USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio > Part 30
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the office of judge of elections. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Haldy married Norma E. Schueller, a native of Columbus, Ohio, and a daughter of the late Ernst Schueller, who was prominent in that city as a druggist and respected as a citizen. Mr. Schueller married Helen Wirth, and Mrs. Haldy, who was their second child and oldest daughter, was grad- uated at the Columbus high school. Mrs. Schueller was born at Leipsic, Germany, a daughter of an old "fatherland" family, and came when young to Columbus, where she formed the acquaintance of, and married, Mr. Schueller, also of German birth and parentage. Charles W. and Norma E. (Schueller) Haldy have two daughters, named Helen and Gertrude.
PERCY S. LOWRY.
The subject of this sketch was born at Senecaville, Guernsey county, Ohio, March 6, 1866, being one of the six children of Porter and Susan Lowry. The latter was a daughter of Rev. Thomas and Jane Rosemond Taylor, prominent in the pioneer history of the county. In and near Seneca- ville the subject of our sketch resided until eighteen years of age, attending school in winter and helping on the farm in summer. He then attended the Ohio Normal University, at Ada, Ohio, and taught school alternately, being graduated at that institution in 1889, with the degree of A. B. After then teaching one year he received an appointment, through the civil service, in the war department at Washington, D. C. While fulfilling the duties of this position he also pursued the study of law at the Columbian University Law School, receiving, in 1893, the degree of LL. M. Thereupon, having passed the state examination, he was admitted to the bar of Ohio and began the practice of his profession at Columbus, having resigned his government clerkship.
In politics always a working Republican, Mr. Lowry at once took an active part in political affairs of the capital city, and in 1900 was elected a justice of the peace, which office he now holds.
September 5, 1900, he was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Saun- ders, of Essex county, Virginia, but at that time residing in Washington, D. C. In fraternal circles he is a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Modern Woodmen of America.
EUGENE LANE.
One of the prominent professional men of the city of Columbus, Ohio, is Eugene Lane, who is actively engaged in the practice of law in this city. He was born at Mount Carmel. Clermont county, Ohio. October 1, 1848, and was a son of John S. and Anne ( Richards) Lane. The grandfather of our subject was Shadrach Lane, who had come to Ohio as one of the pioneers
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from his native state of North Carolina. He married Betsey Van Eaton, also a native of the Old North state, who, like himself, had come early to Cler- mont county, Ohio. In this county occurred the birth of the father of our subject, and here he spent most of his life, dying at Delaware, Ohio, in 1875. For many years he had been a successful farmer, also engaging in survey- ing and in civil engineering through the county.
Mr. Lane spent his boyhood days on the farm and attended the district school until his sixteenth year. Just at this time came the exciting events leading up to the opening of the Civil war, and Mr. Lane, with others of his young companions, resolved to enter the army and do battle for the Union. Friends, however, prohibited this rashness, but were not able to quench the fire of patriotism burning in his bosom which resulted a short time later in another attempt, this time successful. Joining the army at Goldsboro, North Carolina, Mr. Lane was assigned to Company E, Fifth Ohio Volunteer Cav- alry, under Colonel Thomas Heath, and served faithfully until October, 30, 1865. He took part in several skirmishes and was for some time in General Sherman's command.
After his return home from the army Mr. Lane returned to his studies, entering the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, here meeting a large number of students who, like himself, had postponed their college courses until they could be assured of the safety of the country. He met there many young men who have since become prominent, both in business and politics, among them Hon. J. B. Foraker, General Axline and others.
Mr. Lane graduated at the university in 1871 and soon afterward removed to Quincy, Illinois, where he engaged in business until the fall of 1875, return- ing then to Ohio, where he entered the law office of L. J. Critchfield, as a student of law, and in 1877 was admitted to the bar. Since that time Mr. Lane has been in the active practice of his profession in this city. Always an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party, he became its choice, in 1893, for representative, and was elected to the state legislature.
Mr. Lane was united in marriage to Miss Abbie A. Dexter, of Delaware, Ohio, on July 20, 1871. She is a daughter of Francis and Elizabeth ( Peck) Dexter, natives of Vermont, but residents of Delaware, Ohio. A family of five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lane, as follows: Charles E., a graduate of Starling Medical College, who served two years in the Spanish-American war, later being sent to the Philippines, was honorably dis- charged June 19, 1900, and is now practicing medicine at Lima, Ohio; Laura R., the wife of L. H. Vinson, a prominent manufacturer of Dayton, Ohio; Mazie E., a student ; Ernest G., who served in the Spanish-American war and is now employed at Dayton, Ohio ; and Annie, who is a student.
Mr. Lane has long been a very active worker in several organizations and his services have been recognized by his appointment to some of the most important positions in the orders. He is a past master of York Lodge, A. F.
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& A. M., and past grand of Dennison I. O. O. F., also a past chancellor of Norwich Lodge, K. of P., and is a comrade in Beers Post, G. A. R.
Mr. Lane is a lawyer of ability, thoroughly understanding the technical points of his profession, and possessing the power to impress his views upon his hearers. His career has been a very successful one, and his friends and admirers are not confined to the legal profession.
JOSEPH ARMSTRONG.
Joseph Armstrong was born in Belmont county, Ohio, near St. Clairs- ville, July 26, 1829, and is a son of John Armstrong and a grandson of Robert Armstrong. The latter was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, and his wife, Rose Ann Armstrong, was also a native of the locality. After the birth of their first child they emigrated to America, settling in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and later came to Ohio, locating in Belmont county about 1824. There the grandparents of our subject spent their remaining days. Their children were James, William, John, Thomas, Robert, Samuel, Margaret and Rose Ann. The daughter Margaret became the wife of Thomas Thompson. The grandparents were members of the Free Presby- terian church and were exemplary Christian people. Mr. Armstrong died in 1851, when more than eighty years of age, and his wife passed away ten or twelve years previously.
John Armstrong, the father of our subject, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and was there reared to manhood, acquiring his edu- cation in its public schools. He married Miss Jane Thompson, a daughter of Joseph and Jane ( Patton) Thompson, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state. The former entered the army during the Revolutionary war, loyally aiding in the struggle for the independence of the nation. After the establishment of the Republic he made his way over the mountains, set- tling in Westmoreland county, where he was married. About 1824 he went to Belmont county, Ohio, in company with the Armstrong family, and there his death occurred, while his wife passed away in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, id 1836. Joseph Thompson, a son of Joseph Thompson, Sr., was in the war of 1812 and was present at the time of Perry's magnificent naval victory on Lake Erie, on the 10th of September, 1813, when the British fleet was destroyed. They had nine children, as follows: Joseph, William, James, Robert, Andrew, Thomas, Samuel, William and Jane.
John Armstrong, the father of our subject, was born May 6, 1803, and therefore attained his majority when the family came to Ohio. After his marriage he continued to live in Belmont county until 1834, when he removed to Tuscarawas county. settling near Urichville, then called Waterford, and for seventeen years Mr. Armstrong followed farming in that locality. He then removed to Gallia county, Ohio, where he resided until 1858, when he came to Franklin county, locating in Perry township, where he purchased
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twenty-seven acres of land, now the town site of Elmwood. Upon that farm he made his home for a number of years, and on selling the property went to Liberty township, Delaware county, Ohio, where his wife died in 1873, at the age of seventy-one years, her birth having occurred in 1802. Mr. Armstrong died September 6, 1887. Both were members of the United Presbyterian church and their Christian conduct exemplified their belief.
Joseph Armstrong, the immediate subject of this review, was reared on the old family homestead in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and acquired his education in the paid schools. In 1849 he began learning the carpenter's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years, during which time he received eight dollars a month for the first year, ten dollars a month for the second and twelve dollars a month for the third year. He then started out upon an independent business career, in 1853, making a dollar a day. In 1853 he came to Franklin county, after having worked at carpentering in Madison county for about six months. Subsequently he removed to Delaware county, where he engaged in carpentering for a short time, during the winter of 1854-5. He then took up his residence permanently in Perry township, and on the 20th of June, 1855, he was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Hard, a native of Perry township and a daughter of Myron E. and Elizabeth Hard. In 1859 Mr. Armstrong purchased seventeen acres of land now comprising the site of Elmwood and continuously engaged in carpentering in connection with farming until 1875, when failing health compelled him to abandon his trade. He was a very competent workman and in the construction of build- ings gave very careful attention to designing the flues and constructing them in a safe manner. It may be truthfully said that no house which he erected ever burned down. He has been a prosperous man, and his enterprise and thrift have resulted in the accumulation of a good property, now comprising one hundred and four acres. This is a valuable tract, highly cultivated and improved with all modern accessories. He may truly be called a self-made man, for he began life in Franklin county with a capital of only two dollars and a half. He borrowed ten dollars in order to purchase tools with which to engage in work at his trade, and his industry, perseverance, economy and capable management have been the factors in winning him prosperity.
Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong have long been accounted most esteemed citi- zens of their community. Their many excellent qualities have gained for them warm friendship and they are now widely and favorably known. They have never had any children of their own, but have reared two adopted chil- dren. The son, Frank Armstrong, was a son of Robert Armstrong, a brother of our subject. At the present time Frank is now a conductor on the Pan- handle Railroad. They also adopted Ella Miller, who at the time was six years of age. They gave her their own name, carefully educated her in music and literature and for several years prior to her marriage she was a prominent teacher in the public schools of Franklin county. In 1877 she became the wife of George Coe and now has four children,-Bertha L., Elma, Harvey
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and Willard. Mr. Armstrong has held the office of township trustee and has always been a stalwart Democrat since casting his first vote for Franklin Pierce. Throughout his career he has been honorable, straightforward and energetic, a man whom to know is to esteem and respect. His life illustrates the power of diligence in the active affairs of life, and now with a competency carefully secured for his declining years he is enabled to spend the evening of life in quiet and well earned rest.
CHARLES A. PEARCE.
The office of sheriff is the highest executive office within the gift of the people of any county. It is an office of responsibility, demanding in its in- cumbent not only first-class business ability but integrity in the highest degree. Franklin county, Ohio, has had many good sheriffs, but it has had none who filled the office more efficiently or more entirely to the satisfaction of the gen- eral public than it is being filled at this time by Charles A. Pearce.
Mr. Pearce is a native of Columbus and was born on Christmas day, 4854, a son of Grafton and Alvina (Auter) Pearce. He received his pri- mary education in the public schools of the city and at a private school. After putting aside his text-books he entered the service of the Columbus Buggy Company, with whom he remained for twenty-four years. For many years as a Republican he has been identified with local and state politics and has done much important work for his party. In November, 1899, he was elected the sheriff of the county and he assumed the duties of his office in January, 1900. He is a thirty-second-degree Mason and also a member of the Odd Fellows order, the Knights of Pythias and the order of Elks.
Mr. Pearce has made his own way in the world to a position of trust and responsibility among his fellow men, and it may be said of him as truly as of any other man in the best sense of the term; and those who know best how he gained his present place know how well and truly he deserves it; and leading men of Columbus, irrespective of party, rejoice with him in his success.
RODNEY R. COOKE.
Rodney R. Cooke, deceased, was born on the old Cooke homestead in Clinton township, Franklin county, on the 26th of February, 1832. He was a son of Rodney Cooke and Laura (Cowles) Cooke, was a pioneer of the county and was reared upon his father's farm, obtaining his preliminary edu- cation in the district schools and in Otterbein University, where he pursued a partial course before attaining his majority. He afterward followed farm- ing and school-teaching until his enlistment in the Civil war, on the 22d of February, 1864, for three years or during the war. He was assigned to Company G, of the Fifty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and in March following he joined his regiment, which was then doing service in Kentucky. He participated in the battle of Snake Creek Gap, on the 8th of May ; Resaca,
CHARLES A. PEARCE.
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from the 13th to the 16th of May; Dallas, May 25; Kenesaw Mountain, July 9; and the battle of Atlanta, on the 26th of July. He was also in sev- eral skirmishes, and about the Ist of September, 1864, was taken ill and sent to the hospital in the rear of Atlanta. He was afterward transferred to various hospitals until he arrived at Bedloe's island, New York, and later was sent to Hilton Head, South Carolina, where he remained until the close of the war. He then participated in the grand review at Washington, in May, 1865. He served with the First Brigade, Second Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, under Generals Sherman, McPherson and Logan, while Captain James Wilson, of Findlay, Ohio, had command of the company, and Colonel A. V. Rice of the regiment. He was honorably discharged June 27, 1865, but returned an invalid from the war. Broken down in health, he was largely incapacitated for performing manual labor upon the farm. However, he accomplished his work as well as he could, a resolute will enabling him to, perform the task.
On the 24th of May, 1860, Mr. Cooke was married to Miss Cloe Will- iams, a daughter of William and Lucinda ( Phelps) Williams, of Delaware county, Ohio. By this marriage was born a daughter, Luella Z., who fills a position in the patent office in Washington, D. C. Mrs. Cooke's father was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Bedford county, where his early life was passed. In 1800 his parents came to Ohio, settling in Fairfield county, near Lancaster, during the early childhood of their son. In 1807 they took: up their abode in Genoa, Delaware county, Ohio, where a permanent home: was made. William Williams was a son of Rev. John and Margaret ( Taylor ) Williams. The former was a chaplain in the colonial army during the Revo- lutionary war. He was born in Maryland and was of Welsh descent, his father having probably been born in the little rock-ribbed country of Wales, becoming the founder of his branch of the family in America. A minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, Rev. Mr. Williams became one of the early itinerant preachers in Ohio. He also followed farming and purchased fourteen hundred and ninety-six acres of land in Genoa township, Delaware county. He had nine children, all of whom have now passed away. Thomas, the eldest son, was a babe when his parents removed from Maryland to Bed- ford county, Pennsylvania. They traveled on horseback, carrying the baby, "Tom," in a basket. Out of this he rolled to the ground, when the mother exclaimed, "Laws 'a' massy ! my baby is killed !" but the little fellow was not hurt at all. The other children are: Linda, born January 3, 1785; William, August 23, 1787; Martha, September 3, 1791 ; Elizabeth, October 22, 1793; Margaret, March 10, 1795; James, in 1797; Nancy, August 16, 1801; and Mary, August 28, 1803. Rev. Mr. Williams, the father, died April 7, 1814. at the age of fifty-seven years, two months and nine days, and his wife passed away February 13, 1833, at the age of seventy-five years and seventeen days.
William Williams, the father of Mrs. Cooke, was married, in Ohio, to Lucinda, a daughter of Edward and Azubah (Moore) Phelps, who were 16
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pioneers of Franklin county, having located in Blendon township in 1806, entering land there from the government. They removed westward from Windsor, Connecticut, and made a permanent home in Blendon township, becoming identified with the best interests of the county and with all lines of substantial improvement. Mr. and Mrs. Phelps had eight children, namely : Edward, born May 10, 1790; Abraham, August 16, 1791 ; Azubah, May 19, 1794; Lewis, January 10, 1796; Lucinda, January 28, 1797; Cloe, May 30, 1799; William, September 26, 1802; and Homer M., February 9, 1812. The last named was a native of Blendon township. Edward Phelps was a suc- cessful farmer and carried on agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career, dying August 10, 1840, in his eighty-first year, and his wife passed away October 18, 1849, in Delaware county, Ohio, at the age of eighty- five years. When eighty years of age she was immersed, becoming a mem- ber of the Disciple church.
William Phelps, of Tewkesbury, England, came to America in the good ship Mary and John in 1630, and was the first settler of Windsor, Connecti- cut, 1635. Edward, son of Timothy, son of Cornelius, son of Timothy, son of William and Mary (Dover) Phelps, with his wife, Azubah ( Moore) Phelps, and sons, Abram, Edward and William, and daughters, Lucinda, Chloe and Azubah, were the first settlers of Blendon, Franklin county, Ohio, locating there in August, 1806, with Isaac and Ursula Griswold.
Edward Phelps left Windsor, Connecticut, with his wife and six chil- dren, and his wife's father and mother, Simeon and Hannah ( Barber ) Moore, also with Isaac Griswold, his wife and two sons and their families. They started for Blendon, Ohio, arriving at Worthington on the 24th of August, 1806. The journey was made with ox teams and two months passed before they reached their destination. In October of the same year Mr. and Mrs. Phelps removed to Blendon township, two and a half miles further east, their home being near Alum creek. They located in the midst of the forest, and for more than four years had no neighbors nearer than Worthington. The fourteen persons constituting the party on the westward journey were the first white settlers of Blendon township. They were obliged to cut a road from Granville to Worthington, a distance of twenty miles, and were prominently identified with the pioneer development.
After his marriage William Williams located on the home farm in Genoa township, Delaware county, Ohio, where he and his wife remained through- out the residue of their days. They had fifteen children, five now living, namely : Amos, a resident of Meriden, Kansas: Alma, the wife of Harry Grinnell, a resident of Kankakee. Illinois: Mrs. Cloe Cooke, of Clintonville, Ohio: Lucinda L., the widow of William Vincent, of Delaware county, Ohio; and Victor A., who resides on the old homestead in that county. Those who have passed away are: Homer. Milton, Miles, Emily, Edward, Harriet, Mary, Harlow, Corintha and Virgil. The last named was a member of Com- pany D, Twentieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He enlisted September 24,
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1861, for three years, and saw active service, participating in a number of the most hotly contested engagements of the war, in one of which-Champion Hills-he received a wound on the forehead from a spent ball. This sub- sequently caused his death, which occurred June 19, 1875. He was a mem- ber of Galena Lodge, No. 104, I. O. O. F. He participated in the battles at Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, Iuka, Metamora Cross Roads, Grand Junction, Grand Gulf, Raymond, Champion Hills, siege of Vicks- burg and others. He was a brave and valiant soldier and performed every duty with that care and fidelity which stamped him as one of the nation's truest and most loyal defenders. As a citizen, son, brother and husband he discharged every duty with fidelity similar to that which he displayed when following the old flag that he loved so well.
On the 25th of May, 1865, he married Emeline Cox, and unto them were born three children : Ione Cox, who was born January 8, 1868, and was married, in 1886, to Ira H. Steele; Bertha Phelps, who was born July 15, 1871, and became the wife of George W. Page; and Gilbert Hoover, who was born March 12, 1873, and died January 1I, 1875. Victor Williams, the twin brother of Virgil Williams, was born in Genoa, Ohio, August 16, 1839, and was married, September 12, 1865, to Priscilla Martin. Their children were as follows: Lucinda, who was born October 24, 1866; Edward, born June 4, 1871, and died two days later; Clayton Gilbert, born August 24, 1872, and married Elizabeth Haines; Effie Fayette, born May 8, 1875, and was married, April 29, 1897, to Charles F. McCarty; Virgil Clifton, who was born August 31, 1878; and Clarence Victor, born on the 3Ist of May, 1884.
Mrs. Williams, the mother of Mrs. Rodney R. Cooke, died November 25, 1873. Both she and her husband held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and they always entertained the ministers at their home. Mr. Williams was a soldier in the war of 1812.
Simeon Moore, Jr., was born March 20, 1760, and was married to Han- nah Cooke, who died October 27, 1796. His second wife bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Andrews, and after her death he wedded Mrs. Roxana Meacham. He served with the Connecticut troops at the battle of Bunker Hill and then returned home, afterward enlisting in Captain Ben Hammond's company, receiving an honorable discharge at the close of the war. He then entered the privateer's service, in which he remained for a year or two. On the 7th of June, 1807, he became a resident of Blendon township, Franklin county, Ohio, where he purchased five hundred acres of land. He served as a justice of the peace of the township from 1810 until 1815. On the journey to Ohio he had been accompanied by his wife, her brother Benjamin, his son Simeon and daughter Phoebe, and five of his wife's children by her first husband. He died June 26, 1825. The children of his first marriage were Polly, Lovina, Wealthy, Simeon and Hannah. By the second marriage the children were Elhannan W., Thomas J. and Phoebe, and the only child of
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the third marriage was Benjamin, who was the first white child born in Blendon township, his natal day being June 11, 1807.
It will thus be seen that the ancestors of Mrs. Cooke have been promi- nent factors in the improvement, development and upbuilding of Franklin county. She is a member of the United Brethren church, with which she has long been connected, and is a consistent Christian woman. She is a mem- ber of the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, having on its organiza- tion joined Colonel Ellsworth Circle, No. 11, of Columbus. For two terms, of one year each, she served as its president and has also been its chaplain by election, secretary by appointment two years, and department chaplain of the L. of the G. A. R. one year. She is a member of the Rebekah Order of the Odd Fellows, belonging to Chidsey Lodge, No. 399, held the office of noble grand one term, was chaplain three terms and deputy three years. She was then elected for a fourth year, but declined to serve.
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