|
Pg 32
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND 33
Olmsted brothers assumed the management in Ohio and Indiana. During the
past ten years the firm of Olmsted Brothers & Company paid to Ohio and Indiana
policy holders in death claims $1,130,422.57, in surrender values $595,116.31,
in dividends, annuities and matured endowments $329,739.97-—a total of $2,055,-278.85.
The firm of George H. Olmsted & Company conducts a general insurance
business, while the firm of Olmsted Brothers & Company also represents the
Standard Accident Insurance Company.
There are few better known insurance men in the middle west than George
H. Olmsted and there is probably nothing more suggestive of his standing and
ability in insurance circles than the fact that he was elected a director of one of
the most conservative life insurance companies in the United States-—the National
of Vermont. This is a position occupied by but one other agent of any prominent
company in the United States and Mr. Olmsted is the only member of the
directorate living west of New York. He has extensive business interests aside
from those already mentioned. He has served as treasurer of the National Safe
& Lock Company of Cleveland since the year after its organization, is president
of the Life Insurance Managers Exchange; president of the National Land Company;
vice president of the Bankers Surety Company; treasurer of the Union
Savings & Loan Company; a director of the Woodland Avenue Savings & Trust
Company; a director of the Cleveland Trunk Company; a director of the Central
National Bank; a director of the Land Title Abstract Company; a director
of the Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College, and a member of the board of
fire underwriters and the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce.
In 1872, at Saybrook, Ohio, Mr. Olmsted was married to Miss Ella Kelley, to
which union were born two children: Grace, who died on the 11th of December,
1904; and Howard. Mr. Olmsted's residence is on Willson avenue and the
family are members of the Willson Avenue Baptist church, with which Mr. Olmsted
has been prominently identified since 1872 and is now serving as senior
deacon. He is chairman of the apportionment committee of the Northern Baptist
Convention, having charge of apportioning among the Baptist churches of
the state the desired contributions to the different missionary organizations of
the denomination, and for many years he was also a member of the board of the
Ohio Baptist Convention. In the work of the Young Men's Christian Association
he has taken a keen interest. He stands as a high type of the American business
man and citizen, alert and energetic, watchful not only of his own interests
but also of the welfare and progress of the community.
ANTHONY VAN ROOY.
The most admirable feature of life in the United States is the possibility
offered all of its young to attain to any position within their wishes for here no
man is handicapped by reason of poverty or lack of early opportunities. Some
of the most prosperous merchants and financiers of Cleveland began their business
training at the bottom of the ladder, climbing towards its top step by step.
One of those who have won their present prosperity through personal effort is
Anthony Van Rooy, of the firm of Van Rooy Brothers, tea and coffee brokerage
merchants. Mr. Van Rooy is a son of William Van Rooy, who was born in
1835 in Holland and came to the United States when about thirty years old.
While living in Holland he was a salesman but after coming here he settled in
the vicinity of Cleveland, later removing to this city. His wife was Wilhelmina
Hoyting, who was also born in Holland, where they were married, coming here
together. Mr. Van Rooy died in 1895, his widow surviving until 1900.
Anthony Van Rooy was born in Cleveland, November 8, 1877, and after
attending the public and parochial schools, he early began earning his own living
as a messenger boy. Soon afterward the lad's bright manner and courteous
Pg 34
|
