User:Spikeliveshere/448 W. Woodruff Ave.

I live in this huge pile of bricks over on Woodruff. The Spitzer family lived here for a while, but I was never able to find out who lived here before them, and who built the place; the City records go back only to 1912 or so.

I think I may have found the answer. The 1898 Polk's City Directory for Toledo says: Suydam, Henri H., sec'y Toledo Bending Co., res Woodruff ave head of Madison. No street address yet, apparently.

I found this very cool letter from the Toledo Bending Company at the Columbia University website:  https://dlc.library.columbia.edu/catalog/ldpd:396597

The picture on the letter looks like the Fort Industry Square building. Can anybody verify this? Go to the website; I could only download a small file of the document, the file on the website is much more detailed.

After Mr. Suydam moved out, Guy G. Major moved in. The April, 1909 publication of "Modern Painter," lists Major, Guy G., as the President of the Toledo Linseed Oil Co., and lists his residence as 448 W. Woodruff. Dashing fellow, isn't he? He was the mayor of Toledo from 1893 to 1896.

He died in 1912. The 1913 Polk's directory lists the Spitzers at this address.

April 1909, Modern Painter list Toe Toledo linseed oil Company

Polk’s Directory lists Major, Guy G, president of Toledo Linseed Oil company as living at 448 W. Woodruff



Ottumwa tri-weekly courier, February 01, 1912

GUY G. MAJOR DIED IN NEW YORK

FORMER OTTUMWAN PROMINENT IN EASTERN BUSINESS CIRCLES, PASSES AWAY.

WAS MAYOR OF TOLEDO

Political Career Was Fruitful of Repeated Honors at Hands of His Fellowmen Mother: Is in the West

Guy G. Major, a native of Ottumwa, twice mayor of Toledo, Ohio, and a man prominent in the oil industry in the east, died yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock in New York City? He had been ill two weeks with pneumonia. Telegraphic word from Mrs. Major was received by Ottumwa friends last night. Mrs. Major had been with him several days during his illness in New York and oh Monday, when his symptoms became alarming, his son and daughter at Toledo were at once notified and left immediately for New York City, but did not arrive there until their father had passed away. Mr. Major will be remembered by numerous Ottumwans. He was the son of Mrs. Maria S. Major, corner Fourth and Wapello streets, who is spending the winter in Los Angeles, he was born in this city October 19, 1859, and was therefore at the time of his death just a trifle more than 52 years and 3 months old. Surviving are his wife, two children and his mother. The early education of Mr. Major was, gained in the grade schools of Ottumwa. Later he attended Grinnell College. His first employment was as a machinist apprentice in the Johnston Ruffler Co., at $4 per week. He mastered the trade during the three years of his employment. He then went to Hamilton, Ohio, where he was employed by the Niles Tool Works. He was married to Miss Harriet Leonard at her Massachusetts home and immediately after moved to Toledo and started in the linseed oil business under the firm name of Taylor & Major Oil Co. The first honor at the hands of the Toledo citizens conferred on Mr. Major was his selection as a member of the board of education. His splendid service in this capacity was appreciated by his fellows, who elevated him to the post of mayor of Toledo. This office he successfully filled for two terms of two years each.

Wanted For Governor.

Mr. Major was at the expiration of his second term as mayor, mentioned prominently as one of the republican candidates for governor of Ohio. He would not permit his name to come before the state convention at Zanesville. Within the past two years he declined to run for mayor of Toledo notwithstanding the fact that the request was backed up by a petition signed by 5,000 republican voters. He sold out his linseed oil business in Toledo to the American Linseed Oil Co., some time ago. The Major property was the best equipped that the trust had ever acquired, and this fact, coupled with the exceptional successful business ability of Mr. Major resulted in his being tendered the presidency of the American Linseed Oil Co., at a salary of $30,000 a year. He held this post until the control of the company was acquired by the Standard Oil Co. when he was succeeded by Mr. Gates, who was prominently mentioned in the recent Rockefeller Merritt controversy. The Guy G. Major Oil Co., was then formed, and Mr. Major was president and general manager of it when he died. His mill was one of the most successful in the United States in the production of linseed and castor oil, importing all the seed used in the manufacture of castor oil from the Island of Java.

He was mayor of Toledo from 1893 to 1896 He died in 1912. I think he was living here at the time. The Spitzers probably moved in afterward.

The 1913 Polk City Directory shows the Spitzers living at 448.

The 1898 Polk’s Directory has Henri H. Suydam residing at Woodruff, head of Madison Ave. Suydam Henri H, sec'y Toledo Bending Co, res Woodruff ave head of Madison.

I live in this huge pile of bricks over on Woodruff. The Spitzer family lived here for a while, but I was never able to find out who lived here before them, and who built the place; the City records go back only to 1912 or so.

I think I may have found the answer. The 1898 Polk's City Directory for Toledo says: Suydam, Henri H., sec'y Toledo Bending Co., res Woodruff ave head of Madison. No street address yet, apparently.

I found this very cool letter from the Toledo Bending Company at the Columbia University website:  https://dlc.library.columbia.edu/catalog/ldpd:396597

The picture on the letter looks like the Fort Industry Square building. Can anybody verify this? Go to the website; I could only download a small file of the document, the file on the website is much more detailed.

After Mr. Suydam moved out, Guy G. Major moved in. The April, 1909 publication of "Modern Painter," lists Major, Guy G., as the President of the Toledo Linseed Oil Co., and lists his residence as 448 W. Woodruff. Dashing fellow, isn't he? He was the mayor of Toledo from 1893 to 1896.

He died in 1912. The 1913 Polk's directory lists the Spitzers at this address.