Clan William: The Gentholtz Clan: Arthur John Gentholts

Capt Thomas Munson > Samuel Munson > Samuel James Munson > William Munson > Samuel II Munson > Freeman Munson >  Marietta Munson > John Gentholts > Arthur John Gentholts 

The children of Jacob Gentholtz, German immigrant, and Marietta "Mary" Munson were a fairly interesting bunch. High achievers to criminals, they  did anything from following their family's farming roots to being captains of industry.

Today, I'll be talking about the only child of  John R. Gentholtz (later Gentholts) and his wife, Jennie Day.

Arthur J. Gentholts was born  08 Mar 1894 in Alliance, Mahoning County, Ohio. He achieved a high level of success and status in his life. He attended East High School in Alliance, Ohio and then

Baldwin-Wallace College and then the old Cleveland Law School before entering the Army as a Sergeant Major and later as a Lieutenant in the early Air Corps during World War I.

He married Ora Murdoch, daughter of Mr & Mrs D. C. Murdoch on 08 Jun 1918 in Alliance. After his service, he joined Bourne-Fuller Co. as counsel in 1919. The firm merged with Republic Steel in 1930 and Arthur became its assistant counsel. A good part of the work he did there was handling legislative matters important to Republic Steel across the country. Republic Steel had a subsidiary company, Truscon Steel, at which Gentholts became vice president. He also was the former president of Republic's River Terminal Railway Co.

During World War II, Arthur served as a member of the Ohio Defense Council, which coordinated defense activities in Ohio with federal agencies. He later left Republic and became the president for three years of the Ohio Manufacturers Association and as director for 10 years.

The trappings of success allowed them to live in an exclusive neighborhood in Shaker Heights, outside of Cleveland at 17403 Fernway Rd. As their children, Norris and Jane grew up, they were afforded the opportunity to move in the upper circles of society, belonging to the country club and participating in activities there.

Arthur died in Cleveland on 02 Aug 1965 and his wife Ora lived on until 18 Dec 1984, dying in Aurora, Portage, Ohio.

Norris J. Gentholts was born 09 Aug 1919 in Cuyahoga County. He married Elizabeth "Becky" Bechtol in Jun 1942 in Cuyahoga County. They had three children. Norris attended Amherst College in New York and his wife Becky attended at nearby Wells College. He served in the Navy beginning in 1942 and attained the rank of Lieutenant (JG). After service, he worked as an industrial rep for Glidden Co. He later began a new career as business manager for Western Reserve Academy. The couple retired to Florida and later moved to Montana prior to their deaths. Becky preceded Norris in death on 02 Nov 2009 in Bozeman, Montana. Norris died 18 Aug 2010 at the age of 91.

Daughter Jane married first William E Davis III who served in World War II and then attended law school. They divorced after having three children. Jane then married James Dolph McCarter., a divorced father of three. Jane lived a long life and died in Silverdale, Kitsap County, Washington on 03 Jul 2010. Her second husband died on 31 Dec 1984 in Cleveland. William Davis died 22 Aug 1984 after a long career as an attorney specializing in estate and trust planning.

Clan William: The Gentholtz Clan: John R Gentholts & Clara Gentholtz Gaither

Capt Thomas Munson > Samuel Munson > Samuel James Munson > William Munson > Samuel II Munson > Freeman Munson >  Marietta Munson > John R Gentholts and Clara Gentholtz Gaither

The eight children of Jacob Gentholtz, German immigrant, and Marietta "Mary" Munson were a fairly interesting bunch. High achievers to criminals, they did anything from following their family's farming roots to being captains of industry.

Today, I'll be talking about John R. Gentholtz (later Gentholts) and his sister, Clara Gentholtz Gaither, just two of the clan.

John R. Gentholts was born about 1849 in Lordstown, Trumbull County, Ohio. He married Jennie Day Saxon in 1890 in Lawrence, Pennsylvania. Jennie had a child from her first marriage, Percy Saxon, born about 1878. John and Jennie then had a son, Arthur John Gentholts, who I will cover in another post. He came along in 1893 while they lived in Alliance, Mahoning County, Ohio. John worked for the railroad in several capacities, including baggage master and passenger conductor.

Clara Gentholtz was born 22 Mar 1861 in Champion, Trumbull County. She married James E Gaither, a native of Virginia in about 1876. They lived in the Youngstown area and had five children before James died 09 Jan 1891 in Youngstown. Clara remarried James Moffit, with whom she had no children. Clara died in 1940 in Warren, Trumbull County. Her second husband preceded her in death in 1916.

John's wife, Jennie Day's son Percy resided with them in both the 1900 and 1910 census, but I suspect there was a break there for the time he was married.. Somewhere in there, he married Clara's daughter Marietta Gaither, with whom he had a child, Mildred Helen Saxon born about 1904. Sadly, both Marietta and Percy died very young. She at 28 in 1909 and he at age 33 in 1911. His will is available which allowed me to make this connection and I can't help but think he died of illness since his will (28 Mar 1911) was made so close to the date of his death (17 May 1911).

His mother, despite being named guardian of Mildred, did not have Mildred living in her home in either the 1910 or 1920 Census. Mildred resided with her other grandmother, Clara Munson Gaither.

By the 1930 Census, Mildred was married to William R. Holmes of McKeesport, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and they had five children; one of whom died in infancy. Unfortunately, I'm struggling to find her death, but her husband William died in 1985.

Text of the Percy Saxon will reads:

I, Percy D Saxon, of the City of Cleveland, County of Cuyahoga, and state of Ohio, being about 33 years of age and of sound and disposing mind and memory, do make, publish and declare this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and annulling any and all will or wills by me made heretofore:
First: My will is that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid out of my estate as soon after my decease as shall be found convenient.
Second: I give and bequeath to my beloved brother, Arthur J Gentholts my watch and chain.
Thirdly: I give, devise, and bequeath all the rest of my property, both real and personal to my beloved daughter Mildred Helen Saxon to be hers absolutely.
Fourthly: I hereby appoint  KS Johns executor of this my last will and testament and herby request that no bond be required and that no appraisal be made of my estate.
Fifthly: I hereby appoint my beloved mother, Jennie K Gentholts, guardian of this person and estate of my beloved daughter Mildred Helen Saxon and hereby request that no bond be required and that my beloved mother as guardian have full power to do as she desires in th matter and affairs of the person and estate of my beloved daughter until she becomes of age.
In testimony whereof, I have set my hand to this my last will and testament, at Cleveland, Ohio, this 28th day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and eleven.
Percy D Saxon

John R Gentholts died 10 May 1931 in Cuyahoga County and his wife Jennie Day Saxon Gentholts died 24 Feb 1942. They both were residing in Shaker Heights with son Arthur and family at the end of their lives.

MRS JOHN R GENTHOLTS
Services for Mrs Jennie Day Gentholts, 88, widow of John R Gentholts, a passenger conductor for the New York Central System for 42 years, will be at 2 pm today at Charles Melbourne & Sons funeral home, 12737 Euclid Avenue, East Cleveland. She died Tuesday at Charity Hospital.
Born in Deerfield, Ohio, she came here as a child. Later she moved to Alliance, Ohio, and lived there for a few years before returning here 37 years ago. She lived at 17403 Fernway Road, Shaker Heights.
Surviving are a son, Arthur J., assistant counsel for the Republic Steel Corp; two sisters, Mrs Jessie McConnel and Mrs Florence Kingsbury of Alliance, and two grandchildren, Norris J. and Jane Ann Gentholts.
Date: Thursday, February 26, 1942   Paper: Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio)   Page: 6
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