rights," and part of Cleveland's black community agitating for immediate integration, was born in Home City, Ohio, to Warren and Lulu Trail Gillespie. The family moved to Cleveland about 1909. After attending Ohio State University, Gillespie earned a law degree from Baldwin-Wallace College Law School in 1920.

GONGWER, W. BURR

GONGWER, W. BURR (1873-28 Sept. 1948), Democratic party boss for 35 years, was born near Mansfield, Ohio, the son of Louis and Irena Gonger. He began as a journalist there before coming to Cleveland in 1899 as political reporter for the PLAIN DEALER. In 1900 he interviewed Democrat mayoral candidate TOM JOHNSON.

GOVERNMENT

GOVERNMENT. The tract of land that became Cleveland had at one time or another been claimed by Spain, France, and Great Britain. When American independence was secured, the new federal government tried to resolve the conflicting territorial claims of several states while contending with Indians, who had their own claims, and who were made more restive by the slow removal of British troops from their western posts.

GRAY, JOSEPH WILLIAM

GRAY, JOSEPH WILLIAM (5 Aug. 1813-26 May 1862), founder of the PLAIN DEALER, was born in Bridgeport, Vt. to Urel and Betsey (Case) Gray, emigrating with his brother, Admiral Nelson Gray, to Cleveland in 1836. After teaching in local schools, Gray read law under HENRY B. PAYNE and HIRAM V. WILLSON and was admitted to the bar.

GREEN, HOWARD WHIPPLE

GREEN, HOWARD WHIPPLE (25 Apr. 1893-8 July 1959), a statistician who studied population trends in Greater Cleveland for 30 years, was born in Woonsocket, R.I., to George Walter and Alice Judson Paine Whipple. He received his B.A. from Clark University, and attended Harvard University before receiving his B.S. from MIT. Green worked for H. Koppers Co. in Lorain; as a bacteriologist for the War Dept.

HADDEN, JOHN A., SR.

HADDEN, JOHN A., SR. (11 July 1886-1 Jan 1979), lawyer and son of Frances (Hawthorne) and ALEXANDER HADDEN, was born in Cleveland and graduated from Harvard with his B.A. (1908) and his Bachelor of Laws (1910). Returning to Cleveland, he began to practice law and joined TROOP A.

HANNA, MARCUS ALONZO

HANNA, MARCUS ALONZO (24 Sept. 1837-15 Feb. 1904), businessman, national Republican leader, and U.S. senator, was born in New Lisbon, Ohio to Leonard and Samantha Converse Hanna. His family came to Cleveland in 1852, where Hanna attended CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, and later Western Reserve College in Hudson (1857-58).

HATTON, AUGUSTUS RAYMOND

HATTON, AUGUSTUS RAYMOND (27 Sept. 1873-12 Nov. 1946) an author of Cleveland's City Manager Charter, member of city council, and professor of Political Science at Western Reserve University, was born on a farm near Vevay, Indiana, the son of Augustus and Mary Lavinia (Howard) Hatton. Educated in public schools there, Hatton graduated from Franklin College, Franklin, Indiana with a Ph.B.

HAY, JOHN MILTON

HAY, JOHN MILTON (8 Oct. 1838-1 July 1905), diplomat, statesman, U.S. secretary of state, and historian, was born in Salem, Ind., to Dr. Charley and Helen Leonard Hay. He graduated from Brown University, Providence, R.I. (1858), and studied law with his uncle, Milton Hay, whose offices adjoined those of Abraham Lincoln.

HAYWARD, NELSON

HAYWARD, NELSON (1810-14 Apr. 1857), mayor of Cleveland (1843-44), was born in Braintree, Mass., where he was locally educated. Son of William and Marjory (Thayer) Hayward, he came to Cleveland in 1825 with his 2 brothers, Joseph and John, and joined in various small enterprises with them. In 1840, he became the assistant chief of the Old Volunteer Fire Dept.

HEGGS, OWEN L.