A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 55

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 55

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ried on the enterprise for three or four years, and the third year after the dissolution of that partnership the firm of Beal & Knox was again formed and continued until 1865. In 1866 the subject of this review was admitted to a partnership, and the firm of Beal & Son carried on business with excellent success for twenty years, when the father withdrew and retired to private life. In his early mercantile career he began investing in farming land and in 1866 his son, William C., joined him in that business. John Beal and his wife were the parents of five children, of whom three are now living: Will- iam C .; Anna M., the widow of J. P. Gantz, of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin ; and Jennie B., wife of Dr. Arthur Good, a dentist of Hamilton, Ohio.

William C. Beal acquired his education in the common schools and in Otterbein University. He was also trained in business methods under his father and at the age of twelve became his assistant in the care of the stock on the farm. When about eighteen years of age he took his place at the desk in his father's dry-goods store, and from that time had charge of the books and of the finances of the firm. In 1866 he was admitted to a part- nership, and twenty years later, when his father withdrew, the firm of Beal & Gantz was organized, the partner being Mr. Beal's sister, Mrs. A. M. Gantz. Together they conducted the enterprise until March, 1896, when, after a prosperous existence of forty years, the business was closed out. In the meantime Mr. Beal had carried on his stock-raising interests on quite an extensive scale. At the time of his father's death they were cultivating five hundred acres of land, and since his withdrawal from the mercantile field Mr. Beal has increased his landed possessions to seven hundred and sixty acres, of which he himself farms five hundred and seventy acres, thus becoming the most extensive farmer of the county. He is continually improv- ing his agricultural methods and everything upon his land indicates his care- ful supervision, his thrift and his progressive spirit. He is also one of the directors of the Bank of Westerville, and is numbered among the influential inen in this portion of the state.

In 1876 occurred the marriage of Mr. Beal and Miss Emily A. Phelps, of Jamestown, New York, a daughter of James Phelps, a prominent mer- chant of that city. They had two children: John Coleman, who is a bookkeeper in the employ of Mrs. L. A. Vance, a milliner of Columbus; and Harry Carson, who is at home with his father. In 1886 the wife and mother died, and Mr. Beal was again married, in 1890, his second union being with Miss Jennie M. Marston, of Middleton, Ohio, a daughter of Theodore Marston, who for many years was a prominent and successful banker of Middleton. Two children were also born of this union, but only one is now living, Theodore Marston.

Mr. Beal exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, and socially he is a Master Mason. He also belongs to the Presbyterian church, in which he is serving as an elder, and his life has exemplified his belief. For more than half a century he has been prominently identified with the business interests of Franklin county,

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and this work would be incomplete without a record of his useful and hon- orable career. He is genial, courteous and kindly and a fast friend to those who enjoy his confidence. In all his business enterprises he has been emi- nently successful and is regarded by all who know him as exceptionally sure and conservative.

JOHN W. HAMILTON, M. D.

Dr. John Waterman Hamilton, now deceased, was for many years a lead- ing physician and surgeon of Columbus. He was born in Muskingum town- ship, Muskingum county, Ohio, June 7, 1823, a son of William and Lydia (Springer) Hamilton. The father belonged to the Hamilton family which resided in Morgantown, West Virginia. He was born in 1789, and devoted his life to the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church, and died in 1867. He was about seventeen years of age when he became a resident of Ohio, and his great natural ability and force of character were strengthened by the emergencies and privations of the pioneer life. His brother, the Rev. Samuel Hamilton, was one of the founders of Methodism in this state.

John W. Hamilton acquired his literary education in the district schools, through private instruction and in Granville, Ohio. The intervals of school were devoted to teaching, to study and to the conduct of a newspaper, which was owned by his uncle, the Rev. Cornelius Springer, of Zanesville, Ohio. This paper was known as the Western Recorder, later as the Methodist Protestant. About 1845 Dr. Hamilton began the study of medicine. He attended lectures in the Willoughby, now the Starling Medical College, of Columbus, and was graduated on the Ioth of May, 1847, after which he entered upon the practice of medicine in Franklin county. This was the beginning of a long and useful professional career, arduous devotion to hu- manity and science, showing an endurance only possible to one possessing a strenuous and indomitable spirit sustained by a robust constitution. Dur- ing the winter of 1851-2 Dr. Hamilton studied in New York under Dr. Willard Parker and his contemporaries.

In 1853 Dr. Hamilton became a member of the faculty of the Starling Medical College, and from that time until 1874 occupied the chair of surgery. During the Civil war he was a member of the board of army surgeons ap- pointed by Governor Dennison at Columbus. In 1874 he organized the Columbus Medical College and held the office of dean and professor of sur- gery in that institution until its consolidation with the Starling Medical Col- lege in 1892. Through his efforts and liberality the Hawkes Hospital, of Mount Carmel, was enabled to erect and equip a large addition to the build- ing, thus trebling its original capacity.

Dr. Hamilton had a very large experience, living as he did in the days when the work of the surgeon included many of the operations now belong- ing to special fields other than that of general surgery. One of his most notable achievements was the removal of a very large "retromaxillary tu-

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mor," a case which had been examined by many of the eminent surgeons of the country and pronounced inoperable. The operation was performed before the Civil war and the patient was living a few years ago. Another was the removal from the pleural cavity, in close relation with the pericar- dium, of a knife, in the case of a convict in the Ohio Penitentiary, who had forced the knife through his neck into the pleural cavity in attempting to end his life. While the operation was unsuccessful so far as the life of the convict was concerned, it furnished a striking example of what was, at that time, 1851, very brilliant and daring surgery. Dr. Hamilton was also widely known throughout the state among lawyers, as an expert medical witness who had an extraordinary influence upon juries. This power was due to his sincerity, simplicity and his very evident mastery of his profession. He died January 1, 1891.

JOHN W. BOYD.

For long years a resident of Franklin county, John Wesley Boyd was classed among the best representatives of the farming interests of Ohio, and by his many friends who still survive him this record will be gratefully received. He resided in Pleasant township, having come to the Buckeye state from Pennsylvania, his birth having there occurred in Allegheny, in July, 1822. His grandfather, William Boyd, died in Allegheny, Pennsyl- vania, where through many years he had followed the tailor's trade. He was of Irish lineage, the family having been founded in the new world at an early epoch in the history of this republic. His son, William Boyd, Sr., the father of our subject, was born and reared in Allegheny, and when he had reached man's estate he married Eleanor Watson. By trade he was a black- smith, but ill health prevented him from following that pursuit, and as he was a man of superior education he engaged in teaching school, being em- ployed as an instructor in high schools. He died in his native city about 1834, his widow long surviving him. She reached a very advanced age, departing this life in Pittsburg.

John Wesley Boyd was only twelve years of age at the time of his father's death. He remained with his widowed mother, assisting her in all possible ways. He acquired a good education, and then learned the car- penter's trade in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, in order to be prepared for the practical and responsible duties of a business career. When he had mas- tered his chosen occupation he became identified with the building interests of Brownsville and afterward engaged in contracting and building in the state of Missouri for fifteen years. Prior to his removal to the west he was mar- ried, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, to Eveline Chalfant, who died in northern Missouri. Prior to the Civil war, in connection with a Mr. Smith, he pur- chased and sold much land in the south, and afterward came to Ohio to visit his sister, Mrs. Rachel Brubaker, of Pleasant township. Here he formed the acquaintance of Miss Sarah Ann Hays, whom he made his wife. She

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was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, fourteen miles from Phila- delphia, and was of Irish lineage, her paternal grandfather, Edward Hays, having been a native of the Emerald Isle. Crossing the briny deep to the new world, he located in Philadelphia, and there married Martha Tuston. To some extent he followed farming, but gave the greater part of his atten- tion to shoemaking. He and his wife both died in Philadelphia, his demise occurring when he had reached the age of more than ninety years. Edward Hays, the father of Mrs. Boyd, was born in Philadelphia in 1800, and there learned and followed blacksmithing. He wedded Hester Lightcap, of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Solomon and Anna Mary Lightcap, who resided about fourteen miles from Easton, Pennsylvania. In 1834 or 1835 Mr. Hays with his wife and children came to Ohio, making the journey by wagon. They crossed the mountains and proceeded on their way to Colum- bus, at length reaching the home of Mr. Lukens, in Pleasant township, that gentleman having been an old friend of the family. Mr. Hays purchased one hundred acres of land in the Pennsylvania settlement-a timber tract- in the midst of which he cleared a small portion in order to erect a round-log cabin. Each year he cut away more timber until his farm was all cleared and improved. There he made his home until his death, in September, 1873. His wife, Hester, died within a few hours of her husband's death, and they were buried in the same grave. Their children were: James, who resided in Pleasant township, but died in Circleville, whither he had gone on business ; Abraham, who died in Burlington, Iowa; George, who died in this town- ship; Mrs. Boyd ; and Emily, who became the wife of Isaac Hays, and passed away in 1874.

After their marriage Mr. Boyd and his wife removed to southern Mis- souri, and while there he enlisted in Company K, which afterward became Company G, of a Missouri cavalry, of which he was made first lieutenant. He had formerly served as captain of militia in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and he intended to enter the service in the war with Mexico. His training at that time was a good preparation for his duty as a soldier in the Civil war. He remained at the front until the close of hostilities, but in order to remove his wife and family from the contested territory he desired them to return to Iowa, Mrs. Boyd with her little sons starting from Dixon, Shannon county, Missouri, and made their way to Rolla, a distance of seventy-five miles, where she rented a farm for one year. The government had one thousand troops at Rolla, and the bushwhackers made many raids upon the farms in that locality, so that Mrs. Boyd thus lost everything which she possessed. She then left that farm for another, five miles north of Rolla, and when a second year had passed she gave up in despair and started for Ohio. While living at Dixon her home was visited by sixteen different companies of bush- whackers, who took everything they could utilize in their way. With a wagon drawn by ox-teams Mrs. Boyd and her children started for Ohio just one day in advance of Price's army, and were upon the road for thirty- five days. They brought with them three cows and two horses, and at night

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they would camp by the wayside and prepare their meals over a fire which they would build near the wagon.

At the close of the war Mr. Boyd rejoined his family in Pleasant town- ship, Franklin county, and soon afterward purchased a farm near Alton, in Madison county, Illinois, where he spent seven years, and then returned to the old homestead in Pleasant township where his wife's people had for- merly resided. He purchased the interest of the other heirs in the place, and there continued agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred March 4, 1896. He was a stanch Republican in politics, and from early youth was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His loy- alty as a soldier was simply an index to his character in every relation of life, and his trustworthiness, kindliness and many excellent qualities won him the respect and high regard of all.

Unto Mr. Boyd by his first marriage were born three children, namely : William Hamlet, of St. Louis, Missouri; Lewis Frank, of Plattsmouth, Ne- braska ; Ophelia, who became the wife of John Curran, and died at Jamestown, Missouri. By the second marriage there were two children,-Samuel Ed- ward, of Columbus, and Hester Eleanor, who is now the wife of Thomas Green.

HENRY C. FERRIS.

H. C. Ferris, the superintendent of the western division of the Toledo & Ohio Central Railway, residing at Columbus, was born in Sandusky on the Ist of March, 1865, and is a son of James M. and Mary (Dickinson) Ferris. His father was a son of William Ferris, who was born in North- umberland county, Pennsylvania. He married Miss Clafflin, and in 1832 they removed to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where they reared their family. James M. Ferris was born in this state in 1839, and for many years has been a railway official. He is now general manager of the Toledo & Ohio Central Railway, his home being in Toledo, Ohio.

Henry C. Ferris, whose name introduces this record, spent his early boyhood days in Cleveland and pursued his preliminary education in the public schools there. Subsequently he continued his studies in Stevens' In- stitute of Technology, and was graduated in 1888, winning the degree of mechanical engineer. Being thus well fitted by thorough preparation for engineering duties, he then entered the employ of the Massillon Bridge Com- pany, with headquarters at Massillon. Later he became connected with the Toledo, Columbus & Cincinnati Railway Company, being made superintend- ent and engineer of maintenance of way, which position he held until he be- came superintendent of the western division for the Toledo & Ohio Central Railway Company. He was then stationed at Columbus, and in his position has proved himself a very efficient officer. He has the entire confidence of the corporation which he serves and is well qualified for the position. His close application, thorough understanding of the duties, combined with his

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comprehensive knowledge of railroading, have made him one of the trusted representatives of the road.

In 1893 Mr. Ferris was joined in wedlock to Miss Clara Shingle, of Kenton, Ohio, a daughter of Henry M. Shingle. In his political views he is a stalwart Republican, but has never been an aspirant for office, his atten- tion being fully occupied by his business duties. A genial manner, pleasant address and unfailing courtesy have made for him many friends, and he has the happy faculty of drawing them closer to him as the years pass by.

GEORGE NELSON TUSING.

The predominance of Pennsylvania stock in the early settlement of some portions of Ohio has been of incalculable value to the citizenship of the state in all generations since the pioneer days, for it is a thrifty and industrious stock, law-abiding, and has set the pace for progress and pros- perity wherever it has gained a foothold. The Tusings, of which family the Rev. George Nelson Tusing, of Marion township, Franklin county, is a representative, are of such ancestry as has been referred to, and their his- tory is one of enlightenment, development and advancement wherever the name is known. Nicholas Tusing, father of Rev. George Nelson Tusing, was born in Pennsylvania March 4, 1779, and at the age of twenty-two years came to Franklin county, Ohio, and stopped for a short time on the present site of Winchester, but soon took up one hundred and sixty acres of land between Groveport and Winchester, now in Madison township, and was one of the early settlers there. He brought with him' apple seeds, with which he planted the first orchard in that part of the county, some of the trees of which are standing to this day. He married Fannie Clifford, who died within a year, and later he married Anna M. Switzer, a native of Switzerland, born February 22, 1795, who came to America when she was eleven years old, and who died September 14, 1855, nearly forty years after their wedding and about five years after the death of her husband, which occurred September 25, 1850. They were members of the Baptist church, and in politics Mr. Tusing was a Democrat, and as a citizen he was promi- nent and influential, and was well known throughout the county. His father, Phillip Tusing, of German descent, was a native of Pennsylvania, and died there after a successful career as a farmer.

Nicholas Tusing had no children by his first marriage. His second wife bore him one daughter and eight sons. Two of these children died in infancy, while the others lived to marry and rear families, and four of them are living. Rev. George Nelson Tusing, born in Madison township, Franklin county, Ohio, December 6, 1821, was the third child of the nine in order of birth. He was brought up to the hard life of a boy on a pioneer farm, with no early educational advantages except those afforded by primi- tive schools kept in a little log house, with split logs for seats and slab-like

MR. AND MRS. GEORGE N. TUSING.

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projections from the walls for writing desks. When he was twenty-one years old he began life for himself, working at anything his hands found to do in a new country. When he was employed by the month he was paid eight dollars for what he could do in a month of very long days. When he was not busying himself at farm work or in a sawmill, he split rails, at fifty cents a hundred, or chopped cord wood, at twenty-five cents a cord. He was married February 18, 1847, to Elizabeth Harman, who was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, December 29, 1829, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Harmon, who were early settlers there. After his marriage he located on a farm which he bought on time and which was located two miles north of Pickerington, Fairfield county, where he built a rude log house, which was none the more complete for having been erected in great haste. There he lived for twenty-two years, not only paying for the farm, but add- ing two other farms to it. In 1869 he sold this property and removed to Franklin county and bought the farm of James Watson, near where the village of Brice has since grown up. The place consisted of three hundred and eighty-five acres, and he began farming on a large scale, with such suc- cess that within five years he had increased his acreage to five hundred. He sold one hundred and fifty acres surrounding his house, and paid twelve thousand dollars for a residence property on High street, Columbus, which, after living there for about seven months, he traded for a farm in Delaware county, and about the same time paid about five thousand dollars for four and a half acres of land upon which he now lives and upon which he built his present residence in 1875.

Mr. Tusing joined the Primitive Baptist church in 1851, was licensed to preach in 1852, and was duly ordained later in the year last mentioned .. He preached at Reynoldsburg, Ohio, 1851-5, and after that for thirteen years; at Laurel, Hocking county. Then he served four years as pastor of the Groveport Baptist church at Groveport, Franklin county. He was called to other fields of labor later, and now has four preaching places under his charge. The first of these is at Turkey Run church, in Fairfield county, of which he has been pastor twenty-three years; the second is at Scott's Creek,. where he has preached for twenty years; the third is at Laurel, Hocking: county, the scene of his first ministerial labors, where he has preached this; time for eight years; and the fourth is Union church, near Thornville, Perry county, among whose people he has labored for fifteen years. Mr. Tusing has given nearly all his active years to the work of the church, and his labors have been crowned with success. In politics he is independent, supporting such men for office as he believes are best fitted for public responsibility. He has been a trustee of his township, and has ably served his fellow citizens as justice of the peace.

Rev. George Nelson and Elizabeth (Harmon) Tusing have had nine children. His sons, Leroy W. and Clinton W., are prominent farmers of Franklin county, Ohio. Sarah Jane married Silas F. White, a well-known farmer near Pataskala, Ohio. Mary Ellen married Dr. F. G. Taylor, of 29

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Reynoldsburg, Ohio. George S. and Urah Ann are now deceased. Laura Elva married William A. Donelson, a successful lawyer of Columbus, Ohio. Lewis B. Benton is a well-known lawyer at Columbus. Margaret E. is a member of her father's household.

OTIS K. ELLIS.

Character has come to play a more important part in public life than it ever did before. It may be safely assumed that a man who is continued in public office is kept there because he is honest and efficient and administers the office in a manner that has the approbation not alone of politicians but of the general public. The same may be said of officials who are advanced from one public trust to another. Such a straightforward, thorough-going official as has been suggested is Otis K. Ellis, of Marion township, Franklin county, Ohio, superintendent of the county infirmary.

Otis K. Ellis was born at Newark, Licking county, Ohio, June 26, 1864, a son of Alva J. Ellis, who was born, reared and educated in the same county, while his grandfather, Joel Ellis, was a native of Virginia. Alva J. Ellis early became identified with railway interests. He was one of the pioneer employes of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and for the past twenty years has been in the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad, being now an engine inspector for the company last referred to, and though he has reached the age of seventy-two years, he is active and efficient and his work is valued by his superiors. He is an Odd Fellow and a member of the Brotherhood of Lo- comotive Engineers. Joel Ellis, father of Alva J. Ellis and grandfather of Otis K. Ellis, was a native of Virginia. Alva J. Ellis married Rachel Ken- non, a native of Perry county, Ohio, who was reared in Perry and Muskingum counties and has now attained the age of sixty-two years. Her father was also a native of Ohio. Alva J. and Rachel (Kennon) Ellis have had six children, five of whom are living, as follows: Frank F., who lives at Colum- bus, Ohio; Leah, who became the wife of Frederick Smith, and also lives at Columbus; Minnie B., wife of John Edward Orr, of Columbus; Lottie F., who lives at the infirmary with her brother Otis K., who is the third child and second son of his parents.

When Otis K. Ellis was four years old he was taken by his parents to Pataskala, Licking county, where he was reared, and educated in the public schools. In 1877, when he was fourteen years of age, the family removed to Columbus, where he began his business life in the tobacco establishment of Patrick Sweeney, with whom he remained about a year. During the succeeding year he was employed in the Hayden Rolling Mills, and from that time until 1883 he was employed in the trimming department of the Tuller Buggy Company. From 1883 to 1896 he was connected with the Columbus Buggy Company. He was then employed in the coroner's office for about six months, until that office was abolished by law, and April I, 1898, he was elected by the board of directors of the Franklin county infirm-

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ary superintendent of that institution, and he has been twice re-elected to the same responsible position. The mere statement of that fact is more ex- pressive declaration of his integrity and efficiency in office than could be for- mulated in any other combination of words, however strong.

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A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 55

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