(1815-1895)

Wilhelm Funk (German/American, 1866-19490

The Union Club of Cleveland

James Hoyt was a successful lawyer and real estate developer known for his honesty in his business dealings as well as for his generosity, especially to the poor and those in difficult circumstances because of unexpected illness or misfortune. Born in Utica, New York, he studied law in Cleveland in the office of Andrews & Foote. Admitted to the bar in 1837, he became a partner in Andrews, Foote & Hoyt until 1848 when the firm became Foote & Hoyt. Hoyt withdrew from the practics of law in 1853 to concentrate on real estate, developing new neighborhoods by purchasing large tracts of land, dividing them into lots, and then selling them for homesteads. He alone was responsible for opening and naming over 100 streets, developing neighborhoods on Prospect, St. Clair, Superior and Kinsman avenues on the east side, and Madison Avenue, Colgate, Lawn and Waverly on the west side. By 1870 he was elected to the State Board of Equalization, and in 1873 was appointed to the Cleveland Board of Public Improvement, in keeping with his interests in public welfare.

Mr. Hoyt was President of the Union Club in 1917.