A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 14

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1156

USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio > Part 14

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EDWARD ORTON, JR.

Edward Orton, Jr., son of Dr. Edward Orton and Mary Jennings Orton, was born in Chester, New York, October 8, 1863, and was brought to Ohio two years later, living first at Antioch College, Yellow Springs. In the summer of 1873, after the death of his mother, the family came to Columbus, which has since been his home. His profession has carried him away on a number of occasions for a year or more at a time, but he has always returned to the city. He pursued his education partly in the public schools of Colum- bus, partly in Wetherell's Business College, and partly in the Columbus high school, finally entering the university, in its preparatory department, in 1877, and graduating with the degree of Engineer of Mines in 1884. Previous to graduation he had been employed during the summer vacation of 1880 as a special agent for the collection of mineral statistics for the tenth census of the United States, traveling on foot and horseback over ten or twelve of the coal- bearing counties of southwestern Ohio; in 1881, on a trip to the mines of Lake Superior; in 1882, as assistant on the Ohio geological survey mapping coal outcrops in Tuscarawas and Coshocton counties ; in 1883 as assistant on the Ohio geological survey, preparing a chapter on "The Clays of Ohio and the Industries Founded upon Them," which appears in Volume V, Economic Geology of Ohio.

After graduation his first commission was the collection, preparation and erection of the geological exhibit of Ohio's resources at the World's Fair at New Orleans in 1884 and 1885. Returning from his visit to the south, which incidentally included a brief visit to Honduras, Central America, in February, 1885, he accepted a position as rodman on the engineer corps of the Columbus & Hocking Coal & Iron Company, with headquarters at Buchtel, Ohio. After six months of surveying, principally in the mines at night, he was put in charge of the task of erecting and finally operating a chemical laboratory, which the company had decided to install, as an aid to the regulation of their five blast furnaces. In the summer of 1886 Mr. Orton was called to Colum- bus in the capacity of chemist of the Columbus Steel Company, an organiza- tion which sprung out of the old Columbus Rolling Mill Company, which had then been idle for some years. He served this company as draftsman for a

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few months, pending the completion of their plant, and as chemist during the whole period of its operation, until the fall of 1887.

His next commission was to undertake, first as chemist and soon after- ward as superintendent, the manufacture of ferrosilicon or high-silicon pig iron at Bessie Furnace, New Straitsville, Ohio. This product had never been regularly produced before in the United States, and when produced had to compete with the Scotch and Belgian ferrosilicons. In this work he was successful, making irons of any desired silicon contents, and thus furnishing a needed object lesson by which the iron manufacturers of the country have been able to make their own supply ever since. In the spring of 1889 Mr. Orton was taken south to Goshen Bridge, Virginia, as superintendent of the Victoria Iron Furnace. This plant, which was a very large one, was erected by English capital, but had been very unsuccessful and had been standing idle for several years at that time. In this position he encountered his first reverse. The repairing of the furnace was greatly delayed, and when started its opera- tions were very irregular. The company became panic-stricken after the first day's run and made a complete change in the management, which carried Mr. Orton out with other officers in the summer of 1889. Refusing to take charge of another blast furnace, Mr. Orton returned to the steel business, in which his Columbus experience had given him a great interest, and from Septmber I, 1889, to September, 1890, he worked in the open-hearth department of the Homestead Steel Works of Carnegie, Phipps & Company, occupying successively almost every position around the furnace from common laborer up. This year's practical work, and this constant association with laboring men on their own level, while not particularly advantageous to either his reputa- tion or financial success. Mr. Orton regards as one of the most profitable ex- periences of his life, giving him a fundamental familiarity with the work of steel manufacture, and a sympathetic understanding of working men, which has been of the greatest subsequent value.

In September, 1890, Mr. Orton accepted a position as the superintendent of the paving-brick factory of the Ohio Paving Company at Columbus, Ohio. The use of vitrified brick pavements in this country had been but recently begun at that time, and suitable men to take charge of the large plants then being constructed for the manufacture of this class of bricks alone were hard to obtain. Mr. Orton's work on the clays of Ohio in 1883 had given him an excellent basis for this position, to which he brought large experience in allied metallurgical lines. His connection with the company lasted until February, 1893, at which time he accepted a position with the Acme Vitrified Brick Company, of Louisville, Kentucky, as superintendent of their extensive plant. Previous to this, in a lull in business, he had sought and obtained a leave of absence of a few weeks, during which he again studied the clay indus- tries of Ohio for the Ohio geological survey, the results of which study com- pose a one hundred and seventy-five-page chapter in Volume VII, Economic Geology of Ohio. This work being written from the standpoint of a practical

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clay-worker as well as chemist and engineer, at once gave him influence and standing among clay-workers of all sorts over the whole country.

In 1893, after visiting the World's Fair, the idea of providing some means for obtaining technical education for clay-workers began to take root in Mr. Orton's mind. His own training as a mining engineer and metallurgist had given him much advantage over the average clay-worker, and his geologi- cal work in the clay industries had shown him how general was the need of even elementary instruction in the application of chemistry, physics and geology to clay-working industries. This idea, growing in definiteness, re- sulted in the preparation of addresses on this subject before the clay-workers' associations of the country. One of those bore fruit in the appointment of a committee, who procured the passage of a law by the legislature of Ohio creating a department in the Ohio State University, where instruction in clay-working and ceramics, including cement and glass, should be specifically provided. To the direction of the department, Mr. Orton was called as the natural exponent of this idea of technical ceramic education, and he returned to his alma mater in this new capacity, in September, 1894, after an absence of just ten years spent in business and engineering work.

The ceramic department, beginning on a small scale, has gradually ac- quired momentum and has now become a very influential factor in the progress of clay-working industries in America. Being the first attempt, outside of Europe, to give instruction on this subject, the new course drew students from all over the United States, even from the distant Pacific coast. Many clay- workers could not at first see where to use or how to apply the trained output of this school, but they soon began to see their way, and the movement is now solidly established as a part of the educational scheme of the country. Other states, recognizing the practical value and good results of the Ohio school, equipped similar departments, notably Iowa, which was the second in the field, and New York, which appropriated twenty thousand dollars in 1900 to equip such a department.

On the death of his father, Professor Orton was appointed, in December, 1899, state geologist of Ohio in his stead, and, after securing appropriations, began, in July, 1900, the prosecution of active work in the survey, which had been inactive since 1893. Besides the administrative work as state geologist, Professor Orton took as his special field of investigation the cement and clay industries, which were immediately germane to his regular work in the university and which permitted him to carry on both positions at once, without prejudice to either.

Aside from the strict line of his professional career, Professor Orton has held several positions of honor and trust : president of the Ohio Institute of Mining Engineers 1893-4, two terms; secretary of the American Ceramic Society from its organization in 1899; president of the Engineers' Club of Columbus, 1899; third vice-president of the National Brick Manufacturers' Association of America in 1897; first vice-president in 1898; secretary of the

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committee on technical investigations, of the same society, 1898 to date; fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1900; and a member of the council of the Society of Colonial Wars for the State of Ohio, 1899-1900.

He was married on the 30th of October, 1888, to Miss Mary P. Anderson, a daughter of Hon. James H. Anderson and Princess Miller Anderson, of Columbus.

ADAM STEPHENS.

Adam Stephens, superintendent of the Green Lawn cemetery, has been a resident of Franklin county since 1832, when, as a boy of six years, he came from Pennsylvania, his native state, with his parents. The Stephens family is of English lineage and was founded in America by the grandfather of our subject. The father, James Stephens, was born in Lancaster, Penn- sylvania, near Carlisle, in the year 1800. He was at one time marshal of Columbus, serving in that position for four years, from 1852 until 1856, hav- ing been elected on the independent ticket with Mayor English. He was a carpenter and builder and had worked for some years on the state house. He died November 23, 1860. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Otstot, was a native of Columbia, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, born in 1802, and a daughter of Adam Otstot, who came from Germany to America when four years of age. For many years he resided in Ohio, dying in Springfield, this state. Several of his sons are located in Clark county, Ohio.

Adam Stephens, of this review, pursued his education in the private schools. Five of his brothers served in the Civil war. William Chambers served for three years and six months in the Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry and died in 1898. Thomas Jefferson was captain of a company of the Fifty- fourth Ohio Volunteers, and now resides in Circleville, Ohio. Cyrus served for one hundred days in the Thirty-third Ohio, and is now living in Colum- bus. George S. was a member of a cavalry company and James was in the One Hundred and Thirty-third Ohio for one hundred days. In 1866 Mr. Stephens was made marshal of Columbus, being the first Republican ever elected to that office, in which capacity he served for one year. For four years he filled the office of trustee of Montgomery township. In politics he has ever been a stalwart Republican, earnestly espousing the cause of the party and doing all in his power to promote its upbuilding and secure its suc- cess. For a third of a century, from March, 1868, until the present time, he has been superintendent of the Green Lawn cemetery. In early life he learned the cabinet-maker's trade and has followed it for twenty-five years, having made over ten thousand coffins in this period. There have been over twenty-three thousand interments in the cemetery during his superintendency. Mr. Stephens has the supervision of the grounds, and his labors have made this city of the dead most beautiful.

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On the 3d of May, 1849, occurred the marriage of Mr. Stephens and Miss Sarah J. Brentnall, a daughter of John Brentnall, of Delaware county. She was a native of England and was brought to America when a little maiden of six summers. She died in 1890, at the age of sixty-one years, leaving five children, who still survive her, namely: Eliza Shepherd is living with her father. Lorin Yerington, who is past chancellor commander of Columbus Lodge, No. 3, K. P., and belongs to Joseph Dowdall's Company, No. 19, Uniformed Rank of the Knights of Pythias. He is a civil engineer by pro- fession and is employed in the Green Lawn cemetery. For the past twenty- two years he has been prominently connected with military matters, was cap- tain of the Boys' Guard about 1867-8, was adjutant of the First Regiment, K. P., Uniformed Rank, for nine years, and held the rank of captain from 1889 until 1897, and is now the first lieutenant of the Columbus Rifles, which was organized in 1898. John James, the next member of the family, is assistant superintendent of the cemetery. Ada is a graduate of the Columbus high school, has been a successful teacher for fifteen years and is now the principal of the Chicago Avenue school, of Columbus. Sherman Finch is a florist and is the proprietor of the greenhouses connected with the cemetery.

For forty-eight years Mr. Stephens has been connected with the Odd Fel- lows society, is a past noble grand, past patriarch and past high priest of Capitol Encampment, No. 6, and a past grand high priest of the grand en- campment of the state. For a number of years he was the district deputy grand master. He became a charter member of Columbus Lodge, No. 3, K. P., was its first chancellor commander and was a representative to the first grand lodge held in Ohio, in 1866. His religious sentiments and mem- bership connect him with the Episcopal church.

GUSTAVUS S. INNIS.

The subject of the present memoir, Gustavus Swan Innis, now num- bered with the dead, was a well known and much esteemed resident of Colum- bus, Ohio, his birth occurring in Franklinton, Franklin county, Ohio, Febru- ary 4, 1819, and his lamented death on January 2, 1899. His father was Henry Innis, one of the pioneers of Franklin county; the mother was Isabel C. (Pegg) Innis, a sister of the well known Joseph Pegg. Henry Innis was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and moved to Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1812, later coming to this county, and about 1820 settling on a farm about five miles north of Columbus, becoming one of the prosperous farmers of his township. The mother died at her daughter's home at Commercial Point, at a very advanced age.

Gustavus S. Innis was reared a farm boy and sent to the district school, where he made rapid progress, and then entered Central College, at which he graduated, under the presidency of Professor Washburn. After leaving college he engaged in teaching, first in the country, but later he took charge of

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a school in what is now South Columbus. One term he taught in Clintonville, in the basement of the old brick church, and this school under his direction became somewhat famous, on account of the progress of the pupils.

Mr. Innis was married March 25, 1845, to Miss Sarah G. Morrill, of Montgomery township, a daughter of Moses and Millie ( Marion) Morrill. Mrs. Innis was born on the farm adjoining the southern limits of the city of Columbus, September 2, 1821, and was the youngest daughter of a family of nine children. Her father was an native of New Hampshire, from which state he emigrated to Vermont and later to Boston, Massachusetts. In 1806 he married, in that state, and in 1812, removed with his family to Franklin county, Ohio, making the long journey in wagons. He reached his destina- tion safely, settling on a farm south of Columbus, which is now a part of the city, and here Mrs. Innis was born and still resides. This land was heavily timbered, but he worked hard and faithfully, finally clearing up the whole tract of two hundred and forty-three acres, putting it into a fine state of culti- vation. Mr. Morrill was widely known among the pioneers, as an enterpris- ing, honest and conscientious man. He died in 1837, upon the farm, his wife surviving until 1858. Both the Morrill and Innis families were old ones in the early settlement of New England, emigrating from Scotland, Ireland and England.

Mrs. Innis was educated in the city schools of Columbus and in Worth- ington Seminary, acquiring a very thorough knowledge of the various branches taught at that time. Following her school days came a season of teaching, when through the country, in the neighborhood, later in the city, she success- fully engaged in this profession, becoming one of the teachers in the school located on Parsons avenue.

Mr. and Mrs. Innis were the parents of five children: Henry Morrill; George Swan, now a professor in Hamline University, at St. Paul, Minne- sota; Isabel C., the wife of Dr. Newton Matthews, of Williamstown, Ken- tucky ; Millie M., the wife of Dr. Charles Bohannon, of Hebron, Licking county. Ohio, and Charles Francis, living at home on the farm.

After marriage Mr. Innis settled on a part of the Morrill farm, carrying on extensive operations, but was never too much engaged to interest himself in politics or in any of the various enterprises which promised good to the com- munity. He was a man of progressive ideas, many of them considered im- practical at that time, but he only lived a little in advance of the age. For two years he acceptably filled the office of warden of the Ohio penitentiary and was appointed superintendent of the Boys' Industrial School, at Lancaster, Ohio. In politics he was an aggressive Democrat, because in all he believed he put his whole heart. Both Mr. and Mrs. Innis were devoted members of the Methodist church, Mrs. Innis having become connected with it in her girlhood. Mr. Innis lived to a good old age, his death being hastened by a fall from a street car. His memory is tenderly cherished by his family and by all with whom he came into intimate acquaintance in life.

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Mrs. Innis is the last of her family, with the exception of one sister, Mrs. Lydia Cookman, the latter having passed her eighty-second birthday. Mrs. Innis, notwithstanding advanced years, is hale and hearty, performing many daily tasks, living in the old homestead with a young lady for a companion. A cheerful disposition and a kind and loving interest in those about her make happy the declining years of this admirable lady.

ALEXANDER DAVIDSON.

Alexander Davidson, now deceased, was born in Hardy county, Vir- ginia, September 20, 1824, a son of Isaac and Mary (Evans) Davidson. The father was a farmer and he, too, was a native of Hardy county, whence he removed with his family to Ohio, arriving in this state about 1830. He set- tled on a farm in Norwich township, now owned by George Van Schoyck, but the tract was then covered with a heavy growth of timber. He made a clearing and built a small cabin of round logs, which he afterward replaced by a more commodious house constructed of hewed logs. Subsequently he sold that farm and purchased land about five or six miles north of Dublin, spending his remaining days thereon. He died in 1853, and his widow after- ward removed to Missouri, where her death occurred in 1863. Their chil- dren were Jane, who became the wife of Obediah Davis and died in Franklin county ; Alexander ; Rhoda, wife of Harvey Fisher, of Missouri; Noah, who died in Missouri; and Azariah, who died in Franklin county.

Mr. Davidson, whose name introduces this record, was reared to man- hood in Franklin county, and acquired a fair education in the district schools. He was brought up to farm work and followed that pursuit throughout his entire life. He was married January 30, 1848, to Miss Lucy Wilkin, who was born in Hardy county, Virginia, December 3, 1825. Her parents were Jacob and Mary Catherine ( Fravel) Wilkin. Her father was born and reared in Hardy county, Virginia, and was a son of George Wilkin, who was twice married, his second union being with Lydia Wise. He died in Virginia, and his wife died at the home of one of her children in Licking county, Ohio. Ja- cob Wilkin was reared to manhood in the county of his nativity and served as a private in the war of 1812, being stationed near Norfolk, Virginia. He wedded Mary C. Fravel, who also was a native of Hardy county, Virginia, as were her parents, Joseph and Annie ( Dellinger ) Fravel. About 1834 Mr. and Mrs. Wilkin came to Ohio, making the journey by wagon. They were about a week upon the way and at night camped out by the roadside. They located near the town of Nashport, in Muskingum county, where they resided for ten years, and then came to Franklin county, settling on what is now the Ezra Dominy farm, which was then a tract of wild land, the only improve- ment on the place being a little log house. Throughout his active business career Mr. Wilkin followed blacksmithing and farming and both he and his wife died in Norwich township. Their children were Reuben, who died in

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Muskingum county, Ohio; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Joseph Francis and died in Jackson county, Kansas; Julia Ann, wife of Daniel Shuler, of Oklahoma; Lucy; Amanda, widow of Elias Fisher, and a resident of West- ville, Ohio ; and Catherine, wife of Hosea Dildine, of Madison county.

Mrs. Davidson was only nine years of age when she accompanied her parents to Ohio. She attended school to a limited extent in Muskingum county, Ohio, and afterward continued her education in a log school house in Franklin county, her first teacher in Norwich township being Mr. Laird. In 1848 she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Davidson and for a few years they resided in Norwich township, after which they removed to a farm of one hundred and fifteen acres in Washington township, the subject of this review there successfully carrying on agricultural pursuits until his death.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Davidson have been born seven children: Arminta, the eldest, is the wife of George Van Schoyck, of Norwich township, Franklin county. Millard married Rachel Britton and resides in Washington township. Mary C. became the wife of George Wilcox and died in Washington township. Ida is the wife of George Mccullough and died in Norwich township. Irena is the wife of George Lanning, of Oklahoma. Perley J., born on the home farm, April 18, 1868, attended the district schools of Washington township, was for three years a student in the high school at Hilliard, pursued a com- mercial course in Ada College and studied stenography in Hudson College at Columbus. After completing his education he went to Buena Vista, Vir- ginia, to learn drafting, but, disliking that work, he returned and has since operated the home farm. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Hilliard, and in politics is a Democrat. Harry, the youngest of the family, died at the age of twenty-seven years.

Mr. Davidson, the father, was an exemplary member of the Masonic fra- ternity, and his political support was given to the Democracy, for he had firm faith in its principles. He died September 21, 1897, respected by all who knew him, and in his death his family lost a considerate husband and father and the community a valued resident.

GEORGE W. MATTHEWS.

The history of a state as well as that of a nation is chiefly the chronicle of the lives and deeds of those who have conferred honor and dignity upon society. The world judges the character of a community by that of its rep- resentative citizens, and yields its tribute of admiration and respect for the genius, learning or virtues of those whose works and actions constitute the record of a state's prosperity and pride; and it is their character, as exempli- fied in probity and benevolence, kindly virtues and integrity in the affairs of life, are ever affording worthy examples for emulation and valuable lessons of incentive. This train of thought is induced by a consideration of the life record of George W. Matthews who is one of the highly esteemed citizens of

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Franklin county-a man of sterling worth and irreproachable character. He is enterprising, charitable and humane, having broad sympathy and a kindly spirit.

Mr. Matthews was born in Wheeling, Ohio county, West Virginia, on the 30th of September, 1837, and has back of him a noble ancestry, of which he has every reason to be proud. His father, Ellzy Matthews, was a pioneer of Franklin county of 1844, in which year he located on the Scioto river, in Perry township. He was a native of Virginia, born at Moundsville, where his early life was passed, and there he wedded Mary M. Hood, a sister of Judge Hood, of Somerset, Ohio, one of the early jurists of the state. Her father, Thomas Hood, was born in Baltimore county, Maryland, and served his country during the war of the Revolution as a drummer in the Maryland troops. He wedded Margaret Crook, and Elizabeth Hood, one of their daughters, became the wife of Rev. James C. Taylor, a native of Baltimore county, Maryland, whose parents became pioneer settlers of New Gibson, Ohio. When he was eighteen years of age Rev. Taylor, accompanied by Rev. J. B. Finley, attended a quarterly meeting. There he became converted, later became a student in Oxford College and soon afterward was licensed to preach. In 1823, at the close of his second year at Oxford, he was received on trial in a traveling connection in the Ohio conference, and was appointed to the Miami district of the Connorsville, Indiana, circuit. He labored faith- fully, wearing out his clothes in the service, purchased a horse for ninety dollars in order to make his church visits, and at the end of his season of work received thirty-three dollars in payment. He continuously rode circuits in the thinly settled regions of Indiana, and in 1826, while on the Black River circuit, he was married to Elizabeth Hood, of Brooke county, West Virginia. He was a very earnest preacher and enthusiastic worker, and the record of his life was indeed a noble one For forty-three consecutive years, with a strong and steadfast heart, he labored untiringly for the Master's cause. He was unassuming in manner, cheerful in disposition, and in his in- tercourse with his fellow men he commanded their respect and confidence and thus reflected credit upon the cause of Christianity. During his last years of work his labors were crowned with a very high degree of success, some three hundred probationers having been taken into the church. Eloquence char- acterized his utterances, and his speeches were often very pathetic. He died March 14, 1866, at the age of sixty-eight years, his birth having occurred on the 2d of April, 1798. Priscilla Hood, another member of the family, married Eli Green and lived and died in Virginia, passing away January 24, 1867. Sarah Hood became the wife of Thomas Bowman and for many years was a resident of West Virginia, where her death occurred. Rachel Hood became the wife of Joseph Brown and located in Washington county, Iowa. The sons of the family included Hon. Charles Hood, a prominent and well known judge of Somerset, Ohio. Dr. J. C. Hood, another son, became a dis- tinguished physician of Newark, Ohio, but is now deceased. He served as a

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A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 14

Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1156

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1156