A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 36

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 36

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).

In 1871 Lewis Lincoln Rankin came to Columbus with his parents, who sought the school advantages of the city for their three children,-Frank F., Belle and Lewis L. The first named afterward obtained work in the office of the Ohio State Journal and was rapidly advanced until he became its city editor. He was also admitted to practice law, but died at a comparatively early age, in 1881, leaving a large circle of friends. Mr. Rankin, of this review, continued his studies in the city schools and in 1879 was graduated with honors in the Central high school, after which he began teaching in Hamilton township. In 1880 he was elected president of the Franklin County Teachers' Association, which numbered about three hundred members at that time. In 1882 he became the superintendent of the public schools of Canal Winchester, Ohio, and in 1885 removed to Columbus, where he entered upon the practice of law, in which he has met with excellent success. His practice has always been lucrative and a high degree of prosperity has attended his efforts. He is an earnest and indefatigable worker and in him the utmost confidence can be placed with safety. In 1895 he organized the Buckeye State Building & Loan Company, and in 1898 he erected a bank building for the company's use. In 1900 he built the largest warehouse and storage build- ing in this city for use by the Union Transfer and Storage Company. He is a director in several other corporations, among them the Livingston Seed Company, the Ohio State Journal Company and the Busy Bee Candy Kitchen Company.

In the year 1882 Mr. Rankin was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Rathmell, of Hamilton township, a very estimable young lady and a daughter of John and Susan Rathmell, most highly respected people. Their marriage has been blessed with three children: Stanley Frank, Bertha Susan and Allen Rathmell. Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Rankin came to Colum- bus, where he held the position of court reporter on the Ohio State Journal until he began to practice law in 1886. The following year he was elected to represent his ward in the city council, and, although the youngest member

294

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

of that body at the time, he was made the chairman of the most responsible committee. He declined a re-election, preferring to devote all of his time to his chosen profession, and in this he has been very successful, his energy, tact and enthusiasm in his work bringing to him a large and lucrative practice.

EMBURY A. HITCHCOCK.

Embury A. Hitchcock, professor of experimental engineering in the Ohio State University, at Columbus, whose connection with this institution covers a period of eight years, was born in Henrietta, New York, in June, 1866. The ancestry of the family may be traced back through many genera- tions to Luke Hitchcock, who came from England about the middle of the seventeenth century and settled in Wethersfield, Connecticut. He was for- tunate in making the friendship of the Indians, who, in evidence of their attachment for him, gave him a deed to the land upon which the town of Farmington, Connecticut, has been built. His son, John Hitchcock, the next in the line of direct descent, was made a constable of Springfield, Massa- chusetts, in 1672, and four years later he was badly wounded in a fight at Turner's Falls, in view of which Major Pynchon solicited the governor to give Ensign Hitchcock a lieutenant's commission for gallant conduct. Luke Hitchcock, his son, also resided in Springfield, Massachusetts, and was a man of some prominence, being a member of a committee that was appointed for the purpose of making purchases of the Indians of what is now Sheffield township and also several townships in the county of Berkshire. Captain Aaron Hitchcock, a son of Luke Hitchcock, the second, settled in Suffield county. Connecticut, and was a town clerk for thirteen years. He held a captain's commission and in 1755 commanded a company engaged in the service in the French and Indian war. The next in line was Apollos Hitch- cock, who was a surveyor and the first settler of Chicktowaga, New York. He remained in Suffield county, Connecticut, until 1791, when he went to Charleston, South Carolina, and thence to Europe, where he lived three years, traveling in France and England. On his return to the new world he took up his abode in Hartford, Connecticut, and subsequently removed to Sche- nectady, New York, after which he went to Buffalo, that state, which at that time contained only twenty houses.

Aaron Hitchcock, the eldest son of Apollos and the great-grandfather of our subject, was, like his father, a surveyor, and for the state surveyed much of the land between Batavia and Buffalo, New York, along the state transit line between those two points. Later, in connection with his brothers, he was in the employ of the United States government and surveyed much of the land lying between New Orleans and the mouth of the Mississippi river. His son, Samuel Hitchcock, the grandfather of Professor Hitch- cock, was born in Buffalo. New York, and at nineteen years of age went to Canada, locating at Sarnia, in the province of Ontario. There he was extensively engaged in the fishing business. His first fishing explorations

295

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

were in the Georgian bay in the upper parts of Lake Huron, and his was the first schooner known in those waters. He explored and named many of the islands in Lake Huron and was largely instrumental in obtaining the present fishery laws of the province of Ontario. His son, Julius Charles Hitchcock, the father of Professor Hitchcock, is a graduate of Syracuse University, of the class of 1861. Since that time he has devoted his life to the work of the ministry, filling various church appointments in central and western New York. He was in the army in the spring of 1865, was present at the sur- render of General Lee and the fall of Richmond. He married Finette R. Potter, of Gates, New York, a descendant of William Potter, who emigrated from London, England, sailing on the ship Abigail, in 1635, and took up his abode in New Haven, Connecticut. His descendants have furnished to the country their full share of clergymen, doctors and lawyers. Notable among the latter was Hon. John Fox Potter, a representative from Wisconsin in the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth and thirty-seventh congressionall' sessions. In the list of lineal descendants of the branch of the family to which Mrs. Hitch- cock belonged was the wife of Henry W. Longfellow. Lyman Potter, the father of Mrs. Hitchcock, was born at Plymouth, Connecticut. His grand- father served in the French war, and one of his sons, Lyman R. Potter, entered the Union army and was killed at the battle of Antietam.

Professor Hitchcock, whose name introduces this review and who now occupies a prominent position in educational circles, pursued a preparatory course of study in Oakwood and Cazenovia Seminaries, New York, and in 1885 he entered Syracuse University. The following year he matriculated in Cornell University, and upon completing the regular four-years course was graduated, in 1890, with the degree of Mechanical Engineer. He had mas- tered the great scientific principles underlying mechanical construction and operation, and thus well equipped for a responsible position in that line he entered the employ of the Corliss Steam Engine Company, of Providence, Rhode Island. In the beginning of the year 1893 he came to the Ohio State University and acted as assistant to S. W. Robinson, professor of mechanical engineering. In 1894 and 1895, in the absence of Professor Robinson, he was the acting head of the department, and in 1896 he was made assistant professor of experimental engineering, which position he occupied until April, 1901, when he was made professor of experimental engineering. The laws of the natural world are well known to him, and the great scientific prin- ciples with which he is familiar are closely and accurately applied by him to the work which falls to his lot in his present position.

In Syracuse, New York, in 1896, was celebrated the marriage of Embury Asbury Hitchcock and Miss Hattie Isabel Mortimore. She was born in New York city in 1871, and her parents were of English birth. Her father, John A. Mortimore, is a native of Dartmouth. England, and his father was a sea captain. Her mother, who bore the maiden name of Harriet K. Phillips, is a native of Cheltenham, England, and with her parents came to America, in 1850, when she was very young. Her father was a farmer. In the sum-

296

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

mer of 1900 Professor Hitchcock and his wife traveled through England, Scotland, France and Switzerland, and visited the birthplace of her mother and grandmother, also the parish church in which her grandmother and great-grandmother were married, while in a Wesley chapel church yard they saw the marked graves of several of her ancestors.

Since becoming connected with the Ohio State University Professor Hitchcock has often been called into consultation on engineering work and to conduct important investigations and tests. He is a member of the fol- lowing scientific or engineering societies: The American Society of Mechan- ical Engineers; the American Association for the Advancement of Science; the Society for the Promulgation of Engineering Education; the Engineers' Club, of Columbus ; the Ohio Institute of Mining Engineers; and the Society of Stationary Engineers, of Columbus. Professor Hitchcock is a profound thinker, an exact reasoner, and his love of scientific investigation has given him marked prominence in his profession for one so young.

MARY MINER WHARTON.

Rarely is it given to any one, in these days of change, to occupy the same home for a period of seventy-eight years, but such has been the priv- ilege of the subject of the present sketch, Mrs. Mary Miner Wharton, a resident of Franklin township, Franklin county, Ohio. Mrs. Wharton was born near London, Madison county, Ohio, January 18, 1821. Her father, Isaac Miner, was a son of Isaac Miner, a prominent man of English descent, who was a well known trader with the West Indies.

The father of Mrs. Wharton was born in New London, Connecticut, December 18, 1778, and went to Franklin, Delaware county, New York, where he engaged in the lumber and mercantile business, also engaging in the study and practice of law, remaining with his father until 1806, when he removed to Franklin county, Ohio, remaining there but a short time, and removing thence to Madison county, and here he bought a large tract of land. At one time Mr. Miner owned six thousand acres, upon which he raised great numbers of cattle, sheep and horses, for sixteen years engaging in this business. He was one of the first settlers in that county and was the largest landholder. In 1816 Mr. Miner was made a member of the state legislature, his politics being that of the party then named old-line Whig. In this county he was very prominent, taking an active part in all public matters. In 1822 he removed to Franklin county and settled on the Scioto river, building here the house in which Mrs. Wharton now lives. At one time his farm consisted of seven hundred and fifty acres, and here he engaged most extensively in the raising of stock. He was one of the first to ship cattle to Philadelphia and New York. becoming one of the largest dealers in the county. He was much interested in horses, and the first race track in the state was located on his farm. At one time he owned eighty head of horses, including some of great value. At the time of his death Mr. Miner was one of the most prominent

MRS. MARY M. WHARTON.

297

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

public men of his locality, an almost indispensable citizen, progressive, earnest and capable. He was a member of the canal board, in which his advice was highly regarded, its deliberations being suspended during his illness. He was an example to his family and his death left a blank never filled. His death occurred December 27, 1831, when the county lost one of its most dis- interested and faithful citizens.

The mother of our subject was Hannah (Stowel) Miner, a native of Chemung valley, in the state of New York. She was a daughter of Elijah and Hannah (Bigsby) Stowel, of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Miner had eight children : Griffith R .; Maria ; John L .; Henry, deceased ; William, who became sheriff of Franklin county, and Richard, both deceased ; Mrs. Wharton, the only one of the family still living; and Emma, born in 1808, who became the wife of Moses H. Kirby, a prominent man in state politics, who twice filled the office of secretary of state and whose death was much regretted.

Mrs. Wharton was only two years of age when her family moved into the house where she now lives. With the exception of three years spent in Nashville, Tennessee, this has been her continuous residence, with the excep- tion of her school days, which were spent at Steubenville, Ohio, and at a Quaker school at Kimberton, Chester county, Pennsylvania. In her youth Mrs. Wharton was celebrated for her beauty, being widely known as the belle of Franklin county. The venerable lady still retains many traces of this attractiveness, being vivacious and well preserved.

The marriage of Mrs. Wharton took place in 1839, to Henry Wharton, a native of Hull, England, and a family of four children were born to them: William, Frederick, Miner and Albert.

Mrs. Wharton is the proprietor of the Wharton addition to the city of Columbus, Ohio, and one of the owners of Green Lawn. Her residence has been so long in this locality that she has become thoroughly informed upon every development in the county. She has watched with interest the growth of the city of Columbus, and feels confident that its future is great. Nat- urally intelligent, educated and refined, Mrs. Wharton is one of the best rep- resentatives of the real ladies to the manor born in the state of Ohio.

WILLIAM H. THOMPSON.

William Harry Thompson was born on the 4th of July, 1862, in Union county, Pennsylvania, a son of Charles M. and Hattie Thompson, both of whom are residents of Columbus. The other members of their family are Mrs. Frank Burnham, who is now living in Bradford, Ohio; Elmer E., an engineer : Jesse E., a yard brakeman; and R. M .. who is also in the railroad service. The three brothers are residents of Columbus.

In his parents' home William H. Thompson spent the days of his child- hood and youth, and after arriving at years of maturity he was joined in wedlock, on the 2d of April, 1885, to Miss Martha Brown, the wedding being celebrated in Bradford, Ohio. Her father, John L. Brown, now 19

298

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

resides in Piqua, Ohio, but her mother died before the marriage of her daughter. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have been born seven children : Arthur, born December 30, 1885; Florence, who was born January 20, 1888, and died on the 21st of October, of that year; Myrtle M., who was born August 16, 1889, and died November 18, 1890; William C., born August 29, 1891; Lova Ruth, born April 21, 1896; Harry Dewey, born May II, 1898; and Paul, born July 5, 1901.

Mr. Thompson began his railroad service at Bradford, Ohio, in April, 1879, by working in the coal bin for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. In 1881 he became fireman for the same company, running on the Indianapo- lis division, and continued to serve in that capacity until November, 1889, when he was made a yard engineer, and in September of the following year was promoted to road engineer. His service in the latter position now covers eleven years, during which period he has won the commendation of the company by his faithfulness and reliability. He is a member of York Lodge, No. 563, F. & A. M., of Columbus, and in his political affiliations he is a Democrat. He and his family hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and are people of genuine worth.

WILBUR HENRY SIEBERT.

Wilbur Henry Siebert was born in Columbus, Ohio, August 30, 1866, and is the third son of Louis and Sarah A. Siebert and a member of one of the old and substantial families of the capital city. The Sieberts emigrated from the neighborhood of Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, in 1832, com- ing to this country to escape the consequences of the political reaction caused by the failure of the revolutionary movement in 1830. Henry Lawrence Sie- bert, the founder of the family in Ohio, was a German liberal. He had shown his devotion to his country by fighting in the wars against Napoleon Bonaparte, but did not wish to sacrifice his sons, of whom there were six, in the cause of despotism. He therefore came to America in 1832, and settled in Columbus, July 15, 1834.

On his mother's side Mr. Siebert is descended from Dutch, French and English stock. His maternal grandfather was Henry Van De Water, who was of the fourth generation of the New York family of that name; and his maternal grandmother, Sarah Van De Water, was of English descent, her maiden name being Brand. This branch of the Van De Waters removed from New York city to Columbus in 1834, by way of the Erie and Ohio canals, before the days of railroads.

Mr. Siebert received his early education in the schools of Columbus, being graduated in the Central high school in 1883, on which occasion he was one of several to receive a commencement part. Then he entered the Ohio State University, in which he was graduated with the degree of B. A. in 1888, occupying a place on the commencement program as a representa- tive of his course by election of the faculty. He was prevented from gradu-

299

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

ating with his class, that of 1887, by a severe illness in his junior year. In the fall of 1889 Mr. Siebert entered Harvard University and received the bachelor's degree with honorable mention in June, 1889, and the degree of M. A. in June, 1890. While in Harvard he took part with E. B. Delabarre, now Professor Delabarre of Brown University, and others in the organiza- tion of the Graduate Club, the pioneer of university graduate clubs in this country, and was made its first president. The academic year 1890-1 Mr. Siebert spent in the study of history and philosophy in the Universities of Freiburg in Baden and Berlin, attending lectures under Professors Von Holst, Riehl, and Munsterberg, in Freiburg, and Professors Von Treitsche, Marcks, Schaeffer-Boichorst and others in Berlin. In the fall of 1891 Mr. Siebert accepted the position of assistant in history and political science in the Ohio State University, and was made assistant professor of history two years later.

On the 16th of August, 1893, he married Annie Ware Sabine, the daughter of Hon. and Mrs. Hylas Sabine, a gifted woman, who received her master's degree from the Ohio State University, and later received a degree in science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology under General Francis Walker.

The years 1895 and 1896 Mr. Siebert spent in advanced study in Har- vard, and in the preparation of his work on the anti-slavery movement men- tioned below. He now holds the chair of European history in the State University. He is the author of the "Underground Railroad from Slavery to Freedom," and a "Handbook of Ohio Government," now in press, besides articles and reviews in various magazines. Mr. Siebert is a fellow of the American Geographical Society and a member of other learned bodies.

Recently Professor Siebert has been actively interested in the founding of a social settlement, the First Neighborhood Guild of Columbus, located at No. 466 West Goodale street, where it occupies the commodious Godman Guild house, built for the organization through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Godman. Mr. Siebert has been president of the Guild during the past three years.

CHARLES. V. CENTNER.

The personal characteristics of Charles V. Centner are such as to win for him the warm friendship of many with whom he came in contact, and he had a wide acquaintance among the business men of Columbus as well as in other walks of life. He was born June 30, 1850, in Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania, and was of German lineage. His parents, Christopher and Mar- garet Centner, were both born in Germany, in the year 1818, and were mar- ried in that country. Believing that they might improve their financial condition in the new world, they crossed the Atlantic to America, and after residing for some time in Pennsylvania took up their abode in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1855. The father was a cabinet-maker by trade, following that

300

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

pursuit in order to provide for his family. He had two daughters, Mrs. Caroline Wallace and Mrs. John Oberhuber, both of whom are now resi- dents of Cincinnati.

Their only son was Charles V. Centner, who was reared in Cincinnati, having accompanied his parents on their removal to that place when only five years of age. At the usual time he entered the public schools and there mastered the common English branches of learning. After putting aside his text-books he learned the trade of carpet-making, and secured a position in the employ of the leading wholesale and retail carpet dealer in Cincinnati, where by close application and fidelity he worked his way upward, finally securing a very responsible and lucrative position with the well-known house of George B. Otte & Company, of Cincinnati. In 1882 he came to Colum- bus and was offered and accepted a position in the service of the Osborn Company, remaining in that employ until 1897, when he was placed in charge of the buyers' department of the Beggs Company, of this city. His familiarity with the trade, his comprehensive understanding of the public tastes and his indefatigable industry well qualified him for the responsible position. and he acceptably served in that capacity until his demise.

In 1884 Mr. Centner was united in marriage to Miss Emma Stroedter, of Columbus, a daughter of Godfrey and Elizabeth Stroedter, both of whom were natives of Germany, the former born in 1834, the latter in 1838. They were married in Columbus, and their children were: Mrs. Centner; Ernest, who is engaged in the drug business on South High street, in Columbus; Fred, who is a clerk in the employ of Brice Brothers, of Columbus; and Lena, now the wife of Albert Neothlich, a resident of this city. The father of this family was a carriage-maker by trade and followed that pursuit throughout his active business career. He died in 1884, and his wife passed away in 1870. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Centner were born four children : Emma, who is now a student in the Young Ladies' Academy of St. Aloysius, in Perry county, Ohio; Charles G., born February II, 1888; David N., born November 1, 1890; and William F., born April 27, 1893.

In the winter of 1900-1 Mr. Centner left home for the benefit of his health, but did not find the help which he expected, and on the 19th of Jan- uary of the latter year he passed away. He was a business man of splendid ability and greatly honored by the public as well as esteemed by his friends and neighbors. Mrs. Centner still resides at No. 410 East Rich street, in the home which she has occupied for ten years. The family are members of the Holy Cross Catholic church of this city.

HENRY CLAY SLYH.

A man's reputation is the property of the world. The laws of nature have forbidden isolation. Every human being submits to the controlling influence of others, or, as a master, wields a power for good or evil on the masses of mankind. There can be no impropriety in justly scanning the

301

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

acts of any man as they affect his public, social and business relations. If he be honest and successful in his chosen field of endeavor investigation will brighten his fame and point the path along which others may follow.

One whose record will bear the closest scrutiny and stand the test of public criticism is Henry Clay Slyh, whose identification with the interests of Franklin county dates from pioneer times. Through almost four-score vears he has been a witness of the development, growth and progress made in this section of the state, and as a public-spirited citizen he has given his aid and co-operation to many measures for the public good. He was born upon his father's farm in Prairie township, December 13, 1823, a son of Henry Slyh, who was born in Virginia March 13, 1800. He served in the war of 1812, as did also his brothers, Jacob, John and Isaac Neff. By occupation he was a farmer, and through many years followed that pursuit in Prairie township, Franklin county. He was three times married, his first union being with Sarah Neff, by whom he had the following named chil- dren : James, who went to California in 1850, and died in that state in 1865; Margaret, who became the wife of Thomas Wilcox; and Mary, who wedded John Postle. The daughters both died in Franklin county prior to the Civil war. For his second wife Henry Slyh chose Clara Higgins, who died two years later, leaving no children. His third wife was the mother of our sub- ject. She bore the maiden name of Susanna Hopper, and their wedding was celebrated in January, 1823. She was a resident of Prairie township, Franklin county, and by her marriage she became the mother of three chil- dren : Henry Clay, of this review; Amanda Jane; and Jacob Neff. The former was born in 1825, and in 1848 gave her hand in marriage to Asa Fell. They made their home upon a farm near Muscatine, Iowa, where Mrs. Fell died in 1900, leaving a large family. Her husband was numbered among the men who crossed the plains to California in 1849, attracted by the discovery of gold, and he became very wealthy. Jacob Neff Slyh, who was born in 1828, became a farmer and married Miss Hanna Yeiser. He died in 1852, and his wife passed away in 1855, leaving a daughter, Mary Ellen, who died in 1895.

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 36

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