A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 24

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 24

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Four children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Cummins, who are yet living, namely : James Francis, George Edward, Mary E., and John, the last named residing upon the farm with his parents. One daughter, Martha Alice, and two sons, William and Chester, have passed away. Mr. Cummins is strictly a self-made man, who owes all that he possesses to his own efforts and to the able assistance of his estimable wife. They are people of gen- uine worth, holding membership in the United Brethren church, of which Mr. Cummins has served as trustee for many years. In politics he is a stal- wart Republican, has filled the offices of township trustee and treasurer and has been a member of the school board. To those at all familiar with his record it is needless to say that his duties have ever been faithfully and promptly performed, for he is a man who in every relation of life has been found loyal and true to the trust reposed in him.

GEORGE K. LEONARD. 1

The work of an educator requires peculiar talent and ability. Many men are learned, but lack the power of imparting their knowledge to others. There are certain essential elements in the make-up of every successful in- structor. These include a ready understanding of human nature, a deep sym- pathy with the individual, a comprehensive mastery of the subjects under discussion, and a clearness and readiness of expression not surpassed by the minister in the pulpit or the lawyer before the court. Well qualified in all these, Professor George Kasper Leonard occupies a position of distinction in connection with educational interests in Columbus, now occupying a chair in the Capital University of this city.

Professor Leonard was born in Augusta county, Virginia, February 20, 1847, and his youth was passed upon a plantation. His father was John Leonard, his grandfather George Leonard. The latter was born in Switzer- land and in colonial days crossed the Atlantic to the new world with his parents, the family locating in Berks county, Pennsylvania. He was only two years of age when the family came to the United States, and after the Revolution he removed to the Old Dominion. At the time of the Revolu- tionary war he responded to the call of the colonists to aid in the establish- ment of the American independence, and served under the immediate com- mand of General Lee as a member of the Light Horse Regiment. After the war he married Susannah Wenrich and became the owner of a plantation in Augusta county. Virginia. in 1797. devoting his energies to agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred at the old home in 1837. His wife also died on the old Virginia plantation in 1849.

John Leonard, the father of our subject, was born in 1802 and was the ninth of a family of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters. About the year 1825 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Harner, and, follow- ing in the business footsteps of his father, he became connected with agri-

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cultural interests, dying at the old home in the state of his nativity in the year 1877. His widow died in Virginia in 1891, and with the exception of Professor Leonard all of the children are residing at or near the old home, which is located in the Shenandoah valley, in that district made famous by the great battles of the Civil war. Of the children, Rebecca died in 1849, and one son, William, died in infancy. The others are: Jacob H., John F., Martin Luther, David E., Susan F., George K., James M. and Mary E. Three of the sons were soldiers in the First Virginia Confederate Cavalry, and one served under John Mosby in the Civil war, while the subject of this sketch remained at home, the chief hand upon the farm, but was compelled to be a refugee three times.

Professor Leonard, whose name introduces this record, acquired his early education in the country schools of Virginia, under the old system of education which prevailed in that state at the time. After the cessation of hostilities between the north and the south he spent about two years upon a farm in his native state, and in 1869 he went to Woodford county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming for three years. He afterward entered the State Normal University, where he continued his studies for four years in that institution. On the completion of his course he began teaching in Illi- nois, following that profession for two years, and in 1877 he came to Colum- bus. Not content with the educational privileges he had already enjoyed, he entered the Capitol University and was graduated in 1880. Again he went to the west and taught school, but returned, at the beginning of 1883, to accept the chair which he now occupies and which he has held for the past seventeen years.

Professor Leonard was married in 1892 to Miss Mary Margaret Hanger, the wedding being celebrated at the home of the bride in Virginia, of which state she is a native. Three children grace this marriage: Florence Ethel, born October 26, 1893; John Paxton, born in 1895; and George Dana, born in 1897. Professor and Mrs. Leonard have a wide circle of friends in Colum- bus and occupy a very enviable position in a society where true worth and intelligence are received as passports.

WILLIAM R. HUNTER.

The life record of William R. Hunter illustrates most forcibly what may be accomplished in this land of fair opportunity by those of determined pur- pose, laudable ambition and unflagging industry. He was born at West Jef- ferson, Ohio, on the 22d of February, 1848, and traces his ancestry back to Solomon Hunter, his great-grandfather. His son, John Hunter, became the grandfather of our subject. He was a lad of twelve years when he accom- panied his parents on their emigration to the United States. The family located in Pennsylvania, where Solomon Hunter died. In the Keystone state John Hunter was reared to manhood, spending his youth in the usual man-

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ner of farmer lads of that period. He was married, in Pennsylvania, to Miss Rebecca Russell and in 1816 they removed to Ohio, making the journey in wagons. Here the grandfather purchased one hundred acres of timber land from Lucas Sullivan, and of the tract only three acres had been cleared. In the midst of that little clearing a log cabin had been erected and it became the pioneer home of the family. He paid two dollars and a half per acre for his land and increased its value by cultivation and improvement. The sturdy strokes of his ax soon brought low the monarchs of the forest and waving fields of grain were seen where once stood the tall trees. He afterward pur- chased a farm of two hundred acres in Jefferson township, Madison county, on which he erected a brick house, making it his home until his death, which occurred in 1865, when he was eighty-five years of age. He had also erected a brick residence on his farm in Prairie township, Franklin county, and it stood until a few years ago, one of the old landmarks. It was built of what was called slop brick, mixed by oxen and burned by Mr. Hunter, for it was customary in those days for every man to burn his own brick. When the task was almost completed it was found that the supply of wood was exhausted and he therefore hauled rails from the fences in order to complete the burn- ing. His first wife died on the home farm in Madison county and he after- ward married again, but had no children by the second union. Those born of the first marriage were as follows: James; Park, who was born, in 1806 and died at the home of our subject in 1891, where he had resided for four- teen years prior to his demise: Mary, who became the wife of William Har- per and died at her home in Fort Wayne, Indiana; Russell, who was a gov- ernment surveyor and died in Wisconsin; Jennie, who became the wife of John Hastings and they spent their last days in Larue, Ohio; a daughter, Matilda, who became the wife of John Hall and died in Prairie township; Betsey was the wife of William Chandler and they spent their last days in California; and Samuel Swan, who completed the family.

The last named was the father of our subject. He was born in the old log cabin on the Hunter farm in Prairie township February 12, 1820, and was reared amid the wild scenes of the frontier, experiencing all the hardships and trials which fall to the lot of early settlers. He pursued his education in a log schoolhouse and as a boy he manifested a special fondness for horses and delighted in horse racing. As he grew this trait developed and he became well known as a trader and dealer in horses. After leaving the country schools his father sent him to college with the hope of having him enter the ministry, but such a life did not prove attractive to him and he abandoned his preparation therefor. He continued dealing in horses and when about twenty-one years of age he went to the west, going to Wisconsin, where he joined his brother, who was a surveyor in that state, and also in northern Illinois, surveying a considerable portion of Chicago. In the early days he purchased much real estate there which afterward became extremely valu- able, but the papers showing the real estate transfer were destroyed and he

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lost all that he had. Samuel Hunter remained with his brother for a short time and then went into the pine forests, where he engaged in cutting lumber and rafting it down the river to St. Louis. He became an expert raftsman and very much enjoyed life in the wild woods. He possessed a vigorous constitution and great strength and could down almost any one in a wrestling match. After spending three years in the west he returned to his home in Franklin county. He was a very popular man and one who was not afraid to stand up for his own convictions. He married Miss Ann Smith, who was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio when six years of age with her parents, John and Rebecca (Bell) Smith. They located in Prairie township and her father worked on the national pike. Later he removed to Iowa, where his last days were passed.

After his marriage Samuel S. Hunter took up his abode upon the old home farm of one hundred acres and as time passed he added to that another tract of three hundred acres. His land was operated by others while he devoted his attention to raising and dealing in fine stock, especially horses. Ultimately he removed to Paulding county, taking up his abode on a small farm, where he spent his remaining days in quiet retirement from the more arduous duties of life. In politics he was a stalwart Republican, but was never an aspirant for office. He died in Paulding county, in 1896, and was survived by his second wife. His first wife, the mother of our subject, died in October, 1875, on the home farm and was there buried. Their children were William R .; Achilles, who died at the age of two years; Evans, a resi- dent of Illinois; Jennie, who died at the age of fourteen; John, who is living in Oregon; Park, of Galloway; and Almira, the wife of Charles Fenner, of Galloway, Ohio.

William Russell Hunter was but an infant when his parents located upon the old homestead in Prairie township. He began his education in a little school at Rome, his first teacher being Ruth Ann Hamilton, and then con- tinued his studies at intervals until eighteen years of age, his labors in the schoolroom being alternated by work upon the home farm. He remained at home until his marriage, which important event in his life occurred on the 6th of September, 1870, Miss Melissa Huddle becoming his wife. She was born in Madison township, Franklin county, October 15, 1850, and spent the greater part of her girlhood days in the village of Lockbourne, where she attended school, her first teacher being Mary Roberts; and she is a daughter of John M. and Elizabeth (Reynolds) Huddle. Her father was born in Ross county, Ohio, and in Lockbourne, Franklin county, was united in mar- riage to Miss Elizabeth Reynolds, whose father was Jacob Reynolds and whose mother bore the maiden name of Miss Gilman. He was born in Penn- sylvania and came to Ohio at an early day in the development of this state. Mrs. Hunter's father died in Plain City, Ohio, January 3, 1896, and his wife passed away in 1884. His father had come to the Buckeye state from Vir-

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ginia and died in Marion county when forty years of age. He was a tanner by trade.

After his marriage Mr. Hunter located upon the farm which is now his home. He spent one year in the old brick house and then built his present residence. He also had a road opened by his farm and it was worked and improved a year later. In 1882 he removed with his family to Nebraska and purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Clay county, con- tinuing its cultivation for three years. Within that time he also became the owner of six hundred and forty acres of land in Keith county, Nebraska. In the fall of 1885 he returned to his farm in Prairie township, having sold his quarter-section farm, he still retaining the six hundred and forty acres. His time is given to the further development and cultivation of his land and therein he has won creditable success. In politics he is a Republican, but has never sought or desired office, preferring that his energies shall be devoted to his business.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hunter have been born six children: William S., who was born May 30, 1872, is now a school teacher; Ira M., born Septem- ber 2, 1874, married Lestia Spring and resides in Brown township; Annie E., born December 26, 1876, is the wife of Charles F. Althen, of Rome, Ohio; Elva R., born May 4, 1879, James Arthur, born September 20, 1881, and Alta Iona, born January 3, 1886, are in school. The family is one well known in Prairie township and the members of the household occupy a leading position in the social circles of the community.

ALPHEUS BIGELOW MOORE.

The biographical sketch which follows will be found interesting not alone because it details the leading facts in the career of a prominent citizen of Brown township, Franklin county, Ohio, but because it tells of pioneer days in that part of the country and recalls events of interest connected with the struggle for American independence and others connected with the history of our Civil war.

Alpheus Bigelow Moore was born at Galena, Ohio, August 26, 1830, and died at his home in Franklin county, Ohio, November 8, 1898. When he was nine years old his parents removed from Galena to Brown township, settling on the farm now owned by Frank Walker. The boy received a good common-school education and married Cynthia Ann White, a native of West Canaan township, Madison county, Ohio, born February 24, 1835, a daughter of William J. and Amelia ( Marshall) White. William J. White, of Mary- land nativity, came to Ohio when a young man and there married. He set- tled in Canaan township, Madison county, where he died and where the fol- lowing children were born to them: Sarah Ellen married Isaac Fisher and died in Madison county, Ohio. Cynthia Ann married the subject of this sketch. William married Harriet Scribner and died in Union county, Ohio.

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Joshua lives in Dakota, and Benjamin in Amity, Madison county, Ohio. Eliza is Mrs. Stephen Warner, of Plain City, Ohio. Delilah died at the age of six years. William White, grandfather of Mrs. Moore, was born in Mary- land, became a general in the continental army under General Washington, and died at Washington, D. C., leaving three children: William J., father of Mrs. Moore; Eliza and Maria. Mrs. Moore's grandfather in the maternal line was Joshua Marshall, who was born in Maryland, was a prosperous farmer, married Sarah Haig and died at Plain City, Ohio.

After his marriage Mr. Moore lived for sixteen years on the homestead of his family. He then bought fifty acres of land in Norwich township, where he farmed successfully until the end of his life. He saw three months' service in the Civil war as a private in the Seventeenth Regiment, Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, and during all his active life was a prominent and influential Republican. The following data concerning his children will be of much interest in this connection: His daughter Minnie is the widow of the late Daniel O. Roberts. Jane married Charles Ritchey, of Franklin township. W. M. P. Moore was born in Amity, West Canaan township, Madison county, Ohio, November 1I, 1859, was educated in the district schools of Norwich township, Franklin county, and is now a successful traveling sales- man. He married Mary Ann Kiser, who was born near Columbus, a daugh- ter of Nicholas and Margaret ( Miller) Kiser. He is the only Democrat in his family. Lenna, Mr. Moore's youngest daughter, married Stephen Ball, of Brown township.

ALMON F. COE.

Among the successful agriculturists and highly esteemed citizens of Clinton township, Franklin county, Ohio, is the subject of this review, who was born upon his present farm July 22, 1839, and is the sixth and youngest child of Ransom and Elizabeth (Beers) Coe, a sketch of whom is given in connection with that of Alvin Coe elsewhere in this volume.

Almon F. Coe acquired a good practical education in the district schools, which he attended until his sixteenth year, and gained an excellent knowledge of agricultural pursuits upon the home farm. Being the youngest child he remained with his parents, and is now the owner of the old homestead, com- prising one hundred and fifty-three acres, which is now under a high state of cultivation and improved with good and substantial buildings.

On the 19th of October, 1865, Mr. Coe led to the marriage altar Miss Elizabeth, a daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Hindell) Helser, of Brown township, this county, and by this union were born three children: Charles E., who resides on the home farm; and two who died in infancy. Charles E. was born June II, 1869, married, June 1I, 1898, Mabel E. Town, and has one son, born September 6, 1900, and named Almon Ransom. Mrs. Elizabeth Coe departed this life January 30, 1872.

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Mr. Coe was again married December 16, 1875, his second union being with Mrs. Almira Winterbotham, by whom he had two children: Erwin L., deceased ; and one who died in infancy unnamed. Mrs. Coe's first hus- band was John Winterbotham, and to them were born two children: John- etta and one who died in infancy. Her father, Francis La Chapelle, was born near Montreal, Canada, in 1814, and was a molder by trade. He was a member of the Christian church, and fraternally was a charter member of Columbus Lodge, No. 9. I. O. O. F. His death occurred September 10, 1844. In New York state he married Eleanor Ward, and they became the parents of three children: Eleanor, Almira and Frances. For her second husband the mother married William Say, now deceased, but she is still liv- ing, at the age of eighty-two years.

Mr. Coe is one of the representative and popular citizens of his com- munity, and has been called upon to serve as township trustee for eight years. Since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860 he has never wavered in his allegiance to the Republican party, and, as every true American citizen should, he takes an active interest in public affairs. In religious belief he is a Universalist, while his wife holds membership in the Congregational church of North Columbus. They are widely and favorably known and have a host of warm friends in the community where they reside.

DANIEL J. RYAN.

Daniel J. Ryan was born at Cincinnati, January 1, 1855. His father, John Ryan, and his mother, Honora Ryan, were born in Ireland and came to this country about 1850 and settled in Cincinnati. They afterwards re- moved to Portsmouth, Ohio, where young Ryan received his education in the public schools, passing through all the grades. He was graduated at the high school in 1875. For a year before leaving school he was entered as a law student in the office of Judge James W. Bannon, where he continued his studies after graduating. In February, 1877, he was admitted to the bar by the supreme court at Columbus.

He at once commenced practice alone at Portsmouth, and in the follow- ing April was elected city solicitor ; was re-elected in 1879, serving until the spring of 1881. In 1883 he was elected a member of the Ohio house of rep- resentatives, and was re-elected in 1885. During this service he was speaker pro tem. and chairman of the committee on public works. At the expiration of his legislative duties he resumed practice. In 1888 he was elected secretary of the state of Ohio, and in 1890 was re-elected for a second term. He resigned this office, however, in 1891 to accept the appointment of commis- sioner-in-chief for Ohio of the World's Columbian Exposition, the duties of which required his services until May. 1894. While secretary of state he assisted in the compilation of Smith & Benedict's edition of the Revised Statutes of Ohio. He has since been engaged in the practice of law at Colum- bus. He has always been a Republican; was the first president of the Ohio

DANIEL J. RYAN.

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Republican League, and presided at New York over the first convention of the National League of Republican Clubs, which met in 1887.

For ten years Mr. Ryan has been one of the trustees of the Ohio Histori- cal Society. He was appointed by the Exhibitors' Association at the World's Fair as one of the commissioners to the Antwerp Exposition in 1894. He was appointed by Governor Mckinley as a delegate to the National Water Ways Convention, which met at Vicksburg in 1894. At the present time he is the president of the Ohio Canal Association.

Mr. Ryan is well and favorably known throughout the state as a man of high character and a lawyer of ability. He has been identified with many important cases in Ohio which have attracted general attention both in and out of the state, among which might be mentioned the case touching the con- stitutionality of the abandonment of the Hocking canal and litigation relating to the food department of the state.

On the 10th day of January, 1884, Mr. Ryan was married to Myra L. Kerr, of Portsmouth, and by this union five children were born, two of whom are living,-Julia E. and Elinor.

JOHN PFEIFER.

It is always interesting to note the advance of one who has spent his entire life in a single locality. It is said that a prophet is never without honor save in his own country, and yet it will be found that the American people are willing to accord recognition for the possession of those qualities which insure progress and contribute toward success. Although Mr. Pfeifer has spent his entire life in Columbus, he is accounted one of the enterprising busi- ness men of the city and well merits his prosperity.

He was born in 1859, a son of Mathias Pfeifer, a native of Bavaria, Germany, in which country he was reared and educated. He there learned the tailoring trade, but hoping to better his financial condition in the new world he sailed for America about 1840, and followed his chosen vocation in Colum- bus. He was one of the first German Republicans in the city, casting his ballot in support of that party when only six of his nationality voted the ticket. When the country became engaged in civil war he joined the Union army and loyally aided in the defense of the stars and stripes. He died in 1865, from the effects of exposure in the service, and his wife passed away in 1862, leaving five children.

John Pfeifer acquired his literary education in the schools of his native city, and afterward attended the Columbus Business College. At the age of thirteen he began learning a trade, and in 1886 commenced business on his own account, in connection with George D. Saas. The firm is still in business and has a large jobbing trade in all lines. Their patronage is very extensive, and thus their income is annually augmented.

In his political affiliations Mr. Pfeifer is an active Democrat. He was appointed one of the first directors of the Columbus workhouse by Mayor

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Allen in 1895, for a term of four years, but resigned in 1897, and was appointed by Mayor Black on the board of elections for a four-years term. He is still serving in that capacity, the board being in control of the elections of the city.

Socially Mr. Pfeifer is connected with the Masonic and Knights of Pythias fraternities, and in the latter has served as a representative to the grand lodge. He is a past grand in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belongs to the Red Men and the Elks, and is the president of the Olentangy Club, the leading social organization in the state. In manner Mr. Pfeifer is courteous and genial, and his social disposition, his sterling qualities and well-known reliability have made him a popular resident of Columbus. He wedded Miss Mary F. Zengler, a native of this city and a daughter of Matthew and Catherine Zengler, of Germany. They now have two children: Carl Matthew and Walter Adam.

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A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 24

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