Wickliffe in Lake County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Harry Coulby
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 2, 2026
1. Harry Coulby Marker
Inscription.
Harry Coulby was born of humble farming parents on January 1, 1865 in Claypole, England. At age 17, he immigrated to Cleveland to realize his dream of sailing the Great Lakes. He did not become a sailor, but instead became the commanding figure in the ore shipping trade. In 1886, Pickands Mather Company employed him, and Coulby, with imagination and a willingness to work, made the movement of ships and cargo his career. Within 20 years, he managed 100 ships, controlling the two leading fleets. He was described as the "Czar of the Lakes," a tribute to his leadership qualities. Adopting President Abraham Lincoln's method of making a point with a story, he became Wickliffe Village's first mayor in 1916. His home, known as Couallenby, became the city hall. Harry died while visiting his birthplace on January 18, 1929, and was laid to rest in the churchyard that he had restored.
Harry Coulby was born of humble farming parents on January 1, 1865 in Claypole, England. At age 17, he immigrated to Cleveland to realize his dream of sailing the Great Lakes. He did not become a sailor, but instead became the commanding figure in the ore shipping trade. In 1886, Pickands Mather Company employed him, and Coulby, with imagination and a willingness to work, made the movement of ships and cargo his career. Within 20 years, he managed 100 ships, controlling the two leading fleets. He was described as the "Czar of the Lakes," a tribute to his leadership qualities. Adopting President Abraham Lincoln's method of making a point with a story, he became Wickliffe Village's first mayor in 1916. His home, known as Couallenby, became the city hall. Harry died while visiting his birthplace on January 18, 1929, and was laid to rest in the churchyard that he had restored.
Erected 2003 by The Di Donato, Ruffner, And Suglia Families; City of Wickliffe; The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 24-43.)
41° 35.777′ N, 81° 28.655′ W. Marker is in Wickliffe, Ohio, in Lake County. It is at the intersection of Ridge Road and Bishop Road, on the right when traveling east on Ridge Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 28730 Ridge Rd, Wickliffe OH 44092, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Cleveland, on the Lake Erie Shore, and in the Western Reserve. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 7, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos:1, 2. submitted on May 7, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
