John Park Alexander: Early Akron, Ohio Businessman And Benefactor

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John Park Alexander. 1834 ~ 1908.

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Hello! I'm Mr. Ed

Blog Created: 3-23-2024

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Akron History Vault

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FROM Akron History Vault

October 29, 2021 · Facebook

J. Park Alexander, a truly good man ~

J. Park Alexander was born in Bath Township, Ohio in 1834. He was a teacher, pottery manufacturer and a sheep farmer all at the same time. He also became the owner of two oil refineries. He was an Akron City Councilman for 15-years and also served terms as state representative and state senator. He was also a noted benefactor for Akron.

In 1882 Akron found itself short of funds for several debts. Mr. Alexander, then a councilman, advanced the city more than $10,000 of his own money to cover the city's bills. And he charged no interest on the loans.

The Weekly Beacon newspaper of December 13, 1882 stated in part that the city owed $4,951.53 for pavement work done on East Market Street. But Akron's fund for the project only had $2,069.89. So that the city's credit would not suffer, Mr. Alexander paid the balance of $2,881.64.

The company of Dalamater & Claflin charged $5,536.60 for a paving job on Howard Street for which the city could not pay. Mr. Alexander payed that bill also. Mr. Alexander also payed the street department's payroll for October of that year. He knew that the street workers needed their pay to feed their families. The city re-payed Mr. Alexander from the December taxes collected. Mr. Alexander made the payroll for that same month in the sum of $45,723 for the Buckeye Mower and Reaper Works.

Neptune Park, located across the street from the Alexander home on West market Street, was the first parcel of land bought by the City of Akron during the 1880s to be used exclusively as a park. The park is located on a triangle of land between W Market, Valley and North streets. Neptune Park opened on June 16, 1893. In 1908, Neptune Park was renamed Alexander Park in honor of Akron businessman and politician, the developer of fire-resistant brick and donor of the 15-foot fountain that stood in the park until the late 1920s. The park derived its original name from the carvings of the Roman god Neptune around the base of the fountain. In 2000, the park, complete with a replica of the original fountain, was restored.

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FROM; Find A Grave.com

J.P. Alexander was involved in city, county and state affairs, including 15-years on the Akron, Ohio City Council and terms as a state representative and state senator. He was among those on the Board of Trade who helped to lure B.F. Goodrich to Akron.

He started a pottery business on Canal Street in 1866. It became involved with dozens of other potteries and warehouses in and out of Akron. He was the man that made the first white firebrick in Ohio.

FROM THE AKRON CITY DIRECTORIES:

1868

J. Park Alexander, dealer in stoneware, home - W. Market St.

1875

J.Park Alexander, manufacturer - stoneware, sewer pipe, fire brick, etc., Canal St., between Market & Cherry Sts., home - ss Market St., opp. intersection of Aqueduct & North Sts.

1881 DIRECTORY same as 1875.

1885 DIRECTORY same as 1875.

1889

Hon. J. Park Alexander, propr. - Diamond Brick Works, mfr. of fire brick & dealer in oils, office & works - 134 to 148 S. Canal St., home - 574 W. Market St.

J. Park Alexander, (Martha D.), home - 574 W. Market St.

ALSO FROM THE 1895 DIRECTORY:

The J. Park Alexander Brick Co., H.B. Sperry, propr., Diamond Fire Brick Works, manufacturer of Silica fire brick for iron and steel works, high grade fire brick for sewer pipe kilns, potteries, etc., office & works - 134-148 South Canal Street.

1900 DIRECTORY same as 1895.

1905

Hon. J. Park Alexander, (Martha D.), home - 422 W. Market St.

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From a column dated May 25, 1985, by James S. Jackson, Former Akron Beacon Journal Newsman:

J. Park Alexander. Early manufacturer of fire brick and stoneware, later an operator of oil refineries.

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Parents:

THANKS TO Angela for the following information:

Ann Hamilton Scott was the great-great-grandmother of famed author Jean Fritz.

In 1786, Arthur Scott and his older brother, Samuel, bought 175 acres near Buffalo Creek, in Hopewell Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, about 1 1/4 miles from the PA-VA (now WV) line. Here, after their marriage in 1789, Arthur and Ann Hamilton Scott lived until their deaths.

In 1831, their daughter, Mary, and her husband, John Alexander, Jr., moved to a farm in the frontier settlement of Bath, Ohio, a few miles north of Akron.