Read more about his career on this Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_G._Batchelder.
He and his wife, Judge Alice Batchelder, still own a house on East Smith Road in Medina.
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| William Batchelder Photo is from a screenshot of a YouTube Video |
2. Martin Van Buren Bates - k. A giant among men.
Captain Martin Van Buren Bates was literally a giant, measuring 7 feet 5 inches tall. He and his wife Anna settled in Seville and became known as The Giants of Seville.
5. Elsie Bennett-Wilson - p. Local library promoter.
Here is more information on this influential Medina woman: https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2015/03/elsie-bennett-wilson.html
6. H.G. Blake - o. Started Old Phoenix Bank.
Pick up any Medina history book and you will find entries on H.G. Blake. Starting the Old Phoenix Bank was just one of his accomplishments. Read more about his life: https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2017/04/hg-blake.html
8. Peter Cherry - c. Medina historian and author.
Almost forgotten now, Peter Cherry was once the go-to person for Medina and Summit county history. He wrote The Western Reserve and Early Ohio (1921) and The Portage Path (1921) and this article from The Medina Gazette:
9. Sidney Fenn - t. Medina Educator and Principal.
The Fenn Elementary School is named in his honor. Learn more about him at: https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2017/09/who-was-sidney-fenn.html
10. Rufus Ferris - r. Pioneer & land-sales agent.
Rufus was the land agent for Elijah Boardman, who owned most of Medina Township. He tragically died while trying to save others' lives during a cholera epidemic. Learn more here: https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2017/06/rufus-ferris-medina-pioneer.html
12. William D. Frazier - w. Historic marathon walker.
Confession time - I forgot who William Frazier was, even though I wrote this blog about him:
https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2016/06/william-bill-frazier-medina-legend-you.html
13. Sadie Green - e. An early Medina health nurse. Just not the first!
Often listed as Medina's first county health nurse, Sadie Green held that position from 1924 to 1935. Two other women were Medina Health nurses before her: Constance Hanna, 1920-1922, Miss Musse, 1922-1924. Read more about Sadie's life in this blog: https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2015/03/sadie-green.html
14. Letha House - j. Medina benefactress.
The Letha House Foundation has donated to numerous worthy causes in Medina County. If you want a short account of her rags to riches story, check out this blog: https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2016/12/letha-e-house.html
For a thorough examination of her life, I can highly recommend this book by Joann King:
https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/me-main/search/results?qu=letha%20house&te=
15. Sophia Huntington-Parker - x. founded the Pythian Sisters Home in Medina.
Demolished now, the home once stood at the end of Homestead on Huntington Street.
Read more about the lady who founded the home here: https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2017/08/sophia-huntington-parker-pythian.html
16. Amos Mears - u. Businessman & cemetery sponsor.
When Mears left his entire estate to the Friends of the Cemetery, they decided to name their new Memorial Building after him.
His life is covered here: https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2015/06/amos-carlton-mears.html
18. Judge Albert Munson - A spiritualist.
The Munson family were spiritualists and held seances in their home. William McKinley, James Garfield and Abraham Lincoln are among the spirits they claimed to have talked with. Munson is one of the few well-known Medina characters that I haven't done a blog on, yet. Stay tuned for that!
19. Pete Rademacher - f. An Olympic gold medal boxer.
Rademacher was a champion boxer of the 1950's. Around Medina, he was just as well known for riding his one wheel motor cycle in parades. My coworker Lisa did a blog on Pete here:
https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2016/02/pete-rademacher-1956-olympic-gold.html
20. A.I Root - i. Father of modern beekeeping.
Seriously? If you don't know A.I. Root is, you need to check out his candle store on West Liberty...
The man and his company were covered in this blog:
https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2017/06/a-i-root-company.html
23. Franklin Sylvester - n. Paid for first Medina Library.
Franklin Sylvester was a Granger Township cattleman, who was childless. A friend urged him to follow the example of Andrew Carnegie and donate money to build a library in Medina. And he did. His blog entry is here: https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2016/10/franklin-sylvester.html
24. Edith Thomas - b. Chatham poet.
Edith was a renowned American poet who was born in Chatham. I admit that I would never have heard of her except for my friendship with Frank Munz, late Chatham historian. But she has her own Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_M._Thomas
25. Mel Wiley - s. Missing Hinckley Policeman.
He disappeared in 1985 from Edgewater Park where he went to meet friends for swimming. He left his car, his keys, his clothes and his wallet behind. And he hasn't been seen since. He was declared dead in 1993. Google his name to find the many theories about his disappearance.
How many did you get right??
SOURCES:
Captain Martin Van Buren Bates was literally a giant, measuring 7 feet 5 inches tall. He and his wife Anna settled in Seville and became known as The Giants of Seville.
 |
| Captain Bates next to an ordinary man. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia. |
3. Sylvia Beach - h. Missing Wadsworth girl.
Sylvia was a young woman who went missing in the wild country around Wadsworth in 1823. Read more about her on this blog: https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2016/08/missing.html
Sylvia was a young woman who went missing in the wild country around Wadsworth in 1823. Read more about her on this blog: https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2016/08/missing.html
4. Wilda Bell - q. 1st Black woman on Medina City Council.
Learn more about her inspiring life here:
Learn more about her inspiring life here:
 |
| Photo from Wilda's obituary at Waite & Son |
5. Elsie Bennett-Wilson - p. Local library promoter.
Here is more information on this influential Medina woman: https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2015/03/elsie-bennett-wilson.html
6. H.G. Blake - o. Started Old Phoenix Bank.
Pick up any Medina history book and you will find entries on H.G. Blake. Starting the Old Phoenix Bank was just one of his accomplishments. Read more about his life: https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2017/04/hg-blake.html
 |
| Old Phoenix Bank, undated, from Bob Hyde's Beyond the Storefronts web site. The bank was one of the first buildings constructed after the 1870 fire that destroyed much of uptown Medina. It rose from the ashes like a Phoenix. It was a Medina landmark for well over 100 years until the bank was sold first to First Merit and later to Huntington Banks. |
7. John W. Brown - a. Ohio Governor from Medina.
Sure, he was only Governor for 11 days, but he didn't let that slow him down! Here's more info: https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2017/03/medinas-governor.html and on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_William_Brown
Sure, he was only Governor for 11 days, but he didn't let that slow him down! Here's more info: https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2017/03/medinas-governor.html and on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_William_Brown
8. Peter Cherry - c. Medina historian and author.
Almost forgotten now, Peter Cherry was once the go-to person for Medina and Summit county history. He wrote The Western Reserve and Early Ohio (1921) and The Portage Path (1921) and this article from The Medina Gazette:
 |
| Medina County Gazette 9 August 1935, section 2, page 3. Article by P. (Peter) P. Cherry, a local Medina historian. Cherry inflated the number of troops involved. |
9. Sidney Fenn - t. Medina Educator and Principal.
The Fenn Elementary School is named in his honor. Learn more about him at: https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2017/09/who-was-sidney-fenn.html
10. Rufus Ferris - r. Pioneer & land-sales agent.
Rufus was the land agent for Elijah Boardman, who owned most of Medina Township. He tragically died while trying to save others' lives during a cholera epidemic. Learn more here: https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2017/06/rufus-ferris-medina-pioneer.html
 |
| Historic marker outside the house that Ferris built on what is now North Broadway |
11. Michael Foreman - l. NASA astronaut.
Who knew Medina County boasted their own NASA astronaut? Friends and family of Michael Foreman who grew up in Wadsworth. Read about his career on Wikipedia here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Foreman_(astronaut)
Who knew Medina County boasted their own NASA astronaut? Friends and family of Michael Foreman who grew up in Wadsworth. Read about his career on Wikipedia here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Foreman_(astronaut)
12. William D. Frazier - w. Historic marathon walker.
Confession time - I forgot who William Frazier was, even though I wrote this blog about him:
https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2016/06/william-bill-frazier-medina-legend-you.html
13. Sadie Green - e. An early Medina health nurse. Just not the first!
14. Letha House - j. Medina benefactress.
The Letha House Foundation has donated to numerous worthy causes in Medina County. If you want a short account of her rags to riches story, check out this blog: https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2016/12/letha-e-house.html
For a thorough examination of her life, I can highly recommend this book by Joann King:
https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/me-main/search/results?qu=letha%20house&te=
 |
| Local author, Joann King wrote this imminently readable account of Letha's life. |
15. Sophia Huntington-Parker - x. founded the Pythian Sisters Home in Medina.
Demolished now, the home once stood at the end of Homestead on Huntington Street.
Read more about the lady who founded the home here: https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2017/08/sophia-huntington-parker-pythian.html
16. Amos Mears - u. Businessman & cemetery sponsor.
When Mears left his entire estate to the Friends of the Cemetery, they decided to name their new Memorial Building after him.
 |
| https://www.cleveland.com/medina/2016/05/friends_of_medinas_spring_grov.html |
17. Ray Mellert - y. Businessman & sports booster.
Ray Mellert was another Medina businessman and huge booster of local sports. He has a city park named for him on Huntington Street. Read about Ray in this blog: https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2017/05/ray-mellert.html
Ray Mellert was another Medina businessman and huge booster of local sports. He has a city park named for him on Huntington Street. Read about Ray in this blog: https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2017/05/ray-mellert.html
18. Judge Albert Munson - A spiritualist.
The Munson family were spiritualists and held seances in their home. William McKinley, James Garfield and Abraham Lincoln are among the spirits they claimed to have talked with. Munson is one of the few well-known Medina characters that I haven't done a blog on, yet. Stay tuned for that!
19. Pete Rademacher - f. An Olympic gold medal boxer.
Rademacher was a champion boxer of the 1950's. Around Medina, he was just as well known for riding his one wheel motor cycle in parades. My coworker Lisa did a blog on Pete here:
https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2016/02/pete-rademacher-1956-olympic-gold.html
20. A.I Root - i. Father of modern beekeeping.
Seriously? If you don't know A.I. Root is, you need to check out his candle store on West Liberty...
The man and his company were covered in this blog:
https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2017/06/a-i-root-company.html
21. Chuck Schodowski - g. Beloved Cleveland TV personality.
Better known as "Big Chuck" of the "Big Chuck and Little John" TV Show. He was a Hinckley resident for many years. Tell the truth! How many of you looked for Dick Goddard's name in the list? Read more about his 43 years in Cleveland television here: https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/me-main/search/results?qu=big%20chuck%20my%20favorite&te=
Better known as "Big Chuck" of the "Big Chuck and Little John" TV Show. He was a Hinckley resident for many years. Tell the truth! How many of you looked for Dick Goddard's name in the list? Read more about his 43 years in Cleveland television here: https://search.clevnet.org/client/en_US/me-main/search/results?qu=big%20chuck%20my%20favorite&te=
 |
| Chuck wrote about his many years on TV. |
22. Frederick Streeter - v. Only man hung in Medina.
Convicted and hung for murdering the Shubil Coy family, the evidence presented in court would not be enough to convict him today. Did he do it?
https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2015/12/did-he-do-it.html
Convicted and hung for murdering the Shubil Coy family, the evidence presented in court would not be enough to convict him today. Did he do it?
https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2015/12/did-he-do-it.html
 |
| Frederick Streeter Photo in the Medina Library's Collection |
23. Franklin Sylvester - n. Paid for first Medina Library.
Franklin Sylvester was a Granger Township cattleman, who was childless. A friend urged him to follow the example of Andrew Carnegie and donate money to build a library in Medina. And he did. His blog entry is here: https://mcdlgenealogyspot.blogspot.com/2016/10/franklin-sylvester.html
 |
| Franklin Sylvester as a younger man. From the Medina Library Collection. |
24. Edith Thomas - b. Chatham poet.
Edith was a renowned American poet who was born in Chatham. I admit that I would never have heard of her except for my friendship with Frank Munz, late Chatham historian. But she has her own Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_M._Thomas
25. Mel Wiley - s. Missing Hinckley Policeman.
He disappeared in 1985 from Edgewater Park where he went to meet friends for swimming. He left his car, his keys, his clothes and his wallet behind. And he hasn't been seen since. He was declared dead in 1993. Google his name to find the many theories about his disappearance.
How many did you get right??
- Screen capture of William G. Batchelder speaking to the City Club of Cleveland on January 7, 2011 City Club of Cleveland - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzoLlFwzzTM
- Beyond the Storefronts http://www.medinasquare.org/southside-public-square-3547?rq=old%20phoenix
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