A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 6

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 6

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In 1879 Professor Kellerman resigned that position for the purpose of attending the German universities during the following two years. One year was spent in north Germany, at the University of Goettingen, and one year in the University of Zurich, in Switzerland. Besides the chief work in botany, especially in mycology, some of the courses of lectures were heard on related branches of natural history. The degree of Doctor of Philsophy he received in 1881, this being awarded with high encomium. It was here, under the guidance of the late Dr. George Winter, one of the most eminent of the German mycologists, that the special study of fungi was seriously and

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enthusiastically undertaken, and it has since been the specialty to which Dr. Kellerman has devoted his attention, not, however, in the meantime abating his efforts in the matter of up-to-date science-teaching, lecturing and writing.

In 1881 he was tendered and accepted a professorship in the State Col- lege of Kentucky, but the facilities there were primitive or altogether absent, and the college finances were unsatisfactory. These conditions suggested the desirability of a change of location and accordingly the position was resigned at the close of the first year, and for a few months thereafter he gave his attention to the completion of a school text-book on botany on an alto- gether different plan from those extant in the country at that time. It was modeled after and largely imitated the scope of German botanies and Ger- man science. Though unsuccessful from the financial point of view since it found its way into but few schools, and not being revised, was soon out of date, yet it received the attention of botanical writers, the judgment being at the time that "it comes nearer to filling a serious gap in botanical literature than any other thus . far published."

In 1883 Professor Kellerman accepted a professorship in the Kansas State Agricultural College and in that institution opportunity was again offered him for the development of a botanical department practically de novo, with the scope and method of teaching broader and more liberal than previously had been possible of attainment. The study of plants and animals,-for zoology as well as botany was included in the work,-rather than the study of a text-book about them, and direct observation of the organisms in their natural environment, was the keynote and spirit of study and teaching, and of course could not be otherwise than acceptable and successful. It implied, too, the accumulation of material, and hence the foundation, of an educa- tional museum and local or state herbarium, since developed to a high degree.

When the Hatch agricultural-experiment stations were inaugurated in 1888 Professor Kellerman was made the botanist to the Kansas station. In conjunction with W. T. Swingle, as assistant, he began research into the smuts of the cereals, which investigation yielded important scientific and economic results, embodied mainly in the station botanical bulletins for that and the succeeding three years. The crossing of maize varieties to secure a better kind for the southwest, the study of the sorghum disease and other subjects in practical botany received his attention. He also held the position of botanist to the state board of agriculture. During his continuation of the professorship in the college a small flora of Kansas was issued and many papers were read before the Kansas Academy of Science, and occasional botanical articles for the press were prepared. Professor Kellerman also gave lectures each winter before the state farmers' institutes, and he also began the publication of the Journal of Mycology, the first of the kind pub- lished in the country and the only one in this country then devoted to this special department of botany. It was begun as a monthly publication, with the co-operation of J. B. Ellis and B. M. Everhart. This was continued

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under the same plan for four years, and during this time much technical mat- ter of significance was published. Suggestive of the mycological work done, especially in the way of discovering a large number of new species of fungi, a new genus based on material furnished was named Kellermannia, and sev- eral specific names of new fungi and one of a moss were named by botanists Kellermani and Kellermanniana.

In 1891 Dr. Kellerman was made the professor of botany in the Ohio State University. A separate professorship of this subject had been estab- lished by dividing that of horticulture and botany, and opportunity was offered to inaugurate and develop more comprehensive work in classroom and labora- tory, to build up a general herbarium, develop a state herbarium, a botanical museum, and to carry on investigations of the state flora. Suffice it to say that a state herbarium rapidly growing and now of nearly twenty thousand mounted sheets of specimens ; a general herbarium now more than twenty times the size it was when the professorship was accepted ; a full collection of the Ohio medicinal plants arranged for exhibition in the museum room; an illustrative set of specimens showing twigs, leaves, flowers, fruit, transverse section of trunk or board, panel, and the bark of each of the forest trees growing in Ohio, and other museum specimens; well equipped laboratories for work in plant histology, vegetable physiology, systematic botany and phyto- pathology, with large classes taking advance work, may indicate, at least in a general way, what has been accomplished in regular college work during the past ten years in which Dr. Kellerman has been the professor of botany in the Ohio State University.

He has also accumulated a private herbarium of about twenty thousand specimens, mostly of parasitic fungi. He published, in conjunction with Mr. Werner, a full catalogue of the Ohio plants in 1893, prefixed by a complete bibliography of Ohio botany. This was an annotated list of all the plants which had at that time been reported for the state. In 1898 he issued the fourth State Catalogue, which was a check list of the Pteridophytes and Spermatophytes, with distribution by counties as shown by specimens in the State Herbarium. The following year a supplement to the above was printed. Professor Kellerman published a Spring Flora of Ohio, in 1895, and in 1898 prepared an Elementary Botany, with the Spring Flora, a book of three hun- dred pages; also Practical Studies in Elementary Botany, and a herbarium portfolio,-called Phytotheca,-all of which are published by Eldredge & Brother, of Philadelphia. He has also lectured each year before Farmers' Institutes and teachers' meetings in various parts of the state, and furnished numerous minor articles for the botanical press.

In 1876 Professor Kellerman was married to Stella V. Dennis, a daugh- ter of Dr. A. Dennis, a lady of literary and scientific tastes. Of the three children, Ivy was born in Wisconsin in 1877, and was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in the Ohio State University, in 1898, from Cor- nell University, in 1898, with the degree of Master of Arts, and is now a

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special student in Greek and comparative philology. The second child, Karl F., born in Germany in 1879, was graduated in Cornell University with the degree of Bachelor of Science and besides carrying on graduate work is at present also assistant in botany in Cornell. Maude, born in 1888, in Kan- sas, is now attending the public school of Columbus.

RICHARD A. HARRISON.

Hon. Richard A. Harrison, of Columbus, is a native of our mother coun- try, that land which shares with ancient Rome the honor and glory of originat- ing the legal and judicial system that is the pride and model of our modern civilization. He was born April 8, 1824, in the city of Thirsk, Yorkshire, England. His father was Robert Harrison, a mechanic and a local min- ister of the gospel in the Methodist society, a man of sterling character and pronounced intellectuality. His mother was Mary Almgill, a woman of good English stock of the beautiful and prosperous shire of York. Richard came to the United States with his parents in 1832; the family were induced to make this transplanting of their home from "merrie England" to the "land of the free and the home of the brave" by the accounts which they had received from a son who had preceded them in the emigration. They first settled in Waynesville, Warren county, Ohio, and shortly thereafter removed to Springfield, Clark county. Richard at this time was but eight years of age, and was the youngest of nine children. His parents bestowed upon the boy all that parental love could prompt, and the thrift and frugality of a noble home could spare. But Richard's training was mostly in the pre- paratory school of adversity and later in the broader university of the world's affairs. The rudiments of his education were acquired in the public schools of his village, especially the Springfield high school, from which young Rich- and graduated during the principalship of the scholarly and accomplished Rev. Chandler Robbins. While still in school he contributed to his own support by faithfully filling the humble duties of "devil" in a printing office, and at the age of twelve, thrown solely upon his own resources, he sought and obtained employment in the office of the Springfield Republic, then edited and managed by John M. Gallagher, at one time the speaker of the Ohio house of repre- sentatives, the editor of the Ohio State Journal for several years, and a man of great ability and encyclopedic information. The Republic was in those days the influential Whig paper of the state. Under this most practical and valuable tutelage Richard remained until 1844.

It was the formative and informing period of the boy's mind, and in this academy of the "art of arts"-the printing office-which has graduated self- made men whose merited laurels in life's struggles have out-shone the honor of many another's college degrees, Richard, like that other "Poor Richard" of Benjamin Franklin, became accomplished in the accurate knowledge and facile use of his mother tongue, as well as endowed with that knowledge

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of multitudinous affairs that it is the providence of the press to gather and disseminate. Without doubt it was in these years, when he stood plodding patiently at the compositor's case, that the foundation was laid of his ready and precise diction, so that both in speech and with the pen "his words, like so many nimble and airy servitors, trip about him at command." The true lawyer, like the genuine poet, is born, not made, and the natural and irre- sistible bent of Richard's mind was in the direction of the legal profession, and he readily accepted the opportunity of becoming a student in the law office of William A. Rogers, one of the most eminent members of the Ohio bar. This he did in the year 1844. The late William White, a judge of the court of common pleas ten years, of the supreme court of Ohio twenty years, and at the time of his decease a judge of the United States district court, was a schoolmate of Mr. Harrison and a fellow student in the law office of Judge Rogers in Springfield, Ohio. Mr. Harrison, after eighteen month's study under the direction of Judge Rogers, entered the Cincinnati Law School, the first law school established west of the Alleghanies, at that time having such admirable instructors as William S. Groesbeck and Charles Telford. The full course of the school was but six months and he graduated in the spring of 1846, and by virtue of his diploma was admitted, without further examination, to the bar on his twenty-second birthday, April 8, 1846, at London, Ohio, by Judges Hitchcock and Wood of the supreme bench. At that time the supreme court consisted of four judges, and at the close of the December term in March, held in Columbus, the court divided and two judges went upon the circuit which lay north of the National road, and two upon the southern circuit. London was the location of the first court to be held in the southern division. Mr. Harrison, who was then, as he has been heard to relate, "poor as Lazarus,"-even being compelled to purchase on credit the few books of his office library,-at once began the practice of his profession at London, where he resided until May, 1873, when he removed to Colum- bus. His rise was not meteoric, like the "flight of Mercury," but steady, sure and permanent, like the enduring growth of the oak which Mr. Harri- son so much in solidity of mind and stability of character resembles. His clients came cautiously at first, soon confidently and in numbers.

An amusing incident occurred during the trial of the first case in which Mr. Harrison appeared as counsel in a court of record. On the morning of the day before the trial he left his boots to be mended, explaining to the shoe- maker that the work must be done before the court met the next morning, as he had no other footwear except a pair of old-time "carpet slippers." He was assured that the boots would be ready at the appointed time without fail, but the promise was not kept. The case was called. The shoemaker hap- pened to be a witness for the plaintiff, and his journeyman had been sub- poenaed as a witness for the defendant, who was Mr. Harrison's client. On cross-examination of the shoemaker Mr. Harrison asked him whether he had not made certain statements to his journeyman which were very different

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from his testimony in chief. The witness admitted he had made such state- ments, but explained that when he made them to the journeyman he was not under oath. Mr. Harrison then inquired, "John, you are still under oath, are you?" The witness said, "Yes." "When, then, will you have my boots mended ?" "By to-morrow noon," was the answer. The boots were done a couple of hours before the time fixed under the solemnities of a judicial oath !

Mr. Harrison's practice was that of the usual practitioner of the day, the "circuit traveler" with its crude means of transit, its romantic and varied experiences in court and tavern. Not only throughout southern Ohio but in other parts of the state also his clientage called him. Mr. Harrison has never been an office-seeker; public office has never been in the line of his ambition or his taste, but, true citizen that he is, he has discharged his duty to the commonwealth of both state and nation when called upon by his fellow men. His political honors have been many and to the gift of each he has added the luster of his learning. the value of his invincible integrity, sound wisdom and indefatigable devotion to duty.

In politics he was first a Whig and then a Republican. In the fall of 1857. when Salmon P. Chase was re-elected governor of the state, Mr. Harrison was elected a member of the house of representatives from Madison county. It was an exciting and close contest, Mr. Harrison, as the Repub- lican candidate, being opposed by a formidable combination of the adherents of the Democratic and Know-nothing parties. Mr. Harrison was successful by a majority of twenty-four. In the Ohio house of representatives, which convened in January, 1858, Mr. Harrison met as colleagues such members as Judge J. A. Ambler, of Columbus; Judge W. H. West, of Logan; Judge J. M. Briggs, of Fayette: Judge W. R. Rankin, of Franklin ; James Monroe, later the veteran congressman from Lorain : Judge Isaac C. Collins, of Hamil- ton ; and Judge William B. Woods, of Licking, later of the United States supreme court. Amid this galaxy of gifted scholars and statesmen Mr. Harri- son was accorded at once conspicuous rank. It was a largely Democratic body. The judiciary committee consisted of seven members, with Judge Rankin as chairman. Messrs. Harrison and Ambler were the only Repub- lican members, but to Mr. Harrison was accorded a very large share of the work, and in this field his legal learning, unerring judgment and fervid patriotism found ample employment. Through this committee Mr. Harri- son introduced, and caused to be enacted, many of the leading laws of our state. Among these were the bills concerning the relation of guardian and ward : providing for the semi-annual payment of taxes: for the relief of the district courts and others of equal importance. Little opportunity, however, was given to Mr. Harrison for the development or display of his forensic powers.

Those were the days when party lines were closely drawn, and important measures, especially of a political nature, were dictated by that tyrant of party politics, "King Caucus," and propelled by partisanship through the house with-

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out proper public deliberation or debate. But toward the second session, the winter of 1858-9, Mr. Harrison's eloquence burst forth in the discussion over the report of the commission appointed at the preceding session to investigate the state treasury defalcation. Governor Chase was serving his second term, having been re-elected by the Republican party. By this report of the commission his political opponents attempted to implicate and besmirch the character of the governor. In his special message communicating the commissioners' report to the house, the governor called attention to the invid- ious criticism embraced in the report. To rebuke the governor, it was moved to print the report of the commission without the message of the governor accompanying it. The gross injustice of this political partisanship aroused Mr. Harrison, and he obtained the floor for the defense of the wronged gov- ernor. In the delivery of his speech, the earnestness of his efforts brought on a sudden attack of hemorrhage of the lungs. His friends, alarmed at the incident, insisted that he should not proceed with the discussion, but despite their importunities, after a brief respite, he continued his speech to its forcible conclusion. He was borne from the room in a condition of complete exhaus- tion. But his persuasive, logical and just argument dominated the house, and the message of the governor was published with the report of the com- mission and the attempted partisan thrust at Mr. Chase fell unavailing. It was a dramatic scene, but characteristic of Mr. Harrison's fearlessness and love of justice and fair play.

In 1859 Mr. Harrison was promoted by his constituents to the state senate. The senate of 1860-61 was distinguished for the ability and bril- liancy of its members, among whom were: James A. Garfield, afterward the president of the United States; Jacob D. Cox, later a general of the army, governor of the state and member of General Grant's cabinet; Judge Thomas C. Jones ; Judge Thomas M. Key ; James Monroe; F. A. Ferguson, and others, whose names have since been illustrious in the annals of our state and nation. Mr. Harrison was made the chairman of the judiciary committee and was elected president pro tempore of the senate. In this position he exhibited the qualities of an admirable presiding officer ; calm, dignified, impartial, with a thorough comprehension and a ready application of the principles of parli- amentary law. The session of 1861 was one of the most memorable in the history of the state. It was the period of the outbreak of the great rebellion and the nation's peril. During that session questions of the greatest moment, not only of state but even of the nation, were considered and acted upon. Those were the times that tried men's souls and called for the exercise of the utmost calmness, the deepest wisdom, the most unflinching courage and unwavering patriotism, and often the sacrifice of life-long party prin- ciples.

Among the matters brought before the members were the measures to strengthen the public credit, provide ample currency, raise and equip armies, and provide ways and means for the common defense and the maintenance

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of the federal Union in all its entirety and integrity. To all these Mr. Harri- son gave courageous, efficient and zealous support. The power and resources of his mind, the strength of his character, the deep devotion of his loyalty, were all consecrated to the opportunities and duties of the hour in behalf of the cause of the country of his adoption. Before the Rebellion shook the nation with its initial reverberations, Mr. Harrison, as a loyal lover of peace and humanity and a disciple of law and order, did all in his power to avert the storm of civil war. James Buchanan was still the president, and, in view of the threats of the southern states, had sent a special message to congress on the subject of the contemplated uprising of the south against the federal gov- ernment, in which he had ostensibly taken a position in favor of the main- tenance of the Union. Mr. Harrison with his colleagues took the ground that they should assume the integrity and sincerity of President Buchanan in his message, and in support of such a policy Mr. Harrison had the honor, on January 12, 1861, to introduce in the Ohio senate the following resolu- tions, of which he was author:

"I. That the people of Ohio, believing that the preservation of the unity of government that constitutes the American people one people is essen- tial to the support of their tranquillity at home, of their peace abroad, of their safety, of their prosperity, and of that very liberty which they so highly prize, are firmly and ardently attached to the national constitution and the union of the states.

"II. That the general government cannot permit the secession of any state without violating the obligations by which it is bound under the com- pact to the other states and to every citizen of the United States.

"III. That whilst the constitutional rights of every state in the Union should be preserved inviolate, the powers and authority of the national gov- ernment must be maintained, and the laws of congress faithfully enforced, in every state and territory until repealed by congress, or adjudged to be uncon- stitutional by the proper judicial tribunal; and that all attempts by state authorities to nullify the constitution of the United States, or the laws of the federal government, or to resist the execution thereof, are revolutionary in their character, and tend to the disruption of the best and wisest system of government in the world.

"IV. That the people of Ohio are inflexibly opposed to intermeddling with the internal affairs and domestic relations of the other states of the Union, in the same manner and to the same extent as they are opposed to any interference by the people of other states with their domestic concerns.

"V. That it is the will and purpose of the people of Ohio to fulfill in good faith all their obligations under the constitution of the United States, according to the spirit and intent thereof, and they demand the faithful dis- charge of the same duty by every state in the Union ; and thus, as far as may be, to insure tranquillity between the state of Ohio and the other states.

"VI. That it is incumbent upon any state having enactments on their

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statute books conflicting with, or rendering less efficient, the constitution or laws of the United States, to repeal them; and it is equally incumbent upon the general government, and the several states, to secure to every citizen of the Union his rights in every state, under that provision of the constitution which guarantees to the citizens of each state all the privileges and immunities of the citizens of the several states; and thus inspire and restore confidence and a spirit of fraternal feeling between the different states of the Union.

"VII. That the Union-loving citizens of those states who have labored, and still labor, with devotional courage and patriotism to withhold their states from the vortex of secession, are entitled to the gratitude and admira- tion of the whole American people.

"VIII. That we hail with joy the recent firm, dignified and patriotic special message of the president of the United States, and that the entire power and resources of Ohio are hereby pledged, whenever necessary and demanded, for the maintenance, under strict subordination to the civil authority, of the constitution and laws of the general government by whomsoever admin- istered.

"IX. That the governor be requested to forward, forthwith, copies of the foregoing resolutions to the president of the nation, and the governors of all the states of the Union, and to each of the senators and representatives in congress from this state, to be by them presented to each branch of the national legislature."

Well has a distinguished contemporary said that those resolutions, so patriotic in their spirit, merit for Mr, Harrison a just immortality. They; passed the senate with but one dissenting voice, and received but two oppos- ing votes in the house.

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A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 6

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