A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 71

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 71

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served as mayor from 1846 to 1850, was director of the Franklin county infirmary, was a member of the board of education of the city of Columbus from 1846 to 1850, and was for many years a trustee and steward of the Town Street Methodist Episcopal church, while for twenty-six years he was superintendent of its Sunday-school, giving much time and contributing liberally of his means to advance the interests of his church. In all these positions he sustained a high character and was noted for his firmness and integrity. He was a man of great industry and faithfulness, and never counted any work beneath him in fulfilling duties devolving upon him, and from his youth was most temperate in all his habits.

Mr. Decker married Miss Martha Crum, a daughter of Christian Crum, who came from Virginia to Ohio about 1822 and located at Franklinton. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Decker were born the following children: Harriet E. married Olmsted Gates, formerly a jeweler at Columbus, now a resident of Hartford, Connecticut. Samuel August was born in 1842 and was edu- cated in his native city, Columbus. In 1861, at the age of nineteen, he went from college to the seat of war as a member of the Eighty-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served as first lieutenant of Com- pany H for three months in the Army of the Cumberland. Later he was appointed general delivery clerk in the Columbus postoffice, in which position he served eighteen years or until his retirement in 1887. Charles Decker also served in the Eighty-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a pri- vate. After the war he engaged in business at Nelsonville, Athens county, Ohio, where he died in 1880, leaving a widow, Mrs. Mary (Cotton) Decker, now of Columbus. 'Another daughter of our subject married Ottowell Hoffman, who is a well-known druggist at Columbus. Michael Decker, deceased, was for some years in the jewelry business in Columbus in connec- tion with his brother-in-law, Olmsted Gates.

Samuel August Decker was born on East Rich street, and for many years lived on that thoroughfare, where his father located in 1852. He is 110w a resident of Nyack, New York.

GEORGE D. FREEMAN.

One of the prominent citizens of Columbus, Ohio, who has taken an active part in many of the, improvements which have made it one of the most beautiful cities in the state, is George D. Freeman, the subject of this sketch. He was born at Ovid, Franklin county, Ohio, August II, 1842. His father, Usual W. Freeman, together with his mother, Margaret (Christy) Freeman, came from New Jersey to Ohio in 1833. Usual Freeman served with distinction in the New York militia during the war of 1812, and was also an assistant engineer for the city of New York during the platting of the part of the city north of Canal street; and his father, William Freeman, was a soldier of the Revolution.

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George D. Freeman took advantage of the limited educational opportu- nities afforded by the common schools of his early days, at a later period sup- plementing the instruction thus obtained by attendance upon night schools. When but six years of age he lost his father, and at the age of eleven years he became the only support of his mother, and bravely did he assume the responsibility.

When still a lad he entered the studio of D. D. Winchester, then the leading artist of Columbus, but left the employ of this gentleman to become a page in the Ohio house of representatives, at the last session held in Odeon hall and the first held in the present capitol building. He received his ap- pointment from Nelson H. Van Vorhees, the speaker of the first Republican legislature of Ohio. From here he entered the dry-goods house of Headly & Elerly, with whom he remained until 1866, when he was admitted as a junior partner in this firm. Later years found him the senior partner of Freeman, Staley & Norton, who were the successors of Headly & Elerly.

In 1880 Mr. Freeman withdrew from the dry-goods trade and entered the furniture business as a member of the firm of Halm, Bellows' & Butler, who were succeeded by Freeman, Halm & McAllister. Later Mr. Freeman withdrew from this business to establish the George D. Freeman Mantel. Company, engaged in the manufacture of mantels and interior furnishings .-

In 1878, on the organization of the state militia into the Ohio National Guard, Mr. Freeman, at the urgent request of the regiment, assumed com- mand and became the colonel of the famous Fourteenth Ohio National Guard, in which capacity he served the state for thirteen years. The period of his command was marked with many trying ordeals, where bravery, good judg- ment and a cool head were very necessary attributes in a commanding officer. The well-remembered Cincinnati riots were among these occasions, and it was at this time that Colonel Freeman's abilities as a commander were shown. He brought peace and order out of the turbulent mob that surged through the streets of the city, endangering life and property. In 1890, through press of business, Colonel Freeman was obliged to resign his post. At the breaking out of the Spanish-American war Colonel Freeman was called to the position of acting assistant quartermaster general, and was active at Camp Bushnell in equipping the troops for the front; in fact, put up the camp. From there he was ordered to the duty of superintendent of the state arsenal, where he is still on duty; and he had two sons in the same Spanish war,-one son now in the Philippines, a lieutenant in the Nineteenth Infantry.

Our subject has taken a prominent part in all public enterprises, serving for some years on the county board of agriculture, and took an active interest in securing to the city the beautiful spot known as Franklin Park. This was not a political service, nor has he held any political office, although fre- quently pressed to do so.

Colonel Freeman has been before the public, in this state, for many years, and his reputation for integrity, energy and stability is unquestioned.

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Colonel Freeman was married October 31, 1865, to Miss Julia A. Die- mer, whose parents were pioneers in the settlement of central Ohio. A family of four children have been born of this union,-Harry D., Stanton S., George D. and Julia E.

FRANK P. DILL.

Frank P. Dill was born July 12, 1852, in Blendon township, and is a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of the county that in the earliest period of development in this section of the state came to the county, and through identification with its early interests aided in its devel- opment and progress along lines of material and substantial improvement. These were strong men and true that came to found the empire of the west- these hardy settlers who built their rude domiciles, grappled with the giants of the forests, and from the sylvan wilds evolved the fertile and productive fields which have these many years been furrowed by the plowshare. On both the paternal and maternal sides Mr. Dill is descended from pioneer ancestry. John Dill, the grandfather, was a native of Nova Scotia, and his wife was also born in the same country. In early life he was a seafaring man, and, having accumulated some money, he purchased a ship of his own, which was shortly afterward sunk at sea, so that he lost all that he had ac- quired. Subsequently he came to the United States, locating in Baltimore, Maryland. While on the voyage one of his two children died and was buried in the ocean. After arriving in Baltimore Mr. Dill took a contract to build an underground race for a mill, an extensive and important piece of work at that time. He successfully completed it, but his partner proved dishonest and defrauded him of most of his profits. Later Mr. Dill erected a mill and carried on business on an extensive scale, but the commission men who handled his flour failed when heavily in debt to him, and thus Mr. Dill again suffered great loss. He saved just enough out of the wreck of his fortune to buy a farm of one hundred acres, and made the purchase in Mifflin township, Franklin county. Here he devoted his time and energies to agri- cultural pursuits, and his industry and perseverance conquered an adverse fate, so that at his death he left a fortune valued at ninety thousand dollars.

The parents of Frank P. Dill were Edward and Jane (Cooper) Dill. His father was born in Baltimore, Maryland, about 1820, and there grew to manhood. learning the miller's trade in his youth. When a young man he came to Ohio with his parents and his first employment here was on the construction of the canal which was then being builded through Columbus. After about a year spent in the capital city the family removed to Mifflin township, where the grandfather purchased a farm, and there he and his wife spent their remaining days. He became a prosperous agriculturist, acquiring seven hundred acres of land. Soon after the family took up their abode on the old homestead in Mifflin township Edward Dill went to the south and for four years conducted a wood yard on the Mississippi river, in the state

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of Mississippi. He then returned to Ohio and engaged in the operation of a portion of the home farm. After his marriage he purchased a farm of one hundred acres in Blendon township, in the Cherry bottoms, and began agri- cultural pursuits on his own account, making his home there until called to his final rest. He was the owner of three hundred acres of rich land prior to his demise. In ante bellum days he supported the Whig party and was a strong opponent of slavery. Later, when the Republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery, he joined its ranks and earnestly advocated its principles. In the Presbyterian church he held membership, and his life was loyal to its teachings. He married Jane Cooper, who was born on the old family homestead where our subject now resides October II, 1815, and was one of a family of nine children, but only Mary Ann now survives. Her father was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, June II, 1777, and there he was reared, learning the carpenter's trade in early life. In 1808 he came on horseback to Ohio and purchased between four and five hundred acres of land, a strip extending from the Hart road to the township line. He made the purchase for himself and his brother, William Cooper, and a brother-in-law, Isaac Harrison. All of this land is still owned by their descendants excepting one hundred and ten acres, which is known as the Harrison tract.

After making the purchase Mr. Cooper returned to Virginia, and on the 22d of September following he was married. Two weeks later he started with his bride for Ohio, making the journey in a four-horse wagon loaded with their household effects and those of Isaac Harrison. Mrs. Cooper and Mrs. Harrison rode on horseback and drove the cattle. On their arrival the grandparents of our subject spent the first winter in Tobeytown, Fairfield county, and the following spring came to Franklin county, living in their wagon while their log house was being built. The land was very heavily timbered, and wild game was found in abundance in the forests. Mr. Cooper was very fond of hunting, and kept the table well supplied with all kinds of wild meat. On their arrival they made sugar from the maple sap, and that was all the sugar they had through the following twelve months. The nearest church was at Franklinton, but the minister would often stop at a house in the country and its owner would then notify his neighbors to quit work and congregate at his home in order to engage in service. Everything was primitive and new. The groceries were purchased in Chillicothe, but they depended mostly upon the farm and upon wild game to supply the table. Many hardships, inconveniences and trials were endured by the early settlers, but the land was made to yield its tribute under the effective endeavors of the pioneer. To establish a home amid such surroundings and to cope with the many privations and difficulties which were the inevitable concomitants demanded an invincible courage and fortitude, strong hearts and willing hands. All these were characteristic of the pioneers whose names and deeds should be held in perpetual reverence by those who enjoy the fruits of their toil. Mr Cooper was a Democrat in politics and for several years held the office

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of township treasurer. A man of influence in the community, he was highly respected for his integrity, upright dealing and genuine worth. Of the Presbyterian church he was a leading member, and died in that faith October 30, 1861. His wife, who was born in Augusta county, Virginia, April 27, 1783, was a sister of Robert Craig, one of the wealthy rolling-mill operators and extensive slaveholders of Virginia, and a prominent figure in the cause of the Confederacy during the Civil war, contributing largely to the cause of the south at that time.

It was to the Cooper family that came to Ohio in pioneer days that Mrs. Dill belonged. Grandmother Cooper died August 21, 1863. A member of the Presbyterian church, she was loved and respected by all who knew her. Mrs. Dill had six children, of whom four are yet living, namely: James, a resident farmer of Blendon township; Crawford, now a resident of Central College; Marcella, the widow of Huston T. Gould, who was a stock dealer of Blendon township; Frank P .; and Melissa, who was the wife of Charles Gastinger, of Blendon township, but is now deceased.

The subject of this review was only eighteen months old at the time of his mother's death. He then became an inmate of the home of his maternal grandfather, where he was reared to manhood. His education was acquired in the common schools, in Central College and in Westerville Union school, where he pursued a complete course of study. He was also a student in Otterbein University. On putting aside his text-books he spent one year on the farm with his uncle, William Cooper, who then owned the old family homestead. His uncle was well known in Franklin county as a prominent Democrat, and for four years he was one of the commissioners of Franklin county. He died in 1882.

In 1878 Mr. Dill went to Texas, where for three years he was engaged in farming and stock-raising, and also aided in building the Western Pacific Railroad from Weatherford, Texas, to the southern plains. In December, 1881, he returned to Ohio, after disposing of his stock and interests in the south, and assumed charge of the farm belonging to his uncle, William Cooper, who was ill. He has since managed the property, and he and his aunt, Mary Ann, the only survivor of the family, own together two hundred and sixty-five acres of land. He is one of the prosperous agriculturists of the community, progressive in his methods of work and carrying on his labors along the line of advanced thought.

Mr. Dill is also identified with a number of fraternal organizations, including Blendon Lodge, No. 339, A. F. & A. M .; Mizpah Chapter, No. 38, Order of the Eastern Star; Rainbow Lodge, No. 327, I. O. O. F .; Twi- light Lodge, No. 383, of the Order of Rebekah; of Westerville Lodge, No. 273, K. of P .; Blendon Grange, No. 708, Patrons of Husbandry; and also of the Pomona Grange of Franklin county, No. 22.

He keeps in touch with improved methods of farming and stock-raising through his membership connection with the Farmers' Institute, with the

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State Horticultural Society and the Franklin County Horticultural Society. He has filled many offices in the lodges with which he is identified, and is regarded as a valued representative of those organizations.

JACOB BORROR.

Success is determined by one's ability to recognize opportunity, and to pursue this with a resolute and unflagging energy. It results from continued labor, and the man who thus accomplishes his purpose usually becomes an important factor in the business circles of the community with which he is connected. Mr. Borror, through such means, has attained a leading place among the wealthy and representative men of Jackson township, and his well- spent and honorable life commands the respect of all who know him.

In the township where he still makes his home, Mr. Borror was born April 14, 1832, in his father's house in the yard where he now resides, and is a representative of one of the oldest families of the county. His father, Jacob Borror, a native of Virginia, located here in 1809, being one of the first set- tlers of Jackson township, there being only two houses between his home and Columbus. On coming to the county he was accompanied by two brothers, and soon afterward was joined by his mother. In the midst of the unbroken forest he erected a cabin, and at once began to clear and improve his farm. He married Catherine Conrad, also a native of the Old Dominion, who died at the age of seventy-eight years, while he passed away at the age of forty- eight. They were the parents of nine children, all born on the old homestead where our subject now resides, but only three are now living, these being Joel, Jacob and Silas, all residents of Jackson township.

Of this family Jacob Borror is the sixth in order of birth. Reared in his native township, he assisted in the work of the farm for about nine months out of the year, while during the remaining three months of winter he attended school in the primitive log school houses of that early day, beginning his education, however, in a church. He was about thirteen years of age when his father died and upon him and his brothers devolved the arduous task of clear- ing and improving the home farm.

On the 26th of January, 1860, Mr. Borror was united in marriage with Miss Isabel T. German, who was born, reared and educated in Hamilton town- ship, this county. Unto them were born seven children, six of whom are still living, namely: Mary Alice, wife of Michael Duff, of Hamilton town- ship; Ida Belle, wife of S. R. Shover, who lives with our subject ; James M., who married Mary Hagans and resides in Pickaway county; Jacob C., who married Laura McCord and makes his home in Jackson township; Otis H., who married Viola Swagler and also lives in Jackson township; Albert B., who married Leona Harvey and resides in the same township; and Nora May, who died at the age of thirteen months.

Upon his marriage Mr. Borror brought his bride to the old homestead in Jackson township, where they have resided uninterruptedly ever since.

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Throughout his entire business career he has followed general farming and stock raising, and has met with marked success in his labors. He has invested largely in land, and is now the owner of eighteen hundred and thirty-five acres, all of which is now operated by his children with exception of one hundred and ninety acres in Pickaway county which he rents to other parties. He also has money out at interest, and is to-day the wealthiest man in Jackson township. His success is the result of honest, persistent effort in the line of honorable and manly dealing, and he has made an untarnished record and unspotted repu- tation as a business man. In his political affiliations Mr. Borror is a Demo- crat, and has filled the office of school director in his district.

RANDOLPH WILSON WALTON.

The subject of this sketch, Randolph Wilson Walton, correspondence clerk in the office of Governor Nash, is equally known as a writer and as an orator, and is one of the most prominent of the younger generation of politi- cians and journalists at Columbus, Ohio. He was born at Woodsfield, Mon- roe county, Ohio, in a house which stood on the present site of the Lude home, October 15, 1870, a son of Dr. William Walton. The latter was a son of William Carlisle Walton, who was born at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1802, and when a boy located with his father, James Walton, on a farm in Monroe county, Ohio, where he rose to prominence as a citizen and as a Democrat. His death occurred in 1852. William Carlisle Walton studied law at Woods- field and practiced his profession as long as he lived. He represented his fellow citizens in the state legislature and in the state senate, and at the time of his death was a candidate for congress. Governor Shannon was nominated in his place and was elected, and later became governor of Ohio. He mar- ried Miss Sidney Kyger, a daughter of Sidney Kyger, a pioneer settler of, Ohio.

Dr. William Walton was born in Monroe county, Ohio, in 1835, was educated at Washington, District of Columbia, and was graduated in medi- cine in the medical department of Columbia College about 1859. Imme- diately afterward he began the practice of his profession at Woodsfield. In 1863 he became surgeon, with the rank of major, in the Twenty-fifth Regi- ment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until 1866, when he re- sumed practice at Woodfield. In 1877 he removed to Clarington, Monroe county, Ohio, where he died in 1890. He gave strict attention to his profes- sion and gained a high reputation as a surgeon and a general medical practi- tioner. He married Virginia Fitz-Randolph, daughter of Joel Fitz-Randolph, who came to Monroe county from Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1827, and died there in 1865, aged seventy-one years. He was the first abolitionist in the county, was a "station master" on the underground railroad and was sheriff of the county. He developed from a Whig to a Republican, and was prominent not only as a politician but as a business man. He was born in

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New Jersey, a son of James Fitz-Randolph, a Quaker, who lived near Plain- field. His wife was a daughter of Jeremiah Williams, who was born in Cum- berland county, Pennsylvania. He married Mary Ewart, who was born September 8, 1778, and came to Wetzel county, West Virginia, in 1785, locat- ing on land on which he was buried, and which in the sixth generation of his descendants is owned by some of them. He was a surveyor, filled the office of justice of the peace and was commissioned lieutenant by Governor Beverly Randolph. Mr. Walton's brother, William W. Walton, is also interested in politics, and has become well known as a member of a popular Republican glee club. His brother, Thomas E. Walton, is a resident of Boston, Massa- chusetts. His mother is the head of his household in Columbus.

Randolph Wilson Walton passed his childhood at Woodsfield and lived at Clarington from 1877 to 1893, when he and his mother and two brothers removed to Columbus. His education was obtained in the public schools at Clarington and at a business college in Columbus. He learned much in the office of the Clarington Independent, and more by reading, to which he devoted all his spare time. He began the study of medicine with his father, but the death of the latter two years later rendered it impossible for him to continue. At Columbus he acquired a knowledge of stenography, and while working in a drug store devoted himself to the study of law and hopes soon to be admitted to the bar.

Politics has always had a fascination for him, and though most of his relatives and some of his warmest friends were Democrats, he has always been a thorough and consistent Republican and has battled manfully for the principles of that party. He has contributed many able political articles to tl.e Monroe Gazette, the New York Tribune, Ohio State Journal, Wheeling Intelligencer, American Economist and other well known journals. He made stump speeches before he was old enough to vote, and the first ticket he voted, in 1891, had his name on it as a candidate for town clerk. In 1892 he made a hopeless race for the office of recorder of Monroe county on the Republican ticket. In 1893 he was one of the three delegates from Monroe county to the state convention that nominated William McKinley for his second term as governor of Ohio. He has worked in every campaign since he has lived in Columbus, and in the fall of 1898, when Mr. Huggins was a candidate for congress, he made a favorable impression as a speaker. In the campaign of Mr. Swartz for the mayoralty he made about twenty speeches, at times two or three in an evening. He was one of Judge Nash's original supporters for governor before the convention, and was one of the organizers of the Young Men's Nash Club, and at its organization sounded the keynote to the Judge's canvass, and during the campaign that followed had numerous assignments as a speaker, which he filled in a manner that pleased his audiences and the state and county committees of his party; for his speeches were not confined to Columbus and Franklin county, but were made in other parts of the state upon assignments by the Republican state committee. The Ohio State Journal and other papers complimented him on his success as an orator. He

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A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 71

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