| Life fact | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ernest Cleveland Firestone |
| Born | November 1, 1886, in Botetourt County, Virginia |
| Parents | Joseph Jackson Firestone and Mary Louise (Palmer) Firestone |
| Spouse | Florence May Strickler |
| Children | Ray Ernest and Joseph Bennett Firestone |
| Primary locality | Botetourt County, Virginia |
| Principal roles | Canning-company owner, poultry producer, builder, and corporate director |
| World War I contribution | Expanded food-canning production in Virginia and Tennessee |
| Religious affiliation | Church of the Brethren |
Genealogy of Ernest Cleveland Firestone
This genealogical account was constructed from the family information contained in the biography below. No relationships or life facts have been added from outside sources.
Ernest Cleveland Firestone was born November 1, 1886, in Botetourt County, Virginia. He was a son of Joseph Jackson Firestone and Mary Louise Palmer Firestone. His father was a farmer in Botetourt County. The biography supplies no earlier ancestry for either parent.
Ernest married Florence May Strickler at Bristol, Virginia, on August 18, 1904. Florence was a daughter of Samuel R. Strickler and Lucy Belle Shay Strickler. No birth information is given for Florence or her parents.
Ernest and Florence Firestone had two children, both born at Nace, Virginia. Their elder son, Ray Ernest Firestone, was born January 25, 1906. Their younger son, Joseph Bennett Firestone, was born June 9, 1917. Both sons later held offices with their father’s Troutville Poultry Farm: Ray Ernest as vice-president and director, and J. Bennett as secretary and director.
Family outline
- Ernest Cleveland Firestone, born November 1, 1886
- Father: Joseph Jackson Firestone
- Mother: Mary Louise (Palmer) Firestone
- Wife: Florence May Strickler
- Father: Samuel R. Strickler
- Mother: Lucy Belle (Shay) Strickler
- Sons:
- Ray Ernest Firestone, born January 25, 1906
- Joseph Bennett Firestone, born June 9, 1917
Source
This biography appeared in History of the Shenandoah Valley: Family and Personal Records, Volume III (Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1952), pages 230-231.
Verbatim biography
The following is a faithful transcription of the original biography. OCR errors have been corrected against the printed page images, but the original wording, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and factual claims have not been rewritten.
ERNEST CLEVELAND FIRESTONE — In business in his own name since 1904, in the canning industry and poultry production, Ernest C. Firestone has assumed a place of significance in the commercial life of Troutville, Virginia. He is president of Troutville Poultry Farm, Inc.; and his thorough familiarity with business procedures has led to his filling a number of directorships. He has ably served his community and his church.
Born in Botetourt County, November 1, 1886, Mr. Firestone is a son of Joseph Jackson and Mary Louise (Palmer) Firestone. His father was a farmer in Botetourt County. There, Ernest C. Firestone attended the public schools, and for three years he was enrolled at Daleville College, where he studied Bible courses.
Mr. Firestone entered the canning business in 1904 as owner of a plant in Nace, Virginia. This plant was operated under the corporate designation of E. C. Firestone Canning Company, and its products were sold under the trade name of “Blue Spring Brand.” Mr. Firestone also opened a plant in Troutville, and this he operated until 1921 when he sold it. He continued operation of the Nace plant, however, until 1949.
In 1919, Mr. Firestone had entered his second important field of endeavor—poultry production. In that year, Troutville Poultry Farm commenced operations. It has continued successfully since that time; and since Mr. Firestone terminated his connections with the canning field, it has been his primary business interest. He is its president; J. Bennett Firestone is secretary and director; and Ray Ernest Firestone is vice-president and director. Also having an interest in construction work, Mr. Firestone has been the builder of various important commercial structures in Troutville. He is a director of the Roanoke and Botetourt Telephone Company, and president of the Virginia Protective Association, a fire insurance company in Troutville. He is also connected with the First National Bank of Troutville.
In connection with his primary business interests, Mr. Firestone is president of the Bristol Chick Hatchery. He is a member, and past vice-president, of the Troutville Lions Club. A communicant of the Church of the Brethren, one of his vital interests is religious work. He has taught Sunday school most of his adult life, and has been superintendent of his Sunday school and young people’s group for many years.
Mr. Firestone’s work during World War I was vital to his country, even though he was not in uniform during that conflict. He expanded his canning enterprises at that time, and in addition to the two factories in Virginia, at Troutville and Nace, he operated three in the state of Tennessee, at Limestone, Afton and Sunbright, canning beans, peaches and tomatoes, and responding to the government’s need for the increased production of foodstuffs. After the first World War, he disposed of his holdings in Tennessee.
At Bristol, Virginia, August 18, 1904, Ernest Cleveland Firestone married Florence May Strickler, daughter of Samuel R. and Lucy Belle (Shay) Strickler. Mr. and Mrs. Firestone are the parents of two children, both born at Nace, Virginia: 1. Ray Ernest, born January 25, 1906. 2. Joseph Bennett, born June 9, 1917.