A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 47

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 47

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Mr. Coe was united in marriage with Sylvia B. Bull, daughter of Jason and Amelia Bull, early settlers of Franklin county. By this union were born four children, all of them now living, namely: Safford M., Lug P., Irvin T. and John F., two of them residents of Columbus and two of Clinton township, Franklin county.

After his marriage Mr. Coe made a purchase of two hundred and five acres of land in Blendon township, all in the green timber, paying ten dollars per acre for it. He built a frame house on the new purchase and moved into it. He never engaged in agricultural pursuits to any extent, his energies being devoted to the lumber and timber business. At the time that Mr. Coe made this purchase of land in Blendon township a plank road was planned and stock taken at once to build the road from Columbus to Westervelt, he taking five hundred dollars worth of stock in the road. The contractor of the plank road had a steam sawmill put on Mr. Coe's land and Mr. Coe furnished the timber in logs at the mill and the contractor sawed out for him one and a half million feet of plank, which he delivered on the line of the new road. After the road was finished the price of land along the route rose greatly in value and Mr. Coe soon sold his purchase of land at forty dollars per acre. He next made a purchase of two hundred acres of timber land, two miles northeast of Worthington, Ohio, built a frame house and barn on the new purchase and made the place his residence for five years, when he removed to Worthington, where he maintained his residence for sev- eral years. He next went to Delaware, Ohio, in order to send his children to the Delaware University. In 1861 he and his son, S. M. Coe, started a spoke factory in Hardin county, Ohio, which they conducted until the

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close of the Civil war, but lost fifteen thousand dollars in the venture. Our subject returned to Clinton township, Franklin county, built what is now the Coe residence on North High street on the Worthington road, and has made this his permanent residence. Mr. Coe spends over six months each year in shipping and furnishing stock for the Ohio Tool Company, of Columbus.

Mrs. Sylvia B. Coe, wife of Truman H. Coe, died March 13, 1891. Since then Mr. Coe has been practically living a retired life except that he is running a small apiary for exercise and to have something to do and occupy his time and attention. He cast his first presidential vote for Henry Clay and has always affiliated with the Whig and Republican parties. His religious belief is that of the Presbyterian church. Although eighty-one years of age 'he is still well preserved, is vigorous both in mind and body, stands perfectly erect, while his eyes are bright and his voice strong. He also possesses a head of hair which many a young man might well envy. He is a temperance man of pronounced type, and his saloon bill throughout his entire life amounts to but sixteen cents. His life is exemplary in all respects and he well merits the high regard in which he is universally held.

JAMES M. WALKER.

James M. Walker, who for many years was an active factor in com- mercial circles in Columbus, was born July 5, 1835, in Virginia, which was the ancestral home of the family. His father, James Walker, died at the old residence in that state in 1853, and his widow, long surviving him, passed away at the home of her son at Columbus in 1885, at the age of eighty-seven years. They were the parents of five children, namely : James M., Watson, John, Mary and Robert. The subject of this review is an own cousin of the Hon. Henry Walker, ex-secretary of state of Virginia and a leading politician, and during the lifetime of Senator A. G. Thurman he accompanied him on campaign tours, making political speeches in behalf of Democracy. James M. Walker spent his childhood in the Old Dominion and acquired his education there, and in 1854, when nineteen years of age, came to Colum- bus. Here he entered the grocery trade, conducting a store on High street for many years. His unquestioned probity, his fairness in all trade trans- actions, his earnest desire to please his patrons, and his courteous manner won for him a constantly growing trade and a continuously increasing pros- perity, but in 1893, on account of ill health, he was compelled to retire from active business life. He died July 24, 1897, at the age of sixty-two years.

In 1872 Mr. Walker was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Waterman, a representative of a prominent pioneer family of Franklin county. Her father, Joseph Waterman, was born in England in December, 1797, and died September 3, 1858, at his old home on Shepherd street, in Columbus. The homestead covered an entire block. The land had been entered from the government by Lucas Sullivant, March 20, 1800, and in 1810 was sold by

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the original owner to A. J. McDowell. It was afterward the birthplace of General McDowell. He subsequently sold the property to Temperance Backus on the 17th of March, 1828, for one thousand dollars, and in March, 1830, it was transferred through sale by Mr. Backus to David Ruffner, who con- tinued to be the owner until July 31, 1832, when it became the Waterman homestead, being purchased by the father of Mrs. Walker. In the family of Joseph Waterman were the following children: George A., born Sep- tember 14, 1826; Henrietta, who was born December 17, 1828, and died May II, 1846; Louisa C., who was born April 23, 1830, and died February 13, 1855: Augustus F., who was born October 20, 1831, and died in Jan- uary, 1899: Emma, born September 17, 1834, and died in 1835; Emma R., born February 21, 1837; Henry K., who was born October 23, 1838, and died July 22, 1845; Lucy Jane, born October 19, 1840; and Ellen, born August 20, 1843.

Mrs. Walker is the youngest of a family of nine children and is a grad- uate of the Columbus high school. of the class of 1861. By her marriage she became the mother of two children .- Mary K., who was born in 1873, was graduated in the high school of Columbus and die:1 June 1, 1892; and Helen, born in 1879, is also a graduate of the Columbus high school. She is now one of the teachers in the Sullivant school where her mother attended forty years ago. Mrs. Walker is living with her daughter at No. 194 West Ninth avenue. They hold membership in Trinity Episcopal church of Colum- bus and have many warm friends in the city where the family has been so long both widely and favorably known.

FRANK S. FOX.

It has often been remarked that America is a nation of orators. Amer- icans are certainly likely to have their "say" upon all questions of public moment, and it is undeniable that many of them develop an ability to speak forcefully and pointedly, without an undue waste of words. Some of them who speak most elegantly and effectively owe their training to such thorough institutions as the Capitol School of Oratory, at Columbus, Ohio. That efficient educational enterprise was opened October 1, 1896, by its projector, Professor Frank S. Fox, A. M., who is the principal of the school.

Professor Fox was born in Ashland county. Ohio, in 1861, a son of Frederick Fox, who settled there in 1832, having emigrated from Bavaria, Germany, where the family name is spelled Faux. Frederick Fox was a man of education and of a progressive public spirit, a faithful public official, active in politics and a wise counselor of his neighbors. He was a leader among the men of his township and county. By trade he was a saddler, harnessmaker and carriage trimmer: and was also a farmer, being the first to introduce new and useful agricultural implements, against which there was some prejudice when they were first offered for the consideration of farmers. That good and useful citizen died in 1895, aged seventy-two years.

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His wife was Eliza Jane Blackburn, a native of Bedford county, Pennsyl- vania, and a daughter of John W. Blackburn, an early and prominent citizen there who fought to gain American independence in the war of the Revolu- tion and to preserve it in the war of 1812. The Blackburns of Bedford and Johnstown, Pennsylvania, of Kentucky and of Cincinnati, Ohio, are from the same parent stock.

Professor Fox was graduated first at Savannah Academy, then at the Ashland University, of Ohio, in 1890, and took a post-graduate course at Waynesburg College, at Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, in 1894. He began his career as a teacher in the public schools of Ashland county and later taught in Vermilion Institute, at Hayesville, Ohio, a historic collegiate institution under the auspices of the Presbyterian church. He next went to Savannah Academy in the same county, teaching other branches besides oratory and doing entertainment and lecture work as opportunity presented. He still does institute and entertainment work and lectures on educational and pop- ular subjects throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Maryland, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware and other adjacent states. His methods of instruction are founded on scientific principles and are original to a marked degree. His plan has been warmly indorsed by all practical educators who have familiarized themselves with it. The Capitol School of Oratory has well lighted, well ventilated, commodious and handsomely appointed quar- ters, its tuition fees are reasonable and the thorough course of instruction leads to graduation and a diploma. Some of the graduates are on the platform, others hold important positions in other schools and others are prominent in the professions.

Professor Fox was married, at Hayesville, Ohio, to Miss Beatrice Arm- strong, a daughter of the Hon. W. W. Armstrong, who was a candidate for congress on the Republican ticket in 1886. The family of Armstrong has been prominent in the affairs of Ohio since the Indian wars, when Captain Armstrong won fame as an Indian fighter. Professor and Mrs. Fox are the parents of three children: Louise, Wallace W. and Pauline. . They are identified with the Presbyterian church and Professor Fox holds member- ship in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

WRAY THOMAS.

Among those who have occupied the chair of chief executive of Colum- bus was the gentleman whose name introduces this review. He served as the mayor of the city during one of the most exciting terms of the period of its history,-from 1861 until 1864,-the country being then engaged in civil war. He came to Ohio from Richmond, Virginia, having been educated in the state university of the Old Dominion. He was graduated in that institution and then took up the study of law. While there he was a class- mate of Edgar Allen Poe, for whom he had a profound regard. He was a typical Virginian gentleman of the "old school," having a high sense of

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honor, unfailing courtesy and kindly disposition, yet he was also a man of strong force of character. One who knew him long and well said of him : "In all my intercourse with him I never knew him to manifest in the slightest degree any of the little personal traits that are sometimes shown by the best of men; if he ever had an emotion that was not high and noble and was not calculated to make better those with whom he came in contact, those who knew him well never observed it. He was a most superior man."

He was called to the office of mayor and entered upon his duties in the year which witnessed the beginning of the Civil war. They were times of great disturbance throughout the country, when feeling ran high and when it required a man of calm judgment, of superior mental poise, of unfailing patriotism and unquestioned justice to conduct safely the affairs of the city; but he was amply qualified for the office and discharged his duty in a high- minded manner, as is indicated by the fact that the best citizens of Colum- bus gave him their hearty support regardless of political affiliations. In business he was for many years associated with Lyne Starling as a legal adviser and confidential agent.

MRS. MARGARET J. VANCE.

Mrs. Margaret J. Vance was born in Blendon township March 3, 1828, on the farm now occupied by Frank Phelps. Her parents were Edward and Elizabeth (Jamison) Phelps. Her father was born in Windsor county May 9, 1790, and was a son of Edward and Zubah (Moore) Phelps. When a youth of sixteen years he came to Franklin county, Ohio, with his parents, the journey being made in 1806. The grandfather had the previous year visited this section of the state and had purchased five hundred acres of land in Blendon township. When the family came to the new possession there was not a single house in the township, so they proceeded on their way to Worth- ington, then a small hamlet, residing there while the grandfather erected a cabin home. Upon the farm which he developed and improved he died at an advanced age.

The father of our subject cut the first tree that was ever felled in Blen- don township. He was reared on the old family homestead and at the time of the war of 1812 was called out, but never saw active service. In 1817 he married Elizabeth Jamison and located on a farm of one hundred and fifty acres which had been given him by his father, it being the place upon which the birth of our subject occurred. There he lived and died, passing away on the 22d of February, 1845. Prior to the war he was a stanch anti- slavery Whig and was a man of strong convictions, fearless in support of whatever he believed to be right. He cleared his own farm and the hard work undermined his health so that he passed away at a comparatively early age. His wife was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, October 1I, 1796, and was a daughter of Robert and Margaret (McCutchin) Jamison, who with their family came to Franklin county, Ohio, in 1816, locating in Blendon

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township, where they spent their remaining days. The grandfather was a deacon in the Presbyterian church and was a recognized leader in church work. Mrs. Phelps, the mother of Mrs. Vance, lived to the advanced age of ninety-four years, passing away October 16, 1890, in the faith of the Pres- byterian church, in which she long held membership. Unto Edward and Elizabeth Phelps were born nine children, but only three are now living, namely : Mrs. Vance; Timothy, who resides in Kansas City, Missouri; and Loretta, widow of Nathan Vincent, of Blendon township.

Mrs. Vance spent her girlhood at home, acquiring a common-school education and assisting in the labors of the household. On the 22d of Feb- ruary, 1844, she gave her hand in marriage to Joseph C. Vance, a native of Blendon township, born July 8, 1818, on the farm where the Ohio State University now stands. He was a son of Joseph and Cynthia ( Hart) Vance and was one of four children, all of whom have now passed away. His father was a native of Martinsburg, Virginia, and in early life removed to Franklin county, locating here about 1800. He was a civil engineer and did much of the surveying of the land in and around Columbus. His wife came with her parents to Ohio from Hartford, Connecticut, when she was about eight years of age. Her father was Dr. Josiah Hart, a graduate of Yale College, and on coming to the Buckeye state he located in Marietta, where he successfully engaged in the practice of medicine. Joseph Vance and Cynthia Hart were married in 1805, while the latter was visiting a brother in Franklinton. A few years afterward Mr. Vance purchased the farm of three hundred acres now known as Ohio State University farm, and thereon resided until his life's labors were ended in death, in 1824. He was a veteran of the war of 1812 and was a member of the staff of General Genough. Before hostilities were inaugurated he had served as captain of the Light Guards in Franklinton.

Joseph C. Vance was reared in his parents' home and acquired his edu- cation in the public schools. He was only six years of age at the time of his father's death and two years later his mother removed to Columbus, where he attained to man's estate. When a youth of fourteen he entered the dry- goods store owned by Mr. Casey, one of the pioneer merchants of the capital city, and after some years spent as salesman he completed a business educa- tion and followed bookkeeping. He was an expert penman, being regarded as the best in his line in Columbus at that day. His ability as a mathematician was also very great and he was a leading and reliable figure in commercial circles in the city. After his marriage he located on a farm, and there spent his remaining days. The place had been purchased some time previous from his uncle, William Phelps. After four years there passed he went to Camp Chase, where he was employed as secretary in the Michael Sullivan mills. Two years later, however, he returned to Columbus, and the following year his family again took up their abode on the farm, where in the mean- time he had erected a commodious brick residence. He remained in the city a year longer, however, in the employ of the Gas Company, and then

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returned to his farm. In 1863 he was employed in the commissary depart- ment at Camp Chase as bookkeeper, at a colonel's salary, and held that posi- tion until the close of the war. Through the succeeding year he remained in Columbus as secretary to a Mr. Abbott, a retail hardware merchant, and then returned to the farm, continuing to supervise its operation until his death, which occurred June 23, 1882.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Vance were born eleven children, of whom eight are now living, namely: Edward P., a druggist of Columbus, Ohio; Julia, the wife of Joseph Roberts: Ellen, the wife of William Hutchison, of Dela- ware, Ohio; Lizzie, who resides with her mother; Robert, an agriculturist of Greene county, Missouri ; Joseph, a slater of Columbus; Timothy, who resides upon the home farm; and Clinton H., who operates the old homestead in Blendon township.

In his political views Mr. Vance was a stanch supporter of the Repub- lican party, and, though never a politician in the sense of office seeking, for many years he filled the office of township clerk and was also land appraiser. He was an active member of the Presbyterian church and did all in his power to promote the welfare of his family and his community, being a public-spirited and progressive citizen who withheld his aid and assistance from no movement for the general good. Mrs. Vance now resides in Colum- bus. She is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Franklin county and through seventy-three years has resided here. She has there- fore witnessed much of its growth and development and is familiar with its history from early frontier times.

ARTHUR L. HAMILTON.

Among the noted residents of Columbus, Ohio, is Arthur L. Hamilton, the subject of this sketch, his long residence and public services as an officer of the State Guards making him conspicuous. He was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, March 14, 1849, and was a son of William and Margaret (Lyons- McAdoo) Hamilton. The paternal grandfather was a native of the state of New York, who was one of the first settlers in Ross county, Ohio, where our subject's father was born in 1817. He was actively engaged in several lines of business, being a pork-packer, merchant and farmer, building up a large business in the shipping of pork, by means of flatboats on the canal to the river, supplying a large southern trade. The grandfather of Arthur L. was a native of Lawrence county, New York. The parents of Colonel Hamilton died at the old home in Chillicothe.

Arthur L. Hamilton spent his boyhood in his native place, receiving the advantages of both common and high school, engaging later in the study of telegraphy in the office of the Western Union, after which he engaged for two years in farming. His appointment as the chief of the fire department of Chillicothe followed and this responsible position he efficiently filled for nine years. Colonel Hamilton then became a traveling salesman for the

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Gutta Percha Rubber Manufacturing Company, of New York city, with terri- tory covering the states of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and a part of Illinois, remaining with this house until 1892, when he entered the adjutant-general's office as clerk.

Our subject became a member of the Ohio National Guards as a private in Company A, Sixth Infantry, June 6, 1873; first corporal December 5, 1873 ; fifth sergeant, February 9, 1874; first sergeant, August 20, 1876; sec- ond lieutenant, August 20, 1877; first lieutenant, February 4, 1878; captain, November II, 1879; resigned November 4, 1884; commissioned first lieu- tenant and regimental adjutant, January 23, 1885; promoted major, July 9, 1886; captain of Company H, Seventeenth Infantry, July 6, 1892; commis- sioned colonel, September 17, 1892; honorably discharged at the expiration of the term of commission, November 20, 1897; re-commissioned April 21, 1898; in the war with Spain, commissioned colonel of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry May 30, 1898, and mustered out November 30, 1898.

Retiring from the adjutant-general's office, Colonel Hamilton became the general agent for the Provident Savings Life Association and has juris- diction over sixteen counties of southern Ohio. His extensive acquaint- ance, coupled with his ability and energy, renders him a very efficient man for this position.

In 1870 Colonel Hamilton married Miss Adele C. Parker, a daughter of Francis S. and Louise J. (Thompson) Parker, old residents of Chillicothe. This union has been blessed with three sons and two daughters: Harry W., the captain of the United States Forty-ninth Volunteer Infantry in the Philippines ; Alexander, a clerk in the civil-service department in Washing- ton city ; and Oma A., Louise M. and Edward F., at home.

Socially Colonel Hamilton is a Mason of high degree, belonging to blue lodge and chapter, and in the Scottish rite having attained the thirty-third degree. He is greatly esteemed by his fellow workers and has taken the deepest interest in the organization during the many years he has been con- nected with it.

In politics our subject is a Republican of known stability. His long connection with the military organization and his constant promotion cemented many friendships, and in his withdrawal the state lost an able officer.

ELIZABETH (WATTS) BORROR.

One of the well known and highly respected women of Franklin county, Ohio, is Mrs. Elizabeth (Watts) Borror, of Borror's Corners, Jackson town- ship. Elizabeth Watts was born in the township just mentioned June 23, 1837, a daughter of Joseph and Lucinda ( Barbee) Watts. Her father was born in Franklin county, Ohio, was there reared and educated and was there married. He was a successful farmer, was a Whig in politics and later a Republican, and was a member of the United Brethren church and active in all its work. He died in his forty-second year. His father, also named

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Joseph Watts, came quite early to Ohio from the east and was a pioneer in Franklin county and the first hotel keeper on the west side of Columbus. He was a prominent man in his time and died rather suddenly as the result of a kick of a vicious horse. Lucinda Barbee, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was a daughter of Hawes Barbee, an early settler of Franklin county, and died when she was about forty-two years old. Hawes Barbee, who had the experiences of a pioneer farmer in the Ohio woods, was a native of Virginia, and he had six sons and five daughters, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood.

Joseph and Lucinda (Barbee) Watts had seven children, of whom Mrs. Borror was the first born. Her brothers and sisters were Mary, Emma and Sarah, all of whom are dead; Martha, who married Joseph Lieb and lives in Illinois; Joseph, of Greenville, Illinois; and John, of Columbus, Ohio. She was reared in Jackson township and can tell many amusing incidents connected with her attendance at school in early log schoolhouses. In 1856, at the age of nineteen years, she married Lewis Borror, a native of Jackson township, Franklin county, Ohio, and a son of Absalom Borror, one of the early settlers there. Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Borror located on the farm in Jackson township, which has been her home for forty- four years and which consists of two hundred and forty-three acres, which together with another farm of one hundred and forty acres, in Pickaway county, she rents advantageously. Mr. Borror, who died in 1869, was a progressive farmer, a stanch Democrat and an active member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. Mrs. Borror has four children, the following facts concerning whom will be of interest in this connection :

William Milton Borror, now a resident of Columbus, Ohio, married Lucy Breckinridge and has six children named Chloe, Nellie, Edson, Bessie, Edna and Ruth. James Russell Borror married Emma Lane, a member of a prominent family of Pickaway county, and has eight children, named Clarence, Mabel, Goldin, Irvin, Susan, Evert, Mariette and Carrie E. Wat- son 'A. Borror married Mary Leach, of Shadeville, Franklin county, Ohio, and has children named Ola and Leslie and is living at Columbus. Charles H. Borror married Stella Seeds and lives on his mother's farm. He was born in this township February 3, 1863, received a good education in local schools and is recognized as a progressive and successful farmer. He has a son named Dwight C.

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A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 47

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