A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 50

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 50

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He then retired from official life to practice law, in association with Major Brush, and they were law partners until 1858, when Major Brush removed to New York. After that he and the Hon. L. J. Critchfield were law partners until 1863, when Mr. Pugh was elected judge of the probate court of Franklin county. He held this office continuously by re-election until 1879, when he resumed the practice of his profession. He was a member of the state board of agriculture for six years, and during two years of that time was its president. He was for eleven years treasurer and for three years president of the Franklin County Agricultural Society. He was appointed by Governor Allen and reappointed by Governors Hayes and Bishop trustee of the State Reform School for Boys at Lancaster, Ohio, and per- formed the responsible duties of that office for five years. The board con- trolling this institution was remodeled by legislative enactment during Mr .. Pugh's last term, and a new set of trustees was appointed. For two years, Mr. Pugh was a member of the intermediate penitentiary board. Largely through Mr. Pugh's efforts, while he was a member of the county agricult- ural society, the present Franklin Park was bought for county fair purposes, and to Mr. Pugh as a member of the state board of agriculture is due the credit of having secured the permanent location of the Ohio state fair at Columbus.

On Christmas eve, 1851, Mr. Pugh married Martha F. Cook, who died November 16, 1881. They had eight children, named as follows in the order of their nativity: Martha J., who is Mrs. James P. Curry; William D., John C. L., Serene E., Sarah, Addie E., James and Lovell. July 22, 1885, Mr. Pugh married Elizabeth M. Bradley, of Steubenville, Ohio, and they have one daughter, Helen C. Mr. Pugh has passed all the chairs in the sub- ordinate bodies of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

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ALVIN COE.

This well-known farmer of Clinton township was born there April 17, 1824, and is a representative of one of the oldest families of Franklin county, being a son of Ransom and Elizabeth ( Beers) Coe. The father was a na- tive of Hartford county, Connecticut, and a son of Denman and Mary ( Nor- throp) Coe, who were also born in that state and about 1802 came to Ohio with teams and wagons. Upon their arrival in Franklin county they took up their residence in the village of Worthington. Denman Coe was a schol- arly man, being well educated in the schools of the east, and was a lawyer by profession. He became the pioneer attorney of this county, but owing to the unsettled condition of the country at that time his practice here was limited and he adopted teaching as a supplementary work, being one of the first school teachers of this region. He also engaged in civil engineering to some extent, and made the survey of the first road between Columbus and Cleveland. He owned quite a large body of land and deeded his children one hundred acres each. During the Revolutionary war he served faithfully and well in a brigade of Long Island troops under command of General Washington. He made his home in Worthington until 1826, when he started for Pennsylvania, but before reaching that state died. His widow spent her last days at the home of her son Ransom in Clinton township, where her death occurred. In their family were fourteen children, four sons and ten daughters, all now deceased.

On reaching man's estate Ransom Coe married Elizabeth Beers, a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Schleigal) Beers, who came to this county at an early day from Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, where her mother was born. Mr. Beers was a native of Scotland. To Mr. and Mrs. Coe were born six children: Henry; Salinda, wife of Robert Stewart; Rachel, wife of Leander Stone; Lavillo, wife of John Ackerman; Alvin, our subject; and Almon. who is represented on another page of this volume. After his mar- riage the father purchased a farm in Clinton township, but after residing there for a few years he bought another place one mile west of North Colum- bus, where his son Almon F. now resides. Here he spent the remainder of his life. As a tiller of the soil he met with success and accumulated a handsome property. During the war of 1812 he served under General Har- rison. Although quiet and unassuming in manner, he made many friends, and was highly respected for his sterling qualities of manhood. His death occurred in October, 1855, and his wife passed away February 1, 1868.

During his boyhood Alvin Coe attended the common schools then in vogue, and was reared on his father's farm. He married Emily F. Spencer, and to them were born four children: Elma M., deceased; George S., a farmer of Clinton township: Clementine: and Henry A., also a farmer of Clinton township. The wife and mother died February 28, 1894, at the age of sixty-seven years.

Mr. Coe began his married life upon the farm in Clinton township

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where he now resides. It comprises ninety-eight acres of highly cultivated and well-improved land, and in its operation he has met with excellent suc- cess. He has been able to give his children a good start in life, owning before the division of his property four hundred acres of valuable land.

DAVID S. SEELEY.

One of the best known insurance men in Franklin county is David S. Seeley, of Westerville, who was born near Saratoga Springs, New York, May 20, 1836, a son of Rev. John V. K. Seeley, who is living just across the county line in Delaware county, Ohio. John V. K. Seeley was born in Schoharie county, New York, February 13, 1814, a son of David Seeley, who was born near Milford, Connecticut, and was brought to Saratoga county by his parents when twelve years old. Later the family located near Carlisle, in Schoharie county, and there David Seeley lived until his death, which occurred when he was seventy-five years of age. He was an officer in the New York state militia before the war of 1812, but was prevented from taking part in that struggle by ill health. He was a self-made man, and his life was crowned with a high degree of success. He was a consistent mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. Jesse and Louisa Seeley, his parents, removed to New York at an early day, and both died there, the father at the age of eighty-four years. They were active members of the Baptist church. The father of Jesse Seeley was killed in the Revolutionary war under circum- stances of peculiar atrocity. Wounded in the leg by a British bullet, he found shelter in a barn, only to be murdered by Tories. He was a native of Connecticut and of Scotch descent. David Seeley married Ursula Sweetman, a native of Saratoga county, New York, who lived to be about seventy-eight years of age, dying in the faith of the Presbyterian church, in which she was a life-long member. Her twelve children all grew to manhood and womanhood, and all had families. Rev. J. V. K. Seeley was the fourth in order of birth. He remained at home until he was twelve years old, and after that lived with his grandfather until his marriage, in 1835, to Miss Harriet E. Sanders, a native of Saratoga county, New York, and a life-long Baptist. She died in 1869, having borne her husband a family of nine children.

After his marriage, Rev. John V. K. Seeley removed with his wife to Litchfield township, Medina county, Ohio, where he bought fifty acres of wood land, which he improved and lived upon for thirty years. He took up preaching when well advanced in life, and was duly ordained at the age of fifty-one years. He preached in country churches and at Medina for about eight years. He afterward preached at Clyde, Sandusky county, for five years. In 1885, he bought thirteen acres of land where he now lives, on which he erected a house and otherwise improved his land. Now, in his eighty- sixth year, he is still active and able to attend to his business interests, which comprise the management of his farm and the handling of his modest cap- ital, some of which he loans on approved securities. He became a Republican

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on the organization of the party, and voted with that party for many years, but he also gave much time to delivering lectures on temperance, his teni- perance work gradually leading him into the ranks of the Prohibition party. He united with the Baptist church when he was about twenty years of age, and now, sixty-six years later, he goes every pleasant Sunday to meetings at Cen- tral College. According to the traditions of his family, his grandfather, Elizur Averill, served four years in the Revolutionary war.

John V. K. and Harriet E. ( Sanders) Seeley had nine children, four of whom died young. On the 2d of January, 1871, Mr. Seeley married Har- riet A. Sheldon, who was born near Rochester, New York, and came in childhood to Medina county, Ohio. The five of Mr. Seelely's children who are living are : David S., Phoebe L., Chester L., Talmage and Ida R. David S., the first born, was only three or four months old when his parents brought him to Ohio. He was reared to farm labor and received such educational advantages as were available to him in his locality. He had charge of his father's farm until he was twenty-seven years old and then became interested in insurance. In the fall of 1863 he secured the agency of the Ohio Farmers' Insurance Company, for central Ohio. He lived near Litchfield, Medina county, Ohio, and many times walked in the night thirteen miles to take the train for Columbus in pursuit of his business. In 1873 he moved to Gahanna, Franklin county, where he lived for three years. He removed to Westerville, in this county, in 1876, to educate his son, and made that town the head- quarters of his insurance business, gradually becoming identified with other business interests there. During the first six years of his work as an insur- ance solicitor he walked from village to village and from farm to farm rep- resented the claims of his company and laid the foundation for a business which in time afforded better facilities for its prosecution. He now main- tains an insurance office at Westerville and another at Columbus, and does a very large business. He was one of the organizers and is vice-president of the Bank of Westerville and also owns four farms of between five hundred and six hundred acres, in Medina county, Ohio, which represents his earnings as a business man. He is a member of the Ohio Farmers' Insurance Com- pany's Agents' Association, and has watched the development of agricultural insurance in Ohio closely, being probably as well informed on the subject as any other man. His experiences in the days when he traveled on foot through Franklin, Fairfield, Madison, Perry and Pickaway counties, and "staged it" before there were any railroads in his territory, are interesting.

Mr. Seeley married Miss Augusta L. Leffingwell, a native of Whittlesey, Medina county, Ohio, who at the time of their marriage lived in Litchfield. They have one son, Leland R., who has charge of his father's insurance office at Columbus. Mr. and Mrs. Seeley are members of the Baptist church, and Mr. Seeley, who is one of the best known men in the county and a leading man at Westerville, is an active Republican. He has been a member of the board of health of Westerville for twenty years and for eighteen years has been a member and for several years president of the board of education.

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He is a man of influence in all public matters, and the value of his practical judgment in business affairs has been many times recognized by request for advice concerning the business affairs of others. He obtained his knowledge of the value of farm property by methods at once laborious and thorough, and there are few men in Ohio who are better informed concerning country insurance and all the conditions which affect it than is Mr. Seeley. His public spirit is always evident and there is no movement promising the benefit of the community in which he lives to which he does not give his generous support. His interest in public education has been shown in many practical ways and has resulted in the elevation of the standard of education in his township. He is particularly open-handed in his assistance to church and evangelical work.

CHARLES F. TURNEY, M. D.

For twenty years Dr. Turney has engaged in the practice of medicine in Columbus, and has demonstrated his ability by the success which has attended his ministrations. He was born in Mifflin township, Franklin county, on the 3d of October, 1856, and is a son of George Ridenour and Cynthia (Penney) Turney. His grandfather, Daniel Turney, was a native of Pennsylvania, married Susan Ridenour, and in 1812 came to Franklin county, Ohio, erecting a log cabin in the midst of the forest. Here he experienced the pleasures and hardships of pioneer life and aided in laying the foundation for the present prosperity and progress of the county. His son, George R. Turney, was born in this county on the 23d of March, 1812, shortly after the arrival of his parents, so that he was reared amid the wild scenes of the frontier. He wedded Miss Cynthia Penney, who was born in Blendon township, Franklin county, June 17, 1832, a daughter of Grove and Mary (Cummings) Penney. The former was an honored pioneer of Franklin county, and after his marriage located in Blendon township, where he followed the occupation of farming. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Turney were born the following named: Lee M .; Charles Fremont, of this review; Cora. the wife of Dr. H. L. Ayer, of Columbus; Fay, a farmer residing on the old homestead; Shirley, wife of Homer P. Dean; and George L., who also carries on agricultural pursuits.

Dr. Turney was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads, early be- coming familiar with the work of developing the fields. For a time he attended the district schools and afterward entered Central College, his studies there being supplemented by several terms of attendance at Otter- bein University. Later he engaged in teaching school for a time and subse- quently took up the study of medicine in the office and under the direction of Dr. Abner Andrews, of Westerville, Ohio. His professional learning was further supplemented by a course in the Starling Medical College, where he was graduated in 1880, after which he located in Columbus and began practice. In the years which have since followed he has by persistent enter- prise, close application and as a result of his comprehensive knowledge,

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worked his way steadily upward until he has left the ranks of the many to stand among the successful few.

In 1880 the Doctor was united in marriage to Miss Lorena Ferris, who died in March, 1881, leaving a son. Lewelyn, who died at the age of eleven years. The Doctor married for his second wife Susan Ada Cook, a daughter of John C. Cook, of Delaware county, Ohio, where she was born and reared. Their union has been blessed with one daughter, Loa Eola.

Socially Dr. Turney is connected with Columbus Lodge, No. 30, F. & A. M., and professionally lie is identified with the Columbus Academy of Medicine, the Ohio State Medical Society and the American Medical Asso- ciation.

JOSEPH HERD.

At a very early period in the development of Ohio, when the land was uncultivated, railroads were unknown, and the work of progress and civili- zation seemed scarcely begun, the Herd family was established in Franklin county. Joseph Herd took up his abode in Clinton township in the year 1859. He is a native of England, his birth having occurred in Lincolnshire, in the year 1825. He was there reared upon a farm and early became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. The work of field and meadow continued to occupy his time and attention until 1855, when he came to America, locating first in Illinois, where he remained for three years. In 1859 he took up his abode in Clinton township, and in 1862 purchased ten and a half acres of land, upon which he has since lived. He now owns a good farm of thirty-six acres, all of which is well improved. being under a high state of cultivation, its productive condition being continued through the rotation of crops.

Mr. Herd was married before he left his native land to Miss Hannah Lill, and they became the parents of seven children, namely: Sophia, Kate N., Anna Mary, William E., Joseph E., Robert E. and Ulysses E.

WILLIAM HERD.

William Herd, deceased, was a native of England, born in Lincolnshire, in the year 1812. He was reared in his native county, acquiring a practical educated in the parish school, which was situated several miles from his home, and to which he made the journey on foot. He learned the trade of a plumber, a glazier and a painter, serving an apprenticeship of four years, and thus well equipped for life's practical duties he entered upon his business career. Believing that he might be benefited by emigration to America, where competition was not so great and opportunity was open, he bade adieu to home and friends when twenty-three years of age, and in company with his brother Robert, sailed for New York, where they arrived in 1835 after a voyage of fifty-five days. From the eastern metropolis they made their way

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to Albany and thence to Buffalo and on to Columbus, and along the route he worked at whatever he could find to do that would give him a living. His brother Robert was a blacksmith by trade and in order to carry on that busi- ness he established a shop near where the High street opera house is now located. After a short time, however, he returned to England and had been tiiere but a brief period when his death occurred. In 1835 William Herd also returned to the land of his birth, walking from Columbus to New York. He was married there to Miss Mary Goy, of Lincolnshire, in the late winter of 1835 and thence he came with his bride to the new world, arriving in Cleveland, Ohio, before the opening up of the canal. He left his wife and baggage in Cleveland until the canal transportation could be secured and he walked to Columbus, where he entered into partnership with Richard T. Jones, in the painting business, the firm of Jones & Herd thus being organ- ized. For many years they carried on business together and prospered in the undertaking. At length the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Herd continued alone until 1877, when he removed to his farm in Clinton town- ship, devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits throughout his remain- ing days. He was an enterprising man of good habits and won prosperity through his indefatigable efforts and perseverance. He owned a valuable farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres besides considerable city property on Broad street.

Mr. Herd was a member of the old volunteer fire company. "Niagara." He also belonged to the Mechanics Beneficial Association, while he and his family were members of the Trinity church. By his first wife he had four children who reached mature years, namely: Charlotte, deceased; Mary, the wife of Chase Matthews, of Detroit; and Robert, who resides on the old homestead. Edward, the eldest son, was a member of the One Hundred and Thirty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He enlisted in the one hundred days' service in 1864 and died soon after his return from the army from disease contracted at the front. For his second wife William Herd, the father, married Miss Catherine Kidd, a native of Ireland, and they also had three children who reached adult age, namely: Mrs. Alice L. Hayes, of Columbus; Mrs. Catherine Tallant, of Richmond, Indiana; and Charles R., who owns a farm in Truro township. The first wife died in 1849, the second wife December 3, 1870, and Mr. Herd passed away on the Ist of December, 1889. He was a man of strong purpose and sterling worth, and in his death the community lost a valued and representative citizen.

Robert H. Herd, the only male representative of the first family now living in Franklin county, was born in Columbus, on the 12th of March, 1848. He acquired his education in the city schools, being graduated in the high school with the class of 1866. He afterward engaged in teaching for one term and then joined his father, who was engaged in the painting business, carrying on that work until 1875. when he became a member of an engineer- ing corps in the construction of the Columbus & Toledo railroad, then called the Hocking Valley road. His time was devoted to that work until the com-

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pletion of the line. 1877 he came with his father to the home farm where he has since resided.

On the IIth of July, 1900, Robert Herd was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Darrah, of Delaware, Ohio. They have a pleasant home which Mr. Herd has recently erected upon his farm of one hundred and ten acres. The house is commodious and is built in modern style of architecture, while in all of its appointments it is very complete. In his political views Mr. Herd supports the Republican party on all national issues. He holds mem- bership in the Episcopal church and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Of an honored pioneer family he is a worthy representa- tive, and fully sustains the untarnished name which has ever been borne by the Herds. He follows progressive lines of farming and a glance will indi- cate to the passer by his careful supervision and his practical methods.

JOHN KINER.

When a man passes from the scenes of earth's activities it is cus- tomary to review his life work, note its salient features and take cognizance of the qualities which are deserving of emulation or which should be avoided. In the history of Mr. Kiner there is much that furnishes an example that may be profitably followed. He was a man of strong character, of sterling worth and laudable ambition, his labors at all times being prompted by upright principles.

Mr. Kiner was the fourth son of Casper and Elizabeth ( Mock) Kiner, early settlers of Franklin county. He was born on the old Kiner home- stead, July 22, 1841, and his education was confined to the privileges afforded by the common schools, which in that day were of a very primitive character. He had little opportunity for continuing his study except through the winter for he was entirely inured to the hard work of developing his father's farm from a forest. He shared with the family in all of their trials and hard- ships of pioneer life and was familiar with the history of the community at an early date. On the 6th of March, 1864, he was united in marriage to Miss Pauline A. DeNune, a daughter of Alexander B. and Polly (Agler) DeNune, also pioneer settlers of Franklin county. Her father, Alexander B. DeNune, was born in Maryland and during his early boyhood came with the family to Ohio, the journey being made with wagons. His father, John DeNune, was a native of Paris, France, and on emigrating to the Buckeye state located in Mifflin township, Franklin county, there gaining the edu- cation of his day. He had sixteen children, three sons and thirteen daughters, but only two are now living, Mrs. Susanna Stotts and Mrs. Caroline Silby. Alexander B. DeNune, the father of Mrs. Kiner, was married in Franklin county to Polly Agler, a representative of a pioneer family of German line- age who removed to Ohio from Pennsylvania. Eight children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. DeNune, as follows: Mrs. Susanna Temple, Mrs. Sarah Rankins, Mrs. Margaret Decker, Cyrus P., Mrs. Kiner, Elias A., John B.

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and Mrs. Hulda W. Horn. The father of the family died in 1886, and the mother passed away in 1882. The DeNunes may well be proud of their ancestral history, for the grandfather of Mrs. Kiner was a Revolutionary sol- dier who loyally aided the colonists in their struggle for independence. When he came to America the voyage consumed an entire year, owing to adverse winds. He was a musician of considerable note and was connected with the band in his military service. His son, Alexander B. DeNune, was also a good musician.

Mrs. Kiner was born in Mifflin township, December 9, 1845. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Kiner located upon a part of the old family homestead which he inherited. For seven years following he was engaged in supply- ing wood to the Columbus market and in furnishing trestle timber for the railroad, it being used in constructing the system of trestles in the vicinity of the Ohio Penitentiary. Subsequently Mr. Kiner engaged in the manufac- ture of brick in partnership with John Lapland, their yard being located on his own premises. The business relations between them continued for about five years, on the expiration of which time Mr. Kiner purchased his partner's interest and continued the enterprise alone, being engaged in brick-making altogether for about seventeen years. In addition to this business he dealt largely in stock, both buying and selling, and he was considered to be one of the best judges of horses in 'Franklin county. In all of his business enter- prises he prospered and during his long and active career he acquired a good property. He was a man well liked by all with whom he came in contact and no one could say ought against his business reputation. He employed many men in his different enterprises and with all his employes was popular. He never sought political office, but his fellow townsmen chose him for the posi- tion of township assessor, in which capacity he capably served for three years. He was a Democrat in his political views, and while not active in party interests he always faithfully exercised his duties of citizenship by appearing at the polls on election days.

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A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 50

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