USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908, Vol. II > Part 1
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Gc 977.101 R39b v. 2 1195078
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
EN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02398 6695
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/historyofrichlan02baug
1
Propertyof carl thrush ausfield plico 1 RID/ 2.
HISTORY
OF
Richland County
OHIO
FROM 1808 TO 1908
By A. J. BAUGHMAN
Also Biographical Sketches of Prominent Citizens of the County
ILLUSTRATED
GC
977.101
2396
1.2
VOL. II.
CHICAGO: THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING CO. 1908
1195078
medlond 25.00 /20015
BIOGRAPHICAL
HON. MARTIN B. BUSHNELL.
Hon. Martin B. Bushnell is a prominent citizen of Mansfield whose life of activity and straightforward purpose and successful accomplishment has made him one of the most honored residents of this, his native city. He was born July 13, 1837, and is a representative of one of the old and promi- nent pioneer families of Ohio. The Bushnells have figured in connection with the upbuilding of the state since 1805 and have been widely and promi- nently known in Richland county since 1820, in which year Sterling G. Bushnell, the grandfather of Martin B. Bushnell, settled in Vermilion town- ship. The ancestral history is one distinctively American in both its lineal and collateral branches for many generations. Francis Bushnell, the founder of the family in the new world, sailed from England in the early part of the seventeenth century and remained a resident of Connecticut until his death in 1646.
The family had been represented in Richland county for eight years when in July, 1828, Dr. William Bushnell, father of Martin B. Bushnell, became a resident of Mansfield. He left the impress of his individuality upon the public life of the city in many ways. He displayed marked ability in professional labors and was also prominent in public affairs and successful in finance. His fellow townsmen called him to public office and in the forty- ninth, fiftieth and fifty-eighth general assemblies he represented his district in the state legislature. While a member of the assembly he was associated with the Hon. Henry B. Payne, General E. R. Eekley, Hon. Harvey Rice, Hon. John F. Follett and others who later attained national distinction. Dr. Bushnell was a man of keen discernment, clear in his reasoning and from known conditions deducted logical conclusions. These qualities were manifest in his legislative career and he did important work in connection with important constructive legislation. His ambitions, however, were not in political lines, but citizenship was to him no idle word and when his fellow townsmen expressed a desire that he serve them in public office he did not hesitate. His life, too, exemplified the expression of Grover Cleveland that "a public office is a public trust" and he gave in unstinted measure of his
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ability, time and labor for the benefit of his constituents and the best interests of the commonwealth. After three terms in the assembly, however, he declined further political preferment and resumed the practice of medicine. He always regarded this as his life work and made it a field of service for his fellowmen, actuated in all of his professional duties by a broad humanitarian- ism and most earnest desire to serve those among whom he lived. Full of years and honors, he passed away at the age of ninety-four, his life record being terminated on the 13th day of January, 1894. His memory, however, is yet sacredly cherished by those who were his colleagues and associates while he was still an active factor in the affairs of life.
Martin B. Bushnell is fortunate in that he has back of him an ancestry honorable and distinguished and is happy in that his lines of life have been cast in harmony therewith. Like his father, he has cared little for official honors and emoluments, although he was once democratic candidate for state senator and on that occasion-1897-polled a vote far in excess of the general ticket. A life-long resident of Mansfield, he was educated in its public schools and in Norwalk Institute at Norwalk, Ohio, and Dennison University at Granville, this state, spending the year 1852 as a student in the former and the year 1856 in the latter institution.
Entering upon his business career, he was first employed as salesman in the dry-goods store of Scattergood & Penrose and later represented in a similar capacity the book houses of Ticknor & Sturges and Ticknor & Bowland. He passed from this position to that of clerk in the ticket office of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad Company at Crestline, Ohio, and through the period of the Civil war was connected with train service. Successive promotions followed as he became a clerk in the freight department, afterward in the yardmaster's office and still later a conductor between Crestline and Pittsburg. In the last named capacity he at first had charge of a freight train but his ability soon gained him recognition in an appointment as conductor of the finest and fastest express and passenger train. He was one of four conductors chosen by the superintendent to run special trains promptly to handle government business in both small and large consignments. After four years' service on the road Mr. Bushnell accepted the general agency at Mansfield, Ohio, for the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad, then known as the Broad Gauge Line, now a part of the Erie system. Accepting the position of general agent of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway, operated by the Pennsylvania Company, Mr. Bushnell continued in that position for many years at Mansfield. He also became connected with important business enterprises of the county, especially as a representative of its financial interests. He was the cashier of the Rich- land National Bank, of Mansfield, and a director in both the Mansfield Savings Bank and the Richland Savings Bank. A little thoughtful con- sideration of his career will indicate something of his constantly expanding powers and developing executive ability and administrative force. He is now numbered among the capitalists of the city as the result of well conducted business affairs and judicious investment. His entire business career has been actuated by a fidelity of purpose and unfaltering integrity of methods
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that has made his name an honored one among those with whom he has been associated, while his course has won him the admiration of all who know aught of his career.
His business record would alone entitle him to representation among the prominent residents of Richland county but there is another side to his nature which is well known to his fellow-citizens, not because of any ostenta- tion or display but because his labors have been of so beneficial a character in charitable and benevolent lines. In 1899 he was appointed by Governor Bushnell a delegate to the National Society of Charities and Corrections at Austin, Texas, and Governor Nash in 1901 selected him to serve as a delegate to a similar convention at Washington, D. C. He was appointed by the governor a trustee of the Columbus State Hospital at Columbus, Ohio, which is said to be the largest in the world. He has brought to bear in his work in these connections not only ability similar to that manifest in his business career but also the broad humanitarian spirit which prompts earnest and effective effort for the amelioration of hard conditions of life for mankind.
In municipal affairs Mr. Bushnell has been deeply interested and his co-operation has been an important factor in many movements of municipal progress and improvement. He served for twelve years as a director of the public schools and advocated substantial advancement in methods of instruc- tion. He has been a trustee of the Mansfield cemetery and has from the beginning been a commissioner of the Sherman-Heineman Park. Whatever tends to promote the city's development along lines of material, intellectual, moral or aesthetic progress finds in him an active cooperant. In 1900 he presented to the city a monument to the memory of John Chapman and in so honoring a fellowman his name became inseparably associated with this gift to the city, which is now seen in Middle Park. Chapman was a unique figure in the development of Pennsylvania and Ohio, widely known as Johnny Appleseed from the fact that he labored so earnestly for the develop- ment of orchards through the distribution and planting of apple seeds that those who came after him might enjoy the fruits of his sowing. Mr. Bushnell thus recognizing the beauty of a life that lived not for its own time but for a future generation as well, erected a monument to John Chapman and it was dedicated under the auspices of the Richland County Historical Society. This is but one of many instances of Mr. Bushnell's broad spirit and generous nature. He has never allowed the accumulation of wealth to in any way affect his relations to those less fortunate than himself. He judges a fellow- man by his character and not by his possessions and as the years have gone by he has won a place for himself in the hearts of his fellow townsmen that makes him a worthy successor of an honored father and will cause the name of Bushnell to be revered in Mansfield for years to come.
Mr. Bushnell united with the Congregational church of Mansfield carly in life and has ever since been a faithful and consistent member of the same, regularly attending its services, contributing to its support and living a life consistent with his Christian profession. Mrs. Bushnell is also a member of the Congregational church, and is noted for her goodness of heart and her exemplary Christian life.
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On the 28th of July, 1908, Mr. Bushnell was unanimously elected an honorary member of Mclaughlin Post, No. 131, G. A. R., of Mansfield. He has held many positions of honor, trust and responsibility, in the discharge of the duties of which he has ever shown inflexible integrity, which early secured for him the full confidence of the people. He has an enviable popu- larity, is interested in publie improvements and is liberal in his views and with his means.
Mr. Bushnell is a gentleman of fine sensibility and polished manner, and is the very soul of honor. He is stanch in principle, clear in perception and decided in character. He deserves the good things which have come to him and the high character for probity which years of business and social acquaintance have brought him.
Few men can look back over the vista of years and view a better record than the one enjoyed by the subject of this sketch, who now, in the golden time of matured manhood is held high in the esteem of his fellow citizens and has the affection of his associates and co-workers for the betterment of mankind.
GEORGE W. GEDDES.
There are few men whose lives are crowned with the honor and respect which was universally accorded Judge George W. Geddes, but through long connection with the history of Richland county and the state his was an unblemished character. He was one of the world's workers, assisting materially in laying the foundation for the stability, progress and substantial growth of his home locality and the commonwealth.
George W. Geddes was born July 16, 1824, in Knox county, Ohio, but in his childhood days was brought to Richland county by his father, James Geddes, and was here reared to the age of fifteen pursuing his education in the public schools. On putting aside his text-books he returned to Mount Vernon, where he accepted a clerkship in the employ of James Huntsberry, a promi- nent merchant of that city, and that he was most faithful and capable is indicated by the fact that he remained there for about six years, or until nearly twenty-one years of age. He did not care to make merchandising his life work, however, for it was his desire to become a member of the bar and to this end he devoted all of the hours which are usually termed leisure to familiarizing himself with the text-books of that profession. He had thereby gained considerable knowledge of the law when he entered the office of Hon. Columbus Delano as a student. Under his direction he made rapid progress in his studies, so that at the end of a year he was admitted to the bar and well qualified, entering upon active practice.
In November, 1845, Mr. Geddes came to Mansfield to begin his professional career and had his first trial brought before a justice of the peace, with James Stewart, then one of the leading lawyers of Mansfield. Mr. Stewart was so favorably impressed with his young opponent's skillful management of the
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case that he urged Mr. Geddes to locate in Mansfield. This he did and for two years had his office with Mr. Stewart, after which he became his law partner in 1847. The relation was maintained until 1850 and was then terminated by the fact that Mr. Stewart was elected judge of the court of common pleas. Mr. Geddes then entered into partnership with Jacob Brinker- hoff, with whom he was associated until Mr. Brinkerhoff was elected to the Supreme bench of Ohio, in 1855. The following year Mr. Geddes received the democratic nomination for common pleas judge, with his former law partner and benefactor, Judge Stewart, as his opponent. The election showed that Judge Geddes was the choice of the people, and in 1861, at a district convention of the democratic and republican parties, he was renominated and reelected without opposition. In 1866 he became a candidate for the third term, but at this election was defeated by seventeen votes, although he ran five hundred votes ahead of his ticket-a fact which indicated his personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens. Not long after this the legislature created an enactment providing for an additional judge in this judicial subdistrict and Judge Geddes was again nominated and elected in 1868. Upon the expiration of his third term he retired permanently from the bench and resumed the practice of law. His course on the bench had been in harmony with his record as a man and also distinguished by the utmost fidelity to duty and by a comprehensive understanding of the legal principles involved. In 1872 he was placed in nomination by the democracy of Ohio for supreme court judge, but the entire state ticket was defeated that year.
When Judge Geddes again took up the practice of law he formed a part- nership with Moses R. Dickey and John W. Jenner, under the firm style of Geddes, Dickey & Jenner. Mr. Dickey was later elected to the common pleas bench, while Mr. Jenner became a judge on the circuit bench of this judicial district. On the expiration of Judge Dickey's official term the partnership relations between him and Judge Geddes were resumed. The firm was a very strong one and enjoyed a most extensive clientage. Few lawyers have made a more lasting impression upon the bar of the state, both for legal ability of a high order and for the individuality of a personal character which impresses itself upon a community. Of a family conspicuous for strong intellects and indomitable courage and energy, Judge Geddes entered upon his career as a lawyer, and such was his force of character and natural qualifications that he overcame all obstacles and wrote his name upon the keystone of the legal arch of his district.
Judge Geddes was, moreover, a man of marked influence in political circles in Ohio. In June, 1878, a democratic convention of the fifteenth congressional district, comprising the counties of Coshocton, Holmes, Knox, Richland and Tuscarawas, met at New Philadelphia and after a session of three days failed to nominate a candidate. An adjournment was taken and the convention reassembled at Mt. Vernon, July 31, and after a deadlock con- tinuing through that day and the day following, reconvened Friday, August 2, and resumed balloting with the one thousand one hundred and eleventh ballot. Colonel R. Burns was the Richland county candidate. After the twelve hundredth and fiftieth ballot had been taken Judge Geddes was brought
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out as a compromise candidate and he received the nomination on the twelve hundredth and fifty-fifth ballot and was elected by a large majority over G. A. Jones. In 1880 he was nominated in the fourteenth congressional district and was elected over Colonel S. E. Fink. In 1882 he was again nominated in the fourteenth district and overcame a large republican majority, defeating Rollin A. Horr, while in 1884 he was nominated in the sixteenth district and defeated the Honorable H. C. Hedges. While a member of congress he took an active part in all the work that was done in the council chambers of the nation, gave careful consideration to each question which came up for settlement and opposed or supported every measure, as he saw fit, with the whole strength of his nature.
In 1848 Mr. Geddes was married to Miss Nancy Lemon, of Ashland county, and to them were born three sons: S. L., now deceased; James I., living in Joplin, Missouri; and George M., deceased. After the death of his first wife, which occurred December, 1880, Mr. Geddes married Mrs. Amelia B. Gass, the widow of Colonel Isaac Gass, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. The death of Judge Geddes occurred November 9, 1892, and thus passed away one of the most honored, respected and valued citizens of Richland county. He gained distinction as a lawyer and jurist and also as a statesman, striving to build up for the benefit of the people and to insure the country's national progress, believing that nations, like men, cannot stand still; they must go forward or backward; they cannot go backward without decay, therefore it is imperative that they go forward. Judge Geddes was conspicuous as a public officer who was always at his post of duty and always at work, and no public official has been more faithful to the trust reposed in him by the people. His manly characteristics are of the solid and practical, rather than of the ostenta- tious and brilliant, order. He was especially strong in intellect and capable of reaching safe, reasonable and prudent conclusions. His life was varied in service. constant in honor, fearless in conduct and stainless in reputation.
GEORGE MITCHELL, M. D.
The name of Dr. George Mitchell, as borne by father and son, has been an honored one in connection with the medical profession in Mansfield since 1846. It has furthermore been a synonym for professional honor as well as ability. There is perhaps no calling so little commercialized as is the medical profession, and while not without that laudable ambition for success which should be a characteristic of every business man, both father and son have been well known for their broad humanitarianism in connection with the performance of professional service.
The Mitchell family was established in Washington county, Pennsyl- vania, in colonial days and there John Mitchell, the grandfather of him whose name introduces this review, was born. He aided the colonies in achieving their independence and reared his family in that locality. His son, Dr.
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George Franklin Mitchell, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in May, 1808. His home was amid the beautiful hills of western Pennsyl- vania, in a district of many historic associations. It was in that part of the country that the early contentions for supremacy between the English and French occurred and there for many decades savagery and civilization were in contention as the red and white races sought dominion over the land. In the same locality Braddock fell and Washington began his career. It was a district, too, noted for its literary culture, for it was the seat of many institu- tions of learning. In such an atmosphere Dr. George F. Mitchell was reared. Determining upon the practice of medicine as his life work, he began study- ing under one of the able physicians of Pittsburg and subsequently entered the Cincinnati College of Medicine, from which he was graduated about 1830. Ere leaving Pennsylvania he was married in Fayette county, that state, to Miss Nancy De Vatte, a daughter of John De Vatte, who belonged to an old French Huguenot family that on being driven from France by relig- ious persecution sought refuge in Ireland, while subsequently a removal was made to America.
Dr. George F. Mitchell was twenty-three years of age when in 1831 he removed from Pennsylvania to Olivesburg, Richland county, Ohio. There he practiced as a country physician, making long rides to distant points in the interests of those who needed his professional service. He became recognized as one of the ablest practitioners of medicine in the county and in 1846 he removed to Mansfield, where he continued an active follower of the profession until his life's labors were ended in death. He kept constantly abreast with the progress made by the medical fraternity, was most careful in the diagnosis of disease and put forth his utmost effort for the restoration of health. whether his patient belonged to the class of substantial citizens or was one from whom he could expect no pecuniary reward. After making his round of professional visits on the morning of March 31. 1869, he returned home and began trimming his vines and trees. While thus engaged death came to him almost instantly and he passed away March 31, 1869, at the age of sixty-one years, but left behind him a memory which is still honored and cherished by those who knew him. One of his friends said of him: "He was a portly man in his bearing, dignified in character. learned in his pro- fession, careful in his practice, courteous, prudent, ever pursuing the safe course, taking nothing for granted without the most searching inquiry and examination, and his success was such as might be looked for in such a con- scientious man, and so skillful and careful a physician. When the great war came on Dr. Mitchell had passed the half century of life. His ripe experience, great medical learning and masterly skill would have been of great service to the country had he been able to respond to the invitation of the surgeon general of Ohio and enter the military service. His close pressing engagements at home and duties he owed to the community in which he had so long lived, controlled his judgment, and wisely, and he could respond only when emergencies demanded short terms of service. After the battle of Shiloh he went to the front. After the conflicts and contests of the armed battalions in the valley of Virginia he gave his time
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and skill to the soldiers of the Union. How shall we measure Dr. G. F. Mitchell? He was a fearless, conscientious man, doing and daring always to do right. Active in the church of his choice,-the Methodist Episcopal,- and one of that brotherhood on whose great seal is emblazoned the command to 'visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead, and educate the orphan,' it was the great ambition of Dr. George F. Mitchell to serve well his day and generation and to bless humanity."
Dr. Mitchell had a family of six children, but two sons and a daughter passed away ere the father's death. His son, Dr. Milton Mitchell, a young man of much promise, died in early manhood. Nannie is the wife of H. M. Parker, a well known Ohio educator, and William is now manager of the Western Union Telegraph Company at Mansfield.
Dr. George Mitchell, who has closely followed in his father's footsteps, not only in his professional service but in those walks of life displaying keen intellectuality and high principles of manhood, acquired his literary education in Delaware county, where he was graduated at the age of eighteen years. Determining upon the practice of medicine as a life work, he afterward matriculated in the Medical College of Ohio, now the medical department of the Cincinnati University, where he won his professional degree in the spring of 1862. He had just completed his medical course when in April he entered the army as assistant surgeon of the One Hundred and Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, remaining at the front until after the close of hostilities actively engaged in service for the sick and wounded. He was commissioned the surgeon of the One Hundred and Eighty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry but would not leave his own regiment. He had charge of nine hospitals and there are many who have reason to bless him for his timely aid, his ready sympathy and his ability in professional lines.
Following his return home Dr. Mitchell engaged in practice with his father until the latter's death in 1869 and for five years thereafter was in partnership with Dr. William Loughridge, who passed away in 1874. He has since practiced alone and is today one of the oldest physicians in years of continuous connection with the medical fraternity of Mansfield. He has remained in constant practice here for forty-three years and has done other professional service of importance, filling the position of professor of materia inedica and therapeutics at Wooster College in Cleveland for several years, acting as a trustee of the central insane asylum at Columbus during the construction of the building and serving for several terms as president of the pension board. Over a quarter of a century ago he was selected as a trustee of his alma mater-the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware-and is still on the board. He has been a constant student of the principles and practices of medicine and surgery and through wide reading and investigation has kept in touch with the methods of those who are most prominent in the profession. He has held high ideals in his chosen life work and commands the unqualified respect, confidence and regard of his professional brethren. He belongs to the State and to the Northwestern Medical Associations and is an active member of the American Medical Association, to which he has been sent as a delegate.
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