A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 20

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 20

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Mr. Hays, of this sketch, was born upon what is now known as the James Brown farm, in this township, on October 30, 1834. He recalls his first institution of learning as a cabin formed of logs, presided over by Mr. Jesse Mattoon, to whom he is indebted for his primary instruction, finishing his school days at the age of sixteen. He was ten years old when his father died and at his majority was obliged to face the world for himself. On April 22, 1856, he married Miss Caroline Pinney, the daughter of Colonel Miles Pinney and granddaughter of Captain Levi Pinney, who cut the first tree felled in Sharon township, in 1802. He was a captain in the war of 1812, under the famous Isaac Hull, and was taken prisoner at Detroit, but was exchanged in Canada and returned to his home.

Our subject remained for a time in Dublin and then moved to Sharon, on the plank road, two miles south of Worthington, there rented land for two years and then returned to Washington township and settled on the Coffman estate, in which his mother had an interest. Our subject rented this land for six years, but in 1868 removed with his family to Chase county, Kansas, and there purchased one hundred and twenty acres of new land. Upon this place he first built what is called a box house, this costing less than any other. Here he engaged successfully in farming and stock-raising and remained for thirty-two years, adding to his first purchase, and now owns a half-section there, being very valuable, as it is near the largest stock-yards in the state.

Mr. Hays has been very successful with his horses. He holds the sweep- stakes for the best stallion, best brood mare and best gelding. One of his horses, which was raised on his stock farm, had a trial record of 2:14, and is known in sporting circles as Queen's Brother.

In June, 1900, our subject returned to Washington township and located on his wife's farm of one hundred and forty acres. Mrs. Hays died in 1893, and in 1900 Mr. Hays married Miss Adelaide Graham, a daughter of William Graham, one of the largest land-owners in the county. The chil- dren of our subject are all married and settled in comfortable homes of their own. They are: Richard, who resides in Chase county, Kansas; Carrie, who is Mrs. John McCabe, of Chase county; Madge, who is Mrs. C. H.

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Perrigo, of Chicago; and Grace, who is Mrs. Robert J. Blackburn, of Chase county, Kansas.

In politics Mr. Hays is now a stanch Democrat, although at one time he voted with the Republicans and later was a Populist. He is a genial, pleas- ant man, one who has hosts of friends and has accumulated his large prop- erty by energy and close application to business.

JASPER MANNING.

Jasper Manning is a retired contractor and builder of Harrisburg. After many years' connection with the building interests of Franklin county he has now put aside the more arduous cares of life to enjoy the fruits of his former toil. He represents one of the old families of the state. His paternal grandfather died in Perry county, Ohio, while his wife died at Hillsboro Hill, but was buried at Washington Court House, in this state, about 1893. Edgar Manning, the father of our subject, was born in the Empire state in 1813, and when a lad of about eight years accompanied his parents on their westward emigration, the family locating in Perry county, in the midst of an almost unbroken wilderness. Edgar Manning was therefore reared among the wild scenes of the frontier, but received good educational priv- ileges for that day; and in Somerset, Perry county, Ohio, he was married to Miss Eliza Sturgeon, whose birth occurred in Hopewell township, that county, in 1815. Her father, John Sturgeon, was a native of Pennsylvania and dur- ing the pioneer epoch of Ohio's history removed to Perry county with his wife and little family. After his marriage Mr. Manning resided in Somerset until 1854 and followed carpentering and contracting. He then removed to Darby township, Pickaway county, establishing his home just outside of the corporation limits of Harrisburg. He purchased a fruit orchard of twenty acres and devoted his attention to the cultivation of fruit and to carpentering, but fifteen years before his death he permanently abandoned his trade, giving his time to horticultural pursuits. He died in 1893 and his wife passed away in 1897. They were consistent members of the Lutheran church, and in his political views the father was a life-long Democrat. They had six children : Jasper; Mary J., now the wife of Martin L. Harsh, of Grove City; War- ren, deceased; Henry, of Harrisburg ; Eliza, who died at the age of nine years ; and Elnora, who is the deceased wife of C. L. Johnston.

Jasper Manning, whose name introduces this sketch, was born in Somer- set, Perry county; on the 18th of September, 1840, and began his educa- tion in the public schools of that place. He afterward continued his studies in Harrisburg, whither the family removed when he was fourteen years of age. On attaining his majority he put aside his text-books to take up the duties of business life. At the age of sixteen he had begun work at the car- penter's trade with his father, following that pursuit throughout the sum- mer seasons. To some extent he also followed farming. On the 3d of May,

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1864, he responded to his country's call for aid, enlisting at Camp Chase, as sergeant of Company D, of the One Hundred and Thirty-third Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry. He was at the front for one hundred and twenty days with his regiment, going first to Parkersburg, West Virginia, thence to New Creek and on to Fort Powhatan, where he remained until the expiration of his term of service. During that time he participated in a number of skirmishes.

On the 21st of January, 1869, Mr. Manning was united in marriage to Miss Susan Peterson, of Pleasant township, Franklin county, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Peterson. Their marriage has been blessed with two children : Charles Edgar, of Harrisburg, who wedded Clara Fetherolf, by whom he has one son, Harry Lee; and William Morgan, who was a popular commercial traveler, but is now deceased.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Manning began their domestic life in Harrisburg, where he followed carpentering and contracting, being connected with that business for twenty-six years. Owing to an accident which destroyed the sight of one of his eyes, he retired to private life about 1883. He has twenty-two acres of land, which he operates, and he also owns town property in Harrisburg, having in former years made judicious investment of the capital he acquired through his own efforts. On the 5th of July, 1900, he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away amid the deep regret of many friends. Mr. Manning is a member of Edward Crouse Post, G. A. R., of Harrisburg, and was elected as commander for the year 1900. He gave his political support to the Democracy until 1891, since which time he has been a stalwart Republican. He served as a mem- ber of the town council for eighteen years and has now served for twelve consecutive years as town treasurer. No higher testimonial for his ability and fidelity could be given than the fact of his long continuation in the office conferred upon him by the vote of the people. For sixteen years he has served as a member of the school board and the cause of education has found in him a warm friend. For thirty-four years he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity and in his life exemplifies its beneficent principles.

ERWIN MAIZE.

Among the most prosperous farmers and influential citizens of Clinton township, Franklin county, Ohio, was Erwin Maize, who was called from this life on the 13th of January, 1900. He was born June 1. 1836, in county Tyrone, Ireland, of which place his parents, William and Isabelle ( Erwin) Maize, were also natives. In 1846 they brought their family to America and came at once to this county, taking up their residence in a log house in Clinton township. The father was a gentleman of culture and refinement, whose social position in the old country was good, but he came to the United States with the hope of giving his children better advantages than his native

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land afforded. He purchased forty acres of wild land in Clinton township, but after residing there for a short time moved to a place on the Worthing- ton road, where he died in 1854, at the age of seventy-five years. His wife also died on the old homestead in 1866, at the age of seventy-six years. Both were Episcopalians in religious belief and were highly respected and esteemed by all who knew them. Their family numbered seven children, all born in Ireland, namely: John, deceased; Thomas, a resident of Louisville, Ken- tucky ; Jane, the deceased wife of Alexander Forbes; William, also of Louis- ville, Kentucky; Fannie, the wife of Andrew Skidmore; and Samuel and Erwin, both deceased.

In this county Erwin Maize grew to manhood, and was married, March 25, 1875, to Miss Melissa Pegg. They began their domestic life upon the farm where his widow now resides and where he continued to make his home until death. All of the improvements found thereon were made by him, and it is to-day one of the best and most desirable places of its size in Clinton township. In his farming operations he met with excellent success, the two hundred and thirty acres of valuable land left by him at his death attesting his prosperity. As a public-spirited and progressive citizen he sup- ported all enterprises for the public good and contributed liberally of his means to all worthy objects. He was one of the most prominent and influ- ential members of the Episcopal church of Worthington, with which he was connected for many years and to which he was entirely devoted, serving as a trustee of the parish from the time he became a communicant, in 1886, until his death. A tablet of Italian marble erected to his memory in the church by his widow bears the following inscription :

To The Glory of Almighty God And In loving memory of Erwin Maize, A trustee of this parish, Born in county Tyrone, Ireland, June 1, 1836, Entered into rest January 13, 1900. Buried at Greenlawn Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio.

CLARENCE E. RICHARDS.

Clarence E. Richards, the subject of this sketch, is a member of the well known firm of Richards, McCarty & Bulford, architects, located in the Rug- gery building, in Columbus, Ohio. He was born in Jackson, Michigan, February 22, 1865, and is the son of Ephraim G. and Louise (Shipman) Richards. The father of our subject was born in New York and moved to Michigan, where he settled and remained in the business of building and con-

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tracting in that city until 1870, then moved to Eldorado, Kansas, and fol- lowed the same line in that city until he retired from active work and moved to Columbus, where he still resides. Mr. Richards' mother died in Colum- bus February 17, 1901.

Our subject received a part of his education at Eldorado, Kansas, where the family lived from 1870 to 1888. When about seventeen years old he entered the normal school, preparing himself for teaching, which profession he followed for four years. In 1888 he came to Ohio and entered the employ of Edwin Anderson, an architect in Cincinnati, with whom he remained one year, going from there to Newark, Ohio, and following the profession of an architect there three years. In 1892 our subject came to Columbus and this proved a great advantage to him, as he was engaged as superintend- ent for the architect, J. W. Yost.

In 1897 Mr. Richards formed a partnership with J. E. McCarty and George Bulford, all three of the firm being skilled and practical architects and being one of the strongest associations of its profession in Colum- bus. It has made plans and specifications for many of the principal business blocks, dwellings and public buildings in Ohio and in other states, notable among them being the reform school buildings of Ohio and Kentucky.

Our subject has been married since July, 1900, his wife being Carrie, nee Humphreys, of Columbus, in which place she was born, reared and educated. She is the daughter of A. S. Humphreys, an old settler and much respected citizen.

Mr. Richards is well and favorably known in his profession, and is a member of the American Institute of Architects.

HENRY LORENZ SIEBERT.

The Siebert family has long been prominently connected with the material development and substantial upbuilding of Franklin county and the city of Columbus. The founder of the family in America was Henry Lorenz Sie- bert, who was born in Trieste, Hesse-Cassel, Germany, in 1791. where his parents-natives of the same country-spent their entire lives. At an early age the son entered the German army and served during the closing years of the Napoleonic wars, seeing altogether seven years of military service. Released from the army, he settled in Buckenheim, a suburb of Frankfort-on- the-Main, where he opened a bakery. He married Susan C. Dollinger in 1820, and the following children were born to them in Germany: William, born February 14, 1821 ; Christian, November 9, 1822; a daughter that died in infancy ; Sophia, born July 20, 1825; Henry L., July 17, 1827 ; Louis, born June 29, 1830; and Carl, who was born and died in the year 1832. Three children were born after the arrival of the family in this country, namely : John. Susan and Charles M.

The father of this family purchased property in Buckenheim and carried

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on business there from 1820 until September, 1832. About the middle of October of the same year, with his wife and children, he sailed from Bremen for the United States, arriving at Baltimore, Maryland, after a voyage of sixty-five days in a small sailing vessel. Mr. Siebert's reasons for leaving the fatherland are to be found in the facts that he was a liberal in his political views, was opposed to government by autocratic repression, and wished to remove his sons beyond German military requirements. He remained in Baltimore only long enough to make arrangements for moving westward. With two "prairie schooners" he started overland for Ohio. The family first stopped to rest at Wheeling, West Virginia, then crossed the Ohio river on a flatboat, and journeyed to Zanesville in this state, whence after a two-months sojourn they located in Somerset, Ohio. Here he pur- chased a house, but soon traded the property for a farm of fifty-five acres, three miles and a half from Somerset, now known as the Libbey farm. He remained there but one season and then, through the influence of friends, removed to Columbus, where he arrived July 8, 1834, and went into busi- ness at the northeast corner of Rich and High streets. His building and its contents were destroyed by fire in April, 1835, and he next opened a store on the corner of Main and Fourth streets, Fourth street being at that time the eastern boundary of the town. Mr. Siebert remained here until 1837, when he bought a house at No. 660 South High street. Two years later he removed to the Reinhardt farm, six miles west of Columbus, but after two years returned to the capital, settled once more in his South High street home and lived there until his death in October, 1842. His widow remained at the old home until her death, at the age of nearly seventy, in November, 1869.

Their oldest son, William, in partnership with M. C. Lilley, established the firm of Siebert & Lilley, bookbinders and publishers, in 1842, but later went to Paris, Illinois, and bought a farm; still later he became the cashier of the First National Bank in Paris, and was identified with that prosperous institution for many years, until his retirement, about 1890. Mr. Siebert was a collector and reader of books, taking an especial delight in the study of German history. Before his death, which occurred in 1898, he presented the most of his books to the library of the Ohio State University, and these form the nucleus of a collection named in his honor, the Siebert Library of German History. A son, William, survives him, who participated in the battle of Santiago.

Sophia became the wife of Cyrus Obetz, and they are now residents of Paris, Illinois. They have one son, Professor Henry L. Obetz, formerly dean of the homeopathic department of the University of Michigan, and now one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Detroit, Michigan.

Christian, the second son of Henry L. Siebert, was born November 9, 1822, and for many years carried on business as a gunsmith in Columbus. He married Amelia Brown March 15, 1859. He purchased property on the southwest corner of High and Frankfort streets on the south side of Colum-

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bus, and built a residence, in which his widow still lives. Christian and Amelia Siebert have had six children, three of whom-Flora, Nettie Alma and an unnamed son-died in infancy. Mrs. Anna B. Miller, a widow, lives with her mother; Frank also lives at home; Mrs. Kate Bobb, the wife of Mortimer Bobb, died February 8, 1900. There are two grandchildren, Marie Siebert Miller, now a pupil in the South Side high school, and Katherine Siebert Bobb, an infant. By a former marriage, to Sarah Maccam, Chris- tian Siebert had four children. Mary, the eldest, resides at home; the other three died in infancy. The parents were members of the Universalist church, to which Mrs. Amelia Siebert still belongs. In politics Mr. Siebert was a Republican, and he was a charter member of the Odd Fellows' lodge of this city. He was known throughout the state in a business way, and had large property interests in Columbus. He was a man of large proportions physic- ally, was generous in private charity, and altogether large-hearted and kindly. He died September 18, 1886, after a lingering illness.

Henry Lorenz Siebert, the third son of Henry L., Sr., is now in his seventy-fourth year, and is still robust and active. He acquired his early education in the public schools of Franklin county, and in his sixteenth year became a clerk in the store of Greenwood & King. In September, 1843, he went to Cincinnati and entered the employ of John Griffith, a gunsmith, but returned after six months and became an employe of Peter Ambos. In September, 1844, he went back to Mr. Griffith's establishment, and in Feb- ruary, 1845, obtained a situation with William L. Hudson, of Cincinnati. Mr. Siebert married Anna L. Morris, of Covington, Kentucky, January I, 1852, and soon after entered into partnership with his former employer, Mr. Griffith. Three years later, through the friendship and assistance of Hon. Timothy C. Day, later a member of congress from Cincinnati, he began business for himself, but failing in the panic of 1857 he entered the hardware store of R. N. Booth & Company, of Cincinnati, where he was employed until 1861. Next he went to Paris, Illinois, where he raised a company and did guard duty to protect the town from the raids of southern sympathizers. In 1865 he returned to Columbus and has lived here ever since. For the past twenty-eight years he has held his present position with the M. C. Lilley Company.

He is a stanch Republican. In 1869 he was elected infirmary director, the first position ever held by a Republican in Franklin county. He and his family are members of St. Paul's Episcopal church, and for the past fifteen years Mr. Siebert has served as one of the vestrymen of that church. In 1864 he became a member of the Masonic lodge in Paris, Illinois. The chil- dren of Henry L. and Anna Morris Siebert are as follows: Ada K., who was married, in 1876, to F. W. Schueller, a prominent druggist of Colum- bus; Myra Belle, the wife of William Scarlett, the treasurer of the M. C. Lilley Company; Ellen M., the wife of Henry H. Thorpe, a popular hotel proprietor of the city; Thomas H., superintendent of the shoe department of

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the Lazarus store, of Columbus; Alice Winifred, married, October 27, 1897, to John A. Schoedinger, an undertaker; and Frederick J., now a mining engineer in Utah.

Mrs. Susan D. Lindenberg, a daughter of Henry L. Siebert, Sr., was born in Columbus August 31, 1837, and obtained her education in the public schools of the city. She was married to Henry Lindenberg October 23, 1862. Mr. Lindenberg was born in Germany July 29, 1836, came to this country in 1850, and became a partner in the M. C. Lilley Company and the editor of the Odd Fellows' Companion. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Lindenberg are: Louis L., born August 1, 1863, educated in the public schools and Ohio State University in Columbus, and for a number of years connected with the M. C. Lilley Company; Theodore L., born October 3, 1873, educated in Columbus, and in Germany, where he spent two years in travel and study with his parents, having since made a trip around the world, at present in the employ of the M. C. Lilley Company; and Charlotte, educated in Bryn Mawr College, Philadelphia, who lives at home. The father of this family died in Germany in 1890. He was a cultivated and widely read man and a charming conversationalist. He was a member of the German Independent Protestant church, and a leading member of the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias fraternities. Mrs. Lindenberg still resides at her beauti- ful home, No. 1071 Bryden road.

The sketches of Louis and John Siebert will be found in other places in this volume.

Charles M. Siebert, the youngest son of Henry L. Siebert, Sr., was born in Columbus in 1839. At the age of twelve he began working at the gun- smith's trade with his brother Christian. In 1855 he went to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he spent two years at his trade; thence he went to Cincinnati, where he entered the employ of his brother Henry. In 1857 he made a trip down the Ohio river on a trading boat as far as Hickman, Kentucky, but was compelled to abandon the trip at this point on account of high water. He returned to Cincinnati, thence to Columbus, where he again worked with his brother Christian, then went to Loudonville, Ohio, where he spent a year in the employ of T. A. Rinehart. In 1861 he went back to Indianapolis, and the next year to St. Louis, where he worked for the government in the United States arsenal. In May, 1864, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-third Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, with which command he was sent to West Virginia, thence to Petersburg, Virginia. His regiment was attached to the Tenth Army Corps, and from that time on participated in all the more important engagements that occurred in that section of the country. He took part in the hotly contested battle of Weldon Railroad, south of Peters- burg, after which his regiment was stationed in a fort on the James river, near City Point, Virginia. At the expiration of his service he returned to Columbus, and in 1866 went to Circleville, Ohio, where he began business for himself as a gunsmith, and there remained for twenty-four years. He

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then sold his property and moved with his family to Columbus, and has since been in the employ of the M. C. Lilley Company. Mr. Siebert married Har- riet Valentine April 16, 1866. To them the following children were born : Christian J., born January 16, 1868, married Cora E. Pausch; Charles M., born November 28, 1869: Alice B., born January 27, 1871, married, October 23, 1895, to Professor Nathan G. Burner; Louis A., born March 16, 1874, married Alberta Dempsey November 3. 1898; Thomas H., born August 30, 1872, died February 28, 1879; and Hattie M., born October 29, 1875, died October 9, 1876.

Charles M. Siebert, Sr., is a Republican, having supported that party since casting his first presidential vote for Lincoln in 1864. He is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Episcopal church.

JOHN FLARENCE ANDRIX.

The real-estate operator of Columbus, Ohio, whose name supplies the title to this sketch has a family history which is of peculiar interest because of the fact that it reaches back into the pioneer days of the middle west. Mr. Andrix was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1856, a son of Jacob Andrix, a native of Hancock county, Ohio, who died in 1870, at the age of fifty-four years. His father, Frederick Andrix, was among the earliest settlers of Pickaway county. Jacob Andrix was a prominent farmer and stock-raiser and his operations along these lines before the war were somewhat extensive. The family moved from Franklin county and located on a farm of one hun- dred and seventy acres near Groveport, about 1858, and during the war Jacob Andrix enlisted in the hundred-day service. He married Sarah Saw- yer, a daughter of the late Abraham Sawyer, who went to Pickaway county from Pennsylvania, which was also the early home of the Andrix family. Mrs. Andrix is still living. Mr. Andrix's great-grandfather Sawyer was burned to death by the Indians near the border of Pickaway and Fairfield counties. Augustus Andrix, brother of our subject, is a farmer in South Dakota, and his brother James is a farmer in Franklin county, Ohio. His . sister Lizzie is the wife of Henry McMahon, of Columbus, and another sis- ter is the wife of J. Q. Adams and lives in Delaware county, Ohio.

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A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 20

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