A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 27

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 27

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

At the time of the Civil war Mr. Dean manifested his loyalty to the government by enlisting in May, 1864, as a member of Company F, of the

219

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

One Hundred and Thirty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving as ordnance sergeant. He had charge of all the ammunition and equipments and made out the muster roll for the company before they started for the front. They went to Parkersburg, thence to Washington, D. C., and on to City Point, on the James river, where they were stationed. Mr. Dean served until the expiration of his three-months' term and with his command held Fort Pow- hattan. He received an honorable discharge at Columbus and then returned home to resume the peaceful pursuits of the farm. He to-day has about three hundred and fifteen acres of valuable land, some of which he rents. His farm is one of the best improved in the county, being supplied with all modern accessories and conveniences.

In his political affiliations Mr. Dean is a stalwart Republican, having always supported the men and measures of the party, and on that ticket he has been elected to the offices of trustee, assessor and land appraiser. He is a member of John A. Miller Post, No. 592, G. A. R., and is taking an active part in its work. He served as its first commander and has held the office for three years and has filled all of the official positions in the organiza- tion. His wife belongs to J. M. Wells Corps, with which she has been identified for thirteen years, and she has served as a delegate to the national convention in Pittsburg. She is a member of the Congregational church of Columbus.

Mr. Dean has led a busy and useful life, diligence being one of his marked characteristics. Along these lines he has won a creditable success and is to-day numbered among the substantial farmers of his native country. For sixty-eight years he has been a witness of the growth and development of this portion of the state and is a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family who, through his own labors, has carried forward the work of improve- ment begun by his ancestors.

GEORGE L. GEARY.

It is probable that Americans adapt themselves to all the requirements of citizenship with more facility and precision than any other people, for the farmer and tradesman becomes a soldier when soldiers are needed, and when peace is declared the soldier loses no time in again becoming the farmer or the tradesman and is equally to be depended upon in business or in battle. The farmer who develops any portion of his country does as good a work for humanity as the soldier who assists to uphold his country's flag, and those who, like the subject of this sketch, have done both are doubly deserving of credit.

George L. Geary, a prominent farmer and citizen of Washington town- ship, Franklin county, Ohio, was born at the southeast corner of Front and Race streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 22, 1843, a son of Benjamin Geary, and a grandson of Richard Geary. His grandfather was born in

220

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

Dublin, Ireland, April 21, 1782, and married, November 12, 1804, Benigna Binns, who was born July 21, 1784. He became a barrister and a man of local prominence and died at Dublin October 24, 1834. In 1839 his widow came with her second husband, whose name was Joseph Bromlow, to the United States, and they settled in Washington township, Franklin county, Ohio, on the farm now occupied by Frank A. Zimmer. There Mr. Joseph Bromlow died and his widow married Patrick O'Farrell, who died in Wash- ington township. Mrs. O'Farrell died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Moses Latham, in 1857. She bore her first husband children as follows: Ann Binns, who was born August 31, 1805, and died February 19, 1850; John, who was born September 14, 1806, and died at Columbus, Ohio, No- vember 3, 1886; Jane, who was born November 9, 1807, and died May 23, 1808; Richard, who was born October 29, 1809, and died in Ireland; Benigna, who was born September 25, 1811, and died March 19, 1835; Benjamin, the father of the subject of this sketch, who was born July 16, 1816, will receive a more extended notice in this article; and Maria, who married the late Moses Latham, of Washington township. Mrs. Latham was born October 12, 1826, and died at Columbus, Ohio, March 11, 1900. Mrs. O'Farrell had no children by her second and third marriages.

Jonathan Binns, great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch in the maternal line, was born in Dublin, Ireland, September 17, 1721. He be- came a well-to-do jeweler and silversmith and at his death left a large estate. His first wife was Ann Emerson, who was born December 8, 1725, and died September 28, 1763, after having borne him children as follows: Ambrose, May 5, 1746; John, September 27. 1747, who died October 19, 1775; Mary Hannah, August 26, 1750, who died November 13, 1752; Christian, Septem- ber 14, 1752, who died October 10, 1754; Elizabeth, September 26, 1754; Jonathan, September 25, 1756; Ann, September 23, 1758; Keziah, April 7, 1760, who died September 3, 1763; George, September 23, 1761 ; Joshua, June 6, 1763, who died December 20, 1764. Mr. Binns married Ann Ver- ney December 7, 1764. Miss Verney, who was born October 26, 1744, was the mother of George L. Geary's grandmother, and bore her and other children to her husband as follows: Mary, January 11, 1766, who died January 25 following ; Sarah, February 15, 1767, who died in London, Eng- land. August 8, 1790; Keziah, May 26, 1768; Joshua, October 1, 1769, who died June 20, 1771 ; Moses William, January 21, 1771 ; Hannah, April 15, 1772; Rebecca, July 23, 1773, who died March 5, 1785; Mary, August 26, 1774, who died September 14 following ; Priscilla, born October 1, 1775, who died June II. 1777: Elinor, born December 20. 1776; John, March 28, 1778, who died November 2 following ; Thomas, born August 25, 1779, who died May 31, 1800; John, born September 1, 1781 ; Frederick, March II, 1783, who died in the following June; Benigna, the grandmother of the subject of this sketch, born July 21, 1784, who died October 3, 1857; Benjamin, born January 31, 1786; and Joseph, born March 17, 1787, who died August, 1789.

22I

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

Benjamin Geary, a son of Richard and Benigna ( Binns) Geary and the father of George L. Geary, of Washington township, Franklin county, Ohio, was born in Dublin, Ireland, July 16, 1816, and was well educated. He mar- ried and came to the United States in 1836, landing at Philadelphia with very little money with which to begin life in a new land. He opened a small grocery stand at the southeast corner of Front and Race streets, Philadelphia. His business prospered and he bought property at 126 North Front street, where he continued his enterprise on a larger scale. In May, 1856, he came to Washington township, Franklin county, and bought the farm now owned by George Datz, consisting of sixty acres, which he paid for in cash at thirty- five dollars an acre. He began improving and cultivating the land and soon developed it into a productive farm. When he began here he knew abso- lutely nothing of farming, but was willing to work and learn, and he became one of the most scientific farmers in the county. After he had made a start in his new home he went back to Philadelphia and brought his family on to Ohio and kept a diary of their journey, which would be very interesting read- ing did space permit of its reproduction here. He was energetic, industrious and persevering and was no less able as a business man than as a farmer. He was active and influential in politics and during his residence in Philadelphia was a member of the Episcopal church. His public spirit made him a very useful citizen in Washington township, and when he died, July 24, 1867, he was deeply regretted by all who had known him. His wife, who died July II, 1871, was Miss Hannah Ann Dunn. Her father was a sea captain, and during his absence on a voyage she was born at Kingston, Ireland, and her mother yielded up her life in bringing her into the world. She was taken into the family of a sister of her mother's, and later, before her marriage, lived for a time with members of her father's family. She bore her husband children as follows: Benigna was born May 26, 1837, and married Charles Franks September 17, 1861, and died September 29, 1889. Richard Henry was born September 27, 1839, and died March 20, 1845. Ann Jane was born August 20, 1841, and died November 29, 1852. George L. is the sub- ject of this sketch. Sophia was born March 17. 1846, married James A. Smith December 30, 1869, and died in Washington township, Franklin county, Ohio, April 8, 1880.

George L. Geary attended the public school at the New street school house in Philadelphia from 1850, when he was seven years old, until 1856, when, at the age of thirteen, he was brought by his parents to Ohio. In 1850, during his first year in school, a terrible explosion of gunpowder and saltpetre occurred in Philadelphia, which Mr. Geary states wrecked the New street school house and four hundred other buildings. His sister Benigna was hurled into the cellar of a dwelling which had been blown away by the explosion and young Geary's father was thrown into the Delaware river, from which he managed to make his escape. A man who had been thrown into the same cellar with her helped Benigna to a place of safety. After the explosion

222

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

Mr. Geary's father's house was a refuge for many people who had been ren- dered homeless by the calamity. There is matter for reflection for believers in dreams in Mr. Geary's statement that before the explosion his father dreamed of precisely such a catastrophe and that he was thrown into the water as described above.

George L. assisted in the work on his father's farm in Ohio until he was eighteen years old, and then, October 16. 1861, he enlisted "for three years or during the war" of the Rebellion, as a private in Company D, Forty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His company commander was his cousin, Captain Harding C. Geary, and his regimental commander was Colonel Thomas Worthington. The Forty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, was attached to the Fifth Division, commanded by General Sherman, and when army corps were formed was included in the Second Brigade, Fourth Division, Fifteenth Corps. General Sherman was the division commander and General McDowell commanded the brigade. Mr. Geary also served un- der Generals Grant, McPherson, Logan and Walcutt. The regiment fought at Shiloh, took part in the siege of Corinth and also in the siege of Vicksburg, and in the engagements at Jackson, Atlanta and numerous other places. Mr. Geary was at length discharged from the service by reason of expiration of his term of enlistment, October 26, 1864, at Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Returning to Ohio, Mr. Geary resumed work on his father's farm. Sep- tember 23, 1866, he married Miss Martha J. Cosgray, who was born in Wash- ington township, Franklin county, Ohio, October 31, 1843, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Gordon) Cosgray. An extended sketch of the Cos- gray family appears elsewhere in this work. After his marriage Mr. Geary lived for a time on the Geary home farm and then removed to Jerome town- ship, Union county, Ohio, where he bought a farm on which he remained two years. He then returned to Washington township, Franklin county, and, after working rented land four years, bought his present farm of fifty- six acres, one of the good farms of the township, the house on which was built by John Watts in 1840. A man of good business ability, he has made a creditable success in life and is regarded as a citizen of much public spirit, who advocates all measures tending to benefit his fellow townsmen and ad- vance the best interests of his township, county and state. Politically he is a Democrat. and he is an active worker for the success of his party and has held several important township offices, having been long a member of the school board, township trustee for two terms and justice of the peace for several years, and a decennial appraiser of real property in 1900, performing the duties of these offices with an ability and integrity which have won him the commendation of the leading men of his township regardless of party affiliation. He is a member of John A. Spellman Post. No. 321, Grand Army of the Republic, of Hilliard's, and has twice been elected its commander.

The following facts concerning the children of George L. and Martha J. (Cosgray) Geary will be found interesting in this connection: Lucy, the

223

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

eldest, was born August 12, 1867, and married A. F. DeWitt and lives in Jerome township, Union county, Ohio. Anna E. was born March 7, 1869. Sarah E. was born November 29, 1871, and was married September 5, 1894, to William Liggett and lives in Washington township, Franklin county. Benigna, born September 27, 1874, married George Leppert October 8, 1896, and lives in Washington township. John B., who was born December 13, 1876, was married to Gertie Skidmore December 20, 1899. Bessie Sophia was born May 12, 1882.

EBENEZER BARCUS.

The city of Columbus is noted for its representative business men, and among them may be classed Ebenezer Barcus. He was born in Kent county, Delaware, and was a son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Glandon) Barcus, the former of whom was born in Maryland, in June, 1790, the latter in the same state about 1793. The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation and moved to Ohio in 1828, locating in Columbus, where he engaged in work as a carpenter. He was well known and respected. His death occurred in 1869, having survived his wife thirty-nine years. It is probable that the Barcus family came from Scotland and Ireland to America before the war of the Revolution.

Ebenezer Barcus, our subject, received his education in the city schools, later enjoying some advantages at a private school. He was then taught the trade of bricklayer, the rapid growth of the city giving him plenty of em- ployment. During the great gold excitement of 1849 he joined a company consisting of thirty members and started across the plains for California. After reaching his destination he began operations on the Yuba river, in Gulch Diggings, this proving fairly remunerative. His observation soon told him that a fine business might be carried on in purchasing and supplying necessary supplies to miners, and into this he then entered and successfully conducted it for a period of three years.

Returning to Columbus, Mr. Barcus embarked in the grocery business and also pork-packing, being indirectly connected with the Comstocks, ex- tensive pork-packers. From 1863 to 1874 he was actively engaged in this undertaking, but at that time disposed of his interests and invested his pro- ceeds in the fine farm lands through Franklin and Pickaway counties, Ohio. His present landed estate now numbers twenty-five hundred acres of choice land, a portion of it being a first and second bottom, lying on the Columbus and Chillicothe pike and all on the Scioto river. This land is among the most fertile in the state and is best adapted for growing grain. Mr. Barcus has no difficulty in finding tenants for these farms, and the income is a large one. In 1871 he erected his business house on High street, which is now occupied by the Ohio Furniture Company. It is one of the best adapted houses in the city, four stories in height, the upper floors being occupied as offices.

224

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

Our subject is a Republican in politics, voting that ticket in national and state matters, but in local issues he prefers to be independent. For several years he served the city as a member of the council. Socially he is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He began life with small means, but industry, energy and honesty have brought to him prosperity.

JOSEPH B. POWELL.

Joseph Bigelow Powell, one of the oldest native residents of Truro town- ship. Franklin county, was born in a log cabin on the farm where he now re- sides, March 27, 1822. It is supposed that his great-grandfather, Joseph Powell, was a native of Wales. Joseph Powell, Jr., the grandfather, was born in Maryland, was a farmer by occupation, and died in Bedford county, Pennsylvania. He married a Miss McCoy, who was born and reared in Maryland, and was a relative of Robert McCoy, who built the American Hotel in Columbus.

Archibald Powell, the father of our subject, was born near Hagerstown, Maryland, and when about ten years of age went to Bedford county, Penn- sylvania, a mountainous district, in which he was reared to manhood. There in 1808 he married Elizabeth Adams, who was born in Virginia, and when three years of age was taken to Bedford county, Pennsylvania. Her father, Jacob Adams, was probably a native of the Old Dominion and was of Ger- man descent. He married Clara Dustheimer, also a native of Virginia. The great-grandfather was born in Germany. After his marriage Archibald Powell resided in Pennsylvania until 1815, when he came to Ohio, bringing with him his wife and four children. In Truro township he secured a claim which was covered with a dense growth of timber and in its midst he built a little log cabin, fourteen by sixteen feet. There his family of six took up their abode, living in true pioneer style, for they were among the first settlers of the township. The father was a lifelong Jeffersonian Democrat, and for many years was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He lived to be nearly eighty-five years of age, and his wife was about eighty-six years of age at the time of her death. They were the parents of four sons and five daughters, all of whom reached mature years and reared families of their own. namely : William, who was born in 1809; Mary, in 1810: Jacob, in 1813: George, in 1815; Malinda A. and Rachel M., in 1818; Joseph B., in 1822: Elizabeth, in 1824; and Clarissa A., November 19, 1828. The first four children were natives of Pennsylvania, the others of Franklin county, Ohio.

Mr. Powell, of this review, is the seventh child and fourth son, and is the only survivor of the family. He spent his boyhood in the cabin home and pursued his education in a log schoolhouse with a mud-and-stick chimney, an immense fireplace, slab seats and one door. He went to school during the three winter months and throughout the remainder of the year worked on the

225

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

home farm from the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the autumn. For some years before his father's death he had charge of the old homestead. In 1850 he went across the plains to California, where he was employed in mining for about two years, returning by way of the water route to New York city. He paid eight dollars to ride twenty-five miles on the railroad from Chagres river to Aspinwall. From New York he came to Franklin county by way of Buffalo and Cleveland.

In 1863 Mr. Powell married Lucinda T. French, who was born in Fair- field county, Ohio, and died in 1870, leaving three sons,-Clement M., Will- iam A. and Andrew J. For his second wife Mr. Powell chose Mary S. Fancher, the wedding taking place in 1876. They have three daughters,- Gerda M., Flavia E. and Vashti E.,-all with their parents.

Mr. Powell now owns and operates two hundred and twenty acres of good land, all under a high state of cultivation. He has passed the seventy- ninth milestone on life's journey, but still superintends his farm, and the well- tilled field's yield him a golden tribute. He takes an active interest in every- thing pertaining to the welfare of the community, and for six years he served as township trustee, proving a most competent officer. Few men have a wider acquaintance and none are more favorably known in his township and the surrounding country than Joseph B. Powell.

HENRY HUFFMAN.

Henry Huffman, the subject of the present review, is the owner of a fine farm on the Jackson pike, six miles south of Columbus, in Jackson town- ship, Franklin county, Ohio. He was born in this county August 12, 1845, a son of Henry and Catherine Huffman, both natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania, who became early settlers of Franklin county, Ohio, building a log house in the woods and enduring the trials and privations of pioneer life, this accounting perhaps for the death of Mr. Huffman when only forty- nine years old. Both parents of our subject had contracted previous mar- riages, Mr. Huffman, Sr., having married a Miss Spohn, of which marriage three children were born, and Mrs. Huffman at the time of her second mar- riage was a Mrs. Catherine Meech and the mother of two children. A fam- ily of five were born to the parents of Mr. Huffman, and he was the second son of this union, one sister and one brother still surviving.

Although Mr. Huffman was so unfortunate as to lose both parents when he was but twelve, he remained with relatives in Jackson township until he was about fourteen, when he was sent to relatives in Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he lived for six years. Here he earned his own living, but when he reached his majority he returned to Jackson township and there engaged in any and all work that would bring compensation. Finally he rented a patch of ground from his father's estate. cleared it up and disposed of his crops successfully, later buying one hundred acres on Jackson pike,

226

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

adjoining the farm where he lives, paying for this twelve thousand dollars, and resided there nineteen years. Mr. Huffman has made a success of gen- eral farming and truck farming, also engaging extensively in the raising of cattle. His land in Jackson township includes two hundred and seven acres, while he is also the owner of one hundred and eighty acres in Union county, Ohio.

The marriage of Mr. Huffman took place in April, 1866, when Miss Jane E. Lowe became his wife. She was born in Franklin county and is the daughter of one of the old settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Huffman are the par- ents of four children : Ira, who married Catherine Scharf, of Jackson Pike, and the names of their two children are Albert and Lisle; Inez became the wife of E. B. Graham and resides at Denver, Colorado; Orin married Ola Blake and they reside at Shadeville, with one daughter, Helen; and Liska is still at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Huffman are valued members of the Presbyterian church, and the whole family is one that commands the esteem of the community in which they live.

JAMES FIPPIN.

It is profitable to write and to read the life history of a self-made man, who, beginning poor and without aid, makes his way to a creditable station in the world. About every element of interest in such a personal record at- taches to the biography of James Fippin, an old and respected resident of Franklin township, Franklin county, Ohio, who was born in Belmont county, this state, January 31, 1833, and at the age of twelve years began to fight the battle of life for himself. His father, William Fippin, died when he was very young. His mother, who was known as Widow McConnell before William Fippin married her, had three children by her first marriage and five by her marriage to Mr. Fippin.

James Fippin was the fourth in order of birth of the two daughters and three sons born to William and Mary (McConnell) Fippin, and traces his ancestry on his father's side to early settlers of Pennsylvania and on his mother's side to early pioneers of Maryland. He was reared in Holmes county, Ohio, and when little more than a child was doing heavy farm work and driving a team, hauling goods through Ohio mud. His schooling was limited to a few months' attendance at one of the private schools among the hills of Holmes county. When he had attained his majority he was mar- ried and engaged in farming in that county until 1857. when he went to Mor- gan county, Indiana, with the intention of remaining there; but, not liking the country. he came to Franklin county, Ohio, and took up his residence in a little building in Franklin township, on what was known as the Wilson farm, which now does service as a blacksmith shop. For two years he chopped wood, which he piled on the railroad or hauled to Columbus, and after that

227

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

for four years he rented the Riordan farm, which was located just across the road from Camp Chase, which was in existence during the Civil war. He then bought a forty-acre farm, which he sold in a year in order to buy the farm on which he has since lived. At that time there were few improve- ments upon the place, nothing in the way of a house but a small log hut, into which he moved with his family. The place, which consists of about fifty acres, was a very productive farm, upon which he gradually made improve- ments, erected a dwelling-house, barns and other outbuildings as he was able, and has developed it into a good property.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 27

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