A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 15

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 15

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surgeon in the army during the Civil war, being attached during the greater part of the time to Grant's command. In this duty he was associated with his son, Dr. Thomas B. Hood. After the war the latter became dean of Howard University, in Washington, D. C., and was medical referee in the pension department for sixteen years. He died in 1900.

Mrs. Matthews, the mother of our subject and the other member of the Hood family, was born in Baltimore county, Maryland, and during her girl- hood accompanied her parents on their removal to Brooke county, West Vir- ginia. In 1802 her father came to Pickaway county, Ohio, but the wildness of the country discouraged him in his resolve to make a home in this state and he returned to Virginia.

In the year 1844 Ellzy Matthews, the father of our subject, came to Frank- lin county, Ohio, bringing with him his wife and three children, together with their household effects, the journey being made with teams and two wagons. In January, 1843, he had made the trip on horseback, prospecting for a loca- tion, and had selected one hundred acres of land adjoining the farm upon which his son, George W., now resides. For this he paid eleven dollars per acre. It had been improved to some extent, and after taking up his abode thereon in 1844 Mr. Matthews continued the work of development and progress, mak- ing his home there throughout his remaining days. He was a successful farmer and accumulated a large estate, his landed possessions comprising nearly three hundred.acres. He was identified with public affairs in the town- ship, giving his political support to the Democracy, and was an ardent adherent of its principles. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Matthews were born the following named : Margaret, who became the wife of Washington Mateer; George W .; and Mary, who became the wife of W. H. Davis and died soon after her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Matthews held membership in the Methodist church and through a long period were exemplary Christian people who showed forth their faith and works in their daily life and instilled into the minds of their children the principles of honesty and uprightness. The father died in April, 1876, at the age of seventy-six years, and the mother passed away in May, 1881, in her seventy-sixth year. He was a prominent Mason.

George W. Matthews, whose name forms the caption of this review, was only six years of age when his parents located in Franklin county, Ohio. He acquired a good education in the public schools of the neighborhood and remained with his father and mother until they were called to the home beyond. On the 27th of September, 1860, he was united in marriage to Miss Nancy McCoy, a daughter of James and Ziporah McCoy, honored pioneer people of the county. From 1844 until the present time Mr. Matthews has resided in Perry township. In 1881 he took up his abode upon the farm which is now his home, and in that year erected thereon a commodious brick residence. His home is modern in all its appointments and equipped with the latest im- proved conveniences. It is tastefully furnished, has attractive and pleasant surroundings and gives evidence of the culture and refined tastes of the in-

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mates. The farm comprises two hundred and fifty-six acres of valuable land, which is highly improved, the richly cultivated fields being the visible evidence of the enterprising spirit of the owner. His property interests also include another farm in Perry township.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Matthews have been born five children, namely : Mary L., now deceased; Flora, wife of George Purdum; Charles H .; Mar- garet, who has also passed away; and Ellzy. Mr. Matthews has been quite prominent in political interests and has held the office of township trustee for fourteen years, while for thirty years he has been a member of the school board. He affiliates with the Democracy and is unswerving in his advocacy of the party platform. Socially he is connected with New England Lodge, No. 4, F. & A. M., of Worthington, and has attained the Royal Arch degree in his chapter. Through many years he and his wife have been consistent and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are exemplary Christian people. Kindness, amiability and courtesy not only characterize his social relations but are a marked factor in his business life. Honesty and integrity are synonymous with his name, and in every relation in which he has been placed he has been found true and loyal to the trusts reposed in him. It is not because of special prominence in public affairs that he has and is justly entitled to the respect and confidence of his fellow men, for his per- sonal qualities are such as to make men esteem and honor him.

ROBERT McCOY.

The name of McCoy has figured prominently in connection with the de- velopment and substantial upbuilding of Franklin county through almost an entire century. Robert McCoy, whose name introduces this review, became a resident of the county about 1810, locating on the east side of the river, in Franklinton. Two years later, in 1812, he purchased sixty acres of land, upon which his grandson now resides. He came to this county from Penn- sylvania, but was a native of Ireland, whence he crossed the Atlantic to the new world in an early day, taking up his abode in Lancaster county of the Keystone state. On the maternal side, however, he was of Scotch lineage. His mother bore the maiden name of Mary Love and was a native of the land of hills and heather, but became a resident of the Green Isle of Erin when a little maiden of five summers. After arriving at years of maturity Robert McCoy was married, on Christmas day of 1802, to Miss Nancy Douglas, who was born in Scotland, in 1781. With their two sons, James and Hugh, they came to Ohio, and subsequently five other children were added to the family. The second son, Hugh, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1808, and married Lydia Burns. He came to Ohio with his parents in 1810, and for many years resided in Franklin county, but afterward removed to Indiana, where his death occurred. Mary Ann, the eldest daughter of the family, became the wife of William Feltner. Eliza married Abraham Hunter; Nancy

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became the wife of Joseph Godown. Catherine died aged eighteen years; Rebecca married Daniel Barker. Sarah became the wife of Alexander Har- per, and after the death of her first husband married Abraham Stout. After locating upon his farm in Perry township Robert McCoy there made his home until his death. He was a successful agriculturist, becoming the possessor of a large property. He died July 25, 1841, at the age of sixty-nine years, and his wife passed away March 27, 1860, at the age of seventy-nine years. She was a woman of deep religious convictions and held membership with the Methodist Episcopal church.

James McCoy, the eldest son of Robert McCoy, was born in 1805, in Pennsylvania, and married Ziporah Richards, of Franklin county. They be- came the parents of five children, as follows: Nancy, now the wife of George Matthews; Lois, deceased; Ebenezer; Porter J .; and Robert. . Both Mr. and Mrs. McCoy spent nearly their entire lives in Perry township, and for many years he served as a trustee, filling the office in a most capable and ac- ceptable manner. His farming interests were well managed and brought to him a good financial return. His death occurred in 1880, when he had at- tained the ripe old age of seventy-five years, and his wife passed away Septem- ber 14, 1872. Their son, Robert McCoy, was their eldest child and is the present representative of the family upon the old homestead. He was born in this township, in 1834, and acquired a common-school education of a very practical nature. In 1862 he was united in marriage with Sarah Latti- mer, and their union has been blessed with eight children, of whom seven are yet living, namely : Glennie, Bertha, James, John, Edgar, Robert and Flor- ence. The home farm comprises one hundred acres of land, which is richly cultivated, and the well tilled fields indicate to the passer-by the supervision and progressive spirit of the owner. He is one of the practical and reliable farmers of Perry township and a man of sterling worth.

JOSEPH A. JEFFREY.

The manufacturing interests of Franklin county have no more worthy representatives than Joseph A. Jeffrey, president of the Jeffrey Manufactur- ing Company, of Columbus, and a man who has been actively connected with various other business enterprises to the benefit of all. There is no man in Columbus who occupies a more enviable position than does Mr. Jeffrey in industrial and financial circles, not alone on account of the brilliant success he has achieved but also on account of the honorable, straightforward business policy he has ever followed. He possesses untiring energy, is quick of perception, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution, and liis close application to business and his excellent management have brought to him the high degree of prosperity which is to-day his.

Mr. Jeffrey was born at Clarksville, Clinton county, Ohio, January 17, 1836. His father, James Jeffrey, was a native of Monmouth county, New

JOSEPH A. JEFFREY.

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Jersey, and was a farmer and trader. He married Angeline Robinson, a daughter of David Robinson, one of the early settlers of Warren county, Ohio, who was well known at Lebanon. Joseph A. Jeffrey passed his school days at St. Mary's Ohio, where he completed his education in the high school, after which he spent four years as a clerk in a general store. Later in life he removed to Columbus, where he soon secured a position in the office of Rickley & Brothers, private bankers. There he remained until 1866, in the various positions of bookkeeper, teller and cashier, and in the year mentioned he left the capital city and removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he engaged in the wholesale and retail carpet and furnishing business until 1869, as a member of the firm of Rickley, Howell & Company, having a fourth interest in the con- cern. He disposed of his interest in the carpet business to J. J. Rickley, and returned to Columbus, where, in connection with S. S. Rickley, then of the firm of Rickley & Brother, bankers, he organized and established the Com- mercial Bank at High and Long streets, now the Commercial National Bank.

A year later Mr. Rickley sold his interest in the Commercial Bank to Orange Johnson and F. C. Sessions, these gentlemen, with Mr. Jeffrey forming a general partnership under the name of the Commercial Bank, with Mr. Sessions acting as the president, while Mr. Jeffrey became cashier. He held that position until 1883, when he disposed of his interest to Mr. Sessions and acquired a controlling interest in the Lechner Mining Machine Company of Columbus. This enterprise was incorporated in 1878, with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, which has since been increased to three hundred thousand; and Mr. Sessions, who was previously connected with Mr. Jeffrey in the banking business, became the first president, but was succeeded by Mr. Jeffrey, who has since been the president and general manager of the enter- prise. The company has been known successively as the Lechner Mining Machine Company, the Lechner Manufacturing Company and the Jeffrey Manufacturing Company.

The scope of its operations has been broadened a good deal in the suc- cessive stages of its history and it now manufactures all kinds of heavy mining and electrical machinery, which is shipped throughout the United States and to foreign countries. The company has an extensive manufacturing plant, housed in large stone and brick buildings and employs from eight hundred to nine hundred men, a large majority of whom of necessity are skilled workmen, as some of the machinery turned out requires the highest possible finish. The plant covers about thirteen acres of ground and is located on the tracks of the Big Four Railway system, which affords first-class shipping facilities. The company manufactures electrical machinery, dynamos, motors, under-cutting coal-mining machines, electric and air-power drills, chain belting, elevators, conveyors, rope transmissions and coal washing and crushing mach nery. The efforts of Mr. Jeffrey have not been confined alone to one line, for his opinions carry weight in business circles generally, where he is known as a man of sound judgment and unquestioned ability. Since 1883 he has been

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a stockholder in the Commercial National Bank of Columbus, and he is also a stockholder in the Ohio Trust Company, a director in the Franklin Insurance Company and is connected directly and indirectly with many other business enterprises of Columbus.

Mr. Jeffrey was united in marriage to Miss Celia C. Harris, a daughter of Joseph and Deborah (Clark) Harris, the wedding being celebrated on the 2d of October, 1866. They now have six children: Minnie G., Florence, Robert H., Agnes, Joseph Walter and Malcolm Douglas. The eldest son, Robert H., is assistant general manager of the Jeffrey Manufacturing Com- pany. Joseph Walter is a student in Williams College in Massachusetts and the youngest son is a student in the Trinity Hall school at Washington, Penn- sylvania. The eldest daughter, Minnie G., is a graduate of Gannett Institute, of Boston, Massachusetts, and is the wife of R. G. Hutchins, the vice-president of the Jeffrey Manufacturing Company. Florence was graduated in Smith College, of Northampton, Massachusetts, and is now the wife of William Wilson Carlysle, a lawyer of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Agnes is a grad- uate of Smith College and is now the wife of Frederick Shedd, of Columbus.

Mr. Jeffrey served for five years as a trustee of the Protestant Hospital of Columbus and is a trustee of the Woman's Hospital of this city. He is a director and trustee in the First Congregational church, of which he and his wife are members. He likewise holds membership in the Columbus Club, the Arlington Country Club and the Middle Bass Club, of Lake Erie. In politics he is an outspoken Republican. His business career has been indeed very creditable, having established his present business, the Jeffrey Manu- facturing Company, and mainly through his efforts and direction having seen it grow from a very small beginning, the employment of a half dozen men, to its present large proportions with a capital and surplus of one million, two hundred thousand dollars, employing about nine hundred men, demon- strating the truth of the saying that success is not the result of genius but the outcome of a clear judgment and experience.

LOUIS SIEBERT.

Louis Siebert, one of the enterprising, wide-awake and alert business men of Columbus, has through many years been identified with industrial and com- mercial concerns which have contributed in a large measure to the substantial upbuilding of the city, and the high success which he has achieved is an indi- cation of the power of energy, of capable management and of laudable ambi- tion in the business world.

Mr. Siebert was born in Frankfort on the Main, Germany, in 1830, but since the 15th of July. 1834, has been a resident of Columbus. His father, Henry L. Siebert, a soldier in the wars against Napoleon Bonaparte, came with his family to America in 1833, locating in Somerset, Perry county, Ohio. In Columbus he established a grocery and bakery, which he conducted until

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his death in 1842. In his youth Louis Siebert pursued his education in public and private schools, and when a young man he learned and became connected with the business of bookbinding and the manufacturing of blank books and stationery. Twenty-seven years he was identified with that line of trade and established the firm of Siebert & Lilley. They did an extensive business, their establishment being one of the largest of the kind in the entire state. Their sales and shipments constantly increased and the enterprise therefore proved a very profitable one. In 1892, however, Mr. Siebert retired from the business with which he had so long been associated, but did not entirely sever his connection with commercial and financial enterprises. He is now a director in the Ohio National Bank, in the Edison Electric Light & Power Company, and in the Ruggles-Gale Company, a bookbinding enter- prise. He is also a director in the Dahlonega Consolidated and Standard Gold Mining Companies of Dahlonega, Georgia.

In 1864 Mr. Siebert was united in marriage with Miss Sarah, a daughter of Henry B. Van DeWater, who was a well-to-do and highly respected citizen of Columbus, but is now deceased. Their son, Albert H. Siebert, who is the manager of the press rooms of the Spahr & Glenn Printing & Publishing Company, married Miss Cora Malone. The second son, Professor Wilbur H. Siebert, is a graduate of the Ohio State University, of Harvard College, and afterward continued his studies in the Universities of Frieberg and Ber- lin, Germany. He now occupies the chair of European history in the Ohio State University. He married Miss Annie Ware Sabine, of Marysville, Ohio, the only daughter of Hon. Hylas Sabine.

Socially Mr. Siebert is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He belongs to the King Avenue Meth- odist church, of which he is one of the trustees, and is liberal in his contribu- tions to church and charitable work. In business affairs he is energetic, prompt and notably reliable. He was watchful of all the details of his busi- ness and of all indications pointing toward prosperity. He has gained wealth, yet it was not alone the goal for which he was striving; and he belongs to that class of representative American citizens who promote the general pros- perity while advancing individual interests.

OSCAR W. SCOTT.

Oscar W. Scott, a well known farmer of Franklin township, was born in Short Creek township, Harrison county, Ohio, November 13, 1853, and is a son of George W. Scott, who was a native of the same county and came to Franklin county in 1872, locating at Camp Chase, where he was the first postmaster. He here established a notion and grocery store and continued as postmaster for ten years. In Harrison county he had taken considerable interest in public affairs, and at one time was defeated for a seat in congress by just one vote. His political convictions were in accord with the Repub-

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lican party and he upheld them until the time of his death, at the age of sev- enty-eight years. The mother of our subject belonged to the Hoopes family, which first located in America in 1683, David Hoopes, a Quaker, locating in Westchester county, Pennsylvania, where the family continues to the pres- ent day. Ann Hoopes was born in Harrison county, Ohio, in 1815, and was a daughter of Jacob Hoopes, who had come west from Westchester county, Pennsylvania. In the former place she met and married the father of our subject, living to be an aged woman, her death occurring in 1897. Three of the children born of this union survived to maturity : Thomas A. ; Georgia, who married Dr. John S. McBean; and our subject.

Oscar W. Scott was educated in the district schools, later attending Franklin College, following which he learned the printing business. Receiv- ing a scholarship in the Ohio State University, he passed one year at that insti- tution, coming then to assist his father in the store and postoffice. At that time Camp Chase postoffice was second only to London on the Columbus, London & Springfield Railroad, between Columbus and Springfield. Until 1883 Mr. Scott remained with his father, but at that time the store was dis- continued and he engaged in farming. He has an interest in twenty acres on West Broad street, also one hundred acres where he lives, besides a half interest in Scott Brothers' addition to the city of Columbus.

Mr. Scott was married, in 1886, to Miss Emma Haldy, the estimable daughter of Frederick and Louisa Haldy, whose sketch appears upon another page of this work. She is the youngest member of her family and was born in 1865. Two bright little daughters have graced this union,-Ora Bell and Flora Lou.

In politics Mr. Scott has always upheld the principles of the Republican party, taking part in its councils and being a delegate to many conventions. He was also on the state board of supervisors for elections and has acted as the clerk of the election board. Socially he is connected with the order of Odd Fellows. He is a man much esteemed in the community and has always followed a line of conduct looking toward the improvement of his town and county.

CHARLES C. SWISHER.

From the earliest period of Ohio's development the Swisher family has borne its part in the work of advancement and progress, so that the name is inseparably interwoven in the history of that portion of the commonwealth in which they reside. People of the present period can scarcely realize the struggles and dangers which attended the early settlers; the heroism and . self-sacrifice of lives passed upon the borders of civilization : the hardships endured ; the difficulties overcome. Those tales of the early days read almost like a romance to those who have known only the modern prosperity and convenience. To the pioneer of the early days the struggle for existence,

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far removed from the privileges and conveniences of city and town, was a stern, hard one, and those men and women must have possessed wisdom, immutable energies and sterling worth of character, as well as marked physical courage when they thus selected such a life and successfully fought its battles under such circumstances as prevailed in the west.

John Swisher and his family came to Ohio from Sussex county, New Jersey, in the year 1805, and settled in Fairfield county, where they remained until 1807, when they came to Madison township, Franklin county. Mrs. Swisher bore the maiden name of Mary Peterson, and upon her father's land northeast of the present site of Groveport Mr. Swisher and his family located. He afterward removed to the school section, where he resided for more than forty years, and afterward took up his abode in Dublin, Franklin county, where he spent his remaining days. His first wife died in 1836 and he after- ward married Mrs. Shepherd, of Washington township. Of his family, six children lived to a period past seventy years of age, namely: Jacob, who spent his entire life in Madison township; Thomas, who spent the greater part of his life in Crawford county, Ohio, and there died; Frederick, who also resided in Madison township; Fama, the wife of Absalom Peters, of Walnut township, Pickaway county, Ohio: Mrs. Maria Minor, of Hamilton township, Franklin county ; John, who died in Litchfield, Illinois; and Mrs. Hoover, the youngest, a resident of Bucyrus, Ohio.

Jacob Swisher, the eldest of this family, was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, July 5, 1803, and was twice married. He wedded Miss Eliza Scothorn, who died a year later, and his second wife was a daughter of Philemon Needels. During the greater part of his life Jacob Swisher resided upon a farm in Franklin county and in addition to the cultivation of his fields he engaged in buying and selling live stock. On a number of occasions he walked to Baltimore, there marketing a drove of hogs, and also returned on foot. In 1840-I he engaged in the pork-packing business in Groveport. His second wife died in 1862 and his death occurred on the Ist of December, 1890. They had nine children.

Henry Clay Swisher, the eldest, was born in Madison township, January 8, 1837, and long resided upon the home farm, making improvements thereon, including the erection of a substantial residence in 1874. He was married on the 18th of December, 1866, to Miss Jennie Nau, a daughter of Jacob and Margaret Nau. Her father was born July 14, 1820, in Prussia, Ger- many, and with his parents came to this country when ten years of age. He was married, on the 20th of November, 1843, to Miss Margaret Bradley, and unto them were born seven children, four sons and three daughters. The mother died May 5. 1856, at the age of thirty-one years, and Mr. Nau afterward married Miss Amanda Hickle, on the 3d of February, 1867. Her death occurred January 15, 1890. Jacob Nau came to Madison township, Franklin county, in 1856, from Fairfield county. Of his children, three sons and two daughters reached mature years and two of the sons were educated

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in Lebanon, Ohio, and afterward were graduated in Miami Medical Col- lege, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The youngest son pursued his education in Worth- ington, Ohio. One daughter is the wife of A. M. Brown, of Groveport, and the other became the wife of Henry Clay Swisher.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Swisher were born eight children, seven of whom are living,-four sons and three daughters. The eldest, Ella Maxa, was born November 2, 1867, and on the 3Ist of December, 1895, became the wife of O. P. Crist, a son of Samuel Crist, an early settler of Madison township. Charles Clay is the next younger. Walter was born December 25, 1870, and died on the 9th of January, 1871. Edgar Allison was born January 23, 1872, was married, December 2, 1896, to Miss Alice Snow, of Hardin county, Ohio, and is now engaged in the drug business in Milledgeville, Fayette county, Ohio. Anah Alice, born December 16, 1873, and Emma Florence, born December 13, 1878, are successful school-teachers in Frank- lin county. Amy Margaret, born August 14, 1881, is now a student in the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. Jacob Wilbur, the youngest of the family, was born December 13, 1883, and is now a student in the high school at Delaware, this state.

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A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 15

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