Procters in Glendale - Glendale Heritage Preservation

The Procters in Glendale

The development of Glendale had begun ten years earlier as America’s first planned railroad commuter town. It offered rail access to Ivorydale and downtown and was supposedly safe from cholera, a disease that ravaged crowded cities.

W. A. Procter and his wife, Charlotte Elizabeth (1838-1903), had five children and left an indelible mark on Glendale. Their children were: Marianna who married Mortimer Mathews, Wm. Cooper who married Jane Eliza Johnston, Olivia who married Rev. Cleveland Benedict, Elsie who married Rev. Paul Matthews, and Bessie who married Ralph Rogan. All of these couples lived in Glendale at least for a while.

Left to right, back row: Marianna Matthews (married to Mortimer), Wm. Cooper Procter, Jane (Jean) Johnston Procter (Married to Wm. Cooper), Olivia Benedict, Cleveland Benedict, Bessie Rogan, Elsie Matthews (Married to Rev. Paul).
On steps left to right: Ralph Rogan, Rev. Paul Matthews, Mortimer Matthews

In 1861 William Alexander Procter, son of the founding partner, bought multiple acres, built a beautiful home and moved from downtown Cincinnati to Glendale.

Their home, “The Oaks”, was a large frame house with all of the amenities of country living.

Always thinking of the village, W.A. contributed this fountain to refresh humans and horses in 1894.

The Olivia House, used for ancillary activities at Christ Church, was donated by Mr. Procter in honor of his mother in 1889.

In 1915 the Procter children donated the stone bell tower, new bells and a clock for the parish dedicated to their parents.

In 1915 the Procter children donated the stone bell tower, new bells and a clock for the parish dedicated to their parents.

When W. A.’s daughter, Olivia, married Rev. Cleveland Benedict and became the rector of Christ Church, Mr. Procter had the original rectory; a large frame building built in 1875, moved down the street to 940 Forest in 1903 and financed the building of a new stone rectory.