DAVIS, BENJAMIN OLIVER JR. (18 December 1912 - 4 July 2002) was an AFRICAN AMERICAN pilot, Airforce General, and WW2 commander who temporarily served as Cleveland’s
DAVIS, DAVID E. (1920 - 13 November 2002), was born in 1920 in Romania. The son of a well known Talmudic scholar, Davis fled Romania with his family as facism spread through Europe. Emigrating to Cleveland in 1934, Davis won a full scholarship to the Cleveland School (now Cleveland Institute) of Art. After four years' service in the U.S.
DAVIS, HARRY LYMAN (25 Jan. 1878 - 21 May 1950), 4-term mayor of Cleveland (1916-20, 1933-35) and governor of Ohio (1921-23), was born in NEWBURGH to Evan and Barbara Jones Davis.
DAVIS, RUSSELL HOWARD (29 Oct. 1897-14 Nov. 1976), teacher, administrator, civic activist, and historian of Cleveland's black community, was born in Cleveland to Jacob and Rosalie (Dite) Davis. He earned his bachelor's degree from Adelbert College of Western Reserve University (1920), a degree in chemical engineering from Case School of Applied Science (1922), and a master's degree in education from WRU (1933).
The DAVY MCKEE CORP., a multinational engineering corporation with a net worth of $50 million in 1978, began on 1 Nov. 1905, when metallurgical engineer ARTHUR G. MCKEE set up an iron and steel consulting firm in the ROCKEFELLER BLDG. at Superior and W. 6th St.
DAVY, WILLIAM MCKINLEY (9 June 1895-5 Sept. 1973) headed the CLEVELAND NEWSPAPER GUILD for its first 30 years and became a leader in the local councils of LABOR. The son of a Welsh coal miner in Tuscarawas County, he was born in Midvale, O. Davy himself quit school in the 6th grade to enter the mines but soon left to come to Cleveland in 1912.
DAWE, CHARLES DAVIS (16 Mar. 1886-24 Aug. 1958) found a career as a choral conductor in Cleveland, where he was best remembered as founder of the ORPHEUS MALE CHORUS. A native of Port Talbot, S. Wales, he studied music in London and began conducting choirs in Wales by the time he was 18. In 1912 he emigrated to Cleveland with his wife May and infant son, Chas.
DAY, WILLIAM HOWARD (16 Oct. 1825-3 Dec. 1900) was an abolitionist, editor, publisher, printer, teacher, lecturer, civic leader and clergyman who devoted his life to improving the conditions of his fellow AFRICAN AMERICANS.
DAY, WILLIAM L. (13 Aug. 1876-15 July 1936), lawyer, U.S. district attorney, and federal judge, was born in Canton to William R. and Mary E. (Schaeffer) Day. He attended Williston Academy in E. Hampton, Mass.,and received his LL.B. degree from the University of Michigan in 1900. He was then admitted to the Ohio bar and practiced law in the firm of Lynch, Day & Day in Canton.
DE CAPITE, MICHAEL (13 April 1915-21 Jan. 1958) drew upon his Cleveland background to launch a promising though short career as a novelist. The son of Italian immigrants on the near west side, he played BASEBALL in the shadows of industrial smokestacks in the FLATS and graduated from Lincoln High School. He attended Ohio Univ.
DE LANCEY, WILLIAM J. (2 June 1916 - 2 April 1999) led the Republic Steel Corp. during the 1970s and early 1980s, helped organize the Cleveland Development Foundation and was a director or trustee of numerous organizations and agencies in Cleveland. He was born in Chicago, IL to Louise (Hart) and John Richmond De Lancey.
DE LERY, JOSEPH GASPARD CHAUSSEGROS (21 July 1721-11 Dec. 1797), a French lieutenant, described in his private journal the earliest recorded account of the complete transit of the south shore of Lake Erie. In it he noted the first recorded encampment at the CUYAHOGA RIVER, on 2 Aug.
DE SAUZE, EMILE BIALS (7 Dec. 1878-11 July 1964), director of foreign languages for the CLEVELAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS from 1918-49 and developer of the conversational teaching method, was born in Tours, France and graduated from the University of Poitiers (1900) before coming to the U.S. in 1905 and receiving a Ph.D. from St. Joseph College.
DEACONESS HOSPITAL OF CLEVELAND was established in 1914 by the Evangelical Deaconess Society as a training institution for deaconesses (religious sisters) who provided nursing and administrative services for hospitals affiliated with the Evangelical Church (now the UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST).
DEARING, ULYSSES S. (25 June 1903-24 June 1984) was the first African-American restauranteur to own a major restaurant in Cleveland and manage some of the City's most popular night clubs.
The DEBS FEDERAL COURT TRIAL (U.S. v. Eugene V. Debs) in Cleveland resulted from an antiwar speech that the Socialist leader gave in Canton, OH, on 16 June 1918. Debs was charged with violation of the Espionage Act. The trial, which took place in Judge David C. Westenhaver's court from 9-12 Sept. 1918, captured national interest. U.S. District Attorney Edward S. Wertz, assisted by Francis B.
DEBUTANTE BALLS, which announce the arrival of young women into adult society, were originally limited to the upper class. Traditionally, they were held at the Christmas season.
DECKER, EDGAR (18 Feb. 1832-1 Dec. 1905), one of Cleveland's earliest and most prominent photographers, grew up in New York State and was largely self-taught. At 13, he became a clerk in a store, after 7 years managing his own store where he developed an interest in photography. He moved to Cleveland in 1857 and worked in various studios for 2 years before opening his own on Superior St.
DEFAULT (15 Dec. 1978-16 Nov. 1980) occurred when Cleveland was unable to repay $14 million in loans owed to 6 local banks, and was subsequently unable to market its bonds for almost 2 years. The default meant that investors in the national bond markets would not risk buying the municipal bonds Cleveland needed to finance improvements, and that Cleveland must submit to financial supervision by the State of Ohio.
DEGRANDIS, PAUL J., JR. (12 Nov. 1929-3 June 1993), politician, businessman, and labor leader, helped develop UNIVERSITY CIRCLE as the representative of the former Ward 19 on CLEVELAND CITY COUNCIL (1958-61).
DEHARRACK, CHARLES PERETZ (10 Sept. 1881-24 June 1985) was a pianist, composer, and choral director active in both Cleveland and international music circles. He was born in Brest-Litovsk, Russia. Brought to Cleveland at the age of 4, he attended local elementary schools before returning to Europe for musical training which included piano lessons from Xaver Scharwenka and Theodore Leschetizky.
DEIKE, CLARA L. (1881-13 March 1964) was a distinguished Cleveland artist and art teacher. Born in Detroit, Mich., she came to Cleveland as a child to receive her education at CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, the Cleveland Normal Training School, and the Cleveland School of Art (see CLEVELAND INSTITUTE OF ART).
DELAMATER, JOHN (18 Apr. 1787-28 Mar. 1867), a teacher of medicine and founder of 3 medical colleges, was born in Chatham, N.Y., son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Dorr) Delamater. He studied medicine with his uncle from 1804-07, and was licensed in 1807, practicing privately between 1807-22.
DELANEY, JOHN (JACK) F. (3 Oct. 1913-4 Feb. 1990), Cleveland policeman (See CLEVELAND POLICE DEPARTMENT) for 41 years, Delaney organized the department's ports and harbor unit and wrote the city's first Water Traffic Code. He was born in Cleveland, the son of John and Gertrude (Dahm) Delaney and attended East Technical High School.
DELANEY, RALPH DAVID (22 April 1933-27 April 1990) was a social activist who dedicated his life to serving the poor and the homeless. Born in Cleveland to Ralph and Ann (Yaniko) Delaney, Ralph attended Cathedral Latin High School, leaving in 1949 to join the Marianist Order in Cincinnati where he became a teaching brother.
DEMAIORIBUS, ALESSANDRO LOUIS "SONNY" (25 Apr. 1898-5 May 1968), a member of CLEVELAND CITY COUNCIL for 20 years and long-time leader in Cuyahoga County Republican affairs, was born in Cleveland, son of Domenic and Lucia DeMaioribus. He lived behind the grocery store operated by his father at 1930 Coltman Rd.
DEMMY, OLEAN WELLS (8 Jan. 1913-23 June 1993) capped a long career in community service with the revival of the old Hruby Conservatory as the Broadway School of Music. A native of frontier Oklahoma, she was the daughter of Joseph and Hadie Savage Wells. She earned a teaching certificate from South Eastern College of Oklahoma, adding a master's degree later from Oklahoma A&M.
DEMORE, MATTHEW (Apr. 1903-18 Mar. 1976), a labor leader active in the Internatl. Assoc. of Machinists for 4 decades, was born and raised in LITTLE ITALY, son of Dominick and Carmella (DeBaise) DeMore. He quit school at 16 to work as a machinist's apprentice for the Michigan Central Railroad in Detroit.
DEMPSEY, JAMES HOWARD (29 March 1859-2 May 1920), was a prominent lawyer and founding partner of SQUIRE, SANDERS AND DEMPSEY. Born in Shelby, Ohio, he was the son of John and Martha C. (Davis) Dempsey. After attending the public schools in Shelby, Dempsey completed the preparatory college course at the Milnor Hall Grammar School in Gambier, Ohio.
DENNICE NOVOVEKU was the successor of Pokrok, a Czech (see CZECHS) rationalist weekly that was moved to Cleveland from Chicago in 1871. Brought here by its editor, G. B. Zdrubek, Pokrok (Progress) was located on Croton St. Although he had imported VACLAV SNAJDR and humorist John V.
DENTISTRY. In the first half of the 19th century, dentistry in Cleveland was just emerging as a profession. Its professional development was hampered by a preoccupation with technical proficiency and a corresponding lack of concern for the need to understand dental pathology in order to diagnose and treat patients' disorders.
DEPAOLO, LOUIS (1894-5 Dec. 1977), a businessman and leader who earned the title "mayor of LITTLE ITALY," was born in Italy, son of Alex and Lena (Truisonno) DePaolo. He left Campobasso to join 4 uncles in Cleveland in 1910. He studied 2 years at night school and was trained as a tailor by an uncle.
DESTINATION CLEVELAND (previously the Convention and Visitor Bureau of Greater Cleveland), an independent organization responsible for the marketing and promotion of Greater Cleveland, was originally the Convention Board of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, formed in the early 1920s.
The DETROIT-ROCKY RIVER BRIDGE (1910-80) was the 4th bridge built at that location connecting Detroit Rd. between LAKEWOOD and ROCKY RIVER. It was designed by civil engineer Alfred Felgate, with WILBUR WATSON serving as consulting engineer. Construction, which cost $225,000, began in Sept.
DETROIT-SHOREWAY is a Cleveland neighborhood and Statistical Planning Area (SPA) located on the city’s west side. Centered around Gordon Square (W. 65th St.
DEUBEL, STEFAN (26 Sept. 1914 - 25 Sept. 1997) provided food for mind and body as proprietor of a sausage shop and a newspaper in Cleveland's German-American community (see GERMANS). A native of Grossprobstdorf, Romania, he was the son of Stefan and Susanne Siewerth Deubel.
DEUTSCH, SAMUEL H. (2 Apr. 1892-4 Sept. 1958) prominent sportsman and jeweler, was born in New York City, the son of Rudolph and Hulda Heimlich Deutsch. The family moved here in 1899, and after finishing school, he entered The Rudolph Deutsch Co., his father's jewelery firm, where he learned the art of diamond cutting.
DEVEREUX, HENRY KELSEY "HARRY K." (10 Oct. 1859-1 May 1932), son of Antoinette (Kelsey) and JOHN H. DEVEREUX, made his greatest contributions to harness racing although he was an able business follower of his father.
DEVEREUX, JOHN H. (5 Apr. 1832-17 Mar. 1886), a civil engineer and leading Midwest railroad manager, was born in Boston, son of John and Matilda (Burton) Devereux. He attended Portsmouth Academy in New Hampshire, and at 16 came to Cleveland as a construction engineer on first the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad, then the Cleveland, Painesville & Ashtabula Railroad.
DEVINE, MARGARET CRILE GARRETSON (2 Feb. 1901-17 Jan. 1993), civic leader, helped train WOMEN to work in war plants during WORLD WAR II. Devine was born in Cleveland, the 1st child and oldest daughter of Grace McBride and GEORGE W. CRILE, SR.
DEWALD, LOUISE (3 Nov. 1877-12 Oct. 1954) was, for many years, the highest-ranking woman in Cleveland's city government. She rose through the department ranks to become Commissioner of Cemeteries (1925-42), possibly the only woman cemetery commissioner in the U.S. Daughter of William and Catherine (Klump) Dewald, she was a Cleveland native and public school graduate.
DI LEONE, PETER. Jr. (2 Feb. 1908-16 Sept. 1998) was a lawyer, a labor expert, and served as an advocate of free speech while president of the CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND.
The DIABETES PARTNERSHIP OF CLEVELAND , located at 3601 Green Rd. in BEACHWOOD, is a nonprofit UNITED WAY SERVICES agency that has provided services and support for individuals with diabetes and their spouses and family members, promoted diabetes research, and assisted professionals in diabetes treatment.
The DIAMOND SHAMROCK CORP. began as a Cleveland-based chemical company which, in 2003, was headquartered in Dallas under the name Maxus Energy Corp. The Diamond Alkali Corp., a forerunner of Diamond Shamrock, was incorporated in Delaware in 1929 as the successor to a company of the same name that was incorporated in West Virginia in 1910.
DICK, MARCEL (18 Aug. 1898-13 Dec. 1991) provided Cleveland with a link to the Austrian musician Arnold Schoenberg, as head of the advanced theory and composition dept. of the CLEVELAND INSTITUTE OF MUSIC.