USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio > Part 16
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Charles Clay Swisher, whose name introduces this record, was born in Madison township, Franklin county, on the 19th of February, 1869, and in his youth attended the public schools near his home. Later he was grad- uated at the Groveport high school, at the age of nineteen years, and subse- quently pursued a post-graduate course at Reynoldsburg, Ohio. In the fall of 1888 he began teaching in the country schools and followed that profes- sion in Franklin county for several years. He always held a high-class certificate and was a very successful instructor, giving excellent satisfaction in every district in which he was employed.
On the 27th of February, 1896, Mr. Swisher was united in marriage to Miss Luda E. Chaney, of Canal Winchester, Franklin county, Ohio, the eldest daughter of Edward and Eliza A. (Tallman) Chaney and a grand- daughter of the Hon. John Chaney, one of the early pioneers of Franklin county. Mr. and Mrs. Swisher now have two interesting children : Helen E., who was born May 27, 1898; and Marcus Henry, born June 4, 1900.
Since 1893 Mr. Swisher has been engaged in farming upon the fine farm that was owned by his father, and has placed the land under a high state of cultivation, so that the well tilled fields bring to him a good return for the care and labor he bestows upon them. He is also a contractor. At present Mr. Swisher occupies the position of issuing clerk under the clerk of the courts of Franklin county.
In politics the elder Swishers were Whigs, but since the organization of the Republican party they have supported its principles, and the subject of this review is also allied with that organization, taking an active interest in its work and doing all in his power to promote the welfare of his party. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias lodge at Canal Win-
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chester. He takes a deep interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the county and to its progress along material and moral lines. His life has been an honorable, useful and upright one and all who know him hold him in the highest regard for his sterling worth.
J. H. EUTSLER.
J. H. Eutsler, the junior member of the firm of Puntenney & Eutsler, piano and music dealers of Columbus, occupies a creditable position in busi- ness circles in the city. He was born upon a farm in Ross county, Ohio, April 22, 1862, and is of German lineage. His grandfather, Henry Eutsler, was a native of Pennsylvania, but his ancestors came from the fatherland to the new world. Henry Eutsler married Jane Kirkendall, and among their children was Abram H. Eutsler, the father of our subject. He was born in eastern Ohio, and after arriving at years of maturity wedded Nancy A. Haley, whose birth occurred in Vinton county, Ohio. Both are still living, their home being in Jamestown, Greene county, this state.
John H. Eutsler is indebted to the common schools for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. Through the period of his boyhood and youth he assisted in the work of the home farm, remaining with his parents until twenty years of age. He afterward attended school for a short time at Milledgeville, Fayette county, after which he entered upon his business career as a salesman in a store at Washington Court House, where he remained until 1891. In that year he removed to Springfield and in 1893 came to Columbus and was in the employ of Hockett Brothers & Puntenney until 1898, when he became a partner in the business, under the firm name of Puntenney & Eutsler. The partners are wide-awake, enterprising and experi- enced business men, each having been associated with the piano business for a number of years. Their store is located at No. 231 North High street, where they carry a large stock of pianos, organs and other musical instruments.
Mr. Eutsler was united in marriage to Miss Emma J. Wallace, of Gallia county, Ohio, a daughter of Amos S. and Eva Anne (Shively) Wallace. They have the warm friendship of a large circle of acquaintances, and in business circles Mr. Eutsler enjoys a most enviable reputation, which has been won by reason of his fidelity to the ethics of commercial life and his exemplification of the enterprising American spirit.
JOHN BURNSIDE.
Among the prominent farmers of Franklin county John Burnside, a leading citizen of Brown township, is specially deserving of mention in a work of the character of this volume.
Mr. Burnside is a grandson of James Burnside, who was of Scotch descent and born near Enniskillen, in county Fermanagh, Ireland, where
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he became a prominent stock farmer and died full of years and honor. His son, John Burnside, the father of our subject, was also a native of that county, became an expert weaver of fine linens and was so successful in busi- ness that in time he employed several skilled workmen to help him. He mar- ried Margaret Humphreys, also a native of the same county and a daughter of Christopher Humphreys. In 1830, with his wife and family, he came to America, landing at St. Johns, New Brunswick, after a voyage of three weeks. After a short visit there he proceeded to Philadelphia and thence to Muskingum county, Ohio, bringing his wife, children and effects by wagon and settling there as a farmer, without means and amid most primitive envi- ronments. He died in that county, aged sixty-six years, and his wife died at Delaware, this state, at the age of nearly one hundred years. Their children were : Christopher, now deceased; John, who is the subject proper of this sketch : William, also deceased ; Royal, who lives at Westerville, Franklin coun- ty; Margaret, who lives with her family in Wisconsin; and Ann Eliza, Thomas, and Jane, deceased.
John Burnside, of Brown township, this county, was born at the birth- place of his father and grandfather in Ireland, in February, 1817, and attended subscription and government schools there. He was thirteen years old in 1830, when his parents came to America. He helped his father build the log cabin in the woods in Muskingum county, and helped him to clear up his land and put it under cultivation. The little house was made of round logs and had a big fireplace and a stone chimney, and the household furniture and conveniences of the family were meager indeed. The boy attended school only one month after they came to Muskingum county, but he was brought up a thorough farmer and gained much valuable knowledge by reading and obser- vation. He lived on his father's farm until the spring of 1850, when he mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Vandevort, who was born in Muskingum county, a daughter of James Vandevort, and was of German ancestry.
After his marriage Mr. Burnside lived for four years on a farm of one hundred and thirty acres in Coshocton county, Ohio, which he had bought some time before. He then settled in Brown township, Franklin county, Ohio, where he bought one hundred acres of land, all but seven acres of which was heavily timbered. He employed help and built a small cabin which served him as a home for four years until he could erect a more comfortable dwelling. As rapidly as possible he improved his land and put it under cul- tivation, and he has added to his holdings from time to time until he now owns two hundred acres well improved and in every way equipped for success- ful farming. He is a leading man in his township, strong and influential as a Republican, but has never consented to accept any public office, though he has aided to the extent of his ability every movement for the public good.
Mr. Burnside is a helpful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Burnside, who was a Presbyterian, died safe in the Christian faith, in 1886, leaving tender memories as a devoted wife and mother. They had
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children as follows : Martha, who married Elwood Smith; Viola, the widow of George Brand and presides over her father's household; and Albert, who is prominent in Brown township, where he has ably served his fellow towns- men as a township trustee. All members of this family are held in high esteem by those who know them best.
STEPHEN W. PARKER.
Stephen W. Parker is a wide-awake and progressive farmer of Prairie township and is descended from good old Revolutionary stock. His grand- father was an agriculturist of the Empire state and there spent his entire life. When the country became involved in war with England, owing to the oppression which had been heaped upon the colonists, he joined the Amer- ican army and aided in establishing the independence of the Republic. Peter Parker, the father of our subject, was born in New York, in March, 1818. He acquired a limited education and at the age of sixteen he ran away from home in order to come to the west. He made the journey on foot to Ohio and secured work on the National road at Sullivant Hill, near Columbus, and aided in building the road through Madison county. He was married, in this county, when about twenty-four years of age, to Miss Mary Warner, who was born in Franklin county, or in Pennsylvania. She was a daughter of Stephen Warner, whose birth occurred in the latter state, while her mother, Mrs. Lucy Warner, was a native of Ireland and came to the United States in her girlhood.
After his marriage Peter Parker located at the Leonard brick yard, at Columbus, carrying on business there for a time, after which he sold his property and took up his abode in Brown township, where his wife died in August, 1857, in the faith of the Baptist church, in which she held member- ship. His death occurred March 4, 1860. In his political affiliations he was a Democrat. The children of this worthy couple were: Martin, who died in infancy ; Stephen W .; Henry W., who went to Nebraska late in the '6os and is still living there; John C., of Norwich township, who married Margaret Poland; and Mary Jane, the wife of Joseph Grooms.
Stephen W. Parker was born in the Leonard brick yard, now a part of Columbus, December 5. 1844, and was reared to manhood in Brown town- ship, at the time when it was a veritable wilderness, for no roads had been cut and the work of improvement was scarcely begun. The school was far from his home, but he attended when the weather permitted. After the death of his parents the support of the other children devolved upon him. He began work as a farm hand for John R. Reason, at six dollars per month, and with him continued for nine years. While thus employed he responded to the country's call for aid. The blood of Revolutionary ancestors flowed in his veins and his spirit of patriotism was aroused so that on attaining his majority he enlisted on the 8th of February, 1865, as a member of Company
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E, One Hundred and Ninety-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Captain F. M. Baker and Colonel R. P. Kennedy. He was mustered out September 26, 1865, at Fort Federal Hill, in Baltimore, Maryland. During his service he was mostly in Virginia and at times he acted as teamster. He participated in the engagements of Charleston and Richmond and at the latter place on being injured was sent to the rear. For a time he was in camp at Win- chester and thence went to Baltimore, Maryland, and afterward to Havre de Grace. Subsequently he returned to Baltimore, where he was discharged.
Mr. Parker at length returned to the home of his former employer Sep- tember 30, 1865, and remained in the service of Mr. Reason through the fol- lowing year. He then purchased a notion wagon and in that way was engaged in selling goods until 1867. In the spring of 1868 he was married and made his home near Alton. In March, 1869, he removed to the Bigelow farm on the National pike, remaining there for six years, and in 1875 he went to Madison county, where he remained for twelve years. In April, 1887, he took up his abode upon his present farm of seventy-three and a half acres in Prairie township, Franklin county, erecting a residence in that year. He has placed many miles of tile upon his farm, has planted orchards, erected buildings and made other substantial improvements, and also owns a farm of sixty-one acres elsewhere.
In the spring of 1868 Mr. Parker was united in marriage to. Miss Lucinda Groomes, who was born November 27, 1850, on the farm which is yet her home, and which was then the property of her maternal grandfather, Thomas O'Harra. Her paternal grandfather was John Groomes, who with his wife and children came from Jersey to Franklin county. His wife was in her maidenhood a Miss Thener. John Groomes was among the early settlers of Prairie township, and died within its borders on what is now the George Michaels farm. Peter Groomes, the father of Mrs. Parker, was born in Jersey in 1823, and was a small boy when brought by his parents to Ohio. He was reared in Prairie township and married Louisa O'Harra, who was born on the east bank of the Scioto river in Franklin county, and is a daugh- ter of Thomas O'Harra, who was a pioneer of Prairie township, where he owned over three hundred acres of land. His death occurred on his farm January 13, 1877. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Groomes located upon the farm which is now the property of Mrs. Parker. Her mother died in 1853, and her father afterward married Mary Jane Gatton. His death occurred on the old home farm March 15, 1891. The children of his first marriage were: Joseph, who married Mary Jane Parker and is living in Worthington ; John, who married Annie Sullivan and resides near Elmwood; Margaret, the wife of Jacob Nicely; Mrs. Parker; and Isabel, who died at the age of fourteen years. The children of the second marriage are: Peter; Ellen Mina, now Mrs. Trussel, a widow; and Samuel. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Parker are: Jennie; Della, now the wife of Louis Michel; Dora, wife of W. C. Carl; Lawson; Charles, Frank and Hosea, who are in school.
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Mr. Parker was born and reared in the Democratic faith, but in 1876 left that party and has since been a stanch Republican, unswerving in his allegiance to the principles of the organization. For a quarter of a century he has served as a member of the board of education and the schools find in him a warm friend. He also belongs to W. H. Elliott Post, G. A. R., of Alton, and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades.
GEORGE H. BULFORD.
One of the successful and prominent professional firms of Columbus, Ohio, is that of Richards, McCarty & Bulford, architects, of which company George H. Bulford, the subject of this sketch, is the junior member. He was born in Worcester, England, in January, 1870, and is the son of Thomas E. and Annie ( Pritchard) Bulford, both of whom were natives of England. The father of our subject was for many years an operator in the iron indus- tries at Worcester, and died there in 1874. The mother of our subject sur- vives her husband and came later to the United States and resides now in Columbus, Ohio.
George H. Bulford was educated in the common schools of his native town, later enjoying advantages at a private English school, still later taking a course in the grammar school, following which he selected architecture for his life occupation and entered upon the study of it, applying himself closely for the space of two years in his native country.
In 1886 our subject came to the United States and moved direct to Columbus, Ohio, where he entered into the employ of a well-known architect of this city named Yost. A short time later our subject went to New York . in order to take a special course under the direction of a leading architect, upon his return becoming a member of the above firm. Their work is known throughout the city and state, and the firm is considered one of the most reliable and prosperous in the city. Mr. Bulford is a young man who has displayed great ability in his work, and commands the personal esteem of his business associates.
The marriage of Mr. Bulford took place in 1893 to Miss Florence Browning, of Marion, Ohio, the daughter of J. H. Browning, formerly of Marietta, a native of Missouri, although she was reared in Ohio, and they have one son, named George E.
GEORGE BRODRICK.
For more than the traditional psalmist's span of life George Brodrick has resided in Columbus, and has been a witness of almost the entire growth and development of the city, which was founded nearly a century ago. He first opened his eyes to the light of day in Columbus, January 5, 1829. His father, H. D. Brodrick, was a native of Maysville, Kentucky,
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born in 1802, and in 1810 he came to Ohio with his parents. In pioneer times, during the presidency of Martin Van Buren, the grandfather of our subject was county auditor of Franklin county, and H. D. Brodrick served as a deputy. They were both prominent and influential men in business, political and social circles, and the name is inseparably connected with the history of this community on account of what they did for the development of the city and county. The father passed away in 1876.
George Brodrick, of this review, spent his boyhood days at his parents' home and pursued his education in the schools that were in existence at that day. His memory reaches back to the early times when Columbus was but a village. The old landmarks have long since been obliterated, and the old tavern and postoffice where the Columbus stage made its stops was within three blocks of Mr. Brodrick's present home, for he still lives on the original plat of Columbus of seventy-five years ago, his residence standing upon land which his father owned.
In the year 1861 Mr. Brodrick was united in marriage to Laura Raney, who died in 1880. His only child is Lauretta, now the wife of William H. Deardurff, who was born in St. Louis, Missouri, April 2, 1869. When a young man he came to Columbus and for ten years has held the position of yard conductor for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Deardurff have been born three children: Martha L., George W. and Ella L. Mr. Brodrick is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and in his political views is a Republican. He took an active part in the campaigns of many years ago, when the party was in its infancy and when political excitement ran very high. He is living retired at his pleasant residence at No. 90 North Skidmore street, enjoying a well merited rest, and there, in the evening of life and surrounded by many friends, he is num- bered among the most valued residents of the capital.
JOHN MICHAEL BRAND.
On the roll of enterprising, substantial and successful business men of Columbus appears the name of John Michael Brand. He was born at Baden, Germany, on the 30th of December, 1833, his parents being John Michael and Katharine Brand. In 1846 the family emigrated to the United States, sailing from Havre de Grace, France, and reaching their destination after thirty-three days spent on the bosom of the Atlantic. On this voyage the mother died and was buried at sea. After a few days' rest in New York city the family continued on their westward way to Chillicothe, Ohio. There were three sons and a daughter, the latter now deceased, and Frederick has also passed away, so that the living members of the family are John M. and George J. Their father was a farmer and gardener during his active life. following those pursuits in Ohio, where he died on his home farm in 1852.
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John M. Brand, whose name introduces this record, was educated in the common schools of his native country between the ages of six and twelve years. At the age of fifteen he began learning the harnessmaker's trade as an apprentice to John Ewing, of Chillicothe, and after the completion of his term of service he went to Cincinnati, where he spent one year, going from there to Nashville, Tennessee, where he remained for three years. Upon returning to Chillicothe he was married, in 1860, to Miss Eliza Anding, a daughter of Paulus Anding, and after his marriage he returned to the south, locating again in Nashville, where he entered into partnership with John Monroe, manufacturing heavy harness for the Confederate army in 1861-2. From Nashville Mr. Brand went to Memphis, where he entered into part- nership with George Crown, in the manufacture of harness and saddlery, continuing business there until 1864, when he sold out and returned to Ohio. In 1867 he began business on his own account in Columbus and has since carried on operations along the line of trade which he learned in early life, being now extensively engaged in the business of manufacturing heavy and light harness. He was alone until 1888, when he admitted his son to a partnership under the firm name of J. M. Brand & Son, their factory being located at No. 144 East Main street.
Mr. and Mrs. Brand have but one child, John F., born in Memphis, Tennessee, October 20, 1863, who is now his father's partner. Our subject resides at No. 186 South Fifth street, and as the result of his well directed efforts he is enabled to supply his family with all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. He is a member of Harmonia Lodge, No. 358, I. O. O. F. He also belongs to the Liederkranz, a German singing society, entered as a passive member in 1866, and was transferred as active in 1870, serving his thirty years as active, and now is enrolled on the honorable list. He is serving in the capacity of trustee, which office he has filled for fifteen years.
He entered upon his business career in a humble capacity, but it has been one of successful achievement by reason of his natural ability and his thorough insight into the business in which as a young tradesman he embarked. He enjoys the well earned distinction of being what the public calls a self- made man.
ICHABOD B. BORROR.
Among the well-known and highly esteemed residents and old settlers of Jackson township, Franklin county, Ohio, is Ichabod B. Borror, the subject of this review, who was born June 14, 1838, on the farm where he now resides, on Borror pike, near Borror's Corners. His father, Solomon Borror, was a native of Virginia, a son of German parents who had come when young to America, and he accompanied his mother to Franklin county in 1812. He married a Miss Sally Clark, but both she and her two children died young.
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The name of the mother of our subject was Delilah ( Miller) Borror, a daughter of one of the oldest settlers of Franklin county. Her death occurred when she was about fifty years old.
When Solomon Borror came to Franklin county he encountered the usual difficulties of that time, and they required a stout heart and perfect health to overcome. Mr. Borror lived to be sixty-seven years old, and died a man thoroughly respected and much missed on account of his public spirit. He was a life-long Democrat and held some offices acceptably, one being that of constable. He was a member of the religious denomination known as the New Light. His family consisted of seven children, all of whom grew to maturity. The names of these were: Malinda, who died at the age of twen- ty-one; Levi, deceased; Elizabeth, wife of Wesley Titus, of Bond county, Illinois; Ichabod B., our subject; William C., who died in the Civil war, in 1861; Gilbert L., of South Bend, Indiana; and Solomon, deceased.
Our subject is the only member of his family who is now a resident of Franklin county. He was reared on the farm where he now lives, although for some years he traveled, in 1862 making a trip to Montana and Idaho, where he engaged in mining for two years. After a short sojourn at home he took a trip to Bond county, Illinois, and traveled over the state, working by the month, and thus he continued for a period of four years, at the expiration of which time he returned to Franklin county, where he con- tinued farm work by the month.
The marriage of Mr. Borror occurred December 3, 1868, to Miss Melissa West, a native of Pickaway county, Ohio, a daughter of David and Catherine (Martin) West, who had come from old Virginia at an early day and founded a home in Ohio. She was one of a family of two sons and six daughters : Daniel, who died in the Civil war; Mary E., deceased; Sarah F., the widow of George Simpson, of Marion county; Caroline, deceased; Annie, deceased; Melissa ; John F., deceased; and Tillia, wife of William L. Seeds, of Grove City, Ohio.
After his marriage our subject located on the old homestead, where he engaged in general farming. In March, 1880, he moved into his new resi- dence which he built that year and is now most comfortably settled, still engaging in agricultural pursuits. His family is composed of four sons and two daughters, as follows : Rev. Charles H., a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, now located at Chillicothe. He married Miss Dora Cay- wood and they have one son, Brooks; Otis E., farmer for his father ; Lela G., wife of S. E. Shover, of Jackson township. They have two children, Merle and Elma; Glenn ; Verna ; and Virgil C., who is still attending school.
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