USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio > Part 51
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Mr. and Mrs. Kiner became the parents of four children, of whom all are yet living, namely: Alexander B., who was twice married. He first married Lottie Rushmer and they have four children: Perry G., Casper B., Eva A. and Anna L. For his second wife he chose Geneva McCauley, and they have one child, Leonard D. Alma C., the eldest daughter of the family, is the wife of Horatio Atcheson, and they have six children: Callie E., Fan- nie M., Maude A., Pauline A., Lucy P. and Windsor K. Arthur H., the third of the family, married Georgia M. Bricklinger, and they have four children : Alma A., Marguerite D., Louise and Hilda. Aldis J., the young- est, married Ida Pinney, and their two daughters are Ruby L. and Ellen A. Mr. Kiner died February 17, 1900, and in his death the community lost one of its valued citizens, a man whom to know was to respect and honor. He bore an unassailable business reputation and among his neighbors he was known as a faithful friend and a kind and indulgent husband and father. His wife still resides on the old homestead and she, too, has many friends
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in Franklin county. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of North Columbus and is a consistent Christian woman. Her husband left to her a valuable property, which now supplies her with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life and with her wealth she delights in doing good.
CHARLES A. TITUS.
Charles A. Titus, agent of the United States Express Company, at Co- lumbus, is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred on a farm in Jackson county on the Ioth of January, 1869. He is a son of Josiah and Elizabeth (McCain) Titus, both of whom were natives of Ohio. His father was for many years general agent of the Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machine Com- pany, with headquarters at Portsmouth, Ohio, at which place he died in the year 1875. His wife died in 1876.
Charles A. Titus, who is now a well-known and popular citizen of Columbus, was educated at Coalton, Jackson county, where he pursued his studies in the common schools, after which he learned telegraphy. afterward coming to Columbus, where also he was in the employ of the United States Express Company as a messenger at the union station. He continued work- ing in the city office, holding that and other positions from 1887 until 1899, when he was promoted to his present responsible position as agent of the company in the capital city. His duties are heavy and responsible owing to the immense volume of business transacted, but he is well qualified for his duties and has won the commendation of the members of the company.
In 1889 Mr. Titus was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Mitchell, of Jackson county, and they now have one daughter, Nana C. Mr. Titus is a member of Goodale Lodge. No. 372. F. & A. M., also the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Improved Order of Hepta- sophs. He is a young man of energy, determination and laudable ambition, and these qualities have enablel him to gain the confidence and good will of the business men and will undoubtedly win him still further advancement in the future.
CHARLES D. DENNIS, M. D.
Among those who are devoting their lives to the alleviation of human suffering through the practice of medicine is Dr. Dennis, of Columbus. His parents were the Rev. Isaac and Catherine ( Bair) Dennis. The father was a United Brethren preacher and devoted the greater part of his life to his holy calling. He was of Scotch-Irish ancestry.
Dr. Dennis began his education in the city schools of Columbus and afterward entered Otterbein University, where he prosecuted his studies for two years. He then read medicine and at length entered the Ohio Medical University, where he was graduated in 1896, the degree of M. D. being then conferred upon him. He began practice at Holgate, Henry county, Ohio,
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where he remained for eighteen months, when he returned to Columbus and has since been an active representative of the medical profession in the capital. He is the physician to the Women's Hospital and demonstrator of anatomy in the Ohio Medical University. He is particularly well qualified in the line of his chosen calling and has won distinction that many an older physician might well envy.
In 1897 was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Dennis and Miss Catherine Frass, of Columbus, a daughter of Henry Frass. They had one child, Har- old Henry, now deceased. The Doctor and Mrs. Dennis have a wide ac- quaintance in this city and are popular people, enjoying the hospitality of many of the best homes.
THOMAS GRANT YOUMANS, M. D.
In touching upon the life history of the subject of this review, the biographer would aim to give utterance to no fulsome encomium, to indulge in no extravagant statements,-for such will ill comport with the innate and sturdy simplicity of his character ; yet it is well to hold up for consideration those points which have shown the distinction of a true, honest and useful life,-one characterized by unflagging perseverance, marked native ability, high accomplishments and well earned honors in the line of his profession. Through his natural talents and efforts he has proved his usefulness in one of the most important lines of endeavor to which man directs his energies, and has won precedence as one of the leading and representative medical practitioners of Columbus.,
Thomas Grant Youmans was born in Licking county, Ohio, in July, 1868, a son of Colonel M. and Mary E. (Davis) Youmans. The paternal grandfather, William Youmans, was a farmer and banker. He was born in New Jersey, in 1805, and was descended from English ancestors who came to this country from the merrie isle at an early day and located in New Jersey. His father, William Youmans, Sr., was numbered among the prom- inent pioneers of that state. The grandfather of the Doctor married a Miss Snyder and became a resident of Licking county, Ohio, where their son, Colonel M. Youmans, was born. Having attained to man's estate, he mar- ried Miss Mary E. Davis. a native of Juniata county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Dr. Thomas Jones Davis, a prominent physician, who was born in the Keystone state. Her grandfather, General Lewis Evans, served in the war of the Revolution and was at one time attorney general of Pennsyl- vania. The Evans family was also of English lineage.
Dr. Youmans, of this review, spent the first fourteen years of his life in the place of his nativity and there acquired his preliminary education, which was supplemented by a four-years course in the Ohio State University, at Columbus. He afterward read medicine with Dr. Rankin, of Columbus, and was graduated at the Starling Medical College in the class of 1895. Later he went to New York city, where he took a post-graduate hospital
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course, spending four years in the metropolis and enjoying special advantages in the lines of his chosen profession. His knowledge is indeed comprehen- sive and profound and gives him prominence in the ranks of the medical fraternity. Returning to Columbus, he has since engaged in general practice at No. 112 East Broad street, and is the professor of dermatology and genito- urinary surgery in the Ohio Medical University. He is the dermatologist and genito-urinary surgeon to the Protestant Hospital and Women's Hospital and police and fire surgeon of Columbus, Ohio.
Socially the Doctor is connected with Goodale Lodge, F. & A. M., Knights of Pythias and Columbus Club. He also belongs to the Central Union Presbyterian church and is deeply interested in whatever tends to ad- vance the material, intellectual and moral interests of his fellow men. In the line of his profession he is connected with the Columbus Academy of Medicine, the Ohio State Medical Society and the American Medical Associa- tion. Thorough preparation for the practice of medicine cannot come through purchase; the physician's equipment must result from close appli- cation, from scientific research and from a retentive memory. It is these which have gained for Dr. Youmans his present position of distinction in connection with medical practice in Columbus and have made him one of the most successful representatives of the profession in this part of the state. His mind is keenly analytical, which enables him to diagnose disease cor- rectly and to anticipate complications. He has strict regard for the un- written ethics of the professional code and enjoys in an unusual degree the high regard of his professional brethren as well as of the general public.
GEORGE SIMON FEDER.
This well-known and enterprising farmer of Brown township owns and operates one hundred and twelve acres of land, constituting one of the valuable and highly improved farms of the locality. His possessions have all been acquired through his own efforts, and as the result of his consecutive endeavor he has won a place among the substantial citizens of his com- munity.
His father, George Simon Feder, Sr., was a native of Biron, Province of Hanover, Germany, and the son of a farmer who spent his entire life in that county. There the father of our subject attended school until fourteen years of age and then learned the weaver's trade. He also served six years in the German army. On coming to the United States he was accompanied by his first wife, who bore him seven children and who died in New York city, where Mr. Feder made his home for thirty years, following various occupations. There he married Barbara Gretchen, who was also born in the Province of Hanover, Germany, and came to America when a young lady.
In 1851 Mr. Feder, with his wife and children, moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he engaged in gardening for a time. Subsequently he bought twenty acres of land in Norwich township, this county, now owned by John
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Koerner, to which he later added a tract of ten acres. His first home here was a log house which he remodeled. In the fall of 1866 he located on a farm of fifty-six acres in Brown township, now owned by John Hillburner, which when it came into possession of Mr. Feder was nearly all wild and. unimproved. He was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, as he died the following July. His wife passed away on the home farm in 1887. To them were born four children, namely: Margaret, wife of Peter Smith, of Columbus; Caroline, who first married Andrew Hoffman and second Will- iam Seeds; George Simon, our subject; and Barbara, who first married Her- man Fritz and second Herman Koehler.
The subject of this review was born in New York city on the 21st of December, 1847, and was five years old on the removal of the family to Columbus, where he spent his sixth year. As his father had become old and crippled, much of the farm work early devolved upon our subject, and he therefore had no chance to obtain an education. For a little while he recited his lessons to a German minister, and also attended an English school below the German church for a short time, this constituting about all of his edu- cational advantages. After the death of his father the responsibility of caring for the family fell upon our subject, who as a boy had paid for the greater part of the farm and had cleared most of it.
In 1872. Mr. Feder married Miss Augusta Carl, and they have become the parents of seven children, namely: Simon G., who married Katie Ren- ner ; Mary, wife of Henry R. Jones; Emma, wife of William Smith; Eliza- beth, John, Henry and Rudolph, all at home. After his marriage Mr. Feder lived with his mother for a time, and then purchased eighty acres of land in Brown township, to which he subsequently added a tract of thirty-two acres, which now comprises his present fine farm. He has made all the improvements on the place, in the way of buildings and fences, and has also tilled the land and placed it under a high state of cultivation. He holds membership in the Lutheran church and is a stanch supporter of the Demo- cratic party. He has served as school director and in other minor offices. His life has been one of industry, and through his own unaided efforts he has worked his way upward until he is now one of the well-to-do men of his community, as well as one of its honored citizens.
HENRY T. SIBEL.
Among the prominent citizens, business men and Freemasons of Frank- lin county, Ohio, none takes higher rank than Henry T. Sibel, the well known real-estate operator at Westerville. He is a native and practically a life- long resident of this county, having been born at Reynoldsburg, July 16, 1842. Hiram Sibel, his father, was born in Knox county, Ohio, in 1817, and was there educated and reared to farming, but he afterward learned the tailor's trade, and at the age of twenty-seven years went to Fountain county, Indiana, where he died at the age of seventy-one years, after a fairly successful career.
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In early life he was an active Whig and later became a Republican. He married Laura Taft, a native of Franklin county, Ohio, and a daughter of Daniel Taft, an early settler there and who was prominent among the pioneer farmers. Mrs. Sibel died when thirty years of age. She was a Christian woman-a member of the Methodist Episcopal church-and a model wife and mother. She left four children, as follows: Thomas H., died in 1882; Jennie is the wife of Elisha Campbell; Flora is the deceased wife of Clinton D. Firestone, of the Columbus Buggy Company, of Columbus, Ohio.
Henry T. Sibel, the second child of Hiram and Laura (Taft) Sibel, was about eight years of age when his mother died, and after that event he went to live with his uncle, Harvey E. Miller, of Reynoldsburg, Franklin county, Ohio, of whose family he was a member for three years. He then went to live with Lewis Goodspeed, a farmer of Delaware county, Ohio, with whom he remained until the outbreak of the Civil war. On the 25th of July, 1861, when he was little more than nineteen years old. he enlisted in Company G, Sixth Regiment of United States Cavalry, with which he served for three years with the Army of the Potomac. During that time he ivas incapacitated from service only five days, when he suffered from measles. He was in every engagement in which his regiment participated, and at Williamsburg was struck by a spent ball and was made a prisoner by the Confederates on Jack's Mountain, hemmed in by the enemy for three days. He was discharged from service July 25, 1864, at City Point, Virginia, and in the spring of 1865 he came to Westerville. In company with his father-in- law he opened a grocery store, and several years later this enterprise gave place to a hardware and queensware store, which Mr. Sibel managed until he engaged in the coal and grain trade. He disposed of that interest in 1890, and since handled real-estate and held the office of notary public.
Mr. Sibel married Miss Mary E. Goodspeed, a daughter of Lewis R. and Rebecca (Westervelt) Goodspeed. Mrs. Sibel was born November 3, 1844, on her father's old homestead, just across the line in Delaware county, where Mr. Sibel had found a home from the time he was twelve years old until he entered the army. Lewis R. Goodspeed was born near Plattsburg, New York, March 24, 1816, and was brought by his parents to Ohio in 1834, when he was eighteen years old. Stephen Goodspeed, his father, was born in Vermont, October II, 1788, and was an officer in the American service in the war of 1812. Lewis was brought up on the farm, but eventually became a guard in the state penitentiary in Columbus. Ohio, and held that position until his marriage. He then returned to his father's farm, where he cared for his parents until their death and where he lived until 1865, when he removed to Westerville and engaged in mercantile business in partnership with his son-in-law, as has been stated. He died at the age of about eighty years, and there is no one who knew him who does not have a good word to say in his memory. He was a self-made man and made a suc- cess of life, was a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a Republican of influence, having held various local offices, among them
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that of township treasurer for eighteen years. He was married in 1842, to Rebecca Westervelt, who was born December 23, 1818, and died June 4, 1888, after many years of faithful Christian service as a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Her father, Peter Westervelt, was born in Dutchess county, New York, September 19, 1791, saw service in the war of 1812-14 and came to the site of Westerville in 1814, accompanied by his brother, Matthew. The brothers each purchased a large tract of land and were the founders of Westerville. Peter was an active and successful business man, a well known Freemason and a useful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He died at Westerville, August 8, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Sibel have had two chil- dren : Minnie M., who is the wife of Professor John A. Ward, of Western College, of Toledo, Iowa; and Ina, who died at the age of thirteen years.
Mr. Sibel is a Republican, but without any marked political ambition for himself, although an effective worker for his friends in a political cam- paign. He was township clerk for Blendon township for eleven years, was for ten years a member of the Westerville board of health and was twice mayor of that progressive little city. He is a man of public spirit, who favors every movement tending to the benefit of his fellow citizens; a man of alert sympa- thies and generous impulses who is known as a friend of the poor; a man of fine abilities, who has hewn out a path for himself in life and followed it to suc- cess and whose friends rejoice with him in his possession of the good things of the world because they know that he has earned them and deserves them. His good judgment and his integrity have several times been put to the test when he has been designated to settle important estates, and he has never been found wanting. He has been a Mason for thirty-three years and has served six years as master of his lodge. He was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Blendon Lodge, No. 339, F. & A. M., of Westerville, was exalted to the august degree of Royal Arch Mason in Horeb Chapter, No. 3, R. A. M., and is a member of Chapter No. 38, Eastern Star degree. He is a member of Rainbow Lodge, No. 327, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Westerville, and of Twilight Lodge, No. 383, degree of Rebekah, and is a comrade of James Price Post, No. 50, G. A. R., of which he is past commander, having served as its first commander.
JOHN WILLCHEUR BARNES, M. D.
One of Ohio's native sons now practicing medicine in Columbus is Dr. Barnes, whose birth occurred in Chillicothe, on the 21st of November, 1860, his parents being Alfred and Mary (Gates) Barnes. The father was born in Barnesville, Ohio, in 1831, and was a public-spirited and progressive citizen. With his family he removed to Arrowsmith, Illinois, where he made a permanent settlement. He wedded Mary Gates, a daughter of Henry Gates, who was born in Baden, Germany, and died at the advanced age of ninety-one years. In her maidenhood his wife was a Miss Coe.
Dr. John W. Barnes was very young when he accompanied his parents to
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Illinois, and there he pursued his education in the common schools, later taking the course of study in the Saybrook Academy, of that state. Profes- sional life seemed to be an attractive field for him, and believing that he would enjoy the practice of medicine he attended lectures in the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, where he was graduated in 1888. He then located in Chillicothe, Ohio, in the spring of 1889, and began practice there. In 1893 he was appointed demonstrator of anatomy in the Ohio Medical University and in the spring of the same year was raised to a full professorship of practical anatomy. He is a graduate of the Polyclinic and Post-Graduate Schools of New York city and is a member of the Ohio State and Ross County Medical Associations. In 1891 he was appointed to the chair of obstetrics, which position he still holds. His knowledge of the medical science in its various departments is comprehensive, exact and reliable. Close application to his duties has been one of the salient features of his career and his labors have been attended with a high degree of professional and financial success.
In 1884 the Doctor was united in marriage to Miss Leona F. Ferguson, of Saybrook, who is a graduate of the Ohio Medical University, of the class of 1895. His office and residence are at No. 237 and 239 Schiller street. He has a fine medical library, with the contents of which he is largely familiar, and through heading and study he is in constant touch with the advanced thought and progress of the day bearing upon his professional duties.
MAURICE EVANS.
It is appropriate that a place in this volume should be devoted to a brief resume of the life of the gentleman whose name appears above, as it is an excellent example of how a man may work his way upward through perse- verance and determination and how in the end his efforts may be crowned with success. Mr. Evans was born September 18, 1840, on the farm where ne now resides, his parents being Maurice and Susanna (Thomas) Evans. A native of Wales, the father was born in 1790, and was reared to manhood in the little rock-ribbed country. After arriving at years of maturity he married Miss Thomas, who was born in Wales about 1793. There he fol- lowed farming until the spring of 1840, when he crossed the Atlantic to the new world, accompanied by his wife and children, all of whom were born on the soil of Great Britain save the subject of this review. They landed in New York city after a voyage of five weeks, and thence made their way westward to Columbus, where Mr. Evans remained for about a month. He then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land constituting the farm upon which our subject now resides. The greater part of it was covered with a heavy growth of timber, but a small tract had been cleared and the stone portion of the present residence was standing there. Upon the farm Mr. Evans made his home until 1867, when he removed to Newark, Ohio, and retired from active business life, spending the three succeeding years
MAURICE EVANS.
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in the enjoyment of a well-earned rest. He was called to his final home at the advanced age of eighty years. In his political affiliations in early life he was an old line Whig, and after the dissolution of that party he became a Republican. He held membership in the Presbyterian church and his Christian belief permeated his upright and honorable career. His wife passed away some years previously, dying in 1865. They were the parents of nine children, but only three are now living: Joseph, who resides near Fort Scott, Kansas; Susan, who is living in Columbus; and Maurice.
In taking up the personal history of Mr. Evans, of this review, we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in Franklin county. To the district schools he is indebted for his education. When the Civil war broke out he enlisted in the Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in August, 1862, and was discharged for disability in March, 1863. He worked upon the farm with his father, receiving a share of the net profits, and the year following his mother's death he purchased the old homestead from his father, and has since continued to operate the fields. Early in the 'gos he bought an adjoining tract of eighty-nine acres, so that the home farm now consists of two hundred and fifty acres, and he also owns one hundred and eighty acres of land in Kansas. He is an enterprising and reliable business man, trustworthy in all his dealings, and his industry and capable management has served as the foundation stones upon which he has reared the superstructure of his success.
In 1871 Mr. Evans was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Jones, a native of Licking county, Ohio, and a daughter of Thomas Jones, who' emigrated from Wales, coming to the Buckeye state some years prior to the: time when the Evans family located here. Six children have been born unto our subject and his wife, and the family circle yet remains unbroken: by the hand of death. In order of birth the children are as follows : Eldora B., at home; David Willard, a farmer of Jefferson township; Clinton Arthur, Bertha Leota, Thomas Raymond, and Eunice Nellie, who are still with their parents. Socially Mr. Evans is connected with Truro Lodge, No. 411, I. O. O. F., and in politics he is a Republican. He belongs to the Presby- terian church and for several years has been one of its elders. He belongs to that class of representative American men whose interests are not con- fined alone to the narrow boundaries of their farm, but extend into other fields of labor and activity, especially into those bearing upon the advance- ment and progress of the communities with which they are associated.
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