SUMMIT COUNTY OHIO *********************************************************************** File contributed & permission given for use in the Ohio Biographies Project by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman <73777.25@compuserve.com> & the submitter From the The OHGenWeb Archives http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/oh/ohfiles.htm a part of The USGenWeb Archives http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Gina Reasoner greasoner@prodigy.net ldjdd@wcoil.com 16 October 1999 *********************************************************************** * History of Ohio The American Historical Society, Inc., 1925 Volume III, page 337 CHARLES WILLARD SEIBERLING. This name has been identified with the industrial activities for which the Seiberling family have been famous at Akron for a period of forty years. His father, the late John F. Seiberling, began manufacturing farm machinery about the time Lincoln was elected and the Civil war started, and Charles W. Seiberling became foreman in his father's factory in 1880. Concerning his father, one of the notable figures in Ohio industry, more is said on other pages of this publication. Charles Willard Seiberling was born at the old home of the family in Summit County, January 6, 1861. Four years later his parents established a home in Akron, where he grew up, attending the public schools, and for two years was a student in Oberlin College. Following this came his experience as foreman in his father's factory, and in 1884 he was made one of the directors of the J.F. Seiberling company. For several years he acted as superintendent of this company, and in 1896 joined his father in the organization of the India Rubber Company, which he served as secretary two years. For over a quarter of a century he has been one of the prominent figures in the development of Akron as "the Rubber City." In 1898 he became secretary of the newly organized Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, of which he was made treasurer in October, 1906, and vice president in February, 1909. In 1922 he resigned as vice president and manager of purchases for the Goodyear Company, to become vice president and manager of purchases for the Seiberling Rubber Company. His great business ability and his eminent spirit of helpfulness to all worthy causes have brought him numerous honors and responsibilities in his home city. He is a director of the Akron National City Bank, the Citizens Building and Loan Company, the Macendonia Northfield Banking Company; was president in 1917, and is a member of the Akron University Club; was president in 1918 of the Akron Chamber of Commerce; is a member of the Portage Country Club, Rotary Club, City Club, Fairlawn Golf Club, Mayfield Country Club of Cleveland, Untied States Chamber of Commerce, Ohio Society of New York, and is a director of the Barberton Chamber of Commerce. Probably his chief hobby is improvement of the public health service. He is trustee and treasurer of the Springfield Sanatorium, is a trustee of Akron City Hospital, Akron Children's Hospital, Akron Young Women's Christian Association, Better Akron Federation, Barberton Citizens Hospital, the boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of Akron. His home is "Old Acres," Northfield. Mr. Seiberling married, November 18, 1895, Miss Blanche C. Carnahan, daughter of the late Theophilus Carnahan, who was a merchant at Findlay, Ohio. Mrs. Seiberling in 1908 organized at Akron the Woman's Home School League, and has been the guiding spirit in making that a force for education in many states, with a total membership now of more than eight thousand. Mr. and Mrs. Seiberling have four children: Charles Willard Jr., Theophilus Karnaghan, Lucius Miles and Catherine M. Theophilus is now connected with the sales department of the Seiberling Company. Charles W. Jr., is in the rubber brokerage business at Akron, member of White, Seiberling & Company. During the World war he was sergeant in the Three Hundred and Thirty-second Infantry, one of the two American regiments sent to the Italian war front. He married Miss Cecil Valarge, of London, England. _________________