A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 60

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 60

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

When eighteen years of age Mr. Smith came to Franklin county, where he has since made his home. He was married on the 4th of February, 1849, to Miss Amanda Kiner, who was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, May 26, 1831. She is a daughter of Caspar Kiner and a granddaughter of Conrad Kiner. The great-grandfather was Michael Keinadt, a native of Germany, born in the town of Winterlingen, in 1720. He came to America about 1740 and located at New Holland, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where he married Margaret Dillar, a native of that place and a daughter of Jacob Dillar, who was born in France and fled to England on account of religious persecutions. There Mr. Dillar was married, and in 1840 he came to the United States, settling in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he died. Michael

492

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

Keinadt removed from Pennsylvania to Augusta county, Virginia, accom- panied by his wife and children, with the exception of his son, Conrad Kiner, who remained in the Buckeye state. The family took up their abode near what was then called World's End, and the great-grandfather of Mrs. Smith died in 1796. He served as a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and five of his sons were also loyal defenders of the American colonies, namely : George Adam, Conrad, George Michael, Martin and Jacob. The descend- ants of Michael Keinadt are scattered over every state and territory in the Union. In the Civil war some were members of the Southern army, others fought for the Union. The spelling of the name has undergone considerable change as years have passed, the grandfather simplifying the orthography to Kyner, while the present generation have substituted an "i" for the "y." Michael Keinadt had thirteen children, ten sons and three daughters.

Conrad Kyner, the grandfather of Mrs. Smith, was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1755, and married Margaret Stambaugh, who was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania. They took up their abode in that county, and the grandfather passed away March 11, 1816, his death resulting from a fall from a horse. His son, Caspar Kiner, the father of Mrs. Smith, was born in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, in 1796, and was there reared as a farmer boy. He married Elizabeth Mock, who was born in 1800 and is a daughter of Michael and Margaret ( Whissinger ) Mock. Her father was born in Germany, while his wife was a native of Scotland. In the early 'oos he removed with his family to Clinton township, Franklin county, where he spent his remaining days. For seven years after his marriage Caspar Kiner resided upon the old homestead farm in Pennsylvania and in 1825 came to Franklin county, Ohio, where he rented land for a short time. He then removed to Coshocton county and purchased three hundred acres, upon which he lived for seven or eight years. On the expiration of that period he returned to this county and bought seventy-five acres of land in Clinton township, near North Columbus, where, in the midst of the forest, he erected a log cabin. He became a prosperous farmer and spent his remain- ing days on his homestead there, his death occurring in the spring of 1861. His wife died August 11, 1873. Their children were ten in number : Michael, who married Sarah Meggs and died in Clinton township; Margaret Ann, the deceased wife of Solomon Hays; Jacob, who married Lovisa Smith, a sister of our subject; Martha Jane, the deceased wife of William Ream; Lucinda, who became the wife of Lafayette Layzell, but has now passed away; Mrs. Smith; Mary, deceased; Elizabeth, who became the second wife of Lafayette Layzell; Henry, who married Catherine Denune and is living in Clinton township; and John, who married Pauline Denune and is now deceased.

When Mrs. Smith was six years of age her parents removed to what is now North Columbus, where she grew to womanhood. She has attended the Clinton double-log schoolhouse, which was three miles from her home. Among her first teachers were Melissa Peck and Nancy Stiles. Her father

493

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

afterward gave to the township for a term of eleven years a plat of land on his farm, on which was erected a schoolhouse, and therein Mrs. Smith completed her education. On the 4th of February, 1849, she gave her hand in marriage to Nathaniel Smith, and they began their domestic life in a rented log house. He had one horse and a few cows and hogs. Their household furniture consisted of several chairs and a meager supply of dishes, together with a few necessary articles of furniture. Their meals were cooked over a fireplace. Mr. Smith had no capital but an honest heart and willing hands, but with the assistance of his good wife he has steadily worked his way upward. The first season he operated land on the shares, but in the succeeding autumn he purchased two acres of land in Clinton township. He built a round-log cabin, which for seven years was his home, and on the expiration of that period he sold the property and removed to Davis county, Iowa, in 1855. The journey was made with two wagons, each drawn by a team of horses, but on the way two of the horses were killed in Indiana by a falling tree. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had with them their three children and a cousin, Horace Smith. They had stopped for the noon-day meal and had just set down to eat when they heard the tree falling. They just managed to get out of the way when the tree struck the ground, killing the horses. They were twenty-eight days upon the journey, reaching their destination on the 26th of November, 1855. They camped out all along the way with the exception of one night, and without other adventure than the one men- tioned at length reached their journey's end.

Mr. Smith and his family, however, were not pleased with the country, and in February they returned to Ohio by rail, being snow-bound east of Chicago for a time. On again reaching this state Mr. Smith engaged in the butchering business, carrying on business as a huxter and also purchased a threshing machine, which he operated during the harvesting seasons for nine years. In the meantime he purchased a part of his present farm, becom- ing owner in the spring of 1863 and taking possession thereof in the fall of 1864. This was wild swamp land, but he has developed it into a fine farm, comprising sixty-seven acres of rich land. During the first winter the family lived in a log house and then erected a frame residence, which was destroyed by fire in 1878. It was then replaced by the present brick resi- dence. The fire occurred on the 5th of June, and on the 5th of August the family took possession of their new abode. In the meantime they resided in the barn. Mr. Smith has labored untiringly for the improvement of his property and now has a valuable place, his land yielding to him a rich return for the care and labor he bestows upon it.

Unto our subject and his wife have been born six children: John C., of Prairie township, who married Eunice Calhoun and has eight children; Charles W., who married Eva Seward and is now deceased; Elizabeth Mahala, now the wife of Henry Pillow, of Columbus; Polly A., wife of Josephus Scott, of Columbus, by whom she has one child; Emma Jane, the wife of Wallace McDowell, of Columbus; Olivette, who married John W. Derflinger,

494

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

of Columbus, and has one child. Mr. Smith is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Galloway, and in politics he is independent. He remem- bers distinctly the stirring times of the Harrison campaign and the time when he cast his first presidential vote, supporting James K. Polk. He has very vivid recollections of the city of Columbus. When he came to the county, in 1844, there was not even a gravel road in the capital. The corporation line east and west extended from the river to Third street and from Broad street to the courthouse. The capitol building was a small brick structure at the corner of High and State streets. All east of Third street was farm land, and there was a big pond where the Central market is now located, while the north market occupies the site of what was the old city grave yard, and a garden was seen where is now found the Union depot. Great changes have occurred throughout the years which have come and gone since that time, and Mr. Smith feels a just and commendable pride in the advancement made by his adopted county. He is numbered among its honored pioneers, well worthy of representation in this volume.

RICHARD E. JONES.

Few residents of Columbus are more widely known than the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. This is due to his prominence in business, in social circles and through his work along philanthropic lines. He commands in a marked degree the confidence and esteem of all who know him and enjoys the warm regard of a host of friends. His life has been a busy, use- ful and honorable one and has been crowned with a rich measure of success as a fitting reward of his labors and well directed energies.

On the 10th of August, 1853, in Liverpool, England, occurred the birth of Richard E. Jones. His parents were of Welsh lineage. At the age of nineteen years he left the land of his birth and crossed the ocean to the new world. He had formerly been apprenticed to the carpenter's trade and here he completed the mastery of the business and was engaged in the construction of the buildings of the Dennison University, also of the old union depot, in 1874. In 1877 he went west in company with Lieutenant George Ruhlen, assisted in the erection of Fort Custer in Montana, just a year after the massacre of Custer and his troops by the Indians. For a year Mr. Jones remained in the west and then returned to Columbus. Soon afterward he entered into partnership with his brother in the lumber business in Corning, Ohio, the connection between them being maintained for seven years. In 1887 he joined Mr. Webb in the purchase of an undertaking establishment, formerly owned by Joseph B. Stuart. A year later he purchased Mr. Webb's interest and since that time he has conducted the business alone, now having the patronage of many of the most prominent and influential families in the capital city. His undertaking establishment is one of the best stocked and equipped in the city and his rooms are excellently arranged for the display of his goods, which are

495

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

of the latest and most modern design. His office is located on Broad and Third streets, this giving him the advantage of an excellent situation.

Mr. Jones has traveled extensively, having visited many points of interest in Europe ad America, but he has no desire to change his place of residence, being content to make Columbus his home. As a citizen he is public-spirited and progressive, manifesting a commendable interest in everything pertaining to the substantial upbuilding and welfare of his adopted state. Many organ- izations have received his support and assistance. He is particularly inter- ested in music and aided in the formation of the first Eisteofod, acting as its president in 1898, which was the most successful and popular one ever held in Ohio. For two terms he was president of the Ohio State Funeral Direc- tors Association, and has served as eminent commander of Mount Vernon Commandery No. I, K. T., and is past grand of the order of Odd Fellows. He is also connected with the Knights of Pythias and other fraternal organ- izations. At the time of the Franklinton centennial celebration he was a mem- ber of the fireworks committee and labored most earnestly for the success of the celebration. He was appointed a trustee of the Boy's Industrial School at Lancaster, Ohio, by Governor Bushnell, and by Governor Nash was re- appointed to the same position for a term of five years. He is now president of the board and is closely in touch with its work and gives it his hearty endorse- ment, support and co-operation. He was a member of Governor Nash's party on the recent trip to California on the occasion of the launching of the battle- ship Ohio.

In 1879 Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Cadwallader, of Columbus, who died in 1897, leaving one son, Bertram George. For his second wife he chose Mrs. Nellie Evans, of Columbus, a daughter of William and Mary Jones. His life has ever been manly, his actions sincere, his purpose honorable, and no native-born American citizen has a deeper in- terest in the welfare of the country and state than has Mr. Jones.

PHILO HOPKINS OLMSTED.

The Olmsted family was early prominent in New England. Francis Olmsted fought for American independence in the Revolutionary war and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne. He received a wound in battle, for which he drew a pension until the end of his days. He married Chloe Case, and in 1808 came from his old home near Hartford, Connecticut, to Franklin county, Ohio, and bought land at Blendon Four Corners, just above the present site of Minerva Park, where he died in 1828. He had five sons and two daughters.

Philo Hopkins Olmsted, familiarly known as Colonel Olmsted, had a notable career at Columbus, Ohio. He was born in Connecticut in 1793. and died in Franklin county, Ohio, February 20, 1870. He was one of the early settlers in Franklin county, having come with his father's family at the date mentioned above. He gained a fair education for the pioneer days,

496

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

and at the age of seventeen, in 1810, entered the office of the Western Intelli- gencer, at Worthington, of which a man named Griswold was the editor and publisher and of which his father was one of the proprietors. In 1814, after the seat of government had been established on the bank of the Scioto river, a mile east of Franklinton, the printing office was removed from Worthing- ton to Columbus, and the paper was rechristened the Columbus Gazette. Mr. Olmsted maintained his relation to the paper and soon bought out Griswold's interest in it, becoming its proprietor and publisher. It was a strong Whig journal and its local position at the seat of government made it an important element in directing the policy of the state and imparted to its editor an in- fluence and prominence rarely attained by members of the profession in after years. This prominence Mr. Olmsted maintained for a series of years, being repeatedly appointed and reappointed "printer to the state." The paper was later merged in a daily paper established at Columbus by George Nashee, Judge Bailhache and Colonel Olmsted, and the latter's interest was trans- ferred about 1832 to Joseph B. Gardner.

Colonel Olmsted acquired his title honorably in the war of 1812-14. He enlisted in the cavalry organization recruited at Columbus, was elected its colonel and started to lead it to the seat of war by way of Sandusky; but when within one day's ride of his immediate destination he was met by a courier sent to announce the end of the war. He retained his connec- tion with military affairs many years. He was several times honored by his fellow citizens with testimonials of their respect and confidence, and in all his official relations maintained a character of scrupulous probity and up- rightness. He was a member of the city council from 1819 to 1822 and from 1831 to 1834. During his last term he was the mayor of the city, in which office he served for one year. He was elected mayor in 1837, to fill the unexpired term of Warren Jenkins, and was again elected in 1838. He was foremost in all movements to advance the interests of Columbus in those early days, and at the opening of the canal, in 1832, he got together a fleet of three boats and went with cannon, a brass band and a large deputation of citizens to Chillicothe, where his arrival created a great sensation. This was considered a magnificent celebration at that time. The population of Columbus was then about two thousand.

In 1838 Colonel Olmsted became the proprietor of the old National Hotel in Columbus, on the west side of High street north of State street, then a noted stage house, which he managed until 1841, at which in 1840 he had General William Henry Harrison as a guest. In 1842 he opened the City Hotel, at the southeast corner of Town and High streets, where he entertained Martin Van Buren during the presidential campaign of 1844. In 1845 he opened the United States Hotel, which is still standing, at High and Town streets. He retired from active business about 1850.

Colonel Olmsted was a man of striking appearance, well proportioned and weighing about two hundred pounds, and down to the day of his death he dressed in the style of 1825 to 1850, clinging even to the once popular

497

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

ruffled shirt. During the Civil war he traveled through Ohio and West Virginia, buying stock for the United States army, and thus, as he had done as editor, politician and hotel man, he made hosts of friends, for he was of a genial and happy disposition, having a kind word and a hearty handshake for every one whom he met. He was six times elected to the Ohio legisla- ture, in which he served with rare ability and fidelity. He was a good speaker and writer, possessed sound judgment and great tact, and made a creditable success of every undertaking. The latter years of his life, though relieved from the anxieties and perplexities of business, he spent awaiting the slow and sure advance of a fell malady which had already marked him for its victim.

In 1817 Colonel Olmsted married Miss Sarah Phillips, from Mercers- burg, Pennsylvania, who died in 1875, at the age of seventy-six. The fol- lowing memorandum concerning their children will be found interesting in this connection: Their daughter Mary is the widow of Dr. M. B. Wright, once a noted physician of Cincinnati, Ohio, and is living in New York city, aged eighty-two. Their son Angus died at Columbus in 1873. Their son Charles H. Olmsted, of Columbus, was born on West State street, in that city, in 1825, and has lived on Town street for the past sixty years. He was educated in the public schools of Columbus, at the Granville Academy and at Athens College. In 1849 he was a messenger of the Fargo Express Com- pany between Cincinnati and Sandusky, running over the old strap-bar rail- road, on which it was impossible for a train to make a speed of more than fifteen or sixteen miles an hour after leaving ten miles of better track which ran into Cincinnati. From 1853 to 1860 he was in the grocery business at Columbus. He is now living in retirement from active business, but has not lost his interest in Columbus or in passing events. Following in the footsteps of his father, who developed politically from a Whig to a Repub- lican, he has been an active and consistent Republican since the organization of that party.

Charles H. Olmsted marriel Elizabeth Broderick, of Columbus, whose death occurred January 6, 1890. She was the daughter of the Hon. John C. Broderick, who for many years ably filled the office of recorder of the state of Ohio, more than seventy years ago, and died in 1853. Mr. Brod- erick was born in Kentucky, and married Miss Elizabeth Delano, whose father settled early at Marietta and came to Columbus about 1815, and whose brother, Henry Delano, was a pioneer merchant of Columbus. Mr. and Mrs. Olmsted have three daughters and one son, named Mary, Florence, Sarah and Harry.

RICHARD M. GEIGER.

Richard M. Geiger was born upon the farm which he yet owns and which is situated about a mile east from his home in Jefferson township, his natal day being July 12. 1846. His parents were Joseph and Mary (Albery) Geiger. The family is of German lineage. Tradition says that

498

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

Anthony Geiger, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Germany and during his boyhood was brought to America by his parents, who located in Martinsburg, West Virginia, where the grandfather was reared and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. In those early days he often worked by candle light, making coffins, wooden plows and other farming implements, - for the great factories which now turn out farm machinery in immense quan- tities were unknown. In 1804 he came to Ohio, the year following the ad- mission of the state into the Union, and located in Licking county, where lie resided up to the time of his death, which occurred in the early '40s. His wife was a Miss Kirk, and among her children was Joseph Geiger, the father of our subject.

On the old family homestead Joseph Geiger was reared. He was born in Martinsburg, Virginia, in 1796, and was a youth of eight summers when he accompanied his parents to Ohio, the family making a settlement on Frogs Run in Licking county. He experienced all the hardships and trials of pioneer life, and after attaining man's estate he chose as a companion and helpmeet on life's journey Miss Elizabeth Albery. Immediately fol- lowing their marriage they came to Jefferson township. Franklin county, where Mr. Geiger had purchased a home. His one hundred acres of land was covered with a native growth of forest trees, with the exception of a small tract of about six acres, on which a log cabin had been built and around which fruit trees had been set out. Through his entire life the father of our subject carried on farming, making a home on the farm in Jefferson town- ship until called to his final rest. Although not a member of any church, his sympathies were with the Universalist church, and his father had also been a believer in Universalism. He gave his political support to the Democ- racy, and served in several minor township offices, but was never an aspirant for political honors. He was twice married, his first union being with Miss Albery, by whom he had two children, one yet living, Anthony, a resident of Jay county, Indiana. After the death of the mother, he married her cousin, Miss Mary Albery, who was born in Allegany county, Maryland, about 1805, and was a daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Myer) Albery, both of whom were members of prominent old families of Maryland. On coming to Ohio her parents located in Licking county, about the time the Geigers settled there. The father of our subject passed away October 6, 1869, and his wife, who survived him for a number of years, was called to her final rest June 19, 1882. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom six are yet living, namely : William, a resident of Beech Corners, Licking county ; Noah and Peter, both of whom are farmers of Jefferson township; Thomas, who resides with his brother Peter; Richard M .; and Nancy A., the wife of Frank B. Williams, also of Beech Corners.

In the public schools Richard M. Geiger acquired his education, and in the fields became familiar with the work of the farm. After attaining his majority he was employed by his father by the month through one year, and on the expiration of that period took charge of the old homestead, which

499

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

he operated on the shares. In 1869 the father died, but Richard Geiger con- tinued to farm the home place until after his mother's death, in 1882, when he purchased the interests of the other heirs and became proprietor of the farm of one hundred acres on which he was born. He also purchased fifty- five acres on the Black Lick road, he and his mother having become owners of that property after the father's death. Later he added to the old home- stead a tract of thirty acres and subsequently of twelve acres, so that the farm consisted of one hundred and forty-two acres. In 1899 he purchased of the Havens estate, near Havens' Corners, twenty-four acres of land, on which he erected his present substantial residence and farm buildings, hav- ing since made his home there. He owes his success in life to his own efforts as a farmer and stock raiser. He has carried on business along these lines continuously, but the products of his fields were never sufficient to feed his stock, which he handles in large quantities. This led him to purchase large amounts of corn, which created a good market for the neighbors. During the past two years he has rented much of his land, so that he is to some degree enjoying retirement from active labor.

On the Ioth of November, 1887, Mr. Geiger was united in marriage to Mrs. Lusetta Ealy, the widow of Jeremiah Ealy, a native of Jefferson township, and a daughter of George Shirk, who belonged to a Pennsylvania Dutch family, and emigrated from the Keystone state to Franklin county among its early settlers. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Geiger has been born one child, Ora May, whose birth occurred May 1, 1889. In his political views our subject is a Democrat, and for one term he served in the office of township clerk, while for twenty years he has been a member of the school board of his district. He was reared in the Universalist faith and is a believer in its doctrines, although he does not hold membership with any religious denomi- nation. He contributes liberally to church work, and is deeply interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of his community along the lines of moral, intellectual and material progress. He is a member of Truro Lodge, No. 4II, I. O. O. F., of Reynoldsburg, and there is probably not a man of Franklin county who stands higher in the estimation of those who know him than does Richard M. Geiger. The family name has been connected with the history of this section since early pioneer days, and our subject is a worthy representative thereof, for his career has ever been straightforward and commendable, marked by fidelity to duty in all life's relations.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 60

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