USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio > Part 66
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David R. Jones, son of Richard Jones, pioneer and preacher, and father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Wales in 1787 and was thirteen years old when he came with his father's family to Philadelphia. He took naturally to education, but his educational advantages were limited. He learned much by reading and acquired much accurate and useful knowledge by observation. Under his father's instruction he learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he was employed from time to time, but later he became a stone cutter and as such worked on many public improvements. He assisted in the construction of the Erie canal between Utica and Albany, New York, and often related an incident of his experience at that time. He and an Irish fellow workman made a wager with two other workmen that they could drill more holes in stones in a given time than the other pair, it being understood that the winners of the wager should spend the money thus ac- quired in celebrating on the approaching Fourth of July. A cup was used to pour water into the holes to clear them of dust, and at dinner time some one stole it; and in order to continue the work without interruption Mr. Jones removed his shoe and used it as a water vessel for the purpose indicated.
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While he was pouring water from it into the stone a son of Governor De Witt Clinton, the projector and promoter of the canal, stopped beside him and asked him why he made such use of his boot. Mr. Jones replied : "Some mischievous rascal stole my cup. Don't ask questions; I am drilling on a wager and have no time to answer them." Mr. Clinton treated the matter as a good joke, and it is probable that he did not soon forget the stonecutter who was "too busy to answer questions." Mr. Clinton made Mr. Jones a present of fifty cents, which was highly appreciated.
Miss Juan Thomas married David R. Jones, near Utica, New York, and they located in Remsen township, Oneida county, of which Utica is the seat of justice. (After marriage she was always known as Susan Jones.) In 1837 they removed to Licking county, Ohio, and located on the Welsh Hills, north of Granville, in Granville township, where Mr. Jones engaged in farming on a new farm. He was an expert workman on canal construction and he earned money by such work in Ohio to buy horses and wagons and other necessary equipments and to help pay for his land, at times hauling cordwood to Granville, where he sold it at one dollar and twenty-five cents a cord. He died on that place in 1852, having attained prominence as a citizen, and his busy and successful career marks him as a prominent figure in the history of his family. His wife was born in 1793 and was seventeen years old at the time of her marriage.
Richard Jones, son of David R. and Juan (Thomas) Jones, was born in Remsen township, Oneida county, New York, May 1, 1823, their seventh child in order of nativity. The others were as follows: Thomas D. Jones, the noted sculptor; Benjamin, who died in Hawaii; Janette, who married John T. Jones and died in Wisconsin ; Maria, who married James Pittsford and died in Licking county, Ohio; Ann, who married Henry Booth and became the mother of H. J. Booth and died at Columbus, Ohio, where her son lives; and she also had a daughter Susan; Phebe, who married Isaiah Booth and died near Cedar Rapids, Iowa; William, who died in California; Hiram, who died in Licking county, Ohio; and David, who lives in Morrow county, Ohio. On account of his active interest in church work, the father of these children was known popularly as Deacon Jones. When he came with his family to Ohio, in 1837. his son Richard was fourteen years old. Ten years later, at the age of twenty-four, he married Sarah Keller, a native of Fairfield county, Ohio, and a daughter of Jacob and Ann ( Miller) Keller. Their marriage was celebrated April 4, 1847. They have had children born to them as follows: Eli, who married Elizabeth Bidwell and lives in Madi- son county, Ohio; Alvira, who married Henry Folmer, of Madison county, Ohio; Orlena, who married William McGlyncha, of Columbus, Ohio; Paul, who married Rose Thorn and for two terms filled the office of city solicitor of Columbus, Ohio; Diana, who died in 1877: Delia, who married Elmer Knauss, of Marion, Ohio; Nahum, who married Sophia Kastl and lives in Delaware county, Ohio: Janette and Juan, who are twins; and Lulia.
Mr. Jones received the rudiments of his education in public schools near
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his early boyhood home in New York state, which he attended when he could be spared from work at home. His first employment after he came to Ohio was as a farm hand at ten dollars a month. Later he removed to Newark township, Licking county, where he married and acquired a good farm of one hundred and fifty acres on which there was a stone quarry. Early in 1868 he bought his present farm in Brown township, Franklin county, on which he located in March of that year. For a time he lived in a log house, which, after he developed a fine farm of two hundred acres, gave place to his present modern residence. His barn, which covers a ground space of one hundred and one by ninety feet, is the largest in Franklin county. He for- merly gave much attention to breeding horses, but in more recent years has devoted himself to general farming. Politically he is a Democrat, and his first presidential vote was cast for James K. Polk. He has served his fellow citizens as justice of the peace for twelve years, has long held the office of township trustee and has for many years been prominent as a school director in his township, in which capacity he has done much to advance the cause of public education. He is a member of the Grange at West Jefferson, and he and Mrs. Jones are members of the Baptist church. The first death in his immediate family occurred in 1877. His mother died in 1870, aged seventy-seven years.
WILLIAM E. KNOX.
To a student of human nature there is nothing of greater interest than to examine into the life of a self-made man and analyze the principles by which he has been governed, the methods he has pursued, to know what means he has employed for advancement and to study the plans which have given him prominence, enabling him to pass on the highway of life many who had a more advantageous start. . In the history of Mr. Knox there is deep food for thought, and if one so desires he may profit by the obvious lessons therein contained.
William E. Knox is now successfully engaged in contracting and build- ing in Columbus and he owes his rise to his own well-directed efforts. He was born in Gallia county, Ohio, August 19, 1868, and is a son of W. H. and Ellen (Davis) Knox. The father was a native of Wales, born in 1824. and the mother was born in Utica, New York, in the year 1830. Their marriage was celebrated in Clinton county, Ohio, and soon afterward they removed to Gallia county, where they spent their remaining days. Their son, Will- iam E. Knox, was there reared and acquired a good common-school educa- tion, receiving a thorough training in the fundamental knowledge which served as a foundation for successful effort in business life. After putting aside his text-books he learned the carpenter's trade with his father, who was a carpenter and builder, and continued to follow that occupation in the county of his nativity until 1890, when he came to Columbus, Ohio, and completed his trade under the direction of D. J. Anderson, a well-known representative
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of the building interests in the capital city. Mr. Knox subsequently traveled over the state, working in the different cities as a journeyman, and later went to Denver, Colorado, where he engaged in building on the cattle ranches owned by some of the leading cattle kings of the west.
On returning to Columbus Mr. Knox entered into partnership with his brother. S. F. Knox, under the firm name of Knox Brothers, contractors and builders. Almost from the beginning they enjoyed a large patronage. The business connection between them was maintained until the death of S. F. Knox, in September, 1900, since which time our subject has carried on business alone. He has erected many of the fine residences of the city in recent years, took the contract and executed the work of the Methodist Episcopal church and also the new Presbyterian church, which is one of the finest houses of worship in Columbus. Many substantial and beautiful speci- mens of architecture and the builders' trade stand as monuments to his enter- prise and handiwork. He is now well established in business, having an extensive and profitable patronage. In the Builders and Traders' Ex- change in Columbus he holds membership and is now one of the leading rep- resentatives of his line of work that contributes in greater measure than any other to the beauty and substantial improvement of the city.
On the 30th of October, 1900, Mr. Knox was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Morgan, of Columbus, a daughter of W. S. Morgan, a prom- inent early settler in Gallia county, Ohio. Her mother was Mrs. Ann Mor- gan. Mr. Knox is a member of the Phoenix Club, of Columbus, and is director of the music in the First Baptist church, in which he takes a great interest. He is well known socially and is popular with a large circle of friends.
FRANK H. HOUGHTON, D. D. S.
Dr. Frank H. Houghton, who is well known in Franklin county, has introduced a novel department in dentistry, being proprietor of a dental house boat, on which he sails the rivers of Florida through the winter months. His superior skill and ability in the line of his chosen profession has gained him a liberal and constantly increasing patronage and his prestige has been wor- thily won. His wide acquaintance in Columbus, Westerville and towns in this portion of Ohio will render his life history one of interest to the readers of this volume.
The Doctor is a representative of an old New England family, his pater- nal grandparents being Samuel and Polly (Tyler) Houghton, who were farming people of Vermont. Their son, Benjamin W. Houghton, the Doctor's father, was born in Guilford, Vermont, in 1818, and was reared on the old homestead, acquiring a common-school education. Shortly after attending his majority he engaged in the manufacture of harness, ornaments and various other metal ornaments, continuing in that business up to the time of his death and finding it a profitable source of income. His labors, how-
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ever, were not limited alone to that line for he operated near the town a fine farm, which became celebrated for the excellent qualities of its products, and the owner was accounted one of the most capable agriculturists of his section. He was an active worker in politics, supporting the men and meas- ures of the Whig party, yet was never an office seeker and often times refused high political preferments tendered him by his fellow townsmen. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a communicant of the Episcopal church, in which he was a recognized leader, holding many offices and zealously supporting its cause in all possible ways. He married Miss Mary A. Tylor, who was born in Vernon, Vermont, about 1822. . His death occurred in 1864, but his widow is still living and now resides in Williams- town, Massachusetts, with his son Irving. Unto this worthy couple were born six children, but only three are now living, namely: Frank H., Irving B., who is connected with the Boston & Troy Railroad Company, and resides in Williamstown, Massachusetts, and Nathaniel T., who is in business in Boston, Massachusetts.
Dr. Houghton was born in Guilford, Vermont, on the 12th of January, 1840, and remained with his parents until his sixteenth year. His prelim- inary education was acquired in the common schools, supplemented by study in the Westminster Academy, at Westminster, Vermont, the home of Ethan Allen, and was graduated from that institution in the spring of 1856. Imme- diately following the completion of his literary course he came to Ohio, taking up his abode in Springfield, where he found employment as a salesman in a dry goods house, remaining in that position for three years, after which he resigned and went to Louisiana. In company with Messrs. Cavalier and Owens, two young men of about his own age, he established a planter's sup- ply house on the Mississippi river, three miles north of Milligan's Bend, and called his shipping point Omega. From that place he shipped more than half of the cotton grown in Madison parish, Louisiana. They were meeting with a high degree of prosperity at the time Civil war was inaugu- rated.
When the first gun was fired upon Fort Sumter, Dr. Houghton at once left his business interests in the south, returned to Ohio, and on the 29th of July, 1862, enlisted in the Seventeenth Ohio Independent Artillery as sergeant. On the 5th of April, 1863, he was promoted to quartermaster sergeant and on the 20th of August, of that year, was commissioned second lieutenant of the company. During the last year of his service he had command of the battery, for Captain Rice and the first lieutenant were on detached duty. Dr. Hough- ton participated in the first attack on Vicksburg and the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Fort Hindman, Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Jackson, Baker's Creek, Black River and the siege of Vicksburg. With the Thirteenth Army corps he was sent to the Department of the Gulf when that corps was consolidated with the Nineteenth and then took part in the Red River cam- paign, including Vermillionville and Carrion Crow Bayou, where Dr. Hough- ton had a horse shot from under him. He was in numerous other skirmishes
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and minor engagements in that part of the country and then returned to winter quarters at New Orleans. In 1864 his command was assigned to the Sixteenth Army Corps and took part in the battle of Fort Morgan, where he was the first man on the works. He was also in the important engagements of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely ( Mobile's last stronghold), the latter being the last battle of consequence of the war. At the time of the surrender of General Lee he was in Mobile, Alabama, and was mustered out at Camp Chase, Ohio, on the 16th of August, 1865.
After the war Dr. Houghton went to Worcester, Massachusetts, and took up the study of dentistry, which he had followed to some extent during his college days, under the direction of his uncles, Drs. Nathaniel and Levi Tyler, both of whom were noted men of the profession. After the war he continued his study with Dr. E. B. Nettleton for about a year and then went to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he entered the office of Dr. Whiteside. In 1867 he came to Westerville, Ohio, and began practice here. In 1870 he opened an office in Columbus, where he remained until 1895. Since that time lie has spent the greater part of his time in Florida and has passed most of his winters in that state since 1880. In the Peninsular state he has introduced the novel method of practicing his profession from a house boat. Each winter Florida is visited by hundreds of tourists who find it impossible to obtain good dental service and since 1880 Dr. Houghton has made it his practice to spend his winters in the south and continue the prosecution of his profession there. Having to reach the people by rail or steamer, which nec- essarily caused loss of time in transit and packing and unpacking his outfit, . and as his practice increased and the modern ideas and improved methods required a greater amount of apparatus, he devised the scheme of fitting up a floating dental office. His friends discouraged him, saying that the vibra- tion and motion would be such that he could not operate with comfort, but in spite of this discouraging counsel and at the expense of several thousand dollars he constructed the vessel, using sixteen thousand feet of lumber, and gave to her the suggestive name of Dentos. The practicability of the plan has been well demonstrated; his plan of notifying the people of his visits is usually by card or by some of the weekly newspapers along the coast. On several oc- casions he has easily operated at the chair for patients in transit. This is certainly novel and almost like a dream to know that one may have dental service performed while gliding up and down the rivers, amid stately palms and other tropical plants, the banks forming a constant changing panorama, while sail boats, yachts and launches add to the picturesqueness of the scene. The Dentos is a floating vessel fifty-three feet long. a deck twenty feet broad and a hull twelve feet broad and two and a half feet deep. The hull is made entirely of selected heart cypress and the cabin is made of Georgia pine, ceiled outside and inside. The cabin is thirty-eight feet long and fifteen feet wide, and is divided into four apartments. There are intermediate staterooms with a capacity of three berths and everything is most complete, being supplied with the modern conveniences of a home and all of the equipments of a first
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class dental office. The route is along the Halifax, Hillsboro and Indian rivers, the most beautiful, healthful and picturesque part of Florida. The Doctor has a large practice, constantly growing, and his success is certainly well merited, for he keeps in constant touch with progress and improved methods and has not only a complete understanding of the scientific principles of dentistry, but is most skilled in his application of its mechanical princi- ples. Since 1872 he has been a member of the Ohio State Dental Association.
On the 3d of December, 1868, the marriage of Dr. Houghton and Miss Rebecca D. Slaughter was celebrated, the lady being a daughter of the Rev. Dr. William Slaughter. They now have one child, Frank H., of Akron, Ohio, who is contracting freight agent of the Akron, Wheeling & Pittsburg district of the Vanderbilt railroad system. In politics the Doctor is a stanch Repub- lican, never wavering in his allegiance to the party. Socially he is connected with Blendon Lodge, No. 339, F. & A. M., of Westerville, and Horeb Chapter, No 3, R. A. M. He also belongs to Cincinnati Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. Of the Episcopal church he is a communicant. He owns one of the most attractive residences in Westerville and also has a beautiful home in Daytona, Florida, where he now spends the greater part of his time. While his professional career has gained him distinction in the fraternity, his never failing courtesy, obliging manner and genial disposition have won him many friends in social life.
IRA LEROY MILLER.
This well-known and popular citizen of Columbus is now a member of the organization department of the state Republican headquarters for the campaign of 1900, and has always taken quite an active and prominent part in political affairs. A native of Ohio, he was born in Jackson county, the only child of Theodore and Jenny (Conner) Miller. The father, who served for two years in a West Virginia regiment during the Civil war, died when our subject was very young. The maternal grandfather, Rev. Mr. Conner. was a resident of Fayette county, this state, his family and the Millers both being early settlers of Ohio. They came from Miller's Ferry, West Vir- ginia, now called Hawk's Nest.
Reared in his native county, Mr. Miller of this review acquired his edu- cation in its public schools, and continued to make his home there until com- ing to Columbus, in 1889. On first locating here he traveled for a mercantile house, and then represented the New York Life Insurance Company from 1895 to 1899. He was next bookkeeper and cashier with the Jones Shoe Manufacturing Company until July, 1900. For the past ten years Mr. Miller has been prominently identified with Republican politios as an active member of city, county and state committees, and during the campaign of 1896 was vice-president of the Young Men's Republican Club, which was the most important organization of the kind in city or county, having about three hundred working members. His genial, pleasant manner has made
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him quite popular in business, social and political circles, and as a public- spirited and enterprising man he is recognized as a valued citizen of the community.
Mr. Miller married Miss Maud Ennes, of Sandusky, Ohio, who presides with gracious dignity over his home. Religiously they are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
WILLIAM HIRAM SIMONTON.
In connection with hotel interests at Columbus, Ohio, the name of Simon- ton was long prominent and it has since been prominent in connection with official and business interests. One of its prominent representatives at this time is William Hiram Simonton, ex-county clerk of Franklin county, some account of whose antecedents and career it will be attempted here to give.
Theophilus Simonton, grandfather of William Hiram Simonton, came to Ohio from North Carolina and served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812-14. Hiram Simonton, son of Theophilus Simonton, and father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Clermont county, Ohio, in 1804, and died in Columbus in 1892, in his eighty-eighth year. He came to Columbus in 1849, from Milford, Clermont county, where he had been engaged in business, and at the request of John Noble, father of Henry C. Noble, who owned the Buckeye House on Broad street on the present site of the board of trade, opened that hotel. In 1851 he went to the United States Hotel, which yet stands at the corner of High and Town streets, and managed it until 1862, when he took charge of the Franklin House on High street, owned by the Hubbards, where he remained until 1867. From 1867 to 1871 he lived in Lithopolis, Fairfield county, Ohio, but returning to Columbus in 1871, he built an attractive home on Main street, where he died and which has since his death been the home of his son, William Hiram Simonton. He was one of the most popular hotel men of his time and was strongly and widely influential as a Democrat. He married Elizabeth Snell, of a family well known in Ohio, who came from Pennsylvania.
William Hiram Simonton was born in Milford, Clermont county, Ohio, in 1847, and was two years old when his father removed to Columbus. After receiving a good education in the public schools, he became a clerk in the United States Hotel, and was later employed in the same capacity at the Zet- tler House, both of Columbus, the latter at the corner of Main and Fourth streets. In 1878 he became deputy county clerk of Franklin county under County Clerk Harvey Cashatt, and filled the office until 1890 with such effi- ciency that he was that year elected county clerk. He retired from that respon- sible position in August, 1894, since when he has lived retired, giving attention to his private interests and to Democratic local politics, in which he is influential. He married Miss Rosina Yaisle, daughter of the late Samuel Yaisle, and has a son, Mark Simonton, who is well known in con- nection with the Electric Supply & Construction Company of Columbus,
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and who is a graduate not only of the Columbus high school, but, as an electrical engineer, from the Ohio State University.
Alvah W. Simonton, brother of William Hiram Simonton, is a promi- nent collector of Columbus. Another brother, Marcus Simonton, now a prominent citizen of Cincinnati, was during the Civil war post-quartermaster at Camp Chase under appointment by Governor Dennison. Mr. Simonton's sister, Miss Mattie H. Simonton, has long been a successful teacher. She was principal of the public school at Third and Rich streets, Columbus, and is now principal of the Ohio avenue school, having charge of eight hundred pupils.
FRANK A. CHENOWETH.
The name of Chenoweth is one that figures conspicuously in connection with the history of Franklin county, for its representatives have long been residents of this portion of the state and have ever been people of sterling worth, numbered among the valued citizens of the community. Frank Al- bert Chenoweth, of this review, was for some years an important factor in business circles in Harrisburg, but is now living retired. He is a son of William B. and Rebecca J. (Johnston) Chenoweth, and was born on the old family homestead at Harrisburg, May 31, 1856. He spent the days of his childhood and youth upon the home farm and after acquiring his pre- liminary education in the schools of Harrisburg, continued his studies in the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio. During his youth he engaged in clerking in a store, and his training in that direction well qualified him to engage in business on his own account in later years. In March, 1879, he opened a general store in Harrisburg and afterward his father became a partner in the enterprise, the association being formed in 1881 and maintained until August, 1900, when they sold the store to Alfred Mead. At first they carried only groceries and hardware, but afterward added a stock of dry goods and notions, and still later, boots and shoes. The commendable business policy which they followed constantly increased the trade annually transacted over their counters. They were proprietors of one of the leading general mer- cantile establishments in this portion of the state and their success was well merited, for it was their honest desire to please their patrons. Mr. Cheno- weth, of this review, now gives his attention in some measure to the real estate business, and is the owner of some very valuable property.
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