USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio > Part 64
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Mr. Goetschius was married, December 1, 1841, to Miss Allura Curtis, a native of Niagara county, New York, born there January 13, 1824, and a daughter of Gideon Curtis. The latter was a native of New York and came in early life to Ohio, settling for a season in Cleveland, but spending the greater portion of his later years in Franklin county. The mother of Mrs. Goetschius had borne the maiden name of Polly Bailey, and she also was a native of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Goetschius have had six children : Alfred, now deceased, who had married Miss E. Oman and left two chil- dren; Elizabeth, the wife of George Roher, who rents the land at the home; Mary, who married Harry Manon but is now deceased; John, who married Lizzie Notter but died, leaving a daughter; Eliza, who married Benjamin Weygandt but is dead, two children surviving; and Emma, who is the wife of J. Y. Shoop, of Columbus. The years have touched Mr. and Mrs. Goetschius very kindly and they live again in their children unto the third
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generation, the names of these being Ethel, Hoga and Muriel White and Millie and Maurice Welch.
Early in life our subject was a Whig but at the organization of the Repub- lican party he affiliated with it. He cast his vote for William Henry Harrison and assisted in the building of the cabin which was so effectively used in the campaign of 1840. He has always taken a deep interest in public affairs and has done all in his power to induce others to understand the principles of good government. For many years the family has been connected with the Methodist church, in which our subject is an esteemed worker.
For sixty years Mr. and Mrs. Goetschius have resided upon this same land and with interest have watched the development of the county. They enjoy relating tales of their pioneer life and can well remember when Colum- bus was but a village, they being the oldest pioneer residents of the town- ship. Respected by all with whom they have come into contact, they may be said to be types of the old pioneer element of which Franklin county is proud.
ABRAM BROWN:
Those who give their lives faithfully and efficiently to the work of edu- cation perform a service to the state and humanity the value of which cannot be estimated. The services of a bank president can be measured in dollars. There is no unit of measure that can fully determine the value of the services of the true teacher. One of the prominent and efficient teachers of Ohio is Abram Brown, A. B., who was connected with the Columbus schools twenty- two years,-four years from 1868 to 1872, and eighteen years from 1881 to 1899.
Mr. Brown was born at Canterbury, New Hampshire, in September, 1838. His parents, George and Sarah (Gilman) Brown, were natives of the Granite state and earned a living by cultivating its rugged hills. Mr. Brown remained at home working on the farm, with now and then a term at the academy, preparing for college, most of the time up to the summer of 1862.
In 1862, after having been admitted to Dartmouth College, he enlisted as a private in Company K, Ninth Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Colonel Fellows. He participated in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam, in September, 1862, and in December following in the battle of Fredericksburg. In this battle Mr. Brown was the orderly sergeant of his company. While storming Mary's Heights he received the wound for which he was honorably discharged from the service, March 4, 1863, and he returned home to complete his education.
After his graduation at Dartmouth, in 1867, he was the principal of Westfield Academy, at Westfield, New York, until March, 1868, when he came to Columbus as principal of the Rich Street school. At the end of the school year the board of education transferred him to the high school as
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teacher of Latin and Greek. In 1870 he was elected principal of the school and served as principal for two years, when he resigned to engage in the school-book business. He was employed for six years by Clark & May- nard, and then by D. Appleton & Company. At the close of the school year 1880-81 Albert G. Farr, the principal of the Columbus high school, resigned, and Mr. Brown was again elected principal, and he remained at the head of the high school for eighteen years,-until June, 1899. During these years the school grew not only in the number of its pupils, but also in efficiency, so that, in 1899, instead of one school, there were three; instead of five hundred pupils, there were nearly two thousand.
Upon his retirement from the Central high school Mr. Brown, with Frank T. Cole, principal of the Columbus Latin school, as an experiment, opened the "University school" of Columbus. The aim of this school is to give boys and girls a thorough preparation for any college or technical school, in the shortest possible time. The teachers for the first year, 1899-1900, were as follows: Abram Brown, A. B., principal, Latin and mathematics; Frank T. Cole, A. B., Latin, Greek and history; Alice Gladden, A. B., English and history ; Ernest E. Rich, B. S., mathematics, physics and French; Mary Wirth, German; L. G. De la Moche, French.
In September, 1900, a course in manual training was added, under the supervision of Cyrus Scott. A certificate from this school admits the holder without further examination to Amherst, Williams, Wells, Smith, Wellesley and Marietta Colleges, and the Ohio State, Western Reserve and Cincinnati Universities.
In December, 1869, Mr. Brown married Miss Emma Gray, of Colum- bus, Ohio, a daughter of Manlius D. and Emily Gray, and has one daughter, Ruth Gray, who is the wife of William Herbert Page, professor in the col- lege of law of the Ohio State University.
GEORGE W. HELMICK, M. D.
A well known physician of Harrisburg is Dr. George Washington Hel- mick, who is known as a successful practitioner. He belongs to. one of the old families of Ohio. His grandfather, Isaac Helmick, resided in Zanes- ville, Putnam county, at an early day and afterward removed to Columbus. Later he took up his abode in Pleasant township, Franklin county, on the Lukens farm, and died in this county, at the age of seventy-two years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Murphy, was born in 1776, and departed this life in Columbus, in the year 1837.
Washington Helmick, the father of our subject, was born in Zanes- ville, Ohio, and was four times married. He first wedded Miss Roxanna Moore, who died in Harrisburg, this state. For his second wife he chose Miss Jane Heth, who died in Columbus, after which he married Miss Han- nah Stump, whose death occurred in Harrisburg. His fourth wife was Miss
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Jane Clark, a daughter of John Clark. Dr. Helmick received rather a limited literary education, but afterward studied medicine under the direction of Dr. Robert Thompson, of Columbus, and began practice in Harrisburg, where he remained until his death. He was a most able physician, keeping in touch with the progress of the profession and thus he not only gained but retained an extensive patronage. He traveled throughout Franklin county to visit his patients and was always ready to respond to a request for medical assist- ance, even though he knew that no pecuniary reward could be expected. He never attended college and therefore received no diploma, but had a permit to practice from the Ohio State Medical Society. His patronage-was from the territory extending from Columbus to West Jefferson. Dr. Helmick died at a comparatively early age and was mourned by a large circle of warm friends, who esteemed him highly for his sterling worth and for his pro- fessional skill. He had children by all of his marriages, with the excep- tion of the second. The children of the fourth marriage were Roxann, wife of W. W. Davis, of Richwood, Ohio; Mary, who died in infancy; George W., of this review ; and Laura Jane, who is also deceased.
Dr. Helmick, whose name introduces this record, was born in Harris- burg December 6, 1856, in the family homestead which stood on the site of his present residence. He pursued his preliminary education in the district and subscription schools and afterward engaged in teaching in the country schools of Pleasant township for twelve months. Wishing to devote his energies to a work that would prove of benefit to his fellow men as well as bring to him a good financial return, he began the study of medicine at Har- risburg under the direction of Dr. J. Helmick, and later continued his study in Columbus, where he was graduated on the 22d of February, 1877. He then became associated in practice with his former preceptor, the connection being maintained until 1887, when the senior partner passed away. Since that time our subject has been alone. He is now well established in a large and constantly growing business. He is very thorough and systematic in his work and keeps in touch with the progress of the profession. He belongs to the Ohio State Medical Society and is a constant reader of the best medi- cal journals.
The Doctor was married, at Pleasant Corners, on the 18th of May, 1881, to Miss Almina Machlin, a daughter of Daiwalt and Catherine (Gantz) Machlin. They now have two children: Daiwalt Machlin, born March II, 1890, and Luther Eugene, born December 24. 1893. Socially the Doctor.is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias fraternity. In his political views he is a stalwart Repub- lican, unswerving in his advocacy of the principles of the party. He has served as a member of the town council for two terms and has been school director of his district for six years, filling both offices in a capable manner. He is well known as a wide-awake, progressive and enterprising citizen who withholds his support from no movement or measure calculated to prove of benefit to the community.
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THOMAS RANDOLPH ROSS.
The Ross family is one well known and respected in many localities of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and Thomas R. Ross is one of that family who left an impress upon his generation. He was born in Chester county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1788, and was a son of Dr. John Ross, also a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, who spent many years there as a practicing physician, subsequently moving to Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio, in 1819, where he died the following year. His father also bore the name of Dr. John Ross, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He had successfully practiced medicine in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, for a great number of years.
The wife of Thomas R. Ross was named Harriet Van Horne, a family name well known in colonial days. She was the daughter of Rev. William Van Horne, a noted Baptist minister, who was born and reared in Pennsyl- vania, receiving most of his education in Philadelphia, and graduating at the College of Rhode Island with the title of Bachelor of Arts. He was a mem- ber of the convention which framed the first civil constitution of Pennsyl- vania, and during the Revolutionary war was appointed chaplain in the con- tinental army, and reappointed by congress, but owing to old age was, at his own request, relieved by General Washington. He died in 1807 at Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, while on his way to Ohio. His father, Peter Peterson Van Horne, was also a minister, being ordained pastor of the Pennepeck Baptist church, Philadelphia, in 1747. Mrs. Ross, the wife of our subject, died in 1879, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years.
Mr. Ross, falling under the spell of the western fever, decided to go west, and in 1809 moved first to Cincinnati, and not long thereafter located at Lebanon, where he soon became firmly established in law practice, also becoming one of the first editors of the Argus, and a leader in Masonic affairs. During the war of 1812 he was made a paymaster in the army, and from 1818 to 1824 was a prominent member of congress, where his forensic ability frequently brought him in direct debate with Webster and Clay, particularly the latter during the debate on the Missouri compromise, Mr. Ross boldly opposing the admission of Missouri as a slave state. Mr. Ross' religious convictions were deep and firm, and though never formally uniting with the church, he was until his death, in 1869, at the age of eighty-one years, a regular attendant at the Baptist church. An able and brilliant talker and deep thinker, he left an impress on all with whom he came in contact.
ROBERT INNIS.
The subject of this review, Robert Innis, was born on the old Innis homestead, in Clinton township. Franklin county, Ohio, April 28, 1836. He is the third child of Robert and Mary (Webb) Innis, the former a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where he was born November 18, 1804. He was a farmer by occupation, and removed to Harrison county, Ohio, where
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he married Miss Mary Webb, and there resided for a time. The paternal grandparents of our subject had children as follows: Henry, born May I, 1792; Hannah, born August 31, 1794; Katherine, born July 11, 1797; Mary, born April 29, 1800; Ann, born April 15, 1802; Robert, born November 18, 1804; John, born November 29, 1807; and Emily, born August 14, 1816.
The mother of our subject was born in Pennsylvania and moved to Ohio with her parents, Jacob and Hannah Webb, when she was but two years old, growing to womanhood there. After marriage Robert Innis removed from Harrison county, in 1834, to Franklin county, settling in Clinton town- ship, where he opened up and improved a farm, continuing to resided upon it until his death, August 19, 1879, having led a correct and virtuous life. He was a member of the Republican party, having first voted as an old-line Whig. Mrs. Innis died January 17, 1891, both she and her husband having for many years been devoted members of the Methodist church. They had the follow- ing children : John W., a prosperous farmer of Licking county, Ohio; Eliza- beth, the wife of Thomas Holt; Robert, our subject; William, deceased ; Mary, the wife of Robert Dalzell; Jacob, of Mount Eagle, Tennessee ; Martha, the wife of George Tippy, who owns and lives upon a part of the old home- stead ; and Amy J., the wife of James Frizzell, a resident of Clinton township.
Our subject passed his boyhood days and obtained his schooling in Clin- ton township, preparing himself for entrance into Otterbein University. In that institution he pursued his studies for three years, following which he engaged in teaching school in the country. After his marriage he settled on a farm in Licking county, Ohio, where he remained until February 16, 1875, when he removed to Columbus and occupied a home on Third street. His next removal was to his present home, where he is successfully engaged in fruit-farming and market gardening. During the Civil war Mr. Innis fought for the Union with Company A, One Hundred and Thirty-third Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, serving for one hundred days.
The marriage of Mr. Innis took place December 25, 1867, to Miss Sarah A. Longman, a daughter of John F. and Alzina (Coryell) Longman, of Franklin county. Mrs. Innis was born July 24, 1842, and she and her esteemed husband are the parents of three children: Lyman H., a brilliant young lawyer of Columbus; Charles L., a druggist in Millersport, Ohio; and Nettie A., a teacher in Grove City. The family are valued members of the Methodist church and are among the most highly respected citizens of the township.
ANDREW O. BONNET, M. D.
Among the successful medical practitioners of Columbus is Dr. Andrew O. Bonnet, who was born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, in the vicinity. of Newburg, March 27, 1849. He is a son of Godlip and Hannah W. (Beck) Bonnet, both of whom were natives of Germany and came to the United States in childhood. They became acquainted in Philadelphia and
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their acquaintance ripened into love that led to their marriage, in that city. The father learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for a number of years, making his home in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania. In 1861, however, he came with his family to Ohio, settling upon a farm of one hun- dred and eighty-three acres in Mahoning county. His wife died in 1885, but he is still living. They had four sons, namely: Albert and David T., who are farmers; and William Mervin, who is engaged in the practice of medicine in Denver, Colorado. He is a graduate of the University of Mich- igan, at Ann Arbor, where he completed a course with the class of 1872.
Dr. Andrew O. Bonnet spent the first twelve years of his life in the state of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Mahon- ing county, Ohio, where he was reared upon the home farm. His preliminary education was acquired in the district schools and subsequently he attended the Poland high school. He learned the blacksmith's trade, which he fol- lowed for several years, but not finding that occupation entirely suited to his fastes he abandoned it to engage in the grocery business in 1880. For ten years he conducted a store in Columbus with good success, and then, dis- posing of his stock, he pursued a course in pharmacy in the Ohio Medical Col- lege, of this city. On its completion he established a drug store in Colum- bus, and while directing the same also studied medicine and was graduated in the Ohio Medical University with the class of 1896, under the preceptorage of Dr. Coleman. When his medical course was completed Dr. Bonnet began practice in Columbus, his office being at Nos. 242 and 244 East Fulton street. He has gained a large and constantly growing patronage, for his skill and ability are recognized, having been demonstrated by the excellent results which have followed his ministrations. Since 1898 he has been physician to the county jail.
In 1876 occurred the marriage of Dr. Bonnet and Miss Rosetta West, of Columbus, a daughter of George West. She was born and reared in Franklin county, her parents having settled in Truro township at an early day. The Doctor and his wife have made many friends in this locality. In the line of his profession he is connected with the Columbus Academy of Medicine and with the American Medical Association. His progressive spirit prompts his extensive study of medical science and of all subjects bearing upon the profession, and thus he keeps in touch with the most advanced thought and methods. He ranks among the most capable representatives of the medical fraternity in the capital city and his large patronage is well merited.
GEORGE W. STAGG.
It is certainly a fact creditable to Franklin county that so many of the youth and older residents are native citizens. This indicates unmistakably the favorable conditions existing here-the opportunities of the farmer and of all manner of industrial and commercial life. Among those who have
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always resided in the county is numbered George W. Stagg, whose birth occurred November 3, 1842, upon the farm where he yet resides. He is now classed among the wide-awake, practical and progressive agriculturists and is enjoying a well merited success in his business affairs. His parents were Abraham and Rebecca (Cook) Stagg, who were the parents of ten children, but only four are now living, namely : Lucinda, the widow of George Edgar, of Jefferson township; Harriet J., the wife of Noah Geiger, an agriculturist of the same township; George W. and David, who follow farming in Jeffer- son township. Levi, the eldest, was killed by lightning. The father was born in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, June 24, 1776, and was there reared, learning the trade of blacksmithing, which occupation he followed during the greater part of his business career. He was three times married, his first wife being Miss Mary Stooky. The wedding was celebrated January 4, 1797, and she died August 29, 1808, after having become the mother of three children. On the Ioth of December, 1810, Mr. Stagg married Keziah Denman, who died August 10, 1827, and on the Ist of December, 1831, he married Mrs. Rebecca Sager, the widow of John Sager. In her maiden- hood she was a Miss Rebecca Cook, and was a native of Virginia. She was also three times married; her first husband was John Sager, by whom she had three children. After the death of Mr. Stagg, her second husband, she became the wife of Thomas Longshore. Her death occurred February 7, 1895.
It was early in the nineteenth century that Abraham Stagg came to Ohio, probably between 1800 and 1808, for his first wife, who died in 1808, was buried here. Upon his arrival he entered a claim of two hundred acres and erected a double hewed-log house as well as a round-log building, the latter being used as a blacksmith shop. There he carried on his trade, but did little work at clearing his land until his sons had reached an age when they could be of material assistance to him in the work of improving the farm. The place was then developed and transformed into productive fields. In politics Mr. Stagg was an old-line Whig, and for several years served as justice of the peace. His death occurred January 19, 1857. In early life he was a Methodist, but later in life he accepted Universalist doctrines. He was a man of unquestioned probity, of strong force of character and of sterling worth, greatly esteemed as one of the sturdy pioneer settlers who aided in laying the foundation for the present prosperity and progress of the county.
George WV. Stagg, whose name introduces this record, was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads of the period. He acquired his education in the district schools. He was fifteen years of age at the time of his father's death, and through the three succeeding years his elder brother, Levi, oper- ated the old homestead. On the expiration of that period Levi Stagg left the farm and our subject and his younger brother, David, took charge of the place. Although he was only eighteen years of age he manifested excel- lent business judgment, the work was well performed and the brothers pros-
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pered in their undertaking. On the 22d of February, 1866, Mr. Stagg mar- ried Miss Rebecca Compton, a native of Jefferson township and a daughter of William Compton, who was also born in Franklin county, showing that his people were among the pioneers of this portion of the state.
After his marriage Mr. Stagg and his bride took up their abode in the parental home and he continued to operate the farm on the shares until after his mother's death, which occurred in 1895, when a division of the estate was made. Our subject purchased the interest of his youngest brother, making his farm a little more than sixty-seven acres. His first wife died in 1869, leaving one child, Mary Luella, who is now the wife of George B. Shull, of Jefferson township. On the 29th of October, 1870, Mr. Stagg was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary Sherman, a native of Lick- ing county, Ohio, and a daughter of Joseph Sherman, who was born in Eng- land. Nine children graced their marriage, and with one exception all are yet living, as follows: Lizzie, now the wife of Joseph Fravel, of Licking county ; Laura, the wife of Charles Cole, of Delaware county, Ohio; Cora, the wife of J. R. Beaver, of Licking county; Ada, wife of Arza Wengert, of Jefferson township; Addie, a twin sister of Ada, and the wife of Jacob Schott, of Delaware county ; Nelson, Rollie and Alta at home. Mr. Stagg is a mem- ber of the Christian Union church. He gives his political support to the Democracy and for seven years he served as constable of Jefferson township, while for twelve years he was township clerk and is now serving his second term as township trustee. He is also a member of the board of education, which position he has filled for a long period. He gives his support to every measure and movement calculated to prove of general good and is a man of sound judgment, determined purpose and upright character.
ALBERT WATTS.
A prominent farmer and fruit-grower of Franklin township, Franklin county, Ohio, is Albert Watts. He was born in Franklin township August II, 1844, a son of William and Margaret (Chambers) Watts, both residents of Franklin county, where they were well and favorably known and reared a large family of children, as follows: Sarah, deceased; Lizzie, the wife of Adam White, of Franklin township; Amanda, wife of R. C. Alkire, of Columbus; John, deceased; Albert, the subject of this sketch; William, of Jackson township; Elisha, who died in Nebraska in 1898; Milton, of Piqua county ; Melissa Jane, wife of James Hoddy, of Franklin township; Joseph, deceased; and Ella, who died in infancy.
Albert Watts was reared upon his father's farm and attended the dis- trict school until he was twenty-one years old. In 1863 he enlisted in Com- pany C, Fifth Battalion, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and served for six months, returning then to the farm. After his marriage Mr. Watts located in the house where he was born, remaining there for three years, then removed to his present farm and has resided in this place for the past twenty-nine years.
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