Charles W. Seiberling

As printed in 1908

CHARLES W. SEIBERLING, treasurer of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, at Akron, and a business man who is largely interested in many successful manufacturing enterprises of this city and vicinity, was born in Norton Township, Summit County, Ohio, not far from Western Star, January 26, 1861, and is a son of John F. and Catherine L. (Miller) Seiberling.

John F. Seiberling was born at Norton, Ohio, March 10, 1834. In the spring of 1861 he moved with his family to Doylestown and thence in 1865 to Akron, with the business interests of which city he was prominently identified until the close of his long and fruitful life. From operating a sawmill at Norton, where he pursued the studies and experiments which resulted in the invention of the agricultural machinery with which his name is still connected, he removed to Doylestown, where better conditions prevailed for the erection of works and manufacture of the inventions which had sprung from his fertile brain. Later for Hke business reasons, he came to Akron, soon after calling his eldest son, Frank A., who is now president and general manager of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, from college to assist in further developing his plans. In 1871 he organized the Akron Strawboard Company, in 1883 he founded the Seiberling Milling Company and in 1889 he gained a controlling interest in the Akron Electric Street Railway. His death took place at Akron, September 3,

In 1878 Charles W. Seiberling, the second son of the late John F. Seiberling, completed the public school course at Akron, and then entered Oberlin College. At that institution he pursued a two-year eclectic course, and then returned to Akron in order to assume the duties of foreman of his father's extensive works where the Empire Reaper and Mowers were manufactured. On the incorporation of the J. F. Seiberling Company, in 1884, Charles W. was elected a director and subsequently became superintendent of the works. In 1896, in association with his father, Mr. Seiberling became interested in the organization of the India Rubber Company, of which his father was elected president, and he became its secretary. He continued with this company for two years in this capacity, and then resigned in order to accept a similar position with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. This company, with which Mr. Seiberling has been identified since 1898, was organized in that year. It is engaged in the manufacture of rubber goods, especially solid and pneumatic carriage and automobile tires, bicycle tires, rubber horseshoes, rubber tiling, golf balls, moulded rubber and rubber specialties. The officers of the company are as follows: F. A. Seiberling, president and general manager; L. C. Miles, vice-president; G. M. Stadleman, secretary; C. W. Seiberling, treasurer; and P. W. Litchfield, superintendent. The goods of this company find a market all over the world. Mr. Seiberling has not confined his attention to the enterprise mention, but has also invested in and promoted other prosperous concerns.

In 1895 Mr. Seiberling was married to Blanche C. Carnahan, and they have four children: Charles W., Jr., T. Carnahan, Lucius Miles and Catherine. They reside at No. 76 Fay street, Akron.

As printed in Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.