USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio > Part 53
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went from Wheeling, West Virginia, to Cincinnati, and from there to New Orleans on a flatboat. He was then on the river during the season of navi- gation for about six years, and at the end of that period went to St. Louis. Later he spent about a year and a half in lowa, but in 1849 he returned to his old home in this county, traveling across the country by way of Chicago and Detroit.
On the 5th of May, 1850, Mr. Grant was united in marriage with Miss Caroline A. Odell, a native of Virginia, who came to Franklin county, Ohio, at the age of nineteen years. By this union were born four children : Melissa and William N., both deceased; Charles W., a farmer of Jackson township; and Edward E., a motorman and conductor on the Grove City & Columbus Street Railroad.
After his marriage Mr. Grant located on the farm in Jackson township which he received from his mother, and was successfully engaged in agri- cultural pursuits until 1883, when he laid aside active labor and moved to Grove City. He owns some property in that city and also twenty acres of land east of town. Politically he was a supporter of the Democratic party for many years, but is now a Republican, and he has been honored with several local offices, including that of constable of his township, and council- man for two years. Mr. Grant is an earnest and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is highly respected and esteemed by all who know him. During almost his entire life he has been identified with the interests of this county, and for three-quarters of a century has wit- nessed the wonderful changes that have occurred here in that time. During the war of the Rebellion Mr. Grant served in the One Hundrd and Ninety- first Ohio Volunteer Infantry until discharged. He joined the Odd Fellows order in 1848 and has been an active member ever since.
JAMES V. HARRISON.
James Virgil Harrison, who follows agricultural pursuits in Clinton township and is a prominent citizen of Franklin county, was born in Knox county, Ohio, on the 8th of April. 1852. He traces his ancestry back through many generations to Richard Harrison, who was the founder of the family in America. He took up his abode in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1644, and later assisted in establishing the city of Newark. New Jersey. His son, Timothy Harrison, married Elizabeth Meeker, and they became the parents of Matthew Harrison, the great-grandfather of our subject. David Har- rison, the grandfather, was a native of New Jersey, and was there married to Mary Searing, of the same state. He was born April 27, 1786, and his wife's birth occurred on the 26th of September. 1793. They came to Ohio and their marriage was celebrated in Knox county. The grandfather there entered land from the government. made that county his permanent home and became a successful farmer. Both he and his wife were members of the
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Christian church and were people of the highest respectability, enjoying the warm regard of all who knew them.
John L. Harrison, the father of our subject, was born in Knox county, Ohio, May 5, 1831, and throughout his entire life resided in this state, spend- ing most of his time in Knox and Licking counties. He, too, gave his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits and found that branch of labor a profitable source of income, for as the years passed he added to his capital until he found himself the possessor of a very desirable competence. He married Phebe Jane Thrapp, also a native of Knox county, born near Utica. They became the parents of six children, namely: James Virgil, David T.,. Mary A., Warren S., William (who died in infancy), and Emory (who resides in Ogden, Utah). Of this family Warren was murdered in Brigham City, Utah, on the 19th of September, 1900, by a drunken employe whom he had discharged. The father, John L. Harrison, died January 31, 1884, and his wife passed away on the 19th of May, 1882.
James Virgil Harrison, whose name introduces this record, is the eldest in his father's family. He was reared in Licking county, Ohio, and in the common schools near his home acquired his education. In his youth he became familiar with farm work in all its departments, for when not occupied by the duties of the schoolroom he assisted in the labors of the fields, thus gaining a practical experience which now enables him to carry on farming on his own account in a practical, progressive and profitable manner. He owns fifty-six acres of land in Clinton township, and his well tilled fields and many substantial improvements indicate his careful supervision.
On the 26th of February, 1874, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Har- rison and Miss Ida Mock, a daughter of Joseph and Minerva Mock, nec Innis. Unto them have been born four children, of whom two are living,- Frank Edwin and Nellie Elvira. Those deceased are Emory J. and Jessie L. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison began their domestic life upon a farm in Clin- ton township, Franklin county, where they have resided continuously since, with the exception of one year spent in Trumbull county, Ohio. They have a pleasant home, where they delight to entertain their many friends. They are both Methodists in religious belief, holding membership in what is known as the McKendree church, in Clinton township. Politically Mr. Harrison is a Democrat and is a stanch supporter of the principles of his party. He is numbered among the wide-awake and progressive farmers of his com- munity, is accounted a valued and representative citizen, and in the history of Franklin county he well deserves mention.
EDGAR B. KINKEAD.
Rising above the heads of the mass are many men of sterling worth and value, who by sheer perseverance and pluck have conquered fortune, and by their own unaided efforts have risen from the ranks of the commonplace to eminence and position of trust and respect; but the brilliant qualities of
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mind and brain which mark the great lawyer are to a certain extent God- given. But while strong mentality and natural ability are inherent, it is activity and determination which awaken them into life and make them resultant forces in the profession. It is to his perseverance and indomitable energy that Mr. Kinkead owes his success in life, as well as to his keen and brilliant mind. He is of a sanguine temperament, large-hearted and a genial and polished gentleman. As a lawyer he is noted for his integrity ; he prides himself upon never urging a client into a suit for the sake of the fees, and will not prosecute a case unless he has every reason to believe he will win it, but he claims the right to defend any cause in any court. His authorship of many valuable works on law has made him a man of note in the profes- sion, and prominent among the leading citizens of the capital he now stands.
Mr. Kinkead was born near Beverly, Washington county, Ohio, March 14, 1863, and on the paternal side is of Scotch-Irish lineage. His great- grandfather, David Kindead, came to this country from Dungannon, Ireland. immediately after the Revolutionary war. He enlisted on board a man of war during the period of hostilities, expecting in that way to reach the new world, but in this was disappointed and sailed from Belfast to the United States on the first ship that left that port after the conclusion of peace, landing at Philadelphia in 1783. The parents of our subject were Isaac Benton and Hannah A. (Thornburg) Kinkead, and the former in his business life was a lumberman.
The marked literary trend of Mr. Kinkead's mind was early manifest. When a child of only about twelve years he conducted a school where his father was temporarily located in the woods of Washington county, instruct- ing children of the neighborhood whose advantages had been inferior to his own. His boyish ambition pictured to him the happiness of having a large library and fine horses, and in later life both ambitions were realized. His preliminary education, obtained in the common schools, was supplemented by a course in Marietta College, and when his collegiate work was finished he spent a few months in taking subscriptions for a book. He commenced the study of law in September, 1881, spending a year's time in an office; he also spent six years as deputy clerk of Washington county in the probate judge's office. In 1887 he was appointed a deputy in the office of the clerk of the supreme court of the state, and shortly thereafter he was made assistant state law librarian, which position he held for five years. While there he became a devoted student of the law, was admitted to the bar and wrote and published his first legal literary work, Self Preparation for Final Exam- ination, which was issued in 1893. The previous year, however, his time had been devoted to assisting in the preparation of Booth on Street Rail- ways. He is also the author of Kinkead's Code Pleading, which is in two volumes and was first published in 1894, while in 1898 a second edition was issued. In 1897 Kinkead Instructions and Entries; in 1900 Kinkead's Practice and Kinkead's Common Law Pleading were added to the list of his publications, and he has still other works in preparation. These volumes
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are regarded as standard works with the bench and bar upon the subjects of which they treat.
Admitted to the bar Mr. Kinkead at once entered upon the practice and from the beginning has been unusually prosperous in every respect. The success which he has attained is due to his own efforts and merits. The possession of advantages is no guarantee whatever of professional success. This comes not of itself, nor can it be secured without integrity, ability and industry. Those qualities he possesses to an eminent degree and he is faithful to every charge committed to his care. Throughout his whole life whatso- ever his hand has found to do, whether in his profession or in his -educational work, or in any other sphere, he has done with all his might and with a deep sense of conscientious obligation. Since 1895 he has been a member of the faculty of the law department of the Ohio State University, where his ability as a lecturer upon the branches assigned him has won him great reputation and popularity among the large classes of students annually graduated at the institution. In 1890 he was for a time editor of the Ohio Law Journal. His private law practice has been of an important character. He was asso- ciated as special counsel for the state in the celebrated Standard Oil litiga- tion and other cases of national importance, in which he attracted wide- spread attention by his learning and masterly manipulation of the cause and facts.
On the 20th of January, 1883, Mr. Kinkead was united in marriage to Miss Nellie M. Snyder, a native of Canada, and unto them has been born one child, a daughter, Mabel, born October 16, 1883. Socially Mr. Kinkead has been connected with several fraternities. In 1888 he became a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, of Columbus, filled all of its offices, and in 1895 was appointed by the grand chancellor of the domain of Ohio as a member of the grand tribunal of Ohio for a term of four years, and in May, 1899, was reappointed for another term of five years. He belongs to the Delta Upsilon, a college fraternity, and to the Phi Delta Phi, a law fraternity. In politics he is a stalwart Republican and although he has never been a candidate for office his personal popularity is so great and his fitness so emi- nent that his name is frequently mentioned in connection with the higher offices in the line of his profession. He is a member of the Universalist church. He believes in doing all the good he can to his fellow men and in living as nearly right as possible, without paying close attention to church formalities. Faultless in honor, fearless in action and stainless in reputation, an enumeration of the leading citizens of Columbus would be incomplete without mention of Edgar B. Kinkead.
THOMAS M. CLARK.
The gentleman named above, who is one of the leaders in public and semi- public affairs in Hamilton township, Franklin county, Ohio, is a native of that township. His father. Dr. Jeremiah Clark, was born in Waterbury,
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Connecticut, June 4, 1804, and came to Franklin county, Ohio, in 1826. Before coming west he devoted some time to the study of medicine, and he completed his medical education at the Cleveland, Ohio, Medical College. He practiced his profession in Hamilton township from 1826 until 1846, when he turned his attention to farming, which he continued until 1865. In that
He was year he was called to his final rest, at the age of sixty-one years.
one of the leading physicians in his county in his time, was well known as a Whig politician and was one of the organizers of the Republican party in Franklin county. He was elected to the general assembly of the state of Ohio in 1846. He was prominent also in the Methodist Episcopal church. John Clark, Dr. Clark's father, was born May 27, 1765, and married Mary Munson, who was born April 22, 1770. John Clark, father of the John Clark just mentioned, was descended from Scotch ancestors and was born June 17, 1727. He married Mabel Lyons, who was born June 28, 1732.
Dr. Jeremiah Clark married Jane C. Morris, October 4, 1826. His second wife was Julianna Fox, whom he married September 30, 1833. Miss Fox was a native of Hardy county, Virginia, now West Virginia, and was born July 29, 1805. She was a lady of education and culture and proved a worthy helpmeet to her husband in his career as a physician and pioneer farmer. They had nine children, namely: Ann Eliza was born June 18, 1834, and died the same year; Mary M., born August 10, 1835, married John C. Platter, of Hamilton township; Thomas M., the immediate subject of this sketch, was born March 9, 1837; John D., born December 27, 1838, died June 26, 1842; William F., born August 26, 1840, lives in Hamilton township; Henry G., born October 8, 1842, died August 28, 1889; Herman, born September 27, 1844, was a federal soldier in the Civil war and died February 26, 1865; John F., born December 16, 1846, served in the war of the Rebellion in the Sixtieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died January 25, 1891 ; and Sarah Ann, born February 16, 1849, is the widow of F. B. Herr, and lives at Columbus, Ohio.
Thomas M. Clark is the oldest son and third child of Dr. Jeremiah and Julianna (Fox) Clark, and was born in Hamilton township, where he received his primary education at district schools taught in a log schoolhouse and in a select school at Groveport. After that he was a student for about two years at the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio. In 1861 he located on a farm in Hamilton township, which he has since owned and is engaged quite extensively in farming and stock-raising. keeping many horses and cattle. The farm, which consists of two hundred and forty acres, is one of the valuable places of the township. He is also a stockholder and director of the Market Exchange Bank, of Columbus.
On the IIth of December, 1860, Mr. Clark married Sarah Franck, who died September 16, 1867, after having borne him two children. The daugh- ter, Ivea D., married F. B. Peters, of Pickaway county, Ohio, and has three sons,-Carl T., Curtis A. and Paul E. The son, Edwin F., was graduated in medicine from the Starling Medical College in 1891 and died in 1894,
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after having practiced his profession for three years at Columbus, Ohio. October 24, 1877, Mr. Clark married his present wife, who was Miss Ellen Hickman, a native of Hamilton township, Franklin county, Ohio.
Politically Mr. Clark has been a lifelong Republican. He cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and has voted for every Repub- lican presidential nominee and for every Republican governor of Ohio since that time. He has served one term as trustee of his township and he has been eighteen times elected to the office of township treasurer, in recogni- tion of his high standing as a citizen and of his known fitness for that responsible office. He has been a member of the Masonic order since 1866, when he was received as an Entered Apprentice, passed the Fellow Craft degree and was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason. He is a thirty- second-degree Scottish Rite Mason, and a member of Mt. Vernon Com- mandery, York Rite, of Columbus, Ohio.
JACOB J. HAMMOND.
Jacob J. Hammond, one of the old and experienced conductors of the Pennsylvania road, who is a general favorite with the patrons of the line, resides at No. 443 Mount Vernon avenue, in Columbus. He was born Sep- tember 27, 1851, in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and his father, Will- iam H. Hammond, was a native of the same locality, his birth there occurring on the 29th of October, 1829. The family is of Scotch-Irish descent and was early founded in the Keystone state. The grandparents of our subject were both natives of Washington county, and the grandfather died in 1866, while his wife, surviving him about twelve years, passed away in 1878. In the fall of 1864 William H. Hammond removed with his family to West Virginia, locating in Hancock county, where he lived many years, but now resides in Steubenville, Ohio. His wife was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and died in West Virginia in 1872. Their children are: Tallman, who was born in 1867 and is cashier in the freight department of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Columbus; James M., who was born in 1856, has been principal of the public schools in Wheeling, West Vir- ginia, for seventeen years, and is known as an eminent educator; and Sam- uel, who was born July 4, 1861, and is an engineer on the Pennsylvania Railroad.
In the year 1872 Jacob J. Hammond began his railroad career as a brakeman on a freight train on the Pennsylvania line. After twenty-two months' service he was promoted to the position of freight conductor and six years later he was made passenger conductor. He began his run as a passenger conductor in 1880 between Steubenville, Ohio, and Wheeling, West Virginia, and daily made the journey over that route for four years. Since that time he has been continuously on the route between Pittsburg and Columbus, and has always been found at his post of duty, being a most trusted and faithful employe of the road.
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On the 18th of May, 1871, in West Virginia, Mr. Hammond was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ralston. Her father, Joseph Ralston, died September 13, 1880. Her mother, Mrs. Hannah Ralston, died December 24, 1863. Both were natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hammond have been born the following named: Bessie, who is a graduate of the Ohio State University, has been teaching in the public schools of Columbus; she was married, June 19, 1901, to Dr. E. S. McBurney, a prominent dentist of Delavan, Wisconsin, where her future home will be; Eva M., a graduate of the high school of Columbus, is stenographer for the Franklin Insurance Company; and Frank G., who was born in 1885, is now a student in the high school. The family are members of the Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal church and have been residents of this city for the past seventeen years. Mr. Hammond is a stanch Republican in his political views. Socially he belongs to Ohio Lodge, No. I, F. & A. M., of Wheeling, West Virginia. Many of the men who are now serving as conductors on the Pennsylvania road have served as brakemen under him. His long continua- tion in the employ of the one company indicates his fidelity to duty and his capable service.
LORENZO D. MYERS.
In this age of extensive enterprise and marked intellectual energy, the prominent and successful men are those whose ability, persistence and cour- age lead them into large undertaking's and to assume the responsibilities and labors of leaders in their respective vocations. Success is methodical and consecutive, and however much we may indulge in fantastic theorizing as to its elements and causation in any isolated instance, yet in the light of sober investigation we will find it to be but the result of the determined applica- tion of one's abilities and powers along the rigidly defined lines of labor. America owes much of her progress and advancement to a position foremost among the nations of the world to her newspapers, and in this line of advancement Captain Lorenzo Doty Myers was an important factor in his section of Ohio. He was long connected with the journalistic interests of the state and did much to promote the welfare, progress and upbuilding of the commonwealth through the columns of his paper as an advocate of measures for the general good.
Captain Myers was born in Mifflin, Juniata county, Pennsylvania, June 7, 1838, and when a lad of ten years accompanied his parents on their removal to Ashland, Ohio. Soon afterward the family took up their abode in Mansfield, and in the latter part of the '50s Captain Myers went to Pitts- burg, there to become identified with newspaper work, accepting a position on the Pittsburg Post, where he remained until 1859. He then returned to Mansfield, and in partnership with his brother began the publication of the Mansfield Herald, with which he was associated until 1861. He had been a close student of the questions, issues and political differences leading
LORENZO D. MYERS.
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up to the Civil war, and when the country became involved in the sanguin- ary struggle, on the one side for the destruction, on the other for the pro- tection of the Union, he joined the Sixty-fourth Ohio Regiment of Volun- teers, which was a portion of the famous Sherman Brigade, recruited near Mansfield. In January, 1862, he was assigned to General T. J. Wood's division, and for distinguished service was recommended by that officer to the war department for promotion to a captaincy, and the honor was con- ferred upon him by President Lincoln, and at General Wood's request he was assigned to his staff and served as assistant quartermaster until 1864, when business interests at home compelled him to resign. He participated in some of the most hotly contested battles of the war, and in 1870 was recommended for brevet rank by his former general, but unfortunately when the recommendation reached the war department the time in which brevet rank could be legally conferred had expired.
In 1866 Captain Myers came to Columbus, and, as a partner, joined the firm of Nevins & Myers, controlling the state printing and publishing busi- ness. For a time they also published the old Statesman, from which paper eventually sprang the Press Post. In 1876 Captain Myers purchased a half interest in the Columbus Dispatch, which he edited for six years. He was also a recognized leader in public affairs, was honored with several posi- tions of public trust and labored untiringly and effectively in support of measures which he believed would contribute to the public good. For four years he was a member of the board of education of Columbus, and from 1876 until 1886 was a trustee of Dennison University, at Granville, Ohio. In 1879 he was a nominee for the state legislature as representative for Franklin county, and in 1882 was appointed postmaster of Columbus by President Arthur. It was during his tenure of office that the present gov- ernment building was erected in this city, and Captain Myers was disbursing agent of all the funds spent in the erection of the building.
In March, 1865, the Captain was united in marriage to Miss Harriet A. Simmons, of Mansfield, and unto them were born seven children, and two sons and a daughter, with the widow, still survive. The elder son is Joseph S. Myers, managing editor of the Pittsburg Post, and the younger, Laurence D., is now a student in the high school. The daughter, Annie M., is the wife of William A. Sellers, of Pittsburg.
Captain Myers was a member of McCoy Post, G. A. R., and of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. He also belonged to the Royal Arca- num, and had attained the thirty-second degree of Masonry. He was closely identified with the First Baptist church from the time of his arrival in this city until his death, which occurred on the 12th of January, 1901, and he filled the important positions of superintendent of the Sunday-school and deacon of the church, also serving for many years on the general board of trustees for the state convention. His labors were of value in church work, where he will be greatly missed, for his wise counsel and means were given freely. He was kind-hearted, and although he led a. busy life, could 28
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always find time to aid any one in trouble. He was exceedingly charitable, and wherever known was respected for his unquestioned fidelity to duty and to principle.
ANDREW C. BIGGS.
Professor A. C. Biggs, whose reputation extends widely through the country in connection with the occult sciences, is a son of William and Martha Biggs. He was born on the old family homestead,-Union Grove,-Gam- bier, Knox county, Ohio, October 4, 1876. Love of books and industrious habits were rich legacies from his parents, as both were fond of reading and investigation. The father's mental trend was and still is in the direc- tion of scientific research, and hence he has given much time to the perusal of lines of reading treating of the sciences, and while he has not enjoyed the advantages of a collegiate education yet by a systematic course of gen- eral reading, study and investigation pursued he is well informed along the lines of his favorite study.
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