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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND 39
Charles F. Brush. These duties alone would make him a busy man and yet, as
is indicated, various other duties and interests have claimed his attention. In
April of 1896 he was chosen president of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce
and thus became the foremost official representative of the commercial and business
interests of this city.
As the years passed on there came to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cowles four
children: Alice Welch, now the wife of the Rev. John Doane, pastor of the
Congregational church of Greeley, Colorado; Mary Flagler; Edward Church,
who died in infancy; and Leroy Hervey, who died in 1887 at the age of fourteen
years. The wife and mother passed away in 1903 and Mr. Cowles afterward
wedded Miss Beatrice Walker, of Brantford, Canada. They have one daughter,
Beatrice Jeannette, born in 1905.
It is not alone by reason of the extent and importance of his business affairs
that Mr. Cowles has become widely known. He has been a cooperant factor in
many measures for the public good, is interested in all matters of civic virtue
and civic pride and has been a leader in many movements which have reflected
credit and honor upon the municipal spirit of Cleveland. On the 22d of July,
1896, when a mass meeting was held to celebrate the centennial of the arrival
of Moses Cleaveland on the site of the present city, Mr. Cowles there for the first
time made public announcement of the magnificent addition to the public
park department of the city, made possible by the generosity of John D. Rockefeller,
who gave to Cleveland lands and money to the extent of six hundred thousand
dollars, afterward augmented by three hundred thousand more. Mr. Cowles
was actively concerned in this gift in that he purchased for Mr. Rockefeller
substantially all the land taken for park purposes south from Euclid avenue,
along the valley of Doan Brook to the Shaker Heights land, a distance of a
mile and a half. In the year 1900 he was president of the board of park commissioners.
Mr. Cowles also figured prominently in the centennial celebration
of 1896, laboring earnestly and effectively to make this occasion a memorable
success. He was made chairman of the section of religion for the historical
representation of the century and, with a committee which he appointed, arranged
for and presided over the first meeting of the celebration, held Sunday
afternoon, July 19, 1896, upon which occasion he spoke in eloquent terms to the
people concerning the occasion and what it indicated. On Woman's Day, as
president of the Chamber of Commerce, he also delivered a brief address. He
was called upon to deliver the address at the dedication of the new Chamber
of Commerce building in 1899 and has served on various important committees
which have been formed to further the public welfare. Never ceasing to feel
a deep interest in his alma mater, he has acted as a trustee of Oberlin College
since 1874. That college conferred upon him the LL. D. degree in 1898 and
he is its oldest trustee in the length of continued service. He is also widely
known in military circles as a member of the Ohio Commandery of the Loyal
Legion and of the Army and Navy Post, G. A. R. Religiously he is connected
with the Plymouth Congregational church and has taken a helpful part in its
various activities, serving for many years as one of its deacons. His political
allegiance is given to the republican party and though he has never held an
elective office, he has nevertheless exerted an influence in politics inasmuch as
he has always stood for good government and for anything that opposes misrule
in municipal or national affairs. He is a member of the Cleveland real-estate
board, of which he has been president, and since 1884 he has been connected
with the Cleveland Board of Trade and its successor, the Chamber of Commerce,
in which connection he has labored earnestly toward promoting the
commercial and industrial development of the city. In 1894 he became chairman
of its legislative committee and the following year was elected a director
and first vice president, followed by his election to the presidency in 1896. The
public work that he has done has brought no pecuniary reward and yet has made
extensive demand upon his time, his thought and his energies. Opportunities
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