Dolph, John Henry (American, 1835-1903)

Location: Off first floor hallway

Loan Courtesy of the Western Reserve Historical Society

An active businessman, Castle along with his father established the first lumber yard in Cleveland. He joined the Cuyahoga Steam Furnace Company in 1840 and remained with the firm for the rest of his life.

While serving as Mayor of Ohio City, Castle helped write the merger agreement between Ohio City and Cleveland in 1854, and was elected Mayor of the merged cities in 1855. His major accomplishments as Mayor included cutting a shorter channel between Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River, opening the river to larger ships, and building a better waterfront. In 1886 he served as delegate to the Republican Convention, nominating General Ulysses S. Grant for the Presidency.